Jessica Greenway called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm
Two Kirkland youth Council members (Sonia Luthra-
sonia-luthra@yahoo.com, Elliott Smith- Elliott_smith@mail.com) presented an
overview of the ‘
Asset building for youth’ program. They
are members of the Kirkland Youth Assets Task Force. 600 communities participate nationally. The program started in 1992.
They discussed the changes that have occurred with this program. The changes stress the positive aspects of
youth rather than the problems. The
program emphasizes a proactive vs. a reactive approach. There are 40 assets in the program, which is
aimed at creating happy, healthy teenagers.
National average for kids is 18 assets; Kirkland average is 19.6. They cited internal and external examples
of assets. It takes around 5 years to
notice a difference after initiating the program. #1 issue is that 83% of Kirkland youth feel unvalued. The economic
value of a community does not affect the number of assets.
A healthy teenager is:
Less likely to use alcohol, drugs, sex, violence
More likely to succeed in school, value diversity, have good health, and are able to delay gratification
Some ways to reach kids:
Ask them “ What do you think… and really listen”.
Involve them on boards, commissions, Kids Youth Council (Kirkland is very active in encouraging this participation)
The students would like to offer their services for other organizations. Contact the city (803-2830 Regi Schubiger- Youth Services Assistant). The Search Institute provides information and material that is used in the program.
How to get youth involved? Barbeque? Openly solicit their input.
Executive committee will examine how to do outreach and consider adding a youth position to the board.
NE 85th St Study
Steve Tindall presented the current status of this project.
Since early January, invited to Feb 8 Planning Com public comments on specific issues relating to Lee Johnson and two other properties. Martin Morgan, owner of property on 122nd Ave NE, and Steve Scott and Paul Talbot, owners of property on 124th Ave NE, made presentations asking to have their properties rezoned from multi-family (12 units per acre) to office. We believe that office on those properties is encroaching into the neighborhood.
March 4 – Planning Commission took comments and recommendations from planning dept and agreed to take the staff recommendations as is to the Council.
Mary Alice Burleigh and Jim Lauinger of the Planning Commission said the Planning Commission’s recommendation to the City Council supports no additional commercial creep into the neighborhood, and recommends using a base of 12 unites per acre for multi family density, with additional density allowed as an incentive for4 addting affordable housing units. Regarding the Lee Johnson property, the Planning Commission discussed a resolution to the request for rezoning. The Commission in their recommendations would ensure that certain retail development (i.e. big box) is not appropriate. If the car dealer leaves, the options include an office development and possibly keep a car dealer. They also looked at stepping the heights into the hillside, and they also looked at buffering of the residential and commercial properties. Traffic is a big issue. In partial response, the plan would indicate that the only access from 118th Ave (to NE 80th ST) would be to the properties immediately to the south, not to the entire property. Traffic limits would be imposed to not exceed what could happen with current zoning. Seems to have been resolved as a win-win solution. They acknowledged the good negotiation skills of our neighborhood representatives.
The association had to compromise more than we wanted, but we did the best that we could and are generally satisfied.
Next step is April 3 to Council. Then staff needs to write all of the policies, zoning rules, and other regulations that will be needed to implement the corridor study recommendations.
Questions:
o Design review board role? This will be a very vital role for larger projects. This should process be used throughout the corridor. The PC agrees.
o Lee Johnson owners asked the issue to be remanded on their own accord? Stakeholders group convened? The PC actually lowered the heights with tradeoff to allow more flexibility in how Johnson could develop the site. This was a very collaborative process.
o Can neighborhood get involved still in the FAR and footprint discussions when the property is redeveloped? Yes, generally. Traffic modeling assumed an FAR of approximately 1.0 on the Johnson site.
o Affordable Housing topics were discussed as they apply within the neighborhood and citywide. There is a housing task force to address this issue. Not much land is still available in the city for these opportunities.
o Will the 85th study results be separate in the Comprehensive Plan? This will become a separate zone jointly with North Rose Hill Neighborhood.
o What about the HOV lanes? What about the right of way availability for the lanes? This is not a burning issue at the moment. Also relates to U-Turn strategy that some people think is disingenuous.
Jessica: Do you still want us to keep representing you on this topic? Martin Morgan made a suggestion that the neighborhood association be clear on how it addresses certain property issues. He thinks that certain directly affected neighbors should have a more substantial influence on decisions. Moved and seconded to maintain the association’s position to avoid commercial creep into residential neighborhoods. Vote was unanimous except for one negative vote.
Officer and Director Nominations
Please notify Lorraine Trosper of any nominations to be voted on at the May meeting. The Board will consider a slate of candidates at its April meeting.
Neighborhood Association Amendments to Comprehensive
Plan
Jessica reported on a number of proposed amendments to the South Rose Hill and Bridle Trails Neighborhood plans, as part of the city’s comprehensive plan update. A subgroup of the executive committee made these recommendations to the planning commission. The Commission said that many of the recommendations were too major to be considered amendments at this time. There will be an opportunity for minor amendments to be made now. There will be an extensive public process for the overall Comprehensive Plan update. The next opportunity for the full neighborhood plan update is 2008.
Copies are available in the back for review. The committee will reconvene and identify the major/minor amendments. Volunteers were solicited. Needs to be completed by the first week in April. 5 people volunteered. It was moved and seconded that this subgroup was authorized to represent the association in making recommendations to the planning commission. Passed unanimously.
Reports
o
Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods- Set of leadership
seminars will be held soon. Look for an
email.
o Kirkland Water Supply Update- Advisory Stage- There are 5 levels of advisory. We are in the first level now.
o Transportation - short update on I-405 project. I-405 has a preliminary preferred alternative that is being reviewed by the public on March 20 and 22.
o Mailbox Moving Project- Not reported.
o Neighborhood Association Projects for 2001- Deferred until May meeting.
o Board Position- Brian White has been appointed to complete the term of Leann White.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Donald Samdahl
Secretary
Project Ideas
More Sidewalks
Safe School routes
Traffic on 132nd Ave
More parks
Fire station coverage
Crosswalk at 132nd/75th
Earthquake-proof water tower
Neighborhood picnic
Radio Towers between 80th and 75th at 126th
Signal at 70th/122nd
85th Corridor Project Follow-up
124th/80th traffic control (roundabout?)