SOUTH ROSE HILL/BRIDLE TRAILS NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
General Meeting - Tuesday, November 14, 2006
President Jeanette Simecek called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. Jeanette introduced Mayor Jim Lauinger and City Council member Jessica Greenway.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please sign in on the sign-in sheet. Please add your name if you’re not already listed.
Starbucks has sent a party invitation to an open house on December 5th, from 5:00 -7:00 p.m. Everyone from the SRHBTNA is invited to come celebrate.
Flyers are available on the back table and include upcoming holiday events, park maps, roster, agendas and annexation information.
116th Avenue Improvements Between 60th and 70th - After the sewer work is done, the City will patch and do sidewalks etc. starting April for about three to four months. Those who will be directly affected by water cut offs, traffic, etc., will receive a direct mailing.
REPORTS
Annexation - Tracy Burrows, Kirkland City Manager’s Office
The City is conducting a series of briefings and community meetings about the possible annexation of Finn Hill, Upper Juanita, and Kingsgate neighborhoods. Tracy started with background on the annexation, how folks in the unincorporated part of the City have asked to be part of the City, and that many of these people already have Kirkland addresses. The Growth Management Act encourages annexation of PAAs (Potential Annexation Areas) so that counties are regional services providers and cities provide “city” services.
Kirkland has had many annexations over its history. The area to the north would include 33,000 people, almost doubling the City’s population, and add seven square miles. For the residents in those areas, their property taxes would decrease (less property tax but would now pay higher utility taxes and water). A typical home would save $47/year coming into the City of Kirkland.
Studies in the past projected a $4.8 million operating deficit annually because revenues would be less than the cost to provide services. In 2006, the State legislature passed a bill to provide funding for annexations but only for a ten-year period. You have to annex prior to 2010 in order to get this funding which would make up a portion of this gap.
A question and answer session was held and issues raised included: school district, zoning, costs for police services, what happens in ten years, development in Totem Lake, “what’s in it for us”, level of deficiency, Big Finn Hill Park, Juanita Drive repairs, tax base, economies of scale, the casino, tree ordinance, and competition for capital dollars. For more information, please refer to the City’s website, http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/CMO/Annexation_Information.htm. You can send your comments to annexation@ci.kirkland.wa.us or call 425-587-3000.
BREAK
Parks Update - Michael Cogle, City of Kirkland Parks
124th Ave NE - The City is proceeding ahead with the planning for the park on 124th Avenue N.E., just south of Safeway. At the first community workshop, people were asked what sort of vision they had through brainstorming. At the second meeting, there were two design alternatives. The site covers four acres and currently there are three homes, some wetlands, and a creek on the site. The plan is to maintain, enhance, and restore the wetlands. The Park Board will be reviewing the design option which calls for lawn areas, playground, picnic shelter, pathways, and restored wetland area. Construction will begin in spring of 2007. Ideas for a name for the park site have been submitted to the Park Board and the most popular so far appears to be “Rose Hill Meadows Park.”
Ben Franklin Elementary Park - The City is about three weeks behind Rose Hill Meadows in the planning process for this park. The plan for Ben Franklin Elementary includes partnering with the Lake Washington School District to look at ways to meet the needs of immediate neighbors and enhance school community itself. At the second community meeting two design ideas were presented. Ideas included maintaining the forested area with the mature evergreen trees and adding additional recreation amenities, possibly including a sand volleyball court, a picnic shelter, and play equipment. The City will maintain the park which was funded by the park bond and maintenance levy. The preferred plan will go to the Park Board in December.
Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhood Development Plan - Jim McElwee
The KAN charter initially was to come together and talk about issues in the neighborhoods and to share ideas. At the recent KAN retreat, it was decided that KAN wants to be more active, wants to integrate ideas “neighborhood-to-neighborhood,” and represent these ideas. There are currently 11 neighborhood associations in Kirkland. If neighborhoods can get a common position, KAN can take that position to an organization as appropriate. They would be able to provide more resources and hope to, on a common level, look at issues such as cut-through traffic, code enforcement, home occupation issues, etc., and maybe get a little more done and have a little more clout. KAN is going to focus on training (Neighborhood U and Northwest Earth Institute) and in developing leadership around the neighborhoods. The representative to KAN from the SRHBTNA will be C.Ray Allshouse from the Board and the NA is going to be taking a more active role in KAN.
Preliminary Improvements along NE 60th - Elaine Borgeson, Kirkland Public Works
Representatives from the City, County, and the SRHBTNA worked together for over a year on the Memorandum of Understanding for the Houghton Transfer Station and one of the outcomes of the MOU is the creation of pedestrian improvements on N.E. 60th Street, from 120th Ave NE to 116th Ave NE. Plans include a motorcycle pad for police at 120th, an asphalt pathway, a crosswalk, a pedestrian refuge, a retaining wall, and a curb. A discussion was held on various safety issues and about whether the curb should be asphalt or concrete.
Neighborhood Connections Update – President Jeanette Simecek gave an update on the money we were supposed to have received ($25,000). Projects to be funded from the 2005 grant included street trees, street lights, benches at bus stops, and the speed watch radar gun. The planting of street trees didn’t happen so $3,750 is going back into the Connections program. $2,000 was budgeted for street lights on 73rd and 65th which haven’t happened yet. The reconstruction and landscaping around the Bridle Trails neighborhood sign (by park & ride lot) cost about $4,000. The radar gun ($3,000+) was purchased but the Speed Watch Committee is having trouble getting volunteers and logging hours. It was suggested to check back in five to six months to see if volunteer hours are up or may the NA may sell the gun back to the City.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deirdre DeWan Johnson
Secretary