Meeting Notes - 09/12/2023

South Rose Hill Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association

General Meeting and City Council Candidate Forum Tuesday 9/12 2023 @ Ben Franklin Elementary School

Minutes


Attendance: 45+ in person and 15 on zoom

All 8 Officers and Trustees attended.


President Chris Kagen called us to order at 7:04 pm.


PUBLIC COMMENTS


Susan Pappalardo, representing the "Pro" campaign for Proposition One Yes for Kirkland Pools and Parks. A need for expanded aquatics and recreation  programming in Kirkland was identified as far back as 2001. Proposition One is a comprehensive attempt at a measure . It will be close to elementary schools and high school at the Houghton Park and Ride, year round pool. The waitlist for swim lessons at Peter Kirk Pool is around 10,500 and a wait list of about 4,200 for community event space. This is a permanent levy tax increase to fund maintenance and operations and would fund a bond to pay for the capital. 


Vince Campos represented  the "Con" campaign on Proposition One (goodkirkland.org).Served on the Parks Funding Exploratory Committee. I've talked to a lot of people and learned about the impact of property taxes. Many are being squeezed out of their homes. The rate of property tax increase has greatly exceeded inflation. Proposition One is a good example--a beautiful facility--but the City of Sammamish built a center in 2016 for $33 million in 2016-at today's costs that would be $50-55 million. All the Sammamish operations costs are user-funded, rather than taxpayer-subsidized. Most surrounding cities partner for such a facility, instead of running it themselves.


Don Samdahl introduced himself as Neighborhood Association Treasurer. Submit receipts for reimbursement to Don.

This is our first in-person meeting in three years. Show of hands: how many came to the meeting after seeing flyers or signs (13) emails (10) nextdoor (1). Get the word out, talk to your neighbors, and we can build our database. 


POLICE REPORT: Chief Cherie Harris


High turnover in Police Department since 2020 so you'll see many new faces out in your neighborhood patrolling. We're very very proud of the officers we've hired. We are trying retention incentives to be competitive with other police departments. One incentive we started on July1 is our take-home electric vehicles, and they are going to places like Arlington, Renton, and Kent, which is where the majority of our officers live. We had 6 officers applying to other agencies and all of them pulled their applications. 


Kirkland also rolled out a body worn camera program with the support of City Council and a Department of Justice grant. All our uniformed personnel who deploys on the street wear a body camera. That has been a really good program to capture evidence and comply with law that requires recording.We can now conduct interviews and interrogation in the field.


You asked about crime. I'm showing you an interactive dashboard going back to 2018. Captures arrests, what kinds of calls for service, how calls were dispatched, and their behavioral health component. 


In your neighborhood, and this tracks across the city, there has been an increase in motor vehicle theft. That's also the trend statewide. Your neighborhood shows an increase in motor vehicle prowls. It is very important not to leave anything in your car, including your garage door opener.


A big, very broad category captures everything from theft of something from your yard to retail theft and shoplifting. We are just starting a partnership with the Attorney General's office, King County Prosecuting Attorney and County law enforcement agencies. 


You might recall Proposition One passing in 2018 to improve public safety. So we have plain clothes officers working with business and retail. We have been able to make some good cases, arrests, and get merchandise back.


To answer the earlier question, in your neighborhood there has not been an increase in home invasion robberies. That has been a trend in King County though.


Kirkland works on many different levels, like crime analysis. The partnerships and relationships I mentioned   often lead to security calling directly to a proactive officer. We meet monthly with other analysts, exchange email, provide vehicle and suspect information--so officers know what they should be looking for. We did have some notable incidents last year and we did make arrests. 


I have a camera system in my home. We often see that the target in a neighborhood is the house that doesn't have a system. They're getting more and more inexpensive, so I really encourage anyone who might need help in deciding on a system can call us or send an email. Not only patrol, but neighborhood resource officers would definitely talk to anyone who had questions on putting a system together. I'm not a big tech person, and I've actually been able to do it.


So don't leave things in your car, close and block your windows and know your neighbors. 


Organized neighborhoods and the meetings like you have right here are one of things that make Kirkland a really strong city.


I'm really excited about a new crisis response center  in a building that's being renovated right now. This will allow police to have a third option of somewhere to take behavioral health calls other than jailIt will open in 2024.


Question:  You say you've been able to make some arrests. How many of those get prosecuted and the people get put in jail for any length of time?

Answer: Kirkland has a misdemeanor jail.It's a great tool when we are trying to make so many cases , work with the Prosecutor and certainly with the organized retail platform, get people off the streets. So that's something we've used in charging misdemeanor crime so we can write a search warrant to search cars, storage lockers, residences. I've seen an increase in collaboration in the past year with the new prosecutor.


Question: I know of several small businesses, particularly auto repair businesses, that have been hit multiple times. And in one case, the individual was arrested, jailed, released, and came back within an hour and a half. He did a about a thousand dollars worth of damage to vehicles he didn't have a chance to get into. To me, that's not not bad police work, it’s bad prosecutorial. Can you please comment on that?


Answer: I don't have any control over the King County jail. They have their own standards on whom they will book. But we certainly have been working with auto dealerships, repair shops, and especially those that are also being hit by catalytic converter theft. It's very disheartening. Again, with the new prosecutor, there has been better collaboration. I'm trying to work on changes to setting bail, but it's also a bit of a struggle to try and keep people in jail.


Question from Felix Chen: I can hear engines gunning and what sounds like racing on 85th. Are you thinking of doing anything about that?

Answer: Absolutely. We have done a couple of things. I talked about crime analysts. They are monitoring social media  where clubs organize and promote. It's happened a couple of times in Bridle Trails in the last year. When we know about it, we have organized overtime officers to be in the area. We've written tickets for a number of different things, like modified exhaust, equipment issues, speeding. I believe it happened in spring and summer, then less prevalent later in the year. But the random speeding--I'm scared sometimes on 405 and I'm a pretty good driver, but people drive really fast. So please, just wear your seatbelt and stay off your cellphone, and drive carefully.

, 

Wendy Stewart commented on zoom: I live near 70th and 130th and we often have that problem. I've been calling the police non-emergency line. Is that helpful or not? Because it's happening more and more frequently.

Answer: It certainly is helpful. If officers are available and in that area they're going to respond. You can also use the Our Kirkland app. We have traffic officers; we have two motorcycles. And they're working the areas where we've had the greatest number of collisions and then components. The traffic sergeant is emailing the rest of the department to please pay attention to these areas. If you get a license plate number or vehicle description, I would love to follow up on that for sure.


CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM


There are three positions on the November ballot: Positions 2, 3, and 6.


Incumbent candidates Kelli Curtis (Position 2) and Amy Falcone (Position 6) are unfortunately to join us this evening due to illness.

Candidates introduced themselves.


Ryan James Turok (Position 6):This is my very first candidate forum. I'm very eager to hear what your neighborhood is facing and what issues I can gladly work on, on your behalf. South Rose Hill and Bridle Trails is a very unique neighborhood. It's forested, it's equestrian. I think it's very important that we maintain the character of your neighborhood as the city continues to grow--I think it's important for all the neighborhoods to retain their identities. Some of my goals in running for Council are: managed  and responsible economic development, workforce housing--the ability to house the people who work in our community, community enrichment, and making our neighborhoods safe with ADA compliance and traffic. Neighborhood enrichment includes park development and greenway spaces. Thank you for your time. I'm very eager to listen tonight.


John Tymczyszyn (Position 4): I am a Navy veteran attorney and a member of the Planning Commission, serving as Chair since 2017.I've been involved in almost every issue of growth and development in Kirkland for the past 6 years. There are two major issues that I think will impact the quality of life on Rose Hill and in the Bridle Trails neighborhood more than any other and those are the 85th Station Area Plan and the future of the Houghton Park & Ride. I think the 85th Street Station was a good plan with poor execution. As somebody who served as Chair of the Planning Commission the entire time I can tell you the Plan passed by the City Council lacks sufficient infrastructure . It has the potential of moving 20,000 people into the core of Kirkland with no plan for adequate schools, parks, roads, and parking. It's unacceptable. I think there's time to improve the plan. But there needs to be adequate infrastructure in place because the people who are going to live within the Station Area plan up and down 85th Street deserve adequate infrastructure and the neighborhood surrounding the 85th Street Area plan deserve not to have that growth spill into their neighborhoods. I will ensure that proper infrastructure is put in place with the growth that is going to happen. It's absolutely essential. I want to put families first if I'm elected. I think the Houghton Park & Ride is a good place for an aquatic center and I'm in favor of it. It's not a perfect plan. It can be improved upon but if we don't pass it I think it's a real loss for families. I want Kirkland to be an amazing vibrant place to raise my family and for Kirkland to be a great place to raise kids. The pool in downtown Kirkland was built in 1968 when we had a population of 14,000. That pool can serve about 14,000 people for 10 weeks a year, which is not acceptable. The question is should government make people's lives better with a swimming pool or should we leave it to private exclusive clubs that have huge waiting lists and a $10,000 down payment, $500 a month, and 5% of our population can go there, and the vast majority can't? I'm going to vote for it. Thank you.


Toby Nixon (Position 4): I've served on City Council for almost 12 years and am running for a fourth term. I've previously served in the State House or Representatives and run as a fire commissioner. I've run for public office 12 times and won 7 times so I think that is at least a winning record. In every one of those campaigns I've run on the same principles and priorities: I believe in individual liberty, limited government, free enterprise, and tolerance for differences.  And I prioritize public safety, fiscal responsibility, open transparency, and accountability to the public. So what do I mean by those? Individual liberty means you get to live your life as you wish and use your property as you wish so long as you respect the similar rights of other people. Any objectively negative impacts of your choices have to be mitigated. Personal responsibility means that you are held accountable for the choices you make and if you commit crimes you're going to get convicted and put in jail. The third thing is limited government and the challenge that government always wants to grow and take over more of what our society needs. I believe in what Thomas Jefferson said; that government is best which governs least. And we should only add functions to the government when they can't be done by the private sector or the nonprofit sector. And I always ask that question whenever anything is proposed that the government should do. Does the government have to do that or can the private sector do that? I believe in free enterprise, which is tied to that. I believe in tolerance that we are never going to agree on everything, but when we disagree,we need to do it kindly, civilly, and respect the differences between each other. Prioritize public safety-I think that is the number one function of government. We need to make sure our Emergency Management, fire, police, courts, and jails are adequately funded and staffed.That's our number one priority. I firmly believe that our budgets are sustainable and not just the city budget, but your budget. We cannot have the city budget grow so large that it makes everybody else's budget not sustainable. And I firmly believe in open government transparency and public engagement and that you have a right to know what the government is doing and a right to have influence over what the government does. I'm always looking out for your interest on the City Council to make sure you have the opportunity to be engaged. I'm Toby Nixon running for re-election and I ask for your vote.


President Kagen read a written statement from Kelli Curtis:

She joined the Kirkland Park Board in 2015 and served on the Housing Strategy Advisory Group that wrote Kirkland's five-year housing  plan. She is running to continue shaping a vibrant future for Kirkland, bringing thoughtful strategic focus to the City's growth and livability and emphasizing building a sustainab;e and accessible community. She values public input both negative and positive. Governing is a challenge with many complicated issues, rarely with simple right or wrong answers.She has served as Chair of the legislative work group. Creative problem solving, diverse perspectives and collaboration are needed. Tree canopy, greenhouse gas emissions, and building a safety net are important, and helping the city retain its AAA bond rating. 


Catie Malik (Position 2)

Thank you for inviting me. I was born and raised in Bothell. I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the UW. 20 years ago my husband and I bought a house in Houghton. We chose Kirkland because it is an amazing place to raise kids. I work as Associate Director of Finance for OBGYN at UW Medicine. I think  I would bring a unique perspective to Council. I would be the only Councilmember working in health care (not for an HMO).Fiscal responsibility is one reason I'm running. Kirkland's population has increased 10% at the same time the City's budget has doubled, in the past 10 years. The question is what are we doing with that money? Do we really need to be raising taxes again?I think it's important to be looking at the decisions our Council has been making and what impact they have. I don't agree with, especially from a health care perspective, some decisions, understanding the health care perspective of the implications and the pressure that is going to be put on our hospital system. Our community hospitals are already overstressed. Third, I am running on transparency. There needs to be more transparency from City Council and government. Some decisions have been made in secret. There should be open discourse. I would welcome people's thoughts and opinions and more public input. I will answer some of your questions specifically about your neighborhood. I've thought a lot about them.


QUESTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE CANDIDATES IN ADVANCE

King County plans to select the site for a new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station in mid-2024. The current Houghton Station and a portion of the adjoining former landfill is one of three contenders. If elected, what will you do specifically  to  represent our neighborhood in pressing for a say in any mitigation? Follow up for the incumbents: What specific action have you done to represent the South Rose Hill Trails neighborhood to King County on this issue?


Catie:  I met with an environmental scientist specializing in landfill testing. There are gaps in the studies. The site has no bioswale. The landfill is draining water which eventually runs into Lake Washington. There is no lining. The water must be tested. Nobody really knows what's in the landfill. I would push hard for that testing. I always ensure that any decisions are based on data. Based on my perspective, relying on data and science, the [proposed] transfer/recycling station belongs in an industrial area. Other King County sites are more appropriate.


Ryan: One thing we have to look at is that King County has allowed Kirkland to permit housing and residences to go right up to abutting the site. Talk with King County about this re: the environmental impact on housing and homes.


Toby: The process has been frustrating for all of us. The understanding we had for decades with King County was that the transfer station would be closed and built elsewhere. The County agrees, yes, we agreed to close it, but if you look at the fine print or the lack of fine print in all the agreements that were signed over the years, it doesn't say specifically that a new transfer station won't be built  on the same site. The fine print does not specify that.  Personally, I think the  Environmental Impact Statement process is just for show. The County has known from day one  that the new transfer station will be built at the present site. I think it is a big shame that this kind of thing happens just to check the boxes of state law and not to be sincere about considering other locations. So if I had to guess  I'd guess they're going to select the existing site. So if that happens, I firmly believe  the neighborhood [should] have a big say in and a right to a say in mitigation. The County has budgeted $30 million for land acquisition.  If the present site is selected}, this money should be put into mitigation right here in this neighborhood to mitigate the impacts of continuing to have a transfer station in the neighborhood.  Maybe the money could be put into parks. Maybe it could rebuild Taylor Fields. Maybe it could be additional ways to keep trash from blowing off of trucks, noise, all of these things. The County MUST have an open public process and we will participate. Council's job is to make sure {King County} listens and doesn't skitter away from what you're asking them to do. And that's what we'll do.


John:  As a member of the Planning Commission, I've been listening to this subject come up every now and then for the past 6 or 7 years. I've seen zero happen, nothing. Industrial applications belong in industrial locations. I think we should get a City Council that's not afraid to  get to get into fights  with King  County:  fights with lawyers, hard fights, bare knuckles, brawls. Let's get in some fights with King County and let's see who wins because collaborative hand holding isn't going to win in this situation. I'd be perfectly satisfied to see the City of Kirkland step it up a notch with litigation and engage in some bare knuckles negotiations or litigation. Contractual law and interpretation is saying oh well we'll just rebuild it in the same location.  It's not the spirit or the intent of the contract to build it at the current location. It needs to go before a judge. Collaboration has been going on for years to no effect. 


Council identified the former Houghton Park and Ride lot as the site for a major recreational center, creating significant opportunity and making a major impact on South Rose Hill-Bridle Trails. Should voters approve the funding measure in November, how will you, as a Council member,  specifically involve the Neighborhood Association in site development and mitigation?


Ryan: I've been listening to the pros and cons.  You're talking about a long term tax that doesn't end. This is a very big issue facing the whole of Kirkland, not just your neighborhood.  We're pricing out families and seniors. There's a continual increase of taxes to satisfy the needs of a budget that continually grows.This makes it selective as to who can live here.That's my biggest issue with this Proposition. The "Con" committee has done a great job of finding alternatives, one being a bond that can be paid off to zero, not a continuing payment.  Look at partnerships in order not to place the burden on the community and neighborhoods.


Toby: I was one of the Council members who voted NO on Proposition 1 (aquatic center). I think it's too expensive. There's too much piled into it. It should have been a clean vote for just an aquatic center.  It's the wrong time and it has too many things piled on to it. There are a lot of people really struggling after the pandemic. A lot are still unemployed, including me after 30 years with Microsoft. I'm afraid it will  be voted down and then it'll be another five years before they're willing to consider it again. I'm with the "Con" committee in saying there's a better way to do this. There's a better way. But the question is about mitigation. The nice thing about this project is it would be  100% under City Council control. We don't have to go to the County and try to convince them to have a robust neighborhood engagement process. TheCouncil will simply commit to it. I've already talked to my colleagues on Council. I've talked to the City Manager. So it would happen. Kingsgate went through a two-year process to mitigate a Park project (noise, lighting, traffic).  I will make sure a robust process happens.


John: I favor the ballot measure. Rose Hill residents participated in the Parks Exploratory Funding Committee (PFEC) and can continue involvement. There are traffic concerns. I will make sure Kirkland residents have priority access to the facility. Because it would be on the Bellevue border, I'd want to make sure that it's not flooded by residents of other municipalities.


 Catie: I also have traffic  concerns. LW HS traffic before and after school is a nightmare,  plus the traffic that would be generated by the Modera at Bridle Trails development and  the N.E. 85th Street development. Bridle Trails  doesn't have the infrastructure. Where will people park? It seems the parking is insufficient. It's another tax we don't really need, like the new car tab starting in January,which can escalate.  Be thoughtful about taxing citizens.


South Rose Hill Bridle Trails will experience significant traffic disruption during construction of the N.E. 85th Street. Specifically, how will our neighborhood be represented in negotiating mitigation with WSDOT? At times 85th will be closed completely, potentially for months if not years. That traffic has to go somewhere and the most likely place is 70th or all the way up to Totem Lake.


Toby: Construction has begun. Groundbreaking took place today. The City is not in control of this project. The good news is that we have a better working relationship with WSDOT and Sound Transit than with King County Solid Waste. WSDOT and Sound Transit are completely open to public meetings. As soon as the City puts meetings on  the calendar on traffic diversion we will get it out to you guys the same day. We'll keep you informed. I'm confident that the public engagement process will happen.  


Ryan: How many people have heard about the groundbreaking today? I had no idea. I  constantly talk about this project with people as I serve on the Chamber of Commerce Board and I had no idea that the groundbreaking was happening today.  City and state are not doing a proper job of marketing to the neighborhoods. When you want to involve the neighborhood, which I very much hope, as Toby was explaining with WSDOT and Sound Transit--someone here at this meeting took a very simple poll--how did you hear about this meeting tonight? There is not a proper job of marketing done to inform people of town halls on these very large projects. There is no communication from our very large city staff to the highly impacted neighborhoods. If we want to get the neighborhoods involved, we have to go to the people. 


Catie: There's an opportunity for City staff to engage. Hire someone who markets and does outreach , specifically to the community and to be a bridge to WSDOT. Transparency and community engagement are one reason I'm running. Considering the size of the City budget, there are opportunities to look at  other things that don't engage the community.  Lots of people don't feel heard. That happened on a decision that was made affecting my neighborhood. 


John: I've spent more time on this than anybody. It's a pre-COVID plan in a post-COVID world. One developer is moderately interested. Interest rates are terrible. I have serious doubts that the pre-COVID plan will materialize. I have serious questions about the need for the Bus Rapid Transit Station. The Planning Commission has not heard anything. The original plan accommodated zero parking. Planning was derelict. There's time to improve this plan and to create staging areas and other infrastructure. I don't know how anybody could have envisioned a mass transit center with zero parking.


Two major redevelopment projects are in the planning process: the former Crescent Lighting site on 85th and the Bridle Trails Shopping Center. We’d like to hear from you:


John: The Bridle Trails shopping center is owned by a California-based REIT, with which we have good communication. I fought hard to have a grocery store in the plan. I think the loss of Red Apple from that shopping center was really damaging. There are a lot of places in Kirkland that warrant high density. Bridle Trails is not one of them. There isn't good transit. We worked for a "wedding cake" tiered density in order to tone down the density and maintain [neighborhood] character. We addressed high density in the 85th Street Plan.


Toby: I agree with John. People interpret 10-minute neighborhoods differently. We all support pedestrian and bike connections, and the community can put those in the Comprehensive Plan. Some people think 10-minute means higher density. We've addressed higher density on 85th. It will take decades to build that out. ROIC [owner of the Bridle Trails Shopping Center] has no interest in redeveloping the shopping center in the next 20 years.

Regarding the Crescent Lighting site, there is a concern that two driveways on 85th would conflict with the City's plan to maintain traffic flow on 85th, especially when you consider  there are going to be bus lanes. It's tough to preserve the Greenway and build high density. The Design Review Board can consider the impact of driveways and make them work. You have the opportunity to participate [in decision making here].


Ryan: "10-minute" is trendy. It means something different in different cities.  It's not the same in Kirkland as it is in, for example, San Francisco.  If you're living there, you've got the Muni that goes right by your house and you can take that to the grocery store and come back. We just don't have that in Kirkland.And so I think we need to be more realistic about who we are.  Let's face it--we're a bedroom community. We have to look at our infrastructure first before we start increasing density in areas where there's already increased pressure.  Before we start developing more and increasing density in areas where there's already incredible pressure. I think, if anything, there's relief in hearing that plans for development are being delayed and how there's not interest in redevelopment right now. I think there's an opportunity for the City to look at infrastructure and say, okay, when development happens, what do we need to do to be prepared?  And I think  one thing lacking right now in our infrastructure is foresight and what kind of pressure is coming and mitigating that pressure so when the development comes it's not such a horrible experience for the community. I think there's opportunity there for the development to be successful and in line with neighborhood character.  The City has continually failed to involve the stakeholders and neighborhoods with the developer. We need to involve the neighborhood with the City and also with the developer. I have a really good example. I'm a small business owner. I’ve had my small business in Kirkland for 11 years. I'm in the new Kirkland Urban building. When I applied for the Kirkland Urban space, I was told no because I was not a national tenant. When google purchased the Kirkland Urban building, they did an internal study and asked what their employees wanted. They wanted small businesses, local owners. They wanted a pet store. They wanted an art gallery. They wanted a grocery store. This is an example of google listening to their employees to do a development.This is something the City can do with developers. But you have to market it and tell the people this  is happening and get them involved in the conversation. What do you want? How can we make that happen? google listened to their employees as to what they wanted in Kirkland Urban. The city could do this with developers. But you have to tell people that it's happening so they can get involved and give input.


Catie: I agree on community engagement. We don't have 10-minute neighborhoods in Kirkland. Be realistic about it. Develop infrastructure first where there is more density. What do we need to do to be prepared for when development happens? That preparation is lacking now. Work with the community to make development successful.


QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE:


1.  From Phil Allen: We're meeting tonight in a school. Schools are funded through taxes. Part ot that, though, I know from attending a couple of City Council meetings, is that there are impact fees that are conceptually supposed to mitigate development's impact on roads, water mains, schools. My understanding is that the City collects impact fees and passes them along to the school district. Maybe I'm wrong, but my understanding is that the reason we keep getting bond measures is because the calculated impact to schools from new units is not actually collected . So I remember from Council meetings is that the Council could choose a lower amount to collect in impact  fees which are supposed to be used for mitigation. Calculated fees are not collected and passed on to the schools.

What is your position on impact fees?


ANSWER:  Toby: Impact fees are collected for transportation, parks, fire,  schools. And connection fees for water and sewer. Transportation and parks impact fees stay with the City.And the fire impact. The school impact fees go to the school district. Under state law they're limited at half of what the actual cost would be of accommodating an incremental student based on the new development.Studies are done to determine what is the average number of students that live in a new single single family home,  not a replacement home.Fees will pay for the cost associated with that incremental number of students expected to come from that home. The same is done with multi-family units to half the incremental cost. Average  of new single family home will pay the cost. Same with # of students calculated. In my twelve years on Council,  the City has collected 100% of what is asked for and passed it on to the schools. You have to learn this as a Councilmember. If it wasn't collected, they'd sue us. So I'm not sure where the information is coming from that it's not being collected. I think the more relevant fact is that they're not allowed under state law to collect the full incremental cost of new students coming from the new residential development. That the additional needs for capital improvement in schools over the years will be paid for property tax levies. That's just the way the system is designed. 


2. From Sue Contreras: [If you are elected], undo the google rezone for 20-story buildings. Council did not listen to people. We need a newspaper. Spend money on beautification--landscaping--why do we see dead plants in public landscapes? Paint curbs, crosswalks, and redo the Marina Park parking lot.

 

ANSWER: 

John: the google development height was not supported by anybody: Planning Commission, neighborhood associations, anybody. Council passed the [20 story] height. It should be revisited  right away.


3. Jim Hoff: The question is for those candidates who oppose Proposition 1: Assuming Proposition 1 fails, what should the [Houghton Transit Center site] be used for?


ANSWERS: 

Ryan: The City spent an unbudgeted $9 million for that property. What can be done with it that does not cost any additional taxppayer money? A walkable park, including a dog park


Toby: Do we want to preserve the property for a future aquatic center?  I kind of agree with the "Con" committee that it is too far south. Pickleball and basketball courts, a skate park, motocross are all possible interim uses.  It's underserved by transit, but that can be fixed. I would think the North Kirkland Community site would have been the choice as it is on the Route 255 bus line and has frequent transit service. If we want to build an aquatic center in the north part of the C/ity, we need a robust public process on use of the Houghton site. It could be a park, it could be a mixed use development. It could be housing. It could be turned over  for any number of different kinds of developments. For example, the City purchased the former PCC property. Public engagement for use of that site is ongoing. Ultimately it will be turned over to a developer. But it needs to be a public process. 


Catie: I don't know that the City should be in the real estate business; hanging on to property without the return on investment. Is it appropriate for the c/ity to purchase property or to be in the business of governing? That is a question we should be asking. Something should go in there that would benefit the neighborhood and derive tax revenue.


4. Deepa Garg:  There is a pattern of closed-door meetings. I'm hearing tonight about getting into a "brawl" with King County over the Transfer Station siting. A lot of things are already in process with the existing Council. What will it take to change the direction of the way things are going? Are we already compromised on the issues before they even come to Council? Is that why letters from constituents to Council are ineffective? How will you change that? And I see the same thing with King County or other organizations.I'm concerned about some of that alignment with King County Solid Waste. Are we already compromised on issues before they even come before Council? For example, how the Council dealt with the transfer station issue.


ANSWERS:

Catie: I'm not a career politician. I have no aspirations to serve Olympia. I’m not on that glide path. And I think that's where I stand out from the incumbent.  I will work to represent the people. I'm used to being in a room full of pissed-off doctors and having to implement change that you just have to have and work with people and get through it to the other side in a way that people are able to accept  and be happy that they've been heard , where there is a compromise. That puts me in a unique position where I'm not afraid to speak up for Kirkland when it comes to King County.


Toby: Most Council votes are unanimous. On things like potholes. On 6-1 decisions, I'm the "no" vote.where I disagree on things the Council is doing.  I advocate for open government. People should never be surprised by what the City does.  That's because of my principles.  Documents should be posted on the City webpage and they should be easily found. I haven't been able to convince Councilmembers and the City Manager to spend money to do this because there are always higher priorities. It gives me pleasure to help people navigate City bureaucracy. City staff should do that. I'm always annoying City staff by always being in their in-boxes.  The City needs to get better at this. I'm working hard on it. 


John:  I'm not sure what you're referring to but when I use the word "brawl" I'm referring to litigation. Litigation is professional  when a bureaucracy treats Kirkland unfairly year after year that says the City is ready for a lawsuit.  We're at that point with King County. I will be wary of participating in executive sessions. They have been abused, in my opinion. I'll just walk out. La Quinta transitional housing is an example. Executive sessions are used to make decisions in which the people of Kirkland are not involved. Monitor the topics and frequency of executive sessions. They've been used to exclude people.


Deepa followed up, saying: just to be clear, you wouldn't refer the citizens of Kirkland back to the city's lawyers--you would deal with the lawyers to go against the County or whomever. I received emails from Kelli Curtis and Amy Falcone  referring me to the City's lawyer versus actually going out and using lawyers to work against the county. 


John: I've sued major corporations , cities and municipalities  all over the state. And if the city's attorney can't handle the litigation, they would need to outsource it to a law firm. I can't comment on your communication with City Council  members but I think sometimes the City  needs to engage in professional litigation. Executive sessions are overused. I believe a lot of the secret deals you refer to were done in executive session. It sounds to me like executive sessions  are overused. Issues like transitional housing at La /quinta . And those executive sessions  were used to make decisions that the citizens were not involved in. I will not be afraid to walk out of an executive session  if I think it's an abusive session that shouldn';t be held in the first place. We need to monitor what topics are and how frequent executive sessions are. There's a proper use of executive sessions. They should not be used just to exclude the people of Kirkland from decision making. 


Ryan: There's an interesting point that has been brought up here. Some of you may have received an email communication from  [Incumbent Councilmembers] Falcone and Curtis if you have addressed an email to both of them and what you may find interesting is that they reply with one email signed off by both of them. I think they've made a very strong showing during this time that they are campaigning as a team. You have two candidates up here tonight challenging them. If you want to break up a voting bloc, you have that opportunity in November.


5. Did the City assess penalties on google for pulling out of the 85th Street redevelopment?


Toby: No penalties were assessed. Google paid all fees up until they pulled out. Our planning fees cover 100% of the cost. Lee Johnson still hopes to build a new dealership in Totem Lake and is looking for a tenant to rent their current site.


John: Private transactions are not public records. A corporation should not have superior access to City Hall. Citizens should have the same access. When the Planning Commission is bypassed by corporations, the public participation process is lost. 


6. Preserving our neighborhood--developers are pushing--how can we keep developers accountable? How can citizens combat this?


John: I will re-engage residents in City Hall. COVID resulted in a drop-off in City Council meeting attendance. Attending meetings is the only way to get Council's attention.  Pre-COVID we had 100 residents attend a hearing on the Bridle Trails development. In a public meeting, you feel the energy in the room. You change your decision because of it. The decision-making process needs to come back.


Toby: Sign up for City email lists like Planning Commission, Design Review Board, City Council. I worked on [developing] the website to search development permits. You can get an email for any permit applications within one mile of your location. I'd like to go further. Only 2,000 people out of 90,000 residents subscribe to the Our Kirkland email list. We could all do a better job of staying involved.

 

Ryan: The City has KAN [Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods], social media, and other ways to get information to you. They do not utilize them. An example is the recent Park Lane decision. That group of businesses got together , started a petition, rallied at council chambers. The  movement forced Council's decision.


Catie: I'm an operations and finance process person.Your outcome is based on the design of the process. Think in advance --before the developers show up. Executive sessions are happening for developers. We need our local newspaper back. I use the "headline test". Can I defend my decision before giving the go-ahead?


President Kagen adjourned the meeting at 9:05 pm, urging all to attend our next meeting, in November.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Lewis

Secretary