KAN November 1999 Meeting Report
From: Steven J. Tindall - STindall@Avtc.com
Representing: South Rose Hill and Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association.
Regarding: Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods Bi-Monthly meeting
Meeting: November 10, 1999
Location: City Hall
Next KAN Meeting: January 12, 2000
My Notes:
David Ramsey, City Manager: Comments, Question and answer period.
Key elements discussed:
I-695 is affecting the Kirkland budget plan. At this time, the state has not stepped up to replacing lost money. Therefore, the city is making plans to use it's surplus and/or is making cuts to balance the budget. David explained that every effort is being made to avoid disrupting committed projects.
Discussion of several projects currently in work.
Read David's detailed comments below, in the KAN minutes.
KAN Conference
This city is sponsoring a conference for all members of KAN. The conference, tentatively scheduled for March 4, 2000, is hoped to appeal to all leadership as well as any interested members at large. Focus will be on how to build / grow the neighborhood organizations to be responsive to community needs, and effective in dealing with city hall.
Any specific agenda items for the conference could be submitted
CIP - Capital Investment Program
Sponsored by the city, the CIP provides a mechanism for a neighborhood group to specify a local capital improvement that is additional to any city wide projects.
Kari Page, of the City Manager's Office, appeared at the South Rose Hill association meeting on November 9, and provided details of how the program works.
This KAN session reviewed city-wide implementation details such as possible time-tables, and possible type of improvements.
SRHBTNA Action item: We should begin assembling possible CIP projects immediately, and be prepared to submit them to the KAN / City Managers office at the appropriate time.
Respectfully submitted, Steve Tindall.
KAN Minutes:
Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhood Minutes
November 10, 1999 6-7p.m. @ Norkirk Room, City Hall
In the absence of the scheduled chair, Nancy Roach called the meeting to order at 6:05.
Joyce Buchanan, newly elected city council member was introduced.
City Budget: Dave Ramsey reviewed the situation and the impact of 695. He made the following points:
- The budget is still a work in progress with another study session scheduled for Nov. 16th at 5:30 pm with public hearing at 7:30.
- The impact of 695 is that the city will lose over $518,000 in 2000 and $700,000 in 2001. In addition there will be a $500,000 impact on the CIP. This seen not as a crisis, given Kirkland's prudent budgeting practice, but does have a significant impact which will require some hard choices.
- The more important and long term impact is the voting requirement to raise any fees or taxes. This is not believed to be conducive to the system of representative government by many, and will constitutes a real change in our system of government.
- Dave explained that the lessons he learned from the several budget gutting measures which passed in California were that:
1. There should be no whining, no bandaids.
2. The impact should not be masked by accounting maneuvers, or by robbing "Peter to pay Paul"
3. The approach should be to 'reduce' 'reallocate' and increase revenue where feasible.
4. The CIP should be dealt with through a policy of delay and delete.
- Dave then explained the staff recommendations
1. Reductions
- internal, basic items which would have made staff more efficient
- ending membership in 4 regional agencies
- ending the staffing of the Finn Hill fire station at night
- cut downtown cleanup by 1/2
- cut magistrate hours and not fund projected increase in salary
- delete special event overtime for staff ( CIP)
- delete 130th project
- sidewalk projects in jeopardy
- focus on capacity projects
- Dave indicated that the real and greater impact was the missed opportunities which 695 will cause us to miss. These include
- no additional traffic engineer
- drawback on further implementation of community policing
- no park bond planning person added to staff
2. Revenues:
- increase fees for licenses, boats, classes
- increase in use of home detention over jail time
- increase in parking fines
- Dave then reviewed the options of the council in regard the optional property tax levy.
* Over the past 3 years, the council has not followed a 0 increase policy
* staff is recommending a 1.4% increase which will require 4 votes of the council
* the rationale is that the city needs to retain its structural and fiscal integrity. The past 3 years have seen unprecedented growth which has meant increased revenues for the city which have minimized the impact of the 0% position. The city needs however to improve its basic structure. The impact of a 1.4% increase in the city's share of the property tax amounts to $6.47 a year on a $300,000 house.
* the focus groups convened by the city as part of the budget process indicated that they wanted more services, no cuts in service and were comfortable with as much as a $30 increase in taxes.
* the property tax per $1000 valuation for 1995 was $2.32; 1999 was
$1.95; and for the year 2000, including the 1.4% increase would equal $1.84. The reason for this is that as the assessed valuation increases, the amount collected per 1000 is lessened
3. Some good news: The following items are still in the budget
* neighborhood CIP program
* neighborhood conference
* $5000 in neighborhood support to develop the Tool Kit and other measures which will help neighborhoods be more effective.
* $30,000 in traffic calming
During a question period, it was asked why, given the savings many families will get from the reduction in the license tab fees, why not take the full 6% optional property tax increase. The answer was that to do so would require a supermajority vote of 5 and that there are not 5 votes for that big an increase. The 1.4% is not even sure to gain the required 4 votes.
Additional comments discussed what action legislative leaders are considering and the legal challenges which are pending to 695. The dollar impacts on the Totem Lake and 85th studies are that if a project enhances capacity, it will be funded if possible. There is also funding for the Waverly Site study. The Forbes Creek station is not fully staffed and will not be in the foreseeable future. Also no staff reductions are being considered and positions will be filled as vacancies occur. It was also explained that a 1.4% increase would result in $111,000 additional revenue Action: In a brief discussion, it was agreed that individual neighborhood associations or individuals would testify at the budget hearing on the 16th.
Neighborhood Conference: Cathy reviewed the work of the planning committee. The conference has been set for March 4th. The program under consideration includes an opening speaker(s) and at least 2 workshops. Topics under consideration are "Building Neighborhoods" and "Building Community". There followed discussion and it was agreed that the main item on the agenda at the January KAN meeting will be the format of the conference.
Neighborhood CIP: Kari handed out several items to help explain the process involved in the Neighborhood CIP project. Please contact her at city hall if you need copies. This will be a main point of discussion at the January KAN/City council meeting, currently scheduled for January 18, 2000
The meeting was then adjourned at 7 p.m. so the group could attend the lecture by Bill Kreager "Honey I shrunk the lots"
The following items were distributed. Copies can be obtained by contacting Kari Page at city hall:
Neighborhood Hot Sheet
Notice on "Magic of Mainstreet" kickoff of the holiday season sponsored by Kirkland Downtown on the Lake organization. December 2nd from 6-10
Recap of October 27th planning meeting for the community/neighborhood conference
Kirkland Neighborhood calendar of events
3 items regarding the Neighborhood CIP program