Meeting Notes 05/09/2023

South Rose Hill Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association General Meeting Tuesday May 9, 2023 7 pm on zoom

Board Members Present: Jim Hoff, Deirdre Johnson, Martin Morgan, Betsy Lewis, Don Samdahl, Karina O’Malley

Board Members Absent: Chris Kagen, Craig Brown, John Marsh, Clarissa O’Malley

24 attendees in total

Guests: Toby Nixon, Kirkland City Council

              Kurt Triplett, Kirkland City Manager

Jim Hoff called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

Police Report: Lieutenant Zablan Lapaki

The Houghton Park-and-Ride site is owned by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Kirkland Police will respond to criminal issues and trespass reports. To report incidents: 425-577-5656 (Non-Emergency Dispatch).Deirdre Johnson requested a sign with this phone # be posted on the fence.

Mr. Triplett stated that WSDOT granted Kirkland permission to erect the temporary fence. When WSDOT is the victim of a crime (crimes against property for example),  WSDOT will be notified. 

Can KPD impound vehicles from the property? Yes, if involved in a collision. Otherwise, 

WSDOT must authorize impoundment and trespass violations. “No Trespassing” signs will be posted on the fence. Mr. Triplett will confirm when signs are posted.

Update: On May 15, Lt. Lapaki notified Board member Karina O’Malley that WSDOT clarified their policy: They will not tow vehicles abandoned or disabled on I-405 to the Houghton Park-and-Ride or vicinity. WSDOT also clarified to call 425-577-5656 to report incidents of concern.

Future of the Houghton Park-and-Ride

The Houghton Park-and-Ride (P & R) is currently owned by WSDOT and leased by King County Metro through May 31, 2023. The P & R was acquired with partial funding from the Federal Highway Administration. Kirkland has been aware that WSDOT wants to surplus the property and Kirkland is interested in acquiring it for public use. Metro ceased all transit service to the P & R March 18, 2023.

WSDOT’s 2002 I-405 Master Plan called for using a portion of the P & R property to re-do the N.E. 70th exit from northbound I-405, and to widen the freeway at that point. This unfunded plan would redirect 116th N.E. to the north portion of the P & R. Kirkland has determined that a proposed Aquatic Center would fit into the remaining portion of the P & R; therefore talks continue with WSDOT about the potential purchase of the property. Also, a smaller Aquatic Center is under consideration. WSDOT has agreed to sell the property minus an encumbered easement for possible future use. As implementing WSDOT’s Master Plan would necessitate removal of several existing houses, it’s unlikely the interchange project will built, as the State no longer removes homes to allow for roadway expansion. But the State wants an easement “just in case”. 

2023 Kirkland Parks Ballot Measure

Mr. Triplett showed a video on the ballot measure. The Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC),  comprised of 45 citizen volunteers, convened over several months and developed a funding ballot measure which they recommended to City Council, to include:

• New indoor pools

• “Lazy rivers”

• Exercise programs

• Fitness rooms

• Gyms

• Multipurpose rooms

• Activity spaces

To be located at one or two centers located at the Houghton Park-and-Ride site or the current North Kirkland Community Center site.

Also included in the recommendations for funding:

• Improvements to 5-11 existing Parks restrooms that will allow year-round use

• Construct 3 new Parks restrooms

• Purchase land to complete the Green Loop Trail and construct the trail

• Construct and reconfigure existing sport courts to accommodate pickleball, sand volleyball, and other sports

• Increase lifeguard hours at 3 beach parks

• Add drop-in hours at the Teen Center

• Safety improvements at parks

The City will decide in mid-July on whether to put the funding measure on the ballot.

It is likely that an 80,000-100,000 sf aquatic center will be sited at the Houghton park-and-Ride site pending approval of a ballot measure.

Visit kirklandwa.gov/diveinnow for more information.

Houghton Park-and-Ride–Its Future  a Chronology; Future of the Houghton Transfer Station

A meeting attendee kicked off discussion with a question: Why did the City pay to fence a property owned by WSDOT?

Mr. Triplett: City Council set aside funding to purchase the P & R site, when becoming aware that WSDOT might want to surplus it. Possible uses for the site to include schools, affordable housing, an aquatic center. The City estimated the State would set the price of the property at $10 million. Through 2022, The State did not give a price. The City had no intent of being secretive on any of this; but there was nothing to disclose. In February 2023 King County decided they might want the property for a new garbage transfer station, though they had shown no previous interest. Subsequently the County withdrew interest on determining the site was too small for such use. Once King County withdrew, the City began direct talks with WSDOT. After the State received permission from Federal Highway Administration authorities, the City of Kirkland is now free to purchase the property.

Once King County Metro’s lease expires, WSDOT will not maintain the property.

Hence the City’s installation of temporary fencing to secure the site, with WSDOT’s permission. Pending WSDOT’s permission, the City will construct and install a permanent gated fence at a cost of $133K, to be deducted from the purchase price of the property, as several years may elapse before any development occurs. 

Question from Carter Bagg: How about partnering with the school district on development?

Answer from Triplett: The City would like to partner with the district but does not want a road through the property.

Question from Allen and Petra: How about temporary uses of the property such as parking, pickleball courts, a dog park, etc. ?

Answer from Triplett: The City wants productive temporary usage that provides “eyes on it”.

Answer from Nixon: Market (farmers, etc.)  activities have been proposed. The question is does the asphalt come or go to accommodate any interim uses? Uses depend on available funding; some playing areas can be developed on existing pavement.

Comment from Deirdre Johnson: The Houghton P & R was only under-used because Metro cancelled all the bus routes it served (except Route 245). The City never stood up for us. Unfortunately we lost transit. We have no ability to get to the N.E. 85th Street Bus Rapid Transit station since it has no parking.

Response from Toby Nixon: Council did speak up re: Eastside transit service cuts. Metro has made a change to focus on social justice in [route planning]. Even though Eastside average income is high, it seems wrong to cut service based on average income. Council discussions with Metro are ongoing. Council does not agree with Metro’s decisions.

Comment from Sandra Eisert: It’s impossible to use mass transit. 

Comment from Jim Hoff: Leave room at the Houghton P & Ride for carpool parking. Questioning need for additional gym space at proposed aquatic center. Also concern about a bond issue in a climate of increasing property  taxes; it’s poor timing to put forth this ballot measure. 

Comment on gyms: The City has a robust relationship with schools. The challenge is that elementary school gyms are designed for use by short people [children] and school gyms are already tightly scheduled. 

Question, comment  from Don Samdahl: What is a realistic time frame for interim improvements? What’s the official process? If the measure passes this fall, it’s likely three years out for an operational aquatic center opens. The north end of the site will still be available for interim use, too. I understand the North Kirkland site would not allow for a lap pool, only a recreational pool.

Comment from Margaret Schwender: A great interim use would be to hold classic car shows.

Comment on property taxes from Betsy Lewis: property taxes are becoming unsustainable.

Comment from Sheen: An aquatic and recreation center would be awesome. The P & R was not used enough.

Comment from Kayla Kaluna: I absolutely agree.

Comment from Sheen: I work for Seattle Parks & Recreation and I am for more recreation for all!

Question from Deepa Garg: Didn’t Mayor Sweet first suggest King County consider the P & R site for the NERTS site in a semi-closed King County Solid Waste meeting? 

Response from Mr. Triplett: Mayor Sweet did first propose that. There is a lot of history on that which I am happy to speak to. The Mayor didn’t think it should be a foregone conclusion to site a new transfer station at the site of the current facility. The City has consistently asked that additional sites be considered. A final decision will be made in September on the number of sites considered. The City insists on robust mitigation should the Houghton site be selected, and that the money King County has set aside for land acquisition be used for significant mitigation.

Comment and questions from Deepa Garg: Multipurpose parking + some logical recreation like basketball, but is not a heavy lift financially, to be demolished for an aquatic center a few years later. It’s all taxpayer-funded ultimately. Can you speak to why Peter Kirk Pool can’t  be improved, with existing parking access and existing demand for year-round lessons? Certainly it’s old enough to be remodeled and would have to cost less than an entirely new facility.Is the North Kirkland Community Center still an option for the aquatic center? Does the survey decide it? [Note: the survey has since closed.] 

Response from Mr. Triplett: Peter Kirk Pool has a new boiler, could be roofed for year-round use. City could make investments to enable year-round use.

Comment from Don Samdahl: I understand the North Kirkland site would not allow a lap pool; only a recreational pool.

Comment from Deanna  Matzen: I am pro-aquatic center in S. Rose Hill. This seems like a more equitable distribution of city amenities between central and north Kirkland.

Comment from Deepa Garg: Can the Neighborhood Association put more direct work/time into these very critical issues i.e. help directly with P & R work also the transfer station? That way the City isn’t making decisions in a silo either.

Mr. Triplett: Council will be briefed on May 16. A final decision has not been made on going to the ballot. It is highly unlikely that Evergreen Hospital will be going to the ballot this year. 

Question: Is  60% yes vote required for passage? 

Answer from Mr. Triplett: Yes, for a bond. Another option is a levy, which requires 50% approval plus one. North Kirkland is still an option for an aquatic center. The topography is more challenging but it would be more centrally located. Also that site is surrounded by single family homes.

Comment from Councilmember Nixon: Council is curious about what SRHBT neighborhood thinks about siting an aquatic center at the P & R site. Traffic, lack of sidewalks, potential site for new transfer station.

Comment from Don Samdahl: The Neighborhood needs to initiate discussions on the location of the aquatic center. 

Comment from Deepa Garg: The neighborhood needs a demonstration of trust from City and County on the transfer station. The P & R site can be multi-use short-term, then transition to an aquatic center. Survey residents: Where do they need to go, to determine transportation needs.

Jim Hoff thanked Mr. Triplett and Councilmember Nixon for their participation in the meeting.

Elections: Deirdre Johnson

Officers serve a one-year term, Directors’ terms are two years.

Nominations ensued. Election results:

President: Chris Kagen

Vice President: Jim Hoff

Secretary: Betsy Lewis

Treasurer: Don Samdahl

Directors:  Martin Morgan was re-elected. 

Carter Bagg was elected to a Director position. Long involved in civic engagement, Mr. Bagg has served Kirkland on the Design Review Board and on the Planning Commission. He is a retired architect.

Neighborhood Grant: Don Samdahl

In 2023, SRHBT Neighborhood Association is eligible for $3000 grant funds from the City. Project proposals for these funds are due in the next few weeks. Grant monies must be matched with volunteer labor (@ $30/hour).

Martin and Sharon Morgan will continue seasonal planting and maintenance of the Bridle Trails Neighborhood sign on N.E. 70th just east of the Houghton Park-and-Ride, which has been an ongoing grant project. 

An enthusiastic  discussion of potential grant projects ensued:

Neighborhood picnic, an ice cream night, flyers publicizing the Neighborhood Association, and other community-building activities were a focus of the discussion.

The following attendees volunteered to work on these activities:

Sheen, Margaret Schwender, Felix Chen, Kayla Kaluna, Deepa Garg (communications strategy consultation), 

Anyone interested in volunteering for community building activities using grant funding is invited to attend the June SRHBT Neighborhood Association Board meeting:

Tuesday June 13 7:00 pm

12830 N.E. 73rd Street (Jim and Linda Hoff residence)

Enter the backyard through the gate on the east side of the driveway.

Jim will follow up on the meeting announcement. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:46 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Betsy Lewis

Secretary