Meeting Notes 11/14/2023
SRHBT GENERAL MEETING MINUTES 11/14/2023
The meeting took place at Ben Franklin Elementary School and on zoom.
Attendance: 12 in person, 9 virtual
Board members present: Chris Kagen, Jim Hoff, Deirdre Johnson, Betsy Lewis, John Marsh, Karina O’Malley, Kayla Kaluna
Board members absent: Martin Morgan, Don Samdahl
Meet and Greet with KPD Lt. Goguen
Organized retail theft is the biggest crime issue in our community. KPD has assigned a supervising sergeant and three other officers to identify “high profile individuals”. Kirkland was working with Bellevue and King County, but those two departments have pulled out due to low staffing. KPD meets with Loss Prevention staff at major retailers. WA Attorney General’s office is working statewide on the issue and Kirkland is on that team.
Questions/Comments from the audience:
What to do if you witness retail theft? Do not get involved as many of these individuals are armed. Take photos, get license plate #’s, report to police and be a good witness.
N.E. 60th issues: both lanes of traffic are blocked before and after school for 10-15 minutes, and speeding continues to be a problem. Traffic has always been a #1 issue. Lt. Goguen will share this with Traffic Officer Crocker tomorrow morning. Enforcement comes down to officer availability. Identify to Officer Crocker the time of day the blocking is occurring. Is there any chance of installing a traffic camera on 60th? That’s an issue to address with City Council.
Bridle Trails Shopping Center is a car show on Friday and Saturday nights. The parking lot feels unsafe. I’ve called 4-5 times to report it. Police analytics track car clubs Police search social media for events. Officers will talk to the leaders. Talk to shopping center business owners. If you feel unsafe, call police. There is also an issue of car races on N.E. 70th, after dark, a dangerous situation particularly for pedestrians. I’ve seen cars tailgating one another, then one trying to go around the other and stopped by the median.
What is the current KPD staffing level? We’re budgeted for 108 officers. Currently we have 98 on duty. Others are in the police academy or in other training. We’re staffed with a minimum of 18 patrol officers in a 24 hour shift.
Make phone calls and email KPD. Police can’t allocate resources to a problem area if we are not aware of it. KPD Non-Emergency #: 425-577-5656.
Introducing New Board Member Kayla Kaluna
Northeast Regional Transfer Station (NERTS): Paula Goelzer (Friends of Taylor Field)
FOTF attorney met with King County legal representative. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be released Spring 2024. Following its release, the NERTS Site Advisory Group will meet. These meetings allow public comment. Paula encouraged us to attend and comment on the record. FOTF will send out notification of the SAG meeting date and when the DEIS is open for public comment.
Kirkland’s Transition to Electric Leafblowers (R-5585 Electric Leafblower Initiative Diana Hart, City of Kirkland
Sunset use of gas-powered leaf blowers by target date of December 31, 2025
Reduce negative health impacts
Provide financial support
Be proactive to potential State decisions
Enforcement of City’s Noise Ordinance
Kirkland Sign Ordinance: Jim Hoff
KIrkland is in the process of hiring code enforcement personnel which should increase sign ordination enforcement, with hopefully more sign sweeps. The intent is to train a volunteer for each neighborhood to assist in illegal sign removal.
Neighborhood Safety Proposals: Jim Hoff
Each neighborhood may submit three proposals Deadline for submissions is November 29 to Jim Hoff at jnlhoff48@gmail.com.
Recycling app demo:
The app developer was unable to attend. Chris will try to reschedule the demo for a future meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Lewis
Secretary