Embedded Files
Neighborhood Association Meeting Minutes
Tuesday November 12, 2024
President Kagen called the meeting to order at 7pm.
Board members present: Chris Kagen, Jim Hoff, Don Samdahl, Betsy Lewis, Felix Chen, Kyle Sullivan, Emily Sorensen, Karina O’Malley, John Marsh.
Board members absent: Deirdre Johnson, Martin Morgan
Guest speakers: KPD Police Chief Cherie Harris, City Council member John Tymczyszyn
City Councilmember present: Jon Pascal
Other attendees: 21
Public Comments:
Phil Allen commented on a letter he received from King County Solid Waste informing residents adjacent to the closed Taylor Fields landfill of impending monitoring and maintenance work. The letter included a phone # to call for information and stated that the line was “staffed 24/7 by “our customer service team”. Mr. Allen stated that the staff member answering his call knew nothing of the work and that the line was not staffed when he called during non-business hours. Mr. Allen commented that this experience reinforced the lack of trust he has in KCSW.
Margaret Schhwender expressed her safety concern for children crossing 116th to the school bus stop. She contacted the school district and was advised to email Franklin Elementary Principal and LWSD Transportation Department, as the District does not currently have a Safety Supervisor on staff.
There was a comment on perceived illegal parking of construction vehicles on130th.
N.E. 85th will be closed the weekend of November 16th-17.
Police Report:
Chief Harris responded to questions submitted by neighbors. Following are the questions and her answers:
–Question regarding observations of juveniles recklessly riding electric bikes. Would like to see some education of teens about the law and responsible riding of these bikes.
Answer: Chief Harris agrees with these concerns. School’s police resource officers work with patrol officers on education. To take action, an officer must see the reckless driving taking place. Call the police non-emergency line or report the incident on the Our Kirkland app. Police track patterns of incidents. An officer observing such activity can confiscate the bicycle and will involve parents.
–Enforcing parking violations and expired license tabs.
Answer: Officers prioritize ADA parking violations and blocking mailboxes. Tickets are written for expired tabs (over 45 days) if a violator is stopped for other reasons or a collision.
–What are the average speeds on NE 60th and 122nd NE—according to current measurements made by the City?
Answer: Chief Harris will send us data on N.E. 60th speed study done in 2023.
–How many speeding tickets have been issued in the last month on each street?Answer: Between October 1 and November 12, 34 officers issued 34 tickets on neighborhood streets including 60th, 70th, 80th, 120th, 116th, 122nd, 124th, and 132nd.
–How can we, as citizens, slow the traffic speed to within the suggested limits?
Answer: Share your concerns, perhaps a petition including names of petitioners .
-When will Ben Franklin Elementary have a traffic camera?
Answer: Traffic volume and speed are criteria for speed cameras. Traffic cameras pick up consistent violators, and those drivers are ticketed with very heavy fines. Even with the cameras, excessive speeds are recorded in school zones. Those drivers are heavily fined.
Chief Harris emphasized repeatedly the importance of reporting our observations of traffic infractions by calling Police Emergency at 425-577-5656 or by submitting a request for service on the Our Kirkland app. Police and City Council sees those reports. The #1 call for service is traffic reports, then assault (mostly domestic violence). Include as much information as possible. This information is vital to police in targeting vehicles, locations, etc. for patrol emphasis. Include day of the week, date, time of day, vehicle description, what you observed–all this data is used by police to target patrol assignments. Chief Harris’ personal observations is that reckless, illegal driver behavior is the worst she has seen in her 32 years of law enforcement work.
–What is being done to combat home break-ins and car theft?
Answer: Auto theft and break-in statistics are down since 2023. There have been no robberies in Kirkland in 2024. The majority of thefts in our neighborhood are mostly misdemeanors. The Rose Hill Safeway is a principal target of shoplifters, especially liquor. Kirkland Police do respond to shoplifting calls–even petty shoplifting.
–What can a citizen do if we observe shoplifting?
Answer: Be a good witness. Be careful and discreet. Most retail establishments have cameras. A witness can photograph a suspect or vehicle but be discreet! Send a report via Our Kirkland or call Police non-emergency. Your observations are very useful in combatting organized or petty retail theft. Kirkland voters passed Proposition 1 a few years ago which, among other things, funded a PROAC unit of plainclothes officers who work with other jurisdictions, USPS, and retail establishments to apprehend criminals through GPS, “fake” packages or merchandise with GPS trackers, and other tools to combat crime on a regional level.
Other crime tips: know your neighbors, check crime mapping tool on City website, keep your porch clear.
NOTE: Four additional questions came; Chief Harris did was unable to prepare answers in time for the 11/12 meeting but has committed to doing so. The questions and her answers will be shared on rosetrails.org and on our distribution list at a later date.
Conversation with Kirkland City Councilmember John Tymczyszyn
Councilmember Tymczyszyn returned to speak with us after speaking at our September meeting, when time constraints prevented him from completing his remarks:
–Kroger/Albertson’s merger threatens Kirkland residents’ access to grocery stores, especially the N.E. 70th corridor, which has already suffered the loss of the Red Apple at Bridle Trails and PCC’s relocation to downtown. A boutique “grocer”, Yarrow Bay Kitchen & Market, recently opened in a space in the SR-520-Northup Way intersection.
This store is not a full service grocery. It mainly offers prepped meals at high prices. The fear is that this is a model for future Kirkland grocers–serving high-end clientele in minimal square footage. Metropolitan Market serves a similar clientele.
The supposition is that if the merger succeeds, Kirkland will likely lose two of its four full-service grocers (two QFC’s and two Safeways), along with the pharmacies operating on grocery premises, and prices will increase.
The four stores could be consolidated under one brand. This would be a huge impact for Kirkland, thus the City joined the Washington State Attorney General’s lawsuit challenging the merger, in an amicus brief. Tymczyszyn remarked that the new City Attorney is a “go-getter”.
–2024-2044 Comprehensive Plan: Tymczyszyn does not foresee “transit corridors” moving forward in the process,other controversial elements remain. He plans to submit amendments that would ensure the plan values our existing neighborhoods. He also wants to see faith-based organizations remain in Kirkland; there are currently around 100 such organizations here. He would require that the organizations continue to operate on their property should the property be re-developed. The intent is that these entities not cease to exist.
–Kraken proposal to develop an iceplex/community center on the Houghton Park & Ride site is moving forward. Councilmember Tymczyszyn ’s concern is that N.E. 70th has adequate infrastructure to accommodate the project.
–Councilmember Tymczyszyn is pushing back on the pressure on Kirkland to allow greater density than is required by law.
Coming Meetings:
Tues. Nov 19 - City Council Meeting. This is the last Council discussion before voting on the Comprehension Plan. Per Councilmember Tymczyszyn , this is the most important meeting of the year to attend:
Study session from 5:30 – 7 pm where Council will discuss their final comments and edits to the Plan.
You can speak after 7:30, during the Council’s regular meeting. 3 people per issue, per side.
Tues. Dec. 10 - City Council Meeting. The Council will vote to approve the Comprehensive Plan.
–Councilmember Tymczyszyn has heard many people express appreciation for the Temporary Houghton Park & Play, especially its rapid development. He’s also heard questions as to where it could be relocated if/when the Kraken proposal advances.
–Comment from the audience: Excited to see the Park & PLay and wish it could remain in its location.
–Comment #2: Can the City communication with us in a print format, such as including communications with utility bills?
–Councilmember Tymczyszyn : We’ll consider that. How many people would read it? Many people use autopay. Communications have been a struggle since we lost the Kirkland Reporter. A quarterly newsletter is under discussion, but it would be expensive.
–Comment: We need more bus service with the Modera @ Bridle Trails complex coming online.
–Councilmember: The City has little influence on King County Metro decisions. Metro is prioritizing low income areas for service. KC wants us to increase density but they don’t provide the transit service to support density. In 2025, Kirkland will create a new staff position to advocate for more bus service. There will also be a new position to work on attracting economic development on the 85th Street corridor.The City spent a significant amount of money on 85th and now we need to re-envision it–we’d planned for lots of office space there, but now the outlook for office demand is bleak. We want to re-energize 85th to enhance neighborhood livability.
Changing topics-the siting and evaluation of the Transfer Station site was and continues to be a sham. $30-$35 million was allocated for site improvement. Kirkland should get every penny of that amount to ensure that odor and noise do not escape that facility. The money also should pay for a sports complex on Taylor Field. I’ve (Tymczyszyn ) have said all along that an industrial facility does not belong in a residential neighborhood. The newly installed benches are now splitting and are taped off. The City needs to be involved in spending that money.
Our Kirkland app demonstration: Kyle Sullivan
Report issues needing attention, such as streets, overgrown vegetation, any needed repair or maintenance the City does. There’s a mobile app or you can go to Our Kirkland on the City website: kirklandwa.gov. The City will respond to you via email.
2025 Neighborhood Safety Project: Kyle Sullivan
The City funds small projects suggested by neighborhoods–two projects per neighborhood totalling up to $70K. Kyle is taking over responsibility for SRHBT’s NSP application process from Jim Hoff. Thanks to Jim for his years of service successfully shepherding numerous safety projects through the friendly neighborhood competition.
Kyle shared some examples that we have been awarded in the past.
President Kagen adjourned the meeting at 9:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Lewis
Secretary, SRHBT Neighborhood Association
Mark your calendar for our next meeting date:
Tuesday January 14, 2025
7 pm
Ben Franklin Elementary
Meeting will be in-person only.
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