Embedded Files
SRHBT Neighborhood Association Meeting 05/13/2025
Minutes
President Chris Kagen called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm, after a brief delay in accessing the meeting location.
Attendees: 23 (excluding Board)
Board Members present: Chris Kagen, Jim Hoff, Don Samdahl, Betsy Lewis, Deirdre Johnson, Karina O’Malley, Martin Morgan, Emily Sorensen, Felix Chen, Kyle Sullivan
Board member absent: John Marsh
Attendees included City of Kirkland Solid Waste Program Lead Jenna McInnis and City Council candidates Catie Malik and Ken MacKenzie.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Margaret Schwender commented that popular local restaurant Cafe 79 owner is seeking to relocate to the Modera @ Kirkland complex as the Cafe’s popularity requires more seating , venting capacity, and a new oven. Margaret urged customers to post positive reviews on social media to assist in pursuing a lease in the new development. Margaret noted that Cafe 79’s owner is a generous contributor to local schools.
Don Samdahl commented that the Bridle Trails Bartell Drug location is “on its last legs” and may not last through the summer. June 1 is the final day to redeem gift cards.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
A “Clean the Curb Day” will take place on Saturday May 31 from 10 am to noon.
Location : N.E. 70th between 116th N.E. and 132nd N.E. Pick a curb to weed. Everyone is invited. Sue Contreras reminds us that many hands make light work.
King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci (District 6) has scheduled a walk of the perimeter of the Taylor Fields/Houghton Transfer Station site with interested “edge” site neighbors.
Date: Saturday June 28 from 10-11 am. Councilmember Balducci is interested in hearing from neighbors of the proposed NERTS facility.
Kirkland Parks’ first event of the summer at the Houghton Park and Play, “Junk in the Trunk” on May 3 was a resounding success. 60 vendor spaces were filled, with additional vendors on a waitlist, lots of community support and appreciation. Three food trucks participated. Parking for shoppers quickly filled; resulting in Parks staff and volunteers having to shift gears to manage parking in order to avoid traffic backups. While there is great interest in holding these events on a regular basis, at this time there is insufficient Parks staffing to offer these events on a monthly basis. Linda Hoff attended the event, assisting a friend who was a vendor. Linda expressed how impressed she was with the event’s organization, parking control, and assistance from the Parks team members with set-up. Restrooms were provided, the weather cooperated, and there was covered seating and table area for food truck customers. Linda observed a wide variety of goods on offer and hopes the event will be repeated.
NERTS (Northeast Regional Transfer Station) UPDATE; Friends of Taylor Field (FOTF) President Phil Allen and City of Kirkland Solid Waste Program Lead Jenna McInnis
Friends of Taylor Field and the City have filed separate appeals of the siting decision. The two appeals differ in content and take a different approach from one another.
Who hears the appeals?
The appeals will go before a Hearing Examiner who may combine the two appeals or consider them concurrently.Mr. Allen and Ms. McInnis took questions from the audience:
What exactly do the appeals say?
FOTF: Do not use the Houghton site. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is inadequate.
The City of Kirkland’s appeal takes a different approach; NERTS is an essential public facility; therefore the key components of the City’s appeal are transportation impacts, mitigation is too vague, site selection process, and the excavation of hazardous waste the selected site will require. The City is also exploring their options to get a desirable outcome through code, zoning, and permitting if the Houghton site stands.
The City has filed a separate appeal with Snohomish county that the siting decision is invalid.
How is FOTF’s appeal funded?
FOTF is a nonprofit in the process of applying to be a 501C3.
Why does King County want this site so badly?
The City has not had an answer to that question.
For more information on the City’s appeal, visit
Kraken Iceplex Update
City Council is moving forward aggressively on the iceplex, though no agreement has been signed. Per the 2025-2026 Kirkland Work Program: “Partner with the Seattle Kraken to develop a state-of-the-art iceplex that will host NHL teams at the former Houghton Park and Ride property if the facility includes a new Parks community center and other community benefits defined by the Council. City Council Goals: Thriving Economy, Abundant Parks, Open Spaces, and Recreational Services”. The project went out for bid–the only bidder was the Kraken’s development arm.
Questions from the audience:
Will the City be managing the construction?
No.
Has the former Park and Ride site zoning be changed to allow an iceplex?
Yes. It is zoned “Park”.
A concern was raised about using the City’s bonding capacity for a private entity.
Chris Kagen stated that SRHBT has clearly expressed that there must be a specific community benefit, and that Council knows this as well. SRHBT has strongly expressed the expectation that we want to be involved in these plans and and on NERTS planning as well.
Summer Events In SRHBT Neighborhood: Save the Dates!
SRHBT Neighborhood Association Ice Cream Social at the Houghton Park and Play
Thursday August 7 4-7 pm
Kirkland Parks International Night Market at the Houghton Park and Play
Wednesday August 13 4-8 pm
City Forestry and Tree Ambassador Pilot: Jim Hoff
Kirkland is offering a tree rebate currently.
City staff Anna Heckmann will hopefully present more information on the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan at a fall SRHBT meeting.
Neighborhood Safety Program: Kyle Sullivan
SRHBT’s proposal to improve the gravel path on the east side of 132nd N.E. between Snyder’s Corner and N.E. 66th to make it ADA compliant. The improvement will allow a power wheelchair-reliant resident access to the crosswalk on 132nd.
A work backlog may delay construction to 2026.
The Neighborhood Safety Program process will resume this fall, so be thinking of small-scale projects you would like to see funded.
Elections: Karina O’Malley, Elections Committee
The following slate of Directors and Officers was elected by unanimous acclaim:
President: Chris Kagen
Vice President: Jim Hoff
Secretary: Betsy Lewis’
Treasurer: Don Samdahl
Director: Martin Morgan
Director: Deepa Garg
SAVE THE DATE
South Rose Hill-Bridle Trails City Council Candidate Forum
Tuesday September 9
We’ll ask candidates to address issues specifically important to our neighborhood.
The forum will take place on our normally scheduled meeting date.
7-9 pm
Ben Franklin Elementary
Don’t Miss It!
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Betsy Lewis
Secretary
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