Claudia Balducci, King County Councilmember for the 6th District
King County provides our justice system, transportation, community health, and natural resources for the region. ST3 passed during elections, and will include 116 miles of light rail in total, once complete. Currently working on Metro’s long range plan with better connections and faster commutes. The Bellevue part of the Eastside Rail Corridor will begin development that connects the Cross Kirkland Corridor through the Wilburton tunnel, and eventually to Renton. 2015/2016 General budget is $1.5M. The large sources of budget comes from property tax and sales tax. Almost 75% is dedicated to public safety. We currently have a $400M shortfall to maintain roads and bridges. Kelly Rider, Housing Development Consortium (HDC) Government Relations and Policy Director She will talk to us about the current state of affordable housing on the Eastside and the role of ARCH Eastside Housing's Trust Fund. HDC has 130 members from non-profit, for profit, and government agencies – including ARCH – all focusing on affordable housing. HDC is focused on low income residents. The federal definition of affordable is 30% of income or less for housing; 50% of income or more towards housing is considered burdened. In 2016, the area medium income in King County for a four person household is $90,000. HDC focuses on people earning 60% or less of the area medium income. ARCH is a government agency that administers affordable housing units, funding, and programs. Cities on the Eastside contribute a budget line item to ARCH’s trust fund. HDC advocates for affordable housing, and for cities to increase their contributions to ARCH. At its inception in the 1990’s, ARCH asked Eastside cities to contribute a total of $1M - $2M annually. That hasn’t increased since. HDC’s goal is to increase funding to $6M per year. Moss Bay's Neighborhood Safety Program and Neighborhood Grant We submitted our top two voted projects to the Neighborhood Safety Program. A panel will evaluate the projects on January 10, 2017 based on cost, feasibility, and need. They submit the top ranked projects to the City Council to approve. Aimee will follow up on the Neighborhood Matching Grant program and how we can participate. Developer activity in Moss Bay Spring 2017 – 780 feet of water and sewer line will be replaced on 2nd St S and 3rd Ave S. The road will be closed except to emergency vehicles and local traffic. Traffic signals will be added on 6th St S at Kirkland Way, and at and 9th Ave S. The work at 6h St S will begin in Spring 2017, and will have a major impact on traffic access during development. If we notice damage to streets caused by developer activity, we can call the city and notify them. The city may require the developer to redo patches and other road work. 6th St S is slated to be repaved in about 3 years. It is longer than we’d like because heavy trucks will use that route for development activity at Kirkland Urban, and will add to the damage. KAN (Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods) If anyone is interested in participating in the city’s the Sign Review process, reply to contact@mossbay.org. Chief Cherie Harris – Kirkland Chief of Police since April 2016
She started her career at Washington State University, then moved to Monroe before joining the Kirkland department over four years ago. Approach to her job as chief: listening to the officers, demonstrating that she cares, making sure they have equipment. One way she demonstrates that she’s gone out on SWAT calls and investigations to be present with the officers. For the last three years, the top calls for service are: 1. Collisions 2. Car prowls, vehicle thefts (typically when something valuable is left in sight). 3. Residential burglaries Tip: if you park on the street with your garage door opener in your car and it is broken into, the thief can get into your garage. If you have an unlocked door from the garage to the house, you are at risk for burglary. Drug crimes: There are crimes related to drugs. There have been fatal overdoses of heroin of young people. The fire department is working on carrying overdose antidotes. There have been very few calls related to Kirkland’s marijuana stores. The Department is finishing a 5+ year Strategic Plan. One aspect of the plan calls for looking at the data for every call for service to problem solve. One goal is to become more involved in the community. One idea is to have an online system to report crimes that don’t require a police officer to show up and take a report. For example, if a car appeared to be broken into but nothing was stolen, you could report it online. Recruiting and Retention: In the past, turnover was very low. But there have been 11 retirements and people moving for other opportunities. Eight positions have been hired and are going through the police academy. There are 98 officers and can hire two “over-hires” because of the number of people reaching retirement age. There are 20 staff members at the jail. Audra Weber has been Kirkland’s neighborhood resource officer. She will go back to patrol until the department increases staffing. Tip: you can call the business line or email police@kirklandwa.gov for questions or when you want to discuss something about policing. Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center and 6th Street Corridor Angela Ruggeri is in the Planning Department responsible for this project and the plan is at http://www.kirklandwa.gov/ depart/planning/Development_ Info/projects/he6th.htm Marcia Wagoner from 3 Square Blocks – Consulting Company Hired by Kirkland City Planning Department to do public outreach. The goal is to update the Comprehensive Plan, update zoning regulations, and address Transportation issues. For example, the PCC grocery store wants to redevelop to add more space. This initiative is to help determine what could be possible. Right now, businesses are zoned for up to 30 feet in height. The citywide survey is open until October 28, 2016 at https://he6.metroquest.com There have been over 500 responses, with about 10% from Moss Bay. Results so far: · People want retail and restaurants. Don’t want offices and housing. However, Moss Bay’s results were higher for including mixed-use retail/housing. Most preferred small scale buildings with public spaces. · High interest in traffic controls for bikes and pedestrians. In November (2nd or 3rd), there will be a community workshop at Northwest University, to review survey findings, review pros and cons of land use and transportation options. The Planning Commission will review the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning November – January. The Transportation Commission will review and prioritize in the same time period. The recommendations will be presented to the City Council in early 2017. If you have questions about any city topic, or want to make a complaint or request, visit http://www.kirklandwa.gov/City_Services/question.htm KAN Update The city is putting on a program for residents on January 9, 2016 at the Kirkland Performance Center. The focus is on neighborhoods and topics that concern residents within each neighborhood. The featured speaker is Peter Kageyama, who is highly respected as a dynamic speaker with skills in making neighborhoods more meaningful. http://www.Fortheloveofcities.com Neighborhood Safety Program Must have our top 2 neighborhood ideas are by November 3rd. We will email the MBNA email list a survey monkey of the top ideas to have people vote on their top 2 preferences. Go to this site to request a project.
Kirkland Development Update In Development: · Kirkland Urban (former Park Place site) – Two office buildings 375,000 (square feet) with retail and restaurants, plus 185 homes. · Park and Main – Mixed use building with retail on the Park Lane side, and 128 homes. · State Street Lofts – 4 homes at the corner of State and NE 68th · Two developments nearing completion: at 7th Ave S and at the intersection of State Street and 4th Ave S; both about 30 homes. Planning Stage: · Areta is adding an extension to their current building with 70 apartment units. · The former Bungee office building near QFC will become 184 units in a mixed-use building. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a turnout of about 40 members.
Karen Kitsis, Sound Transit Senior Planning & Project Development Manager, was our first guest. Karen showed us the existing Sound Transit system as well as the planned extensions that will come in the 3rd wave of development called ST3. The average tax increase for ST3 will be about $200 per household. There is a study planned for the Cross Kirkland Corridor, but no current plans for transit on the trail. A light rail line from Bellevue to the South Kirkland Park and Ride is being considered as part of ST3. Seth! Leary, Education Director of Kirkland Arts Center, cleared up some of the mystery surrounding that organization. The Center has been located in the historic 1889 Peter Kirk building on Market St. since 1962. The art gallery at the Center is open to he public and is free of charge. There are five art shows put on per year. The Center offers 65 classes per quarter in ceramics, oil, acrylic, water color, print making, photography, 3D animation, drawing and jewelry. They hold their Art Beat Gala every October, a major fund raising auction. Kari Page updated us on Kirkland's Neighborhood Safety Program. Kari outlined the 2016 program projects. Moss Bay's two projects, stairs to the Cross Kirkland Corridor at the Corner 2nd Ave and 10th Street, and a crosswalk entrance to Marina Park from the south side of Kirkland Ave, have been approved for funding and should be completed in 2017. Aimee Voelz told us that Leadership Eastside has launched a civic incubator program to address issues on the Eastside. Aimee is participating in the Affordable Housing Committee. Election were held for the officers of the Moss Bay Neighborhood Association. Don Winters announced that he is retiring after 13 years as co-chair. Two new co-chairs, Dan Ryan and Aimee Voelz, were unanimously elected. Bea Nahon was elected as secretary, and Leslie Keller, who has been treasurer since 1997, was re-elected. Don Winters gave a brief update on development projects in Moss Bay. A new project in the works is Areté II, which would be located at 330 4th St. It would be a mix of office, apartments and residential suites (sometimes known as apodments), with 70 residential units. Robert Pantley is the developer. Robert's Areté on Central Way, a 290 unit complex, was recently completed. Our next meeting will be September 19, 2016. Don Winters called the meeting to order. We had a great turnout of about 50 members.
Dave Tomson of SRM Development was our first guest. Google has moved into their new building on 7th Ave. S. There will be a ribbon cutting on Feb 16 at 11AM with City and Google officials as well as Governor Inslee. Moss Bay residents are invited. The City will be installing two traffic signals on 6th St. S. this summer -- one at Kirkland Way and another at 9th Ave. S. The new lighted "Google" sign on the building facing 7th Ave. S. will be turned off daily at 9PM to avoid annoying neighbors. SRM has purchased Moss Bay Storage on 5th Place S. No immediate plans. Ed Segat of Continental Properties told us about their new mixed use project on the "Antique Mall" site at 114 Main St. There will be 4 stories with 128 residential apartments over one floor, approx. 13,000 sq ft, of retail. There will be 20 studio apartments, 35 1 bedroom, 57 1 bedroom/Den units, and 16 2 bedroom apartments. The units will average 785 sq ft. There will be 212 underground parking stalls and 46 pay retail stalls which will be available to the public. The project is slated to be completed by the end of 2017. Jenna Higgins, Kirkland's Recycling Program Coordinator, briefed us on the new plastic bag ban, which goes into effect March 1. Stores will not be providing plastic bags and there will be a 5 cent charge allowed for paper. More info here. Glenn Peterson mentioned that Summerfest, which will take place Aug 12 and 13, is in need of volunteers for a steering committee. Kari Page explained the Neighborhood Safety Program and how the two projects we voted for are now candidates to be funded by the City. The City Council will make the decision on April 19 and the projects should be implemented by June 2017. Our number one project is stairs to the Cross Kirkland Corridor near the corner of 2nd Ave. and 10th St. We discussed the option of moving the location to nearby Kirkland Way where it might be more visible and used by more people. Our second project is improved sidewalk and a crosswalk at the west end of Kirkland Ave. This would provide a more pedestrian friendly entry to Marina Park. Kari mentioned that stairs from the CKC to 68th St. in Houghton are under construction. Don Winters reviewed a number of development projects that are planned or underway. The 27 unit "401 State" project is under construction and 5 units have been sold. The 76 unit Capri Kirkland, on the old White Swan site on Central Way, is completed and apartments and retail spaces are leasing. The 290 unit "apodment" development, Areté (Crab Cracker site), also on Central, is nearing completion and some tenants have moved in. A 20 unit development, "The Walk", on 7th Ave. S. is under construction. A new project, "State Street Lofts", is in the planning stage. The project will be 4 stand-alone residential "cluster homes" on the northeast corner of State St. and NE 68th St. KAN report -- The Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods provided input via their spillover parking efforts that resulted in the City Council approving a new ordinance that makes it a violation to park in front of a mailbox from 8AM until 5PM. Our next meeting will be March 21, 2016. |