Presentations Notes and links

Kirkland Senior Council (Susan Harris-Huether , Former Chair)

• 21-member council (ages 50-90+) works with city on accessibility and senior programming
• Monthly meetings: Second Tuesday, 1:30 PM at PKCC
• Upcoming events:
• Decluttering workshop: Thursday May 14th https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/Parks-and-Community-Services/Senior-Council-Presentation
• Art show: June 5th -12th at Merrill Gardens Senior Center
• Summer initiative: Partnering with AARP on citywide livability survey at farmers markets
•  VivaVolunteers (volunteer fair discontinued due to low turnout)

City Events & Tourism (Christian Lash, Special Projects Coordinator)

• 2026 funded events: $110,000 allocated (up from typical $60K), with most events downtown
• 2027 applications open until June 1st for Tourism Development Committee funding
• https://canva.link/ksvxvx0p2vx9dtk
• Event discovery: ExploreKirkland.com with monthly email newsletter reaching 16,000 people
• Marina Park construction (2027): Will limit larger events like Uncorked and Witch's Market
• July 4th: Volunteer opportunities available, road closures and parking restrictions downtown
• Umbrella Fringe Festival: Second year of Kirkland Arts Center's fringe art event featuring spoken word, live murals, and experimental performances

Our Kirkland Service Portal (David Wolbrecht, Communications Program Manager)

• Primary reporting tool for non-emergency city issues
• Access: Website portal or iOS app for submitting requests with photos and location pins
• Process: Requests auto-route to appropriate city teams; anonymous submissions accepted but limit follow-up capability
• Average volume: ~500 requests per month
• Known issue: Portal closes requests when handed to Public Works crews, causing confusion about actual completion status

Moss Bay History (Loita Hawkinson, Kirkland Heritage Society)

• 1888 origins: Named after Peter Kirk's Moss Bay Steelworks; original mill site (now Urban/Post Office) abandoned due to annual flooding 2223
• Lake Washington lowering (1916): Dropped 9 feet, stabilized flooding, enabled business district expansion
• Oldest business site: Collins & Son building (now Lake Street Nail Bar) from 1914, still on original pilings
• WWII contribution: Ballinger Boat Works built 68 Coast Guard picket boats with 100 employees, largest Coast Guard contract
• Museum location: Heritage Hall, 203 Market Street, lower level. Open Wednesdays 10 AM-12 PM, Tuesdays 2-5 PM

Kirkland Main Street (Sheila Clooney, President)

• Mission: Coalition of businesses, property owners, and community leaders promoting historic district while supporting economic development 2930
• Recent work:
• Coordinated Central Peak project (old U.S. Bank building) impacts with Park Lane businesses for parking and alley access
• Awarded Chesmore Buck architects for Rock Creek Building preservation
• Second annual Santa Breakfast fundraiser with Moss Bay Hall; funds support downtown plantings
• Current challenges: Increased shoplifting, petty crime, and unhoused individuals in doorways affecting downtown businesses
• Circle the Block: Weekly volunteer program for litter pickup and sticker removal

Neighborhood Safety Program (Don Winters, Coordinator)

• Project: Crosswalk across 7th Avenue South at State Street intersection ($71,280)
• Scoring: Ranked 8th of 12 projects with 95/200 points; cumulative cost through project 8 is $361K vs. $350K budget
• Decision pending: City Council vote May 17th on three funding options (projects 1-7, projects 1-9 for $395K, or alternate mix)
• Concurrent improvements independent of NSP:
• State Street/7th Avenue South rapid flashing beacons starting summer construction
• Five additional rapid flashing beacon locations via Transportation Benefit District: First/Central Way, Peter Kirk Park, 2nd Avenue South/State, 2nd Avenue South/Lake, 5th Avenue South/Lake 3839

Parks Board (Paul Stull, Board Member)

• Summer sidewalk project (June-September): Dozen trees removed and sidewalks replaced along Kirkland Avenue, Lake Street South near 2nd Avenue
• https://www.kirklandwa.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/public-works/cip/folio-kirkland-ave-sidewalk-web.pdf
• Kraken Iceplex: Second-floor community center; city soliciting programming ideas ahead of 2027 opening
• https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/Kraken-Iceplex-Community-Center-Project)

Community Engagement Opportunities

• KDA Clean Sweep (May 17th, Sunday): Two shifts (9 AM-12 PM, 12:30-3:30 PM), check-in at Sotheby's Realty; Main Street sponsoring
• Kirkland Main Street volunteers: Circle the Block weekly cleanup program seeking participants
• Heritage Society volunteers: Museum seeks additional docents for expanded hours

Next

• Next happy hour: Monday, June 8th
• Summer break: No neighborhood meetings June-August
• Next neighborhood meeting: September 14th 

Meeting Purpose
To hear updates from local organizations and discuss neighborhood initiatives.

Topics
Kirkland Seahawkers Booster Club
Presenter: Terri Fletcher, President
History: Formed in 1976 with the team; the Kirkland chapter was re-established in 2018.
Mission: Raise awareness and funds for charities.
2025 Impact: ~$776k donated globally, with ~$35k from the Kirkland chapter.
Local Charities: Meow Rescue, Old Dog Haven, Pantry Packs, Safe Parking Program, Children's Hospital.
Community Service: Adopted Market Street (Forbes Creek to Central Way) for year-round cleanups.
Membership: $15/year ($25/family) → 10% Pro Shop discount, pre-game tailgate access, field pass opportunities.  https://www.seahawkers.org/chapters/wa-kirkland/

Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of the month at Moss Bay Hall.
5:00–6:30 PM: Social hour & dinner
6:35 PM: Meeting

Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce
Presenter: Kathryn Straub, Executive Director
Mission: Create a sustainable community by advocating for, educating, and promoting local businesses.
Funding Model: A 501(c)(6) non-profit funded by memberships and events.
Does not receive city tourism funds (TCB), a key funding source for most chambers.
Advocacy: Represents business needs to state legislators in Olympia.
https://www.kirklandchamber.org/

Upcoming Events:
Sustainability Luncheon 2.0: March 10, featuring the COO of TerraPower (Bill Gates' nuclear fusion company).
Mayor's State of the City Reception: May 7, Peter Kirk Community Center (free dinner, entertainment).
Golf Tournament: July 23 at Echo Falls.

Kirkland Parks Board
Presenter: Paul Stull, Moss Bay Representative
Role: An 8-member advisory board (no decision-making authority) that acts as a liaison between the city and community on parks and recreation.

Key Activities:
Reviews the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and the 6-year Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) plan.
Advises on municipal code updates (e.g., lifeguard enforcement at Houghton Park).
Peter Kirk Pool:
Problem: High demand for swim lessons, especially from non-Kirkland residents.
Recommendation: Extend the season by 2–4 weeks (early June → September) to increase lesson capacity.

Community Concerns:
Waterfront Access: Public access is being lost due to private encroachment and undeveloped city-owned street ends.
Tennis Court Removal: The Parks Department conducted the survey that led to the decision to convert tennis courts to pickleball courts.

Moss Bay Neighborhood Safety Program (NSP)
Presenter: Don Winters, Moss Bay Project Coordinator
Proposed Project: A marked crosswalk on 7th Ave S at State St.
Cost: ~$70,000, primarily for a required streetlight. This high cost is a risk for approval, as the NSP budget is only $350k for 10 city-wide proposals.

Transportation Benefit District (TBD):
Funding: A $20 annual car tab fee.
Impact: The city will install 6 rapid flashing beacons (RFBs) in Moss Bay, including at 2nd Ave S & State St—a project the neighborhood previously proposed.
Process Issue: The city's TBD projects are decided internally and announced after the NSP application period, causing neighborhoods to propose projects already in the city's pipeline.

Business Spotlight: Baby Shoppe
Business: A curated baby boutique (0–5 years) on Central Way, opened in November.
Product Mix: Combines giftable clothing with utilitarian items like strollers and feeding supplies.
Customer Base: Draws customers from across the region, indicating a market need.
https://babyshoppe.us/?srsltid=AfmBOor2A92wIXRHVg6sliH5vIExIBemqpNFiGoV_Pm1pw3KQd1VZFUW

Agenda and links:
Kraken Iceplex Proposal https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/Exploration-of-Seattle-Krakens-Iceplex-Proposal
Introduction to our new Economic Development Manager Jen Davis Hayes, Economic Development Manager, jdavishayes@kirklandwa.gov, 425-559-3062 (cell)
Introduction to our new Special Projects Coordinator and Volunteer programs
bmonson@kirklandwa.gov
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/Volunteer-Opportunities

Update on developments and real estate projects
Community Announcements:
City Hall for All: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/City-Hall-for-All
City Candidate Forums (See table below)
Local Business Introductions
ZOQ Cuisine: Presenter: Ameena Chaudry: 212 Central Way, Kirkland,  Tel:   (425) 305-5916
Five Iron Golf: Presenter: Bill Goulston: Suite 200, 425 Urban Plaza, Kirkland, Tel: (800) 513-5153, bill.goulston@fiveirongolf.com (for a tour)
Moss Bay Neighborhood Association Board Elections Process:

• Nominations / Applications open Sept 10-30
• Open to all Moss Bay residents
• Questions and interest please send email :  contact@mossbay.org
• Interviews Oct 10 – 19
• Happy hour Thurs Oct 16th
• Voting and neighborhood poll Oct 20 – 31
• Results announced next meeting Nov 10th

Moss Bay Neighborhood Meeting Jan 2025

Agenda and notes:
Kirkland Special Events Services
Maryke Burgess mburgess@kirklandwa.gov
Facility Use Permit: Nicci Osborn nosborn@kirklandwa.gov
Special Event Permit: Sudie Elkayssi selkayssi@kirklandwa.gov
Holiday recycling
Kirkland Conserves Blog:
https://cityofkirklandblogs.com/environmentalse.../about-us/
What do I do with...?
https://info.kingcounty.gov/.../solid.../what-do-i-do-with/
Recycling Beyond the Cart
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/.../Recycle/Beyond-the-Cart
Recycling hotline: recycle@kirklandwa.gov
Neighborhood Safety Program Update
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Gover.../City-Managers-Office/NSP
Announcements
Feb 10th 5-7 pm RapidRide K Line Project Briefing by King County Metro
https://kingcounty.gov/.../travel.../bus/rapidride/k-line

Meeting agenda and links:
• Board Election and Survey results
• Connections Kirkland crisis response center
https://connectionshs.com/kirkland
Tasnim Rehamani, Community Engagement Specialist
Tasnim.Rehamani@connectionshs.com

• Kirkland City Budget
Budget Documents published on City Website: www.kirklandwa.gov/BudgetDoc
Finance and Administration Director: Michael Olson
Phone: (425) 587-3146 Email: molson@kirklandwa.gov
Finance Department Website: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Finance-and-Administration
Budget feedback and questions can be sent to BudgetFeedback@kirklandwa.gov

• Kirkland Police Neighborhood Safety Recap
Lt. Clayton Slominski, Kirkland Police Department https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Police-Department/Community-Resources/Community-Crime-Mapping

• New and upcoming construction projects

• NSP update and request for projects
The deadline to submit Project Idea Forms is Monday, December 2, 2024 at bit.ly/nsp-ideas2025 or email to contact@mossbay.org
Guidelines: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/NSP
•Announcements
Projects at Ignite Kirkland including historical wrap https://kpcf.org/grants
Santa Brunch : Moss Bay Hall, Dec 14th, 9am-12pm

Moss Bay Neighborhood (virtual) Meeting, Monday, Sept 9th, 7:00pm

Agenda and links from presentation:
1. Introduction Senior Community Engagement Coordinator: Daniel Lazo
2. City Hall for All

• https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/City-Hall-for-All

4. Houghton Village development

• https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Managers-Office/Future-of-the-Houghton-Village-Property

5. Presentation on the draft proposal for transit corridors in the City of Kirkland

• Comprehensive Plan the current adopted Planning Work Program: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/planning-amp-building/work-programs/adopted_2024-2026-planningworkprogramfeb20-2024.pdf
• Here is a link to more information on transit corridors: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/planning-amp-building/kirkland-2044-comp-plan/k2044-people/land-use/pdfs/k2044_lu-transitcorridorsaug2024.pdf
• ​Link to the Planning Commission meeting packet Adam mentioned: https://kirklandwa.primegov.com/Public/CompiledDocument?meetingTemplateId=1749&compileOutputType=1
• Here is a link to learn more about Kirkland's Urban Centers (including our Greater Downtown Urban Center): https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-and-Building/Planning-Projects/Neighborhood-Planning/Kirklands-Urban-Centers
• Stride Transit https://www.soundtransit.org/system-expansion/stride-s2-line 

6. Re-Opening for Kirkland Teen Union Building

• https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Community-Services/Human-Services/Youth-Services/Kirkland-Teen-Union-Building

7. US Bank Building development update
8. Upcoming Board elections

• Nominations / Applications open 9/11 - 9/31
• Open to all Moss Bay residents
• Questions and interested please send email :  contact@mossbay.org
• Interviews 10/1 – 10/19
• Meet the nominees Happy hour 10/14
• Voting and member poll 10/20 – 10/30
• Results announced next meeting Nov 11th