MOSS BAY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

​1.  Welcome by Mark Eliasen
2. Kirkland Chief of Police:

• Welcome to Chief Olson.  He introduced Officer Gibbons, who has been on the force 7 months and is a Lateral officer moving into the neighborhood.   Also welcomed were the Mayor and several City Council members who took the time to attend the meeting.
  Chief Olson has been with the city 19 years.  Worked in all districts.  Moved up through the ranks.  Captain for Services (Jails, budget, communications) then moved to being Captain of Operations and the onto Chief.  
• Police Department: 68.5 officers and is fully staffed with a few extra bodies as it takes 1.5 years to bring on a new hire and bring them up to speed.  Kirkland is considered a medium sized department - although it ranks in the top 4% of departments in size nationwide. Kirkland is unusual as it keeps all departments in house.  We have own jail, communications center, K-9, traffic, patrol, crime analysis, and 911 response center.  Jail is in the lower level of City Hall. 
• One of three agencies within King County with a Domestic Violence Team.  Investigator, Advocate, DART program - trained volunteers support victims of DV. 
• All officers have gone through the State's program.  Have a specialist in Cybercrime. 
• Questions for Chief Olson: 
  • High crime cities - how did Kirkland rank?  Did not see specific list, crime levels in Kirkland level.  Low number of incidents. Not historically a lot of homicides.  Most property crimes.  
  • Concerns about walking downtown alone?  No - no concern.  Safe for people any time day or night.  Clubs close people walk home and then joggers start around 4 am.  So usually enough traffic. 
  • Level of staff and capacity of Public Safety building - crowded, but not out of control.  Looking into possible expansion 
  • 911 Center - Kirkland has own Center.  Transitioning to regional center including Bellevue, Redmond, etc.  If you are on your cell phone and call 911 the system picks up where you are calling from and could find by location or you may be picked up by a State center and then transferred to regional agency. 
  • How many people on patrol at any one time.  4 shifts.  Supervisor and 8 officers.  Average about 6 officers on shift on the streets at any one time.  Kirkland is 5 districts. 
  • Holiday DWI task force going to be in place. 
  • Is Kirkland considering red light cameras?  Not at the moment.  
  • Suggestion for department to cite  people for failure  to stop for  crosswalks.   
  • Per capita staffing - is there concern as we have one of the lowest levels of officers per population.  NYPS 2.2 officers.  Kirkland 1.45 officers per person  In the regional ballpark.  Not so concerned with formula.  Chief thinks we can provide the services.  Have well trained, well equipped officers.   We are doing fine.  Would more be better - of course, but we do well. 
  • Noise ordinance - cars in particular.  How frequently is this enforced?  Mostly during the summer is when it is enforced. Equipment noise - anything that is not stock they can cite, but custom bikes are then considered stock.  Do enforce when needed.  Start and stop time for construction?  Did not know. Thinks it is 7 am to 7 pm.  Same with construction on weekends.  Is that construction or a homeowner. 
  • Annexation - how many more officers would be needed?  Think we need about 44 more officers.  No, there should not be a lessening of services.  Looking to develop more regional services.  Would probably need a new facility at all. 
  • Would the Park Place redevelopment require more police services?  Has been taken into consideration and is being looked at. 
  • Vandalism and bar closing time.  What can we do and what are the police doing?  Different group of citizens out from 11 pm- close.  Work DWI's heavily.  Officers do heavily patrol downtown.  Undercover officers in bars looking for overservice.  Officers in parking lot.  Zero tolerance policy for people causing a problem.  Met with various bar owners.  Worked with KDA to work with bar owners to ensure they understand their part in the whole business community.  Work it from various angles.  Worked with licensing departments to shut clubs down for violations.  
  • Anna's Ride Home - offers free rides home for people who have had too much to drink.  Most bars are signed up with the program.  
  • Neighborhood resource officer - Alan O'Neill is the contact.
  • Encourages people to call or e-mail him with concerns.

3.  Announcements &  Issues:

• Traffic light - 3rd and Kirkland - Bob Sternoff -  Sound transit decided the transit center should be there and this resulted in the need for a stop light.  Center will not be built for 4 years.  Money with that project.  However, City decided to fund it.  Now engineering is looking into the issue.  Should be put in by the end of 2008 if all goes well.  Currently with Sound Transit engineers looking into some concerns and issues. 
• Kirkland Holiday activities: http://explorekirkland.com/events  Including Christmas ships, bonfires, Christmas tree lights - lighting on November 24th at 7 pm in the Marina. 
• Annexation: Should read up on this issue and voice your opinions to Council and let the members know your thoughts as Kirkland residents are not voting.  
•  At least three proposals for 4 and 5 story building if you are concerned about this contact Marna Hanneman - [email protected] 
• Height Concerns for downtown buildings. Contact Rob Brown to sign a petition asking that the Council limit the height of buildings facing Lake St.  Rob states that residents downtown are requesting a moratorium until DAC finishes their proposal and the City accepts and defines it's downtown vision.  Rob's e-mail is [email protected] 
• Not going to allow commercial establishments to come in and discuss their business.  This group is not designed for that purpose.

4: Neighborhood Connections Program: 

Kari Page neighborhood service coordinator.  Liaison to city.  Sent out cards asking what people wanted in the area for improvements.  Got 41 cards back.  

• Each neighborhood gets $25,000 every 3 years. How will the $25,000 be spend and how was this determined?  
• Action Request Ideas - team will look at these and make decisions on how to best allocate the money to fill these needs.  Ballots will be sent to all Moss Bay homes so people can vote on their favorite top three ideas.
• Some proposals included:
  • top priority - street light near library.  This is being addressed by City and Sound transit 
  • Parkplace/Peter Kirk park - traffic 
  • Crosswalks and pedestrian access hard to maneuver 
  • Railroad trestle - easement with place to safely walk 
  • Brink Park - needs restrooms 
  • Better lighting and crosswalks in downtown.  
  • Put more mile posts on Lake Washington Blvd.  Add map route. 
  • No signs for Marina Park 
  • Improved trash receptacles - add recycling bins and dog waste receptacles. 
  • Street lights - if can put on power poll it is about $500.  To put in new ones it is about $30,000.  City is doing a study to see if lights all over the city are effective. 
  • Pool Cover 
  • Fill Ditch on 2nd 
  • Dog park 
  • Bury utility lines

5: Neighborhood Projects - Various Status Reports

• One way to keep up is to contact the city planner and ask to be updated on projects.  You will then get mailed information on all meetings 
• Heathman Hotel.  Now open 
• PACE city - 7th Ave South - near Google.  Still owned by original owner.  Camwest wants to buy it.  Groundwater pollution issues.  Camwest wants to oversee cleanup.  Owner will not let them.  In negotiations to have Camwest supervise the cleanup. 
• Camwest - State street - Project for the old Green Funeral Home property was approved by a hearing examiner and is now waiting for City Council approval of the 26 unit proposal with Historic Overlay for the mansion.
• Nettleton project.  Pending approval by City Council. 26 single family homes.  Save mansion and sell as a single family residence.  Will keep as many trees as possible. 
• Google - across the railroad tracks.  Google moving in in March.  Phased move in.  End of summer all three buildings occupied.  600-700 people plus.  All parking on site. 
• Assembly of God.  2nd and State.  Looking for tenant.  Will build once they get a tenant.  Nothing firm.  2 story office building. 
• Library will be remodeled.  Will be closed for a year.  Going North towards ball field.  Not sure if garage will be available.  Could impact parking 
• Parkplace - meeting and website.  Needs variance.  Still in process.  Still in planning commission and design review board.  
• Merrill Gardens - underway. 
• B of A project - Merrill Gardens two - independent living. Ground floor retail with 4 floors of residential above. 
• “Mcleod proposal” -  Parcel along Lake St. extending from Ben and Jerry’s to Hector’s and back to Calabria. Site would be developed with ground floor retail and three floors of office above, which would make it about the same height as a 5 story residential building. Reports indicate preliminary plans were not well received at the Design Review Board meeting on Nov. 15.
• U.S. Bank project proposal for the site on Central Way.  Ground floor retail with 3 floors of residential above. “Pre-submittal” meeting with the Planning Dept. next week and plans to the Design Review Board shortly after.

A good source of information on proposed projects in downtown is the Design Review Board web page on the City site.
Our next meeting will be January  15, 7PM, at Heritage Hall.

Heritage Hall

Moss Bay Co-Chair Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. We had a great turnout with over 60 people in attendance. 
Ellen Miller-Wolfe, Kirkland's Economic Development Manager, was our first guest. Ellen reported that 300,000 sq ft of office space is under development in Kirkland and 150,000 sq ft is in the permitting stage. The proposal by Touchstone Corp. to redevelop Park Place is in design review and a drawing of the proposed center is available on the city web site. (see letter from Planning Dept. below)
Ellen also mentioned that King County is looking into a Ferry District that could serve Kirkland with a passenger-only ferry route to the University of Washington.
Andy Loos, Development Manager for SRM Development, told us that the Google Campus at the former Sauder Door Property on 6th St. S.  is scheduled to be occupied starting  July '08. It will be a phased occupancy with all 3 buildings to be in use by the end of the summer. The office space can support about 700 workers.
Merrill Gardens, which is now under construction on Kirkland Ave., will include 116 assisted living units, with completion scheduled for November 2008.
Andy mentioned that the SRM project at the corner of State St. and Second Ave S  will start construction by November. It will consist of 37,000 sq ft of office with 125 parking spaces. It will completed by early 2009.
A new project is being proposed by SRM at the downtown Bank of America site on Kirkland Ave. and Lake St. It will consist of a 5 story building that will house 70 units of senior apartment-style housing. The units will be affiliated with Merrill Gardens, but residents will live independently. At the ground level, Bank of America will be the lead tenant with additional space for other retail.
Cindy Zech, Moss Bay's liaison to the Parks Board, reported on Park news. The Heritage Park tennis courts, garden area and parking lot are near completion. A new Dockmaster has collected over $70,000 in moorage fees this summer.
Check the city of Kirkland web site for park programs http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/parks.htm 
Kari Page, Kirkland's Neighborhood Services Coordinator announced the Neighborhood Connections Program. This year it is Moss Bay's turn to decide on a project or projects that will be funded by  the city. This is the rotating program that grants neighborhoods $25,000 every 3 years. Projects are proposed by citizens and voted on. Suggestions can be submitted via the city web site. Kari will present the ideas at the next MBNA meeting and voting will occur in January 2008.
Carolyn Hayek reported on  the Downtown Advisory Committee (DAC) which will be putting together a new vision statement at its next meeting at the maintenance center. 
Carolyn is also on the Planning Commission which is considering the Park Place Private Amendment  Request (PAR) along with 2 others east of Park Place. 
The City's innovative housing rules are being called "Cottage, Carriage and Multiplex Housing", and will be discussed at a Planning Commission public hearing on Oct. 11, 7PM.  Time will tell how developers utilize the new rules. 
The Moss Bay Neighborhood Plan is not scheduled to be revised for several years.
Follow Up to the Meeting
Email Received from Janice Soloff, Senior Planner, City of Kirkland:
Here is the link for the public to view development project packets going to the Design Review Board (DRB) and Hearing Examiner. Usually the packets are up on the internet the week before the public meeting or hearing.  Or the public can always come into the Planning Department 8-5 to view the official project files.
http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/Planning/DRB_Meeting_Information.htm 
Here is a summary of the information we discussed on the phone regarding the Camwest PUD and SRM Development project preliminarily planned at the Bank of America site.
BofA Site:
SRM Development just came in today for a pre-submittal meeting for a 5 story retail and assisted living project at the Bank of America site at 101 Kirkland Avenue.
SRM is tentatively scheduled to go to the DRB on October 1 for the 1st step of the design review process, a conceptual design conference. Since the application has not been submitted yet I don’t have a file number. The DRB will determine if the project meets the decision criteria to allow the additional stories above the 2nd story.
The 2nd step is the Design Response Conference tentatively scheduled for November 19th where the architectural plans will be more defined. The Board will allow for public comments at the November 17th meeting. Public comments on the project can be addressed to the Design Review Board in care of me at the Planning Department (it should state the file number).
Both of the above dates are subject to change.
The DRB makes the final decision on this project.
Camwest PUD and Historic Overlay at 400 State St
They are proposing 24 new detached single family condominium units, to relocate and restore the Nettleton house on the SW corner of the site and retain clusters of trees. The plans may be viewed at the Planning Dept. by requesting to see File No. ZON07-00022.
The application goes to the Hearing Examiner on October 17 for a public hearing, then City Council for final decision (no meeting has been set yet). Public comments on the project may be submitted anytime to the Hearing Examiner in care of me or at the public hearing.
Janice Soloff
Senior Planner
City of Kirkland
Planning and Community Development
425-587-3257
[email protected] 
www.ci.kirkland.wa.us 

Heritage Hall 
Moss Bay Co-Chair Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. We had a great turnout with over 80 people in attendance. 

Penny Sweet, from Celebrate Kirkland, was our first guest and told us about this year's Firecracker 4th of July. There will be a parade, fireworks and much more. Penny urged Moss Bay to enter a float in the parade. Contributions and volunteers are needed as well. For more information, call 425-822-0284, visit their web site at http://www.celebratekirkland.org or email Penny at [email protected] 

Douglas Howe, President, Touchstone Corporation, and Arlan Collins, Principal of CollinsWoerman Architects were next with their the Park Place redevelopment proposal. Park Place is 25 years old and does not have a strong sense of place. A new proposed center will have more office space and double the retail of the present complex. There would be one or two small hotels, new areas for restaurants, an enhanced 75,000 sq. ft. sports club, and some residential space. Parking would be greatly increased with 3,300 spaces underground -- up from approx. 700 now. The office buildings will encourage more jobs in Kirkland, which will create a reverse commute.

Pedestrian access would be improved and will tie into Peter Kirk, so that Park Place feels like an extension of the park. The development will stair step up from the park with lower buildings facing the park and the tallest buildings, about 6-8 stories, along 6th street. The theater is still a question mark, but there will be entertainment of some type. No net loss of park land will be proposed.
The development will occur in 2 or 3 phases, allowing many of the retail shops to stay open during the construction. Phase 1 will be begin in mid 2008 and be completed by the end of 2009, and Phase 2 will be completed in 2010.

Eric Campbell, President, CamWest Development Inc. was on hand to give us the final proposal for the the Nettleton project (Green Funeral Home). The project will consist of 26 single family homes on the 3 acre site -- a density lower than zoning would allow.  The houses will have small yards but the development will have open space. An interior road will allow the houses to face outward without big garages facing State Street. The style will be Arts & Craft and English Tudor, ranging in size from 2,000 to 2,600 sq ft.

The historic Nettleton house will be renovated into a home of approximately 3,500 sq ft and will sit on the southwest corner of the project, set back about 50 feet from State St. 
Eric mentioned that there was some environmental cleanup necessary on the grounds and that nine more months of testing will be required before the start of construction. Plans for the project are presently being submitted to the City.
​
Our next meeting will be with the Kirkland City Council on May 21, 2007 at Heritage Hall.

​Heritage Hall 
Moss Bay Co-Chair Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. 
Dave Ramsay, Kirkland's City Manager for the past ten years, was on hand to give his "Walk around Kirkland" presentation. Annexation is on the front burner, a process which could take place as soon as 2009-10. Kirkland would grow to 80,000 people from the current 45,000. Kirkland has a structural gap between projected revenues and expenses and Dave believes that Annexation, with its economies of scale, actually helps close this gap, though an eventual hike in taxes could be necessary.
Dave mentioned that Parks projects funded by the 2002 park bond have been completed.

• Juanita Beach
• Carillon Woods
• Woodlands Park
• Playgrounds on school grounds
• Heritage Park

Totem Lake provides 1/3 of the sales tax revenue for the city (compared to 6% downtown). A proposed new mall is taking more time than anticipated, but the City is hoping for design review in 2007 with construction to start in 2008. Evergreen Hospital expansion continues with the construction of a 10 story tower.
The next phase of Juanita Village development  will get underway soon.
In Downtown, the new Heathman Hotel is highly anticipated and should open by July. Merrill Gardens, an assisted living facility on Kirkland Ave., should get underway this summer as well.
Dave mentioned that there is some talk that the Antique Mall redevelopment is being planned. 
More pay parking may be in the works for downtown. 
The Strategic Plan for downtown will be reviewed by the newly formed Downtown Advisory Committee and the City is still looking for volunteers to serve on it. To learn more check out the City's web site
http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/Planning/Code_Updates/Downtown_Strategic_Plan_Update.htm 
The city would like some feedback on the bar scene and how the new police tactics are working to curb the rowdiness downtown -- police Lt. Rex Caldwell is in charge.
Park Place master plan is not being implemented at this time and the Marina Park Lakeshore Plaza is not moving forward at this time, due to a lack of support from all merchants in the Marina Park area.
Patty Henry of the Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) was our next guest. Patty's group works with the Kirkland Police to help women who are victims of this offense. DART gets about 500 calls for help each year in Kirkland and need volunteers to man the phones and go into the field to help victims (not in dangerous situations). If interested in volunteering, contact Patty at [email protected]
Our next meeting will be held May 21, 2007

​Heritage Hall 
Moss Bay Co-Chair Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. 
 
Cindy Zech of the Kirkland Parks Board -- and Moss Bay's liaison to that group -- reported on park news. Phase II of Heritage Park development is getting under way. The tennis courts will be moved to the far end of the park and the current courts will be replaced with a parking lot for Heritage Hall. Cindy was asked about the stairs down to the waterfront pocket park on Lake Ave. W., and they won't be built until phase IV, which will be about 2009-10. At Marina Park, the  docks are now being closely monitored to make sure boaters pay the moorage fee and don't overstay their welcome. The annual income from fees is about $60,000 at Marina and another $20,000 at the newer moorage dock at the end of Second Ave. S.
 
Ellen Miller-Wolfe, Kirkland's Economic Development Manager, was our next guest. Ellen mentioned that the Totem Lake project plan will be submitted to design review in March with construction expected to start in late 2007 or early 2008.
 
Kirkland now has a business retention program headed up by Duncan Malloy. There is a Kirkland Business Roundtable which promotes Kirkland as a good place to work and live. A Kirkland lifestyle video is being produced.
 
Bruce Knowlton, of CamWest Development, updated us on plans for the Green Funeral Home and the Pace Chemical sites.  They plan to submit an application to the city this spring for the Green site. The zoning allows 38 homes, but CamWest is planning to build 25 (including the remodeled Nettleton house). The houses will be 2,800 – 3,000 sq ft with 10 different unique plans and will all be designed with a strong “streetscape” facing State Street, 5th Ave S and 4th Ave. S. Because they will use an internal roadway, only 2 garages will be visible from the street. They plan to save some of the most significant trees. The Nettleton house will be moved to the SW corner and set back from State Street. Lots will be small and the project may be a "single family detached condominium". Construction will start in the summer of 2008.
 
CamWest remains in contract to purchase the Pace five acre parcel on 7th Ave. S. Currently they are waiting for the seller to clean up the soils and ground water and get the site approved by the state of Washington, which still requires 4 quarters of clean tests. CamWest is willing to to close before the final state approval, provided they are satisfied that the clean up will be accomplished.
 
CamWest also has a  3 house project on 6th St. S. near completion as well as several houses under construction on Kirkland Ave.
 
Bob Sternoff, Kirkland City Council and Moss Bay resident, mentioned that there will be an important meeting on the Annexation Issue at the end of February and urged all to attend, as this is an important issue for the future of the city. For more info, visit the city annexation web page:
 
http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/CMO/Annexation_Information.htm 
 
Moss Bay's next meeting will be held March 19, 2007.