Meeting Notes - February 7, 2001

Moss Bay Neighborhood Association
Meeting Minutes February 7, 2001
Rose Hill Fire Station


Laura Lee Pritt called the meeting to order.


The first to speak was City Manager Dave Ramsay.  Dave had a number of issues he addressed, including:

• The NE 85th St. corridor and how some ideas, such as medians, have been considered to make it more pedestrian friendly.  He mentioned that working with businesses like Lee Johnson Chevrolet was difficult, in that they are valuable assets to the city, but don't necessarily make the best use of land.
  
• Downtown Strategic Plan and how it is attempting to make the center of town more pedestrian friendly, through ideas like creating a plaza over the Marina Park lot, narrowing Central Way between 4th St. and Lake St., and creating an improved transit center.
  
• Totem Lake--Evergreen Hospital, already Kirkland's largest employer, may double in size over the next few years.  The Totem Lake Mall has been doing poorly, and how to revitalize it has been a concern for the city.
  

Dave spoke briefly about three projects that are under way,

• Juanita Village -- A mixed use retail, office and housing, "urban village".
  
• Park Place -- Phase 1 is under way. Phase II and the land swap are on the back burner, maybe 5 years away.
  
• Merriweather property in Houghton and NW College also have development in planning stages.
  

Parks was Dave's next topic.

• School Parks-- the city wants to work with schools such as Lakeview Elementary to develop parks on their property that would benefit both the city and the school.
  
• Waverly Site -- Open space, blufftop trails, boat parking and mixed use of the relocated historic church building are in the works.  The Kirkland Heritage Society will have use of the lower floor for archives and meeting space, while the upper floor will be available for community use.
  
• The Teen Center is under construction at the back of the Senior Center at Peter Kirk Park.
  
• The Houghton Landfill ballfields are under construction.
  
• The Cross Kirkland Trail is still in the concept stage, but is seen as a good idea with a lot of obstacles to overcome.
  
• A park is planned at BEST School in Houghton.
  

Some Environmental concerns the city has include:

• Endangered Species Act -- how it will effect salmon runs in our streams.
  
• Stream Buffers -- Balancing property rights with environmental concerns.
  
• Wetland management and tree cutting regulation are under consideration.
  
• Variable rate (pay by the can) garbage collection is being considered as a means of cutting down on garbage and increasing recycling.
  

For the neighborhoods, the city is continuing leadership training and has improve services on their web site.  Some police problems the city has had are now under control with a new interim chief in charge.  The city has facilitated the 4th of July celebration, the new sculpture exhibit in town, and the farmers market on Lake Street.  The lease on the old Safeway (Salvation Army) building is up and the city is asking the owner to develop the property into retail/office/residential space.


Dave answered a number of questions from the the audience and was off to another meeting!


Laura Lee Pritt, our cochair, spoke on a number of topics.  The new name for our association, Moss Bay Neighborhood Association, has been approved by the City of Kirkland and that will now be our official name.  The sidewalk along the east side of Lake Street north of 7th Ave S, is being paved in asphalt.  At least we will be able to walk down that side of the street now!  Laura Lee mentioned that a number of City Board positions are open and the public is invited to apply.  The city web site has information on how to do this.  Mary Alyce Burleigh from the North Rose Hill association, mentioned how interesting it was to serve on these boards.


Ellen McMahon updated us on the new traffic circles that are being installed on 7th. Ave. S.  The design of the circles and how many are to be installed  was discussed. City councilmember Joyce Buchanon was on hand to help with the discussion, as speed humps have been recently installed on 10th Ave. S., where she lived before recently moving to the Norkirk area.   Ellen also thought it would be good idea for our association to create a welcome wagon committee to greet new residents in our neighborhood. 


Jim Lauinger, of the Planning Commission, and also owner of Lakeshore Pharmacy, brought us up to date on the Park Place renovation--drawing a layout of the new building on the blackboard and mentioning that the theaters may be going.


Leslie Keller gave the treasurers report, we have about $1700 in our account.  Leslie also volunteered to do the paperwork necessary to change our association's name with the relevant state agency.


Don Winters gave the web report.  The web site will need a new domain name now that our neighborhood association has changed names.  Mossbay.org was suggested and met with approval of those present.  Don said he would apply for that name.


The meeting was adjourned.  Next meeting will be April 11, 2001.