Meeting Notes - January 17, 2011

​Mark Eliasen called the meeting to order. 
Rod Steitzer, Kirkland Project Engineer was our first guest. Rod discussed a number of upcoming projects in our neighborhood or close by. First up was a scheduled revamp of the intersection of 6th Street and Central Way. This project will upgrade the intersection by providing increased roadway capacity, redesigned traffic signals, improved pedestrian facilities and bicycle lanes. The project will start in April and run through June, with two weekend closures of the intersection.  Following this project, pedestrian bumpouts will be constructed along Central Way between Lake Street and 4th Street. Timeframe is June - September.
Another project will improve the intersection of 114th Ave. NE and NE 85th St. by building a second southbound-to-eastbound left-turn lane, upgrading traffic signal controller equipment, and adding Intelligent Transportation System elements: CC TV, video detection, signal timing and coordination, and pathway for connection to the future Traffic Center. Depending on coordination with the WSDOT, upgrades to the I-405 on-ramp may be included.
The sewer pump station located at Third St. and Park Lane will be replaced, along with the pipeline which runs from the station up Kirkland Ave. to the main sewer "interceptor" along the railroad right of way. A new building and sidewalks built to the "Park Lane standard" will be included.
The final project Rod mentioned was intersection improvements at the 6th St. S. and NE 68th St. The project will install a westbound to northbound right turn lane and sidewalk / curb enhancements at all four corners of the intersection and will improve pedestrian safety and maintain a safe school walk route. The project will start this summer and last several months.
The project engineer took some questions and has forwarded Moss Bay his reponses, which can be viewed here (PDF).

Kari Page, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator, briefed us on the Neighborhood Matching Grant Program and answered questions about Moss Bay Board’s idea of using the Neighborhood Matching Grant funds ($2,076 for 2011/2012) to benefit a locally based human service agency. The group discussed various charity organizations and brainstormed ways to match the funds. The chairs took a poll. The group made a unanimous decision to move forward with the application allocating all of their funds to a human service agency. More information about which agency and how to match the funds will be discussed at a future meeting.
Our "Downtown Merchant Series" continued this month with Tiffany Pollard of Synergy Wellness Center telling us about her business. Kathleen Barber and Karuna Craig from the center were also on hand. They told us that the Synergy Wellness Center practitioners combine facets of Chinese medicine including acupuncture, energetic medicine, body-work, and dietary advice. They can treat various conditions such as pain management, ADHD, digestive disorders, and depression. The center is newly located at 515 Kirkland Way.
Don Winters reported on the zoning changes being looked at by the Planning Commission in regards to relaxing the requirement of retail uses on the first floor of buildings in the Central Business District. The only parcel now being recommended by the Planning Commission for this change, which would allow ground floor office use in addition to retail, is the Chaffey parcel at the Southeast corner of Lake St. and 1st Ave. S.
Followup note: The night after our neighborhood meeting, the City Council directed the Planning Commission to increase the scope of this possible change to consider office use on the ground floor in additional end-of-block areas. In addition to the Chaffey parcel, the Planning Commission will also consider the Northwest corner of 3rd and Central (formerly Amazon Fresh and First Mutual), the western end of Central Way, and the portion of Kirkland Avenue east of State Street (from Plaza on State Condos and continuing east to the Boulevard Condos). A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for 7PM on Thursday February 24. More information will follow as it becomes available.

It was mentioned that Meow Cat Rescue, which was a featured organization at a past Moss Bay NA meeting, has been having a tough time and could use support, either monetarily or otherwise.
Carolyn Hayek told us that the special wedding event that KirklandWeddings.com is offering on Valentine's Day has no takers so far, which would be a shame, since it's a great opportunity.
Our next meeting will be Mar 21, 2011 7PM at Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St.