Mark
Eliasen called the meeting to order.
Kirkland's four winning City Council candidates were our special guests. Amy
Walen mentioned that annexation is right on the border of getting the required
60%. If it fails the council could vote it in. In that case, the annexation
area would not be bound by Kirkland's existing indebtedness.
Joan McBride
talked about the upcoming issues before the council. Dave Ramsay, who Joan
described as the best in Washington, is retiring and Kirkland will need a new
City Manager. Joan mentioned the contentious Council meetings of the past few
years. She suggested that the City adopt a code of ethics and a code of conduct
for council members
Joan talked
about economic development. She would like to convene a formal meeting of
developers to help create a plan for the revitalization of Totem Lake.
Doreen
Marchione, who has been mayor of Redmond and CEO of Hopelink in past years,
hopes to use her experience to reduce divisiveness within the City Council and
to find solutions to the tough challenges facing Kirkland.
Penny Sweet
thinks that the power of community can help Kirkland attain its goals. Penny
mentioned the volunteerism that she has organized for the 4th of July
Celebration and downtown holiday decorations and how we can accomplish a lot
by working together and ending divisiveness between business and
neighborhoods.
All four new
Councilmembers spoke in favor of annexation.
Rick Chesmore of
Chesmore/Buck Architects was our next guest. Rick described the Hector's
Property remodel and expansion that is currently underway. Originally proposed
as a five story office building, the location will now undergo a three phase
project. The existing "Waterfront Market" building is being
reconfigured. Existing businesses Thin Pan and Ben and Jerry's will reopen in
the new space, and new tenants will fill other spaces. This phase of the
project is underway and should be finished in March. Phase two will entail the
existing Hector's building, which will remain. The building just south, former
home of World Wraps, will be demolished and a new building will replace it. A
rooftop restaurant is also part of the project. This phase is scheduled to
start in early 2010. Rick sent us some images showing the project, which you
can view here. Phase three of this project has not been designed yet, but
could entail an office building behind Hector's.
Margit Moore of
the Kirkland Cultural Council was next. The Council has completed it's 20/20
Strategic Plan, which outlines several goals for 2010 to 2020. In order to
increase an arts presence in downtown Kirkland, one long-term goal is to
provide low income artist live/work space with galleries on the ground floor,
such as those provided by other US cities.
On 10-27-09,
Mayor Jim Lauinger, Director of Kirkland Human Services, Sharon Anderson,
Kirkland Human Services Assistant, Carrie Hite, Cascadia Community College ELL
Programs Director, Gail Miulli, and Moss Bay resident, Margit Moore met to
discuss potential free adult English Language Learners (ELL) classes in downtown Kirkland. Mayor
Lauinger will meet with Lake Washington School District staff to further
discuss the proposed project. It is hoped that classes could begin in
September 2010.
Bea Nahon, Moss
Bay's representative to KAN, gave an update on that group's activities. The
City will be holding its annual sessions of "Neighborhood U" on
December 8 and December 9, at 7PM at City Hall. These sessions are a great -
and free - opportunity for citizens to learn more about how things work in the
City of Kirkland. This year's agenda will include issues regarding
Neighboorhood Plans, the Comprehensive Plan and other related issues. The City
will be sending out a notice with more information (would you want to send out
a notice to MBNA residents, or put it on our website or ?). In the meantime,
you can find more information at http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/CMO/Neighborhood_Services/KAN.htm
Our next meeting will be
Jan 18, 2009 7PM at
Heritage Hall, 203 Market. St.
Meeting
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