LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Minutes September 25, 2006
7 pm Houghton Fire Station

The meeting was called to order by Paul Robichaux at 7 pm.

Attending:  Paul Robichaux, President; Pamela Miller, Secretary; Steve Kelln, Treasurer; Neighborhood Programs Coordinator Kari Page; KAN President Jim McElwee; Kirkland Senior Management Analyst Tracy Burrows; Emily Fishler helping Tracy Burrows; neighbors Robert Miller, KAN Representative; Kevin Huderon, Central Houghton Resident.  Kirkland Mayor Jim Lauinger was there observing the annexation presentation.

Minutes:  The minutes from the July 24, 2006 meeting were approved as written.
Treasurer’s Report: Steve Kelln reported checks written to City of Kirkland $500 for signage of Lakeview Walking Route; and Blue Mountain Band $400 for Houghtdown band.  The current balance of $1,001.28 reported.  No further bills were outstanding.

Annexation to City of Kirkland:  Senior Analyst Tracy Burrows began her presentation for the City of Kirkland by reporting Assistant City Manager Marilynne Beard and City Manager Dave Ramsay were looking for neighborhood input and their reaction to the proposed annexation plans.  The unincorporated areas include:  Finn Hill Neighborhood, (upper) Juanita Neighborhood, and Kingsgate Neighborhood, currently an indivisible package of the “Potential Annexation Areas” (PAA).  The annexation communities are mainly residential with few commercial areas, and they don’t generate enough sales tax to fund services. 

There is no provision for current Kirkland residents to vote upon the proposed annexation; rather the City Council will make this determination based upon their long-range financial analysis due the end of the year.  The motivation for this annexation push was begun by the State of Washington’s Growth Management Act, along with provisional funding for a 10-year subsidy.  Senate Bill 6686 offers funding incentives to cities that annex unincorporated areas, by giving a portion of the state sales tax revenue for 10 years or about $4 million a year for Kirkland.  The City estimates the cost of providing services to these new communities at $4.8 million, leaving a funding gap.  When the 10-year subsidy expires, it would leave Kirkland to find other means to support this added expense for their services.  Kirkland residents currently pay approximately $.l8 per $1,000 of assessed property value for bonds issued for improvement such as the Forbes Creek Fire Station, Juanita Bay Park, and the public safety dispatch and records system in the proposed annexation area. 

Kirkland’s current population of 48,000 would be expanded by 33,000 residents, to a total of 81,000 residents, an increase of 70% population.  In addition, Kirkland would gain 7 square miles, (current land area of Kirkland is 10) and an additional 3.5 miles of Lake Washington shoreline.  The land area of the greater Kirkland would grow to 17 square miles. 

Currently King County serves these PAA areas with transit and waste-water services, and they contract fire service from Kirkland Fire Department already.  The Forbes Creek Fire Station was built with Kirkland bonds, which current residents are paying off.  The City may ask residents of the annexation area to assume a prorated share of the debt, if the annexation is approved.  Residents of the annexation area get to decide.  This could reduce the annual cost per household in the annexation area to $.12 per $1,000 assessed property value.  This would represent an actual decrease of $497 in property taxes for this area.   King County supports the annexation, as these unincorporated islands in urban areas drain county resources.  Counties provide regional services  such as transit, wastewater management, and parks services. 

Tracy proposed some framework to answer questions such as why Kirkland residents should favor annexation.  1) Kirkland is a welcoming community; 2) Kirkland values its small-town atmosphere; 3) Service levels would remain constant for existing Kirkland residents; 4) Kirkland residents would like to have a say in the process; 5) Kirkland is asked to annex areas that have little capacity for producing revenue from sales taxes.  Three public forums are scheduled to discuss this important topic:  1) Saturday, October 21, 2006 at Kirkland Municipal Court, 11515 NE 118th Street from 9-11 am.  2) Tuesday October 24, 2006 at Kirkland Maintenance Center, 915 Eighth Street from 7-9 pm.  3) Saturday October 28, 2006 at Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Avenue, from 9-11 am.  Further questions about annexation can be sent to (e-mail) annexation@ci.kirkland.wa.us or by calling 425 587-3000.

Questions from residents attending the meeting included assumptions that an increase of 70% population would not lend itself to Kirkland’s current small-town atmosphere.  How would services be provided to schools, fire, police, and parks department, etc.?  How would increased costs for police, parks, planning, road and street maintenance, utilities, storm- water affect the existing departments?  Are there slide-prone areas that may affect liabilities in these areas?  Currently the City contracts with a private company, Berk & Associates, to do the feasibility study.  For further information see www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/annexation. 

Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) Report:  KAN President, Jim McElwee, reported advocates for and against Initiative 933 were invited to make presentations.  Joe Tovar, Chair of the Committee on Regulatory Fairness/No 933 of the American Planning Association reported the issues against the initiative.  No representatives for the initiative accepted the invitation to present their side.  The Seattle Times will have the pro-view next week.  KAN retreat was discussed as to its mission, its joint meeting with City Council, and neighborhood services program evaluation, and is now scheduled to take place Monday, October 2, 2006 from 6-9 pm (includes dinner).  The place is yet to be determined.  All are invited to participate.  Marilynne Beard introduced the annexation issue.

Neighborhood Connection Services:  Kari Page announced the City had sent out notice of the $25,000 available for projects selected by Lakeview neighbors, announcing two workshops:  September 25th at 7 pm and October 23rd at 7 pm both at Houghton Fire Station.  This notice included a self-addressed and posted card for neighbors to send their ideas for enhancing the neighborhood.  All households within the neighborhood will receive a ballot in the mail in February to vote on their favorite projects, as stated on the post card.  Meanwhile, the City will have an opportunity to review what has been done, and the feasibility of what can be done before the vote.  Kari reviewed in her slide-presentation some of the City’s past completed projects.  Paul expressed his desire to see all $25,000 be devoted to purchase and installation of recreational equipment installed at Terrace Park.  Requests are to be submitted to the City by September 30th (which was not stated on the post card) in order for the City to conduct its research.  Kari said she will also accept requests by e-mail or fax.  Kari said she could possibly move up the voting date to November or January, if it would help promote attendance at LNA meetings.  The City will be mailing ballots to all residences. 

Houghtdown Report:  Paul reported this year’s event was a huge success.  He felt there were more neighbors present, and everyone enjoyed the food, entertainment, and children’s activities.  He said he and his wife Katharine provided approximately 10 hours of volunteer help, they also donated $100 toward the cost of the band since a majority vote of the LNA board was not achieved for the full $500 cost of the band.

2007 Grant:  The application to identify LNA projects to be included in the 2007 grant is due end of November.  Paul asked for help with the grant application process.

New Business:  Paul announced Robert Miller will be chairing the special October 23rd LNA neighborhood meeting as he will be on a scheduled business trip, when Kari will present the second workshop with the results of neighbors’ suggested projects for the neighborhood connection funds. 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. 

Next LNA Meeting will be October 23, 2006, 7pm at Houghton Fire Station.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela R. Miller
Secretary