LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Minutes October 23, 2006
7 pm Houghton Fire Station
The meeting was called to order by Past President Robert Miller, sitting in for President Paul Robichaux, who was away on business, at 7 pm.
Attending: Robert Miller, Past President and KAN Representative; Pamela Miller, Secretary, Neighborhood Programs Coordinator Kari Page, neighbors Angie Granger, Susan Thornes, Kathleen Tisdale, Debbie Halvorson, Gail Travers, Jean Wu, Cynthia Prather, Byron Prather, Lori Isch, Chuck Pilcher, Mike Cotton, Kerry Cotton, and special guest Leslie Batten, Project Associate for Cascade Land Conservancy.
Minutes: The minutes from the September 25th meeting were approved with the additions of Paul Robichaux. Byron Prather will post them to our website http://www.lakeviewkirkland.com
Treasurer’s Report: Steve Kelln has resigned from his office as Treasurer, and was not present at the meeting. There was no report presented, presumably no change. (It’s now 10:52 pm, and just opened up Steve Kelln’s e-mail treasurer’s report: Balance $1,001.28 with no outstanding bills.)
Inquiry of the Chair: Those attending were asked what brought them to this meeting. The City-mailed postcard from Neighborhood Connection was an overwhelming response, and invitations by neighbors.
Green Kirkland Partnership: Special guest, Leslie Batten, Senior Project Associate with Cascade Land Conservancy is working with the City of Kirkland as a partnership to keep Kirkland “green”. Removal of invasive species, especially as they threaten older deciduous trees (large-leaf maples and alders), is high on the agenda. As these non-native species spread they cover the forest floor, covering seeds and opportunities for re-growth of native trees. Even Conifers are affected, as ivy climbs up and chokes off light. Conifers last longer than the deciduous trees, so they are less threatened. Green Kirkland Partnership wants to engage community support to work in city parks, of which Lakeview Neighborhood has five: Terrace Park, Marsh Park, Houghton Beach Park, Yarrow Bay Wetlands, and a corridor strip of Watershed Park. The City will encourage removal of invasive species through education. The areas targeted include open space city-owned land.
Neighbors from Yarrow Bay Wetlands told of their efforts to address the overgrowth of “weed” willow and blackberry. Because the Wetlands are governed by City of Kirkland, special permission is required before going into the area for weed removal. Resident, Stan Barrett, did obtain such permission and successfully cleaned out a section of invasive plants, but the work is very arduous. Residents also expressed a desire to see the creek running into the bay again. Invasive trees encroach on paved walking path around the wetlands, presenting a hazard for pedestrians. Leslie said the City of Kirkland needs to develop an open-space Plan which will provide guidelines for maintenance of the stream bed and walkway areas and management practices for habitat preservation. Maintenance of the walkway area is currently being done by residents of Yarrow Point. Leslie agreed to take the neighbors concerns to the city, so that they can gain access permission and help. Funding for these tasks will come from a variety of City agencies: King County Parks Department, City Natural Resources Management Team, and Public Works Department. Residents of Yarrow Point asked if funds would be available to their Board for restoration activities. Leslie said the City needs a plan first, which could be coordinated with the areas in need. Yarrow Point Board members and residents were invited to be part of this planning process. Leslie will provide them with information about the process via e-mail (Leslie’s e-mail leslieb@cascadeland.org) (Leslie will receive a copy of these minutes.) She realizes Yarrow Bay Wetlands is a priority in Lakeview Neighborhood. Questions about noxious or decaying trees would be approached by the City through educational strategies. Private property would also be part of this educational thrust. Leslie noted English Ivy is not currently on the noxious weed list, as it is still sold in nurseries. The community may need to be involved to get some of these non-natives like ivy and bamboo and Himalayan Blackberry listed, so that it can be addressed in a meaningful way.
KAN Report: Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods meets the second Wednesday of months September through May at 7 pm at Kirkland’s Heritage Hall. Robert Miller reported they are currently working on developing a mission statement. KAN met with the City Council, and is seeking more of an advocacy role in support of Kirkland’s eleven neighborhood associations. November 8, 2006 is the date of the next meeting. Susan Thornes said she may be able to attend for LNA and could make a report at our next meeting.
Neighborhood Connection Grant: Neighborhood Services Coordinator Kari Page introduced the Connection Grant which Kirkland began in 2000, in which $100,000 is allocated to four neighborhoods or $25,000 a year. This year is the third round of funding for Lakeview Neighborhood. Kari Page sent out cards to all Lakeview residents in September seeking ideas for how neighbors would like to see these funds spent. Twenty—nine requests were received by return mail. Some of the requests will be addressed immediately by the City’s on-going work program: such as trimming trees under power lines (referred to Public Works), burying power lines (this can be done with permit from City by individual homeowners), putting orange pedestrian flags at 62nd and Lake Washington Boulevard NE (referred to Neighborhood Traffic Control), suggested widening of Lakeview and 103rd (referred to Transportation Commission), more street lighting (referred to Transportation Commission), clean up tall grass/weeds along Lakeview Drive at 68th street (trim-letter will be mailed to property owner), better street signs (referred to Transportation Commission), post speed limit signs on Points Drive (referred to Transportation Commission). Some suggestions such as an off-leash area for “small” dogs was declined by Kirkland’s Parks Department. Other suggestions such as moratorium on high-rise buildings, moratorium on tear-downs, horrendous traffic problems, enforcement of yard-care for rental houses, rodent problems, and development of neighborhood standards-then enforcing them will all be referred to the Planning Commission. The discussion revealed that neighbors could purchase lights for dark streets if there was already a pole for $200, and the City would pay for the electricity.
Those projects that will be considered further by City offices for possible development that would qualify for the $25,000 grant money, will receive dollar-assessments and will appear on the ballot which will be mailed to residents in January 2007. Kari Page would prefer more time to give planners time to adequately review the suggestions for feasibility. Stay tuned. Kari did still invite suggestions from neighbors who hadn’t received ballots initially. (kpage@ci.kirkland.wa.us or 425 587 3011) She took suggestions from this meeting as well.
Each household will receive the Project Ballot, and residents will be asked to list three project choices in order of importance. Residents must list their address to validate their vote. Instructions will be printed on each ballot. The City will work closely with neighborhood during the decision-making process.
Election of Officers and Board of Directors: Paul Robichaux advised Robert of the need to schedule an election of officers and Board of Directions, as he was stepping down as of the first of the year. Steve Kelln, our long-time Treasurer, has also advised of his desire to retire after long years of valuable service to LNA. Nominations for President or Co-Presidents, Treasurer, etc., should be submitted via e-mail to Paul Robichaux at probichaux@yahoo.com.
Next Meeting: Kari and all present thought we needed to have a January 2007 meeting. Pamela and Robert Miller will be back in Kirkland and could be available for a LNA meeting Monday, January 15, 2007, 7 pm, Houghton Firestation, but not on January 24th. If this is agreeable with all concerned, it could be scheduled. Please advise Paul. Kari, would this time frame be workable for you? Please advise. Thanks.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted,
Pamela R. Miller
Secretary