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 Tuesday, July 22, 2008

LAKEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

Minutes 23 June 2008

7 pm Houghton Fire Station #22

Attending:  President Susan Thornes, Past President  and Treasurer Robert Miller, Past President Paul Robichaux, Secretary Pamela Miller, Neighborhood Services Programs Coordinator Kari Page, Kirkland Police Officer Allan O’Neill, Neighborhood Services Officer; LNA residents Vandlafulnes (?), Christy Strong, Don McGehe, Helen Fisher, Christa Puls, Sandi Andersen, Don Dillingham, Jane Shyne, Chris Peterson, Virginia Musgrave, Bob and Carole Dent, Linda Kovic-Skow, Alan Skow, Debbie and Chris Halvorson, Vic Newhard, Ann Porter, Ann Glaser, Lori Ische, Randy Eaton, Alan Brewer, Byron Prather, Gary Bonanhim, Larry Stepek, Daryl Zystra; Special Guest Amy Summe, Watershed Company Environmental Planner.

Prior to convening the meeting, Susan Thornes greeted everyone and treated them to French pastries from “The French Bakery” at 219 Kirkland Avenue, who donated them for our meeting.

Susan Thornes convened the record-attendance meeting at 7pm, followed by introductions.  The minutes from March 24, 2007 were distributed and approved.

Treasurer:  Acting Treasurer, Robert Miller, reported he had met with Kari Page and had written a check for $700 to the Kirkland Downtown Association, as a donation for their Flower Fund.  This donation was necessary to implement the new Granting process, which the City of Kirkland has instituted recently.  Kari Page explained the City of Kirkland disburses $3,500 per year, which neighborhood association may receive as reimbursement for each matching hour of volunteerism at the approximate rate of $19-$20 per hour.  Projects must be approved by the City in advance, and then volunteer hours can be matched and reimbursed as they are expended. 

New Business:  Neighbor and advocate Alan Skow asked to present Eastside Trail Advocates position concerning the future of the existing rail corridor as a pedestrian and biking corridor.  He urged neighbors to act now to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a biking and walking trail to be developed from the Eastside BNSF corridor.  There are up-coming meetings where residents may learn more: Wednesday, July 9, 7-9pm at Kirkland City Hall’s Peter Kirk Room, 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland.

Featured Speaker:  Amy Summe working for Watershed Company  Environmental Planner, doing contract work for the City ofKirkland since 2005, described the outlines of the Kirkland’s Shoreline Master Plan (The Shoreline Master Program). 

In Kirkland, SMP applies to Lake Washington, land within 200 feet of the Lake’s ordinary high water mark, and within wetlands connected to Juanita Bay and Yarrow Bay.  The current operative regulations were adopted 30 years ago, and need to be updated to fit current State guidelines for Shoreline Master Programs.  Standards for uses, setbacks, maximum impervious areas, view-corridors, building heights, critical wetlands and geologically hazardous areas, vegetation standards, public access standards, shoreline stabilization standards, standards for piers, lighting, and parking will be addressed in the plan.  People interested should go to www.ci.kirland.wa.us to learn of requisite meetings and an opportunity for comment.  City of Kirkland contact person: Theresa Swan, Senior Planner.  tswan@ci.kirkland.wa.us  phone 425 587 3258 or 425 587 3232.  There are project overview tasks scheduled September 2008 – Spring 2009. 

Questions:  Who is in charge of the Master Plan?  Kirkland is in charge of developing its part.  Department of Ecology has the final say per Washington State Administrative Code Regulations, Inter-Agency Coordinator, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

Question:  What is the water mark?  21.8’, set by the US Corps of Engineers.  A surveyor is needed to make a determination.

Question:  Is there a summary of different changes from the last one?  Not completed yet.  Residential setbacks will be 15-25” depending upon zoning.  Height restrictions will be reviewed concerning view corridors. 

Featured Speaker:  Officer Allan O’Neill, Kirkland Police Department’s Neighborhood Resource Officer, spoke of his 11-year experience with the force.   Car prowls are their current concerns.  GPS units are targeted.  He suggested owners of such equipment keep it out of sight in their parked vehicles to prevent attractive items for theft prevention.  Locked doors are always prudent.

Parking Garage security gates are also places where people slip in to vandalize cars in unlocked vehicles out of sight.  Break-ins in homes are also attractive targets for burglary.  He suggested walking around property to remove ladders, shrubbery behind which one could hide, blocking sliding doors, and installing and utilizing alarm systems with local dispatch.  The Kirkland Police Department’s emergency 911 number is to be used for emergencies, and their 24-hour dispatch non-emergency number is 425 587 3400 is to be used for any suspicious activity.

Officer O’Neill also suggested crossing out addresses on vehicle’s registration copies, insurance papers kept in the vehicle, to prevent theft of identity, if stolen.  Police have computers to verify addresses on site.  For condominium residents, walking through parking areas, adjacent building perimeters, and installation of motion lights are also advised.  Mail theft is prevalent at holiday time, and he suggested not using the flags on boxes for out-going mail.  Take all mail to the USPS boxes for mailing.

The current police available for theft are 9 officers, including 1 sergeant.  The upcoming graduates from the Academy will offer 5 more officers and 1 sergeant.  As the force is small, Officer O’Neill urged residents to get involved and call them with suspicious-looking activity or problems in the neighborhood. 

Questions:  There is garbage left behind everywhere, parks, skate-parks.  What can be done?  The department has paid Summer Outreach people to walk around and help kids, and report any drug paraphernalia where found.  Graffiti also is a problem. Report it, and if possible paint it out, if it is on your property.  The City has a tagging crew who can be called upon to clean it up on public property.  Call the Graffiti Hotline and report it to KPD, www.ci.kirkland.wa.us

Neighborhood Grants:  Kari Page, Neighborhood Services Coordinator reported LNA had just finished our last grant, and had applied for a new one.  It is signed and ready for the $3,500 funding.  Volunteers with time should be reported to President SusanThornes shthornes@comcast.net  in order for it to count against approved projects at $19-$20 per hour.  The City of Kirklandneeds volunteers for the 4th of July Parade.  Hours need to be pre-qualified to matching projects or City projects. 

Kari suggested other issues involving Kirkland residents: Parkplace re-development, annexation issues, Park and Ride redevelopment partly in Kirkland that should be of interest.  City Manager, Dave Ramsey, could come and talk of such issues, as well as Mayor James Lauinger, who has information about Kirkland’s hugh budget deficits, which will affect everyone.

New Business:  LNA resident Don McGehe, a resident of Brookside Condominiums at 63rd Street, asked if anyone knows the origins of the creek that runs through that property.  He was asked to contact Kari Page kpage@ci.kirkland.wa.us .

Next Meeting:  Lakeview’s next neighborhood meeting will be 28th July 2008 at the Houghton Fire Station #22, at 7 pm.  See you all there with your concerns and comments and interest.  Thanks for coming.

Meeting was adjourned 8:10 pm.

Respectfully Submitted,

Pamela R. Miller, Secretary LNA

7/22/2008 7:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time  #    Comments [0]  |  Trackback