Kirkland City Council - 4/16/19

Members Present
Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, Kelli Curtis, Tom Neir, Toby Nixon, Jon Pascal, Mayor Penny Sweet.

Absent:  CM Dave Asher
  
Meeting Highlights:

February 2019 Snow and Ice Storm After Action Report
 
Items from the Audience
Vast majority of the comments related to apartment development in east Rose Hill, for and against.  See 10 f Rose Hill Neighborhood Amendments below.
 
Petitions
2020 Light Rail Connection Impacts
As a result of the timing of Connect 2020, implementation of the North Eastside Mobility Project (NEMP) transit service changes have been delayed from September 2019 to March 2020.
 
State Legislative Update #7
Seventh update on the 2019 state legislative session.  Intergovernmental Relations and Economic Development Manager Lorrie McKay provided an update on 2019 legislative session activities.  Planning and Building Director Adam Weinstein also reviewed issues involving HB1923. 
 
In November of 2018, the City Council adopted six legislative priorities for the 2019 session. City of Kirkland 2019 Legislative Priorities follow:
➢ Kirkland supports new local funding and policy tools to address homelessness and create more affordable housing, such as: 

• Flexibility on existing REET and potential expansion
• Provide property tax exemptions for service-connected disabled veterans and senior citizens
• Funding for research on best practices for shared housing strategies and operations
• Authorization of TOD Pilot Project at Kingsgate Park and Ride

➢ Kirkland supports continued sustainable funding to maintain high-quality statewide training for law enforcement officers and corrections officers to ensure no waiting period to get law enforcement and corrections officers trained and in the field.
 ➢ Kirkland supports extending and accelerating the construction of express toll lanes on I-405 north of Kirkland, and implementing express toll lanes on I-405 south of Bellevue, in order to coincide with the 2024 opening of Sound Transit’s Bus Rapid Transit operations.
➢ Kirkland supports gun safety measures that promote safe and responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence, and that are consistent with the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution and Article I Section 24 of the Washington State Constitution.
➢ Kirkland supports capital and transportation budget funding for prioritized local infrastructure projects.
➢ Kirkland supports keeping the Transit Bypass Queue, at the Montlake Exit from SR-520, open through the 2023 scheduled completion of the Montlake Project.
 
Park Lane Flexible Street Options – Discussion of making Park Lane car free on some Sundays.
 
Juanita Drive Intersection and Safety Improvements Project Update 
Council approved request to shift funding to provide continuous path for nonmotorized traffic.
 
Fire Station 27 Site Condemnation and Authorization to Execute Purchase and Sale Agreement
Council passed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the acquisition of real property located at 13118 121st Way NE., Kirkland, WA for fire station and related public facilities purposes and to adopt the attached ordinance authorizing acquisition of the Property by use of eminent domain proceedings if necessary. 

Rose Hill Neighborhood Amendments
​Senior Planner Janice Coogan provided an overview of the proposed amendments and process to date and responded to Council questions. 
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The motions were tabled with the intent to reconsider a revised draft ordinance at Council's May 7, 2019 regular meeting.

More information on Kirkland City Council meetings is available at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Minutes.htm