North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association

Meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Chair Tom Hodgson with an informal Pizza and Soda Party to welcome Kirkland City Manager, Dave Ramsey. 

Attendees included Tom Hodgson, Jeff Trager, Nancy Stephens, Betty Lou Crampton, Mary-Alyce Burleigh, Margaret Carnegie, Mike Stults, Linda Jones, Karen Tennyson, Todd Boyle and numerous other neighbors.

AGENDA: 
Treasurer's Report: $636.44 Grant Account Balance

SPECIAL GUEST: KIRKLAND CITY MANAGER, DAVE RAMSEY

Mr. Ramsey said that North Rose Hill Neighborhood is the model for city neighborhoods. NRH's city-wide interest in planning processes is commended.  Item updates: 

• NE 85th St. Corridor Study is going to the Planning Committee soon.
• Totem Lake - 1/3 of the city's sales tax comes from this area. Currently it is not a pedestrian friendly community. There is  interest in developing a Community Center Theme for Totem Lake.
• Downtown - Fragile, weather dependent community. 
• Annexation Opportunities - 3 areas currently being looked at: North Juanita, Kingsgate and Finn Hill.
• These communities do not have a self-supporting economic base to support their needed services.
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) - Need to satisfy federal government regulations regarding land use and buffers.
• Maintenance has to be controlled in an ecologically safe manner. This includes the use of street cleaning methods and storm drains.

MAJOR PROJECTS:

• Park Place renovation
• Juanita Village - urban village image
• Totem Lake Mall renovation 
• Transportation
• Regional - Totem Lake w/overpass at NE 128th Street
• Transit Center
• I-405 Mass Transit - alternate streets built up?
• Water Taxi - what to do about ensuing parking issues? Plan under consideration for a ferry to run
  every 20 minutes with bus service on each end.  
• Local - 100th Street Overpass - starting in July  
• 132nd Street Bike Lane 
• Round-about by 6th or 7th Street being considered 
• Transportation Advisory Group was established at a City Retreat.

PARKS:

 Park Board - comprehensive study going on.

• School/City partnership - Mark Twain is the first example of this partnership. The school grounds are used by the students during the day and by the citizens evenings and weekends.
• Teen Center - currently reviewing how it should look. It will be located by the Senior Center.
• Senior Services Center - Needs study. Seniors have different needs than they did when the current center was built. Example being the increased use of the Internet - how can our Senior Center service our senior's needs to learn how to master and use this tool.
• Christian Science Church Historic Building on Waverly Site - Masterplan is currently in the works.  Foundation is being poured for permanent placement of the building. Need to finalize usage for the building. Can the Kirkland Heritage Society use the basement for their Archives? Can the main floor be used as a Public Meeting Center for Neighborhood 
  Associations? Available space for a general purpose Community Center?
• Cross-Kirkland Trail - how to best develop from Totem Lake to Houghton community
• Houghton Land Fill being converted to ball fields 
• How to make neighborhood organizations more effective? Half day workshop was held on March 4 giving neighborhood association leaders an opportunity to meet together to discuss obstacles, goals achievement.
• How to best get information to neighborhoods?

Affordable Housing 

• how to accomplish good design vs. public funding. Need to allow greater density in
  order to achieve affordable housing areas.
• I-695 - caused income reduction to Kirkland of $1,200,000. Because of conservative budgeting, this is not an insurmountable issue. 
• Thousand Friends of Washington group voted Kirkland as #2 in state as most balanced community.
• Seattle Times poll showed Kirkland as favorite community. 
• Costco weave - may take 3-5 years to resolve. 
• Variety of business development plans being considered to increase pedestrian friendly city. 
• Connectivity and Density are critical issues in many areas of Kirkland
• Kirkland size = 11 square miles

NE 85th Street Corridor Study update
NANCY COX 

Meeting to be held April 6 at Kirkland City Hall Council Chambers to present the study. This will be an informational meeting, not a public hearing. It will prepare you for participating in upcoming Planning Commission meetings. This is a Sub-area plan in Kirkland's long range comp plan. Next year the city will consider zoning and implementation of changes.

OLD BUSINESS

• CRITICAL AREAS - no update.
  
• Neighborhood Grant Application ($3500 available) - Mary Alyce Burleigh has prepared the application requesting funding for the following options:
  • Neighborhood Survey - Communication to update our focus needs
  • Meeting Notice Mailing subsidy (one mailing)
  • Update Website to .org or .net. Upgrade design and content.
  • July Picnic - increase volunteerism. Picnic scheduled for 3rd weekend of July
  • Picnic Shelter - roll funds to design costs, etc. for enhancements to possibly include a fireplace, water, electricity in a shelter at Woodlands Park.

NEW BUSINESS

WEBSITE:
Anyone knowledgeable in website maintenance and design out there? We would like to update our site and would appreciate assistance.

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

Week of April 10 week
On April 13, 7-9 p.m., come to Kirkland Performance Center to enjoy entertainment from 7-8 p.m. and then go next door to the Senior Center and see what VOLUNTEERing opportunities await you in our community. Kirkland's Mayor Larry Springer will be the keynote speaker. 

4th OF JULY PARADE - Interested in helping to build a North Rose Hill float? Want to help in other ways? 

City Transportaion Commission will be seeking applicants.

City of Kirkland is looking for volunteers to sit on committees.

Park Place Swap meeting to be held April 5 at 7 p.m. at Council Chambers by the Park Board. A model of the proposed Park Place design will be displayed at City Hall.

COVERED SWIMMING POOL was suggested to increase use.  It is encouraged that each neighbor verbalize this desire in writing to the Park Board - WRITE LETTERS. 

LAND USE Committee - is working on re-writing our comp plan for North Rose Hill.

VANDALISM at Mark Twain Park - One bench has been stolen and signs have been vandalized. Contact Tom Hodgson or Kirkland Police Officer Michael Brewer if you have any information regarding this problem.

FYI:
Officers for 2000:
Tom Hodgson, President; Jeff Trager, Vice-President; 
Mike Stults, Treasurer; Nancy Stephens, Secretary

Committees are as follows:

Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan Update, chaired by Jeff Trager and Karen Tennyson
Safe Walking Routes Committee, chaired by Jane Hasson, with Jeff Hasson and Kaylee Trager as members
New Developments Watchdog Committee, co-chaired by Karen Tennyson and Linda Jones
Roads & Traffic Committee is open for members.

Please feel free to join in the efforts of any of the above committees.

SPECIAL NOTE TO COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

ANY COMMITTEE ACTIONS WITH THIRD PARTIES NEED TO HAVE MINUTES PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF NRHNA FOR APPROVAL BEFORE THE ACTIONS MAY BE IMPLEMENTED. 

This may be accomplished by forwarding the proposed actions via e-mail to the NRHNA Board members for review and comment if a Board meeting is not imminent.

NEXT BOARD MEETING: APRIL 17, 2000 at Fire Station 26.

NEXT GENERAL MEETING: MAY 15, 7:30 p.m. at Fire Station 26

Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 pm.

Submitted by Secretary, Nancy Stephens