North Rose Hill Neighborhood Association
Board of Directors, February 16, 1998

Dave Asher opened the meeting. All 12 board members and approximately 6 other attendees.

Minutes of the Jan. 19th general meeting were distributed. No exceptions were made.

Loris Crampton, Treasurer, reported general fund balance unchanged, $104.23 same as Jan 19.

INFORMATION:

• North Rose Hill board members testified to Kirkland City Council in Jan & Feb in support of the pedestrian overpass at 100th street. Dave provided an outline of his speech and reported on other overpass details. (Note: The City Council approved the overpass, with emergency access enhancements, on February 17.)

• North Rose Hill's recommendations to City of Kirkland for amending Comprehensive Plan was distributed. The existing NRH section of the Comp. Plan is 21 pages, last revised in 199x. It is available in the city library. The revised draft version reflects inputs gathered from residents at the Community Character meetings November through January. Our amendments clarify numerous details in ways that preserve the residential character of the neighborhood, limit certain types of high density which has been exceeding zoning, and suggest boundary revisions to include the commercial district along the north side of 85th Street in the NRH Neighborhood.

• Proposed revisions to the Association's Bylaws were distributed. The revisions to the 7-page document were minor adjustments to the mission statement, committee chairs, dollar limits on cash account, etc.

The board reviewed the Association's long standing policy of delegation of responsibility for specifics of political documents like the above, to committees. Consensus was that within a volunteer organization it would be infeasible to debate wording of lengthy documents in meetings and the existing process has worked well thus far. Committees have responsibility to report completely to the board on issues, and implement the board's positions in a responsible manner.

The board discussed avenues of possible cooperation and coordination between the Association and neighbors to the east of our 132nd Avenue boundary (Redmond and unincorporated King County areas). There is near unanimous consensus within the Association and those Redmond/King participants who happened to be present, that the 132nd Avenue boundary is not the natural political division and that the physical reality of the hill makes the neighborhoods a single unit. The Redmond/King Co. residents will have to decide whether they want coordination with NRH and if so, form a group within the Redmond framework as a vehicle.

Sewer/Septic committee Jeff Trager reported on content planned for the March meeting. Representatives from the City and from construction industry will present information. The meeting will be in the Fire Station.

The committee chairpersons for 1998 were discussed and approved:

The Public Safety/Block Watch committee was discontinued.

The Business Liaison committee is a newly formed committee for the purpose of representing the Association in communications with businesses.

Tom Hodgson reported that a small banner advertisement has been sold on the NRHNA Web site to bring in $20/ month for the general fund (space for the web site itself is an ongoing donation by ConnectOS, a Kirkland ISP). The first advertisement will be purchased by Debbie Turner, Windemere Real Estate. The board approved the action.

A history and update on KAN - of Kirkland Association of Neighborhoods was presented. KAN is increasingly called upon to participate as a voice of the neighborhood associations. NHRNA comfort level on this is not too great. The consensus was that there are significant differences in the challenges to each neighborhood and it would be very difficult for us to be represented by someone that did not face similar challenges.

The board voted nearly unanimously to articulate a single, clear priority to KAN for 1998: that the NRH priority is Pedestrian Safety for Safe School Walk Routes. City traffic engineer, Dave Godfrey has surveyed parents at one school recently inquiring why they drive kids to school. The top reasons were 1) stranger danger, 2) just too far, and distant 3rd) unsafe walking routes.

Dave Asher reported being on the short list of possible volunteers on the Translake Transportation Study (520 and alternate routes across Lake Washington).

Mary-Alyce Burleigh reported the deadline for 1998 Grant Application is near, and solicited residents priorities for that. Board agreed the #1 item would be two large Banners for the Summer Picnic. A large scale poll of North Rose Hill residents' views and priorities is also desirable, but volunteers who can execute a valid polling methodology would be needed.

City Council has solicited NRHNA to identify points where strobe lit crosswalks might be installed. Members will submit recommendations to the new Traffic Committee Chair, Todd Boyle.

The 116th and 112th Park & Ride lot reportedly is used by the Subaru dealer to store overflow inventory. Traffic committee to research and report on this.

Board discussed the delay in development of the new Woodlands Park addition, and agreed to contact the city to see what can be done. Debbie Turner, Parks Committee Chair, will see to this.

The meeting adjourned at 9pm.