Have you ever wanted to ask candid questions of your local law enforcement officers but didn’t feel like you could? Now’s your chance.

Coffee with a Cop is an opportunity to ask those questions, voice concerns and make suggestions while getting to know the Kirkland Police officers in your neighborhood. The first date is on October 4th, 2017 at Urban Coffee, 12348 NE 115th Place just off 124th Avenue NE. Join Officer Deana Lansing there from 11am-1pm.

For more information contact Neighborhood Resource Officer Deana Lansing at 425-587-3451 or dlansing@kirklandwa.gov.

This program provides City grant money for projects identified and prioritized by residents that address pedestrian and bicycle safety issues that are often too small to be funded in the regular CIP budget. These projects could be crosswalk safety, pedestrian or bike connections to the CKC, bike lanes or trails, intersection improvements, traffic calming, walkway improvements, etc.
 
Step 1: Suggest a Project - do this step NOW
Enter your project idea in the “Suggest a Project” interactive map at any time during the year. (Click the “I want to…” orange button and then select “Submit a Project Idea” in the drop-down dialog box. The interactive map will step you through pinpointing your project location, selecting a project type and describing your idea.) The City reviews and responds to all suggestions and will let you know if your project meets the NSP parameters. All suggestions will be shared with your Neighborhood Association and posted on the City’s web site.
 
The next step will be for you to advocate for your project at your upcoming Neighborhood Association Meeting (dates vary).  Each neighborhood can select two projects with a projected total maximum cost of  $50,000.00 per neighborhood, but they first must be entered on the "Suggest a Project" site to qualify.
 
Get those ideas posted!

You can also send project ideas to centralhoughton@gmail.com. The Central Houghton Neighborhood Association will be discussing suggested projects at our monthly meetings (7:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month at Fire Station 22). 

​During this week, there will be a series of events where communities bring together immigrants and U.S. born residents in a spirit of unity to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. Community members are invited to host events (big or small) that are welcome to all and that provide an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to come together.
 
Here is a link to many of these events happening on the Eastside this week: 
https://ericmembers.wordpress.com/welcoming-week/
 
We would like to see KAN and individual neighborhoods participate with an event/s next September. Try to attend a couple of events, and bring back your ideas!
 
The Juanita Neighborhood Association put on the "Welcoming Kirkland" event yesterday at Heritage Hall.  Thank you Juanita!

​Council discussing Short Term Vacation Rental Regulations (AirBnB, VRBO etc.) this Tuesday, Sept. 19, 7:30pm in City Council Chambers.  Staff will be providing options for regulating vacation rentals that will be bought back as legislation at the October 3, 2017 Council meeting.  With such a quick turn-around on a topic of significance to neighborhoods,  we suggest you check out the information packet linked to the agenda under "New Business" Item 11b, Vacation Rentals Regulations.
 
The agenda link is below.  If you then click on Agenda item 11b, it will take you to a packet of information with the Background and Proposal for Discussion: 
 
http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Agendas/agnd091917.htm
 
If you would like to express an opinion to Council, you can email your thoughts to them at 
citycouncil@kirklandwa.gov and/or to jregala@kirklandwa.gov. - by Tuesday noon if you want your opinions to be considered in Tuesday's City Council discussion.
 
Two things that appeared to resonate with the KAN reps present last week, but not emphasized in the Council packet were 1. that Council should look primarily at issues with non-owner occupied Vacation Rentals at this point.  2. There is concern that short term vacation rentals are taking much needed properties out of circulation for full time residents in a time when available housing stock is limited.  I believe this concern is not mentioned in the Council packet.

On Tuesday, September 19, 2017 City Council will discuss residential suites in the Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center 2 zone.  The staff memo and Council meeting agenda are now available:

• > Staff Memo
• > Meeting Agenda

Crossing Kirkland - September 9, 2017
​Great turnout for our first year. Thanks to everyone who came, all of our volunteers, and our sponsors. Hope you all had as much fun as we did! And if you'd like to be a part of next year's event let us know.

On August 10, 2017 Northwest University sent out a notice that it has resubmitted its Master Plan Update Proposal to the City of Kirkland with revisions based on City staff and community input. The notice stated that the revised proposal is now available on the City's website and the Northwest University website.

As of August 18, the City's web site now has the updated files linked.

The City's web site also includes an updated timeline for the review of the Master Plan, as follows:.
 Preliminary Project Timeline
Please note that these timelines are very preliminary and will likely change

• August 2017: Environmental (SEPA) Determination Issuance
• October 2017: Joint Public Hearing before Houghton Community Council and Hearing Examiner, Recommendation to City Council
• November 2017 or December 2017: City Council Consideration and Decision
• December 2017 or January 2018: Houghton Community Council Consideration and Decision

Kirkland City Council will continue their discussions regarding the Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) in their Tuesday July 18 meeting. The meeting commences at 7:30 pm and the agenda can be found by clicking here. 

Residential Suites/Apodments for the HENC?
At the previous City Council meeting, council members asked staff for more information regarding Residential Suites (aka apodments).​

Parking Concerns for the Neighborhood?
Parking Requirements for Residential Suites include:

• Parking requirement is 0.5 stalls/unit plus one/on site employee, if a parking management plan is approved by the City, implemented by the property owner and recorded with King County;
• Otherwise the parking requirement is one stall/unit plus one stall/on site employee;​

This parking requirement is less than half the City code for a studio apartment (1.2 spaces /unit). Concerns have been raised about the parking around Residential Suites. Neighbors are concerned residents saying they don’t have a car, park in the neighborhood, and not pay a parking fee which would be normally charged. There are concerns regarding the enforcement of the policy.

​Comparing parking for Residential Suites to more traditional multi-family units would be 2 spaces for 4 residential suites compared to 4.8 spaces for 4 studios, or 4.1 spaces for a mix of 1 studio (1.2 spaces),  1-one bedroom (1.3 spaces), and 1 – two bedroom unit (1.6 spaces).  Or 3.2 for 2 two-bedroom in its (same number of beds).