The notes from the May 11, 2021 meeting of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association are provided below. 

As noted at the meeting, the Houghton Community Council (HCC) recently approved Resolution 2021-3 to put the continuance of the Houghton community municipal corporation to a vote of the people that reside within the boundaries of the former Town of Houghton. Every four years, Houghton residents are asked to vote on whether the HCC remains part of our government process. 

The Community Council, which is part of Kirkland’s city government, resulted from an agreement made in 1968 when the voters of the former Town of Houghton agreed to consolidate with the City of Kirkland. One of the conditions of the consolidation was that Houghton retain a council with land use jurisdiction applying within the HCC boundaries. The Community Council has approval or disapproval (veto) authority over the Kirkland City Council decisions on certain types of land use decisions within the corporation boundaries. These include comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, conditional use permits, subdivision ordinances, subdivision plats, and planned unit developments. 

The November ballot also will include elections for seven Councilmember positions, who will serve four-year terms if the continuance of the HCC is approved. If you are a resident within the HCC boundaries (see map), you can file to run for one of these Council positions. The filing period runs from May 17 to 21. King County has produced an elections Manual with the necessary information on filing, including dates and forms. The Manual and other election information can be accessed here. More information on the HCC can be found on the City’s web site - Houghton Community Council. 


We also have open Board positions which we would love to fill to help bring more ideas to the Association on how to improve our role in informing the community and hopefully making Central Houghton and all of Kirkland a better place for all.

If you are interested in a Board position, volunteering to help on our grant projects, or have any other questions or comments, please email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com.


Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

What is now the Cross Kirkland Corridor was previously a part of the Lake Washington Belt Line railroad. Kirkland History.org has documented the history of rail service along the Lake Washington Belt Line (LWBL), including it's section serving the Central Houghton, Lakeview and Everest neighborhoods (as well as others). 

The history and historical photos are very interesting. The following link will connect you to their web site on the LWBL.

kirklandhistory.org/1905-lwbl-ckc/

Their web site also includes some history about Juanita Beach, some Kirkland pioneer families, and other topics. Their main web site is:

​kirklandhistory.org/

Enjoy

Larry Toedtli, CHNA President, had previously sent out an agenda noting that due to the Covid -19 pandemic, the CHNA meeting would have a limited agenda using the Zoom software platform. As part of the agenda, CHNA also included extensive notes on various topics of interest to the neighborhood association. These include the following topics and can be accessed using this link:
http://www.houghtonlives.com/home/may-12-2020-information-and-virtual-meeting

• Covid Connections – A listing of resources that the City has pulled together to assist residents and businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Fire/EMS Ballot Measure Survey – The City Council is asking for input on two potential ballot issues covering fire stations and hiring of fire fighters. The survey closes May 15. https://www.research.net/r/FireEMSKirkland
• City Council and Houghton Community Council (HCC) Actions and Schedules – The City Council and HCC have proceeded with work on some prior topics, such as the Tree Code, Missing Middle Housing, and Accessory Dwelling Units.
• Transportation Projects - Updates on the flashing beacon at Phyllis Needy Park on 108th Avenue NE, 108th Avenue Sewer and Water Main Replacement, and Safer Routes to Schools Program Study.
• Neighborhood Association -Updates on the Matching Grant activities, Map Your Neighborhood, and potential options for virtual meetings in the future.

 
1. Introductions/ Comments from the Audience
Virtual meeting attendees introduced themselves and shared their areas of interest and other comments. They also were asked to share any acts of kindness or other types of activities related to the Covid pandemic.

City Council member Kelli Curtis noted that the City Council have been busy with Covid and other topics. She noted that the Council was going to discuss plans for opening parks and recreation facilities at their May 19 meeting.

2. ​​Board Reports
Larry Toedtli, as acting Treasurer, reported that the CHNA had just over $1900 in the CHNA account. He noted that this is approximately $400 less than last August. The decrease was associated with costs for the 2019 Crossing Kirkland event, November 2019 renewal of the web site hosting, and filing of the Washington State Annual Report. These funds will be reimbursed through the City Matching Grant probably near the end of 2020. It is unlikely that additional expenditures will be made for the 2020 Crossing Kirkland event that were planned for in the approved CHNA grant application.

Larry also noted that he had filed the Washington State Annual Report in February and the IRS Form 990 in May, as required as a non-profit.

3. Board Elections
The CHNA Bylaws include provisions for election of Board positions at the May annual meeting. Four positions are available – President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The following officers were elected for the 2020-2021 CHNA calendar.

1. President/Chair – Larry Toedtli re-elected
2. Vice President – OPEN
3. Secretary – Lisa McConnell re-elected

Treasurer – OPEN - Larry Toedtli appointed as acting Treasurer

​Hope you are all having a fabulous holiday.

​The Central Houghton Neighborhood Association's (CHNA) next meeting will be Tuesday September 10 at 7:00. It will be held at Fire Station 22 -- 6602 108 Ave NE.
 
The following includes information on some ongoing and upcoming items which may be of interest to our membership before the next meeting.  
 
1. Tree Code Revisions: A primary purpose of the tree code is to define what trees must be retained and requirements for planting more trees with development. It also addresses how many trees a property owner can remove each year without development. The tree code also addresses a range of other items that may affect your property or other properties as part of development or landscaping, etc.

• Thursday July 11 @ 7:00 PM City Council Chambers -  The Kirkland Planning Commission will meet to start reviewing the first draft of the code changes. The meeting packet, including the code revisions, can be found at the following link.              https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/Planning+Commission/KZC+Chapter+95+Code+Amendments_PC+Packet_CAM18-00408_07112019.pdf  
• Monday July 22 @ 7:00 PM City Council Chambers - The Houghton Community Council will start their review of the initial draft code.
  
  

2. Northwest University Master Plan Hearing

• The joint Hearing Examiner and Houghton Community Council public hearing on Northwest University's proposed Master Plan was continued from June 11  to a date yet to be established.
• When a new date is established, the City will provide public notice. CHNA will send out an email when we have a date and time.
• Oral testimony on the Master Plan is closed.
• Written comments/testimony can still be made - send them to Tony Leavitt, Senior Planner -   tleavitt@kirklandwa.gov. Be sure to include the project file number in the subject line -   ZON16-02063 
  
  

3. Crossing Kirkland Event

• CHNA will be participating in the Crossing Kirkland event on Saturday September 7 on the Cross Kirkland Corridor. 
• We will be part of the station at the Google site
• We are currently gathering ideas and formulating a plan - if you have some thoughts, please share them with us
• If you would like to help in the planning or day of event activities (set-up, assisting at the station/booth, clean up) please let us know - the more the merrier and many hands makes light work

• You can simply reply to this email or send a separate email to centralhoughton@gmail.com
  
  

4. King County Metro South Kirkland Bus Route Changes

• Regular riders of Route 255 already are aware that the route no longer stops at the Montlake Station because of construction of the west segment of the SR 520 bridge corridor.
• You can no longer take the 255 and get off at Montlake to go to UW . Sound Transit will still be running ST 540 during peak hours and Sound Transit has added service to ST 542 (Redmond to University District). You can transfer at Evergreen Point Station to the 542 and it will take you into the Stadium/Link station area and through the University district
• End of August/early September 2019 – Montlake Triangle improvements are to be finished. Bus stops will be consolidated in front of UW Stadium and the Link Station. This should make for much easier and safer connections to and from Link. 
• March 2020 - route 255 will most likely be rerouted to terminate at UW/Husky stadium. You will need to transfer to Link Light Rail to continue to downtown Seattle.

• More information on these changes can be found on King County Metro's website

           - Find out more details about how routes would change, including new options for routes recommended for deletion, on Metro’s North Eastside Mobility Plan website.  
          - Information about the King County Council’s process, including where to direct comments, can be found on the Mobility & Environment Committee’s website.    



As always, please let us know if you have any questions or if you have ideas for future meeting topics.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
centralhoughton@gmail.com
 

​The notes from our May 23, 2019 Central Houghton Neighborhood Association (CHNA) are attached.
 
A couple of dates for upcoming events to be aware of (more detail is in the meeting notes):

• June 11 (7pm at City Hall) - Northwest University Master Plan Joint Hearing Continuance - you can still provide written or oral testimony at least through that evening's meeting
  
  
• June 15 (9am to 11am at City Hall)- City Connections Workshop - review and discuss potential new local roadway and pathway connections in the City.
  
  
• June 22 (9am-12pm at City Hall) - Sustainability Master Plan Forum - learn about and provide input as this new Plan is getting underway
  
  
• September 7 (11am to 3pm on the Cross Kirkland Corridor) - Crossing Kirkland Event - Join in the fun or volunteer to help out with City wide block party 
  
  

Our next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday September 10 at 7:00 PM at Fire Station 22 (on 108th Avenue NE). If you have ideas for the meeting please let us know - centralhoughton@gmail.com
 
We also have a couple of Board positions open - vice president and Treasurer - these do not take much time, but will help us out immensely - Please contact us if you want to learn more.
 
Thanks
 
Larry Toedtli, President/Chair
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association 
email centralhoughton@gmail.com
web site - houghtonlives.com