​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
 

​Houghton residents interested in serving on the Houghton Community Council have until 4 p.m., Thursday, March 14, 2019 to apply to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of (now) City Councilmember Kelli Curtis.  

Applications are available on the City of Kirkland website.To be considered for appointment, applicants must have resided within the territorial boundaries of the former Town of Houghton as of the date of its consolidation with the City of Kirkland (August 1968) for at least one year as of November 5, 2019 and be registered to vote. The individual that is selected will serve on the Community Council through the certification of the November 2021 general election.  Any individual appointed may also file to retain the seat in that election.

Interviews will be conducted at a special meeting prior to the regular Houghton Community Council meeting on March 25, 2019 and the candidate that is selected will be seated at the Council’s April meeting. 

The Houghton Community Council is the elected council for the Houghton Community Municipal Corporation. The Community Municipal Corporation was created pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 35.14 RCW.  Information about the Council’s jurisdiction, powers and authority can be found in Kirkland Municipal Code (KMC) Chapter 2.12.
​
Questions about process or the requirements of serving on the Council can be directed to Kathi Anderson, Kirkland City Clerk, at KAnderson@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3197.   Questions and information regarding serving as a Houghton Community Councilmember may be directed to Council Chair Rick Whitney at (425) 829-2680.

​Come help us celebrate 50 years of being a part of Kirkland. Bring your old photos (we'll have a scanner) and help us record Houghton's history. If you are new to Houghton, learn a little local history and meet your neighbors. This family friendly event will have games and of course, CAKE! The celebration will be held on Thursday July 12 from 6:00-9:00 PM at Fire Station 22 (6602 108th Avenue NE).

​Please share this invite with your friends and neighbors.

The agenda for the November 14 CHNA meeting is provided below. In addition to topics related to the Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center and 6th Street Corridor study, We will have a presentation and discussion with a representative from Northwest University on their proposed Master Plan.

​The CHNA Board also is proposing revisions to the Bylaws, which can be accessed in the files below. The files include a summary of the proposed changes which basically revise the Bylaws into how the organization currently operates (without dues and the structure for officers).  The current Bylaws require changes to the Bylaws to be approved by the membership (i.e. those in attendance at the meeting). The proposed revisions will allow 3/4 majority of the Board to revise the Bylaws.

​On November 7 residents of Houghton will be asked to weigh-in on several issues and candidates, including Proposition 1 regarding the continued existence of the Houghton Community Council (HCC). I urge Houghton residents to vote “Yes” for the continuation of this community municipal corporation.

The Houghton Community Council was formed in 1968 when the cities of Kirkland and Houghton merged. A key aspect of the merger was that the HCC would have veto power over land use regulations within the boundaries of the former city of Houghton. Every four years, Houghton residents vote whether the HCC should continue to exist.

Over the last 20 years, my wife and I have been involved in various aspects of our community including the Lakeview Elementary School PTSA and the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association. During those years, the HCC board members have added value and insight into land use decisions made by the Kirkland City Council. 

In my role as a former president and current role as vice president of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association, I know the HCC has been in tune with and sensitive to the opinions and desires expressed by Houghton residents in open forums. The HCC board has helped shape our community into the very desirable place it is to live today through thoughtful deliberation and keen insights.

For these reasons, I urge Houghton residents to vote Yes for Proposition No. 1 for the continuation of the Houghton Community Council. 

Brian Staples