CHNA Members (and neighbors):

The notes from our October 12, 2021 virtual meeting are attached. We had some very good presentations and discussions. 

Hope that you will join us at our next meeting scheduled for Tuesday November 9 at 7:00 PM. The November 9 meeting also will be virtual via Zoom. 
The agenda and meeting link will be sent out about a week in advance of the meeting. We will be finalizing the decision on our submission for the 2022 Neighborhood Safety Program, which is due December 3. We also should have a member of the Parks Board in attendance to update us on what's happening with Parks and Open Space Plans and projects. 
Please let us know if you have any topics that you would like to be added to the agenda.(email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com).

We also want to alert you to the following online engagement event related to the Active Transportation Plan update. 
​
Active Transportation Plan Engagement Event!
 
Do you have ideas on how the City of Kirkland can become safer and more accommodating to people walking, rolling and bicycling? Please make sure your voice is heard by attending our online engagement event 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, October 20! All are welcome at this community meeting, which will be used to gather feedback and inform our process as we work to update our Active Transportation Plan. 
 
The update to this plan will focus on completing connections, seeking opportunities and innovative solutions to create more comfortable and safer environments for people walking and rolling, and will consider technologies that can both facilitate travel by walking and bicycling and also help the city better evaluate how many people are walking and bicycling in Kirkland.
 
For more information on the Active Transportation Plan update, please visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Transportation/Plans-and-Studies-Transportation-Division/Active-Transportation-Plan. If you can’t make the meeting but would like to submit an online comment, please use this form: https://us.openforms.com/Form/37c47062-166e-421a-94ad-ef1b830415a7 or continue to check out or website for next opportunity to share your thoughts.  Another on-line engagement opportunity will also be scheduled for November 3rd.
 
We hope to see you there and we are excited to hear your ideas!

Thanks

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

The January 14 meeting of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association (CHNA) was rescheduled to February 11 due to inclement weather. The notes from the meeting are attached (or you can download them from the link below).

Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 10, starting at 7:00 PM. If you have ideas for meeting topics, or any other comments or questions, please email us at - centralhoughton@gmail.com.
 
We have a couple of board positions open - Vice President and Treasurer. These positions allow you to help CHNA support and promote our neighborhood. These positions do not require much time but would help broaden the discussion and perspectives of the CHNA leadership team.

Following the February 11 meeting, the City's Planning Commission forwarded its recommendations on code changes related to Missing Middle Housing and Accessory Dwelling Units to the City Council. The City Council is scheduled to take action on these code changes at its March 3 meeting. The City Council packet can be found here:
https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/030320/9c_Business.pdf

The City Council is also continuing to review and discuss various elements of the proposed changes to the Tree Code (Chapter 95 of the Zoning Code). These changes will affect properties with and without development. The latest City Council packet on the Tree Code was for their February 18 meeting - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/021820/9c(1)_Business.pdf
The City Council is currently scheduled to continue their discussion at their March 17, April 7, and April 21 meetings. if interested in this topic you can access the Council packets the Friday before each of these meetings from the City Council's web page.

In addition to the meeting notes, the following files include meeting materials covering the Wireless 5G concerns and upcoming Census and Census Jobs.

Please let us know if you have any comments or ideas for future meetings, or if you are interested in becoming a Board member or assist on specific projects or programs.  

Thank you and hope to see you on March 10 where we will be finding out more about the 108th Avenue NE sewer and water main replacement project that is about to get started and could extend into spring 2021.

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association 

Upcoming Dates
No regular November CHNA meeting. Instead please attend the Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) and 6th St Study Meeting on Wed, Nov 2nd, 6:00 PM Open House, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Working Session (at Northwest University, 5520 108th Avenue NE, HSC 231 Building (#18 on map).
 
Topics covered in October meeting:

• Neighborhood Safety Program
• ICS & Neighbors
• Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) & 6th St Study
• Northwest University Master Plan

 
NOST3 - We ran out of time during the meeting but wanted to pass along the following from Rich Jones;

• We would like CHNA members and neighbors consider the extreme cost and ineffectiveness of the ST3 package as well as the continued threat it will pose to our beloved Cross Kirkland Corridor.
• Neighbors should be encouraged to look at the tax calculator in the www.nost3.org  website. Calculators are also available on the Sound Transit web site and at www.smartertransit.org

To get more information, you can contact Rich (rjones8597@msn.com). He also “no on ST3” yard signs or visit the NOST3 website.
 
Neighborhood Safety Program
This is a city program that provides neighborhoods an opportunity to get small capital projects done. Lisa provide an presentation review previous and future projects. The entire presentation can be found on the CHNA website.
 
Previous project in our neighborhood include

• Upgrade to the 60th st access to Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC)
• 68th ST stairs to CKC (submitted by Moss Bay)
• Streetlight and sight line improvements at 112th Ave & 68ths
• Pending – rapid flashing beacon at crosswalk on 108th just south of Fire Station

By Nov 3rd, our neighborhood needs to submit our project. There are several project we are considering:

• Project 1 – address issues on  “curve of 68th” . Ideas to get drivers to slow down and acknowledge the curve include; adding digital display speed signs, paint the curb with reflective paint, install reflective arrow signs, or install a curve sign.
• Project 2 – Improve the pathway behind Fire Station #22 and NE 66th Pl. This would be to make the path ADA accessible, clean up and potentially look at low cost lighting.
• Project 3 – address speeding and cut-through traffic on 106th (adjacent to Carillion Woods Park) Ideas include; speed humps, request a stop sign, center lane painting, chevrons, painting fog lines
• Project 4 – Welcome to Kirkland sign and reminder of speed limits in residential areas.  Recommendation is to put on 85th

 
Please either cast your vote for one of the project above to Lisa M. You can also send her new project ideas or Submit a Project Idea Go to “Suggest a Project”—Click the “I want to…” orange button and then select “Submit a Project Idea.” The interactive map will step you through the process.
 
ICS & Neighbors
Dr. Gregory J. Moncada, Principal of International Community School (ICS) & Community School came to the meeting to introduce their new Campus Security Monitor, Tim Sullivan and talk about improvements requested by the neighbors. In September, Dr. Moncada, met with several neighbors to discuss concerns around child safety, communication and the beauty of our neighborhood. 

• Last visit to a CHNA meeting, ICS students talked about setting up doggy pick up stations which are now in place.
• Talked with neighbors about tree height and potentially making window trees
• ICS now has 2 volunteer parents to clean up the gardens around the school and 2 family events to help weeding.
• The district sprayed pre-emergent weed killer and next was delivering mulch to be spread
• And to address the biggest concern, ICS now has Tim Sullivan working the traffic during the peak drop off (7:15-7:30am) and pick up times (2:05-2:15pm). Tim is the new, Campus Security Monitor with over 30 years of Coast Guard experience.
• Still a concern is how to better identify the cross walks. Suggestion was to see if the “School Walk Routes” could be re-evaluated in order to get new/different funding to address issue.

Please contact either Dr. Moncada (gmoncada@lwsd.org) or Tim Sullivan 425-770-1446 if you have any issues.
 
Additionally, Dr. Moncada wanted to an invitation to the community to come listen to this year’s concerts; Fall Concert December 7, 7pm, Winter Concert March 15, 7pm, and Spring Concert June 7, 7pm.
 
Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) & 6th St Study
Consulting teams have been hired to work on HENC in conjunction with a study of the 6th Street Corridor. The consulting teams include; 3 Square Blocks, Berk and Transpo.  The team’s work will include public outreach and facilitation, the 6th Street Corridor study, and the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center study. Angela Ruggeri, Senior Planner for City of Kirkland and Marcy from 3 Square Blocks presented the early results from the online survey. If you haven’t already, Please fill out the online survey. The entire presentation is posted on the CHNA website.
 
Highlights from presentation:
This is an integrated land use/transportation study
It is a comprehensive outreach, a corridor study and a HENC study. The study is expected to cover to period of 12-16 months make sure to catch season changes.
he current online survey is from Aug 22 – Oct 28 – you still have time to fill out the survey!

Survey results so far are based on 442 responses:  

• We want small retail and restaurants – we don’t want offices and housing
• Biggest concern is PM peak hour congestion
• We want bicycle and pedestrian improvements

Next up is a Community workshop on Wed, Nov 2nd at Northwest University with doors opening at 6pm and starting at 7pm. Please voice your opinion either by the online survey, attending community workshop or sending your comments via email to the City Planning Commission.
 
Northwest University Master Plan
The master plan updates have been post on the city website. There is much to read! If you can’t read it all, it is recommended to read the Project Narrative and the Traffic Impact Analysis. Those can be found on the right hand bar on the city’s website (see link above). Additionally, Lisa included information at the end of the power point posted on the CHNA website. Please review and get your comments to city council.

• Comments should be sent to Tony Leavitt (not the City Council) by November 4 for consideration in the staff recommendation.
• Comments will also be accepted after November 4 through the closure of the future public hearing before the Hearing Examiner (still to be scheduled).
• It was suggested that the CHNA could request the City to extend the November 4 date for comments to staff based on the volume of the material (yes, there is lots to read), size of the proposal, and relationship to the 6th Street Transportation Study (The NU MP would generate significant traffic from the proposed commercial uses – tennis center, fitness center, and especially the use of the fields – in addition to the proposed changes in student enrollment.)

If you have not already, please join the CHNA Facebook page so you can get automatic updates.
Or check out the CHNA website.

Here are the agenda presentation for the October 2016 Meeting of the Central Houghton Neighborhood Association and the 3 Square Blocks presentation for the Houghton Everest Neighborhood Center (HENC) and the 6th Street corridor study. 

Links to download the files can be found below the views.
​Enjoy

Woof Woof ICS neighborhood!

Dog poop has a lot of bacteria in it which negatively affecting our environment. The 6th graders at ICS is holding an event to inform you about the new dog waste bag stations around the school. The 7th graders at ICS started the idea of dog waste stations last year and the 6th graders are continuing it. There will even be treats for everyone including you and your dog!

The 6th graders at ICS who want to help the Puget Sound by holding an event on Earth day, April 22, 2016 from 6:00-7:00 P.M. at 11133 NE 65th ST, Kirkland, WA 98033 on the ICS field.

They would love it if you could attend their event! Bring your dog if you can because this event is about you and your dog!

 Please attend their event!

Lake Washington School District Levy, proposal for dog waste stations at ICS, CERT's stone soup project at Northwest University, Long Range Metro Planning and Northwest University Expansion Plans were all on the agenda for March's meeting.

Here are the presentations and links to information discussed at our March 2, 2016 meeting. Thanks to all the presenters and attendees!

We had a presentation from Eric Campbell from  Lake Washington Citizens Levy Committee to speak about the upcoming school levy on April 26. More information can be found on their website.