​Welcome to 2021. Even though we changed the calendar, we do not get to meet in person.


Our first meeting of 2021 will include updates on several ongoing projects and programs, including the 108th Avenue Sewer and Water Main Replacement Project, development projects, and the NE 85th Street Station Area Plan.
We also will report on our 2021 Neighborhood Safety Program application. 


A focus of the meeting will be on discussing potential projects for the City's 2021-2022 Matching Grant Program
We would like to hear your ideas for projects that will help improve the quality of the Central Houghton Neighborhood, either through physical improvements or community activities.

The meeting agenda is provided below (it also can be downloaded using the link).

The Zoom meeting information, including passcode are provided and highlighted below.

If you have any comments or ideas for future meeting topics, please let us know

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
central houghton@gmail.com
web site - houghtonlives.com


CHNA January 12, 2021 Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, January 12⋅7:00-9:30pm
Location:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84805929443?pwd=ZjRhcndaVlMyK2R5c1lTZ0RaVndIQT09

Description:Central Houghton Neighborhood Association is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84805929443?pwd=ZjRhcndaVlMyK2R5c1lTZ0RaVndIQT09 Meeting ID: 848 0592 9443 Passcode: BS7LqK One tap mobile +12532158782,,84805929443#,,,,*734934# US (Tacoma) +16699006833,,84805929443#,,,,*734934# US (San Jose) Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C) Meeting ID: 848 0592 9443 Passcode: 734934 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbxj6IQ41

CHNA submitted our application for the City's 2021 Neighborhood Safety Program (NSP). The NSP is focused on identifying and prioritizing neighborhood pedestrian and bicycle safety issues. As part of the 2021 program, Neighborhood Associations were encouraged to build from the recently adopted Safer Routes to Schools Action Plan. Links to the NSP and Safer Routes to Schools Action Plan web pages are provided below.

• Neighborhood Safety Program Web Page
• Safer Routes to Schools Action Plan Web Page
  ​

CHNA submitted a project at the intersection of 106th Avenue NE/NE 55th Street. The project idea was  identified by one of our members at our November 2020 virtual meeting. The primary concern at this intersection is the speed of north-south traffic at the intersection which does not need to stop at NE 55th Street. This intersection serves as pedestrian routes to Carillon Woods Park which is used by children of all ages. 106th Avenue NE also serves as a school walk route (as a quieter option to 108th Avenue NE) for several schools located two blocks to the north,

Our application is provided below. Staff and the NSP review panel will work over the next couple of months to review and rank projects, as well as evaluate and develop costs for addressing the specific issues identified in the applications. Projects will then be reviewed and funded by the City Council in mid-April.
​

​CHNA held its September 8 meeting virtually using the Zoom platform. We had several speakers and presentations.

The notes from the meetings are attached. 
 
If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for future meeting topics, please contact us at centralhoughton@gmail.com
 
We also have openings on our Board that we would love to get filled to help generate ideas on how CHNA can best serve our neighborhood and overall City.
 
Our next meeting will be held virtually at 7:00 PM on Tuesday November 10. Hope to see you then.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association

 I hope you all had an enjoyable summer, even with the Covid-19 pandemic.
City facilities remain closed, therefore we will be hosting a virtual meeting using Zoom.

The meeting agenda is provided below and also can be downloaded.
​
We have several visitors/presentations on the agenda, covering a range of topics:

• Police Lt. Brouelette
• 108th Avenue NE Water and Sewer Main Replacement
• Northwest University 
• Tech City Bowling Alley Redevelopment process
• City of Kirkland Fire and Emergency Medical Services Ballot Measure

In addition, we will provide information on upcoming City Council, Houghton Community Council, and Planning Commission topics.

Please note that the City Council is scheduled to take action on the Safer Routes to Schools program at its virtual meeting tonight  - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/090120/9b_Business.pdf
Please forward this email and agenda to others that may be interested in these topics.

Thanks and hope to "see" you next Tuesday.

Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
centralhoughton@gmail.com


The Zoom meeting link and passcode are provided as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84930777067?pwd=WkhIUjBHeWRqTE53VitKWEk3QW52dz09

Meeting ID: 849 3077 7067
Passcode: 979166
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,84930777067#,,,,,,0#,,979166# US (Tacoma)
+16699006833,,84930777067#,,,,,,0#,,979166# US (San Jose)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kew2BNx7X8
​

​To CHNA Distribution List-
 
Similar to many of Kirkland's neighborhood associations, CHNA does not typically meet during the summer months. However, there are several items that the City is moving forward with.that we wanted to inform you about.
 
These items include ongoing planning activities, transportation construction projects, and City code revision proposals.
 
The following provides a short summary of these activities; we also have included links to the City web sites where you can get more detailed information.
 
Please let us know if you have any questions, input on possible topics of interest, or if you would like to join the CHNA Board or assist CHNA in other ways. We can be reached at centralhoughton@gmail.com.
 
Please forward to others that may be interested. To be added (or removed) from our distribution list, please email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com.
 
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
 
 
 
July 7 City Council Meeting Public Hearing - Affirming Black Lives Matter and Establishing a Framework for Kirkland Becoming a Safe, Inclusive and Welcoming Community 

• City Council to Hold Public Hearing on a Draft Resolution Affirming Black Lives Matter and Establishing a Framework for Kirkland Becoming a Safe, Inclusive and Welcoming Community 
  City Council Agenda and Packet can be found here - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Agendas/Agenda_070720.htm
  
  

Rooftop Amenities Code Revisions 

• Potentially allows increased height of buildings to allow for outside space and possible common rooms.
• Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission (PC) and Houghton Community Council (HCC) on February 13, 2020 
• HCC made its recommendations to PC on February 13, 2020
• PC reviewed HCC recommendations and made its recommendations to the City Council on February 27, 2020
  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/Planning/Planning+PDFs/Planning+Commission/Rooftop+Appurtenance+Amenities+2_27_20+PC+Packet+-+CAM19-00502.pdf
• City Council presentation at its June 16 meeting - packet https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/Council+Packets/061620/9g_Business.pdf
• City Council provided input /direction to staff to review options related to public amenities, addressing impacts to adjoining low density residential areas, and application based on building height 
• City Council Schedule lists the topic for City Council review (and possible action) at its June 21 meeting

• Following action by the City Council, the ordinance will return to the HCC at a future date for approval or disapproval within its jurisdiction
  
  

Survey Related to New City Website
 
The City of Kirkland is seeking input from the community to help guide the development of a new City website.
Community members are invited to take a short survey to share their experience with the current City website, and assist staff in developing a new City website that better meets the needs of the public.


City Traffic Cameras
 
The City of Kirkland is pleased to announce that City traffic cameras are now available to the public on the City website at https://trafficmap.kirklandwa.gov/.
Community members can visit the webpage and click a camera icon to display an image from the traffic camera at that location. Visitors to the page can then click on the image, or use the maximize window button at the top of the pop-up, to open a larger version of the image. The images are refreshed approximately every minute.
“We hope that this new feature on our website will be a helpful tool for community members looking to plan their trips to avoid traffic,” said Councilmember Jon Pascal. “We also believe that this will be a valuable tool for community members to check road conditions during winter storm events.”
The traffic map is currently live and available to the public at https://trafficmap.kirklandwa.gov/.
 
 
 
 
 
Phyllis Needy Park Crosswalk Flashing Beacon
 
Construction is well underway for the installation of a new flashing beacon at the crosswalk near Phyllis Needy Park (on 108th Avenue NE just north of NE 46th). This is a neighborhood safety project that CHNA has pursued for several years. It hopefully will be completed by the end of summer.


108th Avenue NE Water and Sewer Main Replacement Project
The City's contractor is well underway on this project to replace the 50plus year old sewer main (NE 53 to 68th) and water main (NE 60th to 68th).
If you have driven the corridor you have seen the construction and traffic control and flaggers. Please be safe and slow down as you approach and travel through the construction site.
The project will likely last until December, with possible repaving next spring.Project web site  can be found here:
http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Public_Works/Construction_Projects/108th_Avenue_Northeast_water_and_sewer_upgrade.htm



Safer Routes to School

• The City developed a potential list of pedestrian system improvements to improve safety and connectivity to schools throughout the City.
• City staff held a series of Zoom public meetings with each neighborhood association  throughout June.
• CHNA recommended adding a project on 111th Avenue NE near NE 48th Street
• The City also invited people to vote on their top three projects through the end of June.
• The city's web site for the project can be found here - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/CMO/Neighborhood_Services/Safer_Routes_to_School_Action_Plans.htm
• The map of projects is available through this link - https://kirklandwa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=925be3c9d0b5494cafeae6086a13ec07
• The results of the voting are being tabulated in July

• Final recommendations are tentatively scheduled to go before City Council in early August (check the agenda when it comes out).
  
  

Active Transportation Plan
The City of Kirkland is updating the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) based on the 2009 Active Transportation Plan (PDF 8MB) 
The plan update is being coordinated with the Safer Routes to School project. It will address pedestrians, bicycling, and access to transit and community centers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting budget constraints, the Active Transportation Plan community engagement and recommendations will be put on hold while the city slowly reopens and recovers from budgetary constraints. The plan will seek to implement the proposed strategies and innovations and with that comes budget requests which will be unlikely to be approved at this moment in time. However, the City is still moving forward with opportunities to make it safer to walk and bike such as seeking grant funds to implement high-priority safety projects, completing Kirkland's first two neighborhood greenway projects and designing and building Kirkland's first protected bike lanes. ThC city also received funding for a third greenway project. Please stay tuned for more information about this planning effort.

Visit the City's web page for more information https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Public_Works/Transportation_and_Traffic/Active_Transportation_Plan.htm