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Record of Proceedings

Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - November 1, 2022

City Council — Tuesday, November 1, 2022
BodyKirkland, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 1, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:26

Thank you.

0:27

We're live, Mayor.

0:36

Recording in progress.

0:39

I'd like a call to order the city council meeting of November the first, 2022.

0:44

City Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:49

Council Member Nixon.

0:50

Here.

0:51

Council Member Black.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Council Member Curtis.

0:54

Here.

0:54

Council Member Falcone.

0:55

Here.

0:56

Council Member Pascal.

0:57

Here.

0:58

Deputy Mayor Arnold.

0:59

Here.

0:59

Mayor Sweet.

1:00

Here.

1:02

Okay.

1:02

Tonight's meeting is a hybrid meeting.

1:04

Community members are welcome to join us either in person or remotely through Zoom or by telephone.

1:10

Our study session tonight is on two topics.

1:12

The first is the preliminary 2023-2024 budget.

1:17

The second is the proposed updates to flag policy criteria and the Kirkland municipal code related to street banners.

1:25

We expect to reconvene our regular meeting at approximately 7 30 p.m.

1:29

City Manager.

1:31

All right.

1:32

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

1:33

Deputy Mayor, members of the council.

1:34

So our first topic is further discussion of the preliminary budget.

1:39

And I'm hoping George is going to be joining us virtually.

1:42

There he is.

1:43

So I want to clarify tonight is again not quite a decision night on the budget.

1:48

We're going to cover the questions you asked for, the additional information you sought, and then cover the potential amendments that we're going to talk about.

1:56

It is our intent to bring those back on November 15th for a vote by motion line by line.

2:03

So tonight we always want to make sure that we get it right and capture the universe of what the council's interested in.

2:08

So here to give you that update is George Digdale, our financial planning manager.

2:12

Welcome, George.

2:14

Thank you, Kurt.

2:15

Good evening, Mayor.

2:16

Good evening, Council members.

2:19

Hopefully everyone can see my screen now.

2:24

Yes.

2:24

Okay, great.

2:26

So as city manager said, we um this is the second study session on the um on the budget.

2:32

We do have potential for an as-needed third study session, but our intention this evening is to get to a place where we can go um as the city manager said, line by line through the budget, um, through the potential amendments at the November 15th council meeting.

2:48

So to start, just a quick look at what I'm going to go through.

2:51

We have some follow-up items from the study session last week, some answers to questions as well as some um other um suggestions from council members.

3:02

We're then going to look at the potential funding that's available for any council amendments, and then finally um the list of amendments as we heard it, so the preliminary budget last weekend, uh last week.

3:14

So the follow-up items, which was responses, uh staff responses to council questions and comments from last week.

3:21

We had um five uh questions or comments that we we have responses to in the transportation area.

3:27

So the first was whether we could rename the street fund.

3:31

So staff has spoken to MRSC and looked at the RCWs for this, and we are required um by RCW 4724 to have a fund that's designated as the street fund.

3:43

Um, neither we or MRC are 100% sure at this point if it means it has to be called street funds, but we're working to confirm this and looking at other cities.

3:53

Other cities that we have looked at and spoken to do have a fund called the street fund and then have sometimes have other funds such as multi multimodal transportation or TBD funds.

4:03

So at this point, we think the street fund is um is is the name that most cities use, and we're confirming whether we are required to have it called the street fund or just have a fund designated street fund.

4:18

So we confirm that MRSC does not account for electrification in their projections.

4:23

They use projections they get from Washtop and Washtart includes gas prices, fuel efficiency forecasts, and employment numbers.

4:31

So one note here is that um as the gas tax as we've talked about is a statewide is a distribution on a per capita basis.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Budget Equity Analysis████████████████16%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Behavioral Health█████5%
Governance Structure█████5%
Sign Code████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Water And Wastewater Management████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - November 1, 2022

The Kirkland City Council met on November 1, 2022, for a study session (5:30 p.m.) and regular meeting (7:30 p.m.) to discuss the preliminary 2023-2024 budget, updates to flag and banner policies, a regional crisis response agency interlocal agreement, business license code amendments, 2023 state legislative priorities, the 2023 Surface Water Master Plan, and other routine business. The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss potential litigation and adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of October 18, 2022 (two sets).
  • Approved audit of accounts (payroll $4,544,054.78; bills $4,004,567.45).
  • Acknowledged claims for damages from five individuals.
  • Accepted David E. Brink Park Shoreline Renovation Project completed by Wyser Construction, establishing the statutory lien period and returning remaining fund balance.
  • Approved Resolution R-5561 (NORCOM budget allocation).
  • Approved Resolution R-5564 (relinquishing right-of-way to abutting property owners Peter and Paula Christiansen).
  • Approved staff recommendation on resident flag display request.
  • Acknowledged Information Technology Operations and Stabilization update.
  • Acknowledged 3rd Quarter Planning Implementation Report.
  • Acknowledged September 2022 Sales Tax Report.
  • Acknowledged Procurement Report.
  • Motion carried 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Barbara Hughes and Kim Dare (Bridal Trails residents) expressed strong support for retaining the Snyder's Corner pop-up dog park through winter, offering volunteer labor and fundraising. They noted the city removed the park earlier that day without response to their prior offer.
  • Lydia Rapida (adjacent to 132nd Square Park) raised concerns about construction noise before 7 a.m. and questioned the stated height of a berm (allegedly over 4 feet) near her property.
  • Yi Zhao (new Executive Director of Imagine Housing) introduced himself and highlighted the need for more affordable housing units in Kirkland.
  • Barry Swanson (Kirkland resident and developer) supported the dog park and criticized the city for not mitigating dust with straw or seed during the summer, and for removing the park abruptly.
  • Johanna Palmer (adjacent to 132nd Square Park) showed photos of large dirt mounds she believed resulted from design changes without notice; she expressed disappointment and safety concerns.
  • Alex Tsimerman (Stand Up America) criticized Comcast franchise renewal as overpriced and broadly condemned city policies he viewed as restricting free speech, calling for internet service at $10/month.
  • Phil Megenhardt (event coordinator, Kirkland Uncorked) corrected the Parks Department's estimated tourism draw (35,000) used to project event fees, stating actual paid attendance was 4,054; he urged a fairer fee structure.
  • Colleen Clement (People for Climate Action) thanked the council for prioritizing sustainability in the 2023 legislative agenda and supported the language protecting natural environment and clean energy.
  • Celestina Hendrickson (Kirkland Downtown Association) requested approximately $60,000 for indoor and outdoor visitor center technology kiosks to enhance multilingual services, wayfinding, and data collection.
  • Ron Snell (People for Climate Action) urged the council to expand the Energy Smart program into a comprehensive residential energy efficiency and electrification program to leverage new federal incentives.
  • Anna Carroll (Campaign Manager, Together Center) endorsed capital funding for the Together Center expansion, noting that 15% of its clients (about 4,500) are Kirkland residents.

Discussion Items

  • Preliminary 2023-2024 Budget (Study Session): Financial Planning Manager George Dugdale reviewed follow-up items, including transportation fund naming, human services per-capita impact, ARPA remaining funds ($2.2M), potential reprioritization of K-TAP and youth council allocations, and a list of potential amendments (e.g., neighborhood traffic calming, special events staffing, teen programs, lifeguard hours, Snow Removal Incentive Program). Council provided direction: they declined to reprioritize K-TAP or youth council funding; expressed willingness to use the 1% general fund placeholder for some items; removed the vacant lot appraisal ($52,000) from consideration; and asked staff to return with refined options on November 15.
  • Proposed Updates to Flag Policy and Banner Code (Study Session): Deputy Director of Parks John Lloyd presented changes to the banner code to focus restrictions on content rather than applicant. Key changes: remove constraints that applicants be Kirkland-based nonprofits, non-religious, non-political; instead restrict messages to public service announcements or event promotion in Kirkland, and prohibit commercial advertising. Council gave feedback on clarity (e.g., applicability to banners on bridges, private fences in right-of-way; definition of "non-political"). The flag policy discussion was deferred to a future meeting.
  • Regional Crisis Response Agency Interlocal Agreement (Item 9a): Management Analyst Carly Joerger presented Resolution R-5562 authorizing execution of an interlocal agreement with Shoreline, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, and Bothell to create the Regional Crisis Response Agency (RCRA). Changes from September draft included a new name, revised governance (principal assembly meets at least three times/yr first biennium), clarified goals, and an amendment process. Council passed an amendment (4-3) to strike the word "solo" from goal b ("significantly reduce police response to behavioral health calls by providing alternatives..."). The main motion passed 7-0. The agency will begin operations January 1, 2023, pending adoption by all five cities.
  • Business License Code Amendments (Item 9b): Director of Finance Michael Olson presented Ordinance O-4821, which provides clarity, reduces redundancy, and extends business license relief to long-term rentals of single-family residences including ADUs, cottages, and two-/three-unit homes. Ordinance passed 7-0.
  • 2023 State Legislative Priorities (Item 9c): Carly Joerger presented Resolution R-5563. Council adopted two amendments: (1) inserting "Sustainability" into the environmental goal (passed 7-0); (2) narrowing capital budget funding request from "Permanent Supportive Housing Projects in Kirkland" to "The Current Health Through Housing Permanent Supportive Housing Project in the 48th Legislative District" (passed 7-0). The amended resolution was adopted 6-1 (Councilmember Nixon opposed).
  • Draft 2023 Surface Water Master Plan and Level of Service (Item 9d): Surface Water Program Supervisor Kelli Jones presented programmatic action rankings and three future levels of service (minimum, moderate, enhanced). Council discussed options for funding replacement of three extreme-risk pipes (unfunded, estimated $3M). Staff will revise the plan and return for final adoption.
  • Selection of Interview Selection Committee Members (Item 9e): City Clerk Kathi Anderson drew names: Councilmembers Black, Curtis, and Nixon will serve on the interview committees for Human Services Advisory Committee and Transportation Commission appointments.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent calendar approved 7-0.
  • Regional Crisis Response Agency Interlocal Agreement (Resolution R-5562) approved 7-0 as amended (with "solo" struck).
  • Business License Code Amendments (Ordinance O-4821) approved 7-0.
  • 2023 State Legislative Priorities (Resolution R-5563) approved 6-1 as amended.
  • Draft Surface Water Master Plan will return for final adoption after staff revisions.
  • Interview selection committee members: Councilmembers Black, Curtis, Nixon.
  • Council entered executive session to discuss potential litigation and adjourned at 11:00 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you. We're live, Mayor. Recording in progress. I'd like a call to order the city council meeting of November the first, 2022. City Clerk, will you please call the roll? Council Member Nixon. Here. Council Member Black. Here. Council Member Curtis. Here. Council Member Falcone. Here. Council Member Pascal. Here. Deputy Mayor Arnold. Here. Mayor Sweet. Here. Okay. Tonight's meeting is a hybrid meeting. Community members are welcome to join us either in person or remotely through Zoom or by telephone. Our study session tonight is on two topics. The first is the preliminary 2023-2024 budget. The second is the proposed updates to flag policy criteria and the Kirkland municipal code related to street banners. We expect to reconvene our regular meeting at approximately 7 30 p.m. City Manager. All right. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Deputy Mayor, members of the council. So our first topic is further discussion of the preliminary budget. And I'm hoping George is going to be joining us virtually. There he is. So I want to clarify tonight is again not quite a decision night on the budget. We're going to cover the questions you asked for, the additional information you sought, and then cover the potential amendments that we're going to talk about. It is our intent to bring those back on November 15th for a vote by motion line by line. So tonight we always want to make sure that we get it right and capture the universe of what the council's interested in. So here to give you that update is George Digdale, our financial planning manager. Welcome, George. Thank you, Kurt. Good evening, Mayor. Good evening, Council members. Hopefully everyone can see my screen now. Yes. Okay, great. So as city manager said, we um this is the second study session on the um on the budget. We do have potential for an as-needed third study session, but our intention this evening is to get to a place where we can go um as the city manager said, line by line through the budget, um, through the potential amendments at the November 15th council meeting. So to start, just a quick look at what I'm going to go through. We have some follow-up items from the study session last week, some answers to questions as well as some um other um suggestions from council members. We're then going to look at the potential funding that's available for any council amendments, and then finally um the list of amendments as we heard it, so the preliminary budget last weekend, uh last week.

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