Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - April 2, 2024

The Kirkland City Council met on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, convening a study session at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m., adjourning at 11:14 p.m. All seven council members were present. The evening included a joint study session with the Human Services Commission, an NPDES stormwater permit briefing, two proclamations, a public hearing on the Goat Hill building moratorium, a 14-item consent calendar, and five business items. A highlight was the adoption of a childcare stipend program for board and commission members.

Study Session

Joint Meeting with Human Services Commission: Council and commissioners discussed a possible community needs assessment (estimated at $75,000-$100,000), the 2023-2024 work plan, and the upcoming 2025-2026 grant cycle. Commission Chair Jory Hamilton said "you can't solve a problem that you don't see," advocating for a qualitative assessment; Commissioner Sriram Rajagopalan emphasized reaching communities that "Hopelink does not reach." Councilmember Sweet questioned spending on an assessment when Hopelink data exists; Councilmember Falcone called for clear research questions and regional partnerships; Councilmember Tymczyszyn suggested exploring internal staff capacity; Deputy Mayor Arnold asked what Kirkland-specific findings would justify the cost. City Manager Kurt Triplett said the work could not be done this year and would likely require added staff or a contracted study next year. Council expressed support for continuing the three-tier (A/B/C) grant funding structure.

NPDES Permit Requirements: Surface Water Manager Kelli Jones and Surface Water Planning Supervisor Rachel Konrady briefed the council on the draft National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit (2024-2029) and Draft 2024 Ecology Stormwater Design Manual. Notable changes include requiring mitigation for replaced impervious surfaces in transportation projects, stormwater mitigation for 9.2 acres of existing development, a street-sweeping program (three times per year citywide, once between July and September) by July 1, 2027, and tree canopy mapping. Councilmembers expressed concern about increased project costs (roughly 10% for a sample vault), trade-offs with other capital priorities, and the option to appeal the final permit within 30 days of release.

Honors and Proclamations

• Autism and Other Neurodivergence Acceptance and Appreciation Month: Proclaimed April 2024, read by Councilmember Black, accepted by Kirkland resident MJ Carlson, who is autistic and appeared with her child River.
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Proclaimed April 2024, read by Councilmember Pascal, accepted by his daughter Emma Pascal (a survivor and Juanita High School senior) and Veena Gonugunta, CFO of the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC). Emma cited statistics: 1 in 9 girls under 18 experience sexual assault; 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men are assaulted in their lifetimes; 77% of assaults go unreported; only 25 of every 1,000 perpetrators are incarcerated. Gonugunta noted KCSARC assisted more than 4,800 survivors in 2023, nearly half of them teens or children.

Consent Calendar

Approved 7-0 by roll call. Items included:

• Approval of minutes: March 1, March 5, March 19, and March 26, 2024 meetings.
• Audit of accounts: payroll $5,896,668.16; bills $3,978,934.87.
• Claim for damages from Rosemary Liddle acknowledged.
• Awards: Fire Station 24 Training Props to Taylor'd Systems, LLC of Spokane Valley ($1,975,505.81 including sales tax); NE Juanita Drive Storm Drain Failure project to RRJ Company, LLC of Monroe ($340,090.57); Pedestrian Safety Improvements (Downtown & NE 124th Street) to Kamins Construction, Inc. of Bothell ($1,055,290.20).
• YWCA "Until Justice Just Is" Month proclamation for April.
• Houghton Park & Ride interim uses fiscal note for $585,000.
• Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program update.
• Resolution R-5626 (revised investment policy for city funds).
• Ordinance O-4873 (amendments to Title 21 building and construction codes).
• Resolution R-5627 (vacation of unopened right-of-way requested by Curtis and Michelle Ferguson).
• Resolution R-5628 (Transportation Commission 2024-2025 work plan).
• 2015 Transportation Strategic Plan annual progress report.
• 2024 Legislative Session wrap-up.
• First Quarter 2024 Information Technology operations update.
• February 2024 sales tax report.
• Procurement report.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Eva Odderson and Marianna Makowska (Sustainability Ambassadors) urged the city to fully fund SNAP (Sustainable Neighborhood Ambassador Program) for 2024. Makowska compared Kirkland unfavorably with Bellevue (pop. 149,440, eight sustainability staff) and Issaquah (pop. 39,505, two staff plus interns), noting Kirkland (pop. 97,107) funds one sustainability staff position.
• Kyle Sullivan (Livable Kirkland / Eastside Urbanism) called for more ambitious housing and transportation policy, noting the bicycle network is 81% complete (up from 79% in 2021) and greenways only 18% complete, and that the RapidRide K Line lacks bus lanes.
• Chris Fox (Norkirk) presented a 163-signature petition requesting a sidewalk along the north side of 19th Avenue between Market and 4th Streets.
• James Hoff and Betsy Lewis (South Rose Hill) urged strengthening the city's NERTS comment letter on traffic queuing, 132nd Avenue traffic estimates, and neighborhood quality-of-life impacts.
• Alex Tsimmerman used Nazi-related rhetoric; Mayor Curtis stated the council allows free speech regardless of content but finds the comments hurtful, divisive, and at odds with Kirkland's values.
• Ozcan and Eylem Saribas spoke (accepted as items from the audience) about potential business impacts from downtown construction and student parking difficulties near Lake Washington High School.

Public Hearing - Goat Hill Moratorium: Planning and Building Director Adam Weinstein and Planning Supervisor Denise Russell presented the outreach conducted (website, listserv, mailed notices, a March 22 community meeting) and the proposed scope of work. Testimony included: Mary Rumpf (Goat Hill resident) on road damage from concrete trucks and concern about a four-acre housing project at the top of the hill; Scott Morris (Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance) urging exploration of open-space acquisition; Josh Friedmann (attorney for Montbank Management) noting the developer's willingness to build emergency access and dedicate up to 40% of the property as open space; Kevin Stigerts (12-year resident) supporting the moratorium and a road improvement district; Andrea Thompson opposing further multi-home development; and Jake Atkinson (scout and 13-year resident) describing erosion and wildlife loss.

Discussion Items

2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program Policy Principles (Resolution R-5622): Financial Planning Manager George Dugdale reviewed amendments from the March 19 meeting: broadening the transportation capacity goal beyond "concurrency," adding a new principle tied to the 2024 Transportation Strategic Plan, and adding water/sewer/stormwater regulatory requirements (including NPDES permit changes). Approved 7-0.

NERTS Draft EIS Comment Letter: Solid Waste Program Lead Jenna McInnis presented the staff draft comment letter to King County on the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station (NERTS) Draft EIS, containing over 75 comments from city subject-matter experts. Key themes: missing transportation data, Taylor Fields amenities, excavation of the closed landfill (Alternatives 1A/1B), and King County policy compliance. Council feedback included: strengthen language on on-site queuing (Pascal); consider affordable housing if the existing Houghton site is freed up (Sweet); assert that any unspent $28 million property acquisition surplus be used for mitigation (Tymczyszyn); elevate noise ordinance compliance for 6 a.m. operations and ensure mitigation covers people who bike and walk (Curtis). The minutes record a motion by Deputy Mayor Arnold (no second required) with no roll-call vote before recess; staff was directed to incorporate feedback and transmit the final letter before King County's April 9 comment deadline.

Childcare Stipend for Board and Commission Members (Resolution R-5629): Deputy City Manager James Lopez presented the pilot program: flat-fee stipend, quarterly prepayments, attestation, and a report back by December 1, 2024. The council adopted two amendments: (1) extending eligibility from children 10 and under to 13 and under; (2) renumbering sections and clarifying the required report language. The resolution was approved as amended 7-0, and a fiscal note authorizing a one-time use of $20,000 from the Council Special Projects Reserve was approved 7-0.

Tourism Development Committee Membership (Ordinance O-4874): City Attorney Kevin Raymond presented two versions: the original increasing voting membership from seven to eight (adding a second councilmember as vice chair), and a substitute ordinance (offered by Councilmember Pascal) keeping seven voting members with the second councilmember serving as non-voting vice chair. Councilmember Tymczyszyn moved to table until the TDC could weigh in; the motion carried 4-3 (Yes: Arnold, Pascal, Sweet, Tymczyszyn; No: Black, Curtis, Falcone). The council then selected Deputy Mayor Arnold, Mayor Curtis, and Councilmember Sweet (7-0) to discuss the proposal with the Tourism Development Committee on Friday.

Organizational Statement on Conflict (Draft Resolution R-5630): Discussion only. The proposed statement condemns atrocities, violence, and aggression by any party and reaffirms the city's commitment to an inclusive community. Council feedback: allow city manager designees (e.g., police chief, DEIB manager) to engage in community dialogue (Arnold); make clear the city will still take stands on controversial issues that directly impact community members (Falcone); narrow Section 3 language to within the city's scope of powers and functions (Black); align language with the Washington Law Against Discrimination, including veterans (Tymczyszyn); and add "international" before "events" with an option for stronger statements (Curtis). Staff will bring back a revised resolution.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance O-4875 (affirming the Goat Hill emergency moratorium on new dwelling unit permits): approved 7-0.
• Consent calendar: approved 7-0.
• Resolution R-5622 (2025-2030 CIP policy principles): approved 7-0.
• NERTS comment letter: council feedback provided for incorporation; final letter due to King County by April 9, 2024.
• Resolution R-5629 (childcare stipend): approved as amended 7-0; $20,000 fiscal note approved 7-0.
• Ordinance O-4874 (TDC expansion): tabled 4-3 for discussion with the Tourism Development Committee; a three-member council delegation (Curtis, Arnold, Sweet) will meet with the TDC on Friday, April 5.
• Draft Resolution R-5630 (organizational statement on conflict): revisions requested; no action taken.
• Council directed the City Manager to bring a fiscal note (7-0) allocating $20,000 from the Council Special Projects Reserve to fund the SNAP program for 2024, to be paired with a broader discussion of special projects fund policies around May 7.

City Manager Reports

City Manager Kurt Triplett announced the birth of Special Project Coordinator Andreana Campbell's baby, Nolan; reminded the council of the Mayor's State of the City address at the Greater Kirkland Chamber of Commerce on April 11; and noted the upcoming May 3 council retreat on Housing and Comprehensive Plan issues.