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.
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.
Approved 7-0 by roll call. Items included:
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.
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.
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.
Ready to go. We're live, Mayor. Thank you. Oh, you were talking about it. Thank you. I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of April 2nd, 2024. Tonight's meeting is a hybrid meeting. Community members are welcome to join us either in person or remotely through Zoom or the telephone. Welcome, human services commission members. We're happy to have you tonight. Clerk, will you please call the role for both the city council and the human services commission? Councilmember Tim Chisholm. Here. Councilmember Black. Here. Councilmember Sweet. Councilmember Falcone. Here. Councilmember Pascal. Here. Deputy Mayor Arnold. Here. Mayor Curtis. Here. Chair Hamilton. Here. Commissioner Chu. Here. Commissioner Jenkins. Commissioner Shao. Commissioner Raja Gopalon. Here. And I believe that Commissioners Vesquez, Chung, and Liu are going to be absent. Thank you. Our study session tonight is on two topics. As I've mentioned, we will have a joint meeting with the Human Services Commission. The section, the second section is on the NPDES requirements, and we'll explain what that is when the presentation happens. We expect to reconvene our regular meeting at 7.30. Hey, thank you, Madam Chair. And welcome to our Human Services Commissioner. So it's wonderful to see you here in person. Those of you who are to be here. So tonight we don't have a formal presentation in terms of PowerPoint slides, but we are hoping for a productive dialogue between the council and the commission. I'm going to cut turn over to Jen Boone, our human services manager, to give an overview before it's handed over to the commission. Good evening, Mayor, Council members. Nice to see you all as well as our commissioners. So as Kurt mentioned, we do not have a formal presentation tonight, but really two meaty topics that the commission has identified as kind of wanting to have discussion with you ahead of the grants process. So they have been knee-deep and getting prepared for the upcoming application process. The cycle does end. Um or I'm sorry, the process for the applications to be received closes next week.