Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting – December 10, 2024
Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting – December 10, 2024
The Kirkland City Council met on December 10, 2024, at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included a commendation for life-saving bystanders, special presentations on employee service awards and a national stormwater innovation award, an update on the Connections Crisis Clinic, public comments, approval of the consent calendar, and adoption of several key items including the 2025-2026 biennial budget, 2025 property tax levy, 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program, and the 2044 Comprehensive Plan after extensive discussion and amendments. The council also adopted the annual proclamation calendar and approved moving forward with all four applicants for the Cultural Arts Commission.
Consent Calendar
- Approved 7-0, including minutes of November 19, 2024; audit of accounts (payroll $4,600,329.65 and bills $10,298,691.59); claims from Candis Alford, Tim Chalimbekov, and Eugeniu Turlea; and the following items: Ordinance O-4892 (school impact fees), Resolution R-5655 (multifamily housing property tax exemption contract with Fairfield Slater, LLC), Resolution R-5661 (2023 Streets Levy Accountability Report), Resolution R-5662 (Human Services Pooled Fund interlocal agreement), Resolution R-5665 (ratifying and ending windstorm emergency), and quarterly updates for IT, automated safety camera program, police animal services, police dashboard, financial dashboard, sales tax, and procurement.
Public Comments & Testimony
- 22 speakers addressed the council during Items from the Audience (45-minute limit, restrictions lifted). Many spoke about the 2044 Comprehensive Plan. Supporters included representatives from Plymouth Housing, Eastside for All, HCC, FutureWise, Hopelink, and Master Builders Association, who emphasized the need for affordable housing, citing that 23% of homeowners and 38% of renters are cost-burdened (paying more than 30% of income on housing). Opponents expressed concerns about density, loss of neighborhood character, lack of transparency, safety near supportive housing, and increased property taxes. Other topics included a business owner affected by road construction at Totem Lake Square, and a speaker correcting an outdated transit frequency reference in the comp plan.
Discussion Items
- 2024 Year-End Budget Adjustments: Ordinance O-4893 approved 7-0, amending the 2023-2024 biennial budget with total appropriation adjustments of $7.4 million, including $750,000 for 100th Ave NE flashing beacons and $450,000 in affordable housing fees in lieu.
- 2025-2026 Final Budget Adoption: Ordinance O-4895 adopted 7-0 after an amendment (moved by Councilmember Falcone, seconded by Councilmember Tymczyszyn) to shift $5,000 from Festivals and Functions to Pride Across the Bridge for translation and inclusive event materials. Resolution R-5664 adopting fiscal policies also approved 7-0. The budget includes a historic per-capita investment in human services of $32.47.
- 2025 Property Tax Levy Adoption: Ordinance O-4894 approved 7-0, setting the levy at $43.9 million with a final rate of $0.92569 per $1,000 assessed value.
- 2025-2030 Capital Improvement Program Adoption: Resolution R-5663 approved 7-0, with a six-year funded CIP of just under $259 million and total program (including unfunded) of just under $1.3 billion.
- 2044 Comprehensive Plan Adoption: Extensive discussion and multiple amendments. Final vote on Ordinance O-4896 was 5-2 (Councilmembers Pascal and Tymczyszyn opposed). Key amendments:
- Policy LU-3.X adopted 7-0: "Optimize middle housing to increase housing options in the City."
- Policy LU-4.3 amended 6-1 to read "review the reduction of minimum lot sizes in residential zones to support housing affordability and more opportunities for fee simple ownership."
- Policy H-1.5 amended 4-3 to add "state, and federal" resources and adjust development standards based on learnings from existing housing facilities.
- Alternative Policy H-2.31 adopted 7-0 (replacing a withdrawn policy) focusing on fiscal transparency and public-private partnerships.
- Policies J-16 and J-20 adopted 7-0 encouraging property consolidation for improved access and design at specific sites.
- City Council Annual Proclamation Calendar Adoption: Approved 7-0, adding Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and Veterans & Military Families Month (November).
- Interview Selection Committee Recommendations: Motion to suspend rules and interview all four applicants for the vacant Cultural Arts Commission position passed 7-0.
Key Outcomes
- All consent calendar items approved 7-0.
- 2024 year-end budget adjustments approved (Ordinance O-4893).
- 2025-2026 budget adopted with amendment (Ordinance O-4895).
- 2025 property tax levy set (Ordinance O-4894).
- 2025-2030 CIP adopted (Resolution R-5663).
- 2044 Comprehensive Plan adopted 5-2 (Ordinance O-4896) after multiple amendments.
- Proclamation calendar adopted with two new proclamations.
- All four applicants advanced for Cultural Arts Commission interviews.
- Executive session on litigation deferred to January due to pending Court of Appeals decision.
Meeting Transcript
All right, we are back in session following a special meeting where we took action on amendments to the 2044 comprehensive plan. The speci special meeting replaced our usual study session. If we could have everybody sit down and stop the conversations, that would be great. Otherwise, we're gonna have to close those doors. Thank you, everybody. Um, I know we have many community members in the audience tonight who would like to probably provide comments on the 2044 comprehensive plan because this topic is important to our community and we must vote on it tonight. I'd like to allow more than three speakers for and against the topic to address the council tonight. However, I also recognize that we have special presentations tonight that have brought us esteemed guests from our own staff and from external organizations, and I do not want to require them to stay through a much lengthier items from the audience than they were expecting. So council, unless there's an objection, I have a couple recommendations. Any objections to making those changes. Okay, so we are now gonna move to our first item, which is a council commendation, and I'm so thrilled to see you all in the audience tonight. Um we are making a commendation to celebrate the heroic actions of five community members who made impactful life-saving efforts for two community members who were drowning at Waverly Park. Recipients tonight will be Kelly Radcliffe and Mike Kenny are here in person tonight to accept the commendation. We have two of our recipients, Madison Lewis and Abby Nelson, have joined us remotely because they are taking college exams. Okay, so they can see us. Madison was previously a lifeguard for the city of Kirkland, which has has lifeguards serving at Peter Cook Pool, Waverly, Houghton, and Juanita Beaches. And what I said to our parks director today is once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard. Um Abby was previously a lifeguard at the Kingsgate Five Pool, which is a local neighborhood pool. Our final recipient is Dustin Hogan, was who is unable to join us tonight. I want to welcome all of you, including our fire uh brigade over here in the corner, who will join me for the commendation. Um I'm going to read the commendation, and then our fire chief and members of the fire department are gonna join me in awarding medals to these incredible community members. So if our recipients, including Abby's parents, can come join us up here. And this is what we're gonna do is I'm gonna read the commendation, and then the chief is gonna present the awards. Everybody's gonna shake your hands, and then you're gonna have to walk down the council and shake all of their hands. And then when we're all done, we're gonna take a fantastic group picture. So and welcome you to, and good luck on your college exams. And I know everybody's happy to have you home soon. Uh commending courageous community members for extraordinary bravery during life-saving efforts. Whereas on May 10th, 2024, two individuals were in imminent danger of drowning at Waverly Park in Kirkland, creating a life-threatening emergency. And whereas community members witnessing the situation selfishly sprang into action, demonstrating extraordinary courage and compassion. And whereas without hesitation, they took immediate action to assist two individuals in life-threatening situation. And whereas through their swift and decisive actions, they work together to bring the two individuals to safety, providing critical assistance until first responders arrived. And whereas their actions exemplify the highest qualities of community members, reflecting a profound commitment to the well-being of others and a willingness to act in times of need. And whereas their bravery as an inspiration to all, highlighting the profound impact of quick thinking and selfishness and saving lives. Now, therefore, I, Mayor Kelly Curtis, do hereby commend Kelly Radkiff, Mike Kenny, Madison Lewis, Abby Nelson, and Dustin Hogan for their extraordinary bravery and life-saving actions. Thank you. Yeah, go right down the line. Abby Nelson. Abby Nelson Parents. And you must be very proud. Thank you. Kelly Radcliffe. Okay. And then Madison Lewis Madison, if you can just wave and the rest of us can acknowledge you. Thank you very much. All right. We're now going to take a group photo. Kelly, are you going to do it here? Oh, yeah. Just so you guys know you're in the picture, so we go.
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