Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025
Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - March 18, 2025
The Kirkland City Council held a regular meeting on March 18, 2025, with a study session from 5:30 p.m. to 7:04 p.m. on fire and park impact fee schedules and the Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program, followed by the regular meeting from 7:30 p.m. to 11:27 p.m. The council adopted proclamations, heard 14 public comments, approved the consent calendar with one item pulled, and discussed and voted on multiple business items, including middle housing code compliance, a K Line support letter, the electric leaf blower initiative, the 2025-2026 city work program, and legislative updates. Seven votes were taken, all passing unanimously (7-0 or 6-0 due to recusals).
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of March 4, 2025, and March 13, 2025 (special meeting).
- Acknowledged audit of accounts (payroll $4,491,923.75; bills $6,081,724.30).
- Acknowledged claims for damages from six individuals.
- Awarded construction contract for NE 85th Street Pedestrian Bike Connection to OMA Construction, Inc. for $7,112,938.00.
- Approved Resolution R-5675 approving the Eastside Transportation Partnership Interlocal Agreement.
- Acknowledged Q1 2025 Information Technology Operations Update, January 2025 Investment Report, January 2025 Financial Dashboard Report, and Procurement Report.
- Item 8.E(2) (O.O. Denny Park Improvements – Picnic Shelter) was pulled from the consent calendar and addressed separately under Business.
- Motion to approve consent calendar carried 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Gardner (resident near 108th Ave NE) expressed concern about potential property acquisition for the K Line bus rapid transit project, urging consideration of alternatives to minimize impact on his backyard.
- Lisa Wakida (resident near 108th Ave NE) objected to lack of transparency and potential partial condemnation of her property for the K Line, citing sleepless nights and unanswered emails from city staff.
- Yasmin Karimli (volunteer with Quiet Clean Kirkland) urged a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, citing noise pollution and health hazards.
- Dennis Glines (resident) questioned the K Line’s feasibility and potential negative impacts on ridership and neighborhood safety.
- Michelle Alten-Kaehler (Quiet Clean Kirkland) highlighted health risks to landscape workers from gas leaf blower emissions and urged a ban.
- Ross Hunter (resident) supported a ban on gas leaf blowers, noting economic viability and city leadership potential.
- Jennifer Loy (resident) criticized the city for taking on too many large projects, urging prioritization of the North Kirkland Community Center remodel and Peter Kirk Pool upgrade over the Kraken Iceplex and Houghton Village development.
- Loita Hawkinson (Kirkland Heritage Society) shared historical stories of women’s suffrage and early female leaders in Kirkland for Women’s History Month.
- Debbie Lacey (Eastside for All) requested council support for House Bill 1217, rent stabilization, citing a Kirkland mother’s story of rent increases and near-displacement.
- David Haynes (virtual) criticized housing policies, traffic, and library conditions, and called for higher building heights and better community spaces.
- Kyle Sullivan (resident) supported HB 1217 and middle housing, urging phase two inclusionary zoning and recommending keeping ADU limits at two per property.
- Alex Tsimmerman (Stand Up America) expressed grievances about trespass notices from Sound Transit and criticized the city’s treatment of free speech; the council allowed him to finish but noted his comments were hurtful and divisive.
- Phil Allen (resident) raised concerns about the King County Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station initiative, citing undisclosed contamination from soil samples and urging the city to appeal the final EIS.
- Jill Stoddart (Cherish Kirkland) criticized council members for misrepresenting the grassroots group’s positions on housing and growth, calling for respectful dialogue.
Discussion Items
Fire and Park Impact Fee Schedules Update (Study Session)
- Staff presented options for per-square-foot impact fees for residential and non-residential development, including new RCW compliance. Council consensus leaned toward adopting fees as calculated for schools and healthcare, but with further discussion needed on ADU exemptions and micro-ADU thresholds. Staff to bring back draft ordinance.
Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program Update (Study Session)
- The program served 461 new households with $245,000 in financial support in 2024. Direct utility discounts grew 95% for garbage and 70% for water/sewer accounts. The program is transitioning in-house with a new coordinator. Council discussed expanding to other utility districts and aligning income thresholds with King County’s property tax exemption.
Briefing on Middle Housing Code State Compliance (Business Item 9A)
- Staff presented options for ADU density calculations, housing typologies, and inclusionary zoning. Council provided direction: limit ADUs to two per property (option 2), allow six housing types in low-density zones (option 1), and adopt the planning commission’s guidance on inclusionary zoning (option 2) with a delayed effective date and further exploration in phase two. No final vote; staff to return with draft code.
K Line Locally Preferred Alternative Support Letter (Business Item 9B)
- Councilmember Tymczyszyn recused himself due to conflict of interest. Council approved two letters of support for the K Line LPA (6-0), with conditions to minimize property impacts and retain service hours in Kirkland.
Electric Leaf Blower Initiative Update (Business Item 9C)
- Council discussed extending the initiative, deferring a ban ordinance, and exploring pilot programs. Consensus to defer the ordinance, continue education, and consider seasonal electric-only pilots for city operations. No formal vote.
2025-2026 City Work Program Review (Business Item 9D)
- Council reviewed updated work program, adding items such as exploring options for covering Peter Kirk Pool (renamed “explore” from “develop”), public works maintenance center, and budget. Staff to bring back resolution for adoption on April 1.
2025 Legislative Session Update (Business Item 9E)
- Council voted to modify the city’s position on Engrossed House Bill 1217 (rent stabilization) from monitor to support (7-0) and on Senate Bill 5313 (rental agreement provisions) from monitor to support (7-0).
O.O. Denny Park Improvements – Picnic Shelter Bid Award (Business Item 9F)
- Council approved a purchase order with KCDA for $7,112,938 for the picnic shelter (6-0) and separately directed staff to bring back financing options for electric and water service to the shelter (6-0).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved 7-0.
- K Line LPA Support Letters approved 6-0 (Tymczyszyn recused).
- O.O. Denny Park Shelter bid approved 6-0; financing options for utilities to be brought back.
- Legislative positions: Council voted to support HB 1217 (rent stabilization) 7-0 and SB 5313 (rental agreement provisions) 7-0.
- Mental Health First Aid Training: Directed staff to bring back proposals for options 1 (social media/public awareness campaign) and 2 (pilot community training program) (7-0).
- Resolution R-5240 Update: Adopted option 2 (update and return with suggested actions, with modifications to outreach levels) and return with a draft resolution in Q2 2025 (7-0).
- Monitor Presidential Actions: Selected option 1 (establish formal internal process to monitor, identify risk, and respond) (7-0).
- Middle Housing direction: Staff to refine ADU density (option 2), housing typologies (option 1), and inclusionary zoning (option 2 with delayed effective date) and bring back to planning commission and council.
- Electric Leaf Blower: Council consensus to defer ordinance, extend initiative, and explore summer pilots; no formal vote.
- City Work Program: Staff to incorporate council feedback and return with a resolution for adoption on April 1, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
I know it's just as you may have to speak. Testing, testing. Are you guys ready? I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of March 18, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Timchison. Here. Councilmember Black. Here. Councilmember Sweet. Councilmember Falcone. Here. Councilmember Pascal. Deputy Mayor Arnold. Here. Mayor Curtis. Here. Our study session tonight is on two items. First is an update on the fire and park impact fee schedule. Second, we'll we'll receive an update on the Kirkland Care's Low Income Support Program. We spectacle reconvene our regular meeting at 7 30. City Manager. Okay. Thank you, Mayor. Deputy Mayor, members of the council. So there is this study session, as we definitely want council feedback. As many of you mentioned on our calls, this is complicated topic. There's many levers to push and pull. So we're gonna walk you through them. We're looking for feedback. You will get other bytes at the app all. Uh we'll be coming back future council meetings as well. Um can't hear me? Sorry. Oh, so it's not the microphone. No, operating error. Okay. Uh so uh here to give us that presentation as Kevin Pelstring, our new approved financial planning manager. So it's now official. So congratulations. This is first time without the interim title. We're excited. That's why he has the mustache. Yes. Looking sharp. He's got a sense of authority. George is probably jealous. I do believe we also have some consultants on line two to answer questions if we need to. So they are. And we're gonna use about two-thirds of the session for this, and then one third for the low-income discount presentation.
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