Note: The agenda, minutes, and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on June 27, 2024, but the user instruction specifies July 2, 2024. This summary uses the instructed date.
The Kirkland Planning Commission held a public hearing on the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Update, covering the Transportation, Utilities, Public Services, Capital Facilities, and Implementation elements, as well as the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS). The meeting began at 6:04 PM and adjourned at 8:54 PM. Six commissioners were present (Chair Rutherford, Jacobson, Allen, Madeya, Reusser, Rozmyn); Vice Chair Heiser was absent. Staff presented each element, and the public provided testimony. The Commission deliberated and voted unanimously on recommendations for each element.
Before the public hearing:
During the public hearing (12 speakers):
Utilities Element: Senior Planner Lindsay Levine reviewed goals and policies addressing water, sewer, power, telecom, sustainability, and EV charging. The Commission asked clarifying questions about deleted policies (U-5.10, covered by zoning code).
Public Services Element: Levine reviewed policies for fire, police, schools, emergency management, including affordable housing for employees and wildfire coordination.
Capital Facilities Element: Senior Planner Scott Guter presented goals for city-owned facilities; tables to follow in fall.
Transportation Element: Transportation Planner Kim Scrivner highlighted safety, active transportation, transit, equity, and land-use support. Transportation Commission Vice Chair Patrick Vu described the Transportation Strategic Plan work. Discussion included e-charging, shuttle services, and senior transit.
Implementation Chapter: Senior Planner Janice Swenson presented revisions to methods and proposed deleting the strategies section, as functional plans now include detailed implementation.
Draft SEIS: Swenson reviewed the Existing Plan (No Action) and Growth (Action) alternatives, showing similar citywide growth totals but different distribution. Commissioners discussed density flexibility and environmental review scope.
All motions passed 6-0:
All right. Are we good to go? All right. Welcome to the June 27th, 2024 meeting of the Kirkland Planning Commission. This is the call to order. Roll call. Gotcha, Ellen. Yes. Are you high, sir? Erin Jacobson. Here. Gina Medea. Here. Scott Ryser. Here. Angela Ralsman. Here. Rodney Retrofruit. Here. Thanks. All right. I believe we're starting tonight with items from the audience. So this is specifically specifically for any topic that is not scheduled to be covered at the public hearing. Uh to remind you that public hearing will include several elements from the comprehensive plan, including transportation, utilities, public services, implementation strategies, capital facilities, as well as the supplemental environmental impact statement and its draft specifically. And so if you would like to speak on anything that is not one of those topics, this is the time. If you want to speak, make sure that your first and last name is set correctly on Zoom. And then click the raise hand button at the bottom of your Zoom screen. A few minutes before it's your turn to speak, you'll be promoted to panelist status. And then remain on mute until I, the chair uh tell you to start speaking. Once you start speaking, you'll be limited to three minutes per speaker. And there will be at least we're expecting there'll be a timer that you'll be able to watch on the screen so that you're able to see how much time is left. So is there, is there anyone, any of our attendees who would like to address us for items in the audience. We do have one speaker in chambers, Chair Rutherford. Right on some audience. Great. Um, should we go ahead and let them go and then uh we'll invite the attendee who raised their hand uh as a panelist and queue them up to follow. Press start. Hi, yeah, start with your name, please. Thank you. Thank you. I'm Ingrid Salmon. This is spelled like the fish is spelt. And then I live in North Wanita neighborhood, and I'm on the board officially of the Winita Neighborhood Association. Um, it's clear to me that what I plan to say is not in the transportation element other than the transportation element of the comprehensive plan over the next 20 years, right? Time horizon. Um, I think if I were to say something, it would be could you speed up some of the smaller things to do? Um I'm a uh advocate. I got here on bike and bus. I had a single ride, meaning I was the only one on the bus. But um that uh, you know, that area.