7:00 PM - Meeting called to order

We currently have $3500 in grant money and need to decide how to spend it.  Input from meeting participants in the meeting will be collected later on and will be considered during the next Norkirk board meeting.

There are a number of issues that we would like to open up for discussion related to the Norkirk Neighborhood:

Voter Turnout

Kirkland City Council member, Dave Asher, submitted a letter to the editor of the Kirkland Courier addressing the poor voter turnout across all Kirkland neighborhoods in the November 2003 elections.  As a result, the Kirkland Alliance of Neighborhoods (KAN) is embarking on an initiative to promote voter registration and turnout.  If you are interested in helping out, please contact KAN.

Norkirk Traffic Calming

The cost to construct the first part of Norkirk neighborhood improvements was $162,000+.  Cost estimates came in of $65,000 to complete the Phase I improvements.  However, this estimate will be updated once to reflect the quantities associated with the final plans, and again to reflect the big amounts submitted by interested contractors.

The City of Kirkland is finalizing the construction plans to complete the four remaining elements of The Norkirk traffic Calming project – Phase I.  Please know that careful consideration was given to all publish comments received and that the construction plans were based on the feedback.  A brief description of each element is given below with a reference drawing being mailed to your home address.

Remaining Phase I construction affects the following locations:

• 15^th Ave. & 1^st
• 15 Ave. between 3^rd and 4^th St .
• 15^th Ave. & 5^th St .
• 19^th Ave. & 2^nd

Central Way is being torn up to tackle cable and sewage lines.  The City might take advantage of that time to narrow Central Way , so addressing remaining Traffic Calming issues is essential to Norkirk residents.

(Jason Anderson provided clarification for the narrowing of Central Way ).

405 Expansion

Dan Fisher gave and overview of the proposed expansion of 405.  Public information/input meeting is scheduled for February 4 in the Rose Hill Room, or possibly Peter Kirk Room at City Hall.  For more information, contact Dan Fisher.

Innovative Housing

Kirkland City Councilmember, Jim Lauringer, gave an update on the progress of innovative housing in Kirkland .

Lakeshore Plaza at Marina Park

A citizen’s committee has been formed to provide input to the process of building out the plaza at Marina Park.  The first meeting is scheduled for March 9th, 2004 in the Peter Kirk Room at City Hall.  Open House from 6:00-7:00 p.m. and workshop from 7:00-8:30p.m.

For more information, contact Elisa Bakker (elisa@norkirk.org)

Norkirk Neighborhood  Grant Summary

Last years grant goals:  Communication, neighborhood identity and improvements.

How we spent the money last year:

• Purchased neighborhood entrance sign (second installment of $1,000)
• Landscaping materials for traffic circles
• Held neighborhood picnic
• Maintained website

We have approx. $400 remaining.  We are asking for input on whether that should be donated to Peter Kirk kindergarten playground equipment.

Grant proposals for current year:

• Neighborhood sign – 3^rd installment to pay for installation
• Landscaping around entrance sign
• Neighborhood picnic
• Order pre-printed signs for our annual picnic (15 signs @ $10/sign)

  Beth Nahun passed out copies of the proposed design for the new playground and requested financial support from the Norkirk members.

Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan

Planning commission will be reviewing the issues that are raised in the individual neighborhood meetings.  An initial meeting was held and attended by the chairs and co-chairs of Kirkland neighborhoods.  For Norkirk, the following issues were raised:

• Density is a concern.  Both loss of green space (lot coverage) and FAR cited as concerns.  FAR not counted for detached accessory swelling units adds tot perception of bulk.  Developers aren’t providing improvements to infrastructure to offset development impacts.  Example of too much density: 10^th Ave. west of 3^rd St .
• How can by-pass traffic that cuts through Norkirk after turning left from Market at 18^th or 19^th streets to avoid market and the CBD be controlled?
• Can existing view corridor to Lake Washington from 1^st Street looking west across private property and south across Market Street be protected?

Once the initial reviews were read to the group, sheets of paper were passed around the room to collect additional neighborhood concerns that will be forwarded to the planning committee for consideration.

Additional Presentation

A representative from Citizens for King County Monorail presented information on the proposal for a county-wide monorail system. 

9:00 PM - Meeting adjourned