The role of the Park Board is to advise the City Council on matters relating to parks, recreation, and community services. Park Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m., Kirkland City Hall. For agenda and meeting information, go to www.ci.kirkland.wa.us (Search: Park Board).

For more information about the application process, please contact Kathi Anderson, City Clerk at 425-587-3197 or kanderson@ci.kirkland.wa.us.

The City of Kirkland has just released the Downtown Kirkland Retail Strategy: Interim Report produced by outside consultants, E.D. Hovee & Company, LLC.  The report is a part of a strategic retail study for downtown Kirkland being conducted with the Downtown Advisory Committee. The report has identified four strategic options for consideration:

• Option 1 - Status Quo
• Option 2 - Reinvigorated Destination
• Option 3 - Go Local
• Option 4 - Locally Driven Destination

This report will help guide decision makers in determining the best course to set for downtown.

You may download the Downtown Kirkland Retail Strategy: Interim Report here (PDF).

On Saturday, August 16th, Peter Kirk Park was awash with swimmers and their families, dogs, tents, coolers, and anything else they could bring for the Craze Swim League Championship Meet held at Peter Kirk Pool. The crowds were enormous for the “micro-olympic” event for swimming kids of all ages including the Kirkland Orcas Swim Team. Participating teams included the cities of Kirkland, Edmonds, Shoreline, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace. There were plenty of little Michael Phelps fans competing for the gold.

It was great to see the park so filled with families enjoying the day and cheering for their swimmers.

Do you have an interesting photo of life in Kirkland you would like to share? Please send it to kirklandviews@gmail.com. Thanks!

Dear Editor:

Hello Rob,

I just wanted to pass along my dismay to you and the Kirkland Views readers about an email I received earlier this week from the Seattle Seahawks regarding Metro and mass transit options to Qwest Field on home game days. 

I will quote from the email:

“This past April, the Federal Transit Administration ruled that if any private bus operators are interested in providing game day transportation services for fans then Metro would not be permitted to operate the bus service. The Seahawks were obligated to negotiate with those charter bus companies.

 The Seahawks received one bid which included an increase in passenger fares by $14.  In addition, the bid did not include approvals to use roadways, park-and-ride lots and staging areas that are necessary to operate the service safely and effectively.”

So, in effect we have one charter bus company that throws the Seahawks a bid, that in my opinion, is no better than a game day interception and we the fans are now stuck trying to find alternative transportation to the games.

What will the impact be to all of the Eastside fans or the rest of the regions fans?  The Seahawks give the following suggestions and again I quote from the email:

“For those impacted fans, the Seahawks recommend using regular Metro service, Sound Transit ST Express buses and the Sounder Train.  ST Express buses offer transportation from areas throughout Pierce, King and Snohomish counties with service every 30 minutes and stops within three blocks of Qwest Field.”

I looked on the Metro web site and the transportation options for Kirkland aren’t great.  They did, however,  make the comment that this restriction currently is effecting only the pre-season games and a decision has not been made about regular season games.  Based on what I found for normal bus service from Kirkland to Qwest field we need to hope someone will figure that the bus service is critical to all the fans for easy ingress and egress to the stadium.  One bus (the 255) every 30 minutes to the field and one every hour after the game is not going have the capacity to move all of Hawk fans back to the Kirkland area. 

I would really like to know what bus company forced the Seahawks hand and wish more media was aware of this potential gridlock making problem.

I am not sure what can be done at this point and not sure how handcuffed the Seahawks are by this new FTA ruling.  I assume they are working diligently on the problem but wanted to make your readership aware of what this might do to traffic should nothing get changed.

Let’s just hope this only impacts the pre-season and by the time the regular season rolls around someone figures out a solution to this problem and keeps the cars off the road and in the Park & Ride lots where they belong.

Just imagine if this same scenario happened at Husky Stadium!  Not a pretty picture.

Thanks,

Steve Shinstrom

King County encourages Bothell to move swiftly in considering adoption of the Kirkland Potential Annexation Area (PAA) despite Kirkland’s reluctance to release control of the area

King County Executive Ron Sims and four members of the King County Council have written to the Bothell City Council encouraging them to adopt Kirkland’s Potential Annexation Area (PAA), stating that “Bothell’s efforts may provide the last opportunity for any near term annexation” according to a recent article written by Joshua Hicks of the Bothell Reporter.

Kirkland’s budget problems limit options

The City of Kirkland has studied the annexation of the PAA — an area designated over twelve years ago as Kirkland’s potential expansion area with a population of 33,000 located in unincorporated King County between Kirkland and Bothell — for years but has never been able to make such an annexation work financially.

The enormous burden of almost doubling the size of the City of Kirkland through annexation would require massive churning of Kirkland City services — expanding city staff and building larger maintenance, public safety and administrative facilities — and in the process Kirkland’s service levels would be lowered even further. This is the hidden cost of annexation to the people of Kirkland.

It is this last point that has caused consternation among Councilmembers who have repeatedly promised to the citizens of Kirkland that “annexation will have no negative impact on Kirkland’s service levels.” The City’s own studies produced in November and December of 2007 have shown this promise to no longer be plausible.. Annexation will have a serious negative impact on Kirkland citizens’ service levels and/or taxes.

Since Kirkland has a long-term structural “gap” (read: Kirkland spends money faster than it takes in taxes) is unsustainable, Kirkland has budget issues that need to be addressed before it can even consider almost doubling in size through annexation. The current budget strategy proffered by the City will lower service levels and raise taxes in Kirkland — in part, an effort by proponents to make annexation easier for Kirkland citizens to swallow.

King County is anxious to have the PAA annexed by either Kirkland or Bothell, so that it can cease providing services to the area which produces an annual $4.8 million deficit. Kirkland’s financial structure is too weak to consider annexation at this time but some on the City Council refuse to release the PAA from Kirkland’s control in the hope that Kirkland can annex the area once the current budget mess is dealt with.

Notably, Kirkland City Councilmembers Mary-Alyce Burleigh and Jessica Greenway have argued before the City Council that Kirkland should release the PAA to allow Bothell or other cities to consider annexing the area. This was reasoned as the best chance for PAA residents to get the improved service levels they need. Others on the Kirkland City Council were more interested in Kirkland increasing in population to become a larger regional player.

Becoming a larger regional player is a particularly odd argument to make to the people of Kirkland as a reason for lowering service levels and almost doubling the size of the City. Why did the people of Kirkland choose to live here in the first place? Wasn’t it in large part that Kirkland is not another large city? Isn’t Kirkland’s small town charm one of our most loved features and one which separates us from becoming another large city like Belleuve?

In 2007, the Kirkland City Council decided that they will not allow the people of Kirkland to have an advisory vote on this issue. The Council alone will decide if Kirkland will push on with annexation. If the Council votes to do so, then the residents of the PAA will get to vote on if they want to become a part of Kirkland. The citizens of Kirkland will not be allowed a say in this issue. We will not get to vote on annexation. These are the sources of opposition to annexation within the City of Kirkland.

Hope for the PAA

The Bothell City Council is stepping up to the plate to offer services to the people of the PAA. Bothel has a sound financial foundation from which to grow and they are interested in this prospect. Bothell’s annexation of the PAA could be a win/win/win for all involved.

The Bothell City Council has agreed to study the feasibility of annexing the PAA in whole or in part. The Bothell Reporter article states that King County will pay for half the costs of that analysis, which leads us to some more questions…

King County is paying for half of the cost of Bothell’s annexation study. Who paid for the four years of study that Kirkland has done? How much has been spent to date on annexation by the City of Kirkland? The cost have to be enormous as there have been countless meetings, staff presentations, fiscal studies, capital improvement studies and outside consultants and for what? Has King County paid for half of the bill or have the people of Kirkland been paying for this tab?

There is much more to this annexation story and how the various special interest groups are applying pressure to the Kirkland City Council to push this thing through. The people of the PAA have legitimate needs for better services and they had hoped it would be Kirkland who could provide them. Now it looks like Bothell is willing, able and fiscally sound enough to do so… IF the Kirkland City Council will let them.

What are your views? How much have Kirkland citizens had to pay for four years of studying annexation? Should the Kirkland City Council release the PAA to allow Bothell to annex the areas? What are the special interest groups in favor of annexation and against annexation? How does the current budget plan help the City’s push for annexation?

The Kirkland Reporter has posted an advertisement for a new position: Editor. Sound Publishing, publisher of the Kirkland Reporter, posted this job listing on JournalismJobs.com which states,

“The Kirkland Reporter (WA) is looking for an energetic editor to oversee their newsroom. Kirkland is a vibrant city 12 miles east of Seattle. If you are looking for an opportunity to explore life in a growing community while gaining experience at a community newspaper, this is the position for you. We are looking for a team player who isn’t afraid to take initiative. You will be able to write clean, fair, balanced and accurate stories on many beats and have the ability to develop and institute readership initiatives.”

The former editor of the paper, Jordan Lindstrom has moved on. We wish Jordan well.

In case you missed it, here are a few photos we took downtown on Sunday evening at the first annual Kirkland Criterium. We were especially impressed by the athleticism of the cyclists and the preparations made for this well-organized event. It was thrilling to watch the racers speed past the spectator-lined streets. It is amazing there were not more crashes. We are looking forward to next year’s race!

Chris Mullins, a downtown Kirkland resident, has some wonderful photographs you can view at http://www.flickr.com/cmullins.

Another local blogger and contributor to this site, Debra Sinick has also posted photos from the Criterium.

Details about the race are posted in the Kirkland Views article 2008 Kirkland Criterium - NASCAR (with a twist) comes to town.

From the City’s News Room:

Nine out of the 50 King County businesses named as the “Best Workplaces for Recycling,” are based in Kirkland, Washington and eight of them are participating in the City’s Green Business Program. The following Kirkland businesses were recognized by King County’s “Recycle More. It’s Easy.” campaign as 2008 honorees:

• Google, Inc.
• Chameleon Technologies
• Champagne Design
• ECO Cartridge Store
• The Green Car Company
• Poggemeyer Design Group
• Allyis
• OTAK
• PCC Natural Markets

In 2007, the City of Kirkland launched a program to recognize the efforts of existing “green” businesses and to encourage businesses to get “green.” Qualified businesses will be listed on the Kirkland Green Business web page and receive a core program logo in the form of a window cling and electronic file that can be used for corporate printed materials. In addition to the “Kirkland Green Business” core logo, eligible businesses can obtain logos for seven categories: waste reduction/recycling, water conservation, transportation/commute trip reduction, pollution prevention, green building, energy efficiency and use of green power. To join the other 23 Kirkland Green Business participants, visit www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/greenbusiness or call 425-587-3812.

In 2007, King County launched the “Recycle More” campaign to increase recycling among single family residents, multi-family residents and businesses The commercial recycling program targeted businesses that could demonstrate cost savings with an increased recycling program, especially with regard to paper, cardboard and organics.

To learn about King County’s Recycle More program, go to www.metrokc.gov/recyclemore or call 206-296-4466. (8.8.08)

The recent Kirkland City budget controversy reminded me of some lessons we all learned in civics class. These lessons are timeless but they seem to be forgotten every now and then. It is important that we remember from where our government is granted its power: the people.

Below I have gathered and reproduced some thought provoking words from another era. This prompted me to examine some of Kirkland’s policies in a new light. Please read the excerpts below as food for thought. They are followed by some comments on recent policies in Kirkland.

The following are excerpts from Ezra Taft Benson, Former Secretary of Agriculture in the Eisenhower Administration, published in 1968.

The Proper Role of Government

“Men in the public spotlight constantly are asked to express an opinion on a myriad of government proposals and projects. “What do you think of TVA?” “What is your opinion of Medicare?” How do you feel about Urban Renewal?” The list is endless. All too often, answers to these questions seem to be based, not upon any solid principle, but upon the popularity of the specific government program in question. Seldom are men willing to oppose a popular program if they, themselves, wish to be popular - especially if they seek public office…

Government Should Be Based Upon Sound Principles

…Such an approach to vital political questions of the day can only lead to public confusion and legislative chaos. Decisions of this nature should be based upon and measured against certain basic principles regarding the proper role of government. If principles are correct, then they can be applied to any specific proposal with confidence…

The Most Important Function Of Government

…It is generally agreed that the most important single function of government is to secure the rights and freedoms of individual citizens. But, what are those rights? And what is their source? Until these questions are answered there is little likelihood that we can correctly determine how government can best secure them. Thomas Paine, back in the days of the American Revolution, explained that:

“Rights are not gifts from one man to another, nor from one class of men to another… It is impossible to discover any origin of rights otherwise than in the origin of man; it consequently follows that rights appertain to man in right of his existence, and must therefore be equal to every man.”…

The Proper Function Of Government

…This means, then, that the proper function of government is limited only to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute the wealth or force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by man. No man possesses such power to delegate. The creature cannot exceed the creator…

In general terms, therefore, the proper role of government includes such defensive activities, as maintaining national military and local police forces for protection against loss of life, loss of property, and loss of liberty at the hands of either foreign despots or domestic criminals…

Things The Government Should Not Do

…A category of government activity which, today, not only requires the closest scrutiny, but which also poses a grave danger to our continued freedom, is the activity NOT within the proper sphere of government. No one has the authority to grant such powers, as welfare programs, schemes for re-distributing the wealth, and activities which coerce people into acting in accordance with a prescribed code of social planning. There is one simple test. Do I as an individual have a right to use force upon my neighbor to accomplish this goal? If I do have such a right, then I may delegate that power to my government to exercise on my behalf. If I do not have that right as an individual, then I cannot delegate it to government, and I cannot ask my government to perform the act for me…

To be sure, there are times when this principle of the proper role of government is most annoying and inconvenient. If I could only FORCE the ignorant to provided for themselves, or the selfish to be generous with their wealth! But if we permit government to manufacture its own authority out of thin air, and to create self-proclaimed powers not delegated to it by the people, then the creature exceeds the creator and becomes master. Beyond that point, where shall the line be drawn? Who is to say “this far, but no farther?” What clear PRINCIPLE will stay the hand of government from reaching farther and yet farther into our daily lives? We shouldn’t forget the wise words of President Grover Cleveland that “… though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people.” We should also remember, as Frederic Bastiat reminded us, that “Nothing can enter the public treasury for the benefit of one citizen or one class unless other citizens and other classes have been forced to send it in…”

—-

These words were written forty years ago. They may have been somewhat controversial at the time of their writing as President Lyndon Baines Johnson had recently succeeded in passing the “Great Society” legislation. These words remain controversial to this day.

Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice. New major spending programs that addressed education, medical care, urban problems, and transportation were launched during this period. You can read more on the Great Society on Wikipedia.

Over the past forty years America has continued to address the social and economic issues targeted by the Great Society legislation with varying degrees of success. Many of the issues we have today are the same ones we had back in 1968. This situation begs an examination of which reforms have worked well and which have not.

In Kirkland we need good intentions and good results

On a local level, we are faced with a similar reality. We need to periodically review the progress of programs and codes that local government enacts. It is always a good practice to measure the results of yesterday’s legislation and programs so we can better craft those of tomorrow. Good intentions do not equal good results.

The effect of government actions over private activities within our city cannot be underestimated. All the more reason we need to be cautious when we enact policies that are meant to coax or persuade certain outcomes in the private market. It is difficult to predict how communities will react to new rules from the government and we need to be aware of unintended consequences of government actions.

Take for example, the recent housing housing boom in Kirkland that has now ended. Because of various actions taken by the government combined with the rising price of land, the market acted in an unintended way. We found the character of neighborhoods changing before our eyes as new construction supply filled demand for more housing. Because of the high cost of land, builders maximized the value and built the the maximum size allowed by the City. Before long, some neighborhoods were awash in a sea of square box houses that fill every square inch of allowable lot space.

Neighborhoods like Norkirk are rapidly losing their character due to mega-mansions replacing smaller, older houses. The residents are understandably concerned. This is an unintended consequence of zoning codes interacting with changing market conditions. When the good intentions of previous policies are no longer producing the desired results, changes need to be made. The unintended consequences of government actions on the private market cannot be underestimated. This is a reminder that government should always proceed with caution because good intentions do not always equal good results.

Today we seldom read essays delving into the nature of, and proper roll of government. Food for thought. 

The City of Kirkland has conducted a Tax Burden Analysis to help the City Council make decision with regard to Kirkland’s $13.8 million budget shortfall. Some interesting numbers show up in the report. Of particular interest is Exhibit 5: Residential and Commercial Contributions to Major General Fund Tax Revenues.

This exhibit shows how over the past ten years, the ratio of taxes paid by commercial and residential tax payers has shifted significantly. In 1997, residents and businesses each “contributed” equally to the general fund. However, today that ratio has shifted to where residents are paying 59% of the burden and businesses are paying 41%. How did this happen? The answer is largely due to the faster rise in assessed values of residential property over commercial property in the past ten years.

You may download the  Tax Burden Analysis here (It is a 2.1 MB PDF).