Highlands General Meeting May 15, 2008 Neighborhood Connections ballot results 11 people attended, including: Bob Kamuda, chair Kari Page, Neighborhood Services Coordinator Karen Story, board member (Communications) Jim McElwee, KAN chair ************** Other issues discussed: Offramp yield - Many people are frustrated that drivers who exit 405 and stay in the exit lane do not yield to cars moving from 85th into the exit lane. However, they are only required to yield if they are changing lanes. You can send any comments to Colleen Gants at colleen.gants@i405.wsdot.wa.gov. Please cc Don Anderson at danderson@ci.kirkland.wa.us. Cars splitting traffic humps (driving through slots) - Ray will email Noel Schoneman, Neighborhood Traffic Control Coordinator, to ask what can be done about this issue. Mail theft continues to be a concern - About a month ago, someone noticed a nice BMW, lights off, opening and looking in mailboxes. ************** Neighborhood Connections ballot 200 project suggestions were received (20% of households - this is a good response) 72 ballots were received Here are the results: 166 points - Cotton Hill Park trail 141 points - NE 87th/116th Entrance beautification (repair kiosk, landscape) 139 points - Widen and place gravel path along east side of 116th, just south of NE 94th St. 128 points - Asphalt a portion of the 116th walkway between NE 88th and NE 94th Streets 118 points - NE 87th/112th Entrance beautification (repair kiosk, landscape) ----------------------------------- 73 points - Forbes Creek Park, patch and resurface tennis and basketball courts 71 points - Spinney Homestead Park asphalt trail repair 58 points - Cedar View Park, replace swings with play structure 55 points - Cotton Hill Park goats and replanting 54 points - Rebuild stairs at Forbes Creek, from north end of 116th down to RR tracks 50 points - Install fence at Highlands Park 46 points - Street lights on 115th Pl NE 28 points - Street light on 114th 11 points - Way finding signs for Highlands walk route We think we have enough money to do the top 5 items on the list (above dotted line). We'll begin getting firm estimates and planning dates for the work. We'll need volunteers to help with items 1, 2, and 5. Kiosk repair: * We propose to repaint the kiosks and repair any damage. * The 116th kiosk is for drive by viewing only (there is no sidewalk on that side of the road, and it's not safe to walk there, so we don't want to encourage it). Therefore, we propose installing a large white board for writing large notices for neighborhood events. * The 112th kiosk now gets a lot of walk by activity, due to the new walkway, so we propose using this kiosk for posting notices. We will ask for volunteers to remove old notices and keep the kiosk looking nice. ************** Other announcements: * Kirkland Performing Arts Center will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a free day of performances. Get your free ticketsg/summer.htm * Public Works equipment display on Wednesday, May 21 at Peter Kirk Park from 12-4. Public Works staff will answer questions and display equipment. There will be handouts for children, educational information about conservation, surface water management, pedestrian safety, alternative fuel equipment, and recycling. * Walk to Houghton, Saturday, May 17, 9am-noon, Houghton shopping center. Door prizes include Shamiana and Meze meals. * 7 Hills of Kirkland is Monday, May 26 http://www.7hillskirkland.com/ All money benefits KITH (Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing). KITH's mission is to assist individuals and families on the Eastside who are caught in a homelessness crisis. * Comments on the Parkplace draft environmental impact statement are due May 19. The EIS covers traffic, parking, views, weather changes, and other impacts of the proposed Parkplace development. More info at http://www.ci.kirkland.wa.us/depart/Planning/Code_Updates/Touchstone_Orni_Altom.htm