Wed Weeding + Crime Tips + Meeting Minutes

[Karen Story]

[Correction from last email: Penny Sweet is the FORMER Deputy Mayor.]

Wednesday Weeding
Cotton Hill Park
May 23, 10-11 am
Help remove morning glory at the south end of the park

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Meeting Minutes and Crime Tips

Highlands General Meeting
May 16, 2012
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Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast May 26, 7 am to noon

Rod Graham gave a presentation about the breakfast, which is a
fundraiser for KITH (Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing), many
of whose clients are women with small children. Kiwanis primarily
supports causes that help children.

Tickets are a suggested $7 donation. To purchase tickets or to
volunteer, contact Ralph: r_lov...@hotmail.com.
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Free Mobile Medical Clinic

Tim King from Northshore Baptist Church told us about the free medical
clinic they provide. Please spread the word to anyone who may not have
medical insurance. They do not proselytize.

By appointment only 425-216-4480. Wednesdays from 5PM – 8:30PM.

60 volunteers staff the clinic. More volunteers are welcome. Medical
doctors are especially in need.
They typically see 16 patients on Wednesday.

Sponsored by Northshore Baptist Church and Puget Sound Christian
Clinic.
See www.Pscc.org for more information and locations.
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Project Engineer Rod Steitzer talked about three projects.

NE 85th St corridor improvement project:

The work includes undergrounding overhead utility wires on NE 85th
Street from 120th Avenue NE to 128th Avenue NE and installing
underground conduit for future wire undergrounding from 128th Avenue
NE to 132nd Avenue NE.

Construction began in late February and is anticipated to be complete
in November - ahead of schedule.

During the first two months, the following progress has been made:
- Trench and install first section of conduit on the north side of NE
85th Street from 120th to 124th Avenue NE.
- Relocate utility poles on the south side of NE 85th Street between
128th Avenue NE and 132nd Avenue NE in preparation for conduit to be
installed.
IN PROGRESS: Install large electrical vaults into the ground at
various locations along the corridor. Anticipated to be complete in
July, 2012.

The following tasks will be done over the next three months (May
through August 2012):
• Trench and install conduit along south side of NE 85th Street
crossing at 124th Avenue NE and along the south side to 128th Avenue
NE.
• Install remaining small electrical vaults at various
locations along the corridor.
• Trench and install conduits on 120th Avenue NE and complete
storm drainage modifications at this location.
The following tasks will be done September through November 2012:
• Trench and install conduit for future undergrounding on the
south side of NE 85th Street from 128th Avenue NE to 132nd Avenue NE.
• Run new wires within conduit and begin using underground
wires between 122nd Avenue NE and 128th Avenue NE. Remove poles.

For more information:
• 24-hour project information hotline 425-587-3838
• Rod Steitzer, P.E., Project Engineer:
Rste...@kirklandwa.gov or (425) 587-3825
• Kari Page, Neighborhood Outreach Coordinator:
KP...@kirklandwa.gov, or (425) 587-3011
• Web: go to www.kirklandwa.gov and search NE 85th Street
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NE 85th St. and 114th Ave NE Intersection

Some people have expressed safety concerns about the changes at the
intersection of NE 85th St. and 114th Ave NE. The city says there have
been no accidents here, however, they are monitoring traffic flow at
the intersection, and watching for any issues with the new left turn
lane and signal changes. Please contact project engineer Don Anderson
if you have any questions or concerns about the intersection:
DAnd...@kirklandwa.gov.
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NE 100th St. Sidewalk

As part of its “Safe School Walk Routes” program, the city will be
constructing a sidewalk (using federal grant money) on NE 100th St
between 116th and 112th Ave NE. The work is required to be done by the
end of 2013, but the city hopes to get it done much sooner. Project
engineer is Aaron McDonald: AMcD...@kirklandwa.gov.
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Kirkland Police Officer Audra Weber

Officer Weber is the Neighborhood Resource Officer. You can contact
her at 425-587-3451 or awe...@kirklandwa.gov. She promises to respond
as quickly as she possibly can, but please remember that there is only
one of her and 86,000 of us. She works Tues-Fri.

She is a candid and charming person, and everyone enjoyed the chance
to ask all kinds of questions. Did you know that the police refer to
the Highlands as “the panhandle,” because our neighborhood has limited
access? This also makes it less prone to crime – criminals like
multiple escape routes.

The Highlands has very low crime. However, home burglaries are up all
over town. Home burglary prevention top 10 tips available at:
http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/PD/Crime_Prevention_Tips.htm.

Her top 3 pieces of advice:
1. Never leave your garage door opener clipped to your visor – tuck it
out of sight. (Burglars have been grabbing opener + registration and
making a beeline for the house, where they can waltz right in through
the garage.)
2. Get a locking mailbox! ID theft is a HUGE problem and a HUGE pain.
3. Don’t leave ANYTHING in your car. They’ll even steal diaper bags.

www.crimemapping.com will soon be up and running. You’ll be able to
put in your address and see all the recent crimes in your
neighborhood.

The police will try to send an officer to every neighborhood meeting
(if one is available), giving us a chance to ask questions.

We are part of district 3 (out of 8), and I think she said our
district goes from 405 to the lake, and from NE 85th St. up to NE
116th St. At any point in time, there is only one officer patrolling
this entire area, and that’s assuming that they haven’t been called to
assist with a crime elsewhere.