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MAKING LEGAL MARIJUANA WORK | Mayors Walen, Law make the case [4]
Tarantola out | Juanita head football coach FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015 resigns [2]
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Jobvention | Local entrepreneurs start company for businesses [10]
Senate education bill could increase Kirkland property taxes Different ideas would have a drastically different impact on taxes BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
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roperty owners in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) may see the amount they pay in property taxes increase under proposed legislation intended to shift funding for
basic education costs away from local levies and back to state property taxes. Under Republicanbacked Senate Bill 6109, the state would lower local school district levy taxes by capping them at $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, while increasing the state’s common school levy from
$1.98 per $1,000 to $3.60 per $1,000 of assessed value, a $1.62 increase. The current levy rate for LWSD is $1.45 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to LWSD Spokesperson Kathryn Reith. The median sales price for a home in Kirkland this year is $440,000, according
to trulia.com. Meanwhile, the Democrats have introduced Senate Bill 6102, which would pay for local levy reductions with a yearly 7 percent state tax on capital gains of $250,000 for single taxpayers or $500,000 for couples. The proposal would raise an estimated $1.2 billion in the next two years. Washington State Trea-
Sweet ecology lesson
surer Jim McIntire stepped forward with another option to fund schools through a state income tax, although many are against the idea, including Gov. Jay Inslee. Reconciling the issue may lead to a Special Session that could begin this weekend. As for how this will impact LWSD’s budget, Reith said they are examining all the proposals being
BY TJ MARTINELL
Elementary students visit Park Lane to learn about stormwater issues BY CHRISTIAN KNIGHT City of Kirkland
Peter Kirk Elementary School’s second graders participated in an interactive ecology lesson on April 17 on Park Lane in Kirkland. From the Park Lane project staff, the 80-plus students learned about stormwater — where it comes from and how most of it drains directly into Lake Washington without treatment. They
also witnessed several of the devices the city of Kirkland is using on Park Lane to prevent stormwater pollution from draining into the lake. Those devices include porous brick pavers that allow stormwater to drain through them and bioretention cells that ensure tree roots have plenty of loose, moist soil through which to chase stormwater. Of course this was a field trip of second grad-
ers. And the highlights for many of them were stops at Sweet Cakes, where they purchased a $1 cupcake, at Simplicity ABC, where they received a gift bag of toys and to see the 20-foot banner and art project they completed last fall. That art project was led by arts docent Stacy Mehlberg, who taught the second graders one-point perspective and asked them to use the technique to create an image of a
street. The assignment rendered more than 80 different interpretations of one-point perspective. FastSigns of Kirkland printed 20 photographed images of the resulting artwork, along with the artists and the artists’ commentary about the artwork. Readers can view the artwork by visiting Park Lane or by visiting the Park Lane webpage at kirklandwa.gov/ parklaneproject.
[ more TAXES page 3 ]
City looks to beautify CKC with Kalakala pieces, improve access to Houghton tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Peter Kirk Elementary students visit Sweet Cakes on Park Lane in Kirkland. CHRISTIAN KNIGHT, city of Kirkland
made in the state legislature, including SB6109, but at the moment, much is unknown. “At this point, there are a number of proposals,” she said. “We’re trying to analyze them all.” Concerning SB6109 in particular, she said that “There are some gray areas there, so we are trying to learn more about what the
Now that the city of Kirkland has completed the interim trail on the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC), work is underway to add public artwork and create greater overall cohesion. In addition to adding bridges at several sections currently interupted by either traffic or terrain, the city is also working to place artwork throughout the corridor, such as 30 pieces of the historic ferry MV Kalakala. The city purchased the pieces of the historic ferry in February after it was dismantled and its pieces auctioned off. The ferry operated on Puget Sound from 1935 until its retirement in 1967. Among the souvenirs purchased by the city for $59,000 are two large doors, valve wheels, the wheel room and hand railings. As to how and where they will be placed along the corridor, a committee consisting of individuals from the city of Kirkland Transportation Commission, Parks Board, Cultural Arts Commission and city residents has been formed to handle the task, according to Neighborhood
Outreach Coordinator Kari Page. One possibility is along the corridor overlooking Carillon Point. There, it was rebuilt at the Lake Washington Shipyards after being burned due to arson in 1933. On top of public artwork, the city is also putting together an art integration plan for artwork along the corridor. Page said the plan will look at sections and solicit community input in what and how the artwork should be displayed. Beyond beautification, the city is expected today to complete the purchase of two properties in the Houghton neighborhood on 106th Avenue Northeast for approximately $4.7 million, mainly to obtain an easement for the corridor. The two properties, 6705 and 6711 106th Ave. NE, will provide direct access from the Cross Kirkland Corridor to Houghton Center, according to a Feb. 25 city memo. Right now there is no direct access, the memo states, and the two properties are located adjacent to the corridor and 106th Avenue Northeast. Deputy Manager Tracey Dunlap said the property owner approached them [ more TRAIL page 5 ]