Totem Lake is one step closer to becoming property of the City of Kirkland.
At a Jan. 17 meeting, the Kirkland City Council authorized the city manager to enter into a purchase and sale agreement for $550,000 with the King Conservation District (KCD) for Totem Lake. The KCD authorized the signing of the agreement on Jan. 9.
“This is the culmination of the work of many people,” Kirkland Deputy City Manager Tracey Dunlap said. “We think this is a reasonable purchase price.”
The purchase was planned in the city’s 2017-22 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), with additional funding coming from park acquisition funds and surface water utility reserves. Totem Lake Park is a key aspect of the city’s plans for the neighborhood, and it is tied to the development of The Village at Totem Lake.
However, there are a couple hurdles the city needs to clear before the agreement is finalized.
“We have reached terms, but they’re not simple,” Dunlap said.
KCD’s sale of the lake is contingent on the approval of the previous owner, but G&B Estates is no longer an active corporation, and neither is Caribou Development Corporation, which is the backup to G&B.
“Obtaining clear title will likely involve legal action and is an outstanding contingency that needs to clear for the transaction to close,” a memorandum prepared by Dunlap, Assistant City Attorney William Evans and Deputy Director of Parks Michael Cogle states.
Dunlap was uncertain of how long it would take to finalize the deal, but she said the KCD attorney is working to find a successor to the previous owner and obtain consent.
“It might be a number of weeks even though both parties are authorized to sign the agreement,” she said.
More information about the Totem Lake Park Master Plan can be found on the city’s website, kirklandwa.gov, through the Parks and Community Services Department, under park planning.
Tucson lawnmower
When the council approved the consent calendar portion of the Jan. 17 agenda, it included the authorization to purchase a lawnmower from the City of Tucson (Ariz.) for $118,152.88.
“(It shows) how far we will go to save a few dollars,” Councilmember Dave Asher said.
In October 2016, a Toro 5910D mower was stolen from the city outside of the parks maintenance building. It was insured and replacement was authorized by Kirkland’s insurance provider, WCIA, according to a memorandum prepared by purchasing agent Greg Piland.
“The greatest discount is provided by the contract awarded by the City of Tucson, Arizona,” Piland wrote in the memo. The contract saves the city approximately $2,000.
Houghton/Everest study session
Before the regular meeting began, the council also held a study session with city staff and consultants to hear the latest updates on the Houghton/Everest Neighborhood Center and Sixth Street Corridor project. As part of the project, the city is investigating how it could change land use and zoning designations to best suit the community’s interests and needs.
Several details on what could be done to ease traffic woes in the area were shared, and the council indicated a desire to hold another study session to further see how traffic solutions could be paired with the possible land use and zoning changes.
More information about the project can be found on the city’s website on the Planning Services Department’s projects of interest page.
The complete agenda packet for the Jan. 17 council meeting can be found on the city’s website as well, and video of the meeting is also available to watch.
