Mayors from across the Eastside helped welcome the incoming Leadership Eastside (LE) classes during a luncheon at Cascade Community College in Bothell on Sept. 11. During the luncheon, the mayors discussed both their respective cities as well as those of other neighboring communities while discussing possible ways to improve both with attendees.

Those attending included Bothell Mayor Josh Freed, Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci, Mercer Island Mayor Bruce Bassett, Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler, Duvall Mayor Will Ibershof, Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, Sammamish Mayor Tom Vance and Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen.

LE is a Redmond-based organization that promotes connections between leaders better relations with communities on the Eastside.

At the table with Walen, attendees discussed both internal and external issues affecting Kirkland, such as inter-city connectivity, improving walkability in the Totem Lake neighborhood and making downtown more appealing to younger Kirkland residents. The attendees also provided positive feedback on the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC), an old rail line that has been turned into a trail for bikers and walkers, as an example to other cities looking at their own sections of the Eastside Corridor, as well as the number of parks available in the city limits.

An additional concern was how Kirkland was cooperating with other cities on regional matters. Walen said they’re discussing ways to connect the CKC with the Redmond Central Connector and working alongside the city of Redmond on the 85th Street Corridor and with the city of Kenmore on the Juanita Drive Masterplan.

The Leadership Eastside Leadership Enrichment Program is a two-year program where the participants develop and exercise skills to meet the needs of business, non-profit, and government leaders and help improve their organizations and their communities. Candidates for the program can be nominated by anyone in the community who lives, works, and/or volunteers on the Eastside, albeit the ideal candidates have experience in leadership and/or management through their work or community service and have a passion for their community. This year’s class includes several Kirkland city employees, according to Walen.

The first year of the program involves 10 full business days during a nine-month period where participants learn the concept of adaptive leadership and are designed for participants to better connect with their communities.

“Leadership Eastside builds capacity in our communities to tackle difficult problems,” Marchione said. “I look to [Leadership Eastside] graduates to fill the boards and commissions positions.”

Year two has them create their own regional sustainable projects intended to put skills learned into action.

“They’re (participants) creating a network from the ground up,” Walen said. “It’s really a powerful networking tool. Their (Leadership Eastside) programs brings people together. They convene some great minds around concrete problems that need to be solved.”

The group also allows the Eastside mayors a chance to interact and discuss issues that impact the various cities east of Lake Washington.

“The most pressing issues on the Eastside are managing growth, building infrastructure and addressing homelessness,” Marchione said. “These are all regional issues and not confined to one city. We need participants that can see the big picture and [Leadership Eastside] produces those graduates.”

Walen said the program will help both organizations and city employees who’ve completed the program cooperate as they tackle regional issues.

“I think Leadership Eastside is just one more sort of tool in our arsenal for… helping us solve Eastside problems,” she said.

More information about the program can be found at leadershipeastside.com/enrichment.html.