Living on a hill directly above the facilities of one of the state’s largest garbage service providers, Kingsgate couple Bill and Janet Collins say they like their Waste Management neighbors just fine.
Anything is preferable to a proposed 640-bed regional jail that might wind up there — a sentiment that drew them and nearly 200 other residents from the surrounding area to a Dec. 10 public forum in Woodinville.
The North/East Cities (NEC) municipal jail planning group, a quasi-official body representing 23 cities in King County north of Newcastle, announced last month the final list of six sites to be examined. Three locations are in Seattle, one in Shoreline, one in Bellevue and one in Kingsgate, an unincorporated neighborhood in Kirkland’s Potential Annexation Area (PAA).
Several hearings are being held to examine each proposed site, and NEC officials have collected $3 million to conduct an environmental review (EIS) of each site, as required by state law.
NEC officials and residents packed the old Hollywood Schoolhouse last Wednesday to hear a brief presentation on the proposed jail and air their concerns on the Kingsgate location. The property, located at 13225 N.E. 126th Place, is currently home to Waste Management offices and storage facilities, yards and parking lots.
A resident of their home since 1992, Janet said she feared the plans would undermine the value of their property.
“In an economic environment climate that has already devalued my house, it seems only common sense,” she said. “There’s a stigma attached to a jail … It’s the perception of the value that’s there.”
Another neighbor down the street, Sabrina Miller, also criticized the selection of a site so close to two residential neighborhoods, elementary schools and parks. Despite recommendations that the potential jail sites be spread geographically across northeast King County, she preferred Seattle’s proposed downtown site because an estimated two-thirds of the offenders are expected to be Seattle residents.
“That does not make any sense to me, bringing all of those inmates from there to here,” she said. “I feel (Kingsgate) is a very poor choice for a jail facility.”
During a brief overview of the process, Catherine Cornwall, City of Seattle senior policy advisor, said more jail space is needed because the county’s jail capacity will soon be exceeded by the growing population of felony inmates. State law holds cities responsible for retaining individuals charged or convicted with misdemeanor crimes, such as drunk driving or petty theft, so NEC officials say they must build more jails for those convicts.
While most agreed on the need for a new jail, many at the event voiced concern as Cornwall tried to make the case for placing a regional jail in a residential neighborhood. She mentioned a study that shows property values are not affected by building a jail facility, and said the added police presence brought about by a jail facility would benefit the community.
“A jail can be a good neighbor,” she said, citing the Kent Regional Justice Center as an example.
Following the presentation, the audience responded to several questions placed at each table, including: “What are the top five factors the NEC should consider in siting the Municpal Jail?,” or “What is your biggest concern about a jail at this site?”
Local officials involved in the NEC and public safety also attended the forum, including Councilman Bob Sternoff, Assistant City Manager Marilynn Beard, Kirkland Police Chief Eric Olsen and KPD jail manager Bob Balkema.
Balkema said more jail capacity is imperative for maintaining public safety in Kirkland. The city’s current average of 42 misdemeanor and felony bookings per day at the municipal jail far outstrips the capacity of the 12-bed jail, located inside City Hall.
“There’s no perfect site,” Balkema said. “Until these (EIS) studies come in we’ll have no idea which is best.”
Contracts with county jails in Seattle and Yakima currently handle the overflow.
The next hearing for the Kingsgate jail site, focusing on the scope of the EIS process, is set for Jan. 6, 6-8:30 p.m. at the Lake Washington Technical College Auditorium.
