New Finn Hill Neighborhood Association to be Topic of Public Meeting

With annexation just days away, residents of Finn Hill are beginning the formation of a City of Kirkland neighborhood association to represent the area’s interests and have scheduled a public meeting for Monday, May 23.

Coordinated by the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance (DCNA), a committee has been assembled to launch the neighborhood association, which would be one of several from different Kirkland communities that work with the city government.

“This meeting is really to make sure we get representation by the entire (Finn Hill) area, because it is a large and diverse community,” said Jon Pascal, a spokesman for the committee and a member of the Kirkland’s Planning Commission. “I’m looking forward to hearing what folks’ priorities are. We’re also seeking participation. This is all volunteer, so the more help we get, the better.”

The meeting of the “Finn Hill Neighborhood Group Organizing Committee” is May 23 at 7 p.m. in downstairs room 8 at , on Finn Hill at 12600 84th Ave. NE.

The area of Finn Hill that will become part of the city is more than 2,600 acres in size and includes several prized parks and green spaces that preserve intact native natural resources.

On June 1 that area, along with the north Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods, officially become part of Kirkland, boosting the city’s population from 49,000 to about 80,000.

The city uses a system of neighborhood associations to foster public participation in decision-making processes.

Pascal said the committee will have to adopt bylaws and a charter. A key initial issue is whether the Denny Creek Neighborhood Alliance should simply be converted to an association, or continue to exist as a separate organization. The alliance was formed several years ago to protect the natural resources on Finn Hill, most of which which is currently part of unincorporated King County.

“There is support by the DCNA board to facilitate some process of forming a neighborhood association,” Pascal said. “It’s possible it could be the DCNA. But its purpose is really environmental stewardship. A neighborhood association also has other duties: working with law enforcement, parks, traffic control.”

At an initial meeting of the committee on May 9, Pascal and Jeff Hoerth, past DCNA president, were chosen as spokesmen. To add your name to the committee contact list, Pascal can be reached at 206-890-3868 or jonpascal@comcast.net; Hoerth’s contact information is 206-353-1254 or jeffhoerth@comcast.net.

The committee will also be posting more information on the DNCA web site,www.dennycreek.org, and on the Facebook page called Finn Hill Community. Members of the committee also plan to host a table at the city's annexation celebration at Juanita Park on June 3 from 3-7 p.m.