"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world 
Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."  -Margaret Mead

Citizens for One Kirkland

We've always been one community.  It's time we became one city.

Let's Clear the Air

One of the great things about this country is the right to public discourse.  There are opponents to the potential annexation with some understandable concerns.  However Citizens for One Kirkland would like to point out some truths to annexation and challenge the decision makers as well.

Unfortunately through public discourse there also has been some assumptions and distinction drawn that are misleading or simply untrue.  Let's clear the air

  • It has been noted that the City of Kirkland is going to require new/expanded facilities if annexation were to occur.  TRUE.  However, it is also TRUE that the City of Kirkland is going to need new/expanded facilities if the annexation doesn't occur. 
  • Some council members and residents are concerned that annexation will create 2 Kirkland's.  It already exists!  See the short story in the next column for more information.  With no annexation you will still have 2 Kirkland's, one of them disenfranchised!
  • Some are concerned that the "the people of the annexation area don't fit" with the City of Kirkland.  WRONG!  According to US Census data,, income, background, house value, etc. are similar in both the City and PAA.  The Kingsgate, Upper Juanita, and Finn Hill neighborhoods are much in line with the Lower Juanita, North Rose Hill, and South Rose Hill neighborhoods.  Oddly enough.  membership in the Totem Lake Neighborhood Association is largely made up with residents FROM the annexation area.
  • Kirkland is going to build a 125 bed jail if annexation is going to happen.  Kirkland is considering increasing jail space regardless if annexation occurs or not!  Some people would lead you to believe that the jail is tied to annexation.  It is not!  The only change is that if annexation were to occur that the jail would be a little larger if a jail were to be built in our community.  By the way.  if a jail was a concern to you, wouldn't you want more voices in this matter?
  • The annexation area has more sex offenders.  This is true.  However as citizen's from the Community of Kirkland we should keep this in mind
    • Crime happens regardless of jurisdiction
    • Crime happens everywhere
    • Wouldn't a stronger police presence help in relieving this concern?
    • This was pointed out on another web site to illicit unreasonable fear.  Don't give in to that fear.
  • The City of Kirkland residents are going to have to subsidize the annexation residents.  The argument can be made that it is in fact the annexation residents that subsidize the City of Kirkland
    • The commercial areas that are available to us are in the City of Kirkland
    • We pay large sums of sales tax to Costco (2), car dealerships, restaurants, and stores that are all located in the City of Kirkland
    • Annexation residents serve on boards, association, and other civic organizations directly related to the benefit of the City of Kirkland.
    • Our county tax dollars are going to build facilities in the City (transit centers, fire protection, utilities...)
  • Why doesn't the annexation area form their own city.  ISN'T FEASIBLE!
    • Cities requires a commercial core to be sustainable.  The only nearby commercial core is in the City of Kirkland
    • Finn Hill, Upper Juanita, and Kingsgate by themselves don't share mutual affiliations.  The only thing the  three neighborhoods affiliate with is being apart of the City of Kirkland.
  • What is in it for Kirkland, do they want to become the next Bellevue!  The short answer is NO!
    • There isn't room in the annexation area for any large scale growth
    • Most of the annexation area are single family houses.  The PAA neighborhoods are similar as the residential neighborhoods of the City of Kirkland
    • Residents of both the City of Kirkland and the PAA support maintaining and keeping the character of the Community of Kirkland.  That's is one of the reasons that there is a desire for annexation, mutual management of growth.
  • Kirkland is being asked to annexed 70% of its population, that would ruin our "small town" feeling.  Contrary to some perceptions, the residents of the annexation already exist!  There isn't going to be an influx of people because of annexation.  As a matter of fact the region is going to see an influx of 1,000,000+ people over the next couple of decades.  What better way to manage that by partnering and becoming one.  Kirkland (community and city) is part of a larger region and we need to make sure that together we can support our mutual goals.
  • With annexation our traffic is going to increase!  It doesn't matter if with or without annexation, it's probably will increase.  The main issue is that most of the traffic that comes from the PAA must travel through Kirkland.  All of the freeway exits, transit centers, and buses, must pass through Kirkland at some point.  Some commuters may head north but most people commonly commute to Bellevue, Downtown Seattle, Redmond, or Kirkland.
  • With annexation the City is going to have to do a lot of work to bring it up to Kirkland standards.  To a certain extent we believe this to be true.  However we also realize that there are different "standards" of improvement within various area within the City of Kirkland.  Most reasonable people understand that incremental improvement happen over a period of time.  We also understand that improvements aren't going to come easily if the current situation remain. 
  • I'll lose representation in government if annexation happens.  It may be true that city council members will come from a larger body of people.  However it also is true that the Community of Kirkland will have more regional representation in important issue like the environment and transportation.  Also a large population of people that have been under represented will have more representation.

It's is understandable to be nervous about change.  It is also understandable to be nervous about the financial future.  But together we can effectively solve this.  LET'S TALK!