November 2015

In this issue:

• Imagine Kenmore Phone Surveys
• Town Green Update
• Living with Wildlife
• Neighborhood Transportation Meetings
• 522 Construction Update
• Kenmore Emergency Volunteer Team
• Sound Transit 3 Update
• Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips
  
  

CALENDAR

For more details, visit www.kenmorewa.gov/calendar

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS

November/December: Neighborhood Transportation Meetings
The City of Kenmore is working to review and address the transportation needs and concerns in the different neighborhoods throughout the city. During the 2015-16 budgeting process, the City set aside funds to create and implement Neighborhood Transportation Plans. This work will be performed collaboratively with the citizens who live, work and play in Kenmore’s neighborhoods. Each neighborhood will have individual meetings; to see your designated neighborhood, visit www.kenmorewa.gov/NTPP and view the City's GIS Map. 

November 2 & 21: Coffee with Council
The Kenmore City Council invites you to have Coffee with Council on Monday, November 2 at 7:30 a.m. and Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 a.m. at Starbucks, 7750 NE Bothell Way. Citizens are encouraged to attend these informal sessions to ask questions, discuss issues and offer suggestions on any topic of interest. 

November 2: Pop Up Party
The Target Zero Outreach Team is hosting another Pop Up Party to coincide with the end of Daylight Savings! We will have our Target Zero tent and provide coffee and fruit at the Kenmore Park & Ride on Monday, November 2 from 6:45-8:00 a.m. With less hours of daylight, we encourage all transit riders to be extra careful when crossing streets and walking around. Tip: Do you like to wear dark-colored clothing? Add an accessory such as a flashing light or reflective strap to be seen better.

November 4: Kenmore Hack Night
Our Code for Kenmore Hackathon was such a success that we’ve decided to follow it up with a Kenmore Hack Night! This will be an “open project night” where you can come to meet new people, share ideas, and hack for good! We will have a couple of Kenmore challenges ready for you to take on—but you are also welcome to work on your own project and recruit others to help you. As long as it improves government functioning or otherwise benefits society, it's fair game. Noncoders are welcome as well: you can come to learn a bit about the world of open web technologies, or you can present a problem that you think could benefit from an open web solution! Food will be provided. To RSVP, visit the Facebook event page. 

CITY NEWS

Imagine Kenmore Phone Surveys 

Thank you again to everyone who could attend the Imagine Kenmore Community Workshop in late September. We received hundreds of great ideas and will be considering all of them as we move forward. As part of our community outreach efforts for Imagine Kenmore, the City has contracted with a professional services company to conduct randomized phone surveys in the coming weeks. If you receive a call regarding Imagine Kenmore, we kindly ask that you participate in the quick survey. The more community input we receive, the more we can direct our efforts toward what you care about most. For more information, visit www.imaginekenmore.com. 

Town Green Update

The Town Green project in Kenmore’s downtown includes the construction of an approximate 21,000 square foot plaza area (utilities, seating options, paving, landscaping, and water feature) plus the new 4,600 square foot community building. The City’s contractor, Skyward Construction, is anticipated to start in mid-November. For updates, visit www.kenmorewa.gov/downtown.

Living with Wildlife 

Kenmore offers natural beauty through local parks, however we also want to remind everyone that living with wildlife can also be part of the experience. In early October, the Kenmore area had a black bear wandering through local neighborhoods. The bear has since been caught and released elsewhere, but it’s a great opportunity to think about safety when it comes to wildlife interactions. Learn more about living with wildlife by visiting the PAWS website.

• Don’t feed wildlife: Doing so may harm the animals, cause them to become aggressive, and decrease their healthy fear of humans.
• Don’t assume that animals that are alone always need your help: Many wild animal mothers will leave their young alone for long periods of time.
• Don’t attempt to treat an injured wild animal yourself: If you are having a wildlife problem and need help to determine the best course of action, contact PAWS Wildlife Center at 425-412-4040.
• Do keep trash in secure containers: Use sealable lids, or equip regular trashcans with tie-down weights placed on the lids to keep the animals out.
• Do drive with care on dark roads: Automobile-related injuries are one of the main sources of wildlife injuries. 
  
  

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips

Thanksgiving is often a time for gathering with friends and family and preparing delicious dishes to share. Safety in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving when there is more activity in and around the kitchen. Below are a few key safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to help keep you and your loved ones safe. City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday. We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

• Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking food on the stove top or in the oven.
• Keep kids away from hot foods or liquids. The steam or splash from vegetables, gravy or coffee could cause serious burns.
• Keep the floor clear so you don’t trip over kids, toys, or bags.
• Be sure electric cords are not dangling off the counter or within easy reach of children.
• NFPA discourages the use of outdoor gas-fueled turkey fryers that immerse the turkey in hot oil. The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, other injuries, and the destruction of property.
• Keep an eye on what you fry. If you see wisps of smoke or the oil smells, immediately turn off the burner and/or carefully remove the pan from the burner. Smoke is a danger sign that the oil is too hot.
• Make sure your smoke alarms are working. Test them by pushing the test button.
  
  

522 Construction Updates 

Phase 2 of the SR 522 West A Improvements project began last month. As part of Phase 2, the south portion of 61st Ave NE between SR 522 and NE 175th St will be be fully closed to vehicles for up to five months, which started in mid-October. 

The construction team installed a temporary pedestrian path between NE 175th St and SR 522. People on bikes can use the path as well, but we recommend walking bikes because the path is layered with crushed gravel to prevent slipping. For more information and updates, visit www.sr522kenmore.com. 

Phase 2 improvements will include:

• A new traffic signal at the intersection of SR 522 and 61st Ave NE.
• Road widening and new sidewalk on the south side of SR 522 from 61st Ave NE to 65th Ave NE.
• Realigned and regraded 61st Ave NE south leg between SR 522 and NE 175th St.
• Utility undergrounding, new water main and retaining walls.
  
  

Pedestrian Safety in the Fall/Winter

Pedestrian and bicycle safety is a priority year round, however it is especially important to be safe and be seen during the fall and winter months when there are many more hours of darkness each day. There are many actions you can take to ensure drivers and other bicyclists and pedestrians can see you—wear bright or light colored reflective clothing, carry a flashlight when you walk at night, cross the street in a well-lit area, and stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles before crossing the street to ensure maximum visibility.

Remember to always stay alert as well. Don’t assume vehicles will stop for you and try to make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street. This is true both at marked and unmarked intersections. Avoid wearing headphones or talking on the phone while crossing a street as this can distract you. Watch for any vehicles close by that might be turning, backing up, parking, or pulling out. 

Advocacy Ramps Up for Kenmore Transit Projects

October 29 is the first public coalition meeting for 522 Transit Now!, a group dedicated to putting SR 522 transit on Sound Transit’s next ballot measure (known as ST3) in 2016. Thus far, the coalition has been very successful as the ST3 “candidate project list” includes multiple transit projects along the SR 522 (Bothell Way) corridor. Now we need your help to ensure that these SR 522 projects stay on the list and make it to the final ballot measure in 2016. To get involved, visit www.522transitnow.org and click on “Join” to get on 522 Transit Now’s email list.

Kenmore Emergency Volunteer Team 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) simulation in October. It's important to know how to effectively volunteer in the case of an emergency. The simulation training was a collaboration between Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Northshore Utility District, and the Northshore Fire Department. If you are interested in becoming part of the Kenmore Emergency Volunteer Team, contact Cindy Shelton at 425-398-8900 x 6166.

CONTACT

Leslie Harris

Public Information Officer

lharris@kenmorewa.gov

Jenny Pazar

Communications Intern

jpazar@kenmorewa.gov 

Social Media

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram