The Kenmore Top 4: December 1, 2023

The Luminary Walk and Pop! Shops Kick Off December Festivities 
Join the festive community fun this weekend in Kenmore! The Luminary Walk takes place at City Hall this evening (December 1) from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. and includes a lighted luminary walking path, food trucks, music and entertainment, and free fun for the whole family.

Then, enjoy some shopping downtown and find that perfect gift at the Pop! Shop Kenmore Winter Market at the Hangar, opening this Saturday, December 2, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The market runs Fridays and Saturdays through December 23, and each day features a new vendor lineup and daily giveaways. Come shop local and support small businesses from Kenmore and other nearby cities.

Public Works Operations Center Bonds and Mid-Biennial Budget Amendments will be Reviewed by the City Council on December 4
At the December 4 meeting, the City Council will discuss and consider two items for adoption: the Public Works Operations Center (PWOC) Bond Issue Ordinance and approving amendments to the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget. Both the PWOC and the budget received a first reading and discussion at the November 20, 2023 City Council meeting. 

Since last year, the City has been in the preliminary design stage for a new Public Works Operations Center on the recently acquired property on 202nd Street next to Kenmore Middle School. Funding is proposed to be provided by a 20-year bond issue that would be paid back from two main funding sources: Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) and Surface Water Utility revenues. On Monday night, the City Council will be discussing and considering approval of an ordinance to authorize the issuance of bonds to pay for the PWOC.

The Council will also review and consider approving amendments to the City's current budget. Cities, like Kenmore, that budget on a biennial basis must adopt an ordinance for a mid-biennial review of any modifications to the approved 2023/2024 biennial budget. Details about amendments to the current budget can be found on the meeting agenda. 

Plymouth Permanent Supportive Housing Development Agreement: Public Hearing on December 11
On December 11, the Kenmore City Council will hold a second public hearing related to the development agreement for Plymouth’s Kenmore Permanent Supportive Housing development at 6532 Bothell Way NE. UPDATE: Funding for the project took over a year to secure and came from a complex variety of sources, including the City of Kenmore and ARCH.  The funding from the Department of Commerce and the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC), now stipulate that the residents are:  

• Income of 30% or less of Area Median Income (AMI)
• Homeless at entry (which can include “couch surfing”, living in transitional housing, and staying in a shelter). 
• Single adults with no children

This project is Permanent Supportive Housing, which means that Plymouth will provide tenants with supportive services in addition to housing, and provide 24/7 onsite staffing of the building. Learn more about the history of this project, including the December 11 agenda materials, at Plymouth Development – Kenmore Permanent Supportive Housing. 

No Coffee with Council in December - See You in 2024
A reminder that Coffee with Council (CWC) is cancelled in December and will return in January 2024. Coffee with Council is a great way to casually connect with your City Councilmembers and discuss a variety of Kenmore topics. CWC will resume next year on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 am and the 3rd Saturday of each month at 9:30 am. Please note, there will be no CWC on January 1 due to the holiday, and it will resume regularly again beginning on January 20.