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King County Local Voters Pamphlet
November 6, 2001 General Election
Houghton Community Municipal
Corporation - Proposition No. 1
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PROPOSITION NO. 1
CONTINUATION OF COMMUNITY
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION
The community council of the Houghton Community
Municipal Corporation has adopted Resolution No.
2001-2 concerning this proposition to continue the
existence of the Houghton Community Municipal
Corporation. Pursuant to RCW 35.14.060, the existence
of the Houghton Community Municipal Corporation
expires on January 7, 2002. This proposition
would continue the existence of the Houghton Community
Municipal Corporation until the first Monday
of January, 2006. Shall this proposition be:
Approved
__ Rejected __
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| EXPLANATORY STATEMENT |
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In 1968 the Cities of Houghton and Kirkland were consolidated. The voters in
Houghton also voted to establish within the former City of Houghton a community
municipal corporation. Its governing body is the Houghton Community Council,
composed of seven members elected for four year terms by the voters within
Houghton. The Houghton Municipal Corporation also has a term of four years and
then expires unless extended for an additional four years by majority vote of the
electors within Houghton. The current four year term expires December 31, 2001
unless extended at the general election to be held November 6, 2001.
Under the Community Municipal Corporation law (RCW Ch. 35.14) the adoption,
amendment, authorization or other approval by the Kirkland City Council of any
ordinance or resolution applying to land, buildings or structures within the Houghton
Community Municipal Corporation becomes effective within Houghton only on
approval of the Community Council or by failure of the Community Council to
disapprove the ordinance or resolution within sixty days of its final enactment by the
Kirkland City Council as to the following: comprehensive plan; zoning ordinance;
conditional use permit, special exception or variance; subdivision ordinance; subdivision
plat; or planned unit development. In addition to its disapproval jurisdiction, the
Houghton Community Council also has authority to make recommendations to the
Kirkland City Council and City Manager on any issues which may directly or indirectly
affect the area within the Houghton Community Municipal Corporation.
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| STATEMENT FOR |
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Vote to continue the Houghton Community Council.
It’s not an accident that Houghton is one of the nicest neighborhoods
in Kirkland in which to live, work and play. The Houghton
Community Council provides a unique, valuable and cost effective
service in review of important land use decisions. Community
Council Members volunteer their time and knowledge to keep
Houghton a great place to live.
Time and again, proposals are made to develop significant
pieces of property. The Houghton Council makes those projects
better for the residents of Houghton. More and more frequently
efforts are made to change land use regulations. The Houghton
Council is there to insure that the regulations are appropriate for
our neighborhood. Recently, the Community Council rejected
burdensome land use regulations proposed by the City of Kirkland.
Doing so preserved private property rights and reduced government
intrusion into the reasonable use of your property. As a
result, Houghton has the least residential property regulation in
the City of Kirkland.
Other neighborhoods have created neighborhood associations
to attempt to influence city hall. They are often envious of the
unusual veto authority of the Community Council.
Vote to continue the Houghton Community Council...you’ll miss
it if you lose it.
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| REBUTTAL OF STATEMENT AGAINST |
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Vote to continue the Houghton Community Council.
The cost to operate the Houghton Council is tiny: less than five
cents per month per Houghton resident. The result is less regulation
and better quality of life. Protecting the quality of life in
Houghton is the mission of the Houghton Community Council.
Vote to continue the Houghton Community Council.
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| STATEMENT AGAINST |
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In the week following the World Trade Center and Pentagon
terrorist attack, a police officer began guarding the entry to the
Kirkland City Hall. He was protecting public safety and welfare,
which is exactly what government is supposed to do. This added
security is necessary, but it will not be free. Now is the time to start
focusing on how we will pay for such security measures.
Government must focus on necessities not luxuries in this new
era where public safety issues are of paramount importance. The
"nice to have" programs must give way to the "must have"
programs as we all do our duty to protect our country.
The Houghton Community Council is a "nice to have" layer of
government that outlived its usefulness long ago. Residents of
Houghton should do the right thing and disband this costly selfinterest
group so City of Kirkland resources can be used more
effectively.
Please, do what is right for our city. Vote No on the Continuation
of Houghton Community Council.
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| REBUTTAL OF STATEMENT FOR |
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If the Statement "For" was at all accurate, then why is one of the
Preparers of the Statement selling his property in Houghton and
moving out of Kirkland?
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NOTE: The Division of Records and Elections is not authorized
to edit statements, nor is it responsible for their contents.
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