It was the best of times. But for Kirkland, it was the worst of times. In fact, in the words of Mayor Jim Lauinger, 2008 was downright horrible.

There was the stop-and-go with city economic development. It began when City Council put a moratorium on projects that could spur the downtown economy, while giving the go-ahead on others. The latter, some residents fear, could transform the city from its suburban nature into something Bellevue-esque.

There was also the city’s $19 million budget shortfall that transpired during a national economic crisis.

But the start of a New Year is not about could-have-beens. It’s about taking what was and the possibility of what could be and moving forward. Here are some of the things the Kirkland Reporter will watch — and hope for — in 2009:

• Responsible development: The decision to build Parkplace eight-stories high will shape the city’s downtown character for years to come. Moving forward, we hope developers will hone in on what residents want: neighborhood-oriented retail, including a bigger grocery store, a place to buy hardware and restaurants.

We also hope to see issues of interpreting the Comprehensive Plan resolved. Council, lay a firm zoning foundation that preceding council members so ambiguously poured before you and move on. (Residents, we’ll listen for your comments during the Jan. 20 public hearing on downtown zoning changes).

• Retail recovery: Kirkland, hold on to your businesses. The downtown scene has been grim with long-time shop owners like Gunnar Nordstrom heading for the hills and down to Bellevue. It hasn’t helped that the city recently imposed a head tax on businesses that are struggling to keep their doors open. Whatever the answer is, the city could be on the right track with a “Buy Kirkland” program in the pipeline and we hope to see other initiatives that will make downtown Kirkland a destination.

• A proactive city government: The decision of whether or not to annex Finn Hill, Juanita and Kingsgate has sat dormant since last May when the council voted to delay the decision. The city is fast approaching next January’s deadline to be eligible for state annexation incentive funding. We will watch for the Council to finally make a decision on annexation, as well as provide direction onother issues, such as a potential regional jail site in Kingsgate.

As we move forward, we encourage readers to continue to submit thoughtful letters and keep us informed. And if there’s something you hope to see from us, don’t hesitate to let us know. Happy New Year, Kirkland.