As Kirkland recovers from a four-year economic downturn, the city faces new challenges trying to maintain a high livable lifestyle.

During her State of the City address at the City Council’s Sept. 29 meeting, Kirkland Mayor Amy Walen contrasted Kirkland now with the situation in 2009, when the city was less than half its current population.

The employment rate jumped from three percent in 2008 to six percent in January of 2009, and would eventually reach as high as 8.8 percent. As a result, tax revenue for the city dropped, forcing them to cut programs and services. The council, viewed as dysfunctional by residents, was searching for a city manager for the first time in 12 years, eventually hiring former King County Executive Kurt Triplett. Totem Lake Boulevard was prone to frequent flooding, while overgrown grass on the railroads track had become a city eyesore.

“That was not the Kirkland our citizens expected or deserved,” she said. “And it was not the Kirkland that had been entrusted to us.”

Among their achievements, Walen said, was maintaining fiscal responsibility at a time when the city was in dire need of funds, which included laying off employees.

She also noted that the city moved forward with the 2011 annexation of the Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods. One of the largest annexations in the region’s history, it added 30,000 people to a city of 48,000. Despite the massive population increase, Walen said they only increased staff by 25 percent. As revenue began to return, they used it to replace their financial reserves, which had been depleted during the recession. Currently, the city maintains a AAA credit rating.

To prevent future flooding on Totem Lake Boulevard, Walen said they have invested $5 million in storm pipes and culverts, and the city has recently received a $200,000 flood grant from King County. Eventually they spent another $5 million purchasing the railroad tracks where the interim trail for the Cross Kirkland Corridor is being built.

Although the city has benefited from companies like Google, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary in the city and plans to add another 1,000 more employees as well as free Wi-Fi for two parks, Walen said it faces several new problems including traffic, replacing the Juanita High School pool, helping to push forward a redevelopment of the Totem Lake Malls and preparing for the loss of sales-tax credits in 2021 from the 2011 annexation by setting aside revenue now.

“As we dream big about our future, we must also stay grounded in the present,” she said.  “We must remain fiscally disciplined even as revenue rebounds.”

With the council working on Kirkland 2035, its comprehensive plan update for the next 20 years, Walen stated the goal is to maintain a livable environment while promoting further economic growth.

“Decisive, responsive government, government that meets challenges and solve problems,” she said. “That’s what we’ve been for the last four years and that’s what we’ll continue to be in the future…with renewed economic strength, we’re poised to tackle the big issues and the big ideas.”