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Council accepts petition on Highlands low water pressure, asks staff for expedited options and fiscal note
Summary
Council accepted Petition G25246 asking the city to restore previous water pressure levels in the Upper Highlands neighborhood and referred it to staff for follow-up; staff will provide a fiscal note and options in early October and meet with residents Sept. 29.
Kirkland City Council on Sept. 16 accepted a petition from Upper Highlands residents asking the city to implement a permanent engineering fix that restores prior water‑pressure levels in that neighborhood, and directed staff to study and report back with accelerated options and cost estimates.
The petition (G25246) requests a timeline not to exceed one year for a permanent engineering solution. Julie (interim public works director and deputy city manager of operations) presented staff’s recommended response and a schedule for follow‑up: “Your staff recommendation is to, accept option 2,” she told council — referring to accepting the petition and referring it to staff for follow‑up.
Why it matters: Residents in the Upper Highlands reported persistently low household water pressure after system changes tied to distribution system consolidations. Low pressure can affect fire‑suppression systems, pools and household services and can impose costs on residents who must install booster pumps or tanks.
What the council decided: Council accepted the petition and directed staff to accelerate study of options. Councilor Pasco asked staff to fast‑track costed options and to return not later than early October so the council can consider funding rather than waiting for the full water‑system comprehensive plan process. Council directed staff to return to the Oct. 7 meeting with a fiscal note to fund early evaluation tasks so consultant work can be expanded sooner.
Clarifying steps and timeline: Staff said they will continue to convene residents and will present options for early actions to include in the capital improvement program and to coordinate on a study session. Julie said a community meeting with residents is scheduled for Sept. 29, and tentatively the city will present a detailed study‑session update on Oct. 21; staff will also prepare the fiscal note for the council’s Oct. 7 meeting. Resident advocate Murray McKinney told the council he has collected more than 128 signatures and emphasized the life‑safety dimension where homes have fire‑system impacts.
Ending: The motion to accept and refer the petition passed unanimously. Staff will return with a fiscal note and initial costed options in October and will continue resident outreach in the meantime.
