Kenmore Mayor David Baker knows firsthand just how dangerous neighborhood roads can be.

Baker was nearly hit by a car Friday morning while talking with residents about pedestrian safety near the site where Kenmore resident Joseph David Humphreys was killed in a hit-and-run on Oct. 22.

“You can hear the cars coming and then hit their brakes,” said Baker, as he stood in the 6100 block of NE 187th St. “I am surprised at how much cut-through traffic there is.”

But Baker’s close call was just one of the up-close-and-personal learning experiences elected officials had during the meeting.

Neighbors were also surprised at the turnout. Two morning meetings resulted in conversations with 46th District Sen. David Frockt, Rep. Gerry Pollet, a liaison for Rep. Jessyn Farrell, city manager Rob Karlinsey, Council members Allan Van Ness, Glenn Rogers, Brent Smith and Baker about the issue of pedestrian safety.

“It really helps to be invited out and to walk the streets and see where the concerns are,” said Baker.

Kenmore residents Christy Sims and Stephanie Krambrink sent out the invitations and a total of eight neighbors attended. The neighbors walked away from the meeting feeling more heard than during the Oct. 28 council meeting.

Smith said that having so many new people speaking at the meeting had an impact.

“We hear a lot of the same people each week and it makes you a little more aware when it is new people with a public safety issue,” said Smith, who has been having discussions about pedestrian safety with Karlinsey for a while.

“We have been talking about these things and there are practical things we can do,” said Smith. “It is unfortunate that there is now a tragedy associated with this issue.”

The conversations on Friday were a two-way street and a sharing of ideas.

“They shape the direction of the city and it is nice for them to come out and see the issues in person,” said Sims.

She hopes the meeting made an impact on those in attendance.

“Some of the council members had great ideas that could be done,” said Sims. “Councilman Smith said he wants to do something in a timely manner.”

Some of the ideas were to have more signage, speed bumps, lowering speed limits, having school zones for school bus stops and, of course, more sidewalks.

“It is going to take a lot of work,” Baker said about installing sidewalks. “We have to buy property from the owner in some cases, we have take into consideration drainage issues. There are a lot of expenses and if we are doing this we really should be under-grounding utilities.”

The city currently has a 20-year plan for new sidewalks throughout the city, but a bond measure could be used to speed up that process. Baker said that the 20-year plan also prioritizes certain areas.

“But don’t the areas outside of a one-mile radius of a school count too?” asked Sims.

One of the big surprises were state legislators meeting with residents on a community issue.

“I was asked by my constituents,” said Frockt. “I just started representing them and I want to learn about the community.”

Redistricting moved Kenmore into the 46th District a year ago.

“There are a number of funds that could be useful in the transportation bill,” said Frockt.

That transportation bill passed the State House but has not been voted on in the State Senate. The bill would also give Kenmore $8.5 million for State Route 522. But the city has to be careful what it spends money on with big projects looming, such as the $20 million replacement of the Sammamish River Bridge.

“We are hoping to get matching funds but we have to prioritize these things,” said Smith. “But there is nothing that can surpass the safety of kids and families.”

Frockt mentioned that the Complete Streets bill passed in 2011 could also give Kenmore financial assistance. He also said that a Safe Streets bill that recently passed makes it easier to lower speed limits, which could cut down on drivers cutting through neighborhoods to avoid construction or stop lights and improve general safety. Neighbors said that traffic has been really bad since a light was installed at the intersection of Remington Drive and 61st Avenue Northeast.

“During the time when they were installing it, it was like a parade,” said Krambrink.

Baker said that the city has changed an aspect of the light that might help with the unintentional diversion.

“It is like the Mayor said, the growth of areas to the north brings more traffic,” said Sims. “But the death that happened is not necessarily linked to increased traffic in prime user times.”