 
Join us for an Earth Day Celebration Event tomorrow at Rhododendron Park from 11am – 2pm. There will be fun educational and interactive activities for all ages! Guests are encouraged to walk, bike, carpool, or ride the shuttle to this event. Shuttle service is available from the Kenmore Park & Ride on a continuous loop to the park. Find more event details here. We hope to see you there!
Also, the Kenmore Community Rowing Club is hosting their first community Sammamish Slough clean-up day on Saturday, April 27th from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Bring your own gear and a snack or drink to share. To participate, meet at the boathouse at noon.
We’re picking up speed. Big things are happening.
A few weeks ago, City Manager Rob Karlinsey sent out a “Hot Topics Coming Your Way” article and asked you to “hop in and buckle up.” What a difference a few weeks can make. Under the direction of the City Council, things are moving forward. Here’s an update to each of those hot topics. We hope you’re still buckled in; if not, it’s not too late to hop on board. Here’s the summary list of the hot topics:
1. Affordable Housing
2. Imagine Housing/Habitat for Humanity affordable housing proposal on 181st Street
3. Human Services Needs Assessment
4. “The Docket”: State-mandated middle housing regulations, amendments to several elements of the comprehensive plan, cottage housing regulations, more tree protection regulations, and more.
5. Love Where You Live Community Engagement Project
6. Lakepointe
7. Downtown
8. Financial Sustainability Plan
9. 2025-2026 Two-Year Budget
10. Capital Projects
11. Public Works Operations Center
12. Climate Action Plan
13. DEIA Strategic Plan and Five-Year Roadmap
You are invited to an in-person workshop to review and discuss the draft guiding principals, key themes and human services grant funding priorities created as a part of the City of Kenmore’s Human Services Needs Assessment.
Kenmore Human Services – Needs Assessment Workshop
Date: Monday, May 6, 2024
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Kenmore City Hall, Community Room
This event is an opportunity for you to share your thoughts, priorities, and questions about Kenmore’s Human Services Needs Assessment directly with city staff. During this workshop you can expect a short presentation, activities and time for questions throughout the event. The key elements of the needs assessment to be discussed are the draft guiding principles, key findings and human services grant funding priorities.
The goal of this workshop is to gather input from the community and collect comments that will help City staff shape the final Human Services Needs Assessment.
Kenmore secured more sidewalk funding during the recent state legislative session. The state legislature awarded the City of Kenmore $3.1 million for new 84th Avenue sidewalks at Moorlands Elementary. This is in addition to the other pedestrian and bicycle grants the City was awarded in 2023/2024 for 80th Avenue NE, NE 192nd Street, Arrowhead Drive, and NE 170th Street. In total that’s $8.27 million awarded for these projects!
In addition, our two state representatives and state senator secured $464,000 for geothermal heating technology for the City’s future new public works operations center next to Kenmore Middle School. This technology will significantly reduce the building’s carbon emissions and bring the entire facility closer to net carbon zero. We are grateful to our state legislative delegation, Representative Duerr, Representative Kloba, and Senator Stanford, for securing this funding for Kenmore!
The City of Kenmore has launched Solarize Kenmore! This program simplifies the purchasing and installation process and ensures you’ll get discounted prices, vetted local installers, and quality made-in-Washington equipment. Sign up for a free site assessment by July 4 at solarizekenmore.org.
Throughout 2024, the Community Development Department, along with the City’s consultant (Kimley-Horn), will be working with the Planning Commission and City Council to update Comprehensive Plan Housing Element and Land Use Element policies and develop new middle housing regulations to comply with House Bill (HB) 1110 passed in 2023. State law requires that the Comprehensive Plan policies be adopted by December 31 of this year, and regulations shall be adopted by June 2025.
There will be opportunities for community engagement at the Kenmore Farmers Market on June 5, July 17 and August 7. Opportunity for public comment will be available at upcoming Planning Commission and City Council meetings (dates TBD). The City’s Framing the Future of Housing webpage will also be updated with project information as drafts are developed and there will be an opportunity to give comment with an upcoming community survey.
For more information on the Middle Housing project, please contact Todd Hall (thall@kenmorewa.gov).
Right of Way and Permitting Reminders
Property owners are responsible for maintaining trees, bushes, and other vegetation on their property and in the right of way adjacent to their property. This includes keeping vegetation clear of the traveled way such as sidewalks as well as keeping ditches free of debris and blockages. For more detailed information about this requirement, you can read the Kenmore Code here
Also, please remember to check permitting requirements prior to starting any work. You can check the City’s permitting requirements here. Thank you!
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Spring is here – get your gardening gloves ready! Rain gardens are a great addition to yards or in place of lawns this spring. Rain gardens that utilize native plants help reduce water runoff and flooding and provide habitat for pollinators – a win-win!
You can learn more about how rain gardens work and find resources for making your own garden at kenmorewa.gov/CAP.
The City of Kenmore is currently hiring for multiple positions! Check out our current job opportunities in the Public Works department. Please share these opportunities or consider applying. Join a great team that's working to make Kenmore a place where everyone loves where they live.
You're invited to join the 2nd annual Kenmore Quad event on August 24, 2024! Registration is now live. This unique event takes the traditional triathlon to the next level with an added paddling component (kayak or SUP). Take on this challenge solo or enlist a group of friends (up to 4 participants in a relay) for 1/4 mile swim, 6 mile bike, 1.6 mile run and 1.3 mile paddle. This event is not timed so just relax and have fun in this non-competitive community activity. All participants will be entered into a drawing for great prizes.
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Find a Ride Transportation Services
Hopelink Mobility Management and the King County Mobility Coalition have collaborated to create “Find a Ride”, a "one-call/one-click" system that connects community members to the transportation services through a centralized trip planning and ride-requesting service. Check out the Find a Ride Trip Planner to learn more. |
Visit the City calendar to see more events here.
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