There is so much happening in Kirkland on September 3--- Labor Day weekend is in the rear view mirror, students in the Lake Washington School District are going back to school, and City Council is back in session after a brief summer break. There's a ton happening at the September 3 meeting, we hope that you can join us, here are a few highlights:
Eastside Welcoming Proclamation
The City of Kirkland is once again joining mayors from Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond and Sammamish in supporting Welcoming Week across the Eastside from September 13-22. Find out more about events occurring that week at http://www.eastsidewelcomes.org/.
Mental Health and Community Crisis Response and Proact Update
Chief Cherie Harris will present to Council an update on implementation of initiatives that were a part of the Enhanced Police Services and Community Safety Ballot Measure. A new, dedicated proactive police unit which will focus on illegal drugs, car prowls, burglaries, mail theft, shoplifting, and enforcing extreme risk protection orders and court-ordered gun forfeitures starts their work on September 3.
Fire Ballot Measure Work Plan Resolution
Council will review a draft resolution and workplan for a potential November 2020 Fire and Emergency Medical Services ballot measure. This ballot measure would be phase 2 of the Enhanced Safety for a Thriving City initiative (Phase 1 was the Enhanced Police Services and Community Safety Ballot Measure).The draft workplan includes engaging a Community Advisory Group over the next several months to evaluate potential options and funding mechanisms. Exploring the ballot measure is the number one priority of the Council’s 2019-2020 Work Program. The advisory group will propose their recommendations to the Council in March. The draft resolution and workplan will be brought back to the Council on September 17th for final adoption.
School Traffic Camera Update
September 3 is also the first day of the school traffic camera pilot project at John Muir Elementary/Kamiakin School and Rose Hill Elementary. The cameras will issue warnings for the first 30 days. More information on the pilot program can be found in the video below:
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Authorize Submittal of Applications for Greater Downtown Kirkland Urban Center
The City Council will consider pursuing a Greater Downtown Kirkland Urban Center designation through the Puget Sound Regional Council. While the designation would not commit the City to taking on any additional growth, or require any additional planning efforts, it would better position the City to receive grant funding for transportation projects such as walking and bicycling paths. More information can be found in the video below:
 More information, including other items on the September 3 Council agenda, can be found in the City Council packet available on the City website on Friday, August 30.
Pickleball is a fun and fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, and in Kirkland, the courts are packed!
The City’s new pickleball program, which rolled out earlier this month, introduced three new pickleball courts at Everest Park and includes multiple upcoming opportunities for players to develop their skills. The program features instructional clinics, equipment rentals, pickleball party packages, a competitive fall pickleball league and drop-in indoor pickleball at the North Kirkland Community Center.
“This new program is a terrific example of the community informing our efforts as we seek to enhance and grow our parks programming,” said Kirkland Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra. “Pickleball is here because our community asked for it! We are excited to offer this great new program and love seeing the new courts packed with pickleball players.”
Pickleball clinics are designed for beginner to intermediate players and are held on select Saturdays at Everest Park. Lender equipment is available at the two-hour clinics, but bringing your own equipment is recommended. Clinics begin on August 31 and run through November 16.
Once you’ve honed your skills, get ready for some healthy competition! The City’s fall pickleball league offers Mixed Doubles and Men’s Doubles divisions, with matches from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays starting September 28 and running through October 26. The 2019 pickleball season includes five weeks of play and one week of playoffs, with league champions earning official “champion” T-shirts and bragging rights.
Teams must provide their own paddles and balls.
And don’t let the fall weather stop you from enjoying this new program! Drop-in indoor pickleball is available at the North Kirkland Community Center throughout the fall (September 11 through November 20) and winter (December 4 through February 26) months from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays. One full-size court and two modified courts are available, and doubles format is encouraged.
Rental equipment is available! To rent your pickleball equipment, stop by the North Kirkland Community Center (NKCC). Equipment must be picked up at the NKCC and returned there at the end of the day. The North Kirkland Community Center is located at 12421 103rd Ave. N.E. in Totem Lake and Everest Park is located at 500 8th Street South. For more information about pickleball please check our fall and winter activities guide at: http://bit.ly/fallwinteractivities, or email eparks@kirklandwa.gov.
The Park Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.in the City Hall Council Chamber to receive public comment on a final draft master plan for 132nd Square Park.
The evening will begin with a brief overview of the master planning process and the plans components including lighting and an all-weather field. The final preferred concept reflects the feedback and data collected from the community during three previously held community events and an online survey. The priority issues shared by the community included additional parking, park character, tree maintenance, small scale park improvements such as expanded paths, and an improved restroom.
“We’ve had excellent participation from the community throughout the master planning process,” said Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra. “We’ve been able to take the input we’ve received and synthesize it into a preferred concept. We hope that the community will attend the public hearing and continue to be engaged in this planning process.”
Over the past few months the City has been meeting with community members to develop a master plan that would include improvements such as lighting, all-weather turf fields and parking. Located in the Evergreen Hill neighborhood, 132nd Square Park is one of Kirkland’s seven community parks. The park is approximately 10 acres and is currently comprised of two ball fields, a playground, a parking lot, restrooms, a small picnic shelter, some pathways and a sledding hill. The master plan is a requirement of Kirkland’s Zoning Code when park infrastructure improvements are considered.
More information can be found on the project website at http://bit.ly/132ndSquarePark.
Each week we will provide an ongoing list of City capital projects that will impact traffic. New projects will always be listed first.
Goat Hill Stormwater Upgrade
The ongoing Goat Hill stormwater upgrade will affect traffic next week on a short section of Northeast 116th Place, which parallels Juanita Drive. Shoreline Construction will be working just west of 91st Place Northeast. Mail, emergency services and local residents will have access. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone.
Third Street Water Main Upgrade
A City of Kirkland contractor begins the process on Aug. 26 of upgrading the Third Street water main, between Central Way and Seventh Avenue. To complete the upgrade, Shoreline Construction will close a one-block work zone to traffic, starting with the block that is between Central Way and Third Street. Flaggers will direct traffic around the work zones.
Cross Kirkland Corridor Segment Closure
The Cross Kirkland Corridor from N.E. 100th Street to 111th Ave N.E. will be closed for approximately two weeks starting Monday, August 19. Trail users may use the established detour route. The City's contractor, Dungeness Construction, has begun work on repairs to a 24-inch culvert, the outfall of which is eroding a small section of the Cross Kirkland Corridor’s foundation north of Crestwoods Park. Crews will install a manhole and build a stream channel with check dams to dissipate the impact of the water as it flows from the concrete culvert, onto the Cross Kirkland Corridor’s foundation and down the hillside. More information is available on the CKC Headwall page on the City website.
 Sixth Street Improvements
The City's contractor, Lakeside Industries, plans to begin construction in mid-August on the Sixth Street corridor’s last major improvement project: rehabilitating and repaving the roadway from Fourth Avenue to Northeast 68th Street.
Lane closures will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The Kirkland contractor will begin the two-month process by rebuilding curb ramps and removing lids from stormwater, sewer and other utilities. More information can be found on the 6th Street Project page on the City website.
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Kirkland Explorers Car Show
Kirkland Justice Center
Friday, September 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Join us at our 5th Annual Explorer Benefit Car Show! Car owners can register their cars for the show at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/…/Join/policeexplorers.htm
This is a free event! Swing by and vote for your favorite cars, and enjoy a BBQ from 11-12:30.
All proceeds from the BBQ and donations go directly to our Kirkland Explorers.
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Protecting Wood Framed Houses in Earthquakes Home Retrofit Class
Kirkland Justice Center
Tuesday, September 17, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Help reduce damage caused during an earthquake. Learn to become an informed consumer on how to do home retrofit yourself, or be knowledgeable about the process when looking to hire a contractor to do the work.
A retrofit expert will show you how to assess your home's needs and how to use pre-engineered Home Retrofit plans to permit and retrofit your home. This class is intended for homes constructed prior to 1980 with concrete foundations and stemwalls.
Registration: The class is free but space is limited. Sign up online.
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Becoming American
Kingsgate Library
Tuesday, September 17, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Join a celebration of National Welcoming Week, bringing together immigrants, refugees, and native-born residents to raise awareness of the benefits of welcoming everyone. More information at kcls.org/BecomingAmerican.
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Juanita Friday Market
Every Friday June 7 to Sept. 27, 3 to 7 p.m.
Juanita Beach Park, 9703 N.E. Juanita Drive
A twelve-year Kirkland tradition, the Juanita Friday Market features fresh produce from local farmers, artisanal breads and desserts, locally-made honey, hot food, cut flowers, sustainable skin care products, hand-crafted jewelry, candles, natural soap, local art and much more. The weekly series is set against the stunning backdrop of Juanita Beach Park, which offers sandy shoreline, restrooms, swimming and a children’s play area.
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2019 Sustainability Summit and Truck-a-palooza
City Hall
Saturday, October 12
Truck-a-palooza 12 to 2 p.m.
Sustainability Summit 2 to 5 p.m.
The 2019 Sustainability Summit, looks at sustainability in a variety of contexts, including home, school and together. Join us to learn more about our Safer Routes to School action plans, ways to be sustainable at home, and find out about the City’s Sustainability Master Plan and what it means to be a sustainable community.
This year marks the third annual City Hall for All event, which was founded in 2017 to further inclusivity, expand civic engagement and increase access to City services.
The 2019 City Hall for All event also presents Truck-a-palooza, a brand-new touch-a-truck event immediately preceding the Sustainability Summit. Truck-a-palooza is meant to showcase police, fire and City utility vehicles, in a manner that will be fun for kids of all ages. This engaging event offers your loved ones the exciting opportunity to meet first responders from the Kirkland police and fire departments and our hard-working road maintenance and utilities staff, plus the opportunity to experience what it’s like to sit in the driver’s seat of a police car, fire truck or snow plow – or all three!
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