There was a lot on the agenda for the City Council to consider during its September 3 Business Meeting. You can watch the meeting in its entirety on the City website, but here are a few highlights:
Eastside Welcoming Proclamation
Mayor Penny Sweet, along with the mayors of Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah and Sammamish issued a joint proclamation Tuesday supporting Welcoming Week across the Eastside from September 13 through September 22, 2019.
Over 30 events are planned throughout the Eastside bringing all segments of the community together. From potlucks, to discussion groups, to arts and crafts, local governments and community groups are planning multiple ways for community members to meet their neighbors and make connections. The Juanita Neighborhoods Association will be hosting Welcome to Juanita, an event celebrating diversity and inclusion in Kirkland, on Saturday, September 14 from 12 to 3 p.m. in Edith Moulton Park. The Welcome to Juanita event will feature free food from local restaurants, free games and prizes, entertainment and community and business information and resources. A full list of all events on the Eastside is available at www.EastsideWelcomes.org.
|
 Left to Right: Mayor Penny Sweet, Debbie Lacy of the Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition, and Councilmember Kelli Curtis
Employee Workforce Housing Pilot Initiative
City Council approved the affordable housing initiative between the City of Kirkland (“City”) and two related limited liability companies, Kirkland Sustainable Investments, LLC and Sustainable Kirkland, LLC (together, “Kirkland Sustainable”) for new affordable rental housing units and City (and other public sector) employee rental housing units located in Downtown Kirkland. Kirkland Sustainable owns and operates the Arete multifamily development at 450 Central Way and is nearing completion of the construction of the Plaza multifamily development at 330 4th Street, both in Kirkland.
The initiative includes amendments to the City’s Multifamily Housing Property Tax Exemption
(“MFTE”) ordinance, Chapter 5.88 of the Kirkland Municipal Code (“KMC”), to provide for 23
new affordable rental housing units at Plaza. It also approved the City Manager to execute a contract and covenant for recording related to the 23 MFTE units at Plaza. Finally, the initiative includes the execution of master lease agreements with Kirkland Sustainable providing for up to an additional 34 units of rental housing that would be set aside at market rates for City employees or other public sector employees such as those employed by the Lake Washington School District or the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
The pilot program is estimated to provide almost $1.2 million in funding for housing programs such as the Women and Family Shelter scheduled to be open in 2020.
Mental Health and Community Crisis Response and Proact Update
Chief Cherie Harris announced that 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 started its work on September 3. Chief Harris also shared with the City Council how police officers with the department currently respond to calls involving individuals experiencing homelessness.
Fire Ballot Measure Work Plan Resolution
Council reviewed 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 its recommendations to the Council in March. The draft resolution and workplan will be brought back to the Council on September 17 for final adoption.
Greater Downtown Urban Center Designation
The City Council approved staff to pursue 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:
Kirkland residents, neighbors and guests are invited to attend Crossing Kirkland, a citywide celebration of community that utilizes the City’s Cross Kirkland Corridor as an outdoor venue.
Crossing Kirkland takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 7 and stretches from Feriton Spur Park (at the Google campus) to 7th Avenue (located north of 85th Street). The event features three neighborhood-sponsored stations each offering a slew of fun and engaging activities, including live music, community art, food trucks, a climbing wall, a bouncy house and much more. Participants can walk, bike or take advantage of City-provided shuttles to explore the entire event.
Crossing Kirkland is family-friendly with a diverse range of activities to appeal to folks of all ages! Make pots out of newspaper and plant a seed with Seattle Tilth, create a sun catcher with the Kirkland Arts Center, race a boat in the boy scout’s “Raingutter Regatta,” and identify birds with the Eastside Audubon Society. The City’s Green Kirkland Partnership will offer native plant “tattoos,” while the Houghton Neighborhood Association will provide guests with the chance to make bracelets.
Other activities and attractions include bicycle tune-ups courtesy of Kirkland Bicycle, hula lessons from Halau Hula O Makanaokalani, balloon animals and a K-Pop dance performance by students from the International Community School.
This year’s event offers a generous selection of exciting food vendors, including Dreamy Drinks, Yummy 8 Lunchbox, Stacks, ChicagoWest, Main St. Gyros, 314 Pie, Zaytoona, Tabassum, JJ Froyogo and Bee’s Mallows, which serves handcrafted s’mores.
Crossing Kirkland is made possible thanks to volunteers, in-kind donations from local businesses and financial support from Google, SRM Development and McLeod AutoBody. For more information about Crossing Kirkland, please visit the website at: https://www.crossingkirkland.org/.
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 has begun the process on August 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 Trail will be open for the Crossing Kirkland event on Saturday, September 7. The City's contractor, Dungeness Construction, has been working 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. More information is available on the CKC Headwall page on the City website.
Sixth Street Improvements
The City's contractor, Lakeside Industries, has begun work on the Sixth Street corridor’s last major improvement project: rehabilitating and repaving the roadway from Fourth Avenue to Northeast 68th Street. Night work will be starting the week of September 9.
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.
If you plan to refresh your wardrobe this fall, two simple changes can help reduce your environmental impact: donating clothes you no longer want instead of throwing them away, and buying clothing secondhand.
The average person throws out 81 pounds of usable textiles a year. Nearly 95 percent of the clothes, shoes, and linens that Americans toss could have been recycled or reused! Even stained, torn, and mismatched clothing and textiles can be donated for recycling. Instead of trashing your damaged clothes and linens, donate them for recycling. In Kirkland, Goodwill and Value Village accept textiles for recycling. Residents who live in houses can also put out clothing for recycling next to their carts by alerting Waste Management at 1-800-592-9995.
Organizations sort donated textiles for their best use-- some can be resold locally and some internationally, while unwearable items can be turned into painter’s rags or recycled as insulation, soundproofing or carpet padding. But when textiles are thrown away, they are buried in the landfill and the material in them is lost for other uses.
It's earth-friendly to choose pre-worn clothing because it makes the most of the resources used to produce an item. New clothing takes a lot of water to produce – up to 700 gallons of water for a cotton T-shirt! Conventional cotton accounts for a quarter of worldwide insecticide use. Textile treatment and dyes pollute waterways in countries with less environmental regulation.
Next time you need a new clothing item, see if you can find it pre-owned first. Kirkland has many thrift and consignment shops where you can find secondhand clothes in good condition while supporting a local business. Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop is an EnviroStars green business whose proceeds go back into local non-profits that help our neighbors in need. Even specialty and designer items are now available secondhand. Many outdoor retailers like REI and Patagonia offer used gear shops where you can find last season’s jackets, and formal wear and designer brands are available to rent through online services.
 |
|
132nd Square Improvements Public Hearing
City Hall Council Chamber
Wednesday, September 11, 7 p.m.
The Park Board will hold a public hearing 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 plan's 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.
|
 |
|
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.
|
 |
|
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.
|
 |
|
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.
|
 |
|
Juanita Friday Market
Every Friday June 7 to September 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.
|
 |
|
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!
|
  |
|
