The City Council passed a resolution on Tuesday, September 17, establishing a Community Safety Advisory Group to recommend to the City Council the capital and operating elements and funding structures that could be included in the Enhanced Community Safety Fire/Emergency Medical Services Measure to be placed on the November 2020 ballot.
The Community Safety Advisory Group will be made up of representatives from over 20 community groups, 12 neighborhood associations, and two at-large community members. Applications for the at-large members will be made available online early next week. We will post information here when applications are available.
Historically, voter-approved bonds have funded the building and renovation of all fire stations in the City. At the February 19, 2019 Council Meeting, the City Council adopted the City’s 2019-2020 Work Program which ranked “exploring a potential ballot measure in 2020 to fund Fire Station modernization and enhanced operations to further the goal of Public Safety” as its number one priority. Concurrently, the City is experiencing unprecedented growth and redevelopment. With new types of commercial and residential structures that need fire/EMS services, it is a challenge to continue providing public safety services that match the economic growth. The City is further challenged by the expiration of the annexation sales tax credit in 2021, resulting in the loss of nearly four million dollars annually from the City’s general fund. To sustainably fund these critical fire and EMS investments, the City must either identify new revenues or significantly reprioritize existing general fund programs such as parks maintenance and street maintenance that also rank as high priorities with Kirkland residents.
More information is available at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/…/Counci…/091719/10c_Business.pdf
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The City of Kirkland will be extending the warning period for the school safety cameras pilot until Monday, October 14.
The extended warning time will ensure that members of the community have a full 30-days of receiving warnings prior to tickets being issued. Though a 30-day warning period is not required by law, the City Council included this requirement for the pilot to ensure that the program was implemented in a way that was fair and provided adequate notice of the locations of enforcement.
In the first two weeks of the pilot 2376 violations were recorded, with 1913 violations occurring in the John Muir/Kamiakin school zone and 463 occurring in the Rose Hill school zone. The top speed recorded in the school zone was 42 mph, and children were present at the time the infraction occurred. The City hopes that the extended warning will give drivers an opportunity to change their behavior prior to getting a citation.
“Our goal is to slow drivers, not issue tickets. The quantity of infractions occurring in the warning period is concerning,” said Chief Cherie Harris. “We hope that the extended warning period will give drivers an opportunity to adjust their behavior and slow down in school zones. We all need to do our part to make it safe for children to bike and walk to school.”
As of the morning of October 14, the fine for exceeding the school zone speed limit (20 mph) for speeds over 25 mph will be at $136 per incident. A graduated fine of $250 per incident will be issued for speeds over 30 mph.
For more information please see the FAQ on the City website, http://bit.ly/SchoolZoneCameraFAQ , or contact Kellie Stickney at kstickney@kirklandwa.gov.
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We like big trucks and we cannot lie!
City Hall for All 2019 presents Truck-a-palooza, which takes place from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, in the north parking lot at Kirkland City Hall! Don’t miss this fun touch-a-truck event, which is family-friendly and great for youth of all ages. Truck-a-palooza takes place in conjunction with our Sustainability Fair (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and our Sustainability Summit (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.), both of which are hosted at City Hall and offer numerous sustainability-related activities and conversations.
Truck-a-palooza is all about trucks! And photo opportunities! We will be showcasing our police and fire departments with a broad assortment of first responder vehicles, including an aid car, fire engine, police cars, our animal services truck and much more! Has your son or daughter ever wondered what it’s like to be a firefighter or a police officer? This is their chance to climb in the driver’s seat and take an imaginary ride. Mingle with our police officers, firefighters and our Kirkland Police Explorers for a taste of what being a first responder is all about.
Truck-a-palooza also highlights some of our most fabulous and industrious City utility vehicles, including a snowplow, vactor truck and our innovative stormwater camera truck! And don’t miss our exciting display of Parks vehicles, which will include a tractor, gator (utility vehicle), excavator and a dingo (compact utility loader)! Meet our hard-working road maintenance and utilities staff while grabbing an up-close and personal look at the equipment they use on a daily basis.
Other Truck-a-palooza features include a visit from Waste Management and the chance to check out our accessible King County Metro Community Van, a relatively new rideshare program sponsored by King County Metro in partnership with the City of Kirkland.
Free giveaways, free cocoa and free photos will be available!
Schedule of events:
City Hall for All presents…
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Truck-a-palooza from 12 to 2 p.m.
Sustainability Fair from 1 to 4 p.m.
The 2019 Sustainability Summit from 2 to 5 p.m.
Look for additional details in upcoming issues of This Week in Kirkland and follow us on Facebook to capture the latest information about this event. Kirkland City Hall is located at 123 5th Ave. in Kirkland.
Each week we will provide an ongoing list of City capital projects that will impact traffic. New projects will always be listed first.
124th Avenue Northeast Sidewalk
The City’s contractor, Allied Construction, will resume working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the week of September 23 to complete construction on the 124th Avenue Northeast sidewalk. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone, when necessary.
 Street Preservation – 116th Avenue Northeast
Kirkland’s 2019 overlay is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 23. Contractors will start the process of repaving 116th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 73rd Street and the Houghton Park and Ride’s northeast corner. To maximize traffic flow during the day and the contractor’s productivity, crews will be working between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to complete the project. More information is available on the project update page on the City’s website.
Totem Lake Gateway Project
Construction begins this month on the first in a series of improvements to Totem Lake Boulevard, Totem Lake Way, and 120th Avenue Northeast. Work is planned to begin September 23. To minimize the disruption to traffic flow and maximize efficiency, crews will be working between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. until mid-November. Please refer to the project webpage for updated schedules.
Goat Hill Stormwater Upgrade
The ongoing Goat Hill stormwater upgrade could temporarily affect Juanita Drive traffic as Shoreline Construction moves construction equipment across Juanita Drive. Mail, emergency services and local residents will have access. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone, when necessary.
Third Street Water Main Upgrade
The City’s contractor, Shoreline Construction, continues work upgrading the Third Street water main, between Central Way and Seventh Avenue. The construction is closing a one-block work zone to traffic, through late-October. Detours will direct traffic around the work zone.
Sixth Street Improvements
Progress continues on the Sixth Street corridor’s last major improvement project: rehabilitating and repaving the roadway from Fourth Avenue to Northeast 68th Street. Lakeside Industries is now working nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., to remove the street’s damaged surface. Starting September 23, the Kirkland contractor begins repaving the roadway. Lakeside expects to complete the project in early October.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/6thstreet.
The City Council proclaimed September 16 through September 22 as National Pollution Prevention Week, an EPA campaign that raises awareness of the importance of reducing pollution at its source, while celebrating successful pollution prevention strategies nationwide.
The City of Kirkland hosts a robust and multifaceted blend of programs and plans aimed at reducing waste, lowering pollution, increasing recycling and promoting environmental sustainability. Educational opportunities abound for Kirkland community members interested in learning more about waste reduction, whether it’s decluttering your mailbox, transitioning from a throw-it-away to a repair mindset, innovative recycling tactics, or learning how to choose reusable items over disposable.
To help celebrate Pollution Prevention Week, Kirkland Conserves is sharing fun tips on ways to reduce waste and lower pollution! Did you know that you can recycle old, broken smart phones at various locations including Kirkland City Hall and the Kirkland Maintenance Center free of charge? Lightbulbs too! Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) contain mercury and should be recycled rather than tossed in the trash. Bring your CFLs to Kirkland City Hall for free, proper disposal.
For more information and additional tips, please visit the Kirkland Conserves webpage at: http://cityofkirklandblogs.com/environmentalservices/ or its Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/KirklandEnviro/?tn-str=k*F.
 Pictured left to right: Surface Water Utility Engineer Jordan Segal, Councilmember Tom Neir, Mayor Penny Sweet, Storm Water Division Lead Lee Winston, Water Quality Program Coordinator Ryean-Marie Tuomisto, and Public Works Director Kathy Brown.
The Regional Census Fund supports organizations seeking to organize, inform, activate, and assist residents in historically underrepresented communities that are at risk of being undercounted in the 2020 Census. Eligible organizations are invited to apply for $5,000 - $20,000 for 2020 Census related activities. Organizations can request any amount within the range. Funding will support engagement activities through the 2020 Census such as education and outreach, one-on-one assistance, and other gatherings and/or events to support the participation of historically undercounted communities.
The Regional Census Fund will have a total of $450,000 available for grants. This fund is administered by the Seattle Foundation in partnership with King County, City of Seattle, City of Bellevue, City of Kirkland, and City of Redmond. The deadline for applications is October 16, 2019 at 5 p.m. Applications and more information about the Regional Census Fund are available online.
Curious to learn more about this grant opportunity? King County is hosting a public information session in the Peter Kirk Room at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Ave, Kirkland) from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24. For more information about the fund, and to RSVP to the info session, please email Heidi Park at hpark@kingcounty.gov by 5 p.m. on September 20.
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Juanita Friday Market
Juanita Beach Park
Friday, 3 to 7 p.m.
Join us this Friday at Juanita Beach Park to enjoy the Juanita Friday Market held 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Just three more markets left for the 2019 market season. Come enjoy the mouthwatering food while shopping for your weekly goodies! Live music by The Market Minstrels and Dina Blade.
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This year City Hall for All has something for everyone! All the action takes place on Saturday, October 12 at City Hall on 123 Fifth Ave. The event has four components: access to City services, Truck-a-palooza, Sustainability Fair, and the Sustainability Summit.
Access City Services on a Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m.
Once again this year community members will be able to access City services such as pet licensing, paying utility bills, and passport applications on a Saturday. Services will be available from 12 top 4 p.m. with the final passport applicant taken at 3:45 p.m. More information on applying for a passport is available on the City website.
Truck-a-palooza! 12 to 2 p.m.
Come down and see trucks! trucks! trucks! from 12 to 2 p.m. in the City Hall north parking lot. We'll have fire trucks, police vehicles, garbage trucks, plows, excavators, gators and more! Kids of all ages will have the opportunity to get a picture taken sitting on a fire engine, explore a police cruiser, and experience all types of City vehicles. There will be fun giveaways for the kids!
Sustainability Fair 1 to 4 p.m.
The Peter Kirk Room (off the south entrance of City Hall) will transform into a sustainability extravaganza from 1 to 4 p.m. We will have tips on all types of things you can do to make your home more sustainable---from solar panels to rain gardens to proper recycling techniques. Come and get information on how you might be able to access funds to build a rain garden or special financing for energy efficiency or solar projects. We'll also have a smorgasbord of FREE give-a-ways, including a bag of compost, courtesy of the City of Kirkland (while supplies last).
Sustainability Summit 2 to 5 p.m.
We want to hear from you! Join us for a continuation of the civic conversation on a range of topics related to sustainability. This highly interactive discussion will cover how to encourage students to bike, walk, and bus to school, environmental sustainability, and more. You can drop-in for one topic or stay for the entire time. This is a great opportunity to share your input in a casual environment on a multitude of issues that impact our community. If you attended the June Sustainability Forum or the July Sustainability Focus Groups, you can find out and provide feedback about what's next for the City’s Sustainability Master Plan. If you're interested in attending, please RSVP so that we can have enough materials for everyone.
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