The Kirkland City Council’s next “virtual” meeting takes place Tuesday, July 21. The meeting uses video conferencing technology provided by Zoom in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s order. The regular business meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and is preceded by a 5:30 p.m. study session.
The agenda for the July 21 meeting will be available on the City website prior to the meeting at: Kirkland City Council agendas. The meeting can be viewed in real time via the live stream on the City website at: http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/WatchCouncilMeetings.htm and is televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Frontier Cable Channel 31.
Here are a few highlights from the upcoming meeting:
Study Session:
The Study Session begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include a Special Joint Meeting with Planning Commission to discuss their 2020-2022 Planning Work Program and a presentation regarding the Northeast 85th Street Station Area Plan.
Business Meeting:
Resolution 5434 - Draft Safe, Welcoming and Inclusive Framework
The City Council will continue discussing a draft framework resolution that is intended to build on all the City's previous initiatives. The framework resolution that will be discussed by the Council is structured to keep City actions limited and focused so that goals and outcomes may be developed in partnership with Black community members from the Eastside. It is anticipated that the City Council will take final action on this item during their Tuesday, August 4 meeting.
Fire and Emergency Medical Services Ballot Measure
The City Council will make their final decision about placing the measure on the ballot during their meeting on Tuesday, July 21. More information on the process leading up to this decision is available on the City website.
Sustainability Master Plan Review
The City Council will review the draft Sustainability Master Plan and provide feedback to staff that will be incorporated into a final version that can be adopted at a future Council meeting.
In January 2019, the City embarked on the development of a Sustainability Master Plan, which is included in the 2019-2020 City Work Program and is intended to identify best practices that allow Kirkland’s many sustainability strategies to be implemented and measured, along with new actions needed to achieve a livable and sustainable community. More information on this project is available on the City website.
Public Participation
As always, the Kirkland City Council welcomes public involvement at its meetings and would like to encourage community members to take advantage of its available options for remote participation. Comments can be provided through Zoom, voicemail at: 425-587-3090, and email at: councilmeetingcomment@kirklandwa.gov. Voicemail and email comments must be provided by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 21.
For issues that are not quasi-judicial or set for a public hearing:
- Three minutes per comment, no more than three speakers per side of an issue
- The City Manager will no longer read emails received by the City Councilmembers during the Council meeting. Emails that are submitted will be provided to, and read, by the City Council.
- Speakers will be prioritized in this order: (1) ZOOM video; (2) ZOOM audio; (3) voicemail messages left with the City by 3 p.m. on July 21; and (4) emails with attachments that include audio or video that can be displayed
Community members may attend the meeting via Zoom. Instructions to participate via Zoom will be provided on the City Council webpage prior to the meeting. For more information about the Kirkland City Council, please visit the Council webpage.
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Kirkland community members and visitors are being asked to allow seniors and those in high risk categories to have priority use at five Kirkland Parks every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. starting Monday, July 20 through Labor Day.
Senior hours will be offered at Juanita Bay, 132nd Square Park, Everest Park, Edith Moulton Park and Spinney Homestead Park. These priority hours are intended to create an opportunity to those particularly susceptible to the effects of COVID-19 to participate in important outdoor activity during this challenging time.
“We are all experiencing the additional stress of living in such challenging times, and we know that being outdoors is very beneficial to maintaining good mental and physical health,” said Councilmember Kelli Curtis. “Setting aside these special hours for our most vulnerable populations is one thing we can do to help make sure that all of our community members feel comfortable getting outside and staying active.”
Signage will be posted at the applicable parks asking community members to respect the priority hours for seniors and those in high risk categories.
For more information on the efforts Kirkland Parks and Community Services is taking to keep our community safe and active during the pandemic, please visit the Play it Safe webpage.
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We wanted to share an update on the Juanita Beach Bathhouse and Pavilion project.
The project experienced an unfortunate delay as some “long lead” materials were delivered that were defective from the manufacturer. These materials were a critical path item which meant that their delay affected the project schedule. While this took a month to resolve, we are happy to report that it is resolved and the City project team and the contractor are working diligently to recover the schedule to the extent feasible.
Park goers will see that both the Bathhouse and the Pavilions are now covered with cross-laminated timber, a sustainable product that not only provides structural integrity to the buildings, but also provides a pleasing aesthetic.
The next big change in the project area will be the installation of an accessible and inclusive playground which will be situated between the new Bathhouse and the two picnic pavilions. Its installation is scheduled to begin within the next week.
Thank you all for your patience as we continue our work on this project. We can’t wait to enjoy it with you and your family. For more information on this project, please visit the City website.
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The City of Kirkland today published its online biennial Community Survey to gauge community attitudes about the quality of life in Kirkland, satisfaction with City government services, and priorities for the future.
A phone version of the community survey was recently administered to a statistically valid, random sample of Kirkland residents.
All Kirkland community members, whether they live, work, learn, or visit Kirkland, are encouraged to take the online survey, accessible by visiting: Kirkland Community Survey.
For over a decade, the City has conducted a version of this survey every two years as part of its budget process. The results from both the online survey and the phone survey will be presented to the City Council in the coming months. The results will inform the Council about the community’s sentiments on various issues in Kirkland in preparation for the Council’s adoption of their 2021-2022 biennial budget later this fall.
“The City of Kirkland has a strong history of valuing input from our community and relying on feedback to help guide our decisions,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “Like so many other municipalities, the COVID-19 pandemic has had major impacts on the City’s budget. The Council needs to hear from our community about what they value and how they feel about Kirkland as we look ahead to some of the hard choices confronting us in our next budget.”
The online survey will close at 12 pm on July 29, 2020. Results of past surveys can be found on the City’s website.
Midnight to 5 a.m. closure is one of multiple safety enhancements being implemented by the City
As part of a series of safety upgrades to the library parking garage, the City will begin closing and locking the garage every night from midnight to 5 a.m. beginning on Friday, July 17, 2020.
All vehicle and pedestrian doors will be locked at midnight every night and will reopen at 5 a.m. the next day. There will not be an after-closure vehicle release service.
Since the garage was first built there has been an increasing number of undesirable and unsafe behaviors in the garage, including overnight camping, unsanitary actions, graffiti, vandalism, and crimes against people and property. The garage will be checked each night before the closure to ensure there are no unwanted activities occurring before the doors are locked. The closure will also give staff the opportunity to complete routine cleaning and repairs.
“These closures, and other safety improvements to the garage, are being made after careful consideration for the parking needs of community members and downtown businesses,” said Interim Public Works Director Julie Underwood. “The improvements will help ensure that visitors to the garage have a safe and positive experience.”
Nightly closures of the garage are one of the multiple safety improvements that have recently been implemented by the City in response to safety concerns from community members. In addition to improvements to allow for the nightly closures, the City has updated older security cameras and installed additional cameras. The closures will also allow the City to complete daily cleaning of the elevator and weekly cleaning of the stairwells. Additionally, after the closures begin, large and highly visible panic buttons will be installed.
When downtown traffic begins to return to normal, the City anticipates working with contractor Diamond Parking to have a staff member onsite to monitor the garage in the evenings, and to provide helpful information to visitors.
Downtown employees who work later than midnight can access the Wester lot at 120-3rd Avenue when using a free window decal obtained from the City. Downtown employees can obtain the decal by calling (425) 587-3867.
More information about parking for the general public is available on the City website.
If you have questions or suggestions about these changes, please call or write John Starbard at (425) 587-3911 or jstarbard@kirklandwa.gov.
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Parking enforcement, paid parking and the Downtown Employee Parking Program will all restart in downtown Kirkland on Friday, July 17.
With King County entering Phase II of the Governor’s Safe Start plan, Kirkland is seeing more visitors returning to our downtown to work, shop and play. This means on-street parking, surface parking lots and the downtown parking garage are once again filling up with people’s cars. In order to manage the growing parking demand, the City will be restarting parking enforcement, paid parking and the Downtown Employee Parking Program, all three of which had been suspended to support businesses during the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, which ended on May 31, 2020.
In order to make sure that parking is available for patrons of downtown businesses, the City will be restarting enforcement of time limits throughout downtown, as well as restarting paid parking in the Lakeshore Parking Lot at Marina Park and the Lake and Central Parking Lot. Parking time limits have been enforced in the Lakeshore Parking Lot at Marina Park for approximately the last month. The City also wants to help ensure that employee parking is available for people working in the central business district, so the City will be restarting the downtown employee parking program. This program provides designated parking areas for employees working in the central business district.
For more information on downtown parking or the Downtown Employee Parking Program visit the Parking page on the City of Kirkland’s website.
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Closure allows City to install fish-friendly box culvert at Cedar Creek
A short section of 100th Avenue Northeast will close just south of its intersection with Simonds Road for up to three weeks, starting July 22.
The all-day, all-night closure allows Kirkland’s contractor to replace the three-decade-old Cedar Creek culvert with a new 10-foot-wide, by eight-foot-tall concrete box culvert. The new culvert will open nearly a mile of upstream habitat to trout, Coho and other salmon. It will also provide enough space for the 100th Avenue Northeast Roadway Improvement Project. This future project will add two more automotive lanes, sidewalks and sidewalk-level bicycle lanes on both sides of the street between Northeast 139th and 145th streets.
The City is strongly encouraging commuters to use the official detour route—Northeast 145th Street, Juanita-Woodinville Road—while 100th Avenue Northeast is closed.
Kirkland is promoting the detour route on the electronic reader boards, in the project flyer and on a pair of community signs its staff installed at the project’s limits. Additionally, Kirkland’s staff members will monitor the area during the closure, and if patrol emphasis is warranted, they will coordinate with the police department.
“The work being done on this project will help protect our native fish populations while giving us the ability to make transportation improvements that will benefit community members that walk, bicycle and drive,” said Interim Public Works Director Julie Underwood. “However, we know that this work will create traffic complications for commuters and for neighboring residents. Please plan for extra time and utilize the detour route so that we can finish this work efficiently and with as minimal impact as possible on adjacent community members.”
Kirkland’s contractor, Interwest Construction, is currently preparing the site for the box culvert. The contractor’s crews will primarily work from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To expedite the culvert’s installation, and thus minimize the length of the road closure, its crews will work until 8 p.m. and on some weekends.
Later in the fall, the City will hire a contractor to build the sidewalks, bicycle lanes and the extra two vehicle lanes, as well as the rest of 100th Avenue Northeast’s first phase elements. Those include increasing automotive capacity at 100th Avenue Northeast’s intersection with Simonds Road.
For more information, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign or contact Project Manager Debbie Cook, (505) 803-0140, dcook@kirklandwa.gov; or Senior Outreach Coordinator Christian Knight, cknight@kirklandwa.gov, (425) 587-3831.
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Amnesty begins on July 15, but individuals can contact the court now to set up payment arrangements
For the 30 days starting Wednesday, July 15, collection fees on outstanding tickets and fines with the Kirkland Municipal Court will not have to be paid.
If you have an outstanding ticket or fine that has accrued collection fees, now is the time to contact the Kirkland Municipal Court to avoid paying those fees. For the next 30-days, anyone that contacts the Court to pay a ticket or fine, or make payment arrangements, will avoid any and all previously accrued collection fees. Individuals with tickets or fines will only be responsible for paying the original amount that was turned over to collections during this amnesty window.
The Court is in the process of transition collection services from Alliance One to Linebarger. If individuals owing collections fees don’t contact the Court before the 30-day amnesty program is over their accounts will be turned over to Linebarger and collection fees will start to accrue once again.
You may call the Court at 1-844-546-9366 or go online www.Kirklandpay.com to make payments. If you mail payment or use the drop box just outside the front door, then make your check or money order payable to the "Kirkland Municipal Court" and include your citation number in the memo section of your draft. You may also call the court front counter at 425-587-3160, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to make a credit card payment.
The City of Kirkland is recruiting residents to volunteer to serve on the Planning Commission.
The City of Kirkland is looking for an applicant to fill one vacancy on the Commission. While the city just finished our annual recruitment for Boards and Commissions, the Council’s selected alternate was not able to fill the position at this time.
The Planning Commission is currently meeting virtually in light of COVID-19. The Planning Commission advises the City Council on all matters relating to the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan and land use regulations.
Currently, the Planning Commission is working diligently on the Planning Work Program for 2020-2022, among other important topics.
This Commission is made up of seven members who serve four-year terms (and can serve up to (2) four-year terms). The Commission meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m. Since the current vacancy occurred in the middle of the term, the new appointee will still be able to serve an additional (2) four-year terms if desired. This particular term ends on 3/31/21.
The deadline to apply is Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4 p.m. Applications should be sent to the City Clerk at Kanderson@kirklandwa.gov. For more information and to apply, visit us on our Current Recruitment page.
More information on the Planning Commission is available on the City website.
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City of Kirkland maintenance staff will mow and clear brush along the Cross Kirkland Corridor next week, starting at the south end of the corridor and working northward to Northeast 124th Street in Totem Lake. Crews will work between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24. The trail will remain open to the public, although trail users may encounter temporary delays as crews coordinate people passing safely. |
100th Avenue Northeast Closure
A short section of 100th Avenue Northeast will close just south of its intersection with Simonds Road for up to three weeks, starting July 22.
The all-day, all-night closure allows Kirkland’s contractor to replace the three-decade-old Cedar Creek culvert with a new 10-foot-wide, by eight-foot-tall concrete box culvert.
The new culvert will open nearly a mile of upstream habitat to trout, Coho and other salmon. It will also provide enough space for the 100th Avenue Northeast Roadway Improvement Project.
This future project will add two more automotive lanes, sidewalks and sidewalk-level bicycle lanes on both sides of the street between Northeast 139th and 145th streets.
The City is strongly encouraging commuters to use the official detour route—Northeast 145th Street, Juanita-Woodinville Road—while 100th Avenue Northeast is closed.
Kirkland is promoting the detour route on the electronic reader boards, in the project flyer and on a pair of community signs its staff installed at the project’s limits. Additionally, Kirkland’s staff members will monitor the area during the closure, and if patrol emphasis is warranted, they will coordinate with the police department.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign
Cross Kirkland Corridor Mowing
City of Kirkland maintenance staff will mow and clear brush along the Cross Kirkland Corridor next week, starting at the south end of the corridor and working northward to Northeast 124th Street in Totem Lake. Crews will work between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24. The trail will remain open to the public, although trail users may encounter temporary delays as crews coordinate people passing safely.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/ckc
Neighborhood Safety Program
Drivers should expect minor traffic delays at six locations this month while Kirkland’s contractor implements the 2019 Neighborhood Safety Program. NPM Construction is improving safety on Houghton’s 108th Avenue Northeast, Lakeview’s Lakeview Drive, North Rose Hill’s Slater Avenue, Norkirk’s Northeast 87th Street, Juanita’s Northeast 120th Street, and Kingsgate’s Northeast 132nd Street.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/nsp
Totem Lake
Drivers will continue to have access to one northbound and one southbound lane on Totem Lake Boulevard between Northeast 124th Street and 120th Avenue Northeast until September, when Kirkland’s contractor expects to complete the Totem Lake Gateway project.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakegateway or www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlake
108th Avenue Northeast
Drivers should continue to expect minor traffic impacts this month on 108th Avenue Northeast while a Kirkland contractor upgrades an aging water and sewer main along the north-to-south arterial.
Marshbank Construction is replacing the two systems—both more than five decades old—to increase their capacities to serve Kirkland’s growing population and to reduce the systems’ needs for maintenance.
That need is most urgent in the sewer line, which runs from Northeast 68th Street to Northeast 53rd Street. Settling soil has created a sag in the sewer line, allowing sewage to accumulate there and requiring maintenance crews to periodically flush the line.
The contractor is also replacing the water main between Northeast 68th and 60th streets.
Marshbank expects to complete the upgrades by spring of 2021.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer
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Kirkland Wednesday Market presented by the Kirkland Downtown Association
3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through September 23
Marina Park
Face masks are required to enter the market.
The Kirkland Downtown Association Wednesday Market opens Wednesday, June 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. in Marina Park. Please see the new market rules. If possible, please order from market vendors in advance. More information about the Wednesday Market is available at http://kirklandmarket.org/
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Juanita Friday Market
3 to 7 p.m., every Friday through September 25, 2020
Juanita Beach Park
Face masks are required to enter the market.
Please allow for extra time as Public Health Seattle & King County is limiting the number of customers allowed in the market at any given time. Thank you for your patience! There are big changes this year so before you go, be sure to pre-order your purchases, check-out the drive-thru plans, and see how we'll be handling health & safety issues. And while we'd love to see everyone, if you're in a high-risk group please stay home and send a friend to do your shopping.
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Household Goods and Electronics Recycling Event hosted by Waste Management
Northshore Community Church, 10301 NE 145th ST (parking lot across street)
Saturday July 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Accepted items: clothing/linens, reusable household goods (book, dishware, games), electronics (computers, TVs, printers, DVD players, etc.). For more event details check out www.wmnorthwest.com/kirkland.
Event safety procedures: please wear a mask and stay in your vehicle unless directed otherwise.
Check out all of the Safer Summer Recycling Events on our flyer.
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King County Library System presents: I Got My AncestryDNA Results! Now What?
3 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21
Online, virtual event
Presented by Jill Morelli, CG
Using her own data on AncestryDNA, Jill will step-by-step explore the front page of her DNA results, discussing ethnicity, shared matches, Thrulines, their frailties and how they can be used effectively. Other techniques for maximizing your results will be discussed, including sharing your results with other testing companies.This is a live demonstration. Feel free to follow along with your own data (optional)!
Brought to you by the Kingsgate Library.
Registration required by 10 a.m. on July 20.
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Safer Block Styrofoam Recycling Event
North Kirkland Community Center (12421 103rd Avenue NE)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 25
Accepted materials: white block Styrofoam (e.g. coolers and packing blocks). All tape and labels must be removed before the event. Materials must be clean and dry. Get more details.
Event safety procedures: please wear a mask and stay in your vehicle until it is your turn to unload.
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Kirkland Arts Center presents Speak Up
Artists Call
Deadline: July 31, 2020
Speak Up is a digital exhibition that welcomes any form of artwork that addresses equality and equity in our current political climate. In creating a digital space for artists to show their work that connects to equality and equity, Kirkland Arts Center as an organization and a community hopes to learn, listen, and support artists that have been silenced by an oppressive system. We hope to spark important dialogues within this vast, intersectional topic and foster a sense of empathy within the arts and beyond. Visit the KAC Facebook page for more information!
Details:
All mediums and artists welcome!
Submit up to 3 pieces.
Your Instagram account must be public - and be certain you’ve tagged us, so we don’t miss your submission!
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