The Kirkland City Council’s next “virtual” meeting takes place Tuesday, September 15. The meeting uses video conferencing technology provided by Zoom in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s Safe Start plan to reopen Washington. 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 September 15 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 and is televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Ziply Cable Channel 31.

Here are a few highlights from the upcoming meeting:

Eastside Welcoming Week Proclamation

Mayor Sweet will join the mayors of Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond and Sammamish in proclaiming September 18 through September 27, 2020 as Eastside Welcoming Week.

The Mayor has proclaimed Eastside Welcoming Week alongside other Eastside cities since 2016. Eastside Welcoming Week is part of national Welcoming Week, created by the organization Welcoming America. The cities of Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond and Sammamish are joining communities across the country in exploring ways to capitalize on diversity as an asset and striving to create a culture and policies that ensure everyone can belong and thrive by addressing disparities, countering hate, understanding history, and helping neighbors come together.

In recognition of Welcoming Week, the City is joining other Eastside cities in co-sponsoring a virtual summit to explore historical legacies and learn about local anti-racism efforts. Titled “Bridging History and Story: Building the Next Chapter for Racial Equity”, the virtual summit will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 26th, 2020. This community event is hosted by Eastside For All and the Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition. Event registration information will be posted to the City’s website, and community members are encouraged to attend and learn more about ways they can commit to helping make Kirkland a welcoming place where all people belong.

COVID-19 Update

The City Manager will provide an update on the City’s response to COVID-19.

Update on R-5434 

The City Council will receive an update on the implementation of R-5434: AFFIRMING THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER AND APPROVING THE FRAMEWORK FOR KIRKLAND TO BECOME A SAFE, INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY THROUGH ACTIONS TO IMPROVE THE
SAFETY AND RESPECT OF BLACK PEOPLE IN KIRKLAND AND END
STRUCTURAL RACISM BY PARTNERING WITH THOSE MOST AFFECTED

Council to Consider Approving Market, Norkirk, and Highlands Neighborhood Plans and the Market Street Corridor Plan chapters of the Comprehensive Plan

City Council will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve updates to the Market, Norkirk, and Highlands Neighborhood Plans and the Market Street Corridor Plan chapters of the Comprehensive Plan. Since January of 2019, the city and the neighborhoods conducted an active public outreach process to update the vision statements and policies to be sure they still met the objectives for future growth of their neighborhoods. Final adoption will be at the end of 2020. Neighborhood Plans within the city are updated on an eight-year cycle. Draft plans are 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. Community members are welcome to attend the meeting via Zoom. Instructions to participate via Zoom are provided on the City Council webpage prior to the meeting.

Comments may be provided through voicemail (425) 587-3090 or email councilmeetingcomment@kirklandwa.gov  or live via the Zoom link provided on the agenda. Voicemail and email comments (including audio/video clips) submitted by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting will be provided to Council before the meeting. Comments received on these accounts after 3 p.m. will be provided to the Council the following day.  Copies of all comments will be placed in the meeting packet file. 

Council will accept live spoken commentary under 'Items from the Audience' or ‘Public Hearings’ at regular meetings via Zoom audio/video on a computer or telephone connection.  The connection links are provided on each individual meeting agenda. Comments will be subject to the Council protocols mentioned above. Please call (425) 587-3190 and leave a message before 5 p.m. on the day of the Council meeting with any questions; City Clerk's Office staff will endeavor to return your call. 

For more information about the Kirkland City Council, please visit the Council webpage.

Effectively immediately, the Kirkland Fire Department is issuing a safety burn ban.

This ban includes all wood burning including fireplaces and fire pits. Gas/propane and charcoal grills are permitted.

“This ban will be in place until further notice due to the extremely dry, hot and breezy weather conditions we are experiencing,” said Fire Marshal Mark Jung.  

This weather pattern is expected to continue through the week. The Kirkland Fire Department will reevaluate conditions and adjust the ban if weather conditions improve. We are experiencing haze and smoke throughout the region. Air quality is currently poor due to smoke from Eastern Washington wildfires. You can check air quality for your area at https://www.airnow.gov.

Adults, 18-years and older, are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt through Kirkland’s treasured past with chances to win $1000 worth of prizes.

This month-long citywide quest requires solving weekly clues to discover letters that you will later unscramble into a winning phrase. Participants will submit their correct final answer to be entered into a drawing for prizes that include a night at the Woodmark Hotel in a Lakeside Room for two, and gift cards to the following businesses:

• Acropolis Pizza and Pasta 
• Burgermaster 
• Café Veloce 
• Carillon Kitchen
• Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Deru Market
• George’s
• Lynn’s Bistro
• Nick’s Grill
• Pizza Bank 
• Volterra
• The Game Neighborhood Grill & Bar
• The Slip
• Denny’s Pet World

To play in the “Kirkland’s Treasured Past” scavenger hunt visit kirklandparks.net to register and pay a $5 entry fee.

Are you or someone you know looking for a great government job with excellent benefits?  Public Works is hiring multiple positions in maintenance.  The utility person performs manual labor for maintenance of the City’s water, sewer, streets, and storm drainage system.  100% paid medical/dental/vision premiums for employee and dependents, paid vacation and sick leave, many more benefits.  Start at $25.10 per hour with seasonal overtime typically available.  Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/jobs to learn more and apply.  Come join our team!

Looking to elevate your small business? Startup425 has partnered with Bellevue College’s Tombolo Institute to offer the Innovation Lab, a free intensive, seven-week program designed to help existing Eastside businesses that have advanced beyond the pre-revenue stage acquire new knowledge and adapt to the changed economic environment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include: Becoming an Entrepreneur; Product, Channel, Price; and Accounting & Finance. This exciting new program is the first of its kind on the Eastside and will run October 1 through November 12, 2020.

We know Eastside businesses are struggling due to COVID-19, so Startup425 is underwriting this year’s program: there will be no tuition or fees charged to participating businesses. Space is limited and admission is selective. Applications will be accepted through September 25, 2020. https://www.tomboloinstitute.com/courses/uncategorized/innovation-lab/