The City Council discussed a number of important issues during their September 15 meeting. You can watch the meeting in its entirety on the City website. A few of the highlights from the meeting can be found below:

Eastside Welcoming Week Proclamation

The City of Kirkland once again proclaimed Welcoming Week in Kirkland. Since 2016, the City has been proclaiming Welcoming Week as part of the Welcoming America initiative. This year, the City of Kirkland, alongside the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Issaquah, and Sammamish, is co-sponsoring an Eastside race and equity summit, Bridging History and Story: Building the Next Chapter for Racial Equity. This virtual community summit is presented by the Eastside Race and Leadership Coalition and Eastside For All and will explore historical legacies and learn about local anti-racism efforts. What stories will connect, sustain, and guide us into our next chapter? What actions can we commit to taking within our community circles?

All community members are invited to attend this free event. High school age and up. Please register here: Eastside Race and Equity Summit. The event will feature keynote speaker, Delbert Richardson. The event will also include small group conversations, resources for taking action, and performances by Ocheami, a group of artists and educators who share and perform West African culture to support healthy perspectives of life. For additional information or accommodations request, please contact eastsideraceandleadership@gmail.com or call 425-452-7886. Please Note: Except for the small group conversations, the event will be recorded.

COVID-19 UPDATE

City Manager Kurt Triplett provided an update on the City’s COVID-19 response in regard to park operations. Recently, the City reopened the Houghton Beach parking lot and dock. The City is also considering re-opening playgrounds as earlier as Monday. If playgrounds reopen, safety signage will be prevalent, masks will be required, and visitors will be asked to limit gatherings to ten people or less. If problems such as large gatherings or failure to comply with mask requirements become common,  then the City would consider closing those amenities again. Lastly, the City will be utilizing CARES Act funds to continue the park ambassador program through the end of September. The park ambassador program is currently on-hold due to air quality but will be back reactivated when air quality improves.

The City Manager also briefly discussed the status of the allocation of the $2.67 million in CARES Act funding the City had received. At an earlier City Council meeting, the Council had decided to allocate the funding in approximately equal portions to City operations, business relief and human services programs. The City is currently in the application period for the Kirkland CARES Small Business Relief Fund program. This grant program is for businesses with 25 employees or less that have had significant financial impacts due to Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy orders earlier this year. The deadline for applying to the program is September 16 at 5 p.m. Recently, the City received an additional $1.3 million in CARES Act funding. The City is currently discussing how to use these funds to support the local business community. The City is also in the process of distributing funds to human service agencies serving Kirkland community members. To-date approximately $315,000 has been provided directly for rental assistance. The City has also provided $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club and other childcare type programs. The City Manager will provide a more in-depth update on human services funding during the October 6 City Council meeting.

RESOLUTION 5434: Affirming that Black Lives Matter and Approving the Framework for Kirkland to Become a Safe, Inclusive and Welcoming Community

Assistant City Manager Jim Lopez provided an update on the implementation of R-5434. The City is moving forward with implementation including activating the City’s Management Analyst to begin researching best practices that have been utilized by other cities that have undertaken similar initiatives. The City is also looking to recruit a temporary Special Projects Coordinator to support community engagement around this initiative. This position is expected to be posted this week. The City is also continuing to working closely with the Right to Breathe Committee and the Welcoming Kirkland initiative on designing the community engagement process.

We are pleased to announce that construction is progressing nicely on Totem Lake Park. Workers are in the process of completing the construction of a new restroom and a 10 foot trail that will lead from the boardwalk to across Totem Lake and then connect with the Cross Kirkland Corridor. This project will also include a new playground, picnic opportunities and an overlook. We look forward to joining you at an event in the summer of  June 2021 to enjoy all of the new recreational opportunities this project will provide for the Kirkland community.

Today is the final day to apply for the City of Kirkland, Kirkland Cares Small Business Relief grants for small businesses and nonprofits that were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020 (April 1 to June 30).

The grants provided through the Kirkland CARES Small Business Relief Fund do not need to be repaid. Awardees can use grant funds for rent, utilities and normal operating costs and expenses. Applications will be available on Wednesday, August 26 at the Kirkland CARES Small Business Relief Fund webpage.

To receive a grant, for-profit or nonprofit businesses must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Small businesses must be located in Kirkland (including home based businesses) with a current and active Unified Business Identification Number (UBI) and City of Kirkland business license endorsement;2. Small businesses must have 25 or fewer full-time equivalent employees as of April 1, 2020;3. Small businesses must demonstrate a minimum 25% reduction in gross revenues (including a reduction of at least $5,000) due to negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during the second quarter of 2020 (April 1 to June 30);

4. Small businesses must demonstrate a minimum of $5,000 of normal operating costs and expenses (as specified as eligible under the grant agreement) during the qualified period (second quarter of 2020, April 1 to June 30); and

5. Small businesses must not be involved in the production, processing, promotion, distribution, or sale (wholesale or retail) of marijuana and cannabinoid products, concentrates, or extracts; and

6. Small businesses must meet all other eligibility requirements specified in the grant agreement.

More information on eligible expenses, ineligible expenses and restrictions on use of grant funds is located on the Kirkland CARES Small Business Relief Fund page on the City website.

The City will accept applications through 5 p.m., September 16. If the City receives more than 150 qualified applications, the awardees will be randomly selected through a lottery. The City will announce awards as applicants are confirmed.

The City of Kirkland is launching a Shop Local Kirkland initiative to support our local economy and help our businesses prosper during WA State’s Safe Start Plan and beyond. To ensure the initiative is relevant and successful, we are seeking businesses to participate in the initiative’s soft launch starting immediately. Together, we will work to design, build, and promote a vibrant, hyper-local economy.

Shop Local Kirkland will support businesses with ecommerce solutions and function as a “digital main street,” where Kirkland businesses can be found and can sell online. A vigorous marketing campaign will drive commerce through the platform, keeping dollars in the community and providing vital revenue to Kirkland businesses.

If you are interested and willing to participate in Shop Local Kirkland’s soft launch, sign your business up by visiting: www.shoplocalkirkland.com

Questions? Please email Martha Chaudhry at: mchaudhry@kirklandwa.gov

The Salary Commission is holding a meeting at 5 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2020 to receive public input and discuss possible adjustments to the salaries of the Mayor and Council Members. The meeting will be conducted via Zoom. Members of the public can also call in Toll Free at 1-888-475-4499.

Zoom information:

Meeting ID: 955 4747 3461

Passcode: 357600

Click here to join the meeting via Zoom. 

Public comment may be given at the meeting or may be submitted in writing to: Salary Commission c/o City Attorney’s Office at 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland, WA 98033 or email kraymond@kirklandwa.gov prior to 5 p.m. on September 21, 2020.

For more information on the Salary Commission visit our Salary Commission webpage.  

With just a few weeks left, and many more people still left to be counted across Washington, we are asking YOU to complete the census.

The 2020 Census is our opportunity and our right to complete.

Together, we can make sure our communities and families get the resources we need for things like housing, education, healthcare, and transportation.

You can complete your census online at 2020Census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020, or if an official census worker visits your home.