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In the video below, Kirkland Fire Chief Joe Sanford explains how the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Ballot Measure would improve response times throughout the City by hiring 20 additional firefighter/EMTs. These additional 20 firefighter/EMTs would provide dedicated aid cars at Station 22 in Houghton and relocated Station 27 in Totem Lake, a third firefighter/EMT at new Station 24 in Juanita, and a fourth firefighter/EMT at Station 26 in Rose Hill.
Visit our website for more information about the Fire & Emergency Medical Services 2020 Ballot Measure.
Thanks to all who attended and gave comment during last night's virtual City Council meeting. The public is always welcome at Council meetings, which are a great way to have your voice heard while gaining a better understanding of how your City government operates.
For more information about Council meetings, including the Zoom link and instructions for providing public comment, please visit our City Council agenda webpage.
Here are a few highlights from last night's meeting:
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation
The City Council proclaimed October 2020 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Kirkland.
The purpose of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month is to promote an active community response against the scourge of domestic violence. LifeWire, the leading domestic violence agency in the state of Washington, encourages survivors, their loved ones, and concerned residents to learn more by calling the LifeWire Helpline at 425-746-1940, or visiting the website.
The proclamation was read by Councilmember Amy Falcone and received by LifeWire Board Member Theresa Anderson. To view the proclamation in its entirety, please visit our webpage.
Public Art for Fire Station 24
The City Council unanimously approved the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission’s recommendation that the City move forward with, The Sentinel, by Michael Clapper of Michael Clapper Studios, Denver, Colorado, which will be fabricated and installed as part of the construction of Fire Station 24.
The art is fashioned in the shape of a Maltese Cross, with material choices and colors that represent heat and fire. The sculpture uses LED lighting to provide a soft, white glow at night that changes to red when there’s an emergency call. The stainless steel portion of the sculpture is decorated with 24s that are laser cut into the steel, representative of both Fire Station 24 and the 24-hour watch of our first responders. The piece is 10-feet tall, nine feet wide and 20-inches in depth, and will be centered in a public plaza area near a highly used pedestrian pathway, for maximum exposure and enjoyment by the community.
Fabrication on the piece will begin in February with installation slated for fall of 2021.
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 Sustainability Master Plan Review
Staff provided a recap of the status of the draft Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) and noted that over 81 Council comments had been received since the draft plan was released. Staff asked for direction and feedback on several of the issues that Council and staff had previously flagged to resolve. Some of the issues highlighted were: funding for electric vehicle infrastructure, marking all intersections where bike lanes exist for safety, promoting connectivity in the City where traditional sidewalks are not feasible, incentivizing the construction of more high performing green buildings, and ensuring that the SMP has an annual progress report to Council along with a community sustainability summit to celebrate the Plan’s achievements and look toward the coming year’s implementation plan. Staff will take the direction given to make the necessary revisions to the draft SMP and present the revised version at a future Council meeting for potential adoption.
Visit the Sustainability Master Plan webpage for more information.
Last week Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold, Councilmember Amy Falcone, and Councilmember Jon Pascal took part in a tour of the Totem Lake Park site with City staff in order to review the progress and improvements that will be included during the construction. New amenities such as a future boardwalk, access to the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC), a playground, and restrooms are all part of the project.
We are excited for the continued progress at the site and can’t wait to welcome the community!
Learn more about the Totem Lake Master Plan and get updates on the project here.
During this time of pandemic-related restrictions, we are all having to transition a wide variety of activities from in-person to virtual interactions. Since we are unable to hold traditional in-person job fairs, the cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond and Renton are excited to collaborate with WorkSource Washington to host a virtual hiring event for Eastside Cities job seekers.
Pre-registration is required!
Click here to check out participating employers AND to register for the hiring event.
• Virtually explore full-time, part-time, seasonal and remote job opportunities with companies that are currently hiring
• "Talk" directly with recruiters via live text, video or audio-based chat
• Participate by logging in from any computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone
• There is no cost to attend this virtual hiring event
Registering for the Virtual Job Fair
You will have the option to upload a resume during the registration process so make sure you have an updated resume. Supported file types for resumes are PDF, Doc and Docx.
Once you are on the virtual job fair landing page, sign in with your name and email.
Then answer a few questions to register for the event - make sure you get all the way to the bottom and Submit your registration.
Get job search assistance at www.WorkSourceWa.com
Services available virtually include job search support, funding for job retraining, workshops and classes related to job preparation, connections to housing, childcare, transportation, food assistance and other support services and online training.
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The North and South Rose Hill Greenways Art Committee is asking for the community's help to enhance the City’s first two neighborhood greenways by participating in an online art-sparking event.
Community members are invited to provide feedback through this nine-question survey, which closes on Monday, November 2. The greenways art committee – made up of City staff, members of the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission and artist Kristi M. Park of BioDesign Studio – produced the video below to provide the public with some additional context.
Greenways are transportation corridors where walking and bicycling are the primary modes of travel, and driving is the alternative form. The City plans to begin construction spring 2021 on what will be its first two neighborhood greenways in a city-wide network of them. These first two walking and bicycling meccas are slated for South Rose Hill's Northeast 75th Street corridor and North Rose Hill's 128th Avenue Northeast corridor.
The committee looks forward to insight, opinions, feedback, and stories to help inform the development of public art to be included in the North and South Rose Hill Greenways project. To take the survey, click here.
By now you should have received your ballots for the November General Election! Have you cast your vote?
If you've signed the back of your envelope and are ready to turn in your ballot, there is a ballot drop box near the south entrance at Kirkland City Hall, located at 123 5th Ave., and another one at the Kingsgate Library, located at 12315 N.E. 143rd St. You can also drop your ballot into any United States Postal Service mailbox. Postage is not required to return your ballot.
For a complete list of ballot drop boxes in King County, visit the King County Elections webpage. If you're mailing your ballot, King County Elections recommends dropping it in the mail by the Friday, October 30, to make sure it gets postmarked in time to be counted.
While King County Elections encourages voters to take advantage of online voter registration, local ballot boxes and the opportunity to vote-by-mail, in-person Vote Centers are available to register new voters, update current voter records, obtain a voter registration card and to provide assistance to voters who need help completing their ballots. Trained staff and specialized equipment are available to help voters with disabilities cast a private, independent ballot.
Please note, Vote Centers are operating under limited hours, and the hours and days of operation vary depending on the location of the center. Those who do come to a Vote Center in person will be required to wear a face covering that covers their nose and mouth.
The closest Vote Centers to Kirkland are Bellevue and Kenmore. For a list of Vote Centers in King County, please visit the King County Elections webpage.
It’s not too late to register! The quickest way to register is online at VoteWa.gov. You’ll need your Washington State Driver’s License or ID. Online registration must be completed by October 26. You can also register by mail. Visit the Washington Secretary of State website for a multilingual list of Voter Registration Forms. King County Elections must receive your form in the mail by October 26!
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While it’s clear that this year poses many challenges for students and families across the Lake Washington School District, the Lake Washington Schools Foundation continues to adapt and innovate to ensure our community does more than survive, but thrive. The Lake Washington Schools Foundation is currently running their annual “All in for Kids” fundraising campaign. The success of this fundraiser will ensure that the Foundation can continue to meet the growing needs of the LWSD community. For more information about the All in for Kids campaign, visit: www.lwsf.org/allinforkids2020
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Totem Lake
Drivers should expect minor traffic delays until May on Willows Road Northeast. Kirkland’s contractor, Interwest Construction, is building a 1,900-foot-long and 11-foot-wide bicycle and pedestrian path along the road’s northbound lane. Interwest is planning in mid-December to close for two weeks Willows Road Northeast, just south of its intersection with 141st Avenue Northeast.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/willowsconnection
Houghton
Two of 108th Avenue Northeast’s three lanes remain open to people who are driving between Northeast 68th and Northeast 53rd streets.
Marshbank Construction has reduced some short sections to one lane of alternating traffic.
Marshbank Construction is replacing water and sewer 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.
Marshbank expects to complete the upgrades by the end of 2020 and to repave 108th Avenue Northeast in spring 2021.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer
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Studio East Presents: still i rise. Jest for Funds Auction
A live virtual event
Auction opens Wednesday, October 21
Event at 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday, October 24
You’re Invited to Studio East’s Annual Auction on October 24, 2020. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and 2020 is no different. Join Studio East for a virtual silent auction followed by a virtual, fun-filled live event complete with amazing entertainment from our Studio teens, a live auction and an opportunity to Raise your Virtual Paddle to help us reach our fundraising goal.
For more information about this event, visit the Studio East webpage.
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Kirkland Performance Center Presents: A Live Virtual Concert with Jerri Roberts
8 p.m., Wednesday, October 21
Online, virtual event
Jerri Roberts has been entertaining audiences across the Pacific Northwest since the age of thirteen. Playing such venues as The EMP Museum’s Sky Church, the Evergreen State Fair, Jazz Alley, and many of the wineries in her hometown of Woodinville, her big voice carries through them all.
As she breezes through Classic Rock and current Top 40 hits, you’re sure to hear a familiar favorite as she weaves with ease through her vast and diversified range of musical genres. She’ll also throw in a few surprises to the delight of her audience.
It’s about the voice and the chops. Jerri Roberts has them both!
This live performance can be seen on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch.
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Kirkland Parks & Community Services Presents: The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest
Entries due by Sunday, October 25
Virtual event
Create it, Carve it, Display it!
Kirkland Parks & Community Services is hosting the Great Pumpkin Carving Contest this month and it's FREE for all ages. Join the fun and get into the Halloween spirit by showing off your amazing pumpkin carving skills! Prizes include pie from Shari's and delicious coffee from 203° F Coffee.
Contest Rules:
1. Carve your pumpkin (pumpkins must be carved, but paint and other décor allowed).
2. Submit a photo of your carved pumpkin with your name and pumpkin title to: tharrison@kirklandwa.gov.
3. Only one entry per person.
4. Entries must be received by Sunday, October 25.
5. The public will vote for their favorite design on the Kirkland Parks & Community Services Facebook page on Monday, October 26 through Thursday, October 29. The top three designs with the most "Likes" will win!
6. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
7. Winners will be announced Friday, October 30!
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Kirkland Wednesday Market presented by the Kirkland Downtown Association
3 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday through October 28
Marina Park
Face masks are required to enter the market.
NOTE: Wednesday October 28 is Pumpkins in the Park!
The Kirkland Downtown Association Wednesday Market takes place 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/.
NOTE: The Kirkland Wednesday Market you have all come to know and love needs your support! Join the market as a volunteer and help the Kirkland Downtown Association bring this event to the community this summer!
Due to COVID-19, the KDA needs a slightly larger group of volunteers than in the past to ensure they are complying with current health department requirements.
Click here to sign up to be a volunteer!
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SAVE THE DATE: Extra yard waste FREE in November
November 2020
There are no fees for extra yard waste in November!
Help reduce the risk of localized flooding by clearing fall leaves from storm drains and streets. Use a rake to remove debris from your neighborhood storm drains and roadways. Dispose of leaves and branches in your gray yard waste cart. Extra yard waste is free throughout the month of November! Place in paper yard bags, reusable paper yard waste bag or container labeled “Yard” (65lb limit each). Plastic bags are not accepted.
For more information about surface water management in Kirkland, please visit our webpage.
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King County Elections
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Vote at a ballot box near you!
Ballots mailed on Wednesday, October 14. It’s not too late to register! Visit: https://voter.votewa.gov/WhereToVote.aspx today to register, update your registration and learn what’s on your ballot. If you have questions, email King County Elections at elections@kingcounty.gov or call 206-296-VOTE (8683).
Please visit the King County Elections website for questions!
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King County Library System Presents: Online Community Event: Ducks in a Row Estate Planning
4 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 17
Online, virtual event
For adults.
Many people think estate planning is only for the wealthy. Regardless of what we own, we all need an estate plan to determine who will pay bills, what will be done with personal belongings and who will be the heirs of property at the end of life. Attorney and estate planning specialist Elizabeth Jennings will cover probate and estate planning documents such as Durable Power of Attorney, Will and Revocable Living Trust.
Brought to you by the Kingsgate Library and People's Memorial Association.
Please register directly with People's Memorial Association.
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