Upcoming Council Highlights | Needed: Toys and Food | Welcoming Kirkland | Wind Energy | Traffic Alerts | Shop Local Pledge

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this week in kirkland

December 3, 2020

city of kirkland washington

Coming up at Council

City Council

The Kirkland City Council’s next “virtual” meeting takes place Tuesday, December 8. 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 December 8 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 Ziply Cable Channel 31.

Here are a few highlights from the upcoming meeting:

Solid Waste Contract and Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Siting

The study session at 5:30 p.m. will include a briefing on the status of the procurement of a new contract for garbage, recyclables and compostables collection. The City of Kirkland contracts with Waste Management (WMI) for the collection of residential and commercial solid waste and has done so continuously for over three decades.  The City Council will also receive a presentation from King County Solid Waste Division project managers on the status of the siting of the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station.

2021-2022 City Budget and 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Program

At the regular meeting that starts at 7:30 p.m., the City Council will consider adoption of the 2021-20222 Budget and the 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Program. The 2021-2022 Preliminary Budget, “Investing in a More Equitable, Safe and Resilient Kirkland,” was presented to the Kirkland City Council on October 27, 2020 and is available on the City’s website. Kirkland’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds the City's capital needs related to transportation, parks, technology, water, sewer and surface water over a six-year period.  The 2021-2026 CIP was originally presented to the City Council on June 16, 2020.  

Sustainability Master Plan

The City Council will consider adoption of the City’s first Sustainability Master Plan. The plan has been in development since January 2019 and is intended to identify best practices that allow Kirkland’s many sustainability strategies to be implemented and measured, along with other actions needed to achieve a livable and sustainable community. 

Also happening in the December 8 Council Meeting:

  • The City Council will receive an update on COVID-19 including a CARES Act final report and the COVID-19 initial response after action report.
  • The City Council will receive an update on Resolution R-5434 which is the City’s commitment to several actions related to examining and dismantling institutional and structural racism in Kirkland.

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. Speakers are asked to limit their remarks to three minutes apiece, and no more than three speakers may address the Council on any one subject. However, if both proponents and opponents wish to speak, then up to three proponents and up to three opponents of the matter may address the Council. Zoom audience members will be alerted to ‘raise their hand’ virtually if they wish to address the Council at the appropriate time in the meeting. Written comments can be submitted to CityCouncil@kirklandwa.gov.

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.

Welcoming Kirkland Initiative Report to the Community Completed

Welcoming Kirkland

A report culminating nearly two years of community engagement and policy analysis to bridge gaps in equity and inclusivity for People of Color, called the Welcoming Kirkland Initiative (WKI), has been completed and is available for review on the City of Kirkland website. The initiative was developed to address issues that were identified in a 2018 incident at a Menchie's in Totem Lake which highlighted concerns that People of Color in general, and Black people, in particular, have lived experiences of an unwelcoming and inequitable community in contrast to the City’s stated goal to be safe, inclusive and welcoming for all.

In response to the 2018 incident, the Kirkland Police Department immediately changed its protocol addressing “unwanted person” calls. The City also partnered with Leadership Eastside (LE) to reevaluate and make recommendations for policy and protocols, and to implement community learning about racism and equity. The WKI planning and workgroups included more than 20 diverse leaders, representing a variety of public needs including the Kirkland Assistant City Manager and Kirkland Police Chief. Community talks included topics such as Preparing to be Color Conscious and Color Brave, which brought nearly 100 attendees. The community talk series was cut short in March due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Find the full news release at www.kirklandwa.gov/newsroom

Take the Shop Local Pledge! Support Local Businesses by Shopping on ShopLocalKirkland.com

Calling all Kirkland residents!

This season, support our businesses and take the Shop Local Pledge! The Shop Local Pledge is a commitment to purchase at least one gift or item via the ShopLocalKirkland.com website, Kirkland’s new Digital Mainstreet. ShopLocalKirkland.com showcases the unique and inspiring offerings and services of more than 200 Kirkland-based businesses and counting. This one-stop-local-shop has an incredible array of gifts, services and products offered right here in Kirkland to suit anyone on your list this year. Many businesses offer contactless pickup and delivery options to keep you safe while supporting Kirkland’s business community.

If you are out and about in our City you might be approached (at a safe distance) by one of the Shop Local team members asking if you’d be willing to take the Shop Local Pledge on camera! Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold did! We invite you to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see your friends and neighbors Take the Pledge, and share the initiative with your own networks.

Ready to take the pledge? Visit ShopLocalKirkland.com and start shopping!  

DM Arnold

Kirkland Firefighters Collect Toys and Food in Annual Holiday Drives

Kirkland firefighters will be collecting toys and donations to support King County Toys for Tots from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, at 8525 120th Ave. N.E. just south of the Kirkland Costco. This is an annual KFD tradition to support children in need during the holiday season. This event is coordinated by Coldwell Banker Bain of Kirkland, with support from the Kirkland Fire Department, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Lee Johnson Auto Family Group of Kirkland.

Firefighters will accept new, unwrapped gifts and monetary donations. Last year, this event raised over $4,000 on its first day!

This is Coldwell Banker Bain's eighth consecutive year coordinating this holiday toy drive to support Toys for Tots. For online donations, visit: PayPal Donations to support King County Toys for Tots

KFD Toys

If you're not able to make it to Costco over the weekend, you can still give! The Kirkland Fire Department is hosting its annual food and toy drive to support Hopelink, a local nonprofit that serves low-income families, children, seniors and people with disabilities in our region. Donations of new, unwrapped gifts and non-perishable food items are accepted at the following fire stations from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday, from now through December 31:

  • Fire Station 21/Forbes Creek, 9816 Forbes Creek Drive
  • Fire Station 22/Houghton, 6602 108 Ave NE
  • Fire Station 25/Holmes Point, 12033 76 Place NE
  • Fire Station 26/Rose Hill, 9930 124th Ave NE
  • Fire Station 27/Totem Lake, 11210 NE 132nd Street

Thank you for your continued support over the years to make these toy and food drives hugely successful! 

City of Kirkland Now Receiving Renewable Energy from the Skookumchuck Wind Facility

Wind energy

On December 1, Puget Sound Energy announced that its Green Direct customers, including the City of Kirkland, are now receiving renewable energy from the largest western Washington wind project, Skookumchuck Wind Facility. This means that all facilities owned by the City of Kirkland such as buildings, lift stations, and park facilities are now powered by clean, renewable energy not derived from fossil fuels.

The Green Direct program is a ground-breaking initiative designed to provide PSE corporate and governmental customers the ability to purchase 100 percent of their energy from a dedicated, local, renewable energy resource, while providing them with a stable, cost efficient solution. By adding more renewables to the City of Kirkland’s portfolio, Green Direct also furthers the City’s deep decarbonization goals.

Find the full press release at www.kirklandwa.gov/newsroom.

We Want to Hear from You: Online Engagement Sessions for Two Finn Hill Transportation Studies are Tonight

Join online community meetings TONIGHT (Thursday, December 3)! 

The City is carrying out two studies in accordance with Policy FH-14.3 in the Finn Hill Neighborhood Plan and is seeking community input. Please register to receive log-in information.

1. NE 131st Way / 90th Ave NE Multimodal Corridor Safety Study | 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Register here

2. Holmes Point Street Standards and Holmes Point Drive Corridor Study | 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Register here

See the study areas on the map below.

On Thursday, December 3, City and consultant staff will present progress on the studies and receive input during back-to-back online sessions via Zoom. When you register, you will automatically receive the details for joining the webinar.

For any questions or comments please contact the public outreach coordinator Armaghan Baghoori (abaghoori@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3924) or the project manager Blair Daly (bdaly@kirklandwa.gov; 425-587-3877).

Finn Hill Studies Map

Study Overviews

1. Developing ideas to improve safety for walking and biking along NE 131st Way / 90th Ave NE and fix drainage problems

City staff and community members completed the Finn Hill Neighborhood Plan in 2018, which is now part of the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan. The Finn Hill Neighborhood Plan calls for a study of the NE 131st Way / 90th Ave NE corridor (sometimes called “Goodwill Hill”) to make it safer for people walking, jogging, and biking. This corridor is one of the primary routes for residents of Finn Hill to access shops, schools, and other services. This corridor also touches the Juanita neighborhood.

Working with community members, the City of Kirkland and its consultant, Otak Inc., will produce concepts for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements and solutions to stormwater drainage concerns.

Council provided funding for this study; however, there is no funding allocated yet toward constructing the recommended project(s) it will generate. The project(s) could eventually be funded via the Capital Improvement Program and grants.

2. Developing street standards for the Holmes Point Overlay area and safety improvements along Holmes Point Drive

Development has occurred in the Holmes Point Overlay zone with inconsistent street standards. There are several vehicular and pedestrian safety concerns along Holmes Point Drive and the adjoining neighborhood streets, such as pedestrians walking along the Drive and school children awaiting bus pickups. With anticipated development in the area, the City needs street standards so the community knows what to expect. The City will explore options for unique street standards that recognize the specific nature of the Holmes Point area, but, as always, the City must balance any proposed changes with its duty to provide vehicular and pedestrian safety. 

The Council allocated funding to carry out this study; however, there is no funding allocated yet toward implementing its recommendations. 

Work Begins on New Eastrail Segment that will Connect Kirkland and Woodinville

King County Logo

This month King County Parks begins removing railroad rails to make way for 2.5 miles of new Eastrail that will connect Kirkland to Woodinville. This exciting new connection takes up where the Cross Kirkland Corridor – Kirkland’s 5.75-mile section of Eastrail – currently ends, at 132nd in Totem Lake, and continues to N.E. 145th in Woodinville near the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery. This new Eastrail section includes Kirkland’s Willows Road Regional Trail Connection, which is under construction now.

More information on the Willows Road connection is available on the Kirkland City website: www.kirklandwa.gov. Enter Willows Road Regional Trail Connection into the search bar for details about this project. Also, find an update below in our "Traffic Alerts" section of this newsletter. 

Rail removal takes place throughout December and January, with trail construction complete by the end of summer 2021. For questions about Eastrail, contact: eastrail@kingcounty.gov. For more information about Eastrail, visit the King County Eastrail webpage

Eastrail map

Tips From the Northshore Utility District on How to Winterize Your Home

Northshore Utility District

Are your pipes winter-ready? Unprotected pipes can freeze, leaving you with no access to water. Even worse, they can crack or break, leaving you with potential flooding and costly repairs.

Make sure you insulate pipes and faucets in unheated spaces. Outdoor faucets and pipes in unheated garages, attics and crawl spaces are the most vulnerable in freezing weather.  Close crawl space vents and stuff insulation over the openings.

Visit the Northshore Utility District webpage (https://www.nud.net/how-do-i/winterizing-your-pipes) for more great tips on how to protect your pipes and keep them from freezing.

Traffic Alerts for the Week of December 2 Through December 7

Houghton

Commuters along 108th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 68th Street should continue to expect delays this week while Kirkland’s contractor connects the new water main to service lines in the intersection and paves sections of both streets near their intersection.

To make progress, Marshbank Construction’s flaggers are continuing to alternate traffic from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this week along 108th Avenue Northeast’s one open lane between Northeast 60th and 68th streets.

The permanent patches that crews are applying to the road are much smoother and more durable than the temporary patches.

Marshbank is planning to suspend work in mid-December and return in spring to repave 108th Avenue Northeast, from Northeast 53rd Street to Northeast 68th Street.

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.

Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer

Totem Lake

A City of Kirkland contractor is closing the southbound lane of Willows Road Northeast, north of its intersection with Northeast 124th Street.

Interwest begins the four-week lane-closure Dec. 14 and continues it until Jan. 11, when it plans to close Willows Road Northeast completely until Jan. 22.

Interwest will rely on 141st Avenue Northeast and Northeast 124th Street to detour traffic around the closure.

Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/willowsconnection

Willows road

Upcoming Events

KAC

Kirkland Arts Center

Registration Open for December Intensives/Winter 

Online, virtual classes plus live in-studio

Check out exciting offerings from new instructors and renowned returning instructors, like Michael Ottersen! Learn more about wheel throwing, charcoal portrait drawing, collage making, ceramics, painting, mixed media creation, and much more! Many classes available via Zoom, with some in-studio offerings available as well. 

For more information on winter classes, visit the Kirkland Arts Center website! To dive right in and register for classes, visit the class catalog


KPC at Home

Kirkland Performance Center Presents: A Virtual Concert with Good Day Sunshine

8 p.m., Thursday, December 3

Online, virtual event

Good Day Sunshine is a dynamic five piece band from Seattle who together (all alumni of regional favorites Crème Tangerine) have performed the music of The Beatles for thousands each year. Rather than focusing on the personalities or look of The Beatles, Good Day Sunshine focuses on performing their beloved music live for all to enjoy.

The members of Good Day Sunshine have performed The Beatles most recognized hits as well as different eras of the Beatles music and along with "Abbey Road" – "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," "The White Album," and "The Rooftop Concert" in their entireties. Their high energy, quality and fun performances appeal to those already familiar with and new to the music of The Beatles. The musicians of Good Day Sunshine are in high demand by top tier clients/venues when the musical energy needs to be electric, engaged, and inspired.

This performance will stream across KPC’s Facebook and YouTube channels.


Studio East

Studio East Training for the Performing Arts

Streaming online November 20 - December 6

Online, virtual event

Studio East presents The Journey…, the first ever socially-distanced production for the organization. Over the course of six weeks, 17 young artists worked to create pieces of art that explore and reflect their varied experiences over the last 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest.

The Studio teens wrote and created music, scenes, monologues, dances, poems, animation and more into a cohesive four-act show. Their goal is to reach across the barriers of isolation and division of this time to find the community that is there. “With generosity of spirit and the courage to look at the pain and sorrow of this time, they found a way through the darkness to reach toward a sense of hope and community with one another,” said show directors Lani Brockman, Julie Grant and Etalia Thomas.

The Journey… is recommended for ages 9+ and has a running time of 90 minutes. Tickets are pay what you can. Stream the show online now through December 6 from the Studio East website. The Journey… is presented by Artistic Sponsors Jim and Becky Henchman, Natalie Barney, and The Bovey Family, and Technical Sponsors Kurt and Heather Triplett. Visit: The Journey... to watch!


Holiday lights

Holiday Lights Contest

Register by Noon on December 18

Judging Takes Place December 19-20

Are you itching for an excuse to get outside and put up your holiday lights? Have you been waiting for the opportunity to unleash your inner Clark Griswold? Well, that opportunity has arrived, with the Kirkland Parks and Community Services' first EVER Holiday Lights contest!

We look forward to your cheer-infused displays of lights, music, inflatables, and holiday decorations of all kinds. Participation is easy! Decorate your home or business between now and Friday, December 18. Judging takes place on Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20. To ensure optimal lighting conditions, our judging committee will drive by each location from 5 to 8 p.m. on those two days to see your display and take a photo.

Register by noon on December 18 at https://bit.ly/3nAeohR.


Winter Market

Kirkland Downtown Association presents the Kirkland Winter Market

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 12

Marina Park

Face masks are required to enter the market.

Join the Kirkland Downtown Association on the second Saturday of December for a holiday-themed market! Shop for winter produce, dried flowers, artisan foods, locally roasted coffee, fresh baked goods, wine, and homemade crafts. Get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting local businesses, vendors, and craft-makers!  

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