The Kirkland City Council’s next “virtual” meeting takes place Tuesday, February 2. The meeting uses video conferencing technology provided by Zoom in response to Gov. Jay Inslee’s Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery 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 February 2 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:
Study Session: Countywide Growth Targets Briefing
Land use planning in Kirkland functions within a rich backdrop of regional and countywide planning, in recognition that individual communities in the region will accommodate growth more sustainably when planning is undertaken in a coordinated fashion. At the Study Session that starts at 5:30 p.m., the City Council will receive a briefing on the current update of the Countywide Planning Policies, including growth targets.
Black History Month Proclamation
The Mayor will proclaim February 2021 as Black History Month in Kirkland. All community members are invited to join in commemorating the countless contributions of Black people to our region, our nation and the world, as well as recognize the reality of institutional racism in our community.
During the month of February and beyond, the City will be providing various opportunities for community engagement on how to ensure the safety and respect of Black people and end structural racism in Kirkland, including:
- The City’s Virtual Community Conversation about Racial Justice on February 4;
- City Council study session on February 16 updating the community on several actions related to Resolution R-5434; and
- KirklandTalks: 2021 Dialogue Series on Race and Racism, an interactive session featuring structured dialogues on race and racism.
The City encourages all Kirkland community members to join in our conversations, both this month and all year. By coming together, we can create the “beloved community” envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. More information about the events and the City’s initiatives can be found on the City’s website.
Other items include:
- The second State legislative update of 2021;
- A resolution setting the City’s priority goals for 2021-2022 and adopting the 2021-2022 City Work Program; and
- Amendments to Title 21 of the Kirkland Municipal Code regarding building and construction and Chapter 110.10 of the Kirkland Zoning Code regarding building permit valuation.
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.
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Come give input on how Kirkland can become a place where Black people feel safe and respected and where interpersonal, institutional and structural racism no longer exists. On August 4, 2020 the City of Kirkland passed legislation (R-5434) committing to examining and dismantling institutional and structural racism in Kirkland and ensuring the safety and respect of Black people.
An overview of early actions related to this work was presented to the City Council on January 5, 2021 and is available on the City’s website. The first update will be presented on February 16 during the City Council study session. These actions come with significant funding over the next two years, and we need your input to advise us on how best to use this funding and how to reimagine Kirkland. Your input will have a direct influence on various City and Police Department culture, policies, programs, and practices. There are many ways to provide input:
- Join a virtual Community Conversation. The first of these events will be held on Thursday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m. and will be facilitated by Chanin Kelly-Rae, Founder and President of Chanin Kelly-Rae Consulting. Register now
- Provide feedback now through an online questionnaire.
- Visit the City’s website for information about this initiative, how to stay informed, and how to schedule a focus group with City staff.
Thank you for being involved in our community!
Join us for a 90-minute interactive session featuring structured dialogues on race and racism. We’ll use the inclusive dialogue model to practice skills for engaging in conversations about racism, build relationships and understanding between participants from diverse racial backgrounds, and support anti-racist action in the community. The first event of the series is on Saturday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
Community members (high school age and up) may attend one or more sessions. Although the training material will be repeated each time, the question sets will vary. Returning participants are invited to deepen their skills and learning. Each session offers an opportunity to meet new people and explore different aspects of race, racial identity, and racism.
This is a virtual event. The event series is sponsored by the City of Kirkland.
About the Facilitators
The series is designed and facilitated by Debbie Lacy, Founder and CEO of Eastside For All, and Nura Adam, Founder and Executive Director of the Immigrant Women’s Community Center (IWCC). Debbie has a mixed ethnic background. Her mother is a Mexican immigrant with Mayan Indigenous and Spanish ancestry. Her father was white, mostly Italian. Debbie grew up in the Midwest and East Coast. Nura is ethnically Somali, raised in the U.S. Both live and work in East King County.
Community dialogues are part of broader efforts by Eastside For All, IWCC, and others who are committed to social justice and community-building that fosters solidarity, belonging, and compassion.
Registration will open on February 5. To get an announcement, please sign up for the Eastside For All email list.
Congratulations to Deputy Chief Dave Van Valkenburg and Battalion Chief Bill Hoover, who were honored last week by the King County Fire Chiefs Association (KCFCA) for their exemplary work and dedication to local and regional service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each received a Letter of Commendation from the KCFCA. Deputy Chief Van Valkenburg was recognized for his outstanding demonstration of leadership coordinating personal protective equipment (PPE), and Battalion Chief Hoover for outstanding demonstration of leadership in policy development. The honors were presented at City Hall by members of the KCFCA Executive Board.
Typically, the KCFCA recognizes one fire service professional for Distinguished Service at its annual leadership summit. With the cancellation of the 2020 Summit due to COVID-19, the board decided to expand the Distinguished Service Awards program to add several new honors including Chief of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, and others. A total of eight letters of commendation were also given to recognize fire service professionals throughout King County whose skilled leadership stood out in 2020 as we navigated the uncharted territories of the COVID-19 pandemic.
These leaders not only helped their respective agencies during this time of need but served the region as a whole. Join us in congratulating Deputy Chief Van Valkenburg and Battalion Chief Hoover for these wonderful honors and thanking them for their tireless service to our community and the County!
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The public is invited to comment on Kirkland’s 2021 NPDES Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) Plan by February 24, 2021. This Plan outlines Kirkland city actions to protect area waterways by reducing stormwater pollution. Actions include educating citizens about natural yard care techniques or vehicle maintenance, tracing and eliminating pollutant discharges and spills to the City’s stormwater drainage system, and maintaining an extensive network of city-owned Stormwater ponds, vaults, rain gardens, and ditches that store, treat, and transport stormwater prior to discharge to local creeks, wetlands, and Lake Washington.
Comments can be provided via email to Rkonrady@kirklandwa.gov. To see the plan and learn more about the City’s Storm and Surface Water Management Programs, check out www.kirklandwa.gov/stormwater.
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Have you encountered a pothole, or a flickering light at one of our parks, and weren’t sure how to notify the City? The Our Kirkland service request portal is your direct connection to City Hall. Use Our Kirkland to report nonemergency issues, request services, ask questions, or to contact the City Council.
Our Kirkland service requests can be submitted via desktop computer or by using the free mobile app. Users are able to create an account, which allows them to review the status and progress of the request and find details about how the item was resolved. Requests and reports may also be submitted anonymously, based on your preference.
Got photos? Photos are welcome any time you would like to alert the City to a pothole, or another item that is best described visually. For more information about Our Kirkland, or to submit a service request, visit: https://kirklandwa.qscend.com/ourkirkland/, or access Our Kirkland right from the City’s homepage at www.kirklandwa.gov.
We are happy to share this testimonial from Kirkland resident Sue Contreras, which is a great example of the types of items you can report through Our Kirkland.
“I am writing to praise the City of Kirkland for the new free app ‘Our Kirkland,’” Sue wrote. “I have requested three items; graffiti cover up at a park restroom, a curb repair, and a solution for noisy, clanking manhole covers. All three projects were acknowledged and then completed in a short amount of time. Most impressive and I am grateful. Kudos for great customer service.”
Please note that Our Kirkland is for nonemergency issues only. Residents in need of immediate assistance should call 9-1-1.
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The City is working toward a regional gateway that supports transit, creates opportunity for all, and reflects Kirkland’s unique identity. In this phase of the project, the City is seeking input on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). The DSEIS is a detailed analysis of each potential Station Area Plan alternative and looks at possible impacts and mitigation measures across elements such as air quality, aesthetics, stormwater management, transportation, housing, public services, and more. The community’s input will be taken into consideration as decisions are made about which parts of each alternative should, or should not, be incorporated into the final Station Area plan.
In recognition of the great input the City is receiving from community members, the DSEIS comment period has been extended to give people more time to learn about the project and share their thoughts. The extended comment deadline is February 19, 2021. Comments can be provided by completing the DSEIS survey, or by emailing comments directly to project planner, Allison Zike, at azike@kirklandwa.gov. Learn more at www.kirklandwa.gov/stationareaplan.
The King County Solid Waste Division is evaluating four sites for a new transfer station to replace the Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/northeast to share your thoughts about the sites in a multilingual survey available through Tuesday, February 9.
King County seeks community input on four potential sites for the new station
King County considered many locations in Kirkland, Redmond, Sammamish, and Woodinville, and selected four potential sites for the new station. Now, the King County Solid Waste Division needs you to educate them on what you know about those four sites and the surrounding areas. This will help King County further narrow the list of potential locations. The top two or three locations will be evaluated in an environmental review process in 2021.
Please visit kingcounty.gov/northeast and fill out a short survey:
- Share your local knowledge and concerns about the four sites
- Tell us what is most important to your community as we evaluate the sites
- Sign up online to receive project updates
Please note that this is a King County process. This is your chance to directly inform the County on whether you would like to continue to have a transfer station in Kirkland, or if you’d prefer another option. Thank you in advance for sharing your ideas with King County through the survey at: www.kingcounty.gov/northeast.
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Kirkland Parks & Community Services invites you to join this fun citywide adventure starting Friday, February 5!
Follow the clues, find the letters, solve the final riddle and submit your answer by Friday, March 5 to be entered into a drawing for prizes. Clues will take you to the four corners of Kirkland, test your knowledge of local businesses, parks, and our local history.
Starting Friday, February 5, clues will be emailed weekly on Fridays.
Your registration fee supports Kirkland Parks & Community Services Scholarship Fund which helps enable families to participate in programs. Please check the box yes when asked to donate.
Win prizes from these local donors:
Heathman Hotel and Hearth Restaurant, Anthony's HomePort Kirkland, Book Tree, Bottle and Bull, Cactus Kirkland, Coffee and Cone, Due Cucina, Factory Donuts, Fena Flowers, Hair by Amanda Kyle, Heaven Skin Care, La Corona, LizzyKate, Michaels, Nail Club, Romios Pizza & Pasta, Salon Pecoaro, Salt and Straw, Sole Relax, Sugar Bytes, Thai Wisdom Bistro, The Box, and The Grape Choice.
We thank all our wonderful donors for their generous support of this self-guided Kirkland adventure!
Register today at KirklandParks.net
Totem Lake
Willows Road Northeast will remain open only to northbound traffic until Feb. 26 when Interwest Construction will re-open both of its lanes.
Kirkland’s contractor is building a multi-use trail along Willows Road that will help people who are riding bicycles or walking to connect to the Sammamish River Trail and the Redmond Central Connector.
Visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/WillowsConnection
Juanita
A City of Kirkland contractor will continue its closure of Northeast 116th Street’s center turn-lane through February while its crews upgrade a series of crosswalks near McAuliffe Park and A.G. Bell Elementary School. The center lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each work day.
Westwater Construction is also closing an additional lane from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., with flaggers maintaining the flow of two-way traffic.
This project improves pedestrian safety in the Juanita neighborhood with a total of four upgraded crosswalks along Northeast 116th Street, between 104th Avenue Northeast and 113th Place Northeast. These improvements will increase safety for those walking between destinations north of Northeast 116th Street, like McAuliffe Park, and destinations south of the Northeast 116th Street, like Alexander Graham Bell Elementary School.
Visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/116thCrosswalks
Shop Local Kirkland is your one-stop shop for all your Valentine's Day needs!
Picture Shop Local Kirkland as a virtual mall, complete with spa services, haircare, barbershops, food, handmade jewelry, custom clothing, home décor, and much more, all from Kirkland-based artisans, entrepreneurs and business operators. You will find everything you need to celebrate Valentine's Day in style.
Whether you plan on venturing out or staying in for a quiet romantic evening at home, Shop Local Kirkland is a vibrant garden of ideas. With over 200 local businesses to choose from, you never know what you'll find on Shop Local Kirkland!
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The Peter Kirk Community Center will be serving to-go meals three days a week starting in February!
Nutritious to-go meals are available to anyone age 60 and over. Lunches are currently available on Tuesdays and Fridays and will be available on Wednesdays starting the first week of February. Lunches are available for pick-up at noon on the west side of the Peter Kirk Community Center in the turnaround area. Lunches must be pre-ordered at least one day in advance.
Delivery may be available to Kirkland residents who are unable to come to the Peter Kirk Community Center to pick up their meal.
To reserve a lunch, inquire about delivery, or to get more information about the program, call 425-587-3360.
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Are you behind on rent, or think you may be soon? Are you a landlord or a tenant looking for help working out repayment options? You are not alone. The Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center is here to help.
The Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center (BCRC) helps people who live and/or work in Bellevue resolve conflicts. Services are free, voluntary and confidential.
Because of COVID-19, tenants mostly can’t be evicted right now, but still owe any unpaid rent. Governor Inslee has asked Washington conflict resolution centers to help tenants and landlords negotiate these overdue bills, making an agreement that can work for everyone. BCRC volunteers are not judges and don’t take sides. We help landlords and tenants equally. Language services available.
For more information, visit the Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center.
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The Lake Washington School District has announced that in-person services will begin on Thursday, February 18 starting with kindergarten and first grade students and then phasing in additional grades over the following weeks.
For the safety of students, school zone speed enforcement will resume on February 18, including school zone safety cameras. Drivers must obey speed limits as posted in school zones or they could be ticketed and fined. For more information about school zone speed enforcement, visit the City website.
Thank you for driving with care in order to keep returning students safe.
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Kirkland Parks & Community Services presents "Color Your World!"
Ongoing
Online event
Skin comes in many different colors, and all are beautiful. Draw a picture of yourself, show us the color of your skin, hair and eyes. Let us see how beautiful and proud you are! For more about Color Your World, watch this great video on the Parks & Community Services Facebook page.
Email your picture with your name to tharrison@kirklandwa.gov. Your art will be featured on the Kirkland Parks & Community Services Facebook page!
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Kirkland Performance Center presents: A Virtual Concert with Nite Wave
8 p.m. Thursday, January 28
Live, virtual show
Formed in 2011 as the result of a Craigslist Ad, Nite Wave is a band passionate about 80s New Wave and putting on a show you’ll never forget. Nite Wave has had the privilege of being hand picked by Billy Idol to open up for him on tour and have also shared the stage with Jane Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s, Clive Farrington of When in Rome and Multi-Platinum selling artist Tiffany.
Everything from Prince to Depeche Mode to Duran Duran to INXS and more!
Nite Wave pays homage to the artists who designed a decade and bring a certain energy to their shows that is unique and infectious.
Visit the Kirkland Performance Center Facebook page to view this livestream.
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Tilth Alliance presents: Become a Soil & Water Steward with Tilth Alliance
Apply by February 1, 2021
Zoom and small group
Participants will meet one weekend each month from February–October. Saturday mornings will consist of interactive classes held over Zoom with Tilth Alliance educators and expert guest instructors. On Sundays, we will apply what we’ve learned through hands-on community projects, working in small groups of up to 5 volunteers during a two-hour morning or afternoon shift, following all relevant COVID-19 safety guidelines.
These projects will take place at Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands in Seattle, McAuliffe Park in Kirkland and other garden and partner sites in King County.
For more information about this stewardship program, visit the Tilth Alliance webpage.
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Studio East presents: The Laramie Project
February 5 through February 7
Streaming online
The Laramie Project tells the true story of Matthew Shepard, a college student, who was killed in October 1998 in a hate crime for being gay.
In the months following Shepard’s death, The Tectonic Theatre Project conducted interviews with citizens of his hometown of Laramie, Wyoming. The play, which will be adapted into a radio drama by Studio East, takes verbatim dialogue from real-time accounts to tell its story. “A deeply moving testament to the character of one small town,” says Director Zach Barr, “The Laramie Project investigates our collective responsibility in the face of tragedy and how each individual responds as that great work begins.”
For more information on this production, visit the Studio East webpage.
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King County Library System
Meet the Author: Nicole Tsong
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 10
Online event
Meet Nicole Tsong, author of 24 Ways to Move More and former Fit for Life columnist for The Seattle Times, to learn new ways to move your body, and make movement fun and inspiring again. Nicole shares her experience trying hundreds of fitness activities, and talks about how movement helps you feel energized and fulfilled every day.
Register by February 9. You will be sent a Zoom link the day of the program.
If you don't receive the link, please notify kirstcam@kcls.org no later than 5 p.m. that day.
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