Thanks to everyone who attended and gave comment during last night's City Council meeting, which took place via the Zoom videoconferencing platform in alignment with current public health recommendations and guidelines.
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. The public comment period, identified as "Items from the Audience" on the Council agenda, is your chance to address the Council directly, with both compliments and concerns.
For more information about Council meetings, including the Zoom link and instructions for providing public comment, please visit the City website. To view this council meeting or any past council meeting, go to Watch Council Meetings on the City’s website.
Sound Transit Capital Program Realignment and I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit Update
At the Study Session, the City Council received an update from Sound Transit and the Washington State Department of Transportation regarding the Sound Transit capital projects realignment process, I-405 Stride Bus Rapid Transit, and the NE 85th Street interchange and in-line station.
Proclamations
The City Council made two proclamations. One of the proclamations is for Women’s History Month. By proclaiming the month of March 2021 as Women’s History Month in Kirkland, all community members are invited to celebrate and reflect on the countless contributions of women to our region, our nation and the world. The other proclamation is for National Safe Place Week which takes place the week of March 21 through March 27, 2021. National Safe Place is a nationwide youth outreach and prevention program implemented in communities across the United States to create a network of locations equipped to serve youth ages 12 through 17, providing immediate help, crisis intervention, safety and emergency shelter and connections to ongoing supportive services.
Council Meeting Topics
Regular business items include:
- An interlocal agreement with the City of Redmond regarding the Proctor Willows private development
- The fifth 2021 State legislative update
- The Fire and Emergency Medical Services Proposition 1 implementation plan
- 2021-2022 City Council goals and City work program
The next City Council meeting takes place Tuesday, April 6. For more information on the Kirkland City Council, please visit our website.
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Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state's Healthy Washington: Roadmap to Recovery will be transitioning from a regional approach to a county-by-county evaluation process. The governor also announced a new third phase of the Roadmap, a return for in-person spectators for professional and high school sports. Effective March 22, the entire state will enter Phase 3.
Sports guidance will change in Phase 3 to allow in-person spectators at events for the first time in a year. Spectators will be allowed to attend outdoor venues with permanent seating with capacity capped at 25%. The change affects both professional and high school sports, as well as motorsports, rodeos, and other outdoor spectator events. Social distancing and facial covering are still required. Read more about the Phase 3 announcement here.
The governor also announced that every group prioritized in Phase 1B, Tier 2 will be eligible for their COVID vaccine starting Wednesday, March 17. This includes workers in agriculture, food processing, grocery stores, public transit, firefighters and law enforcement, among others. Phase 1B, Tier 2 also includes people over the age of 16 who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high-risk.
The state will continue to ensure those eligible in earlier phases who have not yet been administered doses have space to be vaccinated, even as more people become eligible. You can find out more about who is eligible and how to make an appointment on the Department of Health's website or on Public Health – Seattle & King County’s website.
 As of this week, traffic on Juanita Dr NE between NE 153rd Pl and NE 155th Pl has been reduced to one lane controlled by temporary traffic signals. This traffic configuration will be in place 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for approximately two months. People driving are encouraged to find alternate routes when possible and expect lengthy delays. This revision is required so that crews can install a soldier pile retaining wall on the west side of the roadway. Please obey the 25 MPH speed limit when driving through the work zone. Cyclists are reminded to not deviate from regular roadway traffic to avoid traffic queues.
This City of Kenmore project will provide 1.5 miles of new sidewalk and landscaping, safer bicycle lanes, and bus stop improvements. More information can be found at https://kenmoreconstruction.com/juanita-sidewalk-project. For questions, email info@kenmoreconstruction.com or call the 24/7 hotline at (425) 201-4147.
You may experience reduced water pressure on March 24, 2021
Between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on March 24, a contractor for private development will make a new connection to the City of Kirkland water system. To accommodate the connection, City staff will reroute water into your neighborhood. This may result in decreased pressure in your home. Staff will restore normal service by 12:30 p.m. Please reach out to 425-587-3900 if you have any questions.
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The Ismaili Community Engaged in Responsible Volunteering (I-CERV) is partnering with the cities of Kirkland, Bothell and Bellevue, the Lake Washington, Bellevue and Northshore school districts, Nourishing Networks, YMCA Bellevue and Northshore, and the Kirkland Boys & Girls Club to coordinate a spring food and essentials drive to help our neighbors in need.
This event takes place 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Kirkland (12505 115th Ave NE, WA 98034). The Ismaili Jamatkhana is in Totem Lake west of the Kirkland Justice Center and near Jasper's Off-Leash Dog Park.
This event will be contactless with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place. This is a safe, fun and uplifting way to donate to those in need! Donors simply drive-through the collection area, pop their trunks, and let the volunteers do the unloading and hauling. Event organizers ask that donors please wear facial coverings while on site.
We hope to see you there!
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Cross Kirkland Corridor
A short section of the Cross Kirkland Corridor remains closed until June while Kirkland’s Totem Lake Park renovation contractor builds the boardwalk that will connect the corridor to Totem Lake Park.
Wyser Construction has closed the Cross Kirkland Corridor between Totem Lake Boulevard and 128th Lane Northeast. The contractor will detour people who are walking or bicycling on the trail onto 128th Lane Northeast. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakepark
Northeast 132nd Street
Drivers commuting along Northeast 132nd Street, between 100th and 97th avenues northeast should expect minor delays between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. this week while Kirkland’s Fire Station 24 contractor installs a stormwater drainage line, as part of the Fire Station 24 construction. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/firestation24
North Rose Hill/South Rose Hill
Drivers should expect construction this week along various sections of Northeast 75th Street and 128th Avenue Northeast while Kirkland’s Neighborhood Greenways contractor closes lanes to establish a variety of traffic-calming features.
Among other improvements, Rodarte Construction is building a raised intersection at Northeast 75th Street’s intersection with 120th Avenue Northeast and rapid flashing beacons at Northeast 112th Street and 124th Avenue Northeast. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/greenways
The Village at Totem Lake
The contractor for The Village at Totem Lake plans to re-open 120th Avenue Northeast’s southbound lane from Totem Lake Way to Northeast 128th Avenue. CenterCal is closing the southbound lane 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until March 21.
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Drop-off Battery Recycling Event
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 20
Kirkland City Hall, 123 Fifth Ave (use main entrance)
Household battery recycling for Kirkland residents
Recycle household and rechargeable batteries for free at this drive-through drop-off recycling event. Please wear a face covering and follow event guidelines. This event is expected to be very popular, please be prepared for a wait.
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Virtual Community Resource Center Information Session
Join us for a 60-minute information session Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 5:30– 6:30 p.m. about Kirkland’s partnership with the Community Resource Center. The session will be facilitated by Marilyn Littlejohn, Community Court consultant, who will be joined by a panel of local providers from Hopelink, LELO Relicensing Program, The Records Project, a program of the King County Bar Association, and more.
This is a virtual event. Register here.
About the Facilitator
Marilyn Littlejohn, a consultant on the City of Kirkland's Community Count program, is a human services professional with over 25 years of experience in public policy, service delivery and program administration. She has worked for the Children's Home Society of WA, Seattle Human Services Department in Government Relations and Domestic Violence Prevention, Refugee Women's Alliance, and King County District Court.
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Environmental Impact of Cremation
Thursday, April 8, 3pm
Online event for adults
Roughly 80% of Washingtonians choose cremation, citing concerns over the environmental impact of traditional burials.
But what about the environmental impact of cremation?
We now know that this energy-intensive process releases 219 known emissions, including greenhouse gases and carcinogenic toxins. Washington state’s affinity for cremation has led to 1,400 pounds of mercury vaporized in the last five years alone, to say nothing of the natural gas consumed.
People’s Memorial Association’s Beverly Tryk will consider the environmental impacts of our funeral choices and take a critical eye to what we thought we knew about cremation.
Please register at kcls.org.
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Online Programs: Sustainable Earth
with King County Library System (KCLS) and RainWise
Support a Sustainable Earth with RainWise
Tuesday, April 20, 6-7pm
Celebrate Earth Day with RainWise, an important sustainable solution available to private property owners in parts of King County. This webinar will provide in-depth information on RainWise, and also offer an array of other sustainability tips to put into practice in your home and yard.
Please register by April 19. Please see kcls.org for registration information
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