|
Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended and gave comment during the May 18, 2021 City Council meeting, which took place via the Zoom videoconferencing platform in alignment with current public health recommendations and guidelines. We appreciate your vital input and are grateful to have such an engaged community. Thank you!
Kirkland City Council meetings are streamed live on the City of Kirkland Facebook page and the City YouTube channel, in addition to the livestream on the City website. Meetings are also televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Ziply Cable Channel 31.
Here are a few highlights from the meeting:
Study Session: R-5434 Update Study Session
On August 4, 2020 the City passed legislation (Resolution R-5434) related to examining and dismantling institutional and structural racism in Kirkland. At the May 18 Study Session, the City Council discussed Section 2f regarding alternatives to police and Section 1 regarding dashboards and provided direction to staff on how to move ahead with the community responder program and continued dashboard development. The Council also received an update on additional Resolution R-5434 elements. Read the full report here.
Business Items Included:
2021 Board and Commission Interview Selection Committee Recommendation
Over 90 applications were received for vacant positions on the City’s boards and commission. The Interview Selection Committee, consisting of Mayor Penny Sweet and Councilmembers Kelli Curtis and Amy Falcone, was selected at Council’s April 6, 2021 regular meeting. The Committee held a meeting on May 5, 2021 to consider all applicants for upcoming vacancies and for consideration as alternate appointees. Recommendations were presented at the May 18 Council meeting.
Summer Action Plan Follow-Up
The May 4, 2021 City Council meeting included a briefing on Phase 1 of the Summer Action Plan – which included maintenance and operations investments, recreation programming and parks to support inclusivity, COVID recovery and economic development. Council received a presentation on the proposed Summer Action Plan (Phase 1 and 2) and Recovery Interns and provided direction to staff to proceed with implementation.
Other business Items Included:
- 2021 State Legislative Update #8
- Public Works Staffing Modification
- Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95 Amendments
To view the full agenda packet and for more information, go to www.kirklandwa.gov/council.
The next City Council meeting takes place Tuesday, June 1, 2021.
|
 On May 13, 2021, Kirkland’s Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse received the 2021 Project of the Year Award for Structures Under $5 Million from the Washington Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA). This award recognizes excellence in management and administration on successfully completed public works projects. This modern-day bathhouse includes summertime restrooms with space to dress, heated year-round restrooms, outdoor showers, lifeguarding space, and space for non-motorized boating concessions.
The bathhouse officially opened to the public on December 23, 2020. The 22-acre park also features 1,000 feet of shoreline, two new picnic pavilions, and a new historical public art installation coming in summer 2021. The playground’s synthetic turf and play elements are designed to be accessible to people of all abilities.
“We are honored to receive this award,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “We’re excited to have these extraordinary new structures at one of our most beloved parks. It’s an incredible achievement that our community will enjoy for generations to come.”
The bathhouse has a Northwest, natural aesthetic that was articulated in the 2006 master plan and inspired by the beach resort that the Forbes family operated at the location in the early 1900s. The project’s designers used sustainable and durable materials, such as cross-laminated timber. One of the project’s biggest challenges was to balance the duty of the City to develop and improve public recreation facilities and provide access to the shoreline to all segments of the population, while also protecting and preserving publicly owned natural resources. However, with careful planning and precision, this delicate balance was achieved.
“This project was successful because of the collaboration of many talented and dedicated people,” said Public Works Director Julie Underwood. “We’d like to thank and recognize all of our project partners who helped this vision come to fruition including Synergy Construction of Woodinville, Patano Studio Architecture, MIG Seattle, Rainbow Consulting; Coffman Engineers, Shannon & Wilson, Inc., Muckleshoot Tribe of Washington, Washington State Department of Ecology, Friends of Juanita Beach, Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission, Kirkland Park Board, the Kirkland City Council, and City of Kirkland staff.”
The American Public Works Association is nonprofit, professional association of public works agencies, private companies, and individuals dedicated to promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy, and the exchange of knowledge. For more information about the Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse Project, please visit www.kirklandwa.gov/JuanitaBeach.
Watch a video about the award-winning Juanita Beach Park Bathhouse Project here.
City Council invites anyone who lives, works, or plays in Kirkland to share your thoughts about the NE 85th St. Station Area Plan at a special meeting of the Council on Wednesday, May 26. Over the past several months, community members have provided ideas and feedback on the future of the Station Area, and we want to hear more! The listening session will provide an opportunity to voice your opinion directly to the City Council and provide them with input before the next phase of the project begins.
Please join us for the Virtual City Council Listening Session on May 26, 2021 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom. To make sure the City Council hears from as many speakers as possible, comments will be limited to 2-3 minutes. Learn more about the project and watch for further event details on the project webpage: www.kirklandwa.gov/stationareaplan.
The City of Kirkland strives to create a Kirkland where Black people feel safe and respected and interpersonal, institutional and structural racism no longer exists. On August 4, 2020 the City Council passed legislation (R-5434) committing to several actions related to examining and dismantling institutional and structural racism in Kirkland. As part of these efforts, the Kirkland Police Department seeks to establish the City of Kirkland’s Black Community Police Advisory Committee.
The City of Kirkland’s Black Community Police Advisory Committee is a group of community stakeholders who serve as a resource to the Kirkland Chief of Police when contemplating public safety issues facing the police department and community. The Chief seeks to leverage the knowledge, experiences, perspectives, and civic spirit of committee members to enhance the provision of law enforcement and crime prevention services delivered to the community. Conversely, members will become more knowledgeable about law enforcement in their community and assist the Chief by educating the community at large about the function and role of the Kirkland Police Department.
To learn more and to apply, please go to www.kirklandwa.gov/BlackCommunityPoliceAdvisoryCommittee.
|
|
 The City of Kirkland announced the return of “Evenings on Park Lane,” starting on May 24 and running through October 1, 2021. This initiative is meant to expand outdoor capacity for businesses and increase foot traffic in the downtown core by closing the west end of Park Lane to vehicles nightly from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Read the full news release.
|
Are you ready to take your entrepreneurial acumen to the next level?
Startup425 and Greater Seattle SCORE invite you to experience Small Business Essentials, a series of five online workshops that not only give you the chance to learn the fundamentals of starting a new business, but also give you the opportunity to put what you learn into practice.
If you attended our spring Foundations series, Small Business Essentials is the next step in your entrepreneurial journey. Each of these five workshops is meant to provide tactical knowledge that you can use to develop tangible assets and achieve your small business goals. Importantly, you’ll develop some of these assets right in the workshops, guided by our subject matter experts and alongside your fellow participants.
Whether you’re a craftsperson, artist, brewer, barista, wordsmith, interpreter, healthcare provider or web developer, hands-on instruction is a powerful way to develop a skill, and that is what Small Business Essentials is all about.
These three-hour sessions are held Tuesday, June 1, Saturday, June 12, Wednesday, June 16, Wednesday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 29. Please visit our website for more details on the workshop times and the topics covered.
These classes are offered for $50 per workshop.
Brought to you by Startup425 and SCORE, Small Business Essentials is our level two curriculum which blends instruction and experiential learning for a more comprehensive and fun educational experience. One of the most common reasons that a small business fails is the lack of a solid plan, so let’s make sure that does not happen to you! We invite small business hopefuls from all over the Eastside and beyond to join us for Small Business Essentials, so help us spread the word!
Nonprofits will also find great value in these workshops. Sign up for Small Business Essentials today at: https://www.startup425.org/programs/essentials/.
|
 On May 13, 2021, Governor Inslee announced that the State of Washington has adopted the CDC’s new mask guidance for fully vaccinated people.
On May 20, 2021, King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin issued a Local Health Officer Directive that strongly urges residents to continue wearing a face mask in indoor public settings, whether or not they are vaccinated. Public Health – Seattle & King County recommends that businesses who serve the public continue policies to ensure customers and employees wear masks indoors. Read more.
Gov. Inslee also announced that the state is moving toward a statewide June 30 reopening date and that all counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 of the Healthy WA: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan effective May 18 until June 30.
All City of Kirkland facilities are currently closed to the public. Many City services are available online. More information is available at www.kirklandwa.gov/COVID19. The City of Kirkland is evaluating plans for reopening and future public events based on yesterday’s announcements and pending additional guidance from Public Health- Seattle & King County. More information will be provided when it’s available. COVID-19 information and resources can be found at: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19.aspx.
The Kirkland Fire Department is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at the following locations during the dates and times listed next week:
- Tuesday, May 25, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Whole Foods, 12501 120th Ave NE
- Tuesday, May 25, 1 p.m. - 3 p.m., Met Market, 1611 NE 68th St
- Wednesday, May 26, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. PCC, 10718 NE 68th St
- Wednesday, May 26, 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Grocery Outlet, 6625 132nd Ave NE
No appointment necessary. The vaccination brand will be based on availability and is unknown at this time. Please wear short sleeves but dress in layers as appropriate for the weather. Thank you to our grocery store partners for providing space for this service. See you there!
For more information about the vaccine pop-ups, contact the Kirkland Fire Department (425) 587-3650. For general information about COVID-19 vaccines, see https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/vaccine.aspx
108th Avenue Northeast – Houghton/Lakeview
Drivers along 108th Avenue Northeast should expect traffic delays starting May 17 as Marshbank Construction returns to complete Kirkland’s upgrade of water and sewer systems.
Marshbank Construction will be repairing damaged curbs and sidewalk and rebuilding sidewalk curb ramps to improve the corridor’s overall accessibility for all users.
Marshbank will also pave 108th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 53rd and 68th streets.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/108thavewatersewer
Cross Kirkland Corridor – Totem Lake
A detour around the Cross Kirkland Corridor between 120th Place Northeast and 128th Lane Northeast remains in effect while Kirkland contractors use it to make progress on two of Totem Lake’s most ambitious capital projects: renovation of Totem Lake Park and construction of Totem Lake Connector pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
Totem Lake Park is expected to be complete this summer and the Totem Lake Connector is expected to be complete later in 2022.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector or www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakepark.
Cross Kirkland Corridor – Everest/Moss Bay
Cross Kirkland Corridor travelers will continue to encounter a short detour around the trail between Seventh Avenue South and Sixth Street South as construction of the Feriton Spur Park expansion continues.
The short detour will direct travelers to a protected pathway along Fifth Place South. The park’s developer, SRM Development, expects the detour to continue for five months. During that time, SRM Development will restrict parking along the north portion of Fifth Place South.
SRM Development expects to open Feriton Spur Park to open to the public in September. The new park will extend the developed section of the Cross Kirkland Corridor to Sixth Street South with 14 improvements, including a pickleball court, urban farm and the corridor’s first bathroom.
Northeast 132nd Street - Juanita
Drivers commuting along Northeast 132nd Street, between 100th and 97th avenues northeast should continue to expect minor delays while Kirkland’s Fire Station 24 contractor and Puget Sound Energy work in the street to connect and upgrade utilities for the new Fire Station 24.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/firestation24
Multiple locations - 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.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/greenways
City of Kenmore - Juanita Drive
The City of Kenmore is closing a two-block section of Juanita Drive from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays until mid-May.
Kenmore is closing the arterial between Northeast 153rd and 155th places while its contractor continues to make progress on a mile and a half of sidewalk and bicycle lanes. After 3 p.m., Juanita Drive will be open to one lane, two-way traffic controlled by portable traffic signal.
Visit https://kenmoreconstruction.com/juanita-sidewalk-project
 |
|
𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽! 😎☀️
- Open to ages 5-8.
- Camp runs 9-5pm, with extended care options available.
- Campers will enjoy exciting camp activities, which include arts, sciences, sports, games, wacky special events, and guest visitors and entertainers.
Camp themes include Summer Snowstorm, Forces of Nature, Dumpster Diving, and more! Register today at kirklandparks.net
|
 |
|
STARs Unlimited Brings the Great Northwest 3on3 Basketball Tournament to Kirkland
After a year of uncertainty, nonprofit organization STARs Unlimited is excited to announce a premiere 3 on 3 basketball tournament in Kirkland. Registration is open now, so make sure you get a spot! The Great Northwest 3on3 takes place Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, at Northwest University. This all-ages tournament welcomes youth and adults for an athletic experience that the entire family will love! The divisions range from 4th grade boys and girls to competitive and recreational men's, coed and women’s divisions. The Great Northwest 3on3 offers a 4-game guarantee, skill and shooting competitions with prizes, dunk contest, special guest speakers, goodie bags for participants and trophies for the champions.
The tournament will be held in alignment with all public health mandates, guidelines and recommendations. Please check the Stars Unlimited webpage frequently to ensure that you know what to expect on gameday. For more information, including registration costs, visit the STARs Unlimited website.
|
 |
|
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!😍
During the month of May gather your friends and family together and construct a gnome house, for fun, comradery, and prizes.
Categories include:
- Best home that honors your cultural heritage
- Most unique
- Most modern home
- Best use of foliage
- Best use of stones
- Best use of sticks
Once you create your gnome home then you will place it in a park of your choice for all to see. Submit a photo of your creation, the park location, and choice of category to tcobb@kirklandwa.gov. Prizes will be given to each category winner on June 2nd.
Criteria:
- Use all organic material sticks, stones, foliage found on ground
- Build no bigger than 12" x 12" squared
- Keep homes at ground level, off of walkways
- No profanities used in any way
- Small figurines are permitted
Register for FREE at https://bit.ly/3t2IKff.
North Kirkland Community Center
12421 103rd Ave NE
Kirkland, WA 98034
|
|
