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Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended and gave comment during the June 1, 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
For many years, a key project in the City Work Program has been the creation of affordable housing. In 2018 the City Council adopted the Housing Strategy Plan, which identifies strategies to ensure that Kirkland has a diverse range of housing types to accommodate all economic segments of the community. At the June 1 Study Session, the City Council received a briefing on Public Development Authorities (PDAs), including the function and intended projects of the Community Roots Housing PDA, and discussed potentially inviting the Community Roots Housing PDA into Kirkland to create workforce housing.
Special Presentations
During the Special Presentations portion of the meeting, the City Council joined staff in recognizing this year’s two recipients of the Eileen Trentman Memorial Scholarship, a scholarship program for City youth volunteers. Congratulations to the scholarship recipients for 2021: Nelly Mex Canul (Kirkland Youth Council) and Asher Devine (Kirkland Green Partnership). The City Council also received a presentation from representatives of the Kirkland Youth Council highlighting their accomplishments during the 2020-21 school year.
Business Items
Artwork Donation: The City Council adopted a resolution to accept the donation of an interactive wind sculpture called the Glassinator from Ms. Karen Lightfeldt for Juanita Beach Park.
Park Impact Fees: The City Council continued the policy discussion of Park Impact Fees that began on April 6, 2021 and provided staff direction on policy issues to allow an ordinance to be drafted for Council consideration at a subsequent meeting.
Snyder-Moody House Relocation: The Snyder-Moody House, located at 514 10th Avenue W, was constructed in 1890 and is proposed for demolition by its current residents who wish to build a house on the property. The City Council provided direction to staff that the funds required to relocate the house to City property would be better used for other purposes.
The full agenda packet and recording of the meeting can be found by going to www.kirklandwa.gov/council.
The next City Council meeting is on June 15, 2021.
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 The City of Kirkland is seeking public input in order to update the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan which is a six-year guide and strategic plan for managing and enhancing park and recreation services. The City will be hosting focus groups, interviews, community workshops and survey opportunities throughout 2021, including a virtual public forum on Thursday, June 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The PROS Plan provides a vision for Kirkland’s park and recreation system and establishes a path forward for providing high quality, community-driven parks, trails, open spaces and recreational opportunities for Kirkland’s residents, employees and visitors now and into the future. The PROS plan was last updated in 2015 and needs to be fully updated to reflect substantial growth and changes in the community and to the park system. A community needs assessment, an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) evaluation and transition plan, and a synthetic turf strategic plan will also be integrated into the plan update.
“This is an important opportunity to come together as a community to envision and plan Kirkland’s park system and recreation opportunities,” said Kirkland City Councilmember Neal Black. “How do you play in Kirkland? How can we ensure that our parks, trails, open spaces, and recreational facilities and programs are accessible to all? We encourage everyone to get involved in this process and play it forward for Kirkland’s parks, recreation and open spaces.”
The comprehensive parks, recreation and open space master plan will look at the existing parks, recreational facilities, programs, and services, to determine the current and future level of services for the community based on public input. The plan will prioritize the needs and desires for upgrading and improving parks, recreational facilities, athletic fields, amenities, programs, and services. The City of Kirkland has hired GreenPlay, LLC, a nationally known parks and recreation management consulting firm, to oversee the plan.
“We are excited to embark on this process with the community,” said Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra. “Together we can imagine and plan the future of Kirkland’s 600 acres of parkland and open spaces, park and community facilities, and recreational programming. It is in these spaces where we play, where we reconnect with nature, where we renew our sense of wonder, and where we come together to enjoy friends, family and life.”
For more information about the PROS Plan, opportunities to provide input, and to sign up for updates, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/PlayItForward.
 Markets Offer Fresh Produce, Baked Goods, Flowers, Crafts and More!
The 2021 Juanita Friday Market kicks off on Friday, June 4 at Juanita Beach Park and will happen every Friday rain or shine, from 3 to 7 p.m., through September 24, 2021. The market’s bounty includes local fruits and veggies, handcrafted confections, freshly baked goods, cut flowers and much more. The Kirkland Wednesday Market, organized by the Kirkland Downtown Association, opens the same week, on Wednesday, June 2 at Marina Park from 3 to 7 p.m.
“We are thrilled to start the 2021 season at the Juanita Friday Market and have an amazing lineup of vendors,” said Market Manager Robert Hezlep. “The market is more than a shopping experience: it’s a celebration of incredible produce, delicious food, fresh flowers and handcrafts – all from local farmers and artisans.”
This year, Juanita Friday marketgoers can once again enjoy hot food at the market which was paused last year to ensure the market’s compliance with COVID-19 restrictions regarding on-site food consumption. The Juanita Friday Market has also been approved to accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons for both Senior and Women, Infants & Children (WIC) participants. For more information about these programs, visit the USDA website.
The Juanita Friday Market is returning to its original home in the west parking lot of the Juanita Beach Park which has been recently renovated. The 22-acre park features 1,000 feet of shoreline, an award-winning bathhouse, restrooms, 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.
“Thank you to the community for supporting this market and for patience and flexibility as we’ve navigated changing safety protocols during the pandemic,” said Hezlep. “We’ll continue to monitor and follow guidelines so that everyone can safely shop, eat, and enjoy all that the Juanita Friday Market offers.”
The Juanita Friday Market is presented by the City of Kirkland. More information about the Juanita Friday Market can be found at www.kirklandwa.gov/JuanitaFridayMarket.
The Kirkland Wednesday Market at Marina Park features over thirty vendors every Wednesday starting June 2 and running until the end of September. WIC and Senior FMNP coupons are also accepted at the Kirkland Wednesday Market, as well as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and SNAP market match programs. Bringing local produce and goods to downtown Kirkland all summer long, the Kirkland Wednesday Market is presented by the Downtown Kirkland Association. More information can be found at kirklandmarket.org.
In 2021, the City of Kirkland in coordination with the community and businesses, is updating the Everest and Moss Bay Neighborhood Plans in the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan. Neighborhood plans are updated on a cyclical basis, typically two per year. The purpose of a neighborhood plan is to establish a vision for the next 20 years to define how to best manage household and job growth within the context of citywide goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan. Here are upcoming opportunities to participate in the neighborhood plan updates:
Thank you for your input!
Thank you to everyone who attended the City Council Listening Session last week. Over the past several months, community members have provided ideas and feedback on the future of the Station Area. The listening session on May 26 was an opportunity to voice opinions directly to the City Council and provide them with input before the next phase of the project begins. Missed the City Council Listening Session? A recording of the meeting is available here. For more information about the NE 85th Street Station Area Plan, visit the project webpage: www.kirklandwa.gov/stationareaplan.
During last night’s Council meeting (Tuesday, June 1) Mayor Penny Sweet proclaimed June 2021 as Pride Month in Kirkland.
The month of June is celebrated as Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that occurred following a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay club, on June 28, 1969 in New York City. The event became a tipping point for members of the LGBTQIA+ community in response to police harassment, sparking a civil rights movement within the LGBTQIA+ community. In commemoration of the historic event, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and allies unite to celebrate the history of Pride and commit to continuing the fight for human rights.
To help celebrate Pride Month and commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the brightly colored Progress flag flies at City Hall and in Marina Park, and either flies or is displayed prominently at various other City facilities including Kirkland fire stations and the Kirkland Justice Center. The Progress flag, designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018, serves as a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community’s commitment to be more inclusive of the scope and intersection of identities within the community.
To learn more and to see the proclamation in its entirety, visit the City's website.
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 New turf field, all-abilities playground, restrooms, and picnic shelters to be completed in 2022
The City of Kirkland has awarded a construction contract to Allied Construction Associates, Inc., in the amount of $8.35 million to make surface water and park improvements to 132nd Square Park, located on the southwest corner of 132nd Avenue Northeast and Northeast 132nd Street. Construction is expected to start July 1, 2021 and the park will be closed to the community during the estimated one year of construction. Though originally proposed to redevelop the park in phases, the community advocated to the City Council that all the improvements should be made at one time to minimize disruption.
Enhancements to 132nd Square Park include a lighted, synthetic turf multi-use field with covered dugouts, expanded parking lot, larger restroom facilities, all-abilities playground, concrete walking trail, and a surface water facility that infiltrates 48.25 acres of impervious surface water runoff. The new playground features swings, a zip-line, a play/sledding hill with integrated slide, instruments, and two additional picnic shelters with concrete plaza. The contractor will attempt to salvage the existing playground equipment for use in another Kirkland park. This will be Kirkland’s first park to have a synthetic turf multi-use field, joining two elementary school fields that the City utilizes through a partnership with the Lake Washington School District.
Responding to community interest, the City acquired a lease for general public use of a nearby open space owned by the King County Housing Authority until the park is reopened. The open space, located between 135th Avenue Northeast and 136th Avenue Northeast on Northeast 132nd Street, offers a large grassy area and a half-court basketball hoop.
Read the full news release here.
On June 3, 2021, Gov. Jay Inslee announced a suite of new incentives to help encourage unvaccinated Washingtonians to get the COVID shot. The Washington State Lottery will be conducting a “Shot of a Lifetime” giveaway series during the month of June, working with state agencies, technology companies, sports teams and higher education institutions across the state to offer a myriad of different prizes to vaccinated individuals.
Incentives include:
- Lottery cash drawings, with prizes totaling $2 million
- Higher education tuition and expense assistance
- Sports tickets and gear
- Gift cards
- Airline tickets
- Game systems and smart speakers
Those who are already vaccinated and in the WA Department of Health Vaccine Database are automatically entered into a drawing. According to the most recent data from the Department of Health (DOH), approximately 63% of Washingtonians 16 years and older have initiated their vaccinations. The state hopes that the incentives announced today will entice unvaccinated people to initiate their vaccinations and raise the statewide rate to save more lives and protect more people. Washington is set to reopen fully on June 30, or when the percentage of eligible adults who have initiated vaccination reaches 70%, whichever comes first.
More details about the “Shot of a Lifetime” giveaway can be found at walottery.com/vaccination.
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
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
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𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽! 😎☀️
- Open to ages 5-8.
- Camp runs 9-5 p.m., 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
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GET READY! How to Prepare for a Pacific Northwest Earthquake
with Author Deb Moller
Saturday, June 26, 2021 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Online Event. Register Here
For adults. For anyone living along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, the threat of a 9.0 mega-earthquake is real. Author Deb Moller puts it bluntly. “When the shaking starts, we’ll be living in the twenty-first century; when it stops, we’ll be living in the 1850s: no power, water, plumbing, phones or internet.”
FEMA recommends being prepared for two weeks of self-sufficiency after an earthquake of this magnitude. Deb Moller's handbook and this program will show you how to do just that.
In addition to being the founder of the earthquake preparedness organization, Cascadia Calling, Moller is a senior fellow at the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security-Emergency Management.
Reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities is available by request. Please contact the library at least seven days before the event for ASL interpretation, captioning services and/or other accommodation for online programs.
Send your request to access@kcls.org.
Get Ready!
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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.
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