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Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended the July 6, 2021 City Council meeting, which took place via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. We 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: Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95 Amendments – Tree Management
The removal of tree canopy cover in urban areas has resulted in the loss of beneficial functions that trees provide to the public. Tree ordinances are one of the ways cities balance urban growth with fostering a sustainable community. Kirkland’s tree code (KZC 95) establishes a permit process and standards for the protection and replacement of trees, mainly on private property. The code does not stop tree removal related to building, nor does it allow people to indiscriminately cut down trees in Kirkland. At the July 6 Study Session, the City Council discussed the general policy direction of Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95 (KZC 95). The Council discussion was not intended for a comprehensive review of the code but was intended to focus on broader substantive issues that help inform a general framework for developing a draft code in advance of its consideration and possible adoption.
Proclamation: The month of July proclaimed “Park and Recreation Month” in Kirkland
Since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association has designated the month of July as “Park and Recreation Month” to promote building strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of park and recreation resources. As part of this month’s celebration, Kirkland Parks and Community Services will use social media to collect and share stories about meaningful or inspiring experiences in parks and recreation. We’ll also collect park and recreation stories at the Community Centers, pop-up interviews this summer as part of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan update, and at other summer events such as the Juanita Friday Market.
Business Items
The City Council passed a resolution authorizing the City Manager to undertake negotiations related to the potential acquisition of the Village Plaza of Kirkland for affordable housing purposes. Located at 11825 100th Avenue NE in Kirkland, the property has been publicly listed for sale by its owner. Increasing the amount of affordable housing of all types in Kirkland is a priority of the City Council.
Please also see the article below for an update on moorage infraction fees.
To view the Council discussions on these agenda items, visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Council/Council-Meeting-Minutes-and-Agendas/Watch-City-Council-Meetings. The full agenda packet and recording of the meeting are located on the City of Kirkland website at: www.kirklandwa.gov/council. The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
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 In order to discourage violations of the City’s moorage rules and regulations, the Kirkland City Council approved Ordinance 4762 on July 6, 2021, increasing moorage infraction fees at Marina Park. The ordinance increases infraction fees to $150.00 for all moorage violations. The fee escalates up to a maximum of $250 for repeated violations. The increased fees go into effect on July 17, 2021.
Marina Park and the associated docks are one of the Kirkland community’s most used and visited assets in the entire system. In the past several years, there has been a significant increase in moorage violations at the Kirkland Marina. So far in 2021, the City has issued over 69 moorage citations – triple what was issued at this time last year. As the size of boats using the Marina has increased over time, the current $66.00 fine is having a smaller impact on violations. The situation is further detailed in this memo.
For information about moorage at Marina park, please visit the City’s website.
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Kirkland City Hall and the Kirkland Justice Center will resume in-person services on Monday, August 2, 2021 after extended closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening of City Hall and the Kirkland Justice Center is the next step in the City’s phased reopening process which began in June with the reopening of City of Kirkland community centers, the return of summer recreation programs, and the withdrawal of the special events moratorium. This phased approach takes another step forward in September when in-person City Council meetings resume.
“We are thrilled with this forward momentum in the City’s reopening process and cannot wait to welcome the public at City Hall and the Justice Center in person once again,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we worked to ensure the health and safety of our community members and staff by restructuring the way we conduct city business.”
As throughout the pandemic, administrative services continue to be available via phone, email and online. Starting Monday, August 2, community members may visit City Hall between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to drop off utility payments, recycle batteries and lightbulbs, visit the development services permit center, obtain a pet license, learn more about business licensing, and receive other City services. Likewise, starting August 2, community members may visit the Kirkland Justice Center for police services. Mask guidelines will be determined over the next few weeks prior to reopening.
When in-person City Council meetings resume in September, meetings will continue to be available over Zoom as well to maximize opportunities for public participation. Later phases in the City’s reopening process will include the return of in-person board and commission meetings and reservable public meeting spaces at City facilities.
Please visit www.kirklandwa.gov/COVID-19 for COVID-19 updates and information about accessing City of Kirkland services remotely. For general questions about City services, please use the Our Kirkland service portal at www.kirklandwa.gov/OurKirkland.
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 As state law requires every four years, residents of the Houghton neighborhood must vote on whether the community council will continue to exist. The Houghton Community Council is recruiting interested residents to formulate the statements that will appear in the voters’ pamphlet “for” and “against” the ballot measure. One committee will prepare the statement in favor of, and one committee will prepare the statement against, the ballot measure which reads: “Shall the Houghton Community Municipal Corporation be continued in existence for another four years?”
Interested residents should contact the Kirkland’s City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3197, or KAnderson@kirklandwa.gov, for more information on the committees and how to apply. Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. July 22, 2021. The Houghton Community Council will make the committee appointments at its July 26 meeting.
The committees, which will consist of no more than three members each, will be formed to prepare arguments which are limited to 200 words. The “Statement For” and the “Statement Against” (in addition to rebuttals of the opposing statements) will appear in the King County Local Voters’ Pamphlet for the November 2, 2021 General Election. Arguments are required to be submitted to King County Elections no later than 4:30 p.m. August 10, 2021.
After the deadline to submit arguments prepared by the pro and con committees, King County Elections will email the opposing committee statement to the spokesperson identified on the committee appointment form. Each committee will then have the opportunity to write a rebuttal statement. Rebuttal statements must be submitted to King County Elections by 4:30 p.m. August 12, 2021.
Gov. Jay Inslee declared a statewide state of emergency on July 6, 2021 relating to the growing risk of wildfires, including a statewide prohibition on most outdoor and agricultural burning through September 30, 2021. Although this order includes some burn ban exceptions (for example, the use of gas-fueled stoves in some circumstances and also small, recreational campfires in contained structures on a person’s private property) nothing in the order supersedes more restrictive provisions by a lawful authority, like city or county governments. The proclamation also activates the Washington National Guard to assist in wildfire suppression efforts. Read more.
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 Earlier this month, the Kirkland City Council passed an eviction moratorium through September 30, 2021, to allow time for renters and landlords to apply for assistance with unpaid rent during this time. Financial and legal assistance are available through the City of Kirkland or one of its partners for people behind on rent or mortgage payments, and for landlords with renters unable to pay due to COVID-19.
Renters behind in rent and homeowners and landlords behind on mortgage payments are encouraged to connect with City staff to help answer questions about the extended moratorium and help navigate the programs and assistance that are available through the State, the County, and the City’s partner organizations. For help, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/housing-help or contact the City of Kirkland at housinghelp@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3326. Staff can also answer any questions about the extended moratorium.
The Butterfly will make her first appearance out of the cocoon at the Juanita Friday Market this week. Catch her…she comes with two handlers and lots of fun. www.kirklandwa.gov/PlayItForward.
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98th Avenue Northeast – Juanita
Late-night and early-morning travelers should expect lane-closures until August along 98th Avenue Northeast, between Forbes Creek Drive and Northeast 116th Street, as a Kirkland contractor prepares to repair and repave the roadway.
Lakeside Industries will be working in the roadway between 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. Search “98th Avenue Northeast repairs on www.kirklandwa.gov.
108th Avenue Northeast – Houghton/Lakeview
Drivers along 108th Avenue Northeast should continue to expect traffic delays into July as Marshbank Construction completes Kirkland’s upgrade of water and sewer systems.
The contractor’s crews are working 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. between Northeast 53rd and 68th streets to replace the maintenance hole lids they removed before they began the paving process.
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 a pair of Kirkland contractors use the corridor 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 completed this summer and the Totem Lake Connector is expected to be completed 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 is directing 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 parallel, on-street 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
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The Greater Kirkland Chamber Commerce is hosting a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Event, Thursday, July 8, at the Woodmark Hotel.
Registration opens at 11 a.m. and the event begins at 11:30.
This important summit features an open discussion moderated by Zenovia Harris, a leading facilitator of diversity and inclusion events. Harris will be joined by a panel of business partners from the Port of Seattle, Google and various local small businesses, all of whom look forward to discussion that will pinpoint and clarify best practices for DEI and provide further understanding of implicit bias. Attendees will take away resources that they can use immediately to make an impact within their organizations.
For more information, including how to register, visit: https://fb.me/e/2kSOV8e9E.
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KU Kids in July
WHO: Eastside (and beyond!) families
WHAT: On Saturday, July 10 from 10 a.m. to 1p.m., families are invited to join Kirkland Urban for the first in-person KU Kids event! Held at Kirkland Urban’s Fountain Court, Julie from Clown Buggie Entertainment will walk kids through this month’s bee-themed craft, answering questions along the way. Beekeeper Pedro Miola with Alvéole will be onsite as well to host an educational workshop to teach kids about bee behaviors and why they’re such a vital component of our ecosystem. This event is free and open to the public, and craft kits will be provided upon arrival. Families are also invited to stick around afterwards to enjoy Kirkland Urban’s water feature, with towels provided as supplies last.
TICKETS: No tickets; free and open to the public
DATE: Saturday, July 10 TIME: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
WHERE: Fountain Court, 425 Urban Plaza, Kirkland, WA 98033
MORE INFO: https://www.kirklandurban.com/events/
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TTECH Talks: Electric Vehicles
Wednesday, July 21, 6:30PM – 7:30PM (online event - register by 7/20)
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/60b65abb83629137003bf139
Thinking about buying an electric vehicle? Learn what's different about owning an EV and what to consider when choosing the right EV for you at this free online event hosted by King County Library System.
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Recycle, Reuse and Shred on July 24
Saturday, July 24, 9am-1pm (or until truck is full)
Northshore Church parking lot, 10301 NE 145th St, Kirkland 98033
Recycle household electronics and old clothes and textiles (even ripped or stained) at this free recycling event hosted by Waste Management and the City of Kirkland. Shred confidential papers and donate usable household items for reuse. Co-hosted by Waste Management and City of Kirkland. See event listing for all accepted items and event details: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/Public-Works-Department-Events/Think-Green-Recycling-Event
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Juanita Friday Market
Juanita Beach Park west parking lot
3 to 7 p.m. every Friday
The Juanita Friday Market takes place 3 to 7 p.m. every Friday rain or shine from June through September. Held at the newly renovated Juanita Beach Park, the market offers hot food, local fruits and veggies, decadent, handcrafted confections, baked goods, beautiful cut flowers and much more. We are thrilled to announce increased accessibility: new in 2021, we accept Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons for both Senior and WIC participants. The market takes place at Juanita Beach Park (9703 N.E. Juanita Drive) in the west parking lot.
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Kirkland Wednesday Market
Kirkland Downtown Association
3 to 7 p.m., Wednesdays in Marina Park
Shop for fresh fruits and veggies, artisan baked goods, pasta, handcrafted jewelry and much more...right on the shores of Lake Washington!
The Kirkland Wednesday Market at Marina Park features over thirty vendors every Wednesday. New in 2021, WIC and Senior FMNP coupons are 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 Kirkland Downtown Association. More information can be found at kirklandmarket.org.
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