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Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended the October 19, 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. Please note: City Council meetings will remain virtual through October 2021 or until further notice.
Here are a few highlights from the meeting:
Study Session:
Equity Plan of Record Update: The City Council received a presentation by Chanin Kelly-Rae, President and CEO of Chanin Kelly-Rae Consulting LLC on the preliminary findings of the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion gap analysis and gave preliminary recommendations and comments for next steps.
Business Items:
Teen Services Update: The City Council received and provided feedback on an update on the City’s provision of programs and services to teens.
Solid Waste Contract Procurement—Rates Discussion: The City Council received a presentation about the preliminary retail rate increase options related to the solid waste rate proposal submitted by Waste Management, Inc. and provided direction on the data to staff on several solid waste rate policy questions that will inform the final retail rate proposal which will be decided at a later date.
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. A special City Council meeting is scheduled for October 26, 2021. The next regular City Council meeting is on Wednesday, November 3, 2021.
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The City of Kirkland invites all community members to participate in a survey on parks, open spaces and recreational opportunities in Kirkland. Access the survey at https://playitforwardsurvey.org/open now through November 11. The survey is available in multiple languages.
The City of Kirkland is in the process of updating the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan, which is a six-year strategic plan and guide for managing and enhancing park and recreation services. Community input is an important part of this process and the City has hosted multiple focus groups, interviews and community workshops since June 2021.
“This is the time to embrace the needs of our growing community,” said Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra. “Make your voice heard by taking the online survey. Your feedback will help us shape a vision for the future of how we provide parklands and open spaces, park and community facilities, and recreational programming. The ultimate goal is to provide holistic programs and services that foster your health and wellness and allow you to come together with friends and family.”
All who live in, work in, or visit Kirkland are invited to participate in the online survey to help identify strengths and growth opportunities related to parks, recreational opportunities and open spaces in Kirkland. The survey takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and closes on November 11, 2021. Survey responses will guide this planning process to imagine the future of Kirkland’s parks, recreation and open spaces. Take the survey at https://playitforwardsurvey.org/open.
The Parks and Community Services Department invites additional feedback and comments via email at playitforward@kirklandwa.gov and via our community input line at 425-587-3315. For more information about the PROS Plan, opportunities to provide input, and to sign up for updates, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/PlayItForward.
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 Last month, Public Health – Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin issued a Health Order requiring people ages 12 and older to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result to enter certain indoor and outdoor events and establishments in King County starting Monday, October 25, 2021.
This includes:
- Indoor restaurants and bars
- Arts and entertainment venues
- Gyms
- Outdoor events with over 500 people, including sporting events, concerts and performances
- Indoor event spaces rented for private gatherings, such as weddings and parties
The Health Order gives the option of a longer preparation period for smaller restaurants and bars with a seating capacity of 12 or fewer, with an implementation date of December 6.
People can verify that they’ve been vaccinated in a number of ways:
- CDC COVID-19 vaccine record card or photo of vaccine card
- Documentation from a medical record or vaccine provider
- Proof of vaccination from another state or country
- Documentation in mobile apps from healthcare providers (approved by WA Department of Health)
- Printer certificate or QR code from MyIRMobile.com
A person is considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after their second dose of Moderna or Pfizer or their first dose of Johnson & Johnson. You do not have to show identification, such as a driver’s license, when showing proof of vaccination. To find COVID-19 vaccination locations near you, visit kingcounty.gov/vaccine. Current mask guidance remains in effect.
Thank you for being patient and supportive of businesses as they adjust to this Health Order. Establishments will be responsible for checking vaccination proof or negative test status. Please plan ahead and allow extra time when visiting businesses affected by the Health Order, and be sure to have your proof of vaccination or negative test with you. For additional business resources, including tools for implementation and compliance, visit kcvaxverified.com.
General Election Ballots were mailed out to nearly 1.4 million King County voters and ballot drop boxes opened this week.
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What’s on the Ballot. As always in a local election year, it’s crowded! Voters will get to weigh-in on 15 ballot measures and 332 offices up for election. Voters should see their ballot by Monday, October 18 at the latest. Local Voters’ Pamphlets will also be arriving this week.
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Turnout. We are projecting around 46% turnout for this election, but I sure hope we can do better! For context we saw 49% turnout in 2019 and just 43% in 2017.
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Sample Messages to Share. If you have the opportunity, please spread the word about how important this election is and encourage folks to make their voice heard! You can find stock photos on our flickr page and sample social media messages here.
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Pick-up and Staffing. We will have 74 ballot drop boxes open for this election, including the newest one at UW Bothell! Boxes will all be cleaned and opened by today and our drop box van teams will begin picking-up ballots on Monday, October 18, and every weekday through Election Day, November 2. On Election night we’ll have staff onsite to close the box and manage traffic starting around 6:30pm. While we’re hopeful for higher-than-usual turnout, this election will be nothing like last year – so no need to worry about any significant traffic impacts or lines.
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Issues or Concerns. As always, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions or concerns. For those questions along with any immediate assistance needs with your box, please contact Steve Barron at sbarron@kingcounty.gov or (206) 263-0310 or Janice Case at Janice.Case@kingcounty.gov or (206) 477-4300.
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 Join the Station Area project team for a Virtual Community Q & A session on November Monday, November 1, 2021. The City is currently finalizing the Fiscal Impacts and Community Benefits Analysis and will be reporting the results of that study to City Council on October 26, 2021. The Station Area Fiscal Impacts and Community Benefits Analysis will help us answer this question:
If the City were to implement its vision of the Station Area as a thriving, new walkable urban center with plentiful affordable housing, jobs, sustainable development, and shops and restaurants linked by transit, can the City afford the investments necessary to address increased demand on public services, especially schools, parks/open spaces, transportation, and utilities, and avoid a reduction in service for existing community members and businesses?
What we have learned from the study will help set a preferred direction for the Station Area Plan. The Community Question & Answer session is an additional opportunity for you to learn more about the study results, together with public presentations to elected and appointed officials. We hope you will join us on November 1 to learn more, and we look forward to your questions. To access the Zoom meeting link and learn more about the Station Area Plan, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/stationareaplan.
As the leaves start to fall from the trees, many of us automatically grab our rakes and leaf blowers to tidy up our lawns and gardens. Consider leaving those leaves in your yard this year. You’ll provide winter cover for pollinators and other invertebrates while building healthy soil in your landscape.
Even a little space can go a long way! We know not everyone can leave the leaves on their lawn (and not everyone has a lawn). Try dedicating areas in your yard to natural habitat including spaces where you 'leave the leaves' and plant native plant species.
If you live in an apartment, condo or have other shared outdoor spaces encourage your management or association to control invasive plants, replace with native plants and other low maintenance methods to promote natural habitat.
Learn more about Leave the Leaves! at https://xerces.org/blog/leave-the-leaves.
Learn more about natural yard care at www.kirklandwa.gov/yardcare.
ARE YOU READY FOR RAIN? Heavy rains are predicted for this weekend. When it comes to flood preparation, we all have a role to play. Check your gutters, downspouts, and yard drains to keep rainwater runoff flowing on your property. Clean them often, before they clog. Please also check storm drains near your home and the surrounding area to make sure they are debris-free. Thank you!
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Northeast 132nd Street - Juanita
Kirkland’s Fire Station 24 contractor is planning on Monday to repave Northeast 132nd Street, between 97th Avenue Northeast and 100th Avenue Northeast.
Kirtley-Cole’s crews will work from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Meanwhile, the contractor is continuing construction on the new fire station and many of its amenities, such as restoring the sidewalk, building a new multi-use path and installing new traffic signals.
The City expects Kirtley-Cole to complete the fire station later this fall.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/firestation24
132nd Avenue Northeast – Kingsgate
Drivers should expect lane-shifts next week while Kirkland’s 132nd Square Park contractor connects a new park sewer line to the infrastructure in 132nd Avenue Northeast. The contractor will maintain two travel lanes for vehicles and bicycles will merge with vehicle traffic.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/132ndsquarepark
North Rose Hill
Northeast 120th Street
Drivers traveling Northeast 120th Street between Slater Avenue and the Lake Washington Institute of Technology may encounter intermittent construction activity as the contractor works to repair a section of the street. Major work will return in early November for the contractor to complete the surface water project.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/ne120thsurfacewater
Totem Lake Boulevard – Totem Lake
The Cross Kirkland Corridor’s bypass trail remains closed for a few days this week, just south its intersection with Northeast 124th Street.
The walking and bicycling detour will route people along 124th Avenue Northeast, Northeast 120th Street and Northeast 116th Street.
Meanwhile, Totem Lake Boulevard’s slip-lane remains closed while Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor continues the process of building the pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will connect the two ends of the Cross Kirkland Corridor that are separated by its intersection with Northeast 124th Street and Totem Lake Boulevard.
The City is detouring commercial trucks around the intersection.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector
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’s Totem Lake Connector contractor uses the corridor to build the pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
The Totem Lake Connector is expected to be complete in fall 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.
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2021 Kirkland Heathman - Zombie Wine Crawl - Wine Walk
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 2021
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (early admission at 5:00 p.m.)
Purchase Tickets for Event Here | 21+ over
Event website: Kirkland Chamber Wine Walks
2021 Kirkland Wine Walks a Kirkland Chamber and Kirkland Downtown Association Event
Registration / Check-in at the Heathman Hotel, 220 Kirkland Avenue, WA 98033
Parking is available around downtown Kirkland.
Grab some friends and embark on a wine adventure of downtown Kirkland galleries, boutiques, and businesses. Must Check in at the location chosen when purchasing tickets. No exceptions. Masks are required. Wine must be finished or dumped into the provided dump bucket prior to exiting each establishment.
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Volunteer on Green Kirkland Day in your Parks
Saturday, October 23rd and Sunday, October 24th for Green Kirkland Day and kick off native planting season at a park near you!
Volunteers will plant native trees and shrubs, remove invasive weeds, and mulch around the new baby plants while learning about your local park and the amazing habitat right in your backyard.
No experience is necessary, all tools are provided, and volunteers of all ages are welcome (youth volunteers please see the website for requirements). Events are 100% outdoors and generally rain or shine. All volunteers are requested to pre-register and follow the Covid safety guidelines listed on the registration site.
For more information and to register to volunteer visit the Green Kirkland event calendar at www.greenkirkland.org or visit the event pages below.
Green Kirkland Day Events
- O.O. Denny Park - Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Juanita Bay Park - Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Crestwoods Park - Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- McAuliffe Park - Sunday, October 24, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (two shifts)
This is a City of Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department program. To learn more visit www.greenkirkland.org or email Green Kirkland at: greenkirkland@kirklandwa.gov.
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Pumpkins in the Park presented by the Kirkland Downtown Association
Saturday, October 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Downtown Kirkland Marina Park | 25 Lakeshore Plaza
Pumpkins in the Park is back for its second annual Halloween themed Fall Harvest Festival! The event will highlight a pumpkin patch, professional pumpkin carver, dog costume contest, carnival games, treats, and much more. Come dressed in your favorite costume. After the festival at Marina Park, walk into downtown for trick-or-treating at your favorite downtown Kirkland merchants.
Tickets are NOT required, capacity will be limited to 500 at a time, masks are strongly recommended.
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Kirkland Health Fair & Community Vaccination Event
Saturday, November 6, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
at Juanita High School (10601 NE 132nd Street)
Please join us for the Health Fair and Community Vaccination Event hosted by the City of Kirkland. We are partnering with Public Health of Seattle/King County to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, vaccine information and education, and much more! More information to come.
In-language assistance will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Russian, and Chinese. All are welcome!
For Information Contact:
Antoinette Smith, Human Services Division
amsmith@kirklandwa.gov | 425-587-3307
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A Plant-Based Holiday Dinner
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 | 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Online event | For adults and teens
Join author and Certified Holistic Health Coach Lisa Flowers for an online cooking demo as she shows you how to create a delicious holiday dinner that will satisfy everyone at your holiday table. Hearty and scrumptious, sweet and savory, come experience Plant-Based cooking as you've never seen it before!
Sponsored by the KCLS Social and Wellness Programming Team.
For more information about this event, visit the kcls website.
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