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Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended the November 3, 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 until further notice.
Here are a few highlights from the meeting:
Study Session:
Mid-Biennial Budget and CIP Updates: City Council received a presentation from staff on the 2021-2022 Mid-Biennial Budget and continued its discussion on the 2021-2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Council provided direction to staff for changes to both the Mid-Biennial Budget and CIP to be brought forward for anticipated Council adoption on December 14, 2021.
Business Items:
Traffic Signal Pedestrian Recall Policy: The City Council discussed and provided feedback on staff’s new guidelines concerning traffic signal pedestrian recall. A final decision on the policy was not made at this meeting. These guidelines will likely be incorporated as a new standard policy in the “Traffic Signals” section of the City’s Pre-Approved Plans document.
State Legislative Agenda: The Council adopted its 2022 State Legislative Agenda that prioritized local funding and policy tools to create more affordable housing; clarifying police reform legislation consistent with Kirkland Resolution R-5434; actions that promote equity and social justice; funding for a feasibility study and site acquisition for a Regional Crisis Triage Center sited in north King County; and capital budget funding for pedestrian and bike safety projects.
Sustainability Master Plan Implementation – High Performance Buildings: The City Council received a presentation and provided feedback and direction on a near-term Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) implementation action by the Planning and Building Department related to establishing high performance building programs, codes and initiatives.
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 regular City Council meeting is on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.
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Join us for a Health Fair and Community Vaccination Event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, November 6 at Juanita High School (10601 NE 132nd St). The City is hosting this event in partnership with Public Health-Seattle & King County, Lake Washington School District, Discovery Health and several other health and human services organizations, who are teaming up to provide information, education, and vaccinations at this free event.
All three COVID-19 vaccine options (Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer) will be available for individuals age 18 and older. Only Pfizer will be offered to youth age 12 to 17, who must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. PLEASE NOTE: Pediatric doses for ages 5-11 will NOT be available at this event. Walk ups are welcome but pre-registration is recommended: https://prepmod.doh.wa.gov/appointment/en/reg/6151110962
For more details, visit our Kirkland Health Fair and Community Vaccination Event webpage at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/Parks-and-Community-Services-Events/Kirkland-Health-Fair-and-Community-Vaccination-Event.
All are welcome and in-language assistance will be available.
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Many of us have been there. It’s getting close to dinner time, and we’re in the kitchen cooking when the power goes out. Distracted by hungry family members, we make a quick decision to go out to eat or seek refuge somewhere unaffected by outage, forgetting to turn the burner off before we leave. When power service resumes and that stovetop heats up, we’re left with food unattended on a hot stovetop, a common and significant fire hazard.
Kirkland Fire Prevention Bureau Fire Investigators have investigated multiple fires over the last year that were directly caused by someone leaving food on the stove and the burner on during a power outage. Many newer model stoves have an automatic shut off feature, sometimes referred to as an intelligent stove shut off device, but the legacy models found in many of our homes do not.
The recent windy weather took down multiple trees and interrupted power service in different areas of our city, and more winds are headed our way in the upcoming winter months. When the power goes out, always remember to shut off all major appliances, including your stove, oven and space heaters. For added safety, unplug smaller appliances, like hairdryers and curling irons, to avoid damage from power surges.
Make this the first thing that you do when you’re faced with a power outage! When those lights go out, grab your flashlight and shut off all your stovetop burners, click off your oven and unplug those space heaters.
For more information about Fire Prevention in Kirkland, visit the Fire Prevention Bureau's webpage. For more tips on how to safely navigate a power outage, visit: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/power-outage.html.
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Kirkland’s progress toward a walkable, vibrant and green Totem Lake achieved a major milestone this summer, when the City completed construction on Totem Lake Park and the Willows Road Regional Trail Connector.
To document this progress, the City released a short video this week that defines the vision for Totem Lake and highlights some of the projects that are helping to manifest that vision.
To watch the 90-second film, visit https://youtu.be/IJyOvmE0UKY.
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As we move into November, more winter weather is right around the corner. Now’s a great time to prepare your vehicle for potential freezing and snowy conditions.
Tips for winterizing your vehicle:
- Test vehicle’s battery; its power drops as the temperature drops.
- Make sure the cooling system is in good working order.
- Check the freeze protection level of your antifreeze liquid and make sure it’s effective for the coldest temperature expected in the Puget
Sound region.
- Add wiper fluid rated for -30 degrees.
Keep your gas tank at least 50% full to avoid gas line freeze.
- Have winter tires with a deeper, more flexible tread put on your vehicle.
- If using all-weather tires, check the tread on them and replace if less than 2/32 of an inch.
- Check the tire pressure; it drops as the temperature drops.
- Check your wiper blades and replace if needed.
Also, remember to keep your vehicle emergency kit fully stocked.
When in doubt, don’t go out. While you can prepare for driving in ice and snow, you can’t entirely safeguard yourself. Watch the weather forecasts, and if local authorities urge you to not drive, stay home if you can.
For more seasonal safety tips visit https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/winter/driving.
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The City of Kirkland is hosting an online meeting 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 9 to receive your input on the draft multimodal transportation improvements that were developed based on the input received during the NE 128th Street Multimodal Corridor Study stakeholder meetings and the first community meeting in June. NE 128th Street is a key multimodal corridor that connects the Kingsgate Park and Ride, I-405 direct access ramps and flyer bus stops, Totem Lake Transit Center, and EvergreenHealth Medical Center. The goal of this project is to create an attractive, multimodal corridor that allows NE 128th Street to better facilitate transit connections and be an appealing and safe place for people walking, bicycling, taking transit and driving through the neighborhood. Please join us as we share and discuss the proposed improvements for this vital corridor!
For more information about this project visit the project webpage.
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During the month of November, extra yard waste is FREE in Kirkland! Fill your gray cart first, then put out extra leaves in paper bags or durable containers labeled "yard waste." (Up to 5 per collection day.) Plastic bags are not accepted. We appreciate your help clearing leaves from your storm drains!
For more information on how to put out your extra yard waste, visit our webpage: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Trash-Recycling-Compost
124th Avenue Northeast - North Rose Hill
Puget Sound Energy is relocating gas lines this week and next along 124th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 116th and 124th streets.
Crews are working from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. this week and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through mid-November.
After Puget Sound Energy relocates its gas lines, other utility operators, such as Comcast and Ziply, will begin relocating fiber optics lines through February.
The City of Kirkland is coordinating the utility relocations as part its ambitious effort to improve the 124th Avenue Northeast corridor.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue
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 major work in the road this week as Kirkland’s 132nd Square Park contractor connects a new park sewer line to the infrastructure underneath 132nd Avenue Northeast.
The contractor will attempt to maintain two travel lanes for vehicles, and bicycles will merge with vehicle traffic. If necessary for the safety of construction workers, flaggers will direct traffic through a single, alternating lane.
Road work is permitted between 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
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
Northeast 124th Street and Totem Lake Boulevard
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor is planning to close a short section of Northeast 124th Street and Totem Lake Boulevard between midnight and 4 a.m.
Kraemer North America plans to close both streets near their intersection so it can move a crane from the south side of the intersection to the north side.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector
Totem Lake Boulevard – Totem Lake
The Cross Kirkland Corridor’s bypass trail remains closed for a few days this week, just south of its intersection with Northeast 124th Street.
The walking and bicycling detour routes 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.
The Totem Lake Connector is expected to be complete in winter 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 2022. 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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Green Kirkland Stewardship Event at Windsor Vista Park!
Thursday, November 11, 2021 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pre-registration is requested for all Green Kirkland events.
Face coverings: Please bring and wear a face covering at times when physical distancing cannot be maintained at outdoor stewardship events.
Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants, and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. With your help, this park with have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come!
All experience levels and ages are welcome following the safety and event guidelines. Tools and training are provided. Events are 100% outdoors and occur rain or shine!
For general information about what to expect at Green Kirkland events visit the ‘What to Expect Page'.
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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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Kirkland Winter Market
Presented By: Kirkland Downtown Association
Dates: November 13 and December 11, 2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Place: 25 Lakeshore Plaza (Marina Park)
Price: Free
Join the Kirkland Downtown Association at Kirkland Urban on November 13 and December 11 for the Kirkland Winter Market! Shop for winter produce, dried flowers, artisan foods, and homemade crafts. Get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting local businesses, passionate vendors and local craft-makers!
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2021 Eastside Virtual Job Fair
Thursday, November 18, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Pre-registration required (Online Event)
Please join us for the Eastside Virtual Job Fair hosted by WorkSource Seattle-King County in partnership with eastside cities including Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, Bellevue and Renton. This event is open to the public at no cost. Registration is required before the event.
WorkSource is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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