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Table of Contents:
Thanks to all who attended the December 14, 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 upcoming meeting agenda:
NE 85th Street Station Area Plan: After discussing the NE 85th Street Station Area Plan during the Study Session, the Council passed a resolution during its business meeting that confirmed the City’s Preferred Plan Direction. This adopted Preferred Plan Direction formalizes the City Council’s broad vision for the transit-oriented development of the area around the future NE 85th Street and I-405 Bus Rapid Transit Station. It also outlines stated objectives for the Station Area Plan and guides the City’s future work toward achieving that vision. Examples of such future work include the drafting of ordinances, development agreements, and related code, policy, and permitting changes. This Preferred Plan Direction is not the final action the Council will take on the Station Area Plan. Council is anticipated to hold a public hearing and consider adoption of the final Station Area Plan sometime in spring of 2022.
2022 State Legislative Priorities: The Council considered two amendments to the City’s 2022 State Legislative Priorities. The City’s Legislative Priorities are those issues or topics that the City prioritizes and advocates for throughout the State Legislative Session. The Council voted to restore "support for sunsetting the Houghton Community Council" to the 2022 priorities. The Council also voted to remove from the priorities support for state funding for a feasibility study and site acquisition for a Regional Crisis Triage Center sited in north King County.
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, January 4, 2022.
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 The City Council celebrated the opening of the new Fire Station 24 with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on December 16, 2021. The new fire station, located on Northeast 132nd Street, just north of Juanita Elementary School, is the culmination of an ambitious effort to improve emergency response that began before Finn Hill and North Juanita became a part of Kirkland and that persevered through annexation, the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a City, our goal is to protect our community and to protect those who risk it all to keep us safe,” said Mayor Penny Sweet in prepared remarks. “We could not be doing this without the support of our communities and the sacrifice of our emergency responders.”
A new fire station helps emergency responders reach Finn Hill and Juanita community members in need before fires become too hot for human survival and before cardiac arrests become fatal. Firefighter/EMTs will begin responding out of the fire station on Jan. 5, 2022.
“The station is designed to protect the health of those who are responding and to empower them to be even more efficient than they already are,” said Councilmember Toby Nixon in prepared remarks. “It provides quick access to the apparatus bay from every location within the station. Responding to the lessons learned with the COVID-19 early pandemic response, it provides a decontamination room with exterior access. And it’s designed to be operational even after a significant earthquake, so our firefighters can get out of the station and respond when the community needs them most.”
Among other design elements, Fire Station 24 features a decontamination bay, an extractor that sucks contaminants out of their gear, and a sealed locker room. Airlocks prevent engine bay fumes from entering the fire station’s work and living spaces. All of these features became fundamental to modern fire station’s designs more than a decade ago when research showed that cancer had eclipsed fires as emergency responders’ most prolific killer.
“At the beginning, we only considered sites on Finn Hill, since the original vision was to consolidate both Fire Stations 24 and 25 into a centrally located station,” said Councilmember Jon Pascal in prepared remarks. “Kirkland’s leaders insisted on taking a broader view of response times, so we evaluated sites in Juanita, as well. This is how we identified the new permanent site of Fire Station 24. This was a trying process, hampered at times by a lack of money, a lack of space and a lack of political consensus. But we overcame all of those obstacles.”
Completing construction of Fire Station 24 is one of the City’s 2021-2022 Work Program items and is one of several significant investments the City is making in its fire stations. Early in 2022, the City will demolish a Totem Lake medical building just off Northeast 132nd Street near Hazen Hills Park and then will begin building a new Fire Station 27 in its place. In the spring, the City will renovate Fire Station 22, as well. And later, it will renovate Forbes Creek’s Fire Station 21 and North Rose Hill’s Fire Station 26. The City renovated Fire Station 25, off Juanita Drive, in 2018.
These renovations and relocations are some of the most ambitious tasks outlined in the 2012 Fire Strategic Plan, which prescribed 95 individual efforts for the City to better protect its communities and its emergency responders.
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 This week, the City Council awarded its Certificate of Appreciation and the Mayor’s Outstanding Service Award to Cassandra Sage for her service on the Lake Washington School District School Board of Directors for the past four years.
“The Council is grateful for Cassandra’s dedication to and advocacy for our Kirkland students and families,” said Councilmember Jon Pascal. “She spent countless hours working to improve the District's social and behavioral support systems to allow all students to be successful. She served during a period that was arguably one of the most difficult times to be a Board member, helping LWSD re-open its schools with the well-being of students and staff as the priority.”
The Mayor’s Outstanding Service Award formally recognizes individuals’ valuable contribution to the community with their talent and dedication. The award recognized Sage’s demonstrated, sustained excellence and service during COVID-19’s impact on the Lake Washington School District and educational system at large. Similarly, the Council’s Certificate of Appreciation expresses gratitude for a community member or group for their outstanding contribution to the Kirkland community. Councilmember Pascal presented both awards to Sage earlier this week.
Sage is a Kirkland resident and was elected to the LWSD School Board in 2017.
 Seattle Fire Department is sharing top safety tips for a hazard-free holiday season.
It's that time of year when the kitchen becomes chaotic. Baking is nonstop, sauces are simmering, and the oven works overtime. Suddenly, something spills, then sparks, and flames shoot up. What do you do now? How you react is critical. We'll show you exactly what to do if this happens to you. Firefighters from across the region offer important and potentially life-saving tips. And their advice extends beyond how to handle a kitchen fire. As video producer Ian Devier explains, electrical dangers, ladder accidents, and carbon monoxide poisoning are other common issues that can ruin your holidays.
Watch this video by Seattle Channel for tips to be mindful of, and stay safe for the Holidays!
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 The City has published a draft Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 5-Year Roadmap for community review. This roadmap will help guide City actions over the next several years in a variety of program, procedures, and policies. It is a part of the work of the City’s equity consultant, who conducted an organizational equity assessment throughout 2021. The equity assessment was called for in legislation adopted by City Council in August of 2020, Resolution R-5434. R-5434 committed the City to several actions related to examining and dismantling institutional and structural racism in Kirkland and ensuring the safety and respect of Black people.
To review the draft Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 5-Year Roadmap and give feedback, please visit the City’s R-5434 webpage.
This roadmap document will be discussed and adopted by Council sometime in early 2022. Public comment on the draft roadmap will be presented to the Council for consideration.
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 On Dec. 11 the King County Fire Chiefs Association hosted their inaugural Diversity and Recruitment workshop in Bellevue after over a year of planning. Though the rewards and benefits of a fire service career are many, some members of the community may not see themselves in the role of firefighter or believe there are too many obstacles in the career path. The goal of this workshop was to help address real and perceived barriers for those seeking a fire service career and provide strategies for successfully navigating the hiring process. Over 70 individuals attended, and also had the opportunity to interact with mentors from many organizations who are currently serving their community as firefighters. This workshop will be held twice annually, with the next one expected to occur in Spring of 2022. Thank you to all who participated. If you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about joining the fire department, we encourage all to attend a workshop. Watch for more information coming in the Spring. https://www.kingcountyfirechiefs.org/.
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 Unprotected pipes can freeze, leaving you with no access to water. Even worse, they can crack or break, leaving you with potential flooding and costly repairs.
How to Protect Pipes
- Remove, drain, and store hoses used outdoors. Keep outside valves open so that any water remaining in the pipe can expand without causing the pipe to break.
- Add insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces.
- Check around the home for other areas where water supply lines are located in unheated areas.
How to Prevent Frozen Pipes
- Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
- When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night.
How to Thaw Frozen Pipes
- Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater or by wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device.
See Ready.Gov for more winter weather tips.
Kirkland Green Trip is partnering with Shop Local Kirkland to encourage the use of alternative transportation (walking, biking, riding transit) while supporting small businesses in Kirkland during the pandemic. You can choose your own adventure or check out the Shop Local Kirkland website to explore your city while supporting small businesses. Participate to win a $50 gift card to a Kirkland restaurant or our end-of-year grand prize of $250 to a local business! For more information and contest rules visit Kirkland Green Trips website.
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 Join the Green Kirkland Partnership for a day of stewardship on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday, January 17th, 2022.
Green Kirkland has three events looking for volunteers and teams to help plant trees, pull invasive weeds, and nurture Kirkland’s parks in celebration of Dr. King’s legacy of community service.
All tools and training provided. All ages welcome following the youth volunteer policy on the website.
Please bring a face covering (mask) to wear anytime when social distancing is not possible at these outdoor events.
Pre-registration is requested from participants.
Follow the links below to register and learn more.
Stewardship Events on MLK Day – Monday, January 17, 2022
This event is hosted by the Green Kirkland Partnership and City of Kirkland Parks and Community Services Department.
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Market Street – Moss Bay
A Kirkland contractor begins construction Nov. 30 on a pair of intersection projects identified through the Neighborhood Safety Program that will improve walking safety on Central Way and Lakeshore Plaza Drive.
NPM Construction will build a pair of ‘bulbouts’ that reduce the crossing distance from one side of Lakeshore Plaza Drive to the other. In the spring, NPM Construction will establish overhead rapid flashing beacons near Central Way’s intersection with Main Street.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/nsp
124th Avenue Northeast – North Rose Hill
Franchised utility operators, such as Ziply and Comcast, are continuing to relocate their utilities this week 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.
After Ziply relocates its fiber optic lines, other utility operators, such as Comcast, will begin relocating their utilities through February.
The City of Kirkland is coordinating the utility relocations as part of its ambitious effort to improve the 124th Avenue Northeast corridor.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue
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 winter 2022.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector or www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakepark.
Northeast 120th Street – North Rose Hill
Drivers traveling Northeast 120th Street between Slater Avenue and the Lake Washington Institute of Technology may encounter minor traffic delays while the contractor works to complete the surface water project. The contractor expects to finish the project by the end of December.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/ne120thsurfacewater
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 until Spring. 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 November, 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.
Northeast 132nd Street at I-405 – Juanita/Kingsgate
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s contractor, Graham Contracting Ltd., expects to be on-site intermittently to prepare the site for a series of land surveys.
Drivers may experience lane-shifts and potential lane-closures on Northeast 132nd Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405northeast-132nd-street-interchange-project
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Holiday Giving Program
The holiday season is fast approaching and it is the time of year that there is a great need in Kirkland and the surrounding communities for food and gifts. Community members that are less fortunate or have had circumstances beyond their control rely on the giving from others to help support their needs.
From now through December 31, 2021, the Kirkland Fire Department stations will be drop points for the collection of non-perishable food and new gifts. The majority of the donations will go to Kirkland Hopelink with several other organizations receiving donations as well.
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Juanita Beach Park Christmas Tree Lot
Presented By: Kiwanis Club of Kirkland Time: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Date: Now through Dec. 24 (or until trees are all sold)
Place: Juanita Beach Park (9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland)
Price: Varies -$55-$190 depending on tree size.
The 2021 Kiwanis of Kirkland Christmas Tree lot is now open at Juanita Beach Park. Christmas trees from three feet to 12 feet will be on sale as well as wreaths, garland, and a variety of SEE's Candy. Proceeds will go towards supporting the Club, Kirkland Kiwanis Foundation, and local children's charities.
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