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The Kirkland City Council’s next meeting is on March 1, 2022 – here’s a preview of some of the agenda items:
Study Session – Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Plan Update: Staff from the Parks & Community Services Department and the City’s consultant will provide a presentation on the executive summary, goals and objectives of the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) Plan. 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. City staff and consultants have been working since June 2021 on engaging the community to update the PROS Plan. The Council is anticipated to review the final PROS Plan for potential adoption in May 2022.
Public Hearing on Emergency Moratorium on Autonomous Personal Delivery Devices: The Council will conduct a public hearing on the City’s emergency moratorium regarding permitting and use of autonomous personal delivery devices in the City. Because this new technology was raising more questions for staff than it could answer, the Council adopted an emergency 6-month moratorium by unanimous vote in February. The moratorium places a temporary ban on permits and applications related to autonomous personal delivery devices and their dispensers. The moratorium is intended to give the City time to conduct the necessary review and analysis needed to enact local regulations intended by state law.
Potential Changes to Development Services Fees: Council will review proposed changes to both Building Permit and Fire Plan Review fee schedules. This is part of a development fee study that is looking at exploring full cost recovery for development services fees. The City conducts a development fee study every three to four years, usually alongside the 2-year budget process. The current fee study will inform the development of the 2023-2024 Budget.
2-Year Planning Work Program: The Council will give direction to staff about the proposed 2023-2024 Planning Work Program, which covers the Planning and Building Department’s work over the next three years on long-range planning projects that will help shape the future of Kirkland. This item was originally scheduled for the February 15 Council meeting but was rescheduled due to time constraints at that meeting. The Council is anticipated to adopt the final work program at a future meeting.
100th Avenue NE Roadway Improvements – Project Update: Staff will provide an update to Council about the 100th Avenue NE Roadway Improvements Project. This project provides safety, capacity, and surface water control improvements on 100th Avenue NE between NE 139th Street and NE 145th Street. The project has encountered an unanticipated issue, and staff will seek Council direction on how to proceed.
Exploring Potential Park ballot measure for November 2023: The Council will consider updating the 2021-2022 Priority Goals and City Work Program to include, “exploring potential comprehensive Park ballot measures for placement on the November 2023 ballot.” This item was originally scheduled for the February 15 Council meeting but was rescheduled due to time constraints at that meeting.
Meeting details:
The regular business meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and is preceded by a 5:30 p.m. study session. The agenda for the March 1 meeting will be available on the City website prior to the meeting on the Kirkland City Council agendas webpage. You can also receive meeting agendas in your inbox by subscribing to “City Council Agendas” on the Kirkland email lists subscription page. Please note: City Council meetings will remain virtual until further notice.
How to watch:
Watch Kirkland City Council meetings on the City of Kirkland Facebook page, on the City YouTube channel, or streamed live on the City website. Meetings are also televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Ziply Cable Channel 31.
How to participate:
Council will accept live spoken commentary under 'Items from the Audience' or ‘Public Hearings’ at regular meetings via Zoom audio/video on a computer or telephone connection. The connection links are provided on each individual meeting agenda. Please see www.kirklandwa.gov/council for more information on how to provide spoken comments. Written comments can be submitted to CityCouncil@kirklandwa.gov. For additional questions, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3190.
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The City highly values community involvement in our decision making. To help encourage you to get involved, we’re launching this new section of This Week in Kirkland. The “Community Conversations” section will highlight some of the current opportunities for Kirkland community members to get involved in decisions that affect them. Do any of these interest you? Please join the conversation - we want to hear from you!
Help guide how the City protects our water quality
The City of Kirkland has posted its draft Stormwater Management Program Plan and invites community members to review and submit comments or suggestions by March 1, 2022. Read the draft plan online at www.kirklandwa.gov/stormwater. Comments can be provided via e-mail to stormwater@kirklandwa.gov.
How can we improve our draft Use of Force Dashboard?
The City of Kirkland welcomes input on a draft Police Use of Force Dashboard that makes available to the public data on use of force incidents from 2016 through 2020. To access the dashboard and provide input, visit the City’s website.
Have you read the draft Kirkland Native History Document?
The City has composed a hyper-local Native history of Kirkland in collaboration with local tribal leaders and Native experts and in consultation with a variety of historical sources. This document will serve as a guide to the City to make informed choices on practices, policies, official documents and public signage.
Help shape bus service on the Eastside
King County Metro and Sound Transit are asking for input from Kirkland residents and transit riders about future bus and Link light rail service connecting the Eastside with Seattle in 2023. Visit the Proposed Network Survey to learn more and share your input by March 7.
For more opportunities to provide feedback, please visit our Community Conversations webpage.
Have other feedback, questions, or requests for service? You can always contact City staff through the Our Kirkland service portal, available on the web and mobile app.
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New changes were announced recently about vaccination verification and mask mandates from both King County Public Health and Governor Inslee, in response to decreasing numbers of COVID cases and hospitalizations. The changes don’t go into effect right away, so caution continues to be necessary.
Key info to keep in mind:
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Starting March 1: Restaurants, bars, and gyms in King County will no longer require customers to verify their COVID vaccination status.
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Starting March 21: The state is ending the mask mandate in most indoor settings, including restaurants, schools, and grocery stores. Masks will still be required in healthcare settings, on public transit and in private businesses that want to require masks. However, local public health agencies such as King County Public Health may impose stricter guidelines in their counties as they monitor the progression of COVID-19 in their communities. This means the indoor mask mandate might still be in effect in King County after March 21.
Stay tuned for more information on local rules in coming weeks.
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Interested in engaging in local government? Consider joining an advisory board!
The City has vacancies in the Design Review Board, Salary Commission, and Transportation Commission.
Learn about the workings of local government first hand, make recommendations to City Council, and have a voice in decisions that make our community great.
Design Review Board - Are you interested in spatial design? Do you envision things like pedestrian connections, landscaping, and open spaces? The Design Review Board wants you. The Design Review Board reviews projects for consistency with design guidelines and approved master plans. This advisory group works adjacent to the Planning and Building Department.
Salary Commission - Do you have a background in finance or human resources? Are you interested in promoting transparency and fairness? Share your talents with the Salary Commission. The Salary Commission sets the salaries of the Mayor and City Councilmembers. This advisory group helps ensure the compensation structure for the City’s leadership is fair, competitive, and continues to attract outstanding talent.
Transportation Commission - Do you have an interest in roads, transit, and transportation improvement projects? Excited about multimodal transportation improvements? Join the Transportation Commission. The Transportation Commission advises City Council, through the City Manager, on planning and development of transportation issues.
Boards and Commissions positions serve 4 year terms, hold regular public meetings, and are non-salaried. To apply, visit: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Boards-and-Commissions/Current-Recruitment-Positions. The extended application deadline for these three boards/commissions is Friday, February 25 at 4 p.m. Don’t wait!
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 The City of Kirkland seeks applicants to fill a vacancy on the Civil Service Commission. The appointment would fill an unexpired term ending December 31, 2024.
The Civil Service Commission is required by law, and this three-member commission oversees the hiring and disciplining of City police and fire personnel. The Commission meets the second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. As guided by state law, applicants must be a registered voter in King County, at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States or lawful permanent resident, and have resided within the city limits of Kirkland for the three years prior to appointment.
The vacancy will be open until filled, with a first review of applications occurring on Friday, March 4 at 5 p.m. To apply and for more information, please visit the current Board and Commission recruitment page on the City’s website, or call the City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3190.
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Waste Management collects Kirkland's waste under a long-term contract with the city. A new 10.5-year contract for waste collection services starts July 1, 2022. Updated services and expanded customer service hours will be available to all customers. Weekly waste collection service and next-to-cart recycling options will continue, and the items you can put in your recycling cart will stay the same. Updated services will be available starting in July, including one free bulky item pickup each year, more affordable rates for bulky item collection, longer customer service hours on Saturdays, and more.
Rates for waste collection services are increasing to cover significant cost increases for labor, waste disposal, and recycling processing. New rates will increase in two-steps and are effective February 1, 2022 and July 1, 2022. All single-family residents will receive a mailer with updated rates. You can learn about the new waste contract at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/wastecontract.
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 On March 5, in partnership with PaintCare, the City is hosting a recycling event for paint, batteries, and paper shredding at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland 98034 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You can find details about the recycling event here, and more information about product stewardship here. Can’t make it on March 5? Residents can always use PaintCare’s everyday drop-off options, which you can find near you at paintcare.org/WA.
PaintCare is a statewide program that operates under the Extended Producer Responsibility legislation that seeks to have companies provide ways to reuse, recycle, or safely dispose the products they make when consumers are finished with them. This approach is currently used in Washington to provide disposal options for TVs, computers, fluorescent light bulbs, and paint. But there are so many more items it could apply to!
These programs are usually organized at the state level. One way we support state programs is by teaming up to improve access to our community. Kirkland also supports existing Extended Producer Responsibility programs and efforts to start new ones, such as a recycling program for batteries being considered during the current legislative session under HB 1896. Kirkland's Sustainability Master Plan identifies supporting programs like these as a way that the City can help develop a circular economy that minimizes waste.
Read more about product stewardship on the City’s website.
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The City is partnering with Catholic Community Services to hire the first full-time Street Outreach Clinician to support unhoused residents living in Kirkland. This position focuses on building relationships with residents experiencing homelessness, connecting them with the resources they need, including housing. This position is part of the City’s commitment to helping ensure our community is safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all, including neighbors who are unhoused. For more information and to apply, visit the Catholic Community Services website.
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness and in need of resources, please notify the City using Our Kirkland or email housinghelp@kirklandwa.gov.
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At the February 1 City Council meeting, the Mayor, on behalf of the full City Council, proclaimed February 2022 Black History Month in Kirkland. During Black History Month, Kirkland joined many other governments, businesses, and organizations in celebrating the extraordinary achievements and contributions made by Black people to the social, artistic, cultural, political, economic, spiritual, and national advancement in the United States and beyond.
This week, as Black History Month comes to a close, we recognize Pacific Northwest local notable figures Quincy Jones, Dr. Alice Augusta Ball, and Vivian Leona Caver, featured in the image above, and detailed on the City’s Facebook page.
Though February is coming to a close, the City encourages all Kirkland community members to join in this conversation and celebration all year long. By coming together, we can create the “beloved community” envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To learn more about the exceptional contributions of Black Americans, community members may visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture website. The Museum has virtual exhibitions, online collections, and an active blog of stories and articles.
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 Are you an artist over the age of 50? The Kirkland Senior Council is hosting its 12th Annual Art Show and welcomes entries from seniors 50+. The art show will run from May 5 to 25, 2022, at the Kirkland Merrill Gardens.
Categories for the show include:
- Oil & Acrylics
- Watercolor
- Drawing and Pastels
- Quilts
- Photography
- Other Media
If you would like more information or would like to enter this event, please contact Penny Kahn at (425) 761-5489.
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Northeast 132nd Street – Totem Lake
Construction on Fire Station 27 has closed the parking lot that once connected Northeast 132nd and 128th streets. As such, the City is encouraging drivers to use the surrounding streets—rather than the adjacent parking lot—to reach their destinations. The City is building a new fire station on Northeast 132nd Street to improve response times and protect firefighters’ health.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/firestation27
Market Street – Moss Bay
All aspects of the Market Street and Central Way intersection remain open to pedestrian and vehicular traffic while a Kirkland contractor awaits the end of a labor dispute that has halted the delivery of concrete to construction projects throughout the region.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/2020nsp
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 generally working from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but may work some nights from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. After Ziply relocates its fiber optic lines, other utility operators, such as Comcast, will be relocating their utilities through February.
The City of Kirkland is coordinating the utility relocations as part its ambitious effort to improve the 124th Avenue Northeast corridor with five automotive lanes, wider sidewalks and elevated bicycle lanes.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue
Cross Kirkland Corridor – Totem Lake
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor will maintain the detour around the Cross Kirkland Corridor between 120th Place Northeast and 128th Lane Northeast while construction on the pedestrian and bicycle bridge remains in suspension.
Maintaining the detour helps the City of Kirkland avoid the costs it would incur if it ordered Kraemer North America to restore the Cross Kirkland Corridor’s permanent route during the work-stoppage and then to re-establish the detour when work resumes.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector
Northeast 132nd Street at I-405 – Juanita/Kingsgate
Drivers may encounter single lane-closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. this week on and around Northeast 132nd Street at Interstate 405 while the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) contractor continues to prepare for the start of construction this spring.
WSDOT is building a new on-ramp for northbound Interstate 405 traffic and a new off-ramp for the interstate’s southbound traffic. The project will enhance sidewalks and bicycle lanes and will create roundabouts at the ramps’ Northeast 132nd Street intersections. For questions about these closures, call WSDOT’s project hotline at 425-224-2433.
Visit https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405northeast-132nd-street-interchange-project
Sixth Street – Moss Bay
Drivers can expect intermittent delays on Sixth Street, east of Kirkland Urban, while private developers prepare Sixth Street’s intersection with Fourth Street for improvements that include traffic signal upgrades and a new right turn-lane. The concrete drivers’ strike is likely to delay completion of the work.
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 the park is completed. The concrete drivers’ strike is delaying completion of the park. During that time, SRM Development will continue to 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 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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The Life of Peter Kirk
Date: Sunday, March 13
Location: Online Event
Times: 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ages: 18 and older
King County Library will be hosting an event with Saundra Middleton, author of The Pioneering Life of Peter Kirk. While conducting research for her book, Saundra Middleton found that the American perception of the man credited for starting the town of Kirkland greatly differed from how he is remembered in England. One is based on failure, the other, success. At the heart of both versions of Peter Kirk is his steel mill, Moss Bay Hematite Iron & Steel Company. Join a fascinating discussion with Saundra about "The Two Peter Kirks." Kirkland historian and author Matthew McCauley will help to moderate.
Register online at the KCLS Events page.
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