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The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on April 19, 2022. This will be a hybrid meeting and the first in-person opportunity for members of the public to attend in the Council Chamber since the beginning of the pandemic. Some Councilmembers will be attending in-person and some may attend remotely.
Community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom. Limited socially distant seating will be available in the Council Chamber, as well as some limited overflow seating.
Members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so in-person or via Zoom during the “Items from the Audience” part of the agenda. That part of the agenda occurs at the beginning of the Council’s business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Information on the updated comment sign up process to provide comment to the City Council, and on attending the meeting virtually, is available on the City Council webpage.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the agenda for the April 19 Council meeting:
Study Session – Development Services Fee Update: City staff will present recommendations to Council on various changes to development fees. This study session is part of a larger review process that the Council has engaged in, beginning with the February 1, 2022, Council Study Session. The City conducts a development fee study every three to four years, usually alongside the budget process. This current fee study will inform the creation of the City’s 2023-2024 Budget and is exploring full cost recovery for permit/plan review fees. Staff are seeking Council feedback on the proposed next steps for this development fee study.
Study Session – 2022-2044 Comprehensive Plan Update: City staff will present to Council an overview of the Comprehensive Plan update scheduled for 2022-2024. This is a major update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which sets forth the vision and goals for Kirkland’s future of the next 20 years. Council will provide feedback to staff on the scope of work, key themes, and objectives for the process. This was originally scheduled to be presented at the February 15, 2022, Council meeting, but the item was postponed due to time constraints.
City Owned Unmanned Aircraft System Policy: The Council will consider a one-year Public Safety Unmanned Aerial System (“UAS”) test program. During the proposed one-year testing period, the UAS program would be utilized by three departments: Fire, Police, and Public Works. The Council first discussed a proposed drone program in June 2021. During that discussion, the Council discussed the importance of balancing public health and safety needs with the privacy and other constitutionally protected rights of community members.
Sustainability Master Plan First Annual Report Card: City staff will present a progress report on the City’s Sustainability Master Plan. The Sustainability Master Plan was adopted by the City Council in December 2020. The Plan has eight focus areas that include over 200 possible actions to implement with suggested timelines, beginning over a 10-year timeline. This annual report to the Council will provide an update on actions the City has taken thus far and will help the community understand ongoing projects and how they can be involved.
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 April 19 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.
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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Want to explore the topic of Autonomous Personal Delivery Devices?
Autonomous Personal Delivery Devices (APDDs) are wheeled machines designed to deliver products to customers. The City of Kirkland is studying these devices and considering any concerns from the community. City staff will be facilitating small group meetings for deeper discussion around APDDs. Sign up and learn more at on the City’s website.
 What’s new at Cedar Hills Regional Landfill?
King County’s Solid Waste Division is hosting an online meeting on Wednesday, April 27 from 6 – 8 p.m. via Zoom. The community will learn and get to ask questions about current and planned construction projects, environmental monitoring activities, and operational activities. More information about our regional landfill can be found on King County’s website.
For more opportunities to provide feedback to the City, please visit our Community Conversations page.
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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 The City received service of the lawsuit regarding King County’s purchase of La Quinta Inn for permanent supportive housing filed by the Keep Kids Safe organization on Monday, April 4.
Upon review, the complaint is without merit. The allegations against the City that the Kirkland City Council did anything illegal or in secret are simply false. No violations of the Open Public Meetings Act occurred by any Kirkland City Councilmember.
We are confident that the court will dismiss these speculative, unfounded claims against the City.
The Council prides itself on being an open, transparent, and accountable government. We have received recognition for being so from both the State Auditor’s Office and the Washington Coalition for Open Government.
We are disappointed that the plaintiffs in this case, by asserting without evidence that the City violated the Open Public Meetings Act, seem willing to jeopardize the confidence that Kirkland’s residents and businesses have in their City and its government. At the same time, however, we want to make it clear we hear and understand the concerns members of our community have expressed about this proposed use.
Anyone interested in the facts and circumstances of King County’s decision to purchase the La Quinta Inn and the City’s role related to permanent supportive housing in Kirkland is encouraged to visit the City’s comprehensive informational Health Through Housing webpage, which outlines in detail each stage of that process.
The Council remains committed to the County’s purchase of La Quinta with the public outreach and proper agreement terms and conditions outlined in Resolution R-5522, adopted by the Council on March 1, 2022. Resolution R-5522 and the terms and conditions were created in response to the numerous public comments the City has received through virtual stakeholder meetings, emails, phone calls, and testimony at City Council meetings. Additionally, City staff have sent email notifications to thousands of email subscribers and have responded to hundreds of direct inquiries from community members.
Both the Council and City staff, at our direction, have been transparent in this process and will continue to be. The Council remains committed to helping ensure that Kirkland’s efforts to support the provision of housing for individuals experiencing homelessness occurs on a basis that helps address this urgent societal challenge while also protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of our community, including particularly our children.
As we have stated from the outset, we will conduct additional, robust public outreach to help ensure that community concerns are addressed in the agreements between the City and the County referenced in Resolution R-5522. This effort will continue at our City Council town hall in early May and in subsequent months. We encourage community participation in this effort.
Sincerely,
Mayor Penny Sweet
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 Happy Earth and Arbor Month! Trees are one of Kirkland’s greatest natural assets, not only in our local forests but also in our neighborhoods and in our yards. Kirkland is a Tree City USA and the City continues to restore our urban forest and natural areas through the Green Kirkland Partnership program.
You can lend a hand to keep our forests healthy in Kirkland by volunteering at a Green Kirkland Partnership stewardship event at a park near you! Check out the Green Kirkland calendar to register and for more details.
You can also help improve our urban forest on your own property. Did you know that the City of Kirkland has a tree rebate program? You can receive rebates up to $500 for planting qualifying trees on your property! Learn more at kirklandwa.gov/treerebate
Trees are the workhorses of our landscape, quietly providing many benefits to the environment and our daily lives. These benefits include:
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Trees clean our water. Trees capture rainwater in their canopy and roots slowing the flow of rainwater runoff, which reduces flooding and erosion.
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Trees keep us cool. Buildings shaded by trees need less energy for cooling, reducing utility bills in the summer. Streamside trees help keep the water cool for fish and other aquatic wildlife.
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Trees clean the air we breathe. Trees are natural air filters! Leaves collect dust and other particulates from the air, reducing pollution that can damage our lungs.
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Trees improve our mental health. Feeling down? Take a walk in the woods. Research studies show that access to nature and green space yields greater mental health overall.
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Trees fight climate change. Trees help reduce the effects of climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the air, storing carbon in the trees and soil, and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere.
So, when you walk by your favorite tree, give it a hug, a high five, and a thank you!
Every year, Kirkland recognizes April as Earth Month to honor the value of our environment and natural spaces. The City, partner organizations, and community volunteers are offering many opportunities for the Kirkland community to contribute to our city's environment and learn about more sustainable ways to live. Join us to celebrate Earth Month and visit the City of Kirkland Earth Month website for more information!
Photo Credit: Andy Watson
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Is your business still struggling from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic? Apply today for Kirkland’s Small Business Relief Program. The deadline has been extended and applications will be accepted through April 21 at 5 p.m. The program offers up to $8,000 in grant funds for Kirkland’s small businesses.
The goal of the Small Business Relief Program is to help keep Kirkland’s small businesses with demonstrated need pay expenses and cover cost increases caused by the COVID-19 health emergency. Detailed eligibility requirements and application can be found www.kirklandwa.gov/SBRP. For questions, please email KirklandBusinessRelief@livestories.com or call 1-855-582-FWRD (3973).
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 Hunter Woldseth is our full-time Animal Control Officer under the City’s Animal Services Program. Born and raised in Washington, his love for animals started early - growing up on a farm in Snoqualmie Valley with livestock, chickens, dogs and cats.
Officer Woldseth’s mission is to look out for the well-being of Kirkland’s pets, and reminds pet owners that:
- He gives lost pets a free ride home! If properly licensed, pets can be easily identified by their license number and brought home
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Licensing your pet is required by law in Kirkland
- There are three ways to license your pet: online, in person or by mail
- You could be fined $250 for an unlicensed pet
- Under the active state COVID-19 Emergency Proclamation, Animal Services is waiving late fees for pet licensing and proof of rabies vaccination is not required if it’s unavailable at the time of licensing.
Pets are legally considered property, so Officer Woldseth won’t take your pet from you because it’s unlicensed. Getting your pet licensed will mean he can return them to you that much faster!
Other ways Officer Woldseth and Animal Services help the community:
- Provide Pet Shelter – the City contracts with Everett Animal Shelter for stray and lost pets if owners can’t be reached immediately
- Address Animal Control issues – about barking dogs, off-leash dogs and animal neglect, but also assist local wildlife concerns
- Answer your general pet questions
Though it’s not a focus of his position, Officer Woldseth also helps injured wild animals – he’s taken a hurt seagull to PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) and coordinated with wildlife facilities to help other injured animals, such as a wild rabbit and even a bat.
A few reminders from Officer Woldseth:
- If you don’t report a dog bite, a potentially dangerous dog, an animal cruelty case or other pet issue, then he can’t help you or your neighborhood find a solution.
- Dogs in Kirkland are required to be on a leash at all times, unless they are in designated off-leash areas.
- Cats are more likely to get rabies than dogs, so it’s very important that both cats and dogs get their rabies vaccinations.
For information about Pet Licensing and other Animal Services, go here.
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 To help answer your general development and permitting questions, the City of Kirkland Development Services now provides virtual appointments with Planning and Building, and Public Works staff.
Have questions about code compliance? Permits? Sidewalks? Our staff are happy to offer this convenient service and answer your general questions regarding Kirkland zoning, building, and development requirements.
Through this service, Planning and Building, and Public Works staff are available to assist you from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointments are in 15-minute increments using Microsoft Teams.
Since the launch of our program, we have helped almost 300 community members receive answers to their questions without needing to come into City Hall. This helps keep our community safe while providing excellent - and convenient - customer service.
For a short demonstration on how you can make an appointment, watch our video: In English here and En Espanol. For more information and to make an appointment, visit our Virtual Appointments webpage.
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The City is hosting a BloodWorksNW blood drive on May 4 and 5 at City Hall, Peter Kirk Room (use lower south entry). The gift of an hour of your time and a pint of blood is needed by our Pacific Northwest hospitals. Your donation will be used by those fighting cancer, those surviving traumatic accidents, and by organ transplant patients.
Someone’s tomorrow needs a blood donor today!
What to remember for your blood donation:
- Drink water and eat a healthy meal beforehand
- Please arrive with a photo ID
- Fill out a Donor QuickPass on day of appointment
- Masks and appointments required
- No guests or people under age 16 permitted onsite
- See COVID safety measures
- Please do not donate if in the past 14 days you have had any symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive diagnosis of COVID-19
For questions, call 1-800-398-7888 or email schedule@bloodworksnw.org. To book an appointment, click here.
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Northeast 75th Street and 128th Avenue Northeast – North & South Rose Hill
The City of Kirkland is encouraging drivers to use caution this week while navigating through three Rose Hill intersections that have changed recently—two in South Rose Hill and the third in North Rose Hill.
The City recently converted to a four-way stop what was previously a two-way stop at 128th Avenue Northeast’s intersection with Northeast 95th Street.
At Northeast 75th Street’s intersections with 122nd and 124th avenues northeast, the City ‘flipped’ the stop signs so traffic on 122nd and 124th avenues northeast must stop at the intersection. Traffic on Northeast 75th Street, meanwhile, can continue through the intersection without stopping.
These planned changes are part of the City’s plan to transform the Northeast 75th Street and 128th Avenue Northeast corridors into Neighborhood Greenways, where walking and bicycling are the priority transportation modes and driving is the alternative.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/greenways
Northeast 124th Street – Juanita
Drivers will continue to encounter construction on 116th Avenue Northeast at Northeast 124th Street, where a Kirkland contractor is improving traffic flow at the intersection.
Interwest Construction is working from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday to create a new southbound right-turn lane from 116th Avenue Northeast onto Northeast 124th Street. The contractor is also building a wide sidewalk with street trees and street lighting along the northside of 116th Avenue Northeast.
Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/116th-Ave-NE-RTL
Northeast 132nd Street – Juanita
Drivers will continue to experience lane-shifts and uniformed police officers controlling the intersection this week and next at Northeast 132nd Street’s intersection with 108th Avenue Northeast, where a Kirkland contractor is building a new right turn lane.
Kamins Construction has established a pedestrian detour that will direct people who are walking around the construction. People who are riding bicycles will merge with traffic.
The City is building this right turn lane to increase vehicular capacity at the intersection to support effective functionality of the new Interstate 405’s Northeast 132nd Street interchange.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/ne132ndstreet
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
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 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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Celebrate Earth Day at Kirkland Urban
Date: Friday, April 22
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Urban
Kirkland Urban is hosting an electronics collection bin in partnership with 1 Green Planet. A bin will be placed inside the 400 Building on April 22nd from 11-1pm and during the Be Well event on April 23rd from 10-1pm. On Earth Day, in partnership with ForestNation, attendees who donate recyclable electronics will receive a complimentary tree kit. Kirkland Urban will also provide products made from KU’s rooftop beehives including honey, soap, and candles. Attendees will have the opportunity to enter into the “Name the Queen” contest for 2022. For more information, visit the event page.
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Stewardship Events with Green Kirkland Partnership
Join Green Kirkland Partnership this Earth Month help our parks and natural areas thrive 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.
All experience levels and ages are welcome following the safety and event. Tools and training are provided. Events are 100% outdoors and occur rain or shine!
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Oral Cancer Walk for Awareness
Date: Saturday, April 30, 2022
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland 98034
Join the Oral Cancer Foundation's efforts to raise awareness for new research, educational programs, and support oral cancer survivors. At 9 a.m. will be registration and free oral cancer screenings. The Awareness Walk will begin at 10 a.m.
For more information, visit the event page
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