The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on May 3, 2022. This will be a hybrid meeting, and 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 May 3 Council meeting:

Study Session – Police Body Worn Camera Update: The Council will receive an update on the community conversation on a potential Officer Body Worn Camera (BWC) program and related policies and practices. Based on Council direction provided during the study session, staff will return to the May 19, 2022, Council meeting with an updated draft policy and accompanying resolution for Council’s consideration of a BWC program. More information about the community conversation can be found at www.kirklandwa.gov/bodyworncameras.

Public Hearing – Transportation Improvement Program: The Council will conduct a public hearing for the proposed 2021-2026 Transportation Improvement Program, and following the hearing, consider approving a resolution for adoption. The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a state-mandated planning document, updated annually, listing all planned major transportation projects anticipated to be built or to compete for grant funding within the next six years.

Cross Kirkland Corridor Hours of Use: The Council will consider adopting an ordinance expanding the hours of use on the Cross Kirkland Corridor to be from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Autonomous Delivery Devices: Autonomous Personal Delivery Devices (APDDs) are automated or remotely controlled wheeled machines designed to deliver products to customers. These machines are intended to help businesses cut costs on deliveries, reduce delivery vehicle congestion, and cut greenhouse gas emissions from delivery vehicles. The Council will receive a briefing on APDDs and their dispensers and provide input on potential regulations prior to a public hearing tentatively scheduled for May 26, 2022.

Snow and Ice Program Update: The Council will discuss and provide direction to staff on the City's snow and ice response program. The primary policy questions are: Should the City’s snow and ice response level of service remain the same? Should the snow and ice response increase as much as possible within the current resource structure? Should the snow and ice response level of service increase with additional resources? Based on Council's direction, staff will finalize the plan updates and return with funding options as a part of the 2021-2022 budget adjustment and/or the 2023-2024 budget process.

Draft Active Transportation Plan: The Council will review the Draft Active Transportation Plan, receive a short briefing, and provide feedback to staff in order to move toward adoption. The Active Transportation Plan (ATP) focuses on bicycle and pedestrian connections in Kirkland’s rights-of-way that connect to activity centers, transit, parks, and to the Cross Kirkland Corridor.

Draft Vision Zero Action Plan: The Council will review the Draft Vision Zero Action Plan, receive a short briefing, and provide direction to staff. As part of the 2015 Transportation Master Plan, the Council adopted a goal of eliminating all transportation-related fatal and serious injury crashes in Kirkland by 2035. This goal includes a policy to develop a “Vision Zero” safety plan that is multi-disciplinary and focuses on innovative approaches to safety.

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 May 3 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.

King County Health Through Housing Town Hall
The City of Kirkland and King County will host a virtual town hall May 9, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. on the topic of the future permanent supportive housing site at the former La Quinta Inn in Kirkland as part of King County’s Health Through Housing program. This community meeting will focus on the terms and conditions necessary to maintain City support of La Quinta Inn as a Health Through Housing site. Meeting information and registration can be found here.

Want to keep up with what’s going on in the City?
There’s an eNewsletter for that! Browse our list of topics and subscribe to have updates delivered straight to your Inbox. Want to know what recycling events are coming up? ‘Kirkland Recycle Alerts’ is the newsletter for you. Are you a business owner? ‘Kirkland Biz News’ has you covered. Interested in what’s being built around the City? Choose updates from ‘Public Infrastructure Improvements.’

How can I contact the City with questions, requests, or suggestions?
You can always contact City staff through the Our Kirkland service portal, available on the web and mobile app. Submitting your comments through Our Kirkland ensures the right staff receives the information and is able to follow up with you.

For more opportunities to provide feedback to the City, please visit our Community Conversations page.

In recognition of National Volunteer Month, the City of Kirkland is celebrating the many volunteers who contribute throughout the year in service to the community. Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of volunteers contribute tens of thousands of hours of service through the City of Kirkland’s volunteer programs, providing a community benefit that in some years has been valued at nearly $1,000,000. In honor of Kirkland’s volunteers, the Kirkland City Council released a video expressing their appreciation.

“Volunteers are vital to a strong, thriving, and connected community,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “We are fortunate to have amazing volunteers who serve through our many City volunteer programs. Volunteers run our vibrant neighborhood associations. Volunteers are hard-working members of our boards and commissions. And even a global pandemic couldn’t stop our community members from acting in service to one another.”

Volunteers help with a wide range of projects throughout Kirkland such as monitoring the city’s pedestrian flag crosswalks, maintaining the cross Kirkland corridor trail, and weeding public areas throughout town. They also help with community events like the Juanita Friday market and keep our community emergency-ready by testing our city's emergency communications radio systems.

Additionally, Kirkland is fortunate to have a large and active force of volunteers who work hard to battle invasive plants and restore natural areas. The Green Kirkland Partnership engages the local community in the restoration and care of natural areas in City parks. In 2021, more than 1,000 volunteers contributed over 6,600 hours of service in our forests and natural area parkland. Working alongside City staff and dedicated partners, volunteers planted over 7,400 native plants and enrolled over 40 new acres into restoration.

“Throughout the year, Kirkland’s volunteers put their commitment to community into action,” said Mayor Sweet. We want to make sure they know how very valuable and appreciated they are.”

Volunteering for Kirkland is a great way to get involved, make an impact, and meet fellow residents. Positions are broad in needs; some have weekday, evening and/or weekend availability. For more information about volunteering through the City of Kirkland, please visit www.kirklandwa.gov/volunteer.

The City Council adopted a new tree code that takes effect on May 13, 2022. The new tree code includes Citywide updates to regulations for homeowner tree removals as well as tree retention standards for development. These amendments aim to achieve the main objectives identified by City Council which include reaching the City’s 40-percent canopy cover goal, providing more flexibility to homeowners, and creating a code that is more predictable for developers while at the same time slowing canopy loss.

Highlights of the New Tree Code – a brief summary of some of the key changes:

Landmark Trees
The updated tree Code creates a new Landmark Tree category for trees 26” diameter or greater subject to higher retention standards and mitigation requirements when they are removed.

Private Property Tree Removal, Not Associated with Development Activity

• Increased Tree Removal Allowances for single-family properties based on property size
• Tree Removal Notification process is now required for all tree removals
• The removal of Landmark Trees is limited to one tree per 12-months and will now require a permit and replanting at a 3:1 ratio

Tree Retention Associated with Development Activity

• Trees designated as High Retention Value (HRV) are priorities for retention. These are trees in required yards, land use buffers, and/or common open spaces, as well as Landmark Trees and Groves
• Applicants are required to pursue site plan alterations and variations to development standards prior to HRV trees being authorized for removal
• Landmark Trees that cannot be feasibly retained must be replanted at a 3:1 ratio
• More robust tree planting is required to accelerate canopy restoration after development
• Tree retention efforts will not preclude development rights like density, floor area, lot coverage, or ability to build an ADU

To review a complete version of the new Tree Code, please see O-4786.

Stay Tuned for More!
Next week, additional information on the new Tree Code will be provided, including summary handouts and tree permitting guides. Contact Katie Hogan at khogan@kirklandwa.gov if you have any questions.

In the spirit of Arbor Day, the City is excited to share that rebates are still available through the 2022 tree planting rebate program! Now in its second year, the city program provides rebates up to $500 per property for planting qualifying trees on your property.

Rebates can also cover the necessary amounts of compost and mulch during planting, as well as watering bags to help your new trees thrive in the summer.

Trees help prevent flooding in our neighborhoods, provide shade for our homes, and help filter pollutants to provide clean water for Lake Washington. Planting trees is an easy, affordable way to help the environment on your own property.

Learn more and apply now at www.kirklandwa.gov/treerebate

The Kirkland City Council adopted a Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) in December 2020, identifying more than 200 actions to make Kirkland a more sustainable, equitable and inclusive community. Despite challenges and uncertainties from the pandemic, in 2021 staff leapt to work on environmental projects big and small to reduce the community’s environmental impact. The City Council received an update on the first year of progress on the SMP at the April 19 Council meeting.

Several actions in the SMP support a city-wide decarbonization effort to reduce energy use and promote all-electric buildings that consume small amounts of fossil fuels.

On April 5, the City Council adopted a new high performance building code for larger development projects. That means future development projects in Kirkland will have less environmental impact. High performance building standards ensure that the buildings constructed through large projects are energy efficient and primarily use electricity for their operations. Next up, the City’s green building program will be updated to incentivize more sustainable construction. It is important that buildings built now are energy efficient because they will be in use for decades to come.

Using renewable energy to power our homes and businesses also helps Kirkland work towards meeting our greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. The City of Kirkland has committed to purchase all wind and solar energy for its operations – an agreement it recently extended from ten years to twenty years. PSE’s Green Power program is fueled by 96.5% renewable sources, whereas about two-thirds of electricity from PSE’s standard portfolio comes from fossil fuels. By the end of 2021, 13.5% of electricity customers in Kirkland subscribed to green energy programs, an 8% increase over 2020.

Residents can also reduce their home’s greenhouse gas emissions by switching away from natural gas appliances to electrical appliances. Heat pumps are a great technology to replace gas furnaces. Homeowners can learn about electrifying their home and replacing their gas furnace with a heat pump at the upcoming online class “The All Electric Home” on May 11 hosted by King County Library System and volunteer group Electrify Now, with support from the City of Kirkland.

Every year, Kirkland recognizes April as Earth Month to honor the value of our environment and natural spaces. As we look back on the month, the City is grateful to our amazing community for participating in actions toward a healthier planet for all. Thank you.

More information can be found on the City of Kirkland Earth Month website.

Springtime means more kids walking to school. Kirkland Police Officers and Firefighter/EMTs stopped by Helen Keller Elementary last week to greet students and families as they arrived and encouraged them to walk safely to school. It was a chance for kids to meet officers and firefighters, try on helmets, and climb through the open doors of a patrol car or firetruck.

More schools will hold their Walk to School events throughout the spring.

Walk to School events support the City’s Safer Routes to School Action Plans, which recommend 134 infrastructure improvements including adding sidewalks, installing crosswalk lights or enhancing crossings around the City to make walking safer for students in all Kirkland neighborhoods.

The Safer Routes to School Action Plans are part of the City’s Work Program and address the City Council goals of Community Safety, Balanced Transportation and Vibrant Neighborhoods.

More information: the City’s Safer Routes to School Action Plans and the City's 2021-2022 Work Program.

Kirkland’s Juanita Beach Bathhouse won the 2022 Facilities & Parks Spotlight Award from the Washington Recreation and Parks Association (WRPA). The Spotlight Awards recognize outstanding achievements by parks and recreation agencies.

The Juanita Beach Bathhouse project was completed in December 2020 after 15 years of collaboration between Kirkland’s community, the city and department leadership. The bathhouse has a Northwest, natural aesthetic inspired by the beach resort that the Forbes family operated at the location in the early 1900s. The bathhouse restrooms are open year-round and includes expanded space for concessions and lifeguards. In addition to the new bathhouse building, the project also replaced the existing children’s playground with a new accessible-to-all-abilities playground, added two new group picnic pavilions and included extensive wetland restoration and enhancements to Juanita Creek and its surrounding wetlands.

Juanita Beach Park is Kirkland’s most visited park, attracting diverse visitors from inside and outside the city. It is a prized jewel that offers enhanced community access to healthy recreational opportunities and the shoreline access while respecting the natural environment.

For more info, check out the Juanita Beach Park Guide.

Kirkland’s Taste of the World Event Wants You!

Parks and Community Services invites artists from diverse cultures and backgrounds to apply as a vendor for the upcoming Kirkland’s Taste of the World event on Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Juanita Beach Park North, 9703 NE Juanita Drive. This event celebrates fine arts, crafts, food, cultural music, dance, and more from cultures all around the world. Apply to be a vendor by May 10.

For more information, call 425-587-3350.

Calling Cross-Cultural Musicians and/or Dance Troupes
If you perform music or dance that originates in another country or that is heavily influenced by the musical traditions of a foreign culture(s) then here is your chance to show Kirkland your cultural passion!

Please contact Tracy Harrison at tharrison@kirklandwa.gov if you are interested in performing or would like more information.

At Fire Station 22 and Fire Station 27, the City of Kirkland will commission art installations that honor people of the fire service and their unwavering daily commitment to community. Fire services play a significant role in all communities, whether as first responders to major events like 9/11, or as front-line workers during global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In particular, the City wishes to honor the men and women who played a critical and unwavering role protecting the health and safety of the community during the COVID-19 global pandemic, acknowledging that the first U.S. fatality of a COVID-positive person in the U.S. at the time was believed to have occurred at Evergreen Health, adjacent to the Fire Station 27 site.

This art commission provides a unique opportunity to honor the fire department history, the legacy of community services, and to promote a bright future with themes of hope, resiliency, positivity, and inclusivity. Visual elements within the art installation can reinforce the unconditional response and community support that is emblematic of fire department services.

For more information about the art call, including the application and selection process, visit the art commission webpages for Fire Station 27 and Fire Station 22.

The City of Kirkland has several exciting positions open across our organization. Now’s the time for you to find your next role doing great work with great people. Some of our open positions include: 

Human Services Coordinator
The Human Services Coordinator will plan and implement City human services including behavioral health, physical and emotional health, abuse and violence prevention, legal aid, homeless services, affordable housing, navigation services, food and essential supplies, equity and social justice, and general wellbeing. This person will work closely with regional partners, community organizations, non-profit service providers, user groups, schools and department staff, and serves as a department and city liaison with the community, working in collaboration to meet the needs of the community.

Annual salary $80,745.60 to $94,972.80.

For qualifications and information, or to apply, see the job posting for Human Services Coordinator.

Deputy Fire Chief
Kirkland Fire Department seeks a skilled leader with excellent communication skills and experience in incident command, code enforcement and conflict resolution to head up a staff of 109. The ideal candidate will demonstrate support for other employees, including command staff, uniformed staff, and the local bargaining unit leadership. Important management attributes include the ability to make timely and informed decisions, skill in delegating assignments, approachableness, and maintaining accountability.

Annual salary: $138,444 to $180, 638 + excellent benefits package.

For more information or to apply, go to: Kirkland Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief

Parks and Community Services – Day Camp Leaders
and Day Camp Directors
Have fun at summer camp! Our Parks Department is seeking Day Camp Leaders, Day Camp Directors, Outdoor Tween/Teen Program Instructors, Lifeguards, Swim Instructors, Facility Attendants and a variety of summer camp positions.For more information and to apply, visit our open positions.

For more employment opportunities with the City, visit our Government Jobs page.

Don’t just pack a go-bag with essentials – learn how to respond when others might need help.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a hands-on training that teaches individuals how to prepare their homes and neighborhoods to respond to a disaster. Learn skills like fire suppression, disaster first aid, search and rescue techniques, assisting professional responders, responding to suspected terrorist incidents, reducing survivor stress, and preparing individuals and communities for emergencies.

This class is a combination of online lecture and hands-on training to get you ready to help yourself and your community in a large disaster.

Class Schedule

• Tuesday, May 3 from 6 – 9 p.m. via Zoom
• Thursday, May 5 from 6 – 9 p.m. at City Hall Peter Kirk Room
• Tuesday, May 10 from 6 – 9 p.m. via Zoom
• Thursday, May 12 from 6 – 9 p.m. at Fire Station 26 Conference Room
• Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Fire Station 26 Conference Room

To sign up, visit the registration page. Learn more at kirklandwa.gov/cert.

Can’t make it? There will be more classes in the future. To be notified when we have new classes and learn about other emergency preparedness plans and events, sign up for the Kirkland Emergency Management newsletter.

Watershed Ecology Field Trip for Adults

Date: Saturday, May 7
Time: 1 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Edith Moulton Park, 13634 108th Ave NE, Kirkland 98034

Are you curious about local watersheds and Ecology? Join us for a free outdoor field trip at Edith Moulton Park on Saturday, May 7.

We will explore local ecology, plants and wildlife, view aquatic insects, test water samples, discuss water as a shared resource, and learn ways that we can all keep our water abundant and healthy! A professional educator from Nature Vision will teach the class session.

The class is limited to 30 adult participants, aged 18 and up, residents of Kirkland. Class details and registration.

Stewardship Events with Green Kirkland Partnership

Join Green Kirkland Partnership this Earth Month and 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!

Check out the Green Kirkland Partnership Event Calendar to find a date that works for you!

Hazardous Wastemobile

Date: Friday, May 6 through Sunday, May 8
Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Fred Meyer Parking Lot, 12221 120th Ave NE Kirkland

Dispose of common household hazardous materials at no cost at this drive-through event in Kirkland. The Wastemobile holds one collection event in Kirkland each year, and this year will be set up at the Kirkland Fred Meyer.

Here are some tips:

• Keep products in their original containers whenever possible. Label products that are not marked.
• Don’t mix or combine products.
• Secure products so they won’t tip or leak.
• Don’t transport products in the passenger compartment of your vehicle. Cover and tie down items in truck beds.
• Please stay in your vehicle - staff will remove items from your trunk or back seat.

Check out the King County Hazardous Waste program for more details and what to bring.

The All Electric Home Webinar
Date: Wednesday, May 11
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual

Switching from natural gas to electric heat pumps for heating your home can dramatically reduce your personal carbon emissions, improve your comfort and indoor air quality and reduce utility bills.

Join the King County Library System for this online event on May 11. Find out how to electrify your home, what you should know about modern high efficiency electric solutions and how they compare to gas appliances. There will be a special emphasis on ductless and ducted heat pumps.

Electrify Now is a volunteer organization focused on accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy by empowering homeowners to embrace the advantages of electrification.

Class information and registration link.

For more events from the City, visit our Community Events page. For up to date happenings around Kirkland, visit ExploreKirkland.com/Events.

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