The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on June 21, 2022. This will be a hybrid meeting, and 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.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the agenda for the June 21 Council meeting:
Study Session – Station Area Plan: The Council will review the Planning Commission recommendations on Station Area Plan Phase 1 code amendments. The Council also receive an update on the draft incentive zoning program details, which the Council provided direction to staff during its June 7, 2022 meeting. Staff will seek final policy direction from the Council on the structure of the incentive zoning program ahead of Council’s consideration of adopting Station Area Plan Phase 1 code amendments on June 28, 2022.
Limiting Open Carry of Firearms and Other Weapons in City Buildings Used by Governing Body: The Council will consider adopting an ordinance relating to limitations on open carry of firearms and other weapons in City buildings used by City governing bodies to conduct public meetings and hearings. The State Legislature amended state law to make it a misdemeanor crime for any person to knowingly open carry a firearm or other weapon, as defined by RCW 9.41.300(1)(b), while knowingly being in any City municipal building used in connection with the meetings of the governing body of the City, or in any location of a public meeting or hearing of the governing body of the City during the hearing or the meeting. The Kirkland Municipal Court has jurisdiction to over misdemeanor crimes committed in Kirkland. In order to prosecute a misdemeanor case in Kirkland Municipal Court, it is the City’s long-standing practice to adopt relevant state misdemeanor statutes by reference and to expressly incorporate them into the City’s criminal code.
Kirkland Native History Document: The Council will consider adopting the Kirkland Native History Document and Land Acknowledgement Usage Guide. Throughout 2021, City staff compiled a hyper-local Native history document of present-day Kirkland in consultation with local tribal leaders and Native experts. Staff presented the draft Kirkland Native History Document at the November 16, 2021 Council meeting and solicited community feedback on the document from December 2021 through March 2022. At their December 14, 2021 meeting, the Council adopted a Local Land Acknowledgement and directed staff to return to Council after a public comment period with a final version of the Kirkland Native History Document and a Local Land Acknowledgement Usage Guide for use by City staff.
June Budget Adjustments: It is the City’s practice to amend the adopted budget at mid-year and year-end. Unless there is an immediate need, budget adjustments that represent ongoing increases to current service levels are generally not included in these regular adjustments. Rather, they are included in the biennial budget development and mid-biennial budget review processes. This mid-year budget adjustment allows for appropriation increases to reflect both unanticipated revenue and to recognize new positions and programs. In addition to changes in the operating budget, these adjustments provide an opportunity to close completed capital projects.
How to watch: Kirkland City Council meetings are streamed live and can be watched after the fact 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.
How to participate: 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.
Written comments can be submitted to CityCouncil@kirklandwa.gov. For additional questions, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3190.
For the latest information on this, please visit the City’s News & Info webpage.
Kirkland Police arrested a Juanita High School student after the suspect posted several threats directed toward classmates online. Several students reported the threats, which prompted the investigation.
On Sunday, June 12th, 2022, at approximately 12:45 p.m., several community members reported online threats being posted on Instagram. The threats of violence, accompanied by a photo of a firearm, were made toward students that attended Juanita High School. The threats were alleged to be carried out at Juanita High School in the next week.
The Lake Washington School District also received several tips about the threats being posted online. Kirkland Police Officers, School Resource Officers, Detectives, and Lake Washington School District (LWSD) staff worked collaboratively during the investigation.
The eighteen-year-old suspect was identified as a Juanita High School senior. He was subsequently arrested without incident. The suspect was booked into the Kirkland Jail on several counts of harassment, and he was formally trespassed from going onto LWSD owned properties. The suspect’s parent advised the student will not have access to any firearms going forward.
The Lake Washington School District has a comprehensive school safety program to include School Resource Officers who patrol the LWSD school campuses. Extra patrols will be conducted at school campuses this week.
The Kirkland Police Department would like to thank the involved witnesses, school staff, and police investigators for their work on this case. There are currently no outstanding suspects in this matter.
For more information about this investigation, please contact Sergeant Eric Karp at 425-587-3436 or email at ekarp@kirklandwa.gov
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At the June 7 City Council meeting, Mayor Sweet proclaimed June 19, 2022 as Juneteenth in Kirkland. Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth is a federal holiday and the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
You can be part of a Juneteenth celebration at the Eastside for All event at Juanita Beach Park on Saturday, June 18 from 12 – 4 p.m. The event will be a celebration of Black joy and liberation. Come learn about the history of Juneteenth and celebrate its significance.
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The Kirkland City Council kicked off the $12.5 million renovation of Fire Station 22 in Central Houghton with a ceremonial wall-smashing on June 14.
City leaders expect Kirkland’s contractor to begin the renovation by the end of June and to complete it by the end of summer 2023. By then, Fire Station 22 will feature a new 2,377 square-foot multi-purpose addition, three fire engine bays, decontamination rooms, bunker gear storage and other functions that are essential to state-of-the-art fire stations.
Fire Station 22 is one of five fire stations Kirkland's residents voted to renovate, relocate or build to ensure the City's emergency response maintains pace with growth within the city and the region.
This week, the City is facilitating a disaster exercise series called Cascadia Rising ’22 Kirkland Cares. City staff will be training on how to care for the Kirkland community when a major earthquake hits.
You can prepare too! We are inviting everyone to participate in our Path to Preparedness challenge.
Here are some things you can do to prepare for an emergency:
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Build an Emergency Kit. We’ve put together a list to get you started. Tailor your emergency kit to your household or situation to be even more prepared.
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Make a Family Communication Plan. Normal communication methods might not work after a disaster. Have a communication plan to help you stay connected.
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Get Training. Consider participating in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and learn how to respond and take care of yourself and the people around you.
We can’t know where we will be when a disaster happens, so being prepared at home, work, and in our vehicles is the best way to be ready.
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The 4th of July is fast approaching - time to remind people that in Kirkland, fireworks are illegal – lighting them off, selling them or even having fireworks in your possession is against the law here. That includes sparklers and smoke bombs (yes, even those). In fact, sparklers are one of the leading causes of fireworks-related injuries.
Across the country last year, sparklers were the cause of 900 fireworks-related injuries, while firecrackers caused 1,600 injuries.
In 2020, the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office received 237 reports of injuries from fireworks and 360 reported fires due to fireworks, resulting in a loss of more than $1.3 million.
But all this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy fireworks on the 4th of July – just let the professionals handle them by going to a public fireworks show instead! Neighboring cities like Bellevue, Renton and Sammamish are all hosting fireworks shows this year, so you don’t have to miss seeing the night sky lit up on the 4th.
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If you need to dispose of any unused fireworks, call Kirkland Police at (425) 577-5656 and they’ll take care of them for you. If police see you with fireworks, they will seize them and give you a ticket, so don’t risk your safety - or your wallet!
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Stepping outside City limits to stealthily light fireworks also isn’t a good idea - this year is the first year that fireworks are banned across unincorporated King County.
Though Kirkland is not hosting 4th of July fireworks this year, we still have a day of fun planned with the parade and kids’ activities! Check out Celebrate Kirkland! 4th of July
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Kirkland Fire Department (KFD) has two new Water Rescue Craft (WRC)!
Why does a fire department need water rescue equipment? Because Kirkland has more than 12 miles of shoreline and several beach parks for swimming, boating and the like. It’s KFD’s job to keep the community safe around all that water.
KFD has operated WRC since 2014, and it was time for an upgrade. The two new specialized jet-skis have underwater lighting, front and back search lights, and advanced sonar to help the operator search more effectively, day or night.
Unlike normal jet skis, these machines have custom made floatation tubes to increase floatation ability and weight capacity. The WRC can carry 3 rescue swimmers and one patient at a time.
But does KFD need Water Rescue Craft?
Yes! KFD responds to roughly 45 water rescue calls a year. This includes reported drownings, kiteboarders/paddleboarders in distress, boating accidents, plane crashes (once every couple of years), sinking vessels, structure/boat fires along the lake and hazardous material spill responses. KFD serves all the city’s shoreline and responds to nearby jurisdictions including Bellevue, Mercer Island, Seattle, Kenmore and Bothell.
In the past, Kirkland had 6-10 reported drownings a year. With the addition of rescue boards (similar to surfboards) and the WRC for response, Kirkland has only experienced 2 drownings in the past 11 years.
KFD has 64 certified rescue swimmers, 61 who are trained to operate the WRC.
How many fire departments in our region operate Water Rescue Craft? One -only Kirkland Fire Department. But we hear that another agency will also have jet-skis this year, based on the success of KFD’s unique program.
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Frog Xing! A new work of public art is coming to the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) on June 18 at 4 p.m….but where? June is national Get Outdoors Month, so get out onto the CKC Saturday afternoon and find Kirkland’s newest art creature being installed around 4 to 6 p.m.! When you find our froggy friend, take a selfie with our new resident frog.
The Kirkland Ca$h community currency program is offering a special for Father’s Day. Celebrate dad in Kirkland, get extra Kirkland Ca$h, and help support local businesses.
Still looking for gift ideas or experiences? Look no further than a Father’s Day Staycation with Kirkland Ca$h. You don’t need to travel to a far-off destination to kick back, relax and unwind. Plan an epic staycation for the special father figure in your life with weekend activities paid for by Kirkland Ca$h.
Earn additional an $50 in Kirkland Ca$h when you book by June 20th — that's $100 value for one night, $150 for two nights, $200 for three nights, and so on!
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The Green Kirkland Partnership is excited to welcome new stewards and new park areas into the program. Park areas within Spinney Homestead Park (~ 1 acre) and Highlands Park (0.55 acre) have been reclassified as natural area and Green Kirkland Stewards are getting ready to begin forest restoration in these terrific parks. This brings the total acreage of natural area in Kirkland Parks to over 511 acres!
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Suzannah and Jeff at Kingsgate Park
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Kara at Spinney Homestead Park
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Adina and Kayla at Highlands Park
Photo Credit: Suzannah C., Kingsgate Park
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108th Avenue Northeast – Central Houghton
The contractor Kirkland hired to renovate Central Houghton’s Fire Station 22 is closing the path that connects the Northeast 66th Place cul de sac to 108th Avenue Northeast. Allied Construction will maintain the path’s closure until July 2023, when it expects to complete the renovation.
Kirkland’s Neighborhood Safety Program contractor continues traffic control at Central Way’s intersection with Main Street this week, where its workers are installing a set of rapid flashing beacons.
Northeast 132nd Street – Juanita
Drivers can expect construction activities on Friday, June 17 to impact travel at Northeast 132nd Street between 108th Avenue Northeast and 111th Avenue Northeast as the contractor adds permanent road and crosswalk markings.
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.
Northeast 124th Street – Juanita
Night construction continues on 116th Avenue Northeast at Northeast 124th Street, where a Kirkland project to improve traffic flow at the intersection is in process.
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. They have encountered a number of underground conflicts that have showed some aspects of the project.
The contractor is also building a wide sidewalk with street trees and street lighting along the northwest side of 116th Avenue Northeast.
Northeast 132nd Street at I-405 – Juanita/Kingsgate
Drivers will encounter traffic control that will be in place into fall as the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) contractor begins the first phase of major construction, including the removal of trees in the project area.
Travel lanes on NE 132nd Street have shifted south, and left turns are prohibited except onto Totem Lake Boulevard for drivers traveling westbound and into Woodlake Apartments for drivers traveling eastbound.
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 intersection.
For questions about this traffic control or this project, call WSDOT’s project hotline at 425-224-2433.
Totem Lake Boulevard/Cross Kirkland Corridor – Totem Lake
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor will close Totem Lake Boulevard for 7 hours beginning Thursday, June 16 at 10 p.m., reopening on Friday, June 17 at 5 a.m. to move the first sections of the bridge span into place. There will be another closure overnight on June 23 to move the second section into place.
The Cross Kirkland Corridor detour between 120th Place Northeast and 128th Lane Northeast remains in place while the pedestrian and bicycle bridge is constructed.
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.
Date: Saturday, June 25, 2022
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Kirkland Justice Center, 11750 NE 118th St
Kirkland Police Department will host a ‘Guns for Gift Cards’ exchange as part of KPD’s ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence and unwanted firearms in our community.
Participants are asked to bring unloaded guns to voluntarily trade in for Visa gift cards and to follow these rules:
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Stay in your vehicle when you arrive at the KJC
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Gun(s) must be unloaded
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Gun(s) must be in the trunk or backseat of your vehicle, or otherwise out of reach
Depending on the type of gun(s) relinquished, participants may receive gift cards worth $25.00 to $250.00.
No registration required. Proof of Kirkland residency, such as a utility bill with an address, is required to participate.
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Rainbow on the Eastside Pride Month Art Show
Show runs through June 30
Artist reception
Date: June 18
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Centro Cultural Mexicano 7945 Gilman St, Redmond
Join Centro Cultural Mexicano for an exhibition of LGBTQIA+ artists from the Eastside! Come celebrate Pride and show your support for local LGBTQIA+ creatives. The exhibition will be on display through June 30th and will be open to the public for viewing on weekdays.
For more information, visit the event page.
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