The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on September 6, 2022. The regular meeting that would have been held on Tuesday, August 16 was cancelled for summer break.
More information about the September 6 meeting will be included in an upcoming edition of ‘This Week in Kirkland.’
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Help Inform the Surface Water Master Plan Update
Help us protect fish and wildlife, keep pollutants out of our local waterways, and reduce flooding impacts. Kirkland is updating our Surface Water Master Plan, and we want your feedback. Join us for an online open house Wednesday, August 31 at either 11 a.m. or 7 p.m. to learn about the draft plan and provide input.
For more information about the Surface Water Master Plan and to RSVP for the online open house, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/SWMP.
Be Prepared with Public Works Emergency phoneline (425) 587-3900
There are times when you may encounter a public works emergency. Sewer back up, stormwater flooding, large spills, a water leak in the street. Call (425) 587-3900 for 24/7/365 assistance.
What other numbers should you have on hand? We recommend knowing the utility companies that service your area and log those phone numbers as well. Not sure if you’re serviced by Northshore Utility or Woodinville Utility? Find out the answer to that and other questions about Kirkland’s public infrastructure by visiting the Public Works Dept webpage.
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.
Everyone is invited to join Kirkland’s City Hall for All 2022 on September 17, 2022, starting at 10 a.m. and be part of creating a more equitable community where everyone has a sense of belonging. This virtual event features three facilitated discussions to reflect on the community we aspire to become and how to achieve that vision.
The virtual 2-hour symposium will consist of three facilitated discussions. Attendees will be invited to actively participate or just listen to the discussion. The discussion topics include how we plan, live, and work in Kirkland and will explore what it means to be a belonging city and ways businesses can expand their client base with more diverse customers.
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On August 3, the Kirkland City Council adopted legislation concerning tenant protections that seeks to balance tenant and landlord interests and was designed based on extensive feedback from both tenant and landlord groups. This new ordinance goes into effect on September 17, 2022.
To read the key provisions of the new tenant protections, and for more information, visit the City’s website.
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Kirkland Parks and Community Services is hosting a Teen Night with a gaming theme on August 26, 2022, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the North Kirkland Community Center located at 12421 103rd Ave NE in Kirkland.
Teens aged thirteen to nineteen can sign up for and play in a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament on the City’s giant outdoor LED movie screen. Rounds start at 5:20 p.m. and continue every twenty minutes. There are prizes for first through third place.
Other activities like yard games will also be offered.
Teen Nights are free and include registering in advance or just dropping in. For more information or to register, visit www.KirklandParks.net or call 425-587-3336.
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The Kirkland Parks and Community Services is hosting a “See Spot Splash” event on Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to celebrate the end of the season at the pool.
With the exception of the 10 a.m. session for small dogs only, dogs of all sizes are welcome. Dogs will get to enjoy the main, large pool and a wading pool. Community members are encouraged to register their dogs in advance for a splashy good time with other furry friends, as space is limited. Drop-in admittance will also be allowed, as space accommodates. Cost is $10 per dog per session.
Read more.
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With the first day of school just around the corner, we’d like to re-introduce you to our Kirkland School Resource Officers for the 2022-2023 school year.
The Kirkland School Resource Officer (SRO) program is a partnership between the City of Kirkland and the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). The SRO Program is meant to: help students stay physically and emotionally safe at school; give students, parents and school staff the opportunity for positive experiences with the SROs they’ll see throughout the school year; connect students with support services when they need it; and help keep students out of the criminal justice system.
This school year, four Kirkland SROs will spend time among LWSD schools building relationships, responding to calls, completing investigations, and providing guest instruction to the students and staff of approximately 20 LWSD elementary, middle, and high schools within the City of Kirkland.
One of the programmatic changes that the Department and the LWSD are implementing for the 2022-2023 school year revolves around adjusting the SRO Program so that the Department won’t have a school specific SRO (i.e., Juanita High School SRO) but will instead utilize the LWSD’s model of Learning Communities (i.e., Juanita Learning Community Officer). This philosophical change will help align the SRO program with the LWSD’s model and will encourage the further development of positive relationships between SROs and students throughout their educational journey, with the goal of keeping students physically, socially, and emotionally safe at all grade levels.
For the 2022-2023 school year, the Department plans on dividing our SROs into two main “learning communities” that serve the students of Kirkland. By having two SROs assigned to each of the “Lake Washington” and “Juanita” learning communities, the goal is to provide for a more personalized and consistent level of service. SROs will be expected to “cross cover” and provide SRO services to all the schools in their learning community. The Department believes that a huge part of having a successful SRO program revolves around building positive relationships. The School Administration, teachers and other staff should know their officers, and the students need to be familiar with their SROs as well. By having officers clearly assigned to learning communities, it will help foster open and consistent communication between the SROs and the school administrators. It will also allow the LWSD to provide more equitable SRO services across the entire Lake Washington School District.
For more information on Kirkland's School Resource Officer Program, please visit the SRO webpage.
 Kirkland Fire Department welcomes new firefighters Tim Bandel (far left) and Even Steinruck (far right), who successfully completed their one-year probation with KFD. After completing recruit academy in 2021, these firefighters honed their fire and EMS skills, learned how to navigate the city while operating an Aid car, and continue to develop teamwork with their fellow firefighters. Congratulations and welcome Even and Tim!
Are you passionate about Kirkland’s parks? Are you ready to help guide the City on potential investments in recreation facilities and operations? There’s still time to apply to join the Parks Funding Exploratory Committee. Interested community members are invited to apply online through Monday, August 29, 2022.
This Committee’s purpose is to make recommendations to the City Council in Spring 2023 regarding potential parks ballot measure(s) for placement on the November 2023 ballot. The first group meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 15, 2022. The Committee will meet twice a month on Thursday evenings from September 2022 through February 2023.
The City seeks applicants that reflect Kirkland’s diversity of age, economic status, neighborhood, family composition, policy perspective, languages spoken, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity, and physical, mental or sensory ability. Learn more and apply by August 29 at www.kirklandwa.gov/parks2023ballot.
Have you seen these washed up at Juanita or Waverly Beach Park? Don’t worry – they’re just fish!
We checked with our water quality and ecology friends at King County and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife about them. King County collected some of these translucent little guys and identified them as fish larvae. They appear to be longfin smelt, which are native to our area. It’s also not uncommon to see dead fish in a lake, as most baby fish don’t survive all the way to adulthood. So, seeing these peculiar-looking creatures on shore is not of concern – they are just regular ole’ fish larvae. They can be carried by wind and current onto shore, where you may have seen them and wondered what the heck they could be.
It’s also possible that our recent hot weather contributed to a slight bump in these fish larvae sightings at Juanita Beach, Waverly, and Yarrow Bay.
Do you like working with kids? Come be a part of dynamic and fun team as you supervise children in a variety of after-school camp activities. The After School program is located at Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Ave.
This camp will host up to 25 campers daily and cater to children in grades K-5. Spend time outdoors (weather permitting) playing games, going on walks, doing arts and crafts, helping with homework, and having fun!
We are currently accepting both After School Camp Leaders and Directors. For more information or to apply, visit our jobs page. Questions? Call 425-587-3360 or email us at eparks@kirklandwa.gov.
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Northeast 124th Street – Totem Lake
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor is closing Totem Lake Boulevard, from Northeast 124th Street to 120th Avenue Northeast from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., Aug. 25 while its crews install the edge of a deck span.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector
Lakeview Drive – Lakeview
Kirkland’s 2022 street paving contractor is maintaining intermittent lane-closures on Lakeview Drive between its intersections with Lake Washington Boulevard and Northeast 64th Street.
Watson Asphalt is repairing damaged curbs and upgrading curb ramps that are out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation
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 Northeast 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.
Visit: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405northeast-132nd-street-interchange-project
Kirkland Office of Emergency Management CERT Class
Haven’t taken a Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) class before? Join the Fall 2022 CERT class and learn about emergency preparedness, disaster first aid, live fire suppression, and more.
The classes will be on September 20, 22, 27, and 29 from 6 to 9 p.m., with a drill on October 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Registration is $25 for Kirkland residents.
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Energy Smart Eastside Heat Pump Workshops
Thinking of ways to prepare your home to keep cool in the heat?
This summer, eastside residents have an opportunity to learn about and purchase discounted heat pump systems through Energy Smart Eastside, a multi-city energy efficiency program.
Heat pumps are highly efficient cooling and heating systems that use less energy than traditional electric heating systems and can result in lower utility bills.
To qualify for the Energy Smart Eastside discount, attend a free, 1-hour virtual workshop.
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Date: Every Friday from June 3 to September 30
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland 98034
Come with your friends, or meet new ones, and enjoy shopping for delicious and nutritious foods, as well as fine wines and locally brewed craft beers. Then try one, or more, of our hot food vendors for a varied menu of offerings. We look forward to seeing you at Juanita Beach.
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