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The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, October 4, 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 Business Agenda for the October 4 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
Public Hearing: 2023-2024 Budget Revenue Sources – The City Council will hold a public hearing on revenue sources for the 2023-2024 Budget. More information on this is provided further in this newsletter.
Proposed 2023-2024 Utility Rates – The City Council will receive proposed 2023/2024 Solid Waste, Water, Sewer, and Surface Water Utility rates. Based on Council feedback and direction, staff will prepare the final proposed Solid Waste, Water, Sewer, and Surface Water rate ordinances for the City Council’s consideration and adoption at either the October 18 or November 1 Council meetings.
Community Emergency Response Training Class #30 Graduation – The City Council will acknowledge the graduates of the City of Kirkland’s 30th Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) class. The CERT program educates community members about disaster preparedness and response. This course teaches how to get prepared and trains participants in skills to help themselves, their families, and their community during disasters. The CERT course is taught by a team of City staff and community volunteer instructors. More information on CERT.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
2023-2028 Preliminary Capital Improvement Program – The City Council will review the Preliminary 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Document and provide direction to staff to be incorporated in the Proposed CIP presentation at the Council study session on November 15, 2022. Final Council adoption of the CIP will occur on December 13, 2022.
Street and Median Maintenance Improvements and Potential New Funding Sources – The City Council will review a report report concerning an assessment of the Streets and Grounds Division of the Department of Public Works. A presentation and discussion about the report will occur during the Study Session. The report and discussion will provide background and context for certain 2023-2024 budget service package requests.
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 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 also be submitted to CityCouncil@kirklandwa.gov. For additional questions, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3190.
Last Week to Provide Feedback on the Draft Surface Water Master Plan
The Surface Water Master Plan is the City’s guide to protect our creeks, reduce flooding, and maintain our drainage infrastructure. Our crews maintain hundreds of miles of stormwater pipes and thousands of storm drains across the City.
The Surface Water Master Plan is a five to ten-year strategic plan for managing storm and surface water in Kirkland. The plan was last updated in 2014 and is being updated to reflect current community, environmental, and infrastructure needs.
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.
The City of Kirkland is inviting community members to participate in shaping Kirkland’s services and programs during the 2023-2024 City budget process. The City Council is seeking input from the community throughout Fall 2022 while they develop the budget for the next two years. Tell the City what matters most to you by participating in our online budget simulation.
Visit the City’s website to read more about the budget process.
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New tenant protections took effect in Kirkland on September 17, 2022. Eastside For All, Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP), and the City of Kirkland have organized one-hour Know Your Rights workshops for renters, hosted by a staff attorney with ELAP. No RSVP is needed. These workshops are intended for tenants residing in Kirkland. For Zoom links and other information, please visit https://elap.org/events/
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Tuesday, 10/04, 6:00pm Kirkland Downtown Library, 308 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland-SPANISH Interpreter available
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Friday, 10/07, Noon ZOOM SPANISH Interpreter available
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Tuesday, 10/11, 7:00pm Thoreau Elementary School 8224 NE 138th St, Kirkland SPANISH Interpreter available
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Thursday, 10/13, 6:00pm Kamiakin Middle School 14111 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland
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Thursday, 10/20, 6:00pm ZOOM SPANISH Interpreter available
The Kirkland City Council will hold a public hearing on October 4, 2022, on revenue sources for the 2023-2024 Budget. This is the first of three scheduled public hearings on the 2023-2024 budget. The second and third public hearings are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 15. These public hearings and other feedback from the community over the coming months will help inform the City Council’s adoption of its 2023-2024 budget at the December 13, 2022, Council meeting.
The focus of the October 4 public hearing is on revenue sources. This is an important part of the budget process, as the City is facing historically high inflation and its effects on staffing, supplies, and services. Some of the revenue sources under consideration include:
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Property Tax – State law caps property tax increases at 1%. The City Manager proposes to use this allowed 1% increase.
- Business License fee – The City Manager is considering an increase to the Business License fee in the proposed budget primarily to protect the City’s investments in high priority areas, notably street maintenance work. Labor and materials costs for street and sidewalk maintenance have dramatically reduced the purchasing power of existing revenue streams. In addition, a significant portion of the City’s street maintenance work is funded with the gas tax, which has declined since the beginning of COVID-19. This proposal would generate approximately $1.75 million over the next two years, and this new revenue would help preserve existing service levels of these community priorities.
The two potential changes to the Business License Fee being considered are:
1. Increase the income threshold exemption from the fee from $12,000 of revenue per year to $20,000 per year. Under this change, businesses with less than $20,000 per year in revenue would not pay the Business License fee.
2. Increase the per employee fee from $105 to $130. This would only apply to businesses with greater than $20,000 per year in revenue.
• The City has not increased the per FTE fee since 2017. Inflating the current $105 fee by the Consumer Price Index would result in a 2023 fee of $134. The increase being considered a keeps the per FTE fee below inflation. Additionally, the current exemption threshold of $12,000 was implemented in 2008 and would be $18,321 in 2023 based on inflationary increases. The proposed threshold to $20,000 raises the exemption above where it would be on an inflationary basis.
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Vehicle License fee (car tabs) – The City Council is seeking to accelerate investments for sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and street medians that will give students, families and workers safe bicycle and pedestrian routes for getting to school, stores and offices The Council is evaluating a $20 car tab fee to create a dedicated median maintenance crew and fund the 45 highest priority projects in six years instead of 20-30 years.
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Discuss Accelerating Safer Routes to School with a Potential $20 Car Tab Fee
The City Council is seeking to accelerate investments for sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks, and street medians that will give students, families and workers safe bicycle and pedestrian routes for getting to school, stores and offices. The Council is evaluating a $20 car tab fee to create a dedicated median maintenance crew and fund the 45 highest priority projects in six years instead of 20-30 years.
Fall is coming and salmon will be returning to streams and rivers throughout King County to spawn. Curious to view some salmon near you? The annual Salmon SEEson program will run from late August through November with self-guided salmon viewing sites as well as some hosted events.
If you decide to visit a self-guided site near you, please remember to: plan ahead, practice social distancing, wear a mask, choose a site near you, leave no trace, and contribute to an inclusive experience for all. Check out the Salmon SEEson website for more information on self-guided and viewing opportunities!
Here in Kirkland, Café Juanita owner and executive chef Holly Smith worked with two local environmental nonprofits, Adopt a Stream Foundation and King Conservation District, to create a refuge for salmon and trout along Juanita Creek. Read more about the transformation at MyNorthwest.
Chinook salmon have been spotted making their way up Juanita Creek during this week! Watch the salmon in action in this video at our Kirkland Conserves Facebook page. If you spot migrating salmon in Kirkland’s creeks this fall, we’d love to hear about it! Please email stormwater@kirklandwa.gov with any sightings.
The Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC) continues with its second meeting tonight, Thursday, September 29. The committee will review the PFEC Roadmap and tour the Peter Kirk Community Center, Peter Kirk Pool, and Peter Kirk Park in small groups. They will also receive a high-level overview of the Parks and Community Services department structure and funding, learn about existing aquatics in Kirkland, and consider future aquatics possibilities.
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Did you know that Community Van vehicles are available for use 24/7 and are based at Kirkland City Hall, the North Kirkland Community Center, and Kenmore City Hall. Not only can you borrow the City’s 6-passenger and 12-passenger vans, but the vehicles are equipped with bike racks – making them perfect for day trip bicycle outings! The Community Van program is a service for everyone, with no qualifiers based on income or anything else.
Trip destinations can be up to a 2-hour drive from Kirkland. They require a minimum of two passengers and depend on the availability of an approved volunteer driver. Going as a group somewhere? Becoming an approved driver is easy.
Learn more.
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Councilmembers Kelli Curtis, Jon Pascal, and Neal Black biked to and from City Hall for the September 20 Council Meeting as part of the #WeekWithoutDriving Challenge.
This effort helps raise awareness for the barriers nondrivers experience in accessing our communities.
Councilmember Falcone also participated in the challenge, which wrapped up earlier this week.
Read more about Week Without Driving: https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/programs/disabilitymobility/wwd
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Kirkland’s 2022 street paving contractor is continuing to close Third Street between Central Way and Seventh Avenue until Friday so its crews can more efficiently grind and repave the street.
The daily closures begin at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. Watson Asphalt plans to maintain the closures until Sept. 28.
Northeast 124th Street – Juanita
Construction has resumed at 116th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 124th Street, where a Kirkland contractor is constructing a new right-turn only lane to improve traffic flow.
Interwest Construction is working from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday. 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 continue to encounter traffic control that has been in place since last winter as the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) contractor completes the first phase of major construction for this project. Drivers and pedestrians should be aware that the upcoming shift in travel lanes and sidewalk closures will be implemented in the next few weeks.
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, the schedule, or other questions about this project, call WSDOT’s project hotline at 425-224-2433.
Date: Saturday, October 1, 2022
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland 98034
Join us for Kirkland's 2nd Annual Harvest Festival! The Harvest Festival will feature tractor pulled hayrides, food trucks, music, apple cider pressing demonstrations, activities for children at the “Kids Korral”, seasonal competitions, and a vendor marketplace. A special thank you to MorningStar Senior Living, Google, and Neal Smiles Orthodontics for sponsoring this fun community event. Read more.
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Kirkland Health & Wellness Fair
Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022
Location: Juanita High School, 10601 NE 132nd St, Kirkland 98034
The City of Kirkland in partnership with King County Promotores Network, Public Health of Seattle & King County and Lake Washington School District is hosting a Health and Wellness Fair.
This free event will offer a variety of services including, COVID-19 vaccinations, flu shots, health exams, dental services, information exhibits, music, food, kids activities, giveaways and more.
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland 98034
Join the City of Kirkland for a celebration of Arbor Day with forest stewardship, a tree giveaway, ceremonial tree planting and more!
The Forest Day schedule of activities include:
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10 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Green Kirkland Volunteer Stewardship Event. Volunteers will lend a hand and learn about forest habitat around Juanita Creek.
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12 – 12:30 p.m.: Ceremonial Tree Planting. Join City of Kirkland staff as we plant a tree at Juanita Beach Park to celebrate Arbor Day.
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12 – 2 p.m.: Tree Giveaway with King Conservation District. Two (2) 5-gallon FREE trees per property will be available for pickup. There are 20 different species both native and non-native, available. Trees must be planted on private property within Kirkland with permission from the landowner.
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12 – 2 p.m.: Forest Day Learning Booths and Demonstrations. Learn about your garden, your tree, current City programs such as the Tree Rebate Program, Comprehensive Plan updates, and Energy Smart Heat Pump Campaign, and ask questions of King County Master Gardeners who will have a booth at the event.
Date: Every Evening through October 2, 2022
Location: Park Lane, Downtown Kirkland
Don’t miss out on the final Evenings on Park Lane as the program wraps up on October 2. The west end of Park Lane between Lake Street and Main Street will be closed to vehicles nightly from 6 to 11 p.m and open to people walking and wheeling until the Park Lane restaurants close for the night.
What an enjoyable way to stroll downtown and shop local.
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Date: Every Friday from June 3 to September 30
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive, Kirkland 98034
Last Market is tomorrow! 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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Date: Tuesdays through October 25
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Autumn is the perfect time to begin your next gardening steps. Cascade Gardener Presents a Fall Class Series on planting fall trees, weed maintenance, climate change gardening and more!
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For more information, please contact:
David Wolbrecht, Communications Program Manager
City Manager's Office
City of Kirkland 425-587-3021 | dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov
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