The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, November 1, 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 November 1 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
Public Hearing on 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program – City Council will hold a public hearing on the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Council was presented with the Preliminary 2023-2028 CIP at the July 19 and Oct 4 meetings. Final changes are expected to be adopted with the 2023-2024 budget at the December 13, 2022, City Council meeting.
Draft Surface Water Master Plan – City Council will provide direction on the 2023 Draft Surface Water Master Plan and the future level of service for the Surface Water Utility.
Resolution Adopting the Interlocal Agreement - City Council will consider adopting the interlocal agreement (ILA) and articles of incorporation forming a new Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency. If adopted, the ILA would merge the RADAR Navigator program with Kirkland’s Community Responder program to provide community crisis response services to the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline.
2023 State Legislative Priorities – City Council will review and consider approving the City’s 2023 State Legislative Priorities.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
Preliminary 2023 – 2024 Budget – City Council will continue the discussion on the Preliminary 2023-2024 Budget as submitted by the City Manager. Public hearings on the 2023-2024 Budget will be held on November 1 and 15, 2022. The budget is expected to be adopted at the December 13, 2022 City Council meeting.
Street Banner and Flag Policy – As time allows, the City Council will provide feedback on proposed changes to the criteria for displaying street banners and the criteria for displaying flags at City Hall.
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.
Elections are here! King County Elections mailed out ballots on October 19.
You can now sign up for ballot alerts via text and email to track your ballot. Sign up for alerts and more at King County Elections website.
Ready to drop off your ballot? Kirkland has 2 election drop boxes:
1. Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St, 98034
2. Kirkland City Hall (South side of building) 123 5th Ave, 98033
Drop boxes are open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 8.
For all your voting needs and questions, King County Elections has resources for you.
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Engage with the Budget Process - We Want to Hear from You
The Council will be holding two public hearings on the budget on November 1 and 15. The Council is anticipated to adopt the 2023-2024 budget at its December 13, 2022, meeting.
For more information on the budget process and to provide feedback about the budget, please visit the City’s webpage.
Wondering what's going on in your neighborhood?
Kirkland Neighborhood Associations are your connection to sustaining and improving the sense of community that Kirklanders enjoy. Your association represents your neighborhood in communication with the City Council and staff, can offer valuable input to the City on neighborhood planning, and can receive funding from the City to help enhance the quality of life in your neighborhood. For information on how to get involved, check out the Neighborhood Associations page on the City website.
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.
According to the National Safety Council, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. The officers at the Kirkland Police Department need your help to make sure that everyone in our community has a safe Halloween. Please join us this Halloween in planning to Be Seen, Be Safe, and Be Slow.
- If children are allowed out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, or give them glow sticks
- Avoid masks that can obstruct vision
- Children and adults are reminded to put electronic devices down, keep heads up, and walk - don't run - across the street
- Instruct children to travel only in familiar, well-lit areas and stick with their friends
- A responsible adult should accompany young children on your neighborhood rounds
- If your older children are going alone, plan and review a route acceptable to you
- Agree on a specific time children should return home
- Teach your children never to enter a stranger's home or car
- All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant
- If driving on Halloween, slow down and watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs
- Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully
- At twilight and later in the evening, watch for children in dark clothing
- Discourage new, inexperienced drivers from driving on Halloween
Thank you for taking the time to read and implement these safety tips. On behalf of the Kirkland Police Department, I hope that your family has a scary safe Halloween.
Kirkland Parks and Community Services is hosting its first Día de los Muertos event this Saturday, October 29, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, is a cultural celebration that honors loved ones that have passed away. The event is free and will be held at the Peter Kirk Community Center located at 352 Kirkland Ave, in Kirkland.
Community members can share how they personally celebrate and discuss how celebrations vary between countries and communities.
Some park restrooms will close for the season and seasonal portable toilets will be placed throughout our system starting on November 1, 2022.
Closing the restrooms for winter is an important part of maintaining our parks – its helps to prevent damage from freezing or bursting pipes and allows time for crews to complete work like roof repairs or interior painting to get them ready for the summer season again.
Sunday, November 6 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, so don’t forget to “fall back.”
While most smartphones and computers automatically make the transition from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time, there are always a few strays, like the clock on your stove, your coffee pot, or in your vehicle.
The good news is that this return to Standard Time means you get an additional hour to sleep, so set your clocks back before you go to bed tonight and enjoy that extra hour of rest.
And remember, the end of Daylight Saving Time is a great time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Smoke alarms save lives!
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Kirkland Police Department staff showed their support for survivors of domestic violence by wearing purple on October 20, “Purple Thursday.” This simple act is meant to raise awareness about domestic violence and to show DV survivors that they are not alone.
This follows the Mayor’s proclamation of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Kirkland. This year’s national awareness campaign is that “#Every1KnowsSome1” who has been personally impacted by violence in the home or at the hands of someone close to them - that everyone can take a stand against domestic violence.
Read the Mayor's Proclamation here.
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What types of activities and tools would make hiking our local trails enriching and fun? Do you have ideas to connect you, your family and friends, and your community with our beautiful natural surroundings? What would encourage you take a trek with your family and friends?
The Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance (FHNA) – a nonprofit organization focused on enhancing the forests and streams in Kirkland’s Finn Hill neighborhood – is working with the University of Washington and the St. Edward Environmental Education and Research Center (EERC) to design signage, website content, and on-trail activities (like backpacks with games and simple tools for experiments) and want your input to be on the right “path.”
Join one of the upcoming community workshops this December and January to provide feedback. Watch for the dates to be announced at finnhill.org. For questions, reach out to foresttrails@finnhill.org.
The rainy season is here! City crews work hard to keep storm drains clear of leaves, but with over 15,000 drains in Kirkland, we could use your help. Please help prevent flooding in your neighborhood by cleaning leaves off storm drains and out of streets.
Reminder: Extra yard waste is FREE in November.
From November 1 to 30, single family households in Kirkland can put out up to 5 extra yard waste bags per collection day for free. Fill your gray cart first, then put out extra leaves in paper bags or durable containers labeled “yard waste.” Plastic bags are not accepted.
If severe flooding occurs in your neighborhood, please call our 24/7 hotline at (425) 587-3900 for help from a City crew.
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Northeast 124th Street – Totem Lake
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor is planning to close Northeast 124th Street lane between 124th Avenue Northeast and 120th Place Northeast from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Nov. 1 while its crews pour concrete for the bridge’s deck.
On Nov. 3, Kraemer North America is planning to close one of Northeast 124th Street’s lanes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. between 124th Avenue Northeast and 120th Place Northeast while its crews pour concrete the deck curb.
Lakeview Drive – Lakeview
Kirkland’s 2022 street paving contractor is alternating lane-closures this week on Lakeview Drive between Lake Washington Boulevard and Northeast 64th Street while its crews re-establish the maintenance hole lids they removed before grinding the street and re-paving it.
The daily lane-shifts begin at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Kirkland Avenue – Everest, Highlands, Moss Bay
Kirkland’s 2022 street paving contractor is alternating lane-closures this week on Kirkland Way between Sixth Street and Northeast 85th Street while its crews re-establish the maintenance hole lids they removed before grinding the street and re-paving it.
The daily lane-shifts begin at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Northeast 132nd Street at I-405 – Juanita/Kingsgate
Drivers will encounter the new roadway alignment along NE 132nd Street with the roadway shifted to the north, allowing crews to safely establish new work zones and move into the next phase of construction. The restriction on left turns for westbound onto southbound 116th Way NE and eastbound onto northbound 116th Avenue NE currently in place will remain in the new roadway alignment.
Pedestrian routes have shifted to the north side of NE 132nd Street. Pedestrians accessing the Kingsgate Park and Ride will be required to use the east side of 116th Way NE and utilize the existing crosswalk near the south end of the Kingsgate Park and Ride.
For questions about this traffic control, or other questions about this project, call WSDOT’s project hotline at 425-224-2433.
Northeast 124th Street – Juanita
Drivers continue to encounter construction 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 6 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The project also builds a wide sidewalk with street trees and street lighting along the northwest side of 116th Avenue Northeast.
Fifth Place South – Moss Bay
Drivers are advised that Fifth Place South is closed at the intersection with Sixth Street South. The closure is expected to be in place for three weeks while a private development contractor realigns the intersection.
The intersection realignment is a permitting requirement of the development to the south and provides a better turning radius for right hand turns onto Sixth Street South.
KPD Guns for Gift Cards 3
Date: Saturday, October 29, 2022
Location: Kirkland Justice Center, 11750 NE 118th Street in Kirkland
The Kirkland Police Department (KPD) will host its third Guns for Gift Cards exchange on Saturday, October 29. As with the first two exchanges, no registration is required. However, proof of Kirkland residency - such as a utility bill - is required to participate.
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Watershed Family Field Trip
Date: Saturday, November 5, 2022
Location: O.O. Denny Park, 12302 Holmes Point Dr NE
Are you curious about your local watershed and ecology? Bring the whole family for a free outdoor field trip at O.O. Denny Park on Saturday, November 5th from 1-3pm.
A professional Educator from Nature Vision will teach the class session. We will dig in to local ecology, look at plants and wildlife, test water samples with our scientist, and learn ways that we can all keep our water abundant and healthy!
The class is limited to 30 participants. Families with children ages 6 and older may register. Children under 6 are welcome, but the program is meant for older children and their adults.
Eastside Job Fair - Virtual
Date: Thursday, November 10, 2022
Looking to connect to Eastside employers? Register for the free Eastside Virtual Job Fair to access a wide pool of employers for your next career. This event is a partnership between Eastside Cities and WorkSource – Seattle/King County.
You will have the opportunity to share your resume with employers prior to the event to help you find the best fit for your career. You can also send your resume to employers for six months after the event.
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