 The Kirkland City Council met on November 1, 2022, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
Public Hearing on 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program – City Council held a public hearing on the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as part of the budget process. 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 provided 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 adopted the interlocal agreement (ILA) and articles of incorporation forming a new Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency. If adopted by all the partner cities, 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 adopted the City’s 2023 State Legislative Priorities with a 6 to 1 vote.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
Preliminary 2023 – 2024 Budget – City Council continued discussion on the Preliminary 2023-2024 Budget as submitted by the City Manager. The budget is expected to be adopted at the December 13, 2022, City Council meeting.
Street Banner and Flag Policy – The City Council provided feedback on proposed changes to the street banner program. There was not enough time for discussion of the City’s flag policy, which will be part of a future meeting.
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.
To watch the Council discussions on the specific agenda items outlined above, visit the City’s website. The full agenda packet with information on each item is located on the City’s website.
The next regular City Council meeting is on November 15, 2022.
What’s in the preliminary 2023-2024 Budget?
The City Council held the second of three public hearings on the budget on November 1. The next public hearing will be November 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.
The League of American Bicyclists recently recognized the City of Kirkland with a Bronze level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) award for the City’s support of bicycle commuting among staff. This recognition is shared by over 1,500 businesses across the country, including government agencies, Fortune 500 companies, bike shops, and other employers.
|
City administrative offices are closed on Friday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Fire, police, and other critical services will remain fully operational. City services normally accessible through email, the Our Kirkland service portal, and over the phone will resume 8 a.m., Monday, November 14.
|
Don't forget to vote!
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.
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.
|
This Sunday 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 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!
|
Thank you to all the visitors to our pop-up dog parks at Snyder's Corner and Heritage Park!
Due to the return of our wet Pacific Northwest weather, these pop-ups were closed this week. Typically, these temporary sites would have closed at the end of September, but we were able to extend them due to the drier conditions this fall. For the safety of all, these two sites will not be open during the winter.
We’ve heard the community desires more permanent off-leash options. Creating additional off-leash dog areas is an objective in our Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan and part of our Capital Improvement Program. We are happy to share that the pop-up off-leash program will return in the spring of 2023.
|
Do you know a young person who would be interested in supporting Kirkland being a socially sustainable community with a focus on health and human services? If so, the City’s Human Services Commission might be a great learning and growth opportunity.
The Human Services Commission has a youth seat, which will provide a young perspective to the matters of human services in our community.
This commission advises the City Council on matters relating to the City's efforts to support a socially sustainable community through health and human services and programs; develops recommendations on funding priorities and policies; and reviews requests and provides recommendations for grant funding of human services.
The commission meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
|
The Parks Funding Exploratory Committee (PFEC) met twice in October. Those two PFEC meetings covered:
- an overview of the 2022 Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan,
- what it takes to maintain parks in Kirkland,
- park maintenance and operations recommendations of the PROS Plan, and
- an update from consultants on the facilities feasibility study.
Watch a video about dog parks shared at one of the October meetings.
Learn more about PFEC and follow along at kirklandwa.gov/parks2023ballot
|
Woohoo! During the month of November, extra yard waste is FREE in Kirkland. Fill your gray cart first, then put out extra leaves in paper bags or durable containers labeled "yard waste" (Up to 5 per collection day). Plastic bags are not accepted.
We appreciate your help clearing leaves from your storm drains!
|
Northeast 124th Street – Totem Lake
Kirkland’s Totem Lake Connector contractor is planning on Nov. 9 to close a lane on Northeast 124th Street between 124th Avenue Northeast and 120th Place Northeast. The lane-closure will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 3 p.m.
www.kirklandwa.gov/totemlakeconnector
Third Street – Norkirk
Kirkland’s 2022 street paving contractor is intermittently closure lanes on Third Street this week Seventh Avenue and Central Way 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 6 p.m.
www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation
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.
www.kirklandwa.gov/streetpreservation
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.
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
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 slowed 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.
Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/116th-Ave-NE-RTL
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.
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.
|
Want a monthly Events Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter.
|
