The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. This will be a hybrid meeting, and community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda for the March 21 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
King County’s Health Through Housing Project in Kirkland Update - the Council will consider a final draft agreement regarding King County’s designated permanent supportive housing facility in Kirkland. As part of the final draft agreement, staff will present for Council consideration an updated version of King County’s proposed screening process.
2023-2024 Budget Adjustments - City Council will review an amendment to the adopted 2023-2024 budget.
Special Event Updates – City Council will review a new fee structure and related program updates for special events.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
Parks Funding Exploratory Committee Recommendations - Council will receive a report about the Parks Funding Exploratory Committee process and results. The Council will discuss the report and next steps of the potential 2023 Parks Ballot Measure(s) exploratory process.
Aquatics and Recreation Facility Feasibility Study – Council will receive the draft Aquatics and Recreation Facility Feasibility Study that was part of the potential 2023 Parks Ballot Measure(s) exploratory process.
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, which starts 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.
Provide Feedback on Sound Transit Bus Rapid Lines
Share your input on Bus Rapid Lines in Kirkland. Sound Transit now has 60% draft design plans for Stride S1 and S2 and is seeking community input about construction through April 8. The online open house is available in English, Spanish, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and Vietnamese. If you have questions about the latest designs for Stride S1, S2, S3, or Bus Base North, please email brt@soundtransit.org.
How Does Your Neighborhood Prepare for an Emergency?
The City of Kirkland Office of Emergency Management needs your input and thoughts about where and how you engage in emergency preparedness activities in your neighborhood. The Washington State Emergency Management Division has discontinued support for the Map Your Neighborhood program. The City is seeking to understand how neighbors connect to help us develop and implement meaningful preparedness opportunities.
Share your input in this short survey by March 31. Thank you!
Join a Board or Commission – Youth Seats Open Looking to have a 16-18 year old in your life engage with their community? Are they excited about the arts, parks, or the library system? The City is seeking passionate individuals to fill youth seats on the Cultural Arts Commission, Library Board, and Park Board. On the fence about applying? Current members like Shoshana Cohen who serves on the Design Review Board says, “If you’ve ever said to yourself ’I wish the City had done this,’ there’s no better way to be heard than to become a board member.”
Apply to Join the ARCH Community Advisory Board
A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) is accepting applicants for its Community Advisory Board. The board consists of community residents and housing professionals that work with staff to evaluate local housing funding proposals and increase awareness of housing issues on the Eastside.
Do you have a passion for housing issues? Do you bring a perspective from planning, finance, real estate, housing development, assisting persons with low income or special needs, faith community, racial diversity, and architecture? The ARCH Community Advisory Board could use your expertise.
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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 can follow up with you.
Kirkland Police Department detectives have arrested 38-year-old Taylor Jacob Norton of Granite Falls in connection with a vehicle stolen from a Kirkland home last October – one of several auto thefts Norton is linked to across western Washington over a period of more than a decade.
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The City of Kirkland announces two new programs to help create more housing choices in the community and to incentivize the construction of environmentally-sound buildings. The first new program is a pre-approved Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit program; the second is an expedited permit review program for High Performing Green Buildings.
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Women in King County: Join King County EMS, Eastside Fire and Rescue, Kirkland Fire Department and 10 other King County agencies for a FREE opportunity to explore a career in Fire or Emergency Medical Services! It’s a weekend of hands-on Fire and EMS activities including live demos, discussion panels and networking with Emergency Medical Technicians, Firefighters, and Paramedics in our region. Must be 18+ to apply, King County residency preferred. Questions? Email futurewomenems@kingcounty.gov
Workshop is April 22 and 23, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Apply by March 31, 2023
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The Kirkland Rental Risk Assistance Fund Program provides funds to residential landlords offering new leases to eligible tenants in Kirkland. It’s intended to help those facing barriers to stable housing by offsetting the tenant default risk for landlords. Grant amounts up to $1,200 per new lease. Landlords can receive up to 6 grants per property during the program.
See Tenant and Landlord eligibility requirements here.
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The newly formed Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency deploys Crisis Responder Mental Health Professionals to serve community members in crisis in the five-city region of Bothell, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Kirkland and Shoreline.
The RCR Agency provides compassionate and immediate crisis response, de-escalation, resource referral, and follow-up tailored to the specific needs of those experiencing behavioral health challenges.
Got your keys, phone, wallet...and CUP!?!
The Eastside is choosing to reuse! The cities of Bellevue, Bothell, Kirkland, and Redmond have partnered to reduce and prevent waste from single-use cups.
Join the BYOC Campaign by bringing your own cup to coffee shops, celebrating reuse efforts in your community, and entering to win a reuse prize pack! More details about how to get involved at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/reusables.
By bringing your own cup you will help to prevent litter and waste from single-use cups and over their lifecycle, reusable cups have lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to disposable alternatives!
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The City is excited to continue its work on Kirkland 2044 - a comprehensive look into the future of our community. We are working on updating City policies and goals to better serve our current and future community members.
The City will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the City Transportation System and identify future projects that respond to growth and keep Kirkland moving. Major goals include reducing reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, safety, health, and transportation choices.
At the same time, the City will assess current and planned Land Use goals throughout the City. Some of the questions and topics that will be explored include:
- Where will the City allow residential, commercial, and industrial development?
- What types of housing are allowed and/or encouraged?
- Are there areas of the City where housing and/or job growth should be focused?
Get involved by participating in a focus group! To learn more or sign-up email Katie Hogan at Khogan@Kirklandwa.gov. Stipends will be offered to compensate for your time and participation.
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United Way of King County offers free and convenient tax preparation services both in-person at multiple locations throughout King County as well as virtually from now through April 20.
Households making under $80,000 are eligible and can be connected to other community resources and public benefits by request.
There are three easy ways to file:
1. In-Person File your taxes in-person at locations throughout King County. Locations have convenient hours to meet your schedule, and no appointments are needed. To find a location near you, languages available, a list of what to bring, and other details, visit United Way’s website at www.FreeTaxExperts.org or call 2-1-1
2. Virtually – with assistance from a virtual volunteer Interested in filing your taxes virtually but don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own? Visit www.GetYourRefund.org. Please note: Virtual tax assistance slots are limited. If you do not feel comfortable sharing sensitive information like your Social Security Number or ID information online, or with navigating a web client, please visit in person.
3. Virtually – without assistance (no income limit on this software!) Feel comfortable filing your own taxes and just wish there was a way to do it yourself for free? Then look no further! File your taxes online at 100% no cost with United Way’s ‘My Free Taxes’ tool at www.myfreetaxes.com.
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Are you eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit? There is a new tax credit up to $1,200 available to qualifying Washington state families. You can apply now through December 31, 2023.
Un nuevo reembolso para los trabajadores de Washington.
Las personas y familias podrán recibir una devolución de hasta $1200 si cumplen ciertos requisitos de elegibilidad. Aplique desde hoy hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2023.
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Totem Lake Boulevard– Totem Lake
Kraemer North America is closing all of Totem Lake Boulevard's lanes from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. March 16.
The closures are part of five weeks of single lane-closures that alternate between Totem Lake Boulevard and Northeast 124th Street. Those single lane-closures began in late February.
Northeast 132nd Street/Juanita High School – Juanita
Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists will encounter road construction on Northeast 132nd Street at Juanita High School and on the access road to the school. The project builds a new right turn lane into the High School to increase traffic flow during peak times.
Northeast 132nd Street at I-405 – Juanita/Kingsgate
Drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists will encounter continued construction as WSDOT’s contractor builds a new interchange for Interstate 405. 116th Avenue Northeast remains closed, north of Northeast 132nd Street for until May. A detour is in place for vehicles. Pedestrian access will remain open on 116th Avenue Northeast throughout construction.
For questions about this traffic control, or other questions about this project, call WSDOT’s project hotline at 425-224-2433.
126th Avenue Northeast Water Main Upgrade – South Rose Hill
Work continues on a water main upgrade along 126th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 70th and 80th streets.
RW Scott Construction will be closing this section of 126th Avenue Northeast to general traffic throughout construction, but will provide access to local residents. Resident connections to the water main are underway.
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza
Join the Iranian Society of Washington State in celebration of springtime and learn about this holiday which celebrates the Persian New Year. Bring your family to Marina Park where you can enjoy a traditional haft-seen, festive music, dancing, face painting, and a magic show.
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Parks and Community Services Job Fair
Location: North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Ave NE
Parks and Community Services Department is hosting a job fair on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the North Kirkland Community Center. Learn about seasonal and year-round positions, chat with hiring managers, apply on-site, and enjoy refreshments and swag. We can't wait to see you there!
Rain Gardens and Native Landscaping 101
Date: Wednesday, March 29
Location: City Hall, 123 5th Ave
Join us for a FREE gardening class with local gardening expert Lisa Taylor.
Learn more and register here.
Did you know that rain falling on your property affects water quality in local creeks and Lake Washington? Garden educator Lisa Taylor will explore landscaping solutions such as rain gardens and gardening with native plants to slow and filter rainwater runoff on your property.
City of Kirkland Yard Smart staff will also be on hand to help you design landscaping solutions tailored to your property.
All attendees leave with a free native plant!
This class is limited to 40 participants. Please register for this free class no later than March 26.
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