 The next regular meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on September 5, 2023. More information about the meeting will be included in an upcoming edition of ‘This Week in Kirkland’ and on the City Council webpage.
Add Your Voice to Your Neighborhood's Future
The Juanita and Kingsgate Neighborhood Plans are being updated now. Each of the 14 neighborhoods in Kirkland has its own neighborhood plan within the City's Comprehensive Plan which guides future growth over the next 20 years within the context of the citywide policies. Kicking off the Juanita and Kingsgate updates will be a study session with the Planning Commission on August 24, 2023 at 7 p.m. Join or tune in to learn more about the update process and schedule. See the Planning Commission agenda page for upcoming meeting information. There will be opportunities to directly provide your input on the future of your neighborhood. To learn more about opportunities to participate and receive updates, visit the City’s project webpage at www.kirklandwa.gov/neighborhoodplanning or contact LeAndra Baker-Lewis, llewis@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3265
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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.
Community members of all ages are invited to the City of Kirkland’s “City Hall for All” event on Saturday, September 9. This event is part of Welcoming Week, an annual campaign that celebrates the work in communities to become welcoming places for all.
“City Hall for All is a fun, educational, one-of-a-kind opportunity for the community to get to know their local government,” said City Councilmember Amy Falcone. “They can meet staff from various city departments, engage with their elected councilmembers, learn about our programs, enjoy a tour of City Hall, get their pet licensed, or even climb on a fire engine.”
On Saturday, September 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., City Hall for All will feature:
- Interactive booths with City staff sharing program information from various Departments
- Meet and greets with City Councilmembers
- Open City services – get a pet license, pay a utility bill or sign up for a recreation class
- Guided tours of Kirkland City Hall
- New expo featuring 30+ local Kirkland businesses
- Truck-a-Palooza! A much-loved event featuring a variety of City trucks and vehicles
This year, the City of Kirkland is working with community organizations to become the first city in Washington to receive a “Welcoming America” certification, a formal designation for cities that have created policies and programs that reflect their values and commitment to inclusion, especially for immigrants and refugees.
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Beginning August 22, the Houghton Beach swimming area is closed for at least one week due to elevated bacteria levels per the recommendation of Public Heath – Seattle & King County. People and pets should not swim, drink lake water, or engage in other water activities at Houghton Beach.
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Your pup called and told us they really want to come to See Spot Splash, woof!
Join us for our 3rd annual See Spot Splash event on Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your dog to splash and play at the Peter Kirk Pool, then head over to nearby Lee Johnson Field for some off-leash fun. This event will include vendor booths, music, and treats.
Pre-register at www.Kirklandparks.net or pay in person at the pool. Cost is $10 per dog. Participating dogs must be well behaved, show proof of vaccination, and be on a leash to enter.
This event brought to you by the City of Kirkland and sponsored by Juanita Hills Animal Hospital.
 Firefighter Bill Barnes working in the communications trailer at a fire
With wildfires burning in eastern Washington, Kirkland Fire has deployed firefighters Bill Barnes and Kevin Colombana to assist at the Gray Fire, which has destroyed more than 100 homes in Medical Lake in Spokane County.
KFD is also sending firefighter Kent Moffitt to train in the role of Communications Technician for incident management teams working wildland fires in Montana.
So far this year, KFD has deployed at least a dozen firefighters to help with wildfires in the state, around the region, and in Maui.
Wildfire smoke can make anyone sick, even someone who’s healthy. Breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including coughing, trouble breathing, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, irritated sinuses, headaches, or an asthma attack.
Older adults, pregnant women, kids, and people with pre-existing respiratory and heart conditions may be more likely to get sick if they breathe in wildfire smoke.
Tips to help protect yourself:
- Pay attention to local air quality reports. When a wildfire is happening in our area, watch for public health warnings about smoke.
- If you’re told to stay indoors, stay inside and keep your indoor air as clean as possible. Keep windows and doors closed unless it’s very hot outside.
- If you have one, run an air conditioner but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.
- Use a freestanding indoor air filter with particle removal to help protect people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- Don’t add to indoor pollution by using candles, fireplaces, or smoking tobacco or other products. Also, don’t vacuum - it stirs up particles already inside your home.
- Don’t rely on dust masks for protection. Paper masks commonly found at stores trap large particles, like sawdust, and will not protect your lungs from smoke. An “N95” mask, properly worn, will offer some protection.
- Finally, avoid smoke exposure during outdoor recreation. If you’re traveling, check to see if any wildfires are happening or if any prescribed burns are planned so you can avoid those areas.
Learn more tips on staying healthy during wildfire smoke season by visiting the Environmental Protection Agency webpage.
With the new school year fast approaching, a reminder to watch your speed in school zones for the safety of students and families going to and from school.
School zone cameras will be activated on September 5 and are located near John Muir Elementary / Kamiakin Middle School, Rose Hill Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary School, and Henry David Thoreau Elementary / Finn Hill Middle School / Carl Sandberg Elementary.
The speed limit in all school zones is 20 MPH and is enforced 30 minutes before and after the start of school and 30 minutes before and after the end of the school.
This year, the school district is changing the start and release times at Finn Hill Middle and Carl Sandburg Elementary Schools, but safety cameras in this school zone will still be 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after each school is in session.
For more information about the school zone safety camera program, visit the City’s website.
City of Kirkland and King Conservation District are giving away trees to enhance Kirkland’s tree canopy! Sign-up to receive up to two free trees at this year's Tree Giveaway event.
Learn more and register today by visiting kingcd.org/2023-kirkland-tree-giveaway. Trees will be available for pickup on Saturday, October 22 between 12 - 4 p.m. at 132nd Square Park. Pre-registration is required.
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Many people will head out of town for the upcoming Labor Day weekend – they plan travel itineraries and what to pack – but how many of us do more than just lock the door when we leave? Here are some tips to help ensure that your home is well protected from burglary while you’re away:
- Do what you can to make your home less inviting to thieves. Don’t leave expensive items like bikes or scooters outside. If your home looks difficult to enter and is well-maintained, chances are thieves will try somewhere else.
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Make sure there’s enough lighting in the front and back of your home and garage.
- Increase window and sliding glass door security with secondary locks or dowels that fit securely. Fortify garage doors with a padlock or a sliding bolt. Don’t forget to lock the door from the garage into the house.
- Use deadbolt locks as secondary locks on all doors.
- Let a neighbor or friend know you’ll be out of town and ask them to keep an eye on your house.
- Don't let mail, flyers, or newspapers pile up outside – that’s a telltale sign that you’re not home. Ask your friend or neighbor to collect mail while you’re gone.
- Trim all landscaping below windows to prevent areas where burglars could hide.
- Make sure your address is visible from the street in case emergency personnel need to respond.
- Don’t leave the spare key out. It may seem like a good idea, but if you can find it, so can burglars. Someone could also see you retrieve the key at some point, giving away your hiding place. Give a spare key to your neighbor or friend who’s keeping an eye on your house for you instead.
Learn more crime prevention tips by visiting the Kirkland Police Department webpage.
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You’ll see the City’s slurry seal contractor out and about from now through September. Slurry seal is applied every year to help extend the life of neighborhood streets. Streets are closed to travel and parking while “Road Closed” signs are up. Additionally, the contractor sweeps streets one week, three weeks and three months after application. Street parking is not available during sweepings. To check when the slurry seal application is scheduled for your neighborhood, visit: www.kirklandwa.gov/slurryseal.
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The Northbound driving, bike lane and sidewalk along Market Street will be closed August 16 to September 6 on Mondays to Fridays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for extensive storm system and road work. Please plan to use alternate routes. Detour signs will be posted.
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Totem Lake Blvd at 132nd St.
From 8 p.m. Friday, Aug 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, Sept 4, NE 132nd St will be closed between 116th Way and Totem Lake Blvd NE. For details, and everything you need to know about roundabouts, visit the WSDOT blog.
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King County Metro Changes Coming in Sept
Certain King County Metro bus routes that travel through Kirkland will be affected by ongoing service reductions that begin September 2.
Route 225: On weekdays, Route 225 will be reduced to hourly service during both peak and off-peak periods.
Route 230/231: On weekdays, routes 230 and 231 will be reduced to hourly service during both peak and off-peak periods.
Route 255: On weekdays, service will be reduced to approximately every 30 minutes after 7:00 p.m.
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Date: August 25 - 27, 2023
Location: various locations, see schedule
Kirkland FANTACON is a unique celebration of "Graphica," encompassing comics, graphic novels, and hand-drawn narrative illustration. Its inaugural event will be held August 25 - 27, 2023 in downtown Kirkland. It will include exhibition of original artworks by master cartoonists, panels, presentations by a stellar group of local and celebrated artists, art demos, book signings, an art festival/market, and more.
For more information about tickets, locations and the full schedule of events, check this site and sign up to receive updates and announcements about this exciting event!
Juanita Friday Market
Date: Fridays through September
Location: Juanita Beach Park
This week at JFM: Flowers! Dahlias, Zinnias, Sunflowers and more from our Flower Vendors. Also check out long-lasting succulents from Roselent. Entertainment by John Frost 3-5p, Suzanne Collette 5-7p, sponsored by Parkshore Juanita Bay. Busy Lil Bees Kids Booth has crafts, sponsored by Kirkland Kids Dentistry.
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Date: Saturday, August 26
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Ave
You’re invited to Fashions Night Out fashion show on August 26 from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Peter Kirk Community Center.
From the avant-garde to the classic, the eclectic to the bold, Ayo Collections has pulled out all the stops to bring you a fashion experience like no other.
The evening festivities start off with a guest party, followed by a grand runway event featuring Ayo Collections' latest trends.
At the after party, attendees can purchase their favorite items at a party pop-up shop.
Make sure to snap a few fun photos in the 360 photo booth!
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Date: Saturday, August 26 and Sunday, August 27
Location: Peter Kirk Park
Come meet your Park Rangers in-person! Learn about available Park services, how to license your pet, how pets can safely be in our parks, and other handy information.
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Location: North Kirkland Community Center Multi Purpose Room, 12421 103rd Ave NE
Music lovers, listen up: Bloodworks Northwest is giving away a three-night luxury getaway for two to Austin, Texas – the live music capital of the world! Winner will stay in the Presidential Suite of the refined Hotel Van Zandt and see legendary acts at the Austin City Limits Music Festival October 13 -15! Donate blood at the City of Kirkland Blood Drive August 29-31, and complete your entry form for a chance to win. Schedule your donation appointment here.
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Reading with Rover at Kingsgate Library
Date: Saturday, September 2
Time: 15 minute increments 1 – 2 p.m.
Location: Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St
Build reading skills and confidence by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog. Reading with Rover is a community-based literacy program working with schools and libraries throughout the greater Seattle area.
Everyone’s Invited to Welcome to Juanita
Welcome to Juanita is a free event open to everyone held at Juanita Beach Park on Saturday, September 16 from 12 p.m. noon to 3 p.m. This event serves as a welcoming event and celebrates diversity and inclusion in Kirkland. Come enjoy games and prizes, community and business information and resources, free food, and entertainment. Parking is free and there is complimentary bike valet parking. Hosted by the Juanita Neighborhoods Association. Your RSVP is appreciated to JNAneighborhood@gmail.com
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Talk Time Class at Kirkland Library
Date: Thursday, September 14
Location: Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Ave
Practice speaking with other English language learners. Learn about American culture and meet people from around the world.
Registration not required. Meets Thursdays.
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 Thank you to all the community members who helped make this year’s National Night Out a success! Can you spot your block party?
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