|
|
|
The Kirkland City Council met on September 5, 2023, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
Council voted to retain Park Lane in its current status and not have it be subject to permanent or partial closure to vehicular traffic and parking except for during permitted events. Council also directed staff to cease work on permanent or partial closures of Park Lane.
Council reviewed a draft Utility Box Art Wraps Work Plan and provided direction to staff about preferred next steps.
Council approved the Property Acquisition of 212 6th St S. adjacent to the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) to be developed as a memorial park in support of the CKC Master Plan.
Council reviewed a new Employee Childcare Initiative and authorized negotiations for childcare services for City employees.
Proclamations Issued September 5, 2023 – The Mayor proclaimed:
- September 15 - October 15, 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month
- September 8 – 17, 2023 Eastside Welcoming Week in Kirkland
- September 2023 as “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” in Kirkland
- September 2023 as “Recovery Month” in Kirkland
To read more, visit the City’s website.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
Council reviewed the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program and provided direction on proposed changes which the Council will consider for adoption in December.
Council received a briefing on the findings of the Future of Park Lane Study and additional staff research.
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 City Council meeting is on September 19, 2023.
Time to talk about the neighborhood!
Working Groups are forming now for updates to the Juanita and Kingsgate Neighborhood Plans within the Comprehensive Plan. Work directly with City of Kirkland staff to prioritize study issues within the Kingsgate and Juanita areas, review existing and draft plans, and attend public meetings. Want to know more? See our Working Group Roles and Goals FAQ flyer for details!
Additional information at www.kirklandwa.gov/neighborhoodplanning
|
Regional Crisis Response Agency Visioning Session
The Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency was formed at the beginning of 2023. Since then, Crisis Responders have responded to hundreds of people in crisis across the five RCR cities of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Kirkland. They are building this program based on a long history of engagement with our communities, including RCR’s Community Advisory Group, made of up of folks with lived experience in the crisis system.
This month, RCR is engaging in a Community Visioning Process to bring together the people who work, live and have connections to our community. The purpose of this process is to define the future of crisis response in our North King County community. You are invited to join them for one of three sessions to envision and dream, and to participate in creating a blueprint for what success will look like for RCR and for crisis services more broadly in North King County.
In Person (light refreshments provided)
Monday, Sept 11, 2 - 3 p.m. Shoreline City Hall, Room 301
Wednesday, Sept 13, 6 - 7 p.m. Kirkland City Hall, Houghton Room
Virtual
Thursday, Sept 14, 3 - 4 p.m.
Zoom Meeting ID: 832 6240 0228
Passcode: 054790
|
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.
Beginning September 6, 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.
Read more.
|
Everyone is invited to “City Hall for All” on Saturday, September 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.! It’s part of Welcoming Week, celebrating the work in communities to become welcoming places for all.
We’ve got a jam-packed line up of family fun and activities, including:
Truck-a-Palooza is coming to City Hall! Fire trucks, Public Works trucks and more! We’ll have the big, unique vehicles that service our community all rounded up at City Hall for you to explore.
Ever wonder what it’s like inside of a Police Patrol car? How about a backhoe? Now’s your chance to climb inside!
Come get to know your local government – and our trucks!
We're joining with OneEastside SPARK for the Eastside Made Pop-up Market. Explore a diverse showcase of handmade treasures, relish in tasty treats from food trucks, and be part of a day that celebrates the talent of the Eastside community. More information and a full vendor list available at OneEastside.
Our doors are open! Learn about the range of services available to you at City Hall and discover something new. We'll show you around Council Chambers, the service counters for permits, licenses, and recreation registration, and so much more!
We know what you’re thinking... ‘If only I could get my City business done on a Saturday!’ Well, Saturday September 9 you can at City Hall for All!
Limited open services and city booths will be available to answer all your questions and get you on the right track. Plus, register for a passport appointment.
Quiet Room and 30-Min Quiet Truck-a-palooza
Events like City Hall for All can be a lot to take in. The City is striving to be sensory-friendly by implementing a few changes to this year's event:
-
Sensory-friendly space – we are opening the Peter Kirk Room conference room (accessible from the lower entrance) to offer a quiet space as a reprieve from the event. The room will have the lights setting on the lowest option and fish scenery on the screen. We will supply the room with water and with tactile items.
-
30-min quiet Truck-a-palooza from 10:30 to 11 a.m.
- Ear plugs available at the City table – to hand out if noise level is too high
|
The new school year started this week! Here are some simple reminders for drivers to help keep our students and streets safe:
- Slow down - drive 20 mph or less in school zones
- Pay attention - don’t get distracted by your phone or nav system
- Know the law - share the road with school buses
One more reminder: school zone cameras are now activated at four school zones in Kirkland:
- John Muir Elementary/Kamiakin Middle School
- Rose Hill Elementary School
-
Lakeview Elementary School
- Henry David Thoreau Elementary/Finn Hill Middle School/Carl Sandberg Elementary
Cameras operate 30 minutes before and after the start of school and 30 minutes before and after the end of school. More information can be found on the City’s website.
Here's an idea for fall: the minivans and 12-passenger van that you can borrow in our Kenmore-Kirkland Community Van fleet now come with a Discover Pass - which means free parking at many trailheads - so borrow the vehicles for a group hike!
Trips must include an approved driver and a minimum of two passengers. The driver rides FREE and passengers only pay standard bus fare, which is currently $2.75 for adults, $1.00 for seniors, and free for those 18 and under. Trip destinations can be up to a 2-hour drive from Kirkland, making hiking spots along I-90 and Highway 2 within reach. We even cover gas!
|
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.
|
Save the date to celebrate Kirkland’s urban forest at the City’s annual Arbor Day event on Sunday, October 22nd at 132nd Square Park.
Activities will begin at 10 a.m. and last through 4 p.m. with a ceremonial tree planting to kick things off at 12:30 p.m.
-
Attend a Sustainable Landscape Workshop with Certified Arborist and Ecological Designer Jessi Bloom. Learn how to design and install a water-wise landscape and leave with a complete toolkit to start implementing right away! Click Here to Register!
-
Kids activities to learn about the natural environment will also be available.
|
Tree removal and nighttime lane closure
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews will begin removing trees near the off-ramp from I-405 to westbound NE 85th Street. This work is part of the I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange and Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project.
-
Tree removal in public right of way: WSDOT will close one lane of the off-ramp from I-405 to westbound NE 85th Street. This nighttime work and the off-ramp single lane closure will start this week at 9 p.m. Crews expect to finish by Sept. 8.
-
Drainage Work: Starting as early as Sept. 11, neighbors may also see crews completing drainage work near the off-ramp. This may include both daytime and nighttime work. Work is anticipated to be complete by Sept. 30.
-
Noise: Nearby neighbors will see crews and equipment and hear chainsaws. Drainage installation work will include excavation and large earth moving equipment.
-
Night and daytime work: Nighttime work hours are typically between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Daytime work will typically be between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
|
Puget Sound Energy has started construction for the Sammamish - Juanita 115kV Transmission Line Project. Construction will impact segments of the Cross Kirkland Corridor in Totem Lake spanning from 120th Avenue Northeast to 132nd Avenue Northeast / Slater Avenue Northeast.
To protect the safety of trail users and crews, there will be intermittent trail closures during construction over the next few months. Detour signage will be posted when closures are in effect.
A transmission line in this location was included in the CKC Master Plan adopted in 2014. The project map below shows the transmission line route in Kirkland. Visit the project webpage for project-specific contact information and to view the full route.
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.
|
King County Metro Changes Coming in September
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.
|
Juanita Friday Market
Date: Fridays thru September 29
Location: Juanita Beach Park
Soak up a bit more of summer with fresh produce and flowers, live entertainment, and kids booth activities at the Friday Market!
|
Welcome to Juanita
Date: Saturday, September 16
Location: Juanita Beach Park
Everyone is invited to ‘Welcome to Juanita,’ a free welcoming event that celebrates diversity and inclusion in Kirkland. Enjoy games and prizes, community and business information and resources, free food, and entertainment. Free parking and there complimentary bike valet parking. Hosted by the Juanita Neighborhoods Association. Your RSVP is appreciated to JNAneighborhood@gmail.com
|
Wheels and Reels
Date: Saturdays, September 23, 30, and November 4
Time: Movie starts at 7 p.m. (Parking lot opens at 6 p.m.)
Location: Juanita Beach Park (NW parking lot) - 9703 NE Juanita Dr, Kirkland
Ages: All ages
Cost: $20 per vehicle per movie pre-registration required!
Join us for the first movie this Fall, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (PG-13) on September 23.
|
Changes to Medicare Parts B & D Presentation
Date: Thursday, September 21
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Ave
A special presentation offered from the Kirkland Senior Council on Inflation Reduction Act Changes to Medicare Parts B & D
Learn how the new drug law makes improvements to Medicare Part B and D that will expand benefits, lower drug costs, and stabilize prescription drug premiums. Get answers on choosing the right Medicare Part D plan for you. Presented by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
|
Want a monthly Events Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter.
There are lots of volunteer opportunities with the City. Do you know how much we love our volunteers? Take a look!
|
  
|
|
For more information, please contact:
David Wolbrecht - Communications Program Manager
City Manager's Office
425-587-3021 | dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov
|
|
