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The Kirkland City Council met on November 8, 2023, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
Councilmembers discussed which regional boards and committees each were interested in serving on.
Council received a briefing on the 2023 City-initiated annual legislative amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Map.
Council held a public hearing on a property tax increase as part of the mid-biennial budget process.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
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The Mid-Biennial Budget Review and update on progress implementing the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget, a brief financial review, and assessed the City Manager’s recommended adjustments to the Biennial Budget.
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The second tranche of proposed updates to the 2023-2028 Capital Improvement Program and provided final direction for Council adoption in December 2023
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 November 21, 2023.
This Veterans Day, we honor the women and men who have served our country. In Kirkland, they work across all City departments from Police and Fire to Public Works and IT. Thank you for answering the call by putting your lives on the line for us.
In observance of Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11, City offices will be closed on Friday, November 10. Fire, police, and other critical services will be open. Other City services will resume at 8 am on Monday, November 13.
Get to Know Your Community Hands-On
Throughout this year and into 2024, the City of Kirkland is working with the community to update the Kingsgate and Juanita Neighborhood Plan chapter of the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan. The purpose of a neighborhood plan is to establish a vision for the next 20 years to define how to best manage growth in this part of the city and within the context of citywide goals and policies in the Comprehensive Plan.
Have your say in shaping the neighborhood’s future! There are two upcoming opportunities for you to participate in the neighborhood plan updates:
Juanita Neighborhood
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Juanita Neighborhood Visioning Workshop on Thursday November 30, 2023, from 6 - 8 p.m. The Workshop will be held at Heritage Hall (203 Market St, Kirkland, WA 98033). Please RSVP HERE to help us plan for the correct number of attendees.
- Complete our quick neighborhood community survey to share your ideas and experiences, express your visions, and help the City plan for an evolving Juanita. Survey can be found at: https://cityofkirkland.research.net/r/JuanitaPlan2023
Kingsgate Neighborhood
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Kingsgate Neighborhood Visioning Workshop on Wednesday November 29, 2023, from 6 - 8 p.m. The Workshop will be held at the Kingsgate Library (12315 NE 143rd St, Kirkland, WA 98034). Please RSVP HERE to help us plan for the correct number of attendees.
- Complete our quick neighborhood community survey to share your ideas and experiences, express your visions, and help the City plan for an evolving Kingsgate. Survey can be found at: https://cityofkirkland.research.net/r/KingsgatePlan2023
For more information, view the project webpage for Juanita and Kingsgate 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.
Friends of Youth (FOY) celebrated the opening of its new Willows Youth Services Center in Kirkland with a ribbon-cutting by Kirkland City Councilmember Amy Falcone, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Representative Lisa Callan, King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, FOY CEO Paul Lwali and others.
Friends of Youth envisions all youth having every opportunity to succeed. This new facility will offer young adults expanded shelter, access to services like mental and primary healthcare, substance use treatment and more.
To learn more about FOY, visit https://www.friendsofyouth.org/
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The Kirkland Police Department held its latest swearing-in ceremony for new staff, promotions and milestone recognitions. Police Chief Cherie Harris swore in two new officers and four professional staff. Two Police officers marked 5 years of service, three officers celebrated 15 years, and one detective was honored for 20 years of service with KPD.
One Corrections officer and two Police officers received promotions.
Chief Harris also gave one Police officer a Medal of Valor for his courage in protecting community members that went beyond the normal demands of service.
Interested in law enforcement? Kirkland Police Department is hiring!
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 Mark your calendars: the Fall WM Recycle Right Event is coming up Saturday, November 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE.
For the first time, our Recycle Right Event is in partnership with the Furniture Repair Bank to collect gently worn and damaged furniture to be restored, repaired, and then gifted to community members in need. To donate furniture you must complete an online application by Monday Nov. 13 and will be notified by Nov. 15 if approved. Complete the online application (picture of item required), a limited number of items will be accepted and we reserve the right to reject any item on the day.
The event will also accept unwanted textiles, electronics, and paper for confidential shredding. This is a free event, there is no cost to recycle any of the accepted items. More event info is available at WM Fall Recycle Right Event – City of Kirkland (kirklandwa.gov), or contact us at recycle@kirklandwa.gov with questions.
Fall is perfect tree planting season, and we want to give you up to $500 to plant trees! You can join 146 of your Kirkland neighbors who've planted 517 trees through the tree rebate program.
Don’t lose out on this opportunity - claim your tree rebates before November 30, your deadline to plant trees and claim a rebate up to $500 for Kirkland's 2023 program.
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When voluntary water conservation measures were announced in September, Kirklanders took to conservation with enthusiasm. Thanks to water savings by people across the region, Seattle Public Utilities announced we've cut our water usage from 149 to 106 million gallons per day!
At the City, we've been working with businesses and schools to help save water, our Parks team has turned off irrigation for the season, and we've reduced unnecessary vehicle washing.
Even with the refreshingly soggy weather we’ve been getting, we still need your help to achieve our goal of reducing usage to 100 million gallons per day. You can save water by:
- Turning off the faucet when you brush teeth or shave.
- Take shorter showers.
- Run only full loads of dishes or laundry.
- Use a broom instead of pressure washing.
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I-405 NB overnight closures
Heads up late-night drivers heading northbound on I-405. All Northbound lanes of I-405 between NE 124th St and NE 160th St will be closed overnight from midnight to 4 a.m. on Nov 16, and again midnight to 6 a.m. on Dec 3. The closures remove an existing sign bridge and install a new one. Closing northbound I-405 for this work enables crews to complete construction activities along the interstate more safely and efficiently.
Continued Progress on 100th Ave NE
Outdoor Speaker Series
Date: November 9, 16, and December 6
Location: Heritage Hall, 203 Market Street
Kirkland Parks and Community Services along with our sponsor, Trust for Public Land, is hosting a series of adventure speakers made up of outdoor enthusiasts, authors, nature photographers, kayakers, and historians.
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Nov 9: How Does a 10-Minute Walk to Green Space Change a Community?
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Nov 16: A Guide to Community Driven Park Revitalization Campaigns
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Dec 6: Discover the Eastside's Best Kept Secret: Eastrail Trails
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GIS Day
Date: Wednesday, November 15
Location: City Hall South Lower Lobby, 123 5th Ave
Calling all map lovers, amateur cartographers, and anyone else interested in visualizing their place in the world: come on down to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Day. GIS Day will feature short demos of the City’s various GIS map products on tablets, maps available to you to use, and our GIS team will be available to answer questions about how GIS supports the police, fire, public works, and parks departments every day. We hope you’ll join us!
 Check Out a Virtual Event from King County Libraries
Starting a Small Crafting-Based Business
Date: Friday, November 10
Learn about starting a small crafting-based business from successful businesswoman Emily Mallory. Discuss how to price your goods, how to find venues or sell online, use social media and copyrights. More info.
Writing Workshop: Outlining Your Novel
Date: Sunday, November 12
Learn tools to outline your novel project! Create character transformation through plot! This workshop will help writers in the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). More info.
Date: Wednesday, November 15
This month, try a recipe from a Native American cookbook. At the Cookbook Book Group, members will try one or more recipes of their choice from the same cookbook. Please note that we cannot share food at these meetings, but we'll watch a slide show of our cooking adventures and share successes and failures! More info.
Blood Drive
Location: City Hall (Peter Kirk Room, South Lower Lobby), 123 5th Ave
This Veterans Day, we honor the service & commitment of veterans - some of the most dedicated blood donors in this country. Join in support of those in need of transfusions & in honor of those who risk their lives. Your donation supports patients here in the Pacific Northwest, every day. Book today to donate at the November 29 & 30 blood drives. Start to finish, the blood donation process only takes 40-60 minutes.
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Snowflake Ball
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Ave NE
Our annual Snowflake Ball for kids ages 3-9 is almost here! Kids and their parents, grandparents, or guardians can dance the night away – with a special guest from Frozen! Snacks and beverages provided and professional photos will be available. Tickets are $35 per child. Limited space available, register in advance for course #17381 at www.kirklandparks.net, or call 425-587-3336. Hosted by Kirkland Parks and Community Services.
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Rainy weather got you down? How about watching dogs swim in a pool in the sun?
 And if you haven't yet, be a responsible pet owner and license your dog. Not only is it required, but it also helps keep your furry family member (and other animals) safe. Plus, if your dog is licensed, they'll get a free ride home from our Animal Control Officer if they ever get lost! License your furry loved one today.
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