 We have a special Thanksgiving episode this week – safe cooking tips from a special guest! Check it out.
The Kirkland City Council met on November 21, 2023, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
Council adopted the City’s 2024 State Legislative Agenda which sets the Legislative priorities of the Council and the Legislative Workgroup.
Council adopted Ordinance O-4862 establishing the preliminary 2024 regular levy for Kirkland. The adoption of the ordinance is the next step before property tax levies are submitted to King County.
Council honored employees who have served 20 years or more with Employee Service Awards.
Council held a public hearing on amendments to the Kirkland Municipal Code regarding the Multifamily Housing Property Tax Exemption target areas within the NE 85th St Station Area Plan.
Council held a public hearing on the City’s proposed update to the 2023-2028 Transportation Improvement Program.
The Mayor, on behalf of Council, proclaimed November 20 as Transgender Day of Remembrance and November 24 as Native American Heritage Day. To read more, visit the City’s website.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
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the Kirkland Transportation Plan (formerly Transportation Master Plan) and provided direction to staff on priorities
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an update on Puget Sound Energy’s storm readiness and system resilience
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 December 12, 2023.
In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday, City administrative offices are closed on November 23 and 24. 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 at 8 a.m., Monday, November 27.
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After seven weeks of diving deep into the Kirkland Police Department, we’re proud to announce that fourteen community members graduated from the 2023 Kirkland Community Police Academy! Kudos to participants for stepping out of their comfort zone and taking the time to immerse themselves in the KPD learning environment.
Over the course of the program, participants got an inside look at the daily operations of the Kirkland Police Department (KPD), learning about a variety of topics from Defensive Tactics to SWAT. The program included classroom presentations on Investigations and De-Escalation, as well as hands-on activities like responding to pretend 911 calls and meeting our K-9 unit.
Attendees asked thoughtful questions that both instructors and participants worked though together. Community Police Academy is not just a learning experience for participants, but an opportunity for KPD officers to connect with the community they serve through an engaging, interactive experience.
See you at next year’s Kirkland Community Police Academy!
Fire Station 24 received a new fire engine, and we celebrated with a time-honored push-in ceremony last week.
The history of the push-in ceremony dates back to the early days of the American Fire Service of the 1800s when horse-drawn equipment had to be pushed back into the station following a call. That tradition has been adopted by the modern fire service when taking delivery of a new apparatus.
We’re grateful to all who came out to help us push in the new 46,000-pound engine and for our amazing firefighter/EMTs who help keep our community safe! Bonus: we don’t have to push the fire engine back in after every call 😀
Interested in becoming a firefighter but don’t know where to start? Join the King County Fire Chiefs Association, Kirkland Fire Department, and other fire agencies for the fourth Diversity and Recruitment Workshop.
This event is especially welcoming of underserved persons in the fire service - including the BIPOC community, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with little-to-no experience in the industry. We want you to know that you have a place in the fire service, and our agencies want to help you succeed!
Diversity and Recruitment Workshop details:
Have you seen the special surprise at 132nd Square Park? Spoiler alert: our stormwater team partnered with Rainworks to create some super fun, ephemeral art that only appears when it’s raining.
The message that magically appears reads “Lake Washington Starts Here – Don't Pollute, Protect Our Fish.” This serves to remind us that our storm and surface water drains to Lake Washington, and we all have a part in reducing pollution.
On the next rainy day, take a visit to 132nd Square Park and check it out!
Thanksgiving is HERE! A lot of T-Day favorites are the biggest culprits of clogged drains:
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Gravy, sauces and soups
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Cooking oil, butter, shortening, lard and margarine
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Milk, cream, sour cream and mayonnaise
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Food scraps
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Oil from cooked meats
Buildup from these fats, oils, and grease (FOG) cause clogs in pipes and backups that can be costly and create public health problems.
The best thing to do is to collect all food scraps and grease and dispose of properly. You can recycle your used cooking oil by bringing it to a collection tank at the North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Ave NE. You can bring food scraps to compost bins at City Hall, 123 5th Ave. Or you can pour leftover oils and scraps into a sealable container and place the cooled sealable container in the garbage.
Enjoy your gratitude-filled gatherings and follow these tips to avoid expensive and obnoxious repairs.
More information and resources can be found at the Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG) webpage.
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One week left to claim a 2023 tree rebate. If you have planted a new tree this year or would like to do so in the next week, apply for a tree rebate to receive a credit for your purchase up to $150 per tree for a total of $500 per property.
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Holiday Toy Drive
Date: November 30 and December 1
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Location: LWSD Resource Center 16250 NE 74th St, Redmond
Your generous donation to the Holiday Toy Drive benefits children throughout Lake Washington School District.
Want to save time, or unable to drop off? Shop the Amazon Wish List and ship directly to LWSD.
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Toys for Tots
Location: 8525 120th Ave NE
The 11th annual Toys for Tots collection event is coming once again to Kirkland, near the Kirkland Costco. Donate new and unwrapped toys to the 2nd largest Toys for Tots event in King County!
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Give Blood this Season
Date: November 29 & 30
Location: City Hall (Peter Kirk Room, South Lower Lobby), 123 5th Ave
When the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to consider giving blood. With the holiday season fast approaching, hospitals need blood for patients more than ever. Donating blood is a quick and easy way to make an immediate difference in someone’s life. Doctors and emergency responders need our community blood donations to help those in need, whether it’s a trauma patient, cancer patient, or premature baby. Help keep our community blood supply well stocked, and join us November 29 & 30 as a blood donor. Look for the Bloodworks Team in the Peter Kirk Room at City Hall, and come save a life. Book your appointment.
Green Kirkland Stewardship
Give back and volunteer with the Green Kirkland Partnership to help plant native trees and restore the forest in Kirkland Parks. No prior experience needed to volunteer, and youth are welcome following the event guidelines listed on the registration page. Tools, training, and gloves are provided.
Events are supervised by a Green Kirkland Steward.
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At the meeting, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the project, hear about upcoming construction work, ask questions, and find out how to stay informed. The meeting will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, Dec. 6 from 12 to 1:30 p.m.
Not able to make it? WSDOT will post a recording to the project webpage within one week after the meeting. Please feel free to register for the meeting even if you can’t attend and we will email you the recording when it’s available.
Heads up drivers - traffic impacts are expected for the following projects in the next week or so:
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100th Avenue Northeast
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Northeast 85th Street Interchange (WSDOT Project)
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Northeast 132nd Street Interchange (WSDOT Project)
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History of Exclusion: Kirkland Edition
Date: Saturday, December 2
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Avenue
Policies and actions of the past created the Kirkland of today. Help us create the Kirkland we want for tomorrow.
Our keynote speaker, Lorraine McConaghy, Ph.D., author and award-winning public historian, will help us examine local history through a lens of racial equity, transportation, and housing – with a focus on Kirkland.
We will then connect with local and statewide groups working for change through specific actions.
This event is organized by Liveable Kirkland and co-sponsored by a dozen organizations, including the City of Kirkland.
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Outdoor Speaker Series
Discover the Eastside's Best Kept Secret: Eastrail
Date: Wednesday, December 6
Location: City Hall, Peter Kirk Room (South Entrance), 123 5th Ave
Did you know that a 42-mile hiking and biking trail connects Kirkland to the north and south of Lake Washington?
Join Katherine Hollis to learn how to explore the Eastrail trail project, a series of hikes that stiches together old railway tracks, and how community members are working to expand access to hiking across the Eastside.
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Light Up Kirkland
Date: December 9
Time: 4 – 7 p.m.
Location: Marina Park
Come experience the magic of Light Up Kirkland! Marina Park will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland where you can take a stroll on the grounds of the park to view amazing light displays. You can also enjoy a bonfire on the beach, listen to music from local groups. Then Argosy Cruises will sail by with their Christmas Ship and provide more musical entertainment from the water. Light Up Kirkland will be held on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 4 pm – 7 pm. Don’t forget, come have some cocoa and cookies with the Council. Bring the whole family!
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Join an Upcoming Winter Break Camp!
Northwest University Holiday Hoop Camp
Date: Wednesday, December 27
Let the kids burn off extra energy at our Holiday Hoop Basketball Camp with Northwest University on Wednesday, December 27. Each camper will receive a camp t-shirt and a basketball. Register online now at bit.ly/3SjCRu2 or call 425-587-3336.
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Northwest University Basketball Shooting Camp
Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (Ages 8-10) and 1 - 4 p.m. (Ages 11-13)
2 Day Specialty Shooting Camp hosted by Northwest University Men's Basketball. Learn how to develop a repeatable shooting motion, generate power, and increase your range. Athletes will work on shooting off the dribble, shooting off the pass, free throws, and more through a combination of shooting drills, games, and game-like scenarios. Register online now at bit.ly/490va25 or call 425-587-3336.
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Winter Holiday Activities with Snapology
In this winter holiday program, we'll help get your student in the holiday spirit with exciting activities that will inspire their creative thinking, develop their communication skills, and get them thinking about this special month in ways they never have before as they make fidget spinners and more! Register online now at bit.ly/494s8d3 or call 425-587-3336.
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Play-WELL Teknologies Bash'em Bots Camp
Design your custom LEGO® bot to take on any challenge. Mix and match chassis designs using wheels, treads, or walking legs. Apply real-world engineering and physics concepts to help you bash and crash your way to victory. Register online now at bit.ly/46Zz75d or call 425-587-3336.
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Supporting local businesses gives us warm feelings. We’re still smiling from the success of the Eastside Made Pop-Up Market at City Hall for All earlier this summer. Check it out!
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