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 The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. More information about the meeting will be included in next week’s edition of ‘This Week in Kirkland.’
Calling Kingsgate and Juanita Neighborhoods
Share your vision for your neighborhood in a survey. Your feedback helps shape the future of your neighborhood and establish a vision for the next 20 years as part of the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan.
Kingsgate Neighborhood – Survey
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.
Ready to get into the holiday spirit? You’re invited to join a couple festive community events that help make Kirkland so special this time of the year. Celebrate the magic of the season with a weekend of winter fun and dance the night away at Snowflake Ball then stroll through Winter Wonderland at Light Up Kirkland.
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Want free money to install a fully electric heat pump to heat and cool your home? Energy Smart Eastside is launching a “Make the Switch” campaign to encourage eastside residents to do just that.
The Make the Switch campaign connects eastside households to contractors who can help homeowners benefit from available incentives from Mitsubishi, Puget Sound Energy, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Households at 150% or below of Area Median Income also qualify for Energy Smart Eastside’s $1,500 Fuel Switch rebate. In total, residents can save up to $6,400 by switching to a heat pump through Make the Switch.
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Join Kirkland Fire Department and the Marine Corp for their annual toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots! There are two ways you can donate new, unwrapped toys:
1. On December 2 and 3 from 10am to 4pm donate at 8525 120th Ave NE near Kirkland Costco where Kirkland Firefighters, Marines and other volunteers will be collecting toys.
2. Or drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Kirkland Fire Station between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday, through December 15.
Help bring the joy of the season through the gift of a new toy.
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🎁 Support Kirkland's vibrant community this holiday season by shopping locally for your gifts! 🎁
Discover unique treasures and one-of-a-kind finds right here in our charming city. From handmade crafts to artisanal goodies, our local shops have something special for everyone on your list. Let's spread joy and give back to the community we love!
From the quaint boutiques to our friendly cafes, every purchase you make keeps the local dream alive. Join us in supporting the artisans, family-run stores, and local entrepreneurs who pour their passion into their craft. When you shop local, you're not just buying a gift – you're giving back to the community, fostering connections, and helping to create jobs right here in our hometown.
Don't forget to share your favorite local finds with us. Happy shopping!
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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:
Interested in becoming a police officer? The first step is to take a Law Enforcement test.
Our testing administrator, Public Safety Testing, is holding upcoming test dates in nearby locations that they don’t visit that often. If you’ve been thinking about serving your community by being a police officer, now’s a great time to take advantage of these convenient offerings.
Sunday, December 3 - Puyallup, WA
Saturday, December 9 - Vancouver, WA
Saturday, December 16 - Seattle, WA
Trees – they make such a difference in making Kirkland such a lovely place. Hoping to gain clarity on tree-related regulations for removing trees on private or public property? We’ve developed a handy frequently asked questions (FAQ) flyer for you to reference.
For further inquiries or assistance, feel free to stop by the Development Services Counter at City Hall (123 5th Ave) between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or contact our dedicated planning staff at 425-587-3600. Note: the Development Services Counter opens at 10 a.m. every Wednesday.
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Do you have an interest in nature conservation? The King Conservation District (KCD), a special purpose district that promotes sustainable use of natural resources in King County, is holding elections for a position on its Board of Supervisors. The Board is responsible for overseeing the operations, budget, and policy for the District. Board Supervisors serve three-year terms and steer the direction of resources for the $8 million, 30-staff-person district.
KCD provides assistance to residents in forest management, farm conservation planning, wildfire preparedness, and streamside and shoreline enhancement. It also offers grants and works with cities and other organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems.
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Holiday Toy Drive
Date: November 30 and December 1
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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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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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. Even if you can’t make the meeting, feel free to register for it and we’ll 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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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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Community Bonfires
Saturday, December 9 | 05:10 - 05:30 p.m. | Marina Park (25 Lakeshore Plaza)
Saturday, December 16 | 02:35 - 02:55 p.m. | Juanita Beach Park (9703 NE Juanita Drive)
Monday, December 18 | 05:35 - 05:55 p.m. | O.O. Denny Park (12302 Holmes Point Drive NE)
Kirkland Parks and Community Services warmly welcome the community to enjoy bonfires hosted by City staff that accompany Argosy Cruises' Christmas Ship Festival stops at waterfront parks.
Bonfires can be canceled due to inclement weather, burn bans, etc. Please call the Bonfire Hotline for day of event updates at 425-587-3345.
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Sound Bath with Ethereal Sound & Wellness
Date: December 5, January 9, February 6
Location: Heritage Hall, 203 Market St
Experience deep relaxation and restoration while participating in a series of Sound Bath classes brought to you by Savannah Powers of Ethereal Sound & Wellness. Immerse yourself in soothing sounds created by singing bowls, gongs, and chimes to reduce stress and promote a sense of balance and well-being.
During the session, participants lie down or sit, close their eyes, and focus on the healing vibrations of sound, allowing themselves to unwind and find inner calm. Bring a yoga mat, blanket, pillows, water, and dress comfortably for a cozy experience on the floor or sitting. Note: Doors will close promptly at 6:30 pm with no late entry admitted so as not to disturb the experience for others.
To register, visit KirklandParks.net.
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Pride Potluck
Date: Saturday, December 16
Enjoy food and fellowship at the 3rd annual LGBTQIA+ Holiday Potluck.
This cherished event is a chance for our Eastside LGBTQIA+ community to come together during the long, dark months. The holidays can be a particularly trying time for many in our community, and we want to offer this opportunity for our queer neighbors to connect in a sacred space with great food and even better people! This is a free, all ages event.
We will have a sensory room with a quieter atmosphere and various stimming items for you to experiment with, and a game room with a Nintendo Switch and plenty of space for anyone who want to bring board games or card games.
Folks in the queer community are welcome to bring ally friends and family.
We are thrilled to have performers from STANCE (Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble) and Regime Forfeit with us this year!
Pride Across the Bridge is grateful to the City of Kirkland for helping us put this space together!
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Kirkland sure knows how to celebrate the season! As we look forward to the events of the next few weeks, here is a walk down memory lane with Winterfest 2022.
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