 Listen to our wrap-up of 2023 on the "This Week in Kirkland" podcast. Check it out.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. This will be a hybrid meeting, and community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda for the January 2 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
The Council will welcome its newest member, Councilmember John Tymczyszyn, who, alongside returning Councilmembers Kelli Curtis and Amy Falcone, will be ceremonially sworn in by Kirkland Municipal Court Judge John Olson.
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All three Councilmembers were elected in November 2023. Councilmember Tymczyszyn is an attorney, veteran, husband, and father of three. Prior to being elected to the Council, he served on the Kirkland Planning Commission from 2017 through 2023, including serving a term as chair.
The Council will select its next Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Kirkland operates under a “council-manager” form of government, and both Kirkland’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Council every two years. The Mayor’s responsibilities are primarily to preside at council meetings and act as head of the City for ceremonial purposes.
The Council will consider approving the 2023-2028 Update to the Transportation Improvement Program, a State-mandated planning document for the development of transportation facilities within the City.
The Council will consider approving an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Kirkland and the City of Redmond to co-locate Redmond’s Advanced Life Support Unit (paramedics) at new Fire Station 27 in Totem Lake when completed.
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.
How to participate: Members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so in-person or via Zoom during the “Items from the Audience” part of the agenda. That part of the agenda occurs at the beginning of the Council’s business meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. Information on the comment sign up process to provide comment to the City Council, and on attending the meeting virtually, is available on the City Council webpage.
Written comments can also be submitted to CityCouncil@kirklandwa.gov. For additional questions, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (425) 587-3190.
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As so many do this time of year, we’re taking this opportunity to reflect on 2023 and celebrate all that made it one for the books.
2023 was a year of celebrations.
City Hall for All was a true extravaganza with over 3,000 community members in attendance! Folks met our Kirkland City Councilmembers, learned about City programs directly from staff, took guided tours of City Hall, supported local businesses at a pop-up market and got to climb inside City firetrucks, dump trucks, police vehicles and more with the very popular Truck-a-palooza.
In October, we re-opened the renovated Fire Station 22. Community members took self-guided tours of the station including firefighters’ work area, equipment shop, sleeping rooms, workout room, kitchen and - of course - the apparatus bay where the firetrucks and aid cars are kept. The fire station renovations are part of the Fire Proposition 1 investments to improve health and safety in our community.
In July, we gathered for the Grand Re-Opening of the completely renovated 132nd Square Park. Featuring the first synthetic turf field at a Kirkland park, a new all-abilities playground, and two new picnic shelters, 132nd Square Park is a wonderful 10-acre community park in the Evergreen Hill neighborhood and is ready for all to enjoy!
The 24th annual Celebrate Kirkland 4th of July parade was a big success with a turnout of over 30,000 people and more than 70 parade entries. For the first time, the festivities were put on by our very own Parks and Community Services Department.
2023 was a year of firsts.
In March, the City hosted Governor Inslee and regional representatives to announce the siting of a new multi-service crisis responsecenter dedicated to serving the behavioral health needs of community members across north and northeast King County. The new crisis center will be operated by Connections Health Solutions, a national innovator in behavioral health crisis care, and will be conveniently located near Evergreen Hospital and Highway 405 in the Totem Lake neighborhood.
Meli Paulo, the City’s first Homeless Outreach Coordinator, joined us in April. She comes with seven years of nonprofit social service experience, three of which were spent working as an Outreach Care Coordinator supporting the unhoused community in Seattle. Meli has already made an incredible difference in her service and has supported over a hundred people experiencing homelessness in Kirkland. We are so grateful to have her on the Kirkland team!
Beginning in 2023, the City recognized Juneteenth as an official holiday in Kirkland. City Hall, City community centers, and public City facilities and services closed all day Monday, June 19, 2023, in observance of Juneteenth. Recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday acknowledges the struggles and celebrates the triumphs of Black Americans, and it reaffirms our City’s commitment to transform our community into one that is equitable for everyone.
For Pride month, the City unveiled its first Pride Crosswalk in Kirkland modeled after the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag at the entrance of Marina Park at Kirkland Avenue and Lakeshore Plaza. The installation of the pride crosswalk is one way that the City is working to create an inclusive and belonging place for all community members.
2023 was a year of excellence.
The This Week in Kirkland email newsletter won third place in Granicus’ 13th annual Digital Government Awards in the “Trust & Transparency” category. Thank you to the nearly 8,000 subscribers that stay up to date every week.
Totem Lake Park - the 17-acre park with the “rainbow” playground, nature board walk and a wetland area - received an Award of Honor from the Washington State Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. The award recognizes the park as an ecological centerpiece for a re-envisioned Totem Lake Urban Center.
Kirkland, alongside the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park and Shoreline, received the first Building Bridges Award by the North Urban Human Services Alliance. The award recognizes the five cities’ extraordinary work done in creating the new Regional Crisis Response Agency to provide community mobile crisis response services across north King County.
For the eighteenth consecutive year, the City was proud to receive the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. This is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
2023 was a year of connection.
A night of glam, glitz, and gratitude, our Community Appreciation Celebration was our heart on display in honoring the volunteers behind the volunteer hours that make our City a great place to be. Held at the Kirkland Performance Center, the night showcased the immense work accomplished by our civically engaged Volunteers, Neighborhood Leaders, and Boards and Commissions members.
Earlier this year, we launched the new civic engagement program – the Kirkland Initiative - where the first cohort participated in an 8-week interactive series learning the foundations of government functions and programs and participated in a robust curriculum to better understand decision making processes in the City.
The community came together where the Cross Kirkland Corridor now comes together at the grand opening of the new Totem Lake Connector (TLC) bike and pedestrian bridge. Hundreds of community members joined the celebration as local officials cut the ribbon. The TLC Bridge connects the Cross Kirkland Corridor over 124th Ave NE and supports the continuous miles of the Eastside’s Eastrail.
In September, we launched our official podcast “This Week in Kirkland” – a friendly, audio version of the City’s weekly digital e-newsletter of the same name. Listeners hear a variety of Kirkland stories and info, including what’s happening at City Council meetings; tips from different City departments; updates on parks, paving, and other constructions projects; info on fun local events; opportunities to provide feedback on upcoming initiatives; and a little Kirkland trivia.
Full of celebrations, firsts, excellence, and connection, there’s so much to be grateful for as we say farewell to 2023 and embark on 2024. However you celebrate this annual transition, the City of Kirkland team wishes you all the very best in 2024.
Read this on the City’s website. [LINK TO N&I]
City administrative offices will be closed:
• At 12 p.m. noon on Friday, December 29
• All day Monday, January 1
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 be available during regular business hours while administrative offices are open.
Please visit our website for more information about City services.
Have a safe, warm, and happy holiday season!
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Our partners at King County shared that this year blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is sticking around very late into the season and might appear in Lake Washington. Some types of cyanobacteria are capable of producing toxins that can make people and pets sick.
We are hopeful that upcoming winter weather will help dissipate the cyanobacteria growth. Until then, we encourage everyone to look for and avoid algae. When in doubt, stay out of the lake!
After your holly jolly holiday, you can easily dispose of your unflocked, undecorated Christmas trees up to 6 feet tall. Simply place them beside your cart at no cost during the first two weeks of January to be collected by WM for composting. Taller trees should be cut down to 4-foot segments. Put out trees next to your cart on your regular service day during the weeks of January 1 or 8, 2024. After that time, trees should be cut into 3-foot segments and put fully inside your yard waste cart.
WM collects Christmas trees from apartments and condos too! Pickups are made twice a week during the weeks of January 1 and 8.
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Can’t remember when WM visits your unit? Here is a map of the collection days for your apartment or condo Multifamily Christmas Tree Collection Map (kirklandwa.gov). Place your Christmas tree next to your apartment or condo garbage dumpster or collection area. Trees must be no taller than 6 feet, larger trees should be cut into 4 foot or shorter segments. Trees must be unflocked and undecorated.
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The Kirkland City Council recently ratified a speed limit reduction from 35 to 30 MPH on the NE 131st Way and 90th Avenue NE corridor (sometimes referred to as Goodwill Hill). Reducing the speed limit along this corridor aligns with other projects the City’s doing to support safety through lower vehicle speeds. You may have seen some of those projects, including a multiuse path on the east side of 90th Avenue NE, narrower vehicle lanes, an extruded curb, and more. Please remember to go the (new!) speed limit to help keep you and your neighbors safe!
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King County Metro, Sound Transit, and other regional transit partners are teaming up to provide free rides for one of the busiest New Year’s Eves in years. On Dec 31 riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Water Taxi, Metro Flex, Sound Transit Link, Sounder trains, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar. Whether you’re headed to see the Seattle Seahawks fight for the playoffs at Lumen Field, are a hockey fan making their way to the NHL Winter Classic Fan Village, joining the large crowds for the fireworks at the Space Needle or going out to other events throughout the region, transit has got you covered.
When the weather turns cold, more people may use portable space heaters to supplement home heating. If you plan to use a portable electric heater, keep these tips in mind from the Kirkland Fire Department:
- Use a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory.
- Keep the heater at least 3 feet away from anything that can burn, including people and pets.
- Choose a heater with a thermostat and overheat protection.
- Place the heater on a solid, flat surface.
- Make sure your heater has an auto shut-off to turn the heater off if it tips over.
- Keep space heaters out of the way of foot traffic. Never block an exit.
- Keep children away from the space heater.
- Plug the heater directly into the wall outlet. Never use an extension cord.
- Space heaters should be turned off and unplugged when you leave the room or go to bed.
When it’s freezing out and you’re cold – your pet is cold too! Winter walks can be dangerous if ice-melting chemicals are licked off of bare paws, and winter weather can cause chapped paws. Check out these tips from the Kirkland Police Department to help protect your pet from the cold:
- Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as they come inside.
- Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet and belly to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.
- Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.
- Massaging petroleum jelly or other paw protectants into paw pads before going outside can help protect from salt and chemical agents. Booties provide even more coverage and can also prevent sand and salt from getting lodged between bare toes and causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.
- Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather months can provide much-needed calories, and making sure they have plenty of water to drink will help keep them well-hydrated and their skin less dry.
- Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.
- Remember, if it’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside. If left outdoors, pets can freeze, become disoriented, lost, stolen, injured or killed. In addition, don’t leave pets alone in a car during cold weather, as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death.
And if you’re pet gets out in the cold, it’s even more important to find them as soon as possible! The best way to keep track of your pet is to get them licensed – it’s the fastest way you can be reunited – because we’ll have your pet’s info on file, can give you a call to let you know we found them, and can give them a free ride home!
Dive into the magic of winter in Kirkland! Explore sparkling waterfront views, bustling local markets, and embrace the festive spirit. Shop and connect in our community, supporting the heart and soul of our local businesses. Let's make this winter in Kirkland truly unforgettable!
When conditions turn, you want to know where to find information and resources. Here is some handy information to bookmark and have ready when needed.
- Call 911 for fires and medical emergencies
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Contact Puget Sound Energy for power outages and for downed trees on power lines at 1-888-225-5773 or report via the outage map online
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In the event of a winter weather incident, the City will post warnings and updates to the City’s Twitter, Facebook, and NextDoor pages and to https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/News
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For weather advisories and warnings, check the National Weather Service
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For real-time travel updates and road conditions, visit WSDOT
- For info and tips to keep your pipes from freezing, visit our water webpage
- For information on the City’s snow response, including snowplow routes, quick links, and frequently asked questions, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/snow
- Get prepared for incidents with helpful information from our Office of Emergency Management
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MLK Jr. Day of Service
Volunteer with the Green Kirkland Partnership for a day of habitat stewardship on MLK Jr. Day on Monday January 15, 2024 in Kirkland Parks.
Volunteers are needed to help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants, and pitching-in with mulching and weeding. With your help, your parks will have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come!
- Edith Moulton Park - Monday, January 15 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
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South Norway Hill Park - Monday, January 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Lunar New Year 2024
Date: Saturday, February 3
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center
地址：柯克兰市Peter Kirk 社区中心, 352 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033
Learn about the Lunar New Year, and how it's traditionally celebrated! Enjoy activities that include crafts, food, dancing and cultural demonstrations.
Upcoming Events at the Library
Book Discussion with a Death Doula
Date: Saturday, January 13, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St
Join Certified Death Doula Elisha Galvez for a discussion of the book From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin Doughty. Register.
Penguins! Stories, Science and Crafts
Date: Saturday, January 20, 2024
Time: 1 - 2:15 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Ave
Join Librarian Amy for a celebration of entertaining, tuxedo-wearing penguins with stories, science and crafts. Ages 3 to 8. More info.
After School Hang Out
Date: Wednesdays
Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Location: Kingsgate Library, 12315 NE 143rd St
Play games, work on homework or hang out. Free snacks provided by the Friends of the Kingsgate Library. Grades 6-12. More info.
Preschool Story Time
Date: Tuesdays
Time: 2 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Library, 308 Kirkland Ave
Join Librarian Amy for stories, music, movement and rhymes that develop your preschooler’s early literacy skills. A brief play time or activity follows. Ages 3 to 5 with adult. More info.
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While our partners at King County are keeping an eye on toxic algae in the lake, the City of Kirkland Storm & Surface Water team are out keeping our streams and other Kirkland waters safe and clean. Watch as they give Juanita Creek a check-up.
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