 We’ll un-scramble the news of the City for you in the This Week in Kirkland podcast.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, April 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 April 2 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
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Council will consider establishing a Childcare Stipend Program for Board/Commission members.
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Council will consider increasing the size of the Tourism Development Committee by one voting member by adding an additional Councilmember to serve as vice-chair of the committee.
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Council will review and provide feedback on a draft letter from City of Kirkland staff to King County concerning the City’s comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station. The draft letter can be found on the City's website.
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Council will hold a public hearing on the City’s emergency moratorium on the issuance of permits for new dwelling units on Goat Hill.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will:
- Hold a joint meeting with the Human Services Commission to discuss the commission’s 2023-2024 work plan update, understanding the current need in Kirkland, and 2025-2026 grant funding.
- Review and discuss the City’s Municipal Stormwater Permit for 2024-2029, and Draft 2024 Ecology Stormwater Design Manual.
Meeting details: The business meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and is preceded by a 5:30 p.m. study session. The agenda for the April 2 meeting will be available on the City website prior to the meeting on the Kirkland City Council agendas webpage. You can also receive meeting agendas in your inbox by subscribing to “City Council Agendas” on the Kirkland email lists subscription page.
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.
Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station
King County is collecting public comments on the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which contains studies of two potential site alternatives and a no-action alternative. They are accepting public comment on the Draft EIS until April 9, 2024 online.
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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.
Early Sunday morning, March 24th, 2024, Kirkland Police, working alongside neighboring law enforcement agencies, apprehended five individuals suspected of orchestrating at least 17 burglaries targeting Indian American and other South Asian community members in Kirkland and its surrounding areas.
“This is an impactful and successful outcome for our community,” said Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris. “Thank you to our community members for trusting law enforcement with your story and for all our community members’ assistance along the way. And I also want to send a big thank you to the Lynnwood, Bothell, and Bellevue Police Departments for their critical assistance and collaboration in this multi-jurisdictional investigation.”
Read the full story here.
 Whether out for the day or going on vacation, there are steps you can take to protect your home from burglary. Here are a few tips from the Kirkland Police Department:
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Do what you can to make your home less inviting to thieves. If it looks difficult to enter, is difficult to enter, and is well-maintained, chances are they will try somewhere else.
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Get to know your neighbors. Establish that you can count on your neighbors and that they can count on you to report suspicious activities to the police.
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Install sufficient lighting in the front/back of your home and garage.
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Use deadbolt locks as secondary locks on all doors.
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Fortify your windows and sliding glass doors with secondary locks or dowels that fit securely in windows.
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When you are going to be gone for an extended period, don't make it obvious. Use timers to turn indoor and outdoor lights on and off. Leave music on (or on a timer, too). Stop mail and newspaper deliveries.
If you had the chance to save someone’s life using CPR, would you know how? If not, now’s your chance to learn. The Kirkland Fire Department is again partnering with the Medic One Foundation to provide the next free CPR class for the community.
The next CPR class in Kirkland will be on Thursday, April 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. The class will be at Kirkland Fire Station 22 in the Central Houghton Neighborhood, in the multi-purpose room.
Pre-registration is required. For more information, and to register for CPR Class, see the City’s website.
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The Lake Street Pedestrian Scramble project advances to its next stage. The contractor is planning on an April 1st closure of the Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue intersection for two months.
This week, equipment is being moved to the site, and a chain-linked fence will be established around the intersection to protect community members from the construction zone. The intersection corners will be open to foot traffic throughout the project, and impacted businesses will be accessible.
This downtown intersection includes several businesses that will be impacted by this closure.
You can help support our downtown businesses! Visit these local businesses that work hard every day to serve our vibrant community. To browse local businesses, visit ShopLocalKirkland.com
The pedestrian scramble will improve downtown pedestrian safety, traffic flow, and provide a primary walking connection between Kirkland's waterfront and its downtown storefronts. There will also be improvements and repairs to the underground stormwater system.
To learn more, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/lakestreetpedscramble
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Have you heard about the Food Waste Prevention Week (FWPW) movement? The City of Kirkland has joined over 600 partner cities and organizations across 48 states to help promote, educate, and inspire the community to save food from going to waste! By taking simple actions you can help prevent food waste, save money, reduce hunger in your community, and protect the environment. Learn more about FWPW!
Here are some top tips for saving food from going to waste:
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Fridge Nights – once a week look at the leftovers in the fridge and create a meal. Here are some ideas to get you started. Label and freeze any leftovers that don’t make the cut and take for lunch another day.
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Shopping plan – try making a weekly meal plan and shop your fridge and cupboards first for ideas of what you have and what items you will need. Saves food, money, and time!
- Know what’s good – Use your senses to evaluate your food - smell, look, and taste. Dates on food and packaging are confusing and not always good indicators of food safety!
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Understand the labels - “sell by” is meant for grocery staff, the food is still good beyond the sell by date. If the “best before” or “use by” dates have just passed you can still eat the food (if they have been stored properly and pass the senses test). These dates refer to freshness not whether the food is edible. Find out more!
When it comes to fire safety, taking steps to prevent fire and planning what you would do in case of fire are key to survival. The same goes for pets. Here are some tips for protecting pets from the dangers of a house fire:
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Ensure your pet is not left unattended around an open flame and make sure to thoroughly extinguish any open flame before leaving your home. Pets are generally curious and will investigate cooking appliances, candles, or even a fire in your fireplace.
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The best way to protect your pets from the effects of a fire is to include them in your family safety plan. This includes having their own disaster supply kit as well as arranging in advance for a safe place for them to stay if you need to leave your home.
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When you practice your escape plan, practice taking your pets with you. Train them to come to you when you call.
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In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them, too. But remember: never delay escape or endanger yourself or family to rescue a family pet.
United Way of King County offers free and convenient tax preparation services both in-person at multiple locations throughout King County as well as virtually from now through April 21.
Households making under $80,000 are eligible and can be connected to other community resources and public benefits by request.
There are three easy ways to file:
1. In-Person File your taxes in-person at locations throughout King County. Locations have convenient hours to meet your schedule, and no appointments are needed. To find a location near you, languages available, a list of what to bring, and other details, visit United Way’s website at www.FreeTaxExperts.org or call 2-1-1
2. Virtually – with assistance from a virtual volunteer Interested in filing your taxes virtually but don’t feel comfortable doing it on your own? Visit www.GetYourRefund.org. Please note: Virtual tax assistance slots are limited. If you do not feel comfortable sharing sensitive information like your Social Security Number or ID information online, or with navigating a web client, please visit in person.
3. Virtually – without assistance (no income limit on this software!) Feel comfortable filing your own taxes and just wish there was a way to do it yourself for free? Then look no further! File your taxes online at 100% no cost with United Way’s ‘My Free Taxes’ tool at www.myfreetaxes.com.
Are you eligible for the Working Families Tax Credit? There is a tax credit up to $1,255 available to qualifying Washington state families.
Read more at Washington Department of Revenue.
Un nuevo reembolso para los trabajadores de Washington. Las personas y familias podrán recibir una devolución de hasta $1255 si cumplen ciertos requisitos de elegibilidad. Lea mas en Washington Department of Revenue.
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Did you know that 6.6% of the population has O- blood type? This is the universal blood type that can be transfused to any patient. There is less than a 1-day supply of O- blood on hand. Bloodworks Northwest needs O- donors, and donors with all other blood types too!
Blood donations help people who've suffered from emergencies and trauma as well as patients with cancer treatments, surgeries, premature babies, car accidents, and others who cannot live without the support of volunteer blood donors.
There are 3,000 appointments open that need to be filled by donors like you. Prevent a blood shortage by making an appointment to donate.
A blood drive will be at City Hall on Tuesday, April 23 and Wednesday, April 24. Book a Donation Appointment today!
Mark your calendar and attend our Parks Job Fair! Over 150 positions are open. Positions are available in Park Maintenance, Aquatics, Camps, Special Events, Recreation Leads, Recreation Attendants, and more. The Job Fair is at the North Kirkland Community Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Apply while you're there! On-site interviews for most positions! Bringing a resume is helpful but optional for most positions.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/ParksJobs for more information and a complete listing of available jobs.
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Kirkland Avenue and Lake Street
Kirkland’s Lake Street pedestrian scramble contractor is planning on April 1 to close for two months Lake Street’s intersection Kirkland Avenue.
The following day, New X, Inc. will establish the chain-linked fence around the intersection that will protect community members from the construction zone.
This week, New X, Inc. is preparing the intersection for the construction project. This includes moving equipment to the site.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/lakestreetpedscramble
Juanita Drive
Kirkland’s Juanita Drive corridor improvements contractor is keeping closed 79th Way Northeast’s intersection with Juanita Drive until April 1, while its crews upgrade a water main beneath 79th Way Northeast. Drivers should also expect intermittent lane-closures for the next year along Juanita Drive, between 79th Way Northeast and Northeast 133rd Place.
Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street West
Kirkland's Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street West water main contractor is alternating traffic until mid-April on Eighth Street South and a short section of Railroad Avenue.
Strickland and Sons crews are working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Visit the City website for more
Kirkland's 100th Avenue Northeast corridor improvements contractor is alternating traffic at various locations between Northeast 137th and 145th streets.
Crews are scheduled to complete annual tree maintenance along Juanita Drive between NE 120th Place and 93rd Ave NE. Westbound travel will be closed within this section from April 8 to April 12, with a detour up to NE 120th St.
Pitch Competition
Date: Wednesday, April 3
Time: Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave
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The Spring Recycle Right Event
Location: Lake Washington Institute for Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE
Waste Management is hosting a recycling event on Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s south parking lot. This is an opportunity to recycle unwanted textiles, electronics, and paper for confidential shredding. For full event details and a list of accepted items please visit WM Spring Recycle Right Event – City of Kirkland (kirklandwa.gov). This is a free event, there is no cost to recycle any of the accepted items. For questions please contact WM’s Outreach Coordinator at Recyclenw@wm.com.
Dates: April 25, 27, 30, May 2 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. and May 4 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Upon registration
Cost: $25 for City of Kirkland residents.
CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) is a hands-on training that teaches people how to prepare their homes and neighborhoods to respond to a disaster.
Learn skills like fire suppression, disaster first aid, search and rescue techniques, assisting professional responders, responding to suspected terrorist incidents, reducing survivor stress, and preparing individuals and communities for emergencies.
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Kirkland Police Hosts Public Safety Testing
Location: Kirkland Justice Center, 11750 NE 118th St
Have you ever thought about serving your community and building great relationships with community members? Kirkland Police Department (KPD) invites you to take the first step to becoming a police officer - by taking the written Law Enforcement test on May 4!
KPD is hosting the test, administered by Public Safety Testing, at the Kirkland Justice Center.
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