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The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on May 7, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. More information about the meeting will be included in next week’s edition of ‘This Week in Kirkland.’
Stay in the know: you can also get a preview of what’s coming up at Council in the coming weeks and months by checking out the City Council Agenda Calendar. Please note: this calendar is subject to frequent change and does not constitute legal notice.
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Know someone who exemplifies dedication to the Kirkland community? You should nominate them to be the Grand Marshal of the Celebrate Kirkland’s July 4th Parade. Nominations are due by May 10 and will assist parade organizers in the final selection.
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The Celebrate Kirkland Parade is a beloved, long-standing tradition for our community. But parades don’t just happen – they need fun and meaningful floats and other volunteers that help make it such a wonderful time for all. The City is now accepting applications for parade float entries and volunteers to help make the 2024 parade the best yet!
Read more.
Getting excited for the July 4th festivities? So are we! There’s more to Celebrate Kirkland than the parade, and we’ll share much (MUCH) more as the big day gets closer.
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This week, April 21 – 27, is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! The City has many opportunities to make an impact - from recreation programs to public safety to teen programs.
Our beautiful community has thrived with the generous service of our volunteers and boards & commissions members. In recognition to our stellar community, it is our honor to host our annual Community Appreciation Night on Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. at the Kirkland Performance Center. Join us for a night full of live performances and Council-presented awards recognizing all the wonderful contributions to the community in 2023. Plus, learn about opportunities for you to get involved.
Tickets are available and admission is free. Register online. We hope to see you there!
On Monday, the City of Kirkland celebrated the reveal of Juanita Beach Park’s newest temporary artwork. But here’s the catch – you can only see it when it’s raining.
Kirkland partnered with Rainworks to install this eco-friendly art that only comes to life when raindrops splash on the concrete. As with prior installations at 132nd Square Park, Marina Park, and Downtown Kirkland, the message behind this Rainworks installation centers on pollution prevention to protect Kirkland’s creeks, wetlands, and Lake Washington.
Rainworks are temporary artworks that typically last 2-4 months, so, as we welcome the rain again this week, hurry down to Juanita Beach Park to view scenes of river otters playing basketball, giant leapfrog hopscotch, and more. Use it for a rainy day park scavenger hunt!
Building on months of community engagement and focused staff work, we’re kicking off the home stretch of our Comprehensive Plan process. Next up? Public Hearings on the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan.
Your presence and feedback are crucial in ensuring that the Comprehensive Plan reflects the needs and aspirations of our diverse community. Your insights will help guide decisions that will impact our city's development and growth.
All Public Hearings will be held at City Hall during Kirkland Planning Commission meetings starting at 6 p.m. Open Houses will be from 4 - 5:30 p.m. prior to each meeting to provide an opportunity to speak with staff and ask questions. Visit the Planning Commission website for more information.
Public Hearing Schedule
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Topics: Vision Statement & Guiding Principles; Parks, Recreation & Open Space; Economic Development
May 23, 2024
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Topics: Land Use; Sustainability, Climate & Environment; Human Services; Neighborhood Plan updates; Community Amendment requests (CAR’s)
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Topics: Transportation; Capital Facilities; Utilities; Public Services; Implementation, Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
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Topics: Housing; Appendices (Glossary, Historical Information, Housing Needs Assessment, Community Profile); Miscellaneous topics
*dates and topics are subject to change
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We all want clear air and quiet neighborhoods. To support these goals, the City of Kirkland is phasing out the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Kirkland.
Make the switch now and receive a $100 voucher towards a new electric leaf blower!
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Keep unhealthy noxious fumes out of the community
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Promote quieter neighborhoods
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Reduce environmental impacts of gas emissions
On Saturday, May 4 the City of Kirkland is holding a trade-in event from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Kirkland Community Center north parking lot. In our efforts to dispose of gas-powered leaf blowers we will take the old and provide a $100 voucher – redeemable at select local stores- to be used toward the purchase of a new electric leaf blower.
To be eligible for a voucher, you must:
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Bring your gas blower empty of oil and gas. Please drain your leaf blower before the event (view detailed instructions at www.kirklandwa.gov/leafblowers).
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Provide proof of Kirkland residency in the form of a utility bill or identification.
Please stay in your car and slowly drive through as directed by Kirkland staff. Keep your gas-powered leaf blower in the trunk of your car for easy removal by staff and volunteers. Vouchers are available on a first-come, first served basis.
In the spirit of Arbor Day, the City of Kirkland is excited to share that tree rebates and pre-paid certificates are still available through 2024! The City program provides up to $500 per property for planting qualifying trees on your property.
Rebates and certificates can also cover the necessary amounts of compost and mulch during planting, as well as watering bags to help your new trees thrive in the summer.
Trees help prevent flooding in our neighborhoods, provide shade for our homes, and help filter pollutants to provide clean water for Lake Washington. Planting trees is an easy, affordable way to help the environment on your own property.
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Six of Kirkland’s finest took the opportunity to participate in last weekend’s Future Women in EMS and Fire Workshop hosted by Shoreline Fire and King County EMS. Lt. Megan Keyes, FFs Lirette, Pattillo, Avcu, McPhee and Sorn joined female firefighters from across King County to provide a full two days of hands-on experiences, question and answer sessions, and mentorship opportunities for women interested in a career in fire and emergency services. The workshops are held twice a year in the Spring and Fall. Renton Regional Fire Authority will be hosting the next one in October. Watch for more info!
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Kirkland Parks & Community Foundation is partnering with Amazon and the City of Kirkland to repair and upgrade the defaced Kirkland Pride Crosswalk in Marina Park. Sadly, vandals badly damaged the crosswalk shortly after it was finished. Funds raised will be used to resurface the crosswalk with more durable, easier-to-maintain methyl methacrylate (MMA) to ensure that it remains a potent symbol for years to come.
Amazon is TRIPLING everyone’s donation. For every dollar donated, Amazon is adding three more. That means a $50 donation becomes $200!
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Are you ready to be a changemaker in your watershed? Join Mid Sound’s Community Action Training School - a free, all ages, program that will introduce you to community members, non-profit organizations, and local and Tribal governments working on projects throughout the watershed that benefit both salmon and people! No prior experience or background in course topics is necessary.
Applications are due April 30, 2024 (11:59 pm)
Did you know we have a monthly Events Guide that delivers upcoming events right to your inbox? Join the 10,000+ subscribers and know what’s coming up. Subscribe now!
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I-405 and 132nd St NE Interchange Project
Crews will close NE 132nd Street between 116th Way NE and Totem Lake Blvd NE on the weekend of April 26-29 to finalize striping work. The project team appreciates your patience as crews work diligently to open the I-405 on- and off-ramps by Tuesday, April 30. If you have additional questions, visit the project webpage, call: 425-224-2423, or email: I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov.
I-405 and NE 85th St Interchange Project
If you travel through the 85th St Corridor, take a few minutes and stay informed with WSDOT weekly updates on I-405 and NE 85th St Project. The project webpage provides both day and night road and highway ramp closures.
April’s Teen Night Extravaganza: Murder Mystery Night
Time: 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center, 352 Kirkland Ave
Walk-ins welcome! Bring your friends and unravel the secrets hidden within. Solve the mystery or cover your tracks but beware, you may find yourself in a tricky situation. We welcome teens ages 15 – 18, walk in are accepted but reservations get you a guaranteed main character.
Kirkland Half & 5K
Time: 7:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive
Lace up those trainers and grab your running buddies then join us for the Kirkland Half & 5K! Enjoy one of three courses, including a Kid's Dash, which start and finish at Juanita Beach Park - a beautiful and scenic waterfront park located on the northern shores of Lake Washington.
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Restorative Sound Bath class
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Heritage Hall, 203 Market St
Experience deep relaxation in this Restorative Sound Bath class brought by Ethereal Sound & Wellness. Let go of stress and tension as the calming sounds guide you into a meditative state, allowing you to heal through vibrations of sound.
Sign up with Kirkland Parks. If you can't make it, we have two other upcoming classes!
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Spring Recycling Collection Event
Location: Lake Washington Institute for Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE
Kirkland's recycling collection events allows residents to dispose of recyclable items that are not accepted through recycling collection services or product stewardship programs. All items collected will be reused or recycled.
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We L-O-V-E our volunteers. Here, we’ll show you how much we do:
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