August 1, 2024
Take off with special guest, Councilmember John Tymczyszyn, on this week's podcast.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. This will be a hybrid meeting, and community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
Note: next week's Council meeting is moved to Wednesday because Councilmembers will be participating in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda for the August 7 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
- Council will consider amendments to the Kirkland Municipal Code on the automated safety camera program in school zones.
- Council will receive an update on the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element, including a briefing on the transit corridors being studied for the possibility of more housing capacity.
- Council will review updates to the Marina Park Dock and Shoreline Renovations.
- Council will consider adopting the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) Bridge Mural.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
- Staff's evaluation of the Kraken's Proposal.
- Utility rates for Solid Waste, Water, Sewer, and Surface Water.
- The Public Works Maintenance Center (PWMC) Facility Plan.
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 August 7 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.
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.
Follow Along with the K2044 Process and Provide Public Comment
Interested in how the City plans for the next 20 years? Check out upcoming dates for the K2044 Comprehensive Plan update:
- August 7 - Council will receive a briefing on the transit corridors being studied for the possibility of more housing capacity in the Comprehensive Plan Update.
- August 22 - Planning Commission will deliberate on the Land Use Element and Market St. Corridor Plan
For more information, and how to get involved, visit the K2044 webpage.
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.
In our Meet the Council video series, Councilmembers share their interests, what it is like being a Councilmember, and why the community should get involved.
Watch our latest video for a fun conversation with Councilmember John Tymczyszyn, and listen to our podcast, to hear more about John's experience as the newest Councilmember.
Beware of Scammers Impersonating Kirkland Police
Kirkland Police Department (KPD) is warning the community about a familiar scam that’s on the rise. Recently, perpetrators have been calling community members and posing as a member of the KPD in an attempt to convince community members to pay a fraudulent outstanding fine.
Read more on our webpage.
Official Opening of Temporary Play Park on August 8
The City of Kirkland is transforming the former Houghton Park and Ride into the temporary Houghton Park and Play Park. Join the Kirkland City Council on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at 1 p.m. for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Community members can enjoy popsicles and a brand-new skate park, just one of the new features at the temporary play park.
Read more on our webpage.
Houghton Beach Remains Closed to Water Activity
Houghton Beach remains closed this week based on test results which continue to indicate elevated bacteria levels. The beach has been closed since Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The beach will remain closed for at least one additional week until testing results meet the reopening criteria.
Find more information on our webpage.
Come Meet Kirkland’s New Animal Control Officer
Community members are invited to meet and greet Kirkland’s new Animal Control Officer (ACO) Angela Arnold this Saturday, August 3, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Juanita Beach Park. ACO Arnold will be there to answer all your questions about animal-related topics, pet licensing - and you can even license your pet on the spot!
For more information, visit our webpage.
Find Your Next Job at Kirkland Parks’ Job Fair
If you love making connections with people, learning new skills, and making a difference in your community, then working for Kirkland’s Parks and Community Services Department may be a great fit for you!
The City of Kirkland’s Parks and Community Services is hosting a Fall Job Fair on Tuesday, August 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Peter Kirk Community Center, located at 352 Kirkland Ave in Kirkland.
Check out open positions and apply today at www.kirklandwa.gov/parksjobs
Congratulations to Captain Joel Bodenman - the new Fire Marshal for the Kirkland Fire Department! Captain Bodenman has been a member of KFD since 2006. He served as EMS Captain during the COVID pandemic and worked tirelessly to ensure KFD’s decisions were directed by the best medical information available while navigating an unknown enemy.
Fire Marsal Bodenman heads Kirkland’s Fire Prevention Division which has a mission to create a safe environment for our community members and our business community.
It takes work to keep Kirkland’s streets smooth.
That’s why, starting on August 5 and continuing into September, you may see crews conducting up-close inspections of City maintained streets. This happens every two years - to evaluate road conditions. Crews will be working alongside roads, not in the middle of streets, so there won’t be any cones or traffic control.
They’ll be checking for: cracking, ruts, potholes, patch deterioration, weathering or other surface defects. They will be in teams of two, and you’ll know them by their safety vests and vehicles marked with “CAPS” (Capitol Asset & Pavement Services) and “Pavement Distress Survey.” So don’t report them to police – they’ll be doing their jobs checking out our streets!
This year CAPS will be inspecting all City maintained pavement including all streets, alleyways and parking areas. Kirkland’s main arterial and collector streets, which see higher traffic volumes and heavier vehicle loads, like public transportation, require more monitoring and are re-inspected every two years, while less busy residential streets are checked every four years.
The inspection work is expected to take about six to eight weeks, ending in September.
The biennial roadway inspection is just one way we help preserve our streets. The goal of Kirkland's annual street preservation program is to keep the City's 665 lane miles of roads in good condition - so they’re functional for travelers and cost-effective for the City to maintain.
See more about the City’s Street Preservation program here.
Whether you’re Team Charcoal or Team Gas, the smell of barbeque is a welcome sign that summer is soon arriving in the Pacific Northwest. But grilling is not without some risks. Every year approximately 9,500 people are burned from grill fires or hot grills.
The good news is that you can avoid grill-related burns by following some safety tips:
- Read the owner’s manual first.
- Only use grills outside and in well-ventilated, flat, level areas.
- Get up in your grill! Check for leaks.
- Clean your grill after every use.
- Use long-handed utensils. This will help avoid burns and splatters.
- Never leave your grill unattended while it’s in use.
- Wear appropriate clothing. Wear clothing that doesn’t have hanging materials that can catch fire. Use flame-resistant mitts.
- Be ready to extinguish flames. Have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.
- Stay away from hot grill and don’t move hot grill. Children and pets should be kept at least three feet away. Remember, the grill body remains hot for up to an hour after being used.
Find more fire safety tips on Kirkland’s Fire Prevention Bureau webpage.
Mark those calendars for September 21 from 9 AM - 2PM. If you're a car enthusiast, or own a classic car, donate or enter your car in Kirkland Cadets annual Benefit Car Show! All proceeds go to the Kirkland Cadet Program.
The Kirkland Cadets are a youth program that volunteer with the Kirkland Police Department. Through law enforcement mentorship and civilian partnerships, cadets receive hands-on training and practical demonstrations during their bi-monthly meetings. They receive the benefit from experiences that will prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
The KPD is actively recruiting new Kirkland Cadets! If you're interested, or know someone who is interested, check out the Kirkland Cadet webpage.
Anyone can be environmentally conscious during everyday activities as well as special and important occasions, like Prom. Watch as Eva Salmon, a Juanita High student and Kirkland Youth Transit Ambassador, decided to commute to Prom by bus for Ride Transit Month!
From Kirkland to Redmond to downtown Seattle, Eva took low-carbon transportation. By reducing her time in a single-occupant car she is helping the City reach their goal of "reducing driving per capita by 20%".
Juanita Drive
Juanita Drive is closed daily from Northeast 128th Street to Northeast 132nd Street between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, August 2nd. The detour route takes drivers and bicyclists to 84th Avenue Northeast to bypass the closed section of roadway. A uniformed police officer will control the intersection at Northeast 128th Street and 84th Avenue Northeast.
Beginning Monday, August 5, Juanita Drive will be reduced to one lane periodically between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 128th Street with flaggers controlling the flow of traffic.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/juanitadrivecorridor
Northeast 85th Street/I-405 Interchange
Northeast 85th Street is reduced to one lane each direction approaching 405 nightly from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday-Friday for the next two weeks. It is possible that the intersection will be closed nightly the weekend of August 9-12. The next full weekend closures are expected in late September to set the girders. This work is building the new bridges for both northbound and southbound 405.
For next week’s ramp and lane closures, visit the WSDOT project webpage at bit.ly/85th-Interchange-BRT
124th Avenue Northeast
Drivers traveling southbound on 124th Avenue Northeast are prohibited from turning left onto NE 120th Street. Kirkland’s contractor is widening 124th Avenue Northeast to five lanes and enhancing pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
Search “124th Avenue” on www.kirklandwa.gov
Northeast 116th Place (Goat Hill)
Goat Hill residents should expect road closures this week on Northeast 116th Place. Both the City contractor and PSE’s contractor are working at locations on Northeast 116th Place. PSE’s contractor has finished the gas on Northeast 117th Place now shift to working on electrical and will have sections of the roadway closed during that work.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/goathill
Eighth Avenue West and Fifth Street West
Work is currently in two locations on 8th Avenue West: near the intersection with Market Street and between 3rd Street and 4th Street. Pedestrians on Market Street should use the east side to avoid pedestrian closures or follow the detour. Flaggers are located at the intersections to allow for emergency vehicles.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/eighthavenuewestupgrade
Kirkland Avenue and Lake Street
Lake Street’s intersection with Kirkland Avenue is now open, and minor impacts to traffic flow are expected for delivery of materials throughout the remainder of construction.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/lakestreetpedscramble
Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street South
Kirkland's Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street West water main contractor is alternating traffic until early-August 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.
Search “5th Avenue water” on www.kirklandwa.gov
100th Avenue Northeast
OMA Construction, over the next two weeks, will have intermittent disruptions to access to Northeast 144th Lane as crews work to install soldier pilings for a new wall on the west side of 100th Avenue Northeast. The Kirkland contractor is alternating traffic at various locations between Northeast 137th and 145th streets. The legal speed limit through the construction zone is 25 miles per hour.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign
National Night Out
Date: Tuesday, August 6
Join community members across Kirkland for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6, 2024! National Night Out happens every year around the U.S. to promote police-community partnerships and neighbor-to-neighbor relationships to make our communities safer, more caring places to live.
First responders from Kirkland Police and Fire Departments and City Councilmembers attend community events between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. While police and fire personnel will make every effort to attend your event if invited, please note their availability depends on emergency call volume.
Visit the City's website to learn more.
Recycle Right Event
Date: Saturday, August 3
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s south parking lot, 11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
This is an opportunity to recycle unwanted textiles, electronics, and paper for confidential shredding.
This is a free event, there is no cost to recycle any of the accepted items. For full event details and a list of accepted items, please visit WM Recycle Right Event
For questions please contact WM’s Outreach Coordinator at Recyclenw@wm.com.
Blood Drive
Date: Wednesday, August 28 & Thursday, August 29
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: City Hall, 123 5th Ave
Join us in making sure that our community has the blood inventory needed to save lives, by booking your summer donation at the City of Kirkland Blood Drive. Join us in the Peter Kirk Room at City Hall, an hour of your time is all that is needed to save the life of another person. Be sure that you have photo ID when you arrive to check in for your appointment.
Make an appointment online with BloodWorks.
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If you're interested in the upcoming job fair, check out some of the wonderful programs our Parks and Community Services hosts.