December 7, 2023 - This Week in Kirkland - Text Version
Published on December 07, 2023
December 7, 2023
Wait, did we say “podcast”? We sure did! Check it out.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. 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, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
Council will hold a public hearing to receive public testimony on the proposed amendments to Kirkland Zoning Code Chapter 95 , which are intended to improve clarity and application of provisions related to tree protection during redevelopment . Following the public hearing, the Council will consider adopting the amendments.
Council will consider amending the Kirkland Municipal Code to authorize the various components of the new universal low-income relief program .
Council will consider a speed limit reduction from 35 mph to 30 mph along the NE 131st Way/90th Avenue NE corridor from NE 134th Street to 94th Avenue NE.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
- 2024 School Impact Fee Update
- 100th Avenue Additional Pedestrian Crossing – NE 140th Street
- Houghton Village TREK Update
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.
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.
Heads up Kirkland! Don’t break out the sunscreen just yet. A lot MORE rain is coming our way this weekend.
- We need your help to prevent flooding. Clear leaves and debris from storm drains near your home to keep them from clogging and causing a backup during heavy rainfall.
- Never remove the grate from the storm drain opening. This does not unclog the system and creates a hazard for everyone.
- If you see flooding or ponding that can't be safely or easily cleared, call Kirkland’s 24/7 spill and flood hotline at 425-587-3900.
December 9, 4 to 7 p.m.
Light Up Kirkland transforms Marina Park into a magical Winter Wonderland full of luminaries and light displays. Enjoy a bonfire on the beach, live local music under the Pavilion, arts and crafts activities, and pastries, coffee, treats, and toys from vendors. Argosy Cruises will sail by with their Christmas Ship and provide more entertainment from the water. Meet our City Council over yummy cocoa and cookies. To learn more about Light Up Kirkland, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/communitybuildingevents or call 425-587-3336.
Want more cozy winter festivities, check out these upcoming community bonfires.
Community Bonfires
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.
Celebrate the heart and soul of Kirkland - our local businesses! Discover the treasures our local shops have to offer. Every purchase is a high-five to a dreamer and an investment in our community. From the eclectic ambiance of our boutiques to the warm welcomes in our bistros, your support weaves strength into our city’s fabric. Make your mark on Kirkland's charm - shop small, dine local, and celebrate the businesses that make us who we are. ��
Join Kirkland Fire Department and the Marine Corp for their annual toy drive to benefit Toys for Tots! Drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Kirkland Fire Station between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, through December 15.
Help bring the joy of the season through the gift of a new toy!
Many people decorate for the holidays. Although cozy, lights, tinsel, and other decorations can mean a greater risk for fire. More than one-third of home decoration fires are started by candles. So, Kirkland Fire Department offers these safety tips for a safe holiday season:
- Keep real holiday trees watered because dry trees are a fire hazard
- Keep lit candles away from decorations and other things that can burn
- Check if lights are only for indoor or outdoor use, and use them accordingly
- Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections
- Use clips, not nails, to hang lights so the cords don’t get damaged
- Make sure your home has a fire extinguisher - and know how to use it
Before going out or going to bed:
- Blow out lit candles when you leave the room
- Turn off all light strings and decorations before leaving home or going to bed
Have a safe holiday season!
Some pets love a party, others do not. If your pet gets out because there are too many visitors, be sure they can get back home if they get lost – by licensing your pet through Kirkland Police Department. And check out these additional tips to help keep them safe this season:
- The excitement of a party may overwhelm some pets, so if needed, keep your dog or cat in a quiet room or crate during the party
- It may be tempting to put them outside, but keep pets inside during cold weather and provide plenty of toys to keep them busy
- Let guests know ahead of time that you have a pet
No table scrap snacks! Just some of the foods not to feed pets:
- Bones, candy, citrus, coffee, raisins, raw or undercooked meat or fish, nuts, onions.
- Best to stick with their regular pet food and treats
- Make sure your dog or cat doesn’t chew on holiday tree branches. Ingested pine needles could hurt them.
- No drinking out of the tree base. It may contain dangerous chemicals that could harm your pet.
- Position your tree's lights and tinsel away from the bottom of the tree where pets can reach them.
- Don’t leave candles unattended. Pets may accidentally knock them over and spill wax or start a fire.
- Know that some seasonal plants are poisonous to pets if eating including ivy, holly, mistletoe and poinsettias.
Let’s make the holidays safe for our furry family members!
Community member, Xin, shared with us how helpful the Community Van program is for their needs:
“We really appreciate the Community Van program. The wheel chair ramp and other accessibility features let us take my dad for outings and medical appointments. The self-serve request process plus Blair’s customer service makes it easy to utilize Community Van. Thank you!”
With winter comes snow and ice, and the potential for impacts to waste collection services. If weather delays collection, WM will collect up to twice as much garbage, recycling, and yard waste on your next regularly scheduled collection day at no extra charge. No credits will be issued for collection delays due to weather. Visit WM’s page at http://servicealerts.wmnorthwest.com/Kirkland for up-to-date weather delay information and FAQs . Bookmark this page to check this winter!
Want to get an alert to your mobile phone when your trash or recycle service will be delayed? Set your WM communication preferences to stay in the know!
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.
Attention all drivers: traffic impacts are expected for the following projects in the next week or so:
- Northeast 85th Street Interchange (WSDOT Project)
- Northeast 132nd Street Interchange (WSDOT Project)
Firefighter Diversity and Recruitment Workshop
Date: Saturday, December 16
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!
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!
Add some music to your winter celebrations with these performances at the Kirkland Performance Center.
The Midtown Men: Holiday Hits Show
Wednesday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
Featuring stars from the Original Broadway Cast of JERSEY BOYS, The Midtown Men will transport you back to the swinging 1960s. “Holiday Hits” adds a delightful twist to the mix by combining timeless rock n’ roll classics with your most beloved holiday songs, creating a harmonious fusion of the past and the present. More info and tickets .
Dreaming of a Nite Wave Christmas: 80s Holiday Concert
Saturday, December 16 at 8 p.m.
Everything from Prince to Depeche Mode to Duran Duran to INXS and more! Nite Wave pays homage to the artists who designed a decade and bring a certain energy to their shows that is unique and infectious. More info and tickets .
Keola Beamer & Henry Kapono
Saturday, January 27 at 8 p.m.
Keola Beamer & Henry Kapono are two legends of Hawaiian music. Each became an icon in the 1970s, both at the creative forefront as Hawaiian music reinvented itself. They have continued to lead the way for over 4 decades. More info and tickets .
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.
Want a monthly Events Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter .
How many people does it take to push a 46,000-pound engine into a fire station? The weight is light when we push together .
For more information, please contact:
David Wolbrecht - Communications Program Manager
City Manager's Office
425-587-3021 | dwolbrecht@kirklandwa.gov