July 11, 2024
Did you know Councilmember Penny Sweet is an experienced woodworker? Well you would if you listened to this week’s podcast!
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda for the July 16 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
- Council will consider updates to the official City Flag creation process.
- Council will consider amendments to the Kirkland Zoning Code related to development 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 discuss:
- The Houghton Village Development Plan.
- The project list for the Transportation Strategic 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 July 16 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: 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.
Pick Your Favorite Teen Design
The Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) is re-launching in September 2024, and needs a new design. Last month, KTUB held a design competition for teens. Well, teens responded! Many entered into the competition and are competing for first place!
View and vote for the best design on our webpage or visit KTUB on Facebook or Instagram and like the picture of your favorite design. First place will get a hooded sweatshirt and hat with their design and a $100 gift card to a business in Kirkland.
The winning design will be announced by July 31, 2024 on our website.
Now Recruiting: Kirkland Cadets
Kirkland Police Department is looking for inspired youth, ages 14 to 20, to join its “Kirkland Cadet Program”. This program allows teens and young adults to learn firsthand what it’s like to have a career in law enforcement by working inside the Kirkland Police Department.
Cadets get hands-on training and practical demonstrations during their bi-monthly meetings. Cadets' duties provide real-life opportunities to serve the community, including learning about security detail, crowd control, defensive tactics and what happens at a crime scene.
Cadets receive the benefit of hours that can be applied toward a senior project or put on a resume. More importantly, they benefit from experiences that will prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
See more info about the Public Safety Cadet Program or apply by emailing Public-Safety-Cadets@kirklandwa.gov.
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 Penny Sweet, and listen to our podcast to hear more about what it has been like to serve our community for over 14 years.
Most City of Kirkland services are fully operational. City IT staff and consultants continue working to return all City services to regular status, and we anticipate that to occur soon.
On June 24, the City experienced unauthorized access to its internal network. Out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with the City’s security consultant, City IT staff proactively shut down access to some City network functionality. This unfortunately resulted in some City services being delayed or inaccessible. 911 and public safety services remained fully operational throughout this network disruption, and City facilities remained open for business.
City IT staff and consultants continue to assess any potential impacts from the unauthorized network access.
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.
Request a street closure for a neighborhood block party, and invite City First Responders or Councilmembers to your block party. Visit the City's website to learn more.
The City of Kirkland is hosting an Open House for the Houghton Village Development Plan on Monday, July 15, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Peter Kirk Room in Kirkland City Hall. The purpose of the Open House is to inform and get input from the community on future plans for the former Houghton Village Shopping Center property. Located in the Everest Neighborhood, the site is approximately two acres located at 10702 NE 68th Street in Kirkland with great access to schools, services, and transit.
Read more on the City's webpage.
Our weather has been finicky - 80 degrees one day, then 66 the next. Remember - even mild temperatures can make a vehicle feel like an oven for a pet stuck inside a car.
It's a message worth repeating every year when the sun comes out: don’t leave your pet inside your vehicle, even for a few minutes.
Even 70 degree days are not safe for pets in cars- in ten minutes, the inside temperature can reach 89 degrees. And parking in the shade or leaving the windows open has almost no effect on how hot it is inside the car.
Any animal left in a vehicle or confined space must have water available, according to state law. It's a violation to leave any animal alone inside a locked car if that animal can be harmed or killed because of excessive heat, cold, or not enough air or water.
Another reminder for pet owners: license your pet! You’ll have peace of mind knowing that if they ever get lost and are licensed, they’ll get a free ride home if found by our Animal Control Officer.
In Kirkland, all dogs and cats twelve weeks and older owned by residents must be licensed and vaccinated against rabies. Licenses expire after one year and must be renewed on or before the date of expiration. License Your Pet today.
Waste Management is hosting another recycling event on Saturday, August 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 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, reusable furniture, and paper for confidential shredding. To recycle reusable furniture an online form must be submitted by July 29.
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.
With the heat picking up quickly, you probably don’t think about electricity when you use it. Whether we’re charging our devices, running an extension cord, or plugging in fans, it's important to consider electrical safety.
The Kirkland Fire Department offers these electrical safety tips:
• Plug only one heat-producing appliance (like a coffee maker, toaster, space heater) into an outlet at a time.
• Major appliances (like refrigerators, dryers, washers, stoves, air conditioners, microwaves) should be plugged directly into a wall outlet – not into an extension cord or power strip.
• Never put more than one plug in each receptacle. An outlet may have one or more receptacles.
• Check electrical cords to make sure they’re not running across doorways or under carpets. If you need more outlets, have a qualified electrician add more.
• Make sure electrical cords are not damaged, cracked or loose. If cords need to be repaired, take the item to a professional repair shop, hire an electrician or replace them.
• Use light bulbs with the proper number of watts.
• Use GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) outlets to reduce the risk of shock. GFCIs should be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, garages and basements. Outdoor outlets should be GFCI protected.
• Have all electrical work done by a qualified electrician.
Call a qualified electrician if you have any of these Electrical Warning Signs:
• Frequent blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers
• A tingling feeling when you touch an electrical appliance
• Discolored or warm wall outlets
• A burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance
• Flickering or dimming lights
• Sparks from an outlet
Visit the city website for more Fire Prevention tips.
As summer weather comes, our beloved lakes may undergo some changes. The City received some questions about algae in the lake - here's some helpful information.
King County is monitoring swimming beaches weekly for algae blooms, and if toxic algae blooms are identified, public information will be posted at the beach. There are several different types of algae that may be in Lake Washington. The common and non-toxic algae is the filamentous green algae, which has been observed recently at Kirkland swimming beaches. Cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) is another type of algae and can produce toxins at levels that are harmful to humans, pets, domestic animals, and wildlife.
What does toxic algae look like? You can’t tell if algae is toxic just by looking at it, but there are some ways to check if what you’re seeing in the water might be cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can be shades of green, blue, blue-green, yellow, white, or even brown and red. Scums may look like spilled paint, cloudy water, flakes or tiny blades of grass. Cyanobacteria can sometimes look similar to other types of algae that do not produce toxins, such as green or golden algae.
One easy way to check if what you’re seeing might be cyanobacteria is the “stick test.” If there’s an algae mat or scum, poke a stick into the algae and lift it out. If the stick pulls up strands that look like green hair or solid chunks, it’s most likely non-toxic filamentous green algae. If the stick looks like you dipped it into paint and has a liquid consistency, it might be cyanobacteria.
And, when in doubt, stay out!
For more information about toxic algae, visit https://www.nwtoxicalgae.org/
For a video to help identify harmful algae blooms, check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Es9IqHECaE
Would you know how to help others in the event of a disaster, before First Responders arrived? Learn about what to do at Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)!
The Office of Emergency Management will teach you all about disaster preparedness - like first aid, light search and rescue techniques, and fire suppression with LIVE fire. The CERT class series will be held on:
August 6, 8, 13, and 15 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. for Skills Training
August 17 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. is Drill Day.
Sign up here. Registration closes July 30. Learn more about CERT.
Join us in July and enjoy the cool shade of the forest! Hot summer days are a great reminder of one of the key benefits of urban forests – cooling!
A healthy tree canopy helps cool our urban areas by providing shade and through water evaporation from leaves. You’re helping to preserve these great benefits by volunteering in our forested natural areas.
This time of year, we’re weeding and placing watering-saving mulch to keep our plantings healthy. Register to volunteer on the Green Kirkland event calendar or see below for event options.
Thanks to those groups, families and neighbors who joined us in June!
The Beloved Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been recognized as one of the top 10 best outdoor concert series in the Nation by USA Today. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights the dedication and passion of our community in making these concerts a standout event year after year.
For over 40 years, the Kirkland Summer Concert Series has been a staple of summer entertainment in our picturesque town on the shores of Lake Washington. Held every Thursday night in July and August at Marina Park, these free concerts bring together families, friends, and music lovers to enjoy a variety of musical acts against the stunning backdrop of the waterfront.
"We are incredibly honored to be recognized as one of the best outdoor concert series in the nation,” said Anne Hess, Executive Director of the Kirkland Downtown Association. “This achievement reflects the hard work of our team, the support of our sponsors, and the enthusiasm of our community. We look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional variety of music for everyone who attends. This year’s lineup of artists is our best yet.”
For more information about the Kirkland Summer Concert Series and to see the full lineup for 2024, please visit https://kirklanddowntown.org/events/summer-concerts/.
Upcoming closure of NE 85th Street at I-405
WSDOT expects a weekend closure of NE 85th Street beginning Friday night, July 19. Additional weekend closures are possible in late July.
For more information, visit WSDOT's webpage.
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.
Visit the project webpage for more.
Northeast 116th Place (Goat Hill)
Goat Hill residents should expect road closures this week from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Northeast 116th Place. PSE’s contractor is working on Northeast 117th Place from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. 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
Juanita Drive
Juanita Drive will be reduced to one lane periodically this week between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Northeast 124th Street to Northeast 128th Street.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/juanitadrivecorridor
Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street South
Kirkland's Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street West water main contractor is alternating traffic until mid-July 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 project webpage for more.
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
Free Street Hockey Days
Date: Saturday, July 13
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Location: North Kirkland Community Center
We’re partnering with McVander Hockey on several street hockey programs this summer including free street hockey days. Join us for an hour of street hockey fun! All levels welcome and all equipment provided. Bring a water bottle and wear sneakers. Registration is not required.
For questions or more street hockey programs visit kirklandparks.net or call 425-587-3350.
2024 Outdoor Summer Movie Series
Date: Saturdays, July 13, 20, and 27
Time: 6 - 10 p.m.
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Beach Drive
Save the dates for our 2024 Outdoor Summer Movie Series at Juanita Beach Park
Each night will host two movies starting at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Visit 2024 Outdoor Summer Movie Series webpage for the rundown!
Junior League Softball World Series
Date: July 28 to August 3
Location: Everest Park, 500 8th Street S
This is the perfect place for families and fans from around the world to join together for a week of fun, excitement, and competition. On the field, 10 teams of 12- to 14-year-olds from around the world will compete for a chance to be crowned Junior League Softball World Series champion while fans can enjoy the unique atmosphere of Everest Park, the home of this iconic event since 1999.
Game times will be posted online. Stay in the loop at the Junior League Softball World Series webpage.
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Are you looking for outdoor activities this Summer? Participate in Park and Recreation Month in Kirkland by checking out one of the many parks Kirkland has to offer.