June 20, 2024
Making last minute 4th of July plans? Well, Maryke Burgess, Recreation Supervisor, shares more information on our Parade! Check it out.
The Kirkland City Council met on June 18, 2024, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
- Council adopted the mid-year amendments to the 20234-2024 biennium budget.
- The Mayor Proclaimed June 19, 2024 as Juneteenth in Kirkland. To read more, visit the City’s website.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
- The Marina Park dock and shoreline design updates
- Various updates to Council operations
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.
To watch the Council discussions on the specific agenda items outlined above, visit the City’s website. The full agenda packet with information on each item is located on the City’s website.
The next City Council meeting is on July 2, 2024.
Share Feedback on Our 20 Year Plan
Don’t miss out! Guide the City by sharing your needs and aspirations. The City is holding public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan where community members can share their feedback on elements of the 20 year plan. The City is accepting your thoughts and suggestions via email at 2044ComprehensivePlan@kirklandwa.gov and on our Public Comment Form.
Public Hearings will be held during Planning Commission meetings starting at 6:00 PM. Open Houses will be from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM prior to each meeting to provide an opportunity to speak with staff and ask questions.
Upcoming Public Hearing:
June 27, 2024
For more information, visit kirklandwa.gov/K2044
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.
KTUB is reopening this fall and needs a new design for swag, socials, flyers and more! Show your skills and enter a design to win. Scan the QR code to enter or visit www.kirklandwa.gov/KTUB
This competition is open to folx in grades 6-12 who live in or attend school in Kirkland. EXTENDED Deadline to enter a design: June 24, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
First place will get a hooded sweatshirt and hat with their design and a $100 gift card to a business in Kirkland.
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.
As of June 18, Waverly Beach has been reopened for swimming, wading and other water activities, by recommendation of Public Health – Seattle & King County. The beach had been closed to swimming for one week due to elevated bacteria levels.
Also on June 18, Public Health – Seattle & King County recommended that people and pets stay out of the water at Houghton Beach Park for at least one week due to elevated bacteria levels. Signs will be positioned to indicate that people and pets should stay out of the water. The rest of Waverly Beach Park remains open.
Water quality staff from the King County Water and Land Resources Division tested the water recently and found that the levels of bacteria at the beach exceeded safe thresholds for bacteria based on the samples collected. King County crews will return to the beach next week to collect further samples.
For additional details, visit King County’s Lake Swimming Beach Data webpage.
Updates about Houghton Beach Park will be posted on the City webpage.
The 25th annual Celebrate Kirkland Parade returns Thursday, July 4, 2024! We are currently seeking volunteers to help ensure this fun community event is a success. If you are a local business, organization, club, social group or even a family, it’s the perfect opportunity to give back and get involved with your community! Volunteer roles include: being on the parade route, answering spectator questions, helping with Kid’s Decorating and Giveaways, the Veteran’s area, and set up and break down of the event.
“We are thrilled to once again host this beloved Kirkland tradition that has been bringing our community together for more than two decades,” said Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold. “Being a volunteer is a great way to experience the event in the middle of the action, meet new people and support the whole community.”
The itinerary for the Fourth of July Parade includes:
- 10:30 a.m. Kid’s decorating station at the Lakeshore Plaza
- 11:30 a.m. Kids walking parade
- 12:00 p.m. Big parade!
To volunteer, or to find more information about the parade route and details, please visit our Celebrate Kirkland page.
Fireworks Ban Reminder: The sale, use and discharge of private, consumer fireworks is banned in Kirkland City limits. For more information, contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at 425-587-3650.
Event goers are encouraged to carpool and plan for their parking in advance. For public parking, including the Kirkland Municipal Garage, go to http://www.kirklandwa.gov/parking. For bus transportation, go to http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/.
This summer Kirkland, Bothell, Bellevue, and Redmond are working together again to reduce waste from single-use cups!
Make a habit of bringing your reusable cups to participating coffee shops to win prizes! So far, nine coffee shops in Kirkland have partnered in the campaign and if you visit one of the partner coffee shop locations with your reusable cup you can grab one of three stickers created by local artists for the BYOC campaign.
Post a selfie with your cup and sticker via social media and tag @eastsidebyoc and you will be entered to win tickets to fun summer events. At the end of the summer there will be a grand prize drawing for an e-bike from Propella!
More details about the program and partner coffee shops can be found at eastsidebyoc.com.
The former Houghton Park and Ride is being transformed into the Houghton Park and Play temporary park this summer. Community gardens (pea patches) are now open and accepting applications. Pickleball courts will be available this weekend, and will host a pickleball tournament on July 27! The Park and Play is in development and will feature a Skate Park, Pump Track, and Bicycle Play Garden later this summer.
Learn more at www.kirklandwa.gov/houghton-park-and-play
Park Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Location: 6920 NE 70th PL, (enter the site from NE 70th place)
The 2024 Junior League Softball World Series is set to take place from July 28 to August 3 at 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. This year also marks Little League’s “Girls with Game 50” Celebration, celebrating 50 years of girls and women in the Little League program. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports. To learn more about this event, visit LittleLeague.org/world-series
Game times will be posted online, stay in the loop at the Junior League Softball World Series webpage.
Kirkland Youth Transit Ambassador, Eva, shows off their metro flex experience! If you’re under 18 with an ORCA card, try metro flex. Not only is it free, but you can lower your carbon footprint while carpooling with others! Metro flex is a form of public transportation, like taking the bus, but it picks you up and drops you off anywhere you choose within their service area.
Watch Eva's video to see how easy it was for her to get around while prom dress shopping.
Now you can get places in north Kirkland that regular Metro bus routes don't go to. Metro Flex is flexible public transportation and you might ride with other people on your trip. Make friends. Just like the bus!
June 16-22 is Firefighter Safety Stand Down week – a national initiative aimed at reducing preventable injuries and deaths in fire and emergency services. Kirkland Fire Department is participating in this year’s theme “Fire Training: Back to Basics” with a full schedule this week! They'll be going over all their training accomplishments, physical and mental health considerations, and about a dozen foundations of firefighter training like equipment prep, safety protocols and meeting community needs.
All to keep themselves and our community safe!
Interested in becoming a Kirkland firefighter? Here's how.
Juneteenth marks the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19th, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people were freed. In 2021, Juneteenth became an official federal holiday.
This year, the Eastside community celebrated Juneteenth at Juanita High School on Saturday, June 15 with a celebration of African American culture through resource tables, vendors, music, dance, doubledutch, poetry, storytelling, and a graduation ceremony. Attendees also enjoyed Delbert Richardson and his Unspoken Truths American History Traveling Museum, a beautiful performance of the Black National Anthem, and so much more!
Thank you to the over 300 community members who joined the celebration!
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 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Northeast 116th Place. Kirkland’s contractor is keeping open the Northeast 120th Place access to Goat Hill.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/goathill
Eighth Avenue West and Fifth Street West
West of Market residents should expect road closures at various areas along Eighth Avenue West, between Fifth Street West and Market Street.
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.
Search “5th Avenue water” on www.kirklandwa.gov
100th Avenue Northeast
OMA Construction is limiting Northeast 139th Street access from 100th Avenue Northeast until June 28, while crews repave the roadway.
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
Blood Drive
Date: Wednesday, June 26 & Thursday, June 27
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 for June 26 or 27 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.
Juanita Friday Market
Date: Fridays June - September
Time: 3 - 7 p.m.
Location: Juanita Beach Park
Enjoy fresh produce, live entertainment, and local goods! Come with family and friends to enjoy a great afternoon at the market and surrounding water front park.
The Juanita Friday Market is held at Juanita Beach Park (9703 Juanita Dr NE) on Fridays from 3 - 7 PM now through the end of September.
Learn more at kirklandwa.gov/juanitafridaymarket
Feriton Spur Summer Event Series
Date: Wednesday, July 10, 17, 24, and 31
Time: 6 - 8 p.m.
Location: Feriton Spur Park, 509 6th Street South
This month-long free performing arts series will bring diverse performances to the amphitheater for neighbors, trail users, and the community.
For more, visit the event page.
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Did you feel the 2.7 magnitude earthquake that hit near Redmond early Sunday, June 16 around 12:03 a.m.? Our Office of Emergency Management has a video to help you be prepared for the next one: https://youtu.be/f9QtjdV0AYc