Kirkland City Council to Hold First Ever Virtual Council Meeting

Published on March 17, 2020

Media Contact:
Kellie Stickney
Communications Program Manager
kstickney@kirklandwa.gov
(425) 979-6562

KIRKLAND, Wash. – In response to guidance from Public Health – Seattle & King County, and after careful contemplation by the City Council, tonight’s Council meeting will be a “virtual” meeting, with Council members attending remotely using video conferencing technology provided by Zoom.

As always, the Kirkland City Council welcomes public involvement at its meetings and would like to encourage community members to take advantage of its available options for digital participation. Staff presentations remain in the Council Chamber, but there will be no live audience testimony or live public comment. Instead, members of the public are invited to provide comment in advance of the meeting using the public comment voicemail line, at 425-587-3090, or by email at: councilmeetingcomment@kirklandwa.gov.

The meeting can be viewed in real time via the live stream on the City website at: http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/WatchCouncilMeetings.htm, and is televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Frontier Cable Channel 31. The live feed will toggle back and forth between staff presentations and the Council’s Zoom video conference. The study session immediately preceding the meeting begins at 5:30 p.m., with the Council meeting starting promptly at 7:30 p.m. The agenda for the March 17 meeting is available on the city website at: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Agendas/Agenda_031720.htm.

Additionally, the Council cancelled the Special Meetings scheduled for today (Tuesday, March 17) and Thursday, March 19. Today’s special meeting was arranged for a candidate interview that will be rescheduled. Thursday’s special meeting was set for the Council to conduct Board and Commission candidate interviews, which have been deferred until late April.

“It was important to the City Council to model recommended social distancing during our meeting,” said Mayor Penny Sweet. “Holding a virtual City Council meeting demonstrates how a combination of creative thinking and technology can allow us to continue to do the important work of government during this challenging incident. Adhering to the social distancing measures recommended by Public Health Seattle-King County is vital to flattening the curve and reducing the spread of COVID-19 to our most vulnerable populations.”

The City will continue to update its website with information on the COVID-19 outbreak.