September 19, 2024
Special guest Ryean-Marie shares fascinating stormwater facts and gives us a top stormwater pollutants. Can you guess what they are? Play along and find out!
The Kirkland City Council met on September 17, 2024, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
- Council received a presentation on Energy Smart Eastside
- Council received an informational briefing on proposed adjustments to utility rates for the next two years
- Council considered a negotiation framework for a Seattle Kraken Iceplex and City of Kirkland Community Center
- Council held three public hearings on:
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- Revenue sources for the 2025-2026 Budget
- The Council's consideration of opposing Initiative Measure No. 2066
- And the Council's consideration of opposing Initiative Measure No. 2117
- The Mayor Proclaimed Pollution Prevention Week and Freedom to Read Week 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:
- 2025-2026 Human Services Grant Funding Recommendations
- A briefing on the options for the Houghton Village Development Plan
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 October 1, 2024.
On September 12, 2024, Planning Commission held a continued public hearing and voted on a recommendation to City Council for the Land Use Element. At the hearing, the Planning Commission voted to remove LU-2.4, a policy related to transit corridors, from their recommended version of the Land Use Element. (Draft Land Use Element - Planning Commission Recommendation)
Upcoming meetings and public hearings on the Kirkland Comprehensive Plan
Below is an updated meeting and public hearing schedule for the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update. All meetings are open to the public. All Planning Commission (PC) meetings will be held virtually and at City Hall (123 5th Ave). Visit the Planning Commission website for more information, including starting times and meeting links.
September 26, 2024 Planning Commission Public Hearing
Housing Element
Appendix (Community Profile, Glossary, History Narrative)
An open house will be held from 4:00-5:30 for the community to learn more from staff.
October 15, 2024 Joint City Council/Planning Commission Study Session
Planning Commission recommendations to Council for 2044 Comprehensive Plan (all chapters/elements).
December 10, 2024 City Council Meeting
Tentative Council adoption of 2044 Comprehensive Plan
We encourage you to stay involved in the process by attending public meetings, and learning more at the 2044 Comprehensive Plan update webpage: kirklandwa.gov/K2044.
The best way to stay up to date on the latest K2044 news is to sign up for email updates! Subscribe here.
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.
Beginning September 17, 2024, Public Health – Seattle & King County is recommending 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 Houghton Beach Park remains open.
Read more.
On September 23, a Kirkland contractor is planning to close 124th Avenue Northeast’s southbound lane to automotive traffic between Northeast 116th and 124th streets while its crews grind and repave the roadway.
Read more.
Get vaccines, screenings, and other health needs checked off your list this fall. Select health and wellness services are available at our free Kirkland Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, September 28, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Juanita High School, located at 10601 NE 132nd St. in Kirkland.
Read more.
Get ready for a spooktacular time at the annual Community Costume Swap Event! The event will be held on Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Kirkland City Hall. Organized by the City’s solid waste team, the Costume Swap aims to promote sustainability, creativity, waste reduction, and community spirit.
Read more.
Join us at the Kirkland Justice Center on September 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the Kirkland Cadets Benefit Car Show. Entry is free to spectators!
Join us for a great day featuring:
- Spectacular Cars: Check out a variety of vehicles.
- Raffles: Win prizes every 30 minutes!
- Trophies: Cast your vote and cheer for your favorite car during the award ceremony.
Whether you’re a die-hard car enthusiast or just looking for a fun family outing, this event has something for everyone!
Have a car to showcase? Sign up now and be part of the action! Participants will receive exclusive swag bags and have a chance to win a trophy
See you there!
For more information, visit the Cadet's webpage.
Kirkland is celebrating Pollution Prevention Week from September 16-20 - a time to learn how to keep pollution out of our stormwater system.
What is stormwater? Stormwater is rain and snow that falls on the ground and washes into Kirkland storm drains. This wash off flow to the nearest wetland, stream, or lake with minimal or no treatment. Stormwater is separate from wastewater (inside sinks) that goes to a wastewater treatment plant.
We would love for you to be involved!
Storm Drain Marking Competition
We want you to join us in marking storm drains in Kirkland, so that everyone knows that only rain should go down the storm drain. Let’s make it interesting – how about a little competition to see who can mark the most this year? Last year, Girl Scout troop 42977 marked over 200 drains, winning by a mile! Whether your goal is 20 or 200, we can’t mark all of the (Number) of drains in Kirkland without you. Sign up here.
New signs at Juanita Beach Park!
We will have an unveiling event for our brand new and BEAUTIFUL stream habitat signs at Juanita Beach Park during Pollution Prevention Week! Join us on September 20th at 9:00 AM for their official unveiling. E-mail kschmiett@kirklandwa.gov with any questions.
More steps you can take:
The City of Kirkland participates in the Energy Smart Eastside Heat Pump program. As part of this program, we help community members understand the technology that provides heating and cooling, as well as air filtering, in the home. We also help connect folks to financial incentives available. Now, the Energy Smart Eastside program would like to know how best to help you on your electrification journey.
Share your thoughts on electrification incentives! We want to understand what our community’s interest are in different home appliance and equipment electrification incentives. Your feedback will help us develop a small pilot program to best determine what to offer next. Please participate in this brief survey to share your thoughts! Open until October 16, 2024. Link to Survey
September is National Preparedness Month, and we’re continuing the preparedness conversation. This week, we’re focused on how you can be informed. Consider the hazards that are local to Kirkland and how you’ll stay up to date with information. Go to our website to see more details: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/disasterinformation
#NPM2024 #StartAConversation
Thank you to everyone involved for an amazing City Hall For All event!
This past Saturday at our City Hall For All event, community members and visitors had a fantastic time! They enjoyed lemonade from our City Council, supported local business at the pop-up market, and enjoyed local food trucks. This year's stage was packed with many activities and live entertainment. The day started with Vlad and the Dads rocking the stage with their music, followed by Brazilian Swag captivating the crowd with their cultural dance and interactive dance class!
Many community and cultural organizations were present connecting with attendees. Mayor Curtis and Deputy Mayor Arnold read the Welcoming Week Proclamation and presented it to Adam Dibba, Executive Director of Africans on the Eastside.
And, we can't forget the many freebies! Visitors caught toy parachutes dropped by Kirkland Fire from the top of the Ladder Truck, pledged to Bring Your Own Cup and received their own reusable mug, took part in a scavenger hunt for This Week In Kirkland swag, pledged to go green and received a rake, toy trucks, and more!
Thank you for joining us on a special day - we are already excited for next year's event!
Thanks to all the community members who joined us to celebrate the re-opening of the Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB) on Wednesday, September 18.
KTUB is a comprehensive teen center offering a variety of programs and services for middle school and high school aged youth. KTUB offers:
- Access to free after school for drop-in activities such as games, study lounge, art projects, adulting 101 classes, movement activities and creative classes.
- Access to free mental health services, including drop-in and long-term counseling
- Free transportation to KTUB
KTUB is operated by the City of Kirkland’s Parks and Community Services Department, in partnership with 4 Tomorrow and Youth Eastside Services.
Learn more at kirklandwa.gov/KTUB. Follow KTUB on Instagram at @kirkland.teens.ktub for the latest updates.
Head ups, full weekend closures are coming to Northeast 85th Street in late October and early November for girder setting.
Join representatives from WSDOT, Graham, Sound Transit, and City of Kirkland for an online community meeting from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24. We will share construction updates and answer questions. The meeting will be recorded and posted to the project webpage for those who can’t attend.
Learn more and register: bit.ly/3YLGeNS
124th Avenue Northeast
A Kirkland contractor is planning on Sept. 23 to close 124th Avenue Northeast’s southbound lane to automotive traffic between Northeast 116th and 124th streets while its crews grind and repave the roadway.
Reed Excavating will maintain the southbound closure 24 hours a day, seven days a week until until Oct. 14.
The 124th Avenue Northeast Improvements contractor will detour southbound traffic onto Slater Avenue Northeast. Customers, however, will be able to access the Totem Square commercial area by turning south onto 124th Avenue Northeast from westbound Northeast 120th Street.
During the lane-closure, Metro King County will move a few hundred feet to the north a bus stop on Totem Lake Boulevard, which serves the 225 and 239 routes.
The detour will, for nearly two weeks, overlap with a road paving project on Slater Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 120th and 124th streets. Private developer Fairfield will work at night to repave a section of Slater Avenue Northeast. Fairfield is building The Brynn Apartments.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue
Goat Hill
Goat Hill residents should expect daytime road closures this week on Northeast 116th Place.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/goathill
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 with flaggers controlling the flow of traffic.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/juanitadrivecorridor
Additionally, a separate stormwater construction project will reduce Juanita drive to one lane at 86th Avenue Northeast. Kirkland's contractor is installing a new stormwater system at this location. Work is expected through October.
Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/NE-Juanita-Dr-and-86th-Ave-NE-Storm-Improvements-Project
100th Avenue Northeast
OMA Construction is alternating traffic at various locations between Northeast 137th and 145th streets. Access to/from Northeast 139th Street will be closed beginning Sept. 9 through Sept. 27 while crews work to complete new curbs, gutters, and driveway aprons along Northeast 139th Street. The legal speed limit through the construction zone is 25 miles per hour. Expect delays with increased traffic as school resumed.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign
Eighth Avenue West and Fifth Street West
Water and sewer mains are being installed along 8th Avenue West between 4th Street West and 5th Street West , then continuing along 5th Street Wet between 8th Avenue West to 10th Avenue West. 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. Pedestrian access changes, so please follow the pedestrian detour routes. Businesses remain open during construction.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/lakestreetpedscramble
Leaf Blower Trade-In
Date: September 28, 2024
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: North Kirkland Community Center north parking lot (12421 103rd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98034)
The City of Kirkland is hosting a trade-in event to help you dispose of your gas-powered leaf blowers in exchange for a new electric blower. Participants will receive a voucher valued at $100 – redeemable at select local stores to be used toward the purchase of a new electric leaf blower. Bring your gas-powered blower (emptied of gas) to be recycled and get your voucher!
Why make the switch?
- Keep unhealthy noxious fumes out of the community
- Reduce environmental impacts of gas emissions
Learn more about the Electric Leaf Blower Initiative and the trade-in event here!
Totem Lake Park Community Mural Paint Day
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (in 4 individual time slots)
Location: Totem Lake Park
Join us for a day of painting as we bring artwork to life that raises awareness around environmental stewardship. We will be working together to complete a piece of artwork for the Totem Lake Park’s bathroom structure.
The signup is open to helpers of all skill levels, though skilled hands are encouraged to sign up for the latter hours as we'll be doing some details. Make sure to wear clothes you don't mind getting painty, and we look forward to getting creative with you!
For more information, and to sign up, visit the event page.
Wheels and Reels
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Juanita Beach Park, 9703 NE Juanita Dr
Get cozied up with your friends and family at our 2024 Fall/Winter Drive-In Movie Series at Juanita Beach Park. Watch each movie on our giant 12-ft LED movie screen! The event will be held rain or shine, with no refunds. Cars and trucks are acceptable, but please do not bring limos, RV’s, buses, or alcohol. There’s also no tailgating allowed.
Please register for this event based on the size of your vehicle to help insure the best possible viewing for all. Entry is $20 per vehicle, registration is required. The parking lot opens at 6pm and the movie starts at 7pm. To register please visit www.kirklandparks.net or for more information visit our website.
Future Women in Fire and Emergency Medical Services Workshop
Date: Saturday, October 19 & Sunday October 20
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Location: Renton Regional Fire Authority Station 13, 18002 108th Ave SE, Renton, WA 98055
Are you, or someone you know, interested in a career in Fire and EMS?
Come join King County EMS and host agency Renton RFA along with over 12 other King County agencies as we immerse you in a weekend of hands on Fire and EMS activities and provide you an opportunity to explore a career in the Fire or EMS service. This opportunity includes interactive activities, discussion panels, viewing live demos, and networking with EMTs, Firefighters, and Paramedics in our region.
Apply online, must be 18+ to apply, King County residency preferred. Applications due September 22, 2024.
Questions? Email King County Emergency Medical Services at FutureWomenEMS@KingCounty.gov.
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For Pollution Prevention Week, watch as Kirkland maintains the storm drains and how it can affect our local streams and lakes.