Adapting to Community Needs

City Council has prioritized funding to ensure that the City of Kirkland can provide the necessary services to support the broader community through each stage of the pandemic, from response to recovery. These investments fortify the City’s ability to continue operations throughout the current pandemic and make necessary adaptions should future pandemics occur.

The City of Kirkland has dedicated over $6.3 million in COVID-19 recovery funding for community needs.

 

summer action plan staff photoThe City’s Summer Action Plan supports the communities need for enhanced services as the residents spent more time outside during the summer months of the pandemic. This project provided programming that supported individuals and businesses, along with community building opportunities. Community events included in the Summer Action Plan included pop-up dog parks and pop-up sprinkler parks. The Summer Action Plan provided funding to fully staff the lifeguarded beaches and pools, ensuring that the community could still enjoy some of their favorite summer activities.  

 


This image shows the audience of a City Council meeting and a community member speaking to the Council on Zoom The Hybrid Council Chambers project equipped City Hall Council Chambers with technology to host hybrid Council, Board, and Commission meetings. These updates ensure that the City Council can continue to engage with the public effectively during and after the pandemic. Council meetings are now able to support remote participants while capturing attendees who are present physically in the Council Chambers. 

 

 


Revenue Equity and Sustainability Study The Revenue Equity Study evaluated the City of Kirkland’s upcoming structural budget deficit and proposed options to adjust tax and revenue structures in a sustainable and equitable approach. This study found that property taxes and real estate taxes are paid largely by upper income households, making these taxes a more progressive source of revenue for the City than other sources such as sales tax. The preliminary study included recommendations on changes to the business licensing fees that would increase General Fund revenues, while supporting small businesses that have small margins and have been impacted by the pandemic.  

The Revenue Equity Study can be found in the May 26, 2022 City Council Financial Retreat documents.  

Image with text that reads "City of Kirkland Revenue Equity and Sustainability Study"


Other City Projects

  • Electric Leaf Blower Initiative: Funding supports a multi-year phased approach to sunset gas-powered hand-held and backpack leaf blowers in Kirkland, including incentives to support residents and landscaping businesses.

  • Sustainability Master Plan Items: Funding supports several initiatives including Eastside Heat Pump Campaign, emissions inventory, and community education.

  • Immediate Pandemic Response: Funding was dedicated from the CARES act to implement changes to operations that met COVID-19 pandemic health standards.   

  • First Responder Support: The City protects the health and safety of first responders as they serve the community by providing PPE and other resources. 

  • Virtual Services Center: The Virtual Services Center ensures that community members can receive vital customer service support in a COVID safe environment.

  • HVAC Enhancements: City Council approved funding that will improve the air quality of City facilities, making them safer for visitors and City staff.  

  • Enhanced Janitorial Services in City Facilities: Frequent facility cleanings ensure that City buildings are safe for community members to visit and for staff to work in. 

  • Citywide Security Enhancements & Multi-Factor Authentication: The City has made significant remote working safety investments due to the pandemic. 

  • Summer Emphasis Patrols: The Police Department conducted daily bicycle and foot patrols of popular outdoor areas in Kirkland to assist with COVID-19 education efforts, congestion, unruly behavior, and community safety. 

  • Paving Machine Replacement: Due to extreme deficit caused by a significant decrease of gas tax revenues, the City used funding to purchase a paving machine to replace outdated equipment. 

  • Effective Management: City Council authorized the use of funding to enhance City staffing to properly manage, account, and report on federal grant spending. 

  • Recovery Interns: The City hired recovery interns to support the City’s COVID-19 recovery programs, which furthered the positive impact and reach of recovery programs in the community.