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April 10, 2025
Think Earth Month is just about planting trees? David Barnes, Kirkland’s Senior Planner for Sustainability, joins us with the inside scoop on heat pump rebates, solar power workshops, and other ways you can help the planet—starting now.
Check it out.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. This will be a hybrid meeting, and community members are welcome to attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda for the April 15 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
- Council will receive an update on community engagement efforts around homelessness, and will consider extending the deadline for the Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan
- Council will consider adopting the 2025-2027 Planning Work Program
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
- Council will receive an update on the Iceplex and Community Center Proposal and expected next steps
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 April 15 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: Members of the public wishing to address the Council may do so in-person or via Zoom during the “Items from the Audience” part of the agenda. That part of the agenda occurs at the beginning of the Council’s business meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m. 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.
Got a big idea for Kirkland’s 4th of July?
Help bring it to life! Join the Celebrate Kirkland Planning Committee and be part of the magic behind the parade, kids activities, grandstand, and more.
Meetings: 1st & 3rd Mondays, 5:30–7 p.m. at City Hall
Next meeting: April 21
Age 18+
Apply at kirklandwa.gov/celebratekirkland under the "Volunteer" tab.
For more information, please email CelebrateKirkland@kirklandwa.gov or call 425-587-3330.
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.
This week is Food Waste Prevention Week! The City has joined forces with more than 600 public and private organizations to support the mission of reducing food waste in our homes, workplaces, and communities. Together, we can inspire action and create meaningful change.
Food Waste Prevention Week aligns with the EPA, USDA, and FDA's "Winning on Reducing Food Waste" initiative, which aims to cut food waste by 50% by 2030. Food waste in landfills releases methane gas, a significant contributor to climate change. By working together we can divert good food from landfills, conserve resources, reduce environmental impacts, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Simply tips to follow:
- Freeze bread, berries, and veggies
- Store leafy greens with a paper towel to keep them crisp
- Understand date labels, which usually reflect quality and not safety
- Plan for how much food you need for your guests with savethefood.com/guestimator
- Know what to eat or toss
Follow Kirkland Conserves on Instagram and Facebook for helpful tips on how to prevent food waste!
What do you get when you cross a Rebate and a Tree?
A TREE-bate!
Through our tree rebate program, you can receive rebates up to $500 per property for planting qualifying trees on your property!
Rebates also cover the cost of necessary compost soil amendments, mulch to protect the soil, and watering bags to help your new trees thrive and survive during our dry summers.
Feeling inspired this Earth Month? Stay connected year-round by signing up for Kirkland’s environmental e-newsletters!
Kirkland Conserves (monthly) shares easy sustainability tips, cool programs like tree rebates and bring-your-own-cup campaigns, and ways you can shape City plans. [Subscribe]
Green Kirkland Partnership (monthly) keeps you in the loop on local and regional stewardship events, hands-on habitat restoration, and nature education opportunities. [Subscribe]
Whether you're just getting started or deep in your eco-journey, there's something here for you!
The Kirkland Police and Fire Departments are now on Facebook and Instagram. Follow along for public safety updates, community events, and highlights of the incredible work our first responders do every day.
Follow along to stay informed:
🚓 Kirkland Police Department:
🚒 Kirkland Fire Department:
Fire departments throughout King County are actively seeking qualified applicants and the King County Fire Chiefs Association is hosting a workshop designed to guide you through that first step. On Saturday, May 10, aspiring firefighters are invited to attend a Diversity and Recruitment Workshop at Green River College in Auburn. This free, in-person workshop is designed to demystify the hiring process and offer valuable insights through a series of breakout sessions. Participants will gain firsthand knowledge of what it takes to launch a successful career in the fire service.
Whether you’re just starting to explore the idea or ready to apply, this event is open to anyone age 16 and up. The workshop is especially geared toward recruiting individuals from underrepresented communities, including BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, bilingual adults, and those with no prior fire service experience.
If you—or someone you know—has ever thought about a career in fire service, this is the perfect place to start. For more info and to sign up: https://www.kingcountyfirechiefs.org/event-details/recruitmentworkshop
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. When you're behind the wheel, your only job is to drive. Distracted driving is any activity that takes your attention away from the task of driving safely.
Be an attentive driver:
- Do not scroll through apps while driving. Struggling not to text and drive? Put the cell phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of the vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
- Set your GPS, playlist or podcast before you go.
- Don’t eat while driving. Finish meals before you hit the road.
- Stay alert. Keep your eyes on the road and watch for people walking or biking.
It takes all of us to make our streets safer. Drive attentively and do your part to share the road safely.
The City of Kirkland, in partnership with the Medic One Foundation, is offering upcoming CPR classes to help community members gain the skills and confidence to save a life. Whether you're a parent, teacher, caregiver, or simply want to be ready in an emergency, CPR is a lifesaving skill anyone can learn.
Led by certified instructors, these hands-on classes cover adult, child, and infant CPR, AED (automated external defibrillator) use, and basic first aid. No prior experience is necessary.
Upcoming classes now available for registration:
- Monday, May 5 | 4 - 7 p.m. at Kirkland Fire Station 22
- Saturday, May 31 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Kirkland Justice Center
Learn more and register: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Fire-Department/Public-Education/CPR-Class
The second week of April is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, a time to recognize the invaluable work of 9-1-1 dispatchers. Often the first point of contact during an emergency, dispatchers are the calm, steady voices who assist community members and first responders by gathering critical information, providing reassurance, or dispatching assistance.
This Public Safety Telecommunicator's Week (April 13 - April 19), we celebrate these behind-the-scenes heroes - the first responders you don't often see, but who are always ready to listen when it matters most. Thank you, dispatchers, for everything you do - we appreciate you!
Natural Yard Care 101
Date: Saturday, April 12
Time: 1:30 - 3 p.m.
Location: City Hall, Peter Kirk Community Room, 123 5th Ave
Wondering how to get your lawn back into shape after winter stress and support it through our dry summers? This class is for you!
Back by popular demand, we are pleased to host Ladd Smith, co-owner of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes, as he shares his lawn know-how. Join us for a hands-on, informative class on the principles of natural lawn care!
We’ll dive into:
- The importance of healthy soil to support your lawn
- How to successfully perform seasonal tasks like mowing, watering, and fertilizing in environmentally friendly ways
- How to support a lush lawn with aeration, seeding, and topdressing.
- Achieve the lawn that you want naturally!
Register on Eventbrite.
Earth Month Stewardship with Green Kirkland Partnership
Celebrate Earth Month with Green Kirkland!
Join a park stewardship event this April and help care for our parks and natural spaces. Activities include weeding, mulching, and nurturing new plantings—no experience needed, tools and training provided!
Multiple dates + parks across Kirkland
Find an event near you and register: kirklandwa.gov/GreenKirkland
Let’s give back to the places that give us so much.
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Construction is expected to begin this spring on the NE 85th Street shared-use pathway. Get a quick overview (quite literally!) of the project in our short video here.