City Council Recap June 7, 2022

Published on June 10, 2022

Council chambers with councilmembers

The Kirkland City Council met on June 7, 2022, in a hybrid meeting. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting: 

Study Session – Draft Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan Review:  The Council received and discussed the draft Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan and provided feedback to staff and the City’s consultant for the PROS Plan.  The PROS Plan is a six-year guide and strategic plan for managing and enhancing park and recreation services in Kirkland.  It provides a vision for Kirkland’s park and recreation system and establishes a path forward for providing high-quality, community-driven parks, trails, open spaces, and recreational opportunities.  Council feedback on the draft PROS Plan will be provided to the Park Board for their June 8, 2022 review of the plan.  Following the Park Board meeting, the PROS Plan will be brought back to Council for review and potential adoption at the June 21, 2022 Council meeting. 

Proposed 84th Avenue NE Speed Limit Change: The Council approved lowering the speed limit on 84th Avenue NE between NE 124th Street and NE 145th Street from 35 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour.  This change is consistent with City policies and will support drivers in complying with school zone speeds, which will improve safety.  At a prior meeting, the Council approved additional school zone safety cameras – anticipated to be operational by Fall 2022 – that are being installed along 84th Avenue NE from NE 126th Place to NE 141st Place in the combined school zones of Carl Sandburg Elementary, Finn Hill Middle School and Henry David Thoreau Elementary.  Lowering the speed limit from 35 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour will make it easier on drivers needing to slow down to 20 miles per hour in the school zone. 

Houghton Village Property - Future Use: The Council adopted a resolution that describes the Council’s objectives for the future use of the Houghton Village property and the community engagement process to achieve those objectives.  The City purchased the Houghton Village Shopping Center, located at 10702 NE 68th Street in Kirkland, on May 27, 2022. The acquisition of this property at a competitive price in the heart of a walkable neighborhood near Terrace Park, Lakeview Elementary School, the Cross Kirkland Corridor, Metropolitan Market and the Google campuses with access to frequent transit service offers the City a unique opportunity to enhance the future of this neighborhood while meeting community priorities.  The City will continue to lease the space to current occupants and will look to find tenants for the vacant spaces, focusing initially on community based-non-profits serving the Kirkland community.  A Request for Proposals or solicitation of interest process with criteria will be developed to identify and select non-profits for the vacant space. 

Draft Police Body Worn Camera Ordinance Discussion: The Council reviewed and provided comments on an initial draft City of Kirkland ordinance related to the implementation of an Officer Body Worn Camera (BWC) program.  An updated ordinance will be brought to a future Council meeting for final review and adoption. 

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 regular City Council meeting is on June 21, 2022

 

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