March 14, 2024
All the latest (and then some) delivered straight to your ear drums.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. 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 March 19 meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
- Council will consider suspending exploration of a community pool ballot measure in 2024 and will provide direction on potential interim uses of the Houghton Park and Ride while long-term plans are developed.
- Council will receive an update on the Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health unit, which is specialized staff that support behavioral health needs on emergency calls.
- Council will consider assigning the name “Raven Way” to the private access road for Juanita High School.
Prior to the Business Agenda, the Council will hold a joint meeting with the Transportation Commission to discuss the Commission's 2-year Work Plan.
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 March 19 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.
Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station
King County is collecting public comments on the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which contains studies of two potential site alternatives and a no-action alternative. They are accepting public comment on the Draft EIS until April 9, 2024 online.
You can find out more information and read the Draft EIS at Northeast Recycling & Transfer Station Draft EIS Open House - King County, Washington.
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.
Come one, come all to the inaugural Kirkland Business Pitch Competition! Cheer on local innovation and help shape the future of our local business community on April 3, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave. At this free event, attendees will hear local businesses pitch ideas at a chance to win funding and can even cast a vote for the People’s Choice Award category.
“It’s like ‘Shark Tank’ meets ‘The Voice’ finals, but it’s our local businesses vying for that next opportunity,” said Kirkland Deputy Mayor Jay Arnold. “It’s a night not to be missed!”
Read more.
We all want our neighbors to have the tools to build a good life, no matter their circumstances. Whether it’s providing basic needs such as food, housing, and employment, or providing more specialized services like homelessness prevention, domestic violence survivor support, physical and behavioral health services, and youth programs, the City of Kirkland is committed to investing in our community’s well-being.
“The City of Kirkland funds various human services agencies so all Kirklanders have access to the basic support services they need to thrive,” said Kirkland Mayor Kelli Curtis.
Read more.
Have you ever thought about serving your community and building great relationships with community members? Kirkland Police Department (KPD) invites you to take the first step to becoming a police officer - by taking the written Law Enforcement test on May 4!
KPD is hosting the test, administered by Public Safety Testing, at the Kirkland Justice Center.
Sign up here! https://www.publicsafetytesting.com/events/17896
Find out more about working at Kirkland Police Department.
Every year firefighters from Kirkland and across the country climb 1,356 steps – that’s 69 floors – in the tallest building west of Mississippi, Columbia Center in downtown Seattle, to raise money to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and its work for blood cancer research.
This year, our team of 19 KFD firefighters took part in the annual LLS Firefighter Stairclimb on March 10 with a goal to raise $15,000 – and they ran right past it to raise nearly $20,000! Congrats KFD climbers! And thank you to their friends, families and community members who supported this great cause.
The fastest time in our Kirkland group was firefighter Kevin Grimstad, who climbed all those steps in an incredible time of just 16 minutes and 38 seconds!
Interested in becoming a firefighter? Check out Kirkland Fire Department!
Yard Smart Rain Rewards is an exciting opportunity for Kirkland homeowners to beautify their yards and help slow and filter rainwater runoff before it flows to our creeks and lakes. Qualified homes can take advantage of free technical assistance and financial rebates up to $5,000 to install rain gardens and native landscaping on their property.
Find out if your home is eligible and schedule a free site visit today at kirklandwa.gov/yardsmart.
Meet Metro Flex - your on-demand neighborhood transit service. With one simple app and just a few taps you can ride anywhere in the Juanita service area, all for the same cost as Metro bus fare. Learn more and download the app at kingcounty.gov/MetroFlex Check out the video to inspire your next trip!
You’re Invited! I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange & Inline BRT Station Project virtual project update meeting on March 26 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Join representatives from WSDOT, Graham, Sound Transit, and City of Kirkland for our next I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Construction Project quarterly update meeting.
Meeting information
At the meeting, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the project, hear about upcoming construction work, ask questions, and find out how to stay informed. We will hold this meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, March 26 from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Register here: https://bit.ly/85th-March-Quarterly-Meeting
Not able to make it? WSDOT will post a recording to the project webpage within one week after the meeting. Please feel free to register for the meeting even if you can’t attend, and we will email you the recording when it’s available.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible meetings that enable all people to engage and participate fully. We will conduct this meeting in English with automated live captioning. To request language interpretation, meeting accommodations, or for questions about accessibility, please call us at (425) 224-2423 or email us at I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov by Friday, March 19. Accommodation options are also available on the meeting registration page.
About the I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Construction Project
The Washington State Department of Transportation, Sound Transit, and design-build contractor Graham Contracting, Ltd. began construction on the I-405/Northeast 85th Street Interchange and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Construction Project this past summer.
Once finished, the project will improve access to the Express Toll Lane (ETL) system and offer more reliable transportation options for everyone in Kirkland – no matter how you get around.
Project Webpage| I405SR167Program@wsdot.wa.gov | 425-224-2423
Traffic Alert for March 17: Kirkland Shamrock Run 5K
Kirkland Police Investigate Family Assault
5th Ave S. Water Main
Kirkland's Fifth Avenue South and Eighth Street West water main contractor is alternating traffic until mid-April on Eighth Street South and a short section of Railroad Avenue.
Strickland and Sons crews are working from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Search “5th Avenue water” on www.kirklandwa.gov
100th Ave NE Corridor
Kirkland's 100th Avenue Northeast corridor improvements contractor is alternating traffic at various locations between Northeast 137th and 145th streets.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign
Lake Street Pedestrian Scramble
Puget Sound Energy’s crews are continuing to work from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. in various locations of the Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue intersection.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/lakestreetpedscramble
I-405 and NE 132nd St Project closing NE 132nd St between 116th Way NE and Totem Lake Blvd NE
Crews will close the Northeast 132nd Street between 116th Way Northeast and Totem Lake Boulevard Northeast to complete culvert installation work. This closure will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 15 and conclude by 5 a.m. on Monday, March 18.
Learn more about this WSDOT project at the project website: https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/search-projects/i-405northeast-132nd-street-interchange-project
Below is a summary of traffic changes for drivers in the area:
- Northeast 132nd Street will be closed between 116th Way Northeast and Totem Lake Boulevard Northeast from 8 p.m. Friday, March 15 through 5 a.m. Monday, March 18.
- Travelers on eastbound Northeast 132nd Street use southbound 111th Avenue Northeast, eastbound Northeast 128th Street, and northbound 120th Avenue Northeast.
- Travelers on westbound Northeast 132nd Street use southbound 120th Avenue Northeast, westbound Northeast 128th Street, and northbound 111th Avenue Northeast.
- Travelers on southbound 116th Avenue Northeast use eastbound Northeast 133rd Place/134th Street Northeast and southbound 121st Avenue Northeast.
- Local and business access will be maintained within the closure area with the assistance of flaggers.
- Pedestrian access will be maintained during culvert installation work.
Main Street Closure
This is a notice that main street will be closed from 3-18-24 through 3-29-24. From the hours of 9am to 3pm daily.
NE 87th Street will be closed for a water vault and waterline installation.
Full closure of NE 87th Street is anticipated beginning Monday, March 18 until May for work performed by WSDOT’s contractor Graham. To ensure that there’s enough space for two lanes of traffic along the detour, the contractor will place 24/7 temporary “no parking” signs for the duration of the closure:
- South side of NE 88th St from 114th Ave NE to 116th Ave NE
- East side of 114th Ave NE from NE 87th St to NE 88th St
Learn more about this WSDOT project.
Parks Job Fair
Date: Saturday, March 30
Time: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: North Kirkland Community Center, 12421 103rd Ave NE in Kirkland
Find Your Next Gig at Kirkland Parks’ Job Fair
If you love being outside, making connections with people, learning new skills, and making a difference in your community, then Kirkland’s Parks and Community Service jobs may be a great fit for you!
We’ll be hosting a job fair on Saturday, March 30, 2024. The City is recruiting for summer positions, including day camp leaders, youth sports staff, lifeguards, parks laborers, high school interns, and more. There are also year-round part-time positions available to support community center operations and recreation programs.
More at www.kirklandwa.gov/parksjobs
The Spring Recycle Right Event
Date: Saturday, April 6
Time: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Lake Washington Institute for Technology, 11605 132nd Ave NE
Waste Management is hosting a recycling event on Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Washington Institute of Technology’s south parking lot. This is an opportunity to recycle unwanted textiles, electronics, and paper for confidential shredding. For full event details and a list of accepted items please visit WM Spring Recycle Right Event – City of Kirkland (kirklandwa.gov). This is a free event, there is no cost to recycle any of the accepted items. For questions please contact WM’s Outreach Coordinator at Recyclenw@wm.com.
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Have you been to the redeveloped 132nd Square Park? The Sun's out, cherry blossoms are popping. Sounds like picnic weather to me.