Kirkland's local governance is set for another round within the walls of the city council chambers—with a twist. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 7, as the next Kirkland City Council meeting unfolds, inviting public eyes both in-person and digitally via Zoom. This deviation from the traditional Tuesday slot owes to councilmembers mingling with the community during the National Night Out on August 6, according to a city news release.
With the gavel set to strike at 7:30 p.m., the business on the docket signals change for the city's residents. Among the slated items for consideration, the automated safety camera program within school zones seeks amendments to the Kirkland Municipal Code. As the future urban mold, the 2044 Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element gets a polish with an update that also includes a transit corridors' study for increased housing capacity. Moving to shore, the Marina Park Dock will see its own chapter of revisions, the announcement said.
But before the council tackles the future, it will wade into the present concerns at the 5:30 p.m. study session. Here the city staffers will unfold their evaluation of the Kraken's Proposal, likely to bring investment and development in giant strides. Utility rates are on the table as well, with Solid Waste, Water, Sewer, and Surface Water up for discussion. And not to be sidelined, the Public Works Maintenance Center (PWMC) Facility Plan finds its way into the study session, as the council weighs its operational blueprint.
Citizens eager to wield voice and opinion won't be left in the cold; the council grants the public a platform during the “Items from the Audience” segment at the start of the business meeting. Speaking your mind to councilmembers in this time-honored democratic tradition is as simple as signing up per the process detailed on the City Council webpage. Participation carries through both physical presence or the now-ubiquitous Zoom interface.
And for those who prefer to absorb civic engagement from the comfort of their own space, possibilities abound. The meeting streams on the City of Kirkland Facebook page, their YouTube channel, and is also live on the City website. Traditionalists can find it televised on Comcast Cable Channel 21 and Ziply Cable Channel 31, ensuring that no citizen misses the chance to catch the council in action, as is detailed in the announcement.
