April 5, 2020 Updates During COVID-19

​To all-
 
With the extended Stay Home Stay Healthy policy in effect, we thought it would be appropriate to share some information from the City to help keep you informed on services and programs. that is summarized below.
 
Our next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 12 - that may or may not happen. In any case, we will get information of interest out to the community. 
 
As always, please forward to others that may need this information.
 
If you know of anyone else that would like to be added to our Central Houghton Neighborhood Association distribution list, please email us at centralhoughton@gmail.com. Also email us if you have any questions/comments or are interested in helping out our neighborhood association.
 
 
Thanks and be safe. Also please say thanks to those that are on the front line of the health issue, as well as the grocery and pharmacy workers, truckers, delivery folks, postal workers, take-out restaurants, and everyone that is out there that is supporting the community we live in.
 
Larry Toedtli, President
Central Houghton Neighborhood Association
 

•  The City has been using its "This Week in Kirkland" listserv to send out nearly daily updates related to the Covid-19 and other topics that the City is addressing. If you do not already receive the email from the City, you can sign up using this link - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/CMO/News.htm
• The City mailed out a postcard to all addresses in the City addressing ways to get assistance during the Covid-19 shutdown. The intention with the postcard is to identify individuals who may be homebound and may need help. The post card lists the following phone prompts and numbers:
     
  • Do you have questions about COVID-19? Call 1-800-525-0127
  • Are you in mental or emotional distress? Call 1-866-427-4747
  • Are you unable to get food? Call 1-425-207-4777

If you did not see that, you can access that information from the following link - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/NewsRoom/City_Mails_Postcard_to_Connect_Residents_with_Needed_Services_During_Pandemic.htm

•  The City's Web Portal can be used to access various services and reporting of non-emergency police reports - https://kirklandwa.qscend.com/ourkirkland/
•  Police Chief Harris has also asked the Neighborhood Associations to share the following related to police services/ protocols. 

There are temporary changes to the Kirkland Police Department’s protocols that have been put in place to protect both the health of our officers and those they contact in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, these changes are:

• Community members are encouraged to file police reports for not in progress crimes using our online reporting system at https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/PD/online-resources/onlinereporting.htm.
• You may notice that officers may be utilizing the phone to respond to calls for crimes that are not in-progress. This may require additional flexibility and creativity, such as photos and witness statements being shared via email or phone. The KPD is committed to continuing to provide excellent customer service.
• Officers will be limiting contact, as much as possible, in cases where there is no immediate threat to the safety of the caller, or other individuals involved.
• Officers will always respond in-person to emergency calls, serious in-progress felonies, any calls involving life safety, and to injury or blocking traffic accidents. Please know that these temporary changes are to protect the safety of our officers and the community. Limiting officer’s potential exposure to COVID-19 helps ensure that we will continue to have adequate coverage for our community.
• Violations of the Governor’s order can be reported to King County Public Health at 206-477-3977 or coronavirus@kingcounty.gov. Residents should not call 911 to report violations of the order as phone lines must be kept clear for emergencies. The Kirkland Police Department will not be detaining, arresting, ticketing or establishing checkpoints for compliance. No strict law enforcement or "martial law" has been ordered.  When officers encounter people not complying with an order, officers will remind them, as appropriate, of the recommendation and restrictions. 

I realize that these temporary changes will feel out of the ordinary for community members and for our officers. These are unprecedented times that call for a different approach to keeping our community safe. Rest assured that we will still be there for you when you need us most. We appreciate your understanding, patience and cooperation as we work to get through this challenging situation together.
Should you have any questions, concerns or comments, please respond back to police@kirklandwa.gov
Sincerely,
Chief Cherie Harris

• City Council meetings are still taking place - they are being broadcast on Kirkland TV and also streamed from the City's web site. The Council members are connecting via video meeting. Public comments can be provided by email or phone message. For more information, please check out the City's City Council meetings web page -  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings.htm
  • The City Council's tentative schedule can be found here - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Assets/City+Council/AgendaCalendar/City+Council+Agenda+Calendar.pdf
    Specific agendas are typically available the Friday before the Tuesday meetings. Here is the link to this Tuesday's meeting packet - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/council/Meetings/Agendas/Agenda_04072020.htm
  • You can also sign up for the City Council listserv to get the links to the Council agenda/packets - https://www.kirklandwa.gov/ebulletins.htm
  • During the next several meetings the Council  may continue their discussion of the proposed changes to the Tree Code.
  • The City Council has decided  to delay taking action on the Rooftop Amenity Code Amendment Update
• Neighborhood Safety Program - At its March 17 meeting the City Council approved funding for the Flashing Beacon for the crosswalk on 108th Avenue NE at Phyllis Needy Park. This project has been a priority for the neighborhood for several years. We are looking forward to seeing it completed. (also see neighborhood services update below)
• 108th Avenue NE Sewer and Water Main Replacement Project - The contractor has started working on this project. It will include lane and intersection closures over the next 9-12 months. 
  See the project web page for ongoing information - http://www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Public_Works/Construction_Projects/108th_Avenue_Northeast_water_and_sewer_upgrade.htm
•  Neighborhood Services Updates - The City's neighborhood services team has also provided updates on ongoing activities/priorities, as provided below.

1.The City of Kirkland has several informational webpages, including information for businesses, residents who need support, ways to give help, and the latest update from the City.  Check back often, as the situation is changing daily and new updates are posted often.
1)      Resources for Kirkland Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
2)      Resources for Kirkland Residents Impacted by COVID-19
3)      Ways to Help During COVID-19
4)      COVID-19 (coronavirus) General Information 
2. In this time of uncertainty, it is important that we remember our community’s values of being safe, inclusive, and welcoming.  We are all in this together, and together we’ll get through this. It is critical to remember that misinformation about COVID-19 can create fear and hostility that hurts people and makes it harder to keep everyone healthy.  No race, nationality, or ethnicity is more likely to have COVID-19.  Speak up if you hear, see, or read harassment, and avoid spreading misinformation.  If you need it, Public Health - Seattle & King County has developed various resources for responding to stigma.   
3. Finally, here’s an update on Neighborhood Services
1)      Be sure you and your neighbors are signed up for the City’s newsletters (This Week in Kirkland).  Over the last few weeks, the City has been sending near-daily updates. These newsletters are packed with the most recent information about COVID-19 and other local Kirkland issues.
2)      All Neighborhood Matching Grant events and activities have been put on hold until further notice.
3)      Due to the time sensitive nature of her projects, Kari has been working on the Neighborhood Safety Program and Safer Routes to School when she isn’t helping with our COVID-19 outreach efforts.  Here are a few updates:
a.       2019 Neighborhood Safety Program construction contract was awarded to NPM Construction on March 17th.  We anticipate those projects to start within a month or so.  We were able to fund one additional project (108th Avenue NE rapid flashing beacon at Phyllis Needy Park) with the infusion of revenues from the school safety cameras.
b.  2020 Neighborhood Safety Program prioritization process is complete.  The following is the priority ranking for the projects.  Keep in mind many of these are school walk route related so will also be addressed through the Safer Routes to School Initiative.  Thank you to the NSP panel for meeting electronically to review and evaluate these projects.  We are so grateful to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable neighbors who care so deeply about the safety of our community.