Fall 2018 CERT Class Starts September 10

August 13, 2018
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Kirkland Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is now accepting registrations for the Fall 2018 class. This 8-week course will start on Monday, September 10, 2018 and will be held the following seven Mondays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Avenue (lower entrance) Kirkland, WA 98033. The final simulation drill, which participants are required to attend, will take place on November 3, 2018, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
The CERT program educates residents in disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire suppression, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during the exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event.
The cost for the 8-week course is $35.00 for those who live, work, or go to school in Kirkland; $50.00 for those outside of Kirkland. Participants will receive a CERT kit containing a helmet, reflective vest, backpack, and other emergency supplies. The program is sponsored by Kirkland CERT, the Kirkland Office of Emergency Management, and the Greater Kirkland Citizen Corps Council. 
To register, go to www.KirklandCERT.com; for information e-mail Christina Brugman, Kirkland CERT, at CBrugman@Kirklandwa.gov.

​The City's project web page for the KTIP can be COMMUNITY SURVEY ONLINE - AVAILABLE THROUGH MAY 21
The City of Kirkland is currently conducting the biennial Community Survey to gauge community attitudes about the quality of life in Kirkland, priorities for the future and satisfaction with City government and services.  An online survey is now available for those who were not contacted in the random sample but still want to participate.  Please take it and encourage your neighbors to as well!  https://www.research.net/r/2018KirklandCommunitySurvey.

The city's project web page for the KTIP can be accessed at:
www.kirklandwa.gov/depart/Public_Works/Transportation_and_Traffic/KTIP.htm

The agenda for the May 8, 2018 CHNA meeting is provided below. We have the pleasure to welcome Police Chief Harris to our meeting. Come and meet Chief Harris and learn about her vision for Kirkland’s Police Services.  Potential topics of discussion include the following, and we will have time for questions from the audience.   

• Summary of the types of crimes in Central Houghton Area (and how those compare to the rest of the city)
• Police in schools
• Traffic enforcement – especially related to crosswalks, neighborhood speeding/traffic calming, and illegal parking
• Solicitors and strategies for dealing with people that come knocking on your door
• National Night Out/ Block Watch/ What the neighborhood association can do to help

  
We will have time for questions from the audience as well.
 
We also will be discussing the planning for the celebration of 50th anniversary of the merger of Houghton with the City of Kirkland.
 
Election of officers for the 2018/2019 CHNA also will be conducted. We are looking for a new treasurer. Please let us know if you are interested in being part of our Board, we would appreciate hearing from you and getting your input to help guide the future of the association. It doesn't take much time and you can learn a lot and help create a better community by being engaged in your neighborhood association.  

Have you ever wanted to ask candid questions of your local law enforcement officers but didn’t feel like you could? Now’s your chance.

Coffee with a Cop is an opportunity to ask those questions, voice concerns and make suggestions while getting to know the Kirkland Police officers in your neighborhood. The first date is on October 4th, 2017 at Urban Coffee, 12348 NE 115th Place just off 124th Avenue NE. Join Officer Deana Lansing there from 11am-1pm.

For more information contact Neighborhood Resource Officer Deana Lansing at 425-587-3451 or dlansing@kirklandwa.gov.

This program provides City grant money for projects identified and prioritized by residents that address pedestrian and bicycle safety issues that are often too small to be funded in the regular CIP budget. These projects could be crosswalk safety, pedestrian or bike connections to the CKC, bike lanes or trails, intersection improvements, traffic calming, walkway improvements, etc.
 
Step 1: Suggest a Project - do this step NOW
Enter your project idea in the “Suggest a Project” interactive map at any time during the year. (Click the “I want to…” orange button and then select “Submit a Project Idea” in the drop-down dialog box. The interactive map will step you through pinpointing your project location, selecting a project type and describing your idea.) The City reviews and responds to all suggestions and will let you know if your project meets the NSP parameters. All suggestions will be shared with your Neighborhood Association and posted on the City’s web site.
 
The next step will be for you to advocate for your project at your upcoming Neighborhood Association Meeting (dates vary).  Each neighborhood can select two projects with a projected total maximum cost of  $50,000.00 per neighborhood, but they first must be entered on the "Suggest a Project" site to qualify.
 
Get those ideas posted!

You can also send project ideas to centralhoughton@gmail.com. The Central Houghton Neighborhood Association will be discussing suggested projects at our monthly meetings (7:00 PM on the second Tuesday of each month at Fire Station 22). 

​City Manager Kurt Triplett has announced the hiring of Kathy Cummings as the new Communications Program Manager for the City of Kirkland beginning June 1, 2016. She replaces Marie Jensen who recently took a communications position in Bellevue. Cummings will over-see city-wide communication efforts, media relations and work to enhance public outreach and create meaningful connections between the City and the community. 

Kathy sends along the following message to everyone in Central Houghton:

Katie Cava from the city's Green Kirkland Partnership stopped by the meeting last night and spoke about the city's effort to keep Kirkland green. 

The Green Kirkland Partnership is an alliance between the City of Kirkland, nonprofit partners, businesses and the community to restore more than 400 acres of natural areas in the City. The majority of the restoration efforts are accomplished by our dedicated volunteers. These volunteers may join us just one time or volunteer over and over again. It takes everyone to restore our natural areas!

The Partnership seeks to remove invasive plants from city parks and plant native species. This ambitious goal cannot be achieved without the help of volunteers. Their Mission is to conserve and sustain natural areas for the benefit and enjoyment of current and future generations. Achieving this involves training and supporting volunteers in restoration activities.