The Kirkland City Council met on April 21, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the Business meeting:

• Council considered amendments to the zoning code for the NE 85th Street Station Area  

• Council updated its Policies and Procedures related to how it selects Board and Commission members as well as how to handle disruptive public comment. 

• Council authorized the City Manager to submit a letter of intent to purchase a former church located across from 132nd Square Park in Kingsgate. 

• Council adopted a resolution on preparing the City for safe and legal responses to federal civil immigration enforcement operations in the City

Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session where they discussed:  

• An overview of Prosecution Services provided by the City for the Kirkland Municipal Court.  

• A briefing on possible property acquisition to expand parks services in the Kingsgate neighborhood.  

How to watch: Kirkland City Council meetings are streamed live and can be watched after the fact on the City’s:

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 City Council meeting is on May 5, 2026.

Join the City of Kirkland for the next Conversations with Council event, part of a community engagement program offering casual, monthly opportunities for you to connect with your City Councilmembers at locations across Kirkland. 

All are welcome at these drop-in sessions, which are designed for open dialogue — without agendas or presentations. You are encouraged to B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Topic)™, ask questions, and share ideas on the issues that matter most to you. Since launching in January 2026, nearly 50 community members have participated. If you haven’t yet had a chance to join, the new slate of events this quarter offers plenty of opportunities to take part.

📍 Next up: Lake Washington Institute of Technology 

Our first event of Q2 is Tuesday, April 28, from 12-2 p.m. at Lake Washington Institute of Technology. Whether you’re a student, neighbor, employee, or just in the area, you are invited to stop by and join the conversation.

📅 Looking ahead: Future Council Conversations

Find more information about the program and other ways to engage with the City.

To make way for the Kraken Iceplex and Kirkland Community Center, the temporary Houghton Park and Play will close the week of May 4. The features you’ve loved at Houghton Park and Play are getting new homes across the city.

• Expanded community gardens at Rose Hill Meadows this April — open now! 

• Six new pickleball courts with seating at Peter Kirk Park — expected in June 

• A refreshed skate park at Peter Kirk Park — design is underway 

We’re grateful to everyone who made this temporary park such a welcoming space, and excited for what’s coming next. Thanks for your patience as we make room for something great.

For project updates and questions, visit kirklandwa.gov/iceplex.

The grass is starting to grow, and City crews are getting the large roadside mowers out and tackling the “mow lines” in areas where larger equipment is required. We take pride in taming the grass and keeping Kirkland looking tidy.

However, it’s a challenge for our operators when vehicles follow too closely or pass when it is unsafe, and when pedestrians and cyclists walk and bike in and around our work zones. These distractions can be dangerous when our concentration needs to be on the mower and the task at hand.

What to know: 

Thank you for your patience and caution when in an area that is being mowed. Together, we can be safe and enjoy those sweet stripes. For more information, please visit the City’s Streets and Grounds page.

It’s Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week, and we’re giving a shoutout to Angela, Kirkland’s Animal Control Officer!

Angela plays an important role in keeping both pets and people safe in our community. She helps reunite lost pets with their families, responds to animal welfare concerns, and helps community members understand local pet laws.

As a reminder, all cats and dogs in Kirkland over 12 weeks old are required to be licensed. It’s one of the easiest ways to help Angela get your pet home quickly if they ever get lost. Learn more: kirklandwa.gov/animalservices

Kirkland will celebrate art and ageless creativity once again with the Senior Council’s 16th Annual Art Show on June 5. Submissions are currently open to community members who are 50 and older. The public is welcome (and encouraged!) to attend the show, which will be held at Merrill Gardens at 14 Main Street South in Kirkland. 

The Senior Art Show welcomes all forms of creativity. Senior artists who wish to participate can submit up to two pieces of artwork in six different categories. The categories are: Oils and Acrylics, Watercolor, Pastels and Drawing, Photography, Quilts, and Other Media. 

To submit, artists can request an application from Scouncil@kirklandwa.gov. Applications are due on Friday, May 29. Participants should then deliver their artwork to Merrill Gardens between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on June 4 and sign the Hold Harmless Agreement. Following the show, artwork must be picked up at Merrill Gardens between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on June 12. 

To kick off the event, there will be a reception on June 5 from 5-7 p.m. with live music, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, and a no-host bar serving Northwest wines and beer. Attendees can vote for their favorite artwork in the six categories during this time. At 7:30 p.m., winners will be announced and receive ribbons. 

Participants’ artwork will continue to be displayed in the lobby of Merrill Gardens until June 12. It will be available for viewing between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. 

We look forward to this special celebration of our senior community and their talent! 

It’s no secret that Kirkland is a wonderful place to live: The need for affordable housing outpaces the demand in our bustling region. To address this problem while also promoting a diverse, inclusive community, the City of Kirkland supports a mix of housing types, sizes, and price points. Among them are accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — small, self-contained homes that can offer personal, financial, and community benefits. 

In 2023, the City invited architects, designers, and builders to submit detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) designs. The goal was to create a gallery of pre-approved plans that would give homeowners a faster, more predictable, and cheaper path to building ADUs. Currently, there are four distinct designs that can fit different lots, lifestyles, and budgets: “The Schooner,” “The Family,” “The Cedar Cottage,” and “The Sedge Cottage.” 

If you’re considering building an ADU, it’s worth exploring whether any of the designs align with your needs. Architects, designers, and builders were encouraged to submit options that fit into several different categories, including being low-cost, accessible, sustainable, small-footprint, family-friendly, and more. The pre-approved ADU designs vary in style and size, ranging from 476 to 1,132 square feet. 

Each ADU plan can also be tailored to your vision, whether that be to add a separate space to support your family or to generate additional income through rental or sale of the residence. Some of the customization options include selecting from different materials, choosing between mirrored versions of the same floor plan, and adding solar panels. The City hopes to see ADUs serve diverse family and household types. 

If you choose a design from the gallery of pre-approved ADU plans, you can license it for no more than $1,000, and then work with the designer to adapt it to your property at their specified hourly rate. Pre-approved plans lead to savings in time and money, and they also simplify the permit process to turn your ADU from an idea into a reality faster. 

Has your vehicle sprung a leak? Find out for FREE at Lake Washington Institute of Technology! If the technicians find a leak in your vehicle and recommend further service, you’ll be issued a $250 voucher to be redeemed at participating auto shops in Kirkland. By participating in this program, you’re helping to prevent pollution from entering our local streams, wetlands, and lakes.

✅ Where: Lake Washington Institute of Technology Auto Repair Shop 

✅ When: May 4-May 7 from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. 

Sign up for a free inspection at www.calendly.com/freevehicleinspections.

Traffic Alert for May 3: Kirkland Half Marathon and 5K

Drivers should expect traffic delays and restricted parking due to the Kirkland Half Marathon and 5K, to be held at Juanita Beach Park on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Vehicles parked in restricted areas will be towed. Course maps are available at https://orcarunning.com/kirklandhalf/. 

Roadway impacts will be in effect from 7 a.m. until approximately 11:30 a.m. or when the last runner passes. Additionally, the following closures will be in place: 

Event organizers expect 1,500 athletes will participate in the run/walk, which includes courses for the Half Marathon, 5K, and Kids Dash.  

Eventgoers are encouraged to carpool and plan for their parking in advance. For information on off-site parking and shuttle service, go to https://orcarunning.com/kirklandhalf/. For public parking, go to https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Business/Parking. For bus transportation, go to http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/. For permit information contact, Sudie Elkayssi, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Kirkland Parks and Community Services, (425) 587-3347 or selkayssi@kirklandwa.gov. 

(1) NE 85th Street: Shared Use Pathway 

NE 85th Street continues to usher a single lane of traffic in each direction, between Interstate 405 and Sixth Street while a Kirkland contractor builds a shared-use pathway that parallels NE 85th Street.  

(2) 124th Avenue NE Pedestrian Improvements 

Drivers should expect occasional work on 124th Avenue NE near NE 145th Street as Kirkland’s contractor finishes sidewalk work for this Transportation Benefit District sidewalk and crossing project. PSE crews will be on site before the contractor returns to activate the crossing. Pedestrian flags are temporarily installed at this new crosswalk.

(3) 132nd Avenue NE Intersection Improvements

Drivers should expect lane shifts and flagging operations on 132nd Avenue NE near NE 100th Street as Kirkland’s contractor builds a new signalized intersection. Traffic control begins at 9 a.m. and ends by 3:30 p.m. Construction on this project is expected to enter suspension once the concrete/street work is complete as the contractor procures long-lead items.

(4) CKC to Eastrail Crossing at Slater Avenue NE/132nd Avenue NE  

This project may have minor traffic control as the contractor finishes final tasks, but the CKC to Eastrail crossing is open and the right turn signal at NE 124th Street is active.

(5) NE 85th Street Eastbound Third Lane Project  

Drivers can expect night construction to continue east of Interstate 405 on NE 85th Street. Traffic control begins by 9 p.m. and ends by 5 a.m. to avoid disruption to NE 85th Street. Plan for travel delays due to construction near 122nd Avenue NE as Kirkland’s contractor resumes work on this project by replacing the waterline and valves. Work on this project is expected throughout spring.

(6) NE 87th Street/116th Avenue NE Intersection Design

Drivers should expect flaggers controlling alternating traffic at the curve of NE 87th Street to 116th Avenue NE as geotechnical investigation borings are conducted for a future project. This work will occur the week of April 27 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For project updates, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/capitalprojects.

Guns for Gift Cards 

Date: Saturday, April 25 

Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.  

Location:  Kirkland Justice Center | 11750 NE 118th Street

 The Kirkland Police Department (KPD) is hosting an upcoming Guns for Gift Cards event, where Kirkland community members can exchange unwanted guns for gift cards. Guns for Gift Cards is part of the City of Kirkland’s broader efforts to reduce gun violence and prevent firearms from being stolen, misused, or involved in tragic accidents or suicides. Each unwanted firearm turned in is one less weapon that could potentially cause harm in the community. Read more.

Kenmore Earth Day 

Date: April 25 2026 

Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Location: Saint Edwards State Park | 14445 Juanita Dr. NE, Kenmore

The Kirkland Conserves Team will be at the Kenmore Earth Day celebration with interactive activities for the family and information about special offers for Kirkland residents. Join us, as well as environmental organizations, community partners, and sustainable businesses, to have fun and learn more about our awesome planet and how we can take care of it. See you there!

Our second annual Junk in the Trunk Community garage sale features up to 50 vendors, food trucks, and more! Sellers get a parking space for their car and the one next to it to sell their items. The event is free to attend.

For more information, visit www.KirklandParks.net and click on the Community Events tab. We hope you can join us! 

State of the City & Community Appreciation Night  

Date: Thursday, May 7 

Time: 5 - 8 p.m. 

Location: Peter Kirk Community Center & Kirkland Performance Center

Join us for this special one‑night‑only live podcast conversation with the City Council as we share gratitude for our amazing community. This free event celebrates connection and community pride, starting with a dinner and social hour at the Peter Kirk Community Center, followed by desserts and entertainment at the Kirkland Performance Center. The program features the Mayor’s annual State of the City address, a musical performance, and a fun-filled volunteer appreciation ceremony in the style of a live podcast, This Night in Kirkland: All Together Now.

Admission and food are free; registration is recommended. More event details, answers to frequently asked questions, and registration found here.

For more events from the City, visit our Community Events page. For up-to-date happenings around Kirkland, visit ExploreKirkland.com/Events.

Want a monthly Events Guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter.