The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda, which starts at 7:30 p.m.: 

Prior to the above business agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:      

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 May 5 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’s:

• YouTube channel
• Facebook page
• 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.

Stay in the know: you can also get a preview of what’s coming up at Council in the coming weeks and months by checking out the City Council Agenda Calendar.  Please note: this calendar is subject to frequent change and does not constitute legal notice.

It’s official! The City of Kirkland and the Seattle Kraken announced their plans to build the Kraken Iceplex and Kirkland Community Center at the site of the former Houghton Park and Ride. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to open in the fall of 2027. 

Want to watch the press conference from April 29, 2026? Check it out!

This partnership between the City and the Kraken is designed to deliver major public benefits with no new taxes. The center will be a hub for recreation and community life, with flexible rooms for classes and gatherings, along with fitness space. Plus, every Kirkland resident will receive two hours of free open skate each month and the Kraken’s One Roof Foundation will offer discounted programs for low-income and vulnerable community members to support broad public access.  

The facility will include two NHL-regulation ice rinks, a City-operated community center, a public restaurant, Kraken Team Store, and space for programs, events, and activities. It is expected to boost Kirkland’s economy, with an estimated $7 million each year in economic activity for Kirkland and the Eastside. It will support local jobs, bring new visitors, and help nearby businesses. 

We are excited to see you on the ice! Learn more about the project on the City’s website: www.kirklandwa.gov/Iceplex. 

Prepare yourself for the changes coming to NE 85th Street. Starting the weekend of May 8, drivers will encounter multilane roundabouts where the street passes under I-405. 

Does the idea leave your head spinning? Follow these tips to keep yourself, other drivers, bikers, and pedestrians safe while driving in multilane roundabouts: 

• Choose the appropriate lane based on the lane assignment signs.

• Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk before entering the roundabout.

• Look to your left and yield to drivers already in the roundabout.

• Stay in your lane and let the pavement markings guide you.

• Be courteous and use your right turn signal to indicate your exit to the vehicles around you.

• Stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk while exiting the roundabout.

You can learn more about safely navigating roundabouts by watching this video: https://youtu.be/V2nQ__1YJps?si=vxebApYzC750-nXr.

Check out the WSDOT blog for more information on the new NE 85th Street configuration: https://wsdotblog.blogspot.com/2026/03/a-new-spin-in-kirkland-northeast-85th.html. 

Image courtesy of WSDOT. 

From April 26 to May 3, Kirkland Fire is participating in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters, a national tribute led by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to honor those who have given their lives in the line of duty. 

In Kirkland, the display honors Firefighter Terence Goldberg, who passed away in 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. Goldberg served the Kirkland community with dedication and is recognized at both the Washington State Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado.

Do you love fitness, thrive in a group setting, and enjoy being in the water? Turn your passion into a rewarding summer opportunity with the City of Kirkland as a Deep Water Exercise Instructor!

At the City of Kirkland’s Parks and Community Services Department, we’re actively searching for an energetic and motivating Deep Water Exercise Instructor to lead fun and engaging aquatic workouts at the Peter Kirk Pool. This role offers a flexible, part-time schedule during weekdays in the evening and Saturday mornings. You will get the opportunity to SERVE and inspire the local community through outdoor fitness working in a dynamic and team-oriented environment. As the Deep Water Exercise Instructor, you get the chance to teach a class where we all BELONG by leading safe, high-energy water workouts including warm-ups, strength training, and cooldowns while creating a welcoming environment for participants of all fitness levels. We are looking for applicants with experience teaching group aquatic fitness classes, are currently First Aid and CPR certified or able to obtain certifications and bring a positive attitude and a genuine passion for helping others succeed and THRIVE in their fitness goals.

This non-benefited position is perfect for students, recent graduates, or anyone seeking short-term work. 

Hourly Rate: $31.67-$37.81 

Classes run June through August (Monday/Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings) 

Learn more and apply today at kirklandwa.gov/jobs.

The City of Kirkland’s International Night Market has received a 2026 Program Spotlight Award for Innovative Programming (Population Under 100K) from the Washington Recreation and Park Association, recognizing outstanding creativity and community impact in parks and recreation. The award was presented on April 23, 2026, at the WRPA Annual Awards Banquet in Tacoma, Washington. 

Launched in 2025, the International Night Market brought the community together to share traditions from around the world. It featured a mix of local food vendors, live entertainment, and cultural experiences. Thousands of community members attended, leading to the event’s continuation in 2026. 

The International Night Market will return on Aug. 19, 2026 at Juanita Beach Park, with expanded opportunities for the community to participate. The City of Kirkland is currently seeking vendors, performers, and cultural resource organizations interested in participating in this year’s event.

For more information or to get involved, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/communitybuildingevents. 

Sound Transit has recently shared that it expects to need to cut back and/or delay some of the voter-approved ST3 projects to balance the budget. In the coming weeks, the Sound Transit Board will need to make key decisions about the future of the 4 Line and the system as a whole. To learn more and lend your voice to the Sound Transit Board’s decision, take the Enterprise Initiative survey.

The South Kirkland-Issaquah Link line (the 4 Line) is currently estimated to be completed by 2044 and is one project that might be changed by cost-saving efforts. Voters approved ST3 with the expectation of a connected regional system that improves mobility and access.

The City of Kirkland’s position is that the 4 Line should maintain direct connections from South Kirkland through Downtown Bellevue onto Issaquah — connecting regional growth centers and making the regional transportation system work. The City is committed to delivering a balanced transportation system that gives people more options to get to, from, and around Kirkland safer and easier. In line with this, the City supports expanding high-capacity transit for our community and the Puget Sound region. For more on Kirkland’s position on this topic, read the Council memo and letter from the City to Sound Transit.

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 4-7 from 7 a.m.-12 p.m.

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

Imagine the warm Hawaiian sand between your toes as a thank you for saving lives in the Pacific Northwest! In gratitude for your blood donation in May, you can enter to win roundtrip airfare for two plus a three-night stay in a lush oceanview room at Oahu’s beautiful Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. Your donation makes a real impact in our local hospitals and could turn into the getaway of your dreams.

Sign up to Donate Blood at the North Kirkland Community Center on Wednesday, May 27: https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/94369. Then go to https://www.bloodworksnw.org/win and enter to win!

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.

Junk in the Trunk 

Date: Saturday, May 2  

Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.   

Location: Juanita Beach Park  

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 and 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.

Conversations with Council 

Date: Saturday, May 9 

Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 

Location:  Kirkland Library    

Join the City of Kirkland for the next Conversations with Council event on Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kirkland Library, 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.

📅 Looking ahead: Future Council Conversations 

For more information about the program and other ways to engage with the City, visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Council/Conversations-with-Council.

Downsizing and Decluttering: You Can’t Take it With You  

Date: Thursday, May 14 

Time: 1:30-3 p.m. 

Location: Peter Kirk Community Center 

You can spend a lifetime accumulating treasures, trinkets, and memories. All the “stuff” can make downsizing feel like a monumental endeavor. Join AARP Washington as we share tips to tackle even the most daunting task of decluttering and preparing for your next stage in life. 

This is a free event but pre-registration is required. Register online at kirklandparks.net — search for activity code 23295.

Learn more about the Kirkland Senior Council.

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

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