February 12, 2026 - This Week in Kirkland - Text Version

Published on February 13, 2026

Council Preview | NE 85th Ramp Closures | Virtual Tour | Recycling Oil Right

City of Kirkland Washington sent this bulletin 02/12/2026 04:16 PM PST

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• The Hot New Trend of BYOT
• City Council Meeting Preview
• You're Invited: Conversations with Council
• Get Questions Answered & Lend Your Voice
• What Do You Love about Kirkland?
• Take a Virtual Tour of the Recycling Center
• Help Keep Our Cooking Oil Drop-Off Clean
• Give your Parks some love this February with Green Kirkland!
• Trees at Peter Kirk Park to Be Removed Next Week
• Try 2026's Coolest Way to Travel
• Northeast 85th Street On-ramp to Northbound I-405 Closed for Utility Work in Kirkland, Feb. 13-16
• Traffic Alerts
• Upcoming Events
• Video Spotlight
•  

The Hot New Trend of BYOT

What’s on your mind, Kirkland? We’re joined by Community Engagement Coordinator Luana Hancock who is making it easier than ever to connect with your friendly neighborhood councilmembers. Check it out.

City Council Meeting Preview

The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:  

• Council will get an update on options for covering the Peter Kirk Pool. 

• Council will consider authorizing the City Manager to acquire property next to Mark Twain Park. 

• Council will also consider an updated Interlocal Agreement with the Lake Washington School District related to the maintenance of the school’s fields.  

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

• New state parking requirements; and
• The 2026-2027 Park Board Workplan in a joint meeting. 

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 February 17 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.   

You're Invited: Conversations with Council

The City recently launched a new pilot program, Conversations with Council, which offers regular opportunities for community members to engage informally with your Kirkland City Councilmembers at locations around Kirkland. There is no agenda or presentation—just conversation.

Join us at the next Conversations with Council session at the Kingsgate Library on Saturday, February 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information about the program, and other ways to engage with the City, please visit  https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/City-Council/Conversations-with-Council

Get Questions Answered & Lend Your Voice

What Do You Love about Kirkland?

Last month, the This Week in Kirkland podcast held a drawing for wine tasting, courtesy of Woodinville Wine Country. We asked people to send in what they love about Kirkland when they submitted their drawing entries. In honor of Valentine's Day, we thought it would be fun to spread the Kirkland luv by sharing some of their answers. Thanks to all who entered the drawing, and for everyone who listens to the podcast!

• One of my favorite things about Kirkland is watching the sunset over Lake Washington. Whether I’m downtown at the marina or up in the Highlands, I truly value living in such a beautiful community.
• My favorite thing to do in Kirkland is crochet with my friends at Juanita Beach Park!
• Something I love about Kirkland: The plethora of greening Kirkland volunteer opportunities. Thank you! The podcast is such a great way to keep track of city updates.
• Being able to walk to Totem Lake and ditch my car on the weekends!
• I love the small town feel of Kirkland - the neighborhoods, downtown (still small and comfortable), parks, waterfront.
• I love going for walks on the CKC and exploring new places with my fiancé!
• What I love about Kirkland is its commitment to improving and growing parks and green space. For instance, the planning underway to build a green loop trail on top of Finn Hill will be an incredible addition to the area
• I love that Kirland has great parks and trails and soon....a Molly Moons!
• The city staff!  You are all so helpful and kind….and dedicated to making Kirkland great.
• I grew up in Kirkland and moved back a few years ago to raise my son in the area. I love how, even with all our growth, some of Kirkland has stayed the same. Some examples are the staff at Tres Hermanos (shout out to Miguel!), the birds at Juanita Bay park, and the wave of the person you recognize at the grocery store. Kirkland is great because of the diverse community of residents and small business owners it has. We have great schools and parks, sure, but they would be nothing without the amazing people in them.

What do you love about Kirkland?  Let us know by writing in to communications@kirklandwa.gov.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Recycling Center

Cascadia Recycling Center (CRC) processes recyclables for the City of Kirkland and from hundreds of thousands of Puget Sound residents and businesses.

Take a virtual tour of the Cascade Recycling Center on February 27 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.  The virtual tour is a great opportunity to see how the center functions and to see how they process recyclables collected from over 250,000 households in Washington! It is also a perfect opportunity to ask Waste Management your recycling questions.

For more information and to register please visit the Waste Management website.  The next in-person tour will be on May 29, 2026.

Help Keep Our Cooking Oil Drop-Off Clean

Give your Parks some love this February with Green Kirkland!

Trees at Peter Kirk Park to Be Removed Next Week

The poplar trees along Central Way at Peter Kirk Park have far outlived their 30–40 year lifespan and will be removed February 16–19, 2026. The work is expected to take up to three days and is necessary to keep the area safe for visitors and neighbors.

Want to learn more about these trees and why they're being removed? Watch this informative video from Parks Operations Supervisor Rob Martinson.

To support a healthy long-term tree canopy, the City will replace the 15 poplars with 45 new trees. We’ll replant as many as possible in Peter Kirk Park and place the remaining trees throughout Kirkland’s parks, including McAuliffe Park, North Kirkland Community Center, Reservoir Park, and Rose Hill Meadows.

Our team is choosing species that will thrive for decades to come, including oak, western red cedar, beech, linden, and others. Thank you for your support as we continue stewarding our parks and urban forest.

Try 2026's Coolest Way to Travel

Northeast 85th Street On-ramp to Northbound I-405 Closed for Utility Work in Kirkland, Feb. 13-16

Traffic Alerts

(1) Northeast 85th Street: Shared Use Pathway

Northeast 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 parallel’s Northeast 85th Street. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/NE-85th-Street-Shared-Use-Pathway for project updates on Thursdays.

(2) 124th Avenue Northeast Pedestrian Improvements

Drivers should expect southbound lane shift between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on 124th Avenue Northeast from the Tolt Pipeline Trail to Northeast 145th Street. Work expected to begin as February 19 on this sidewalk project on the west side of 124th Avenue Northeast. 

Additional Construction Projects

Find out about additional construction projects here.

Upcoming Events

Juanita Beach Dog Park Ribbon Cutting

Date: Friday, February 20

Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Location:  Juanita Beach Dog Park, 9703 NE Juanita Drive

You’re invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for Juanita Beach Dog Park to celebrate the fact it is now permanent! Learn more about dog parks in Kirkland on the City's website.

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. 

Video Spotlight

Everyone belongs in Kirkland. Mayor Kelli Curtis and Police Chief Mike St Jean share how the Kirkland Police Department is here to protect and serve everyone in Kirkland and that it is safe to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.