 When budgets get tight, a little help can make a big difference. On this week’s episode, hear from Program Coordinator Quinn Glebe as he walks through four City of Kirkland discounts to lower your bills and get money back in your pocket. Check it out. Check it out.
 The Kirkland City Council met on October 21, 2025. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting:
The Council held a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss proposed alternatives for adjusting the water pressure gradient of the Upper Highlands neighborhood.
During the Business Agenda, the Council adopted a resolution directing staff to take immediate and longer-term actions to mitigate water pressure reductions in the Highlands neighborhood.
Council received a draft report on the fiscal impacts of the City's Multifamily Tax Exemption program. The final report is anticipated to return to Council in November.
Council received on update about the NE 85th Street Station Area, including options for achieving denser residential development in the Station Area and a summary of recent efforts to activate the Station Area.
Council reviewed and provided feedback on the City's draft legislative priorities for the upcoming 2026 state legislative session.
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. The full agenda packet with information on each item is located on the City’s website.
The next City Council meeting is on November 5, 2025.
Lend Your Voice on Kirkland’s Draft Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan
The City of Kirkland invites community members to share their input on the City’s Draft Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan, available for public comment through October 24, 2025. The draft plan and a brief online survey are available from the City’s website.
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City Hall Ballot Box Moved for Safer, Faster Voting
 To improve voter’s experience and safety in Kirkland, the ballot drop box previously located at City Hall has been moved to the Wester Lot. The prior location next to City Hall required voters to get out of their cars to cast their ballot. This created conflicts between cars and pedestrians, and it also placed a burden on voters with mobility challenges. The new “drive up and drop” design allows voters to submit ballots right from their vehicles, improving safety, accessibility, and efficiency. For those who live nearby, walk-up access remains, with safe sidewalk routes that don’t cross vehicle traffic lanes.
King County Elections owns and operates ballot drop boxes across the county. They have approved the Wester Lot as a location that better serves Kirkland voters. For more information about ballot boxes and elections, visit www.kingcounty.gov/elections.
How can I contact the City with questions, requests, or suggestions?
You can always contact City staff through the Our Kirkland service portal, available on the web and mobile app. Submitting your comments through Our Kirkland ensures the right staff receives the information and can follow up with you.
 This Saturday, come on down and join us for a fire station grand re-opening at Fire Station 21 at Forbes Creek! The event kicks off at 10:30 a.m. with remarks and a ribbon cutting, followed by an open house where you can tour the newly remodeled station, meet your neighborhood firefighters, and check out the fire trucks up close. Thank you Kirkland voters for funding this remodel by passing Fire Prop 1 in 2020!
Bring the whole family and help us celebrate this exciting community milestone!
Date: October 25
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m
Location: 9816 Forbes Creek Dr
 City Councilmembers, State Rep. Shelley Kloba, City staff, and honored guests gathered last week to celebrate the completion of the Juanita Drive Corridor Improvements Project, a decade-long effort to make Juanita Drive safer and more accessible. The project added continuous bike lanes and sidewalks, new crosswalks with flashing beacons, upgraded intersections, and improved lighting. Funded in part by the Washington State Department of Commerce and completed in partnership with the Northshore Utility District, the project reflects years of careful planning and coordination. Together, these improvements make travel safer for everyone who walks, rolls, bikes, or drives along the corridor.
Watch the ribbon-cutting here.
 The City of Kirkland is pleased to announce the opening of a new picnic shelter at O.O. Denny Park, enhancing opportunities for families, friends, and community groups to gather and enjoy one of Kirkland’s most beloved waterfront parks.
The project was made possible through a generous donation from longtime Kirkland residents Dick and Nancy Gode, along with remaining funds from the former Finn Hill Park and Recreation District and support from the Kirkland Community Foundation. Together, these contributions reflect the community’s enduring commitment to improving public spaces and strengthening neighborhood connections.
“To the Gode family, the Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance, and all who contributed to this project, thank you for helping us build a place that reflects what Kirkland does best: creating spaces where people can come together, rain or shine,” said Mayor Kelli Curtis.
For more information about renting picnic areas in Kirkland Parks, please visit www.kirklandwa.gov/ParkRentals.
 From ribbon cuttings to groundbreaking ceremonies, Councilmembers have been out and about over the last few weeks celebrating Kirkland’s business community. Looking to start a business in Kirkland or want some business support? Our economic development program is here to help: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Business/Business-Resources
 This week, the City of Kirkland activated the pedestrian scramble function at Lake Street’s intersection with Kirkland Avenue. Pedestrians can now cross the intersection in any direction they choose during the pedestrian phase. The City’s subcontractor will devote the rest of this week to removing the old signal poles. More about the project here.
 Last week, the City hosted the Great Kirkland Tree Plant-Off at Peter Kirk Park, and what an event! Eight beautiful new trees were planted to replace the poplars along the baseball field, helping keep our park green and growing.
A big thank you to the Department of Natural Resources for joining us to celebrate our Tree City USA status and our brand-new designation as an Evergreen Community! And shoutout to the hardworking crews who dig, plant, and care for our trees - tree planting is no joke! Here’s to a greener, leafier Kirkland!
Read more about caring for trees in Kirkland here: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-and-Building/Trees
 The Kirkland Salary Commission will hold a public meeting on Thursday, October 30, 2025. The meeting will begin at 5 pm in the Kirkland Council Chamber and via Zoom. More information about the meeting and the Commission can be found on the City’s website: https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Finance-and-Administration/Salary-Commission
 Want support with bills? The Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program supports qualifying households with discounts on utility rates and other City services and charges. The goal is to assist more households, regardless of age, housing type, and health or disability status.
If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, visit kirklandwa.gov/KirklandCares to check eligibility and apply.
Lake Street & Kirkland Avenue (Pedestrian Scramble)
The Lake Street and Kirkland Avenue intersection is now fully functioning as an all-way pedestrian scramble. Pedestrians can cross the intersection in any direction they choose while the pedestrian phase is active. Meanwhile, the contractor will continue next week to alternate traffic while its crews embed traffic-counting loops in the pavement. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/Lake-Street-Pedestrian-Scramble for weekly updates.
Market Street @ Ninth Avenue
Kirkland’s Stores to Shores Greenways contractor is planning lane-closures next week at Market Street’s intersection with Ninth Avenue while its crews establish the intersection’s new lanes. During the closure, OMA Construction will detour traffic. The closure is weather-dependent. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/storestoshores for project updates on Thursdays.
100th Avenue Northeast
Drivers will encounter traffic control at various locations along 100th Avenue Northeast while OMA Construction completes a variety of ‘punch-list’ tasks.
Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/100thavedesign for project updates on Thursdays.
Northeast 85th Street: I-405 to Sixth Street
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.
Northeast 85th Street: 122th Avenue Northeast to 120nd Avenue Northeast
On Northeast 85th Street east of I-405, daytime work will close a westbound lane on the north side of Northeast 85th Street between 120th Avenue Northeast and 122nd Avenue Northeast. Daytime work will reduce eastbound traffic to one lane between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Overnight, traffic will be impacted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. as Kirkland’s contractor upgrades the stormwater facilities and other utility work. Visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Construction-Projects/NE-85th-Street-Eastbound-3rd-Lane for project updates on Thursdays.
124th Avenue Northeast
Work continues on 124th Avenue Northeast, between Northeast 116th Street and Northeast 124th Street. Visit www.kirklandwa.gov/124thavenue for yes, project updates on Thursdays.
Kirkland Way Park & Ride Closed
Kirkland Way P&R is closed through the end of October, as a PSE gas line replacement project uses the space to store equipment.
Additional Construction Projects
Find out about additional construction projects here.
 Dia de los Muertos
Date: Saturday, October 25
Time: 2 - 4 p.m.
Location: Peter Kirk Community Center (352 Kirkland Ave)
Celebrate togetherness and remembrance at Kirkland’s Día de Los Muertos festival. Join us for a family-friendly event featuring hands-on arts and crafts, captivating performances, and delicious light refreshments for everyone to enjoy.
For more information, visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/Whats-Happening/Community-Events/Parks-and-Community-Services/D%C3%ADa-de-los-Muertos
 Blood Drive
Date: November 5
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: City Hall, 123 5th Ave,
Peter Kirk Conference Room
Help save a life and donate blood. Schedule your donation online here:
https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/81268
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Relive the glitz and glam of our Broadway-inspired performance of "Volunteer" as part of May's Community Appreciation Night.
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