 We are joined by members of the Kirkland Youth Council, Layan Sattout and Devan Harbani, to learn all about the upcoming Youth Summit and what’s on the minds of Kirkland teens. Check it out.
The Kirkland City Council met on March 17, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the meeting. During the Business Meeting:
- Council held a public hearing on a condemnation ordinance to acquire property needed for an expansion of the Public Works Maintenance Center. Later in the meeting, the Council considered a condemnation ordinance related to acquiring property for the Public Works Maintenance Center.
- Representatives from WSDOT updated the Council on the I-405/NE 85th Street Interchange and Inline Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Station Project.
- Council was updated on the school zone signing project and provided direction to staff on the scope of outreach and preferred timeline for installing additional beacons.
Prior to the above business agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
- An upcoming Marina Park Repair Project and options for updating the parking lot
- The Water Comprehensive Plan.
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 April 7, 2026.
Not sure where to find what you’re looking for?
Check out Ask Kirkland – the City’s website chatbot. Click on “Let’s Chat” in the lower righthand corner.
You can also text Ask Kirkland to ask questions via SMS. Just text:
1-866-527-KIRK (5475)
|
|
Have a question for the City but aren’t sure where to ask?
Rep’d is an innovative video platform that allows City staff to quickly and easily share short, plain-language answers to community questions. Ask a question today!
|
See an issue needing to be addressed?
Whether it’s potholes, graffiti, downed trees, or otherwise, let us know through Our Kirkland!
|
Bring your leadership, vision, and passion for service to the City of Kirkland! We are looking for our next Fire Chief to lead the Kirkland Fire Department and help shape the future of public safety in our community.
In this role, you’ll SERVE the Kirkland community by leading a highly dedicated department committed to protecting lives, responding when it matters most, and delivering exceptional emergency services.
You’ll help cultivate a workplace where every member feels they BELONG — fostering teamwork, trust, and strong partnerships across the department, City leadership, and the community.
With your leadership, the department will continue to THRIVE by advancing innovation, developing future leaders, and strengthening the services that keep Kirkland safe and resilient.
While you’re making a positive impact on our community, we’ll support you with:
· 100% City-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums
· Growth and training opportunities
· A collaborative team that values your work.
The City of Kirkland Planning Commission will be holding a public hearing on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 6 p.m. to seek community feedback on draft code amendments to the NE 85th Street Station Area zoning regulations. These changes are associated with the continued work to catalyze redevelopment in the Station Area, a key initiative of the 2025-2026 City Work Program.
The adopted Station Area Plan envisions a thriving mixed-use district with sustainable buildings, park amenities, plentiful affordable housing, family wage jobs, and commercial and retail services. The draft code amendments seek to update the allowed housing types within the area, expand development agreement parameters, and extend the duration of affordable housing pioneer provisions in the Station Area.
We invite all interested community members to participate in the public hearing either by:
-
Submitting written comments directly to the Planning Commission via Email to planningcommissioners@kirklandwa.gov
- Delivering these comments to the Kirkland Planning and Building Department, 123 Fifth Avenue, Kirkland 98033
- Appearing in person, virtually, or through a representative at the March 26 hearing and giving oral comments directly to the Planning Commission.
The Planning and Building Department encourages you to submit any written comments before the hearing date so they will be able to receive and process the comments prior to the meeting.
To learn more about the public hearing or the associated code amendments, contact staff project planner LeAndra Baker-Lewis, llewis@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3265.
Household leaks might seem small, but they can waste thousands of gallons of water each year! Detecting and fixing leaks is one of the most impactful actions you can take to prevent water waste. Many can go unnoticed while increasing water use and utility bills.
-
Toilet leaks: Running toilets are the top source of leaks inside homes and can waste as much water as taking 15 showers a day (or more)! If you suddenly have a high water bill, toilets are the first place you should check for a leak.
-
Dripping faucets: Faucet and showerhead leaks add up. Just one drop every 2 seconds wastes more than 1,000 gallons per year.
-
Underground leaks: Underground leaks can be very large and go on for a long time before being noticed. Watch for soggy patches of ground, an isolated area of green lawn, or water pooling on the ground outside. If the leak is under pavement or a building, a high bill or spinning water meter may be the only signs. For all underground leaks, contact a professional plumber. An experienced plumber can help minimize the amount of digging necessary to find and fix outdoor leaks. Remember to call before you dig (dial 811) to find the locations of buried utility lines.
-
Water service or supply line: In most cases, the water line from the water meter to the house or building is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain. Tree roots and normal wear can sometimes lead to leaks in these pipes.
-
Irrigation systems: Leaks are also common in landscaping sprinkler systems. You may need to hire a professional to repair some irrigation system leaks.
Shredded paper poses a unique challenge when it comes to recycling. Its small size makes it difficult to sort, leading to confetti-like litter at recycling centers. Additionally, shredded materials often contain plastics, such as those found in credit cards, envelopes with plastic windows, and shiny papers, making them unsuitable for yard waste composting. Therefore, Waste Management asks that you bag and dispose of shredded paper in the trash.
Other Recycling Options
To recycle shredded paper, consider attending free community shred events or using paid services from office supply stores like Staples or Office Depot. These professional services ensure the paper is recycled properly, as sorting is not required.
Community shred events can be found on the Washington Attorney General’s website, providing a convenient option for safe and efficient disposal.
The next Kirkland Recycling Collection Event that includes shredding will be in May; more details will be available online in April.
Limit Shredding
When deciding to shred documents, it’s crucial to limit shredding to necessary items. Shredding shortens paper fibers, and they can then only be used to produce lower-quality paper products like tissues, which cannot be recycled further. We recommend shredding only documents with personally identifiable information, while recycling non-sensitive materials. For example, you can remove inserts from envelopes to recycle the envelope itself and only shred pages within packets that contain sensitive information. Avoid shredding coated or plastic materials altogether for better recycling practices.
King County transfer stations and Cedar Falls drop box will operate on a delayed opening schedule next Sunday, March 22 at all stations, including Houghton. This is for an all-staff training event for King County Solid Waste Division operations employees. The Houghton Transfer Station will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Beginning Monday, March 23, the Houghton Transfer Station will close to residential (self-haul) customers to allow for repairs to the station scale. The station will reopen to all customers Monday, March 30. Below are alternative station options to serve customers during this time:
Starting March 28, Metro will increase bus service with earlier morning trips, later evening service, and more weekend options in south King County and across the Eastside. At the same time, Metro will launch systemwide all-door boarding, allowing riders to board through any door, helping reduce delays at busy stops and improving travel time and reliability across the system.
Included in this service increase is Route 225, which runs from Kenmore Park and Ride, through Finn Hill and Juanita, to Totem Lake Transit Center, past Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and ultimately ends at Overlake Village Station in Redmond. This service currently runs every hour between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends. Starting on March 28, the Route 225 will begin 30-minute frequency service on weekdays between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.
The systemwide service changes strengthen connections to Sound Transit’s expanding Link light rail system, including the new 2 Line Crosslake Connection between Seattle and the Eastside. Together, these improvements make it easier for riders to move between bus and rail while improving reliability across the transit network. They also help prepare the region for a busy summer of major events, including the FIFA World Cup, by making it easier for riders to travel quickly and reliably throughout the region. Read more about the service increase here.
|
The City of Kirkland is committed to delivering a balanced transportation system that gives people more options to get to, from, and around Kirkland more safely and easily. In line with this, the City supports expanding high-capacity transit for our community and the Puget Sound region. 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.
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’s position is that the 4 Line should maintain direct connections from South Kirkland through Downtown Bellevue on to Issaquah — connecting regional growth centers and making the regional transportation system work.
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, join a hybrid community town hall on Monday, March 30, hosted by Transportation Choices Coalition and Move Redmond.
King County crews will close the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) Trail between NE 52nd Street and 108th Avenue NE on Tuesday, March 24. The trail will be closed while crews test soil conditions ahead of repair work scheduled for this summer. For your safety, do not enter the closed section of the trail. Please follow all posted signs. This section of the trail will reopen at 5 p.m. on March 24.
About the project: King County repaired a 7-foot-diameter underground sewer pipe that runs along the CKC Trail. It carries sewage from Kirkland to the County’s South Treatment Plant in Renton, where it is cleaned and safely discharged to Puget Sound. Last year, King County and City of Kirkland crews detected sewage leaking from the County pipe and entering the City’s culvert. King County crews and contractors repaired the leaking joints under the CKC Trail. Crews installed a 3,000-foot, 18-inch-diameter temporary aboveground pipe that ensured sewer service during the repair work. This pipe will remain on the west side of the trail to support culvert repairs scheduled for this summer.
More project information is available here.
(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 lane shifts and flagging operations on 124th Avenue NE near NE 145th Street as Kirkland’s contractor builds a center island median for a new crosswalk. Traffic control begins at 7 a.m. and ends by 3 p.m.
(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 by April as the contractor procures long-lead items.
Live Pitch Competition
Time: Doors open 5:30 p.m., competition starts at 6 p.m.
Location: Kirkland Performance Center | 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland, WA 98033
Join us for an electrifying evening of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit at the Kirkland Pitch Competition! Watch as passionate entrepreneurs take the stage to present their business ideas in a format that’s both engaging and informative. A distinguished panel of industry experts will evaluate the pitches, providing valuable insights and feedback to participants. Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking for inspiration, an investor scouting for the next big opportunity, or a community member eager to support local innovation, this event is for you! Register to attend here.
Kirkland Blood Drive
Location: North Kirkland Community Center
|
Kirkland Welcomes the World Business Workshop
Location: Northwest University
The upcoming World Cup is set to be the largest in history. The City of Kirkland wants to keep residents and businesses informed and ready for the festivities. Join us for an in-person Business Information Workshop presented by the City of Kirkland and Kirkland Chamber of Commerce on March 27 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Northwest University, where we will have multiple speakers, resources, and information on how your business can engage with the influx of visitors this summer. More information here.
|
Kirkland Parks and Community Services Job Fair
Location: North Kirkland Community Center
The City of Kirkland is hiring for more than 150 part-time and seasonal roles, including day camp leaders, lifeguards, swim instructors, recreation attendants and leads, youth sports officials, and more. Most positions begin in April, May, or June, with opportunities lasting through summer and into early fall.
Whether you’re searching for your first job, looking to stay active, or hoping to help create unforgettable experiences for local families, this event is a chance to connect directly with hiring managers and discover where your next adventure could begin. Read more.
|
Want a monthly events guide delivered to your inbox? Sign up for our Events Newsletter.
So many ways to get around! Have you ever seen a Metro Community Van at City Hall and wondered what you can use it for? Blair answers your questions in this video:
|
