 The City’s new Communications Program Specialist, Danika Harrod, joins the podcast for the first time and takes part in a fun new segment called “The Roundabout.” We dive into beach closures, affordable housing, the final CKC connection, SEA26 transit options, and more. Plus, we talk all about how you can donate blood for a chance to win a $10,000 gas card. Check it out.
The Kirkland City Council met on June 16, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the Business Agenda:
- Council held a public hearing regarding affordable housing requirements in low-density zones.
- Council voted on amending the zoning code regarding affordable housing requirements in low-density zones. The vote resulted in a 3-3 tie, so, per Council’s Policies, the matter was tabled until the next regular meeting at which all seven Councilmembers are present.
- Council adopted code amendments related to automatic fire sprinkler requirements for existing residential buildings.
- Council received an update on Health Through Housing.
Prior to the above Business Agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
- Cascade Water Alliance’s Cascade Supply Plan
- Alternative delivery methods for the Peter Kirk Pool Project
To read more, visit the City’s website.
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 July 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)
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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!
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See an issue needing to be addressed?
Whether it’s potholes, graffiti, downed trees, or otherwise, let us know through Our Kirkland!
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In observance of Juneteenth, City administrative offices are closed on Friday, June 19. Fire, police, and other critical services will remain fully operational. City services normally accessible through email, over the phone, and the Our Kirkland service portal will resume at 8 a.m., Monday, June 22.
The Juneteenth Holiday celebrates and commemorates the end of slavery in practice in the United States and the contributions of Americans of African descent to society.
Former Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet and retiring Washington State Representative Larry Springer will serve as the 2026 Celebrate Kirkland Grand Marshals. The two longtime public servants will lead the annual Fourth of July parade in honor of their contributions to Kirkland. The event will bring joy, color, and community spirit to the downtown business district on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
“For decades, Penny and Larry have helped make Kirkland the welcoming, livable community we love — on the council, as mayors, in the legislature, and as business owners in the heart of downtown,” said Deputy Mayor Neal Black. “It’s only fitting that the two of them, who helped launch Celebrate Kirkland in 1999, will lead this year’s parade.”
SEA26 is here, soccer fans! If you’re trying to get to games, watch parties, or other activities, check out King County Metro’s rider tools page. There’s info on match-day shuttles, enhanced operating periods, tips for transiting, and more!
Five more matches will be played in Seattle:
- June 19: United States vs. Australia (12 p.m.)
- June 24: Qatar vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (12 p.m.)
- June 26: Egypt vs. Iran (8 p.m.)
- July 1: Round of 32 - Teams TBD (1 p.m.)
- July 6: Round of 16 - Teams TBD (5 p.m.)
Our 2026 Community Tree Survey is out now, and completing it gives you a chance to share your opinions and ideas to help update the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan.
Why does this matter? The plan directs and prioritizes the City’s actions to meet community goals relating to Kirkland’s urban forest. This includes the planting and care of trees along the streets and in yards, parks, and forested areas within the city.
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Summer brings a lot of great things, but unfortunately it brings blood shortages, too. As people are out enjoying sunny weather and vacations, our local blood supply dips. Right now, it’s at emergency low levels and patient need is exceeding donations. We urgently need steady donors this month to ensure Pacific Northwest patients have immediate access to lifesaving transfusions for cancer treatment, trauma care, and childbirth complications.
If you’re feeling healthy, please consider giving blood at the City of Kirkland’s next Bloodworks Northwest mobile blood drive. Give blood between June 1 and July 31, 2026 and you can enter to win a $10,000 digital gas gift card.
If you need help booking your donation appointment, contact the Bloodworks Donor Care Team at 1-800-398-7888 or schedule@bloodworksnw.org.
The City has completed the final connection of the Cross Kirkland Corridor! Located at Slater Avenue NE and 132nd Avenue NE, the new safe crossing for pedestrians and rollers links the north-end section of Kirkland’s CKC to King County’s Eastrail. Community members are invited to celebrate this milestone on Monday, June 22.
The celebration will begin at 12:30 p.m. with Le Tour de Totem Lake, a 0.75-mile walking/biking tour from the CKC TLC bridge to the Slater crossing. Along the route, there will be displays highlighting the progress and growth of Totem Lake. Attendees can also join the event on the CKC side of the Slater crossing at 1 p.m. for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with brief speeches.
The City installed a signalized pedestrian crossing with a protective median for safer walking and biking. All of the CKC interim trail’s crossings are now complete. With the one at Slater and 132nd, the CKC officially links to the cities of Woodinville and Redmond via Eastrail.
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As of 4 p.m. on June 16, 2026, Public Health – Seattle & King County is recommending that people and pets stay out of the water at the swimming areas of Juanita Beach Park and Waverly Beach Park for at least one week due to elevated bacteria levels. Signs will be positioned to indicate that people and pets should stay out of the water. The rest of Juanita Beach and Waverly Beach remains open.
Water quality staff from the King County Water and Land Resources Division tested the water recently and found that the levels of bacteria at these beaches exceeded safe thresholds for bacteria based on the samples collected. King County crews will return to the beaches next week to collect further samples.
Why are the swimming areas closed? Swim beaches throughout King County are tested weekly by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. If beach water tests high for bacteria, the swimming area will be closed. For testing information or to see which beaches are open/closed, please visit the King County Lake Swimming Beach Bacteria page.
A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) has launched a new tool to support East King County residents seeking low-income housing. Instead of deciphering Area Median Income charts and wading through long PDFs, this tool is a quick way to determine a household’s eligibility for affordable housing, and potential affordable units (not a guarantee of availability). It brings together apartment listings, an eligibility calculator, and clear next steps — all in one place.
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Warm weather is here, and many of us are opening our windows to let in some fresh air.
A quick safety reminder: Window screens don’t stop falls. They’re designed to keep bugs out, not keep kids in. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists windows as one of the top five hidden hazards in our homes because window falls injure or kill thousands of children each year. Two- to 5-year-olds are particularly at risk.
If you have young children at home:
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Supervise small children around open windows.
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Open windows no more than 4 inches.
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Open windows from the top down, if possible.
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Move furniture away from windows.
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Install window stops or releasable child-safety window guards.
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Aseptic containers (also known as Tetra Paks) like broth, soup, and plant-based milk cartons do belong in your recycling! Just don’t forget to remove the cap and toss it in the garbage.
(1) NE 85th Street: Shared-Use Pathway
NE 85th Street will return to two-lane travel between 6th Street and Kirkland Way as Kirkland’s contractor returns the uphill travel lane to vehicles up NE 85th Street. Traffic control will be removed from this project, and WSDOT’s contractor will expand their control onto the bridge to keep a single lane entering the roundabout.
(2) NE 85th Street Eastbound 3rd Lane Project
Drivers can expect continued disruption to travel on NE 85th Street between 120th Avenue NE and 124th Avenue NE. Grind and overlay are expected the week of June 22. This work will occur at night.
(3) 116th Avenue NE Water Check Valve
Drivers will encounter alternating traffic controlled by flaggers on 116th Avenue NE between NE 100th Street and NE 95th Street. Traffic control is expected between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.
(4) Interstate 405 in Kirkland
Advance notice of an upcoming I-405 Closure: WSDOT’s northbound closure of I-405 is planned for July. Visit WSDOT’s project website to sign up for closure updates/notices.
Outdoor Family Story Time
Location: Kirkland Library | 308 Kirkland Ave.
Come for stories, music, movement, and rhymes in the grassy area in front of the Kirkland Library!
Dress for the weather and bring something to sit on. Registration not required. In the case of inclement weather, excessive heat, or if the air quality is deemed unhealthy to sensitive populations, Outdoor Family Story Time will be canceled.
Reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities is available by request. Email access@kcls.org at least seven days before the event. Automated closed captioning is always available for online events.
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Mobile Blood Drives at City Hall
Date: Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25
Location: Peter Kirk Conference Room (Downstairs) | Kirkland City Hall | 123 5th Ave.
The summer season is tough for our community’s blood supply. Book an appointment today through Bloodworks Northwest and spend just one hour donating one pint of blood to save a life. Appointments are required.
Reminder: On the morning of your donation, please answer the health and lifestyle questions from the comfort of your own home via QuickPass.
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Conversations with Council
Location: Juanita Friday Market | 9703 NE Juanita Dr.
Join us for the next Conversations with Council! This casual, drop-in event is part of the City Council’s pilot program to meet community members where they are — creating space for listening, connection, and conversation outside of formal meetings.
It’s B.Y.O.T. (Bring Your Own Topic)™ — no agenda, no presentations. Just stop by to connect with Councilmembers and fellow community members, share ideas, and ask questions. Light refreshments provided.
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Curious about what’s happening with former Fire Station 27? Watch for more:
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