 City of Kirkland Community Engagement Coordinator Daniel Lazo and Kirkland Initiative alumni Grace Brown join the podcast to talk all about the power of community building and how it’s the backbone of the Kirkland Initiative. Plus, we talk new City Hall for All programming, road safety, beaches reopening, and more!
Would you rather listen to this newsletter as a fun and dynamic podcast? Check it out.
 The Kirkland City Council’s next meeting will be on July 7, 2026. A preview of the items on that agenda will be in the July 2 edition of This Week in Kirkland.
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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The City of Kirkland invites community members to join three upcoming Conversations with Council events this summer and fall. The program provides informal opportunities for residents to connect directly with City Councilmembers, share ideas, ask questions, and discuss topics important to them and their neighborhoods. More than 75 residents have participated in Conversations with Council events to date.
The program’s B.Y.O.T.™ (Bring Your Own Topic) approach encourages participants to help shape the conversation. There is no agenda, no presentation, and no specific topic. Whether residents want to discuss a neighborhood concern, share an idea for a City improvement, ask a question about a local issue, or simply get to know their elected officials, all topics are welcome.
The City is committed to hosting three Conversations with Council events per quarter and 12 annually. This quarter’s schedule includes two park locations in the summer and the program’s first business-hosted session in the fall. City Council is on recess in August.
Q3 Conversations with Council events:
- Thursday, July 16, 4-6 p.m.: Rotary Central Station Picnic Area (1 Railroad Ave., along the Cross Kirkland Corridor)
- Thursday, July 30, 4-6 p.m.: O. Denny Park Picnic Shelter 2 (12032 Holmes Point Dr. NE)
- Tuesday, September 29, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.: Kitchen & Market Café (10426 Northup Wy.)
For more information about Conversations with Council, including upcoming events, hosting opportunities, program guidelines, and other ways to engage with Council, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/CouncilConversations.
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Kirkland’s roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks are experiencing extra traffic now that it’s summer. With schools on vacation, more children are out walking and rolling. Plus, there are more e-bikes and e-scooters around town. All of us play a role in keeping each other safe, and since drivers are the biggest and the fastest out there, they have to be the safest.
Here are some tips to help keep everyone safe when driving:
- Look out for people walking, rolling, and riding at all times, in all places. Slow down and be cautious when you see them.
- Respect the speed limit (and even go under it when sharing the road with people walking, rolling, or riding).
- Stop for people in both crosswalks and at unmarked corners.
- Respect yellow lights (yellow means slow down and stop).
- Follow suit when there are other cars stopped at a crosswalk. There may be a pedestrian hidden from your view.
- Be extra cautious when driving conditions are more difficult, such as in the dark or in rainy weather.
Let’s have a safe summer!
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The clock is ticking on our 2026 Community Tree Survey! Hurry and get your answers in so you can 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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The City of Kirkland is excited to announce two new additions to this year’s annual City Hall for All (CH4A) celebration: a Children’s Business Fair and a Mini Belonging Parade. The free, family-friendly civic event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Ave.) and will offer an afternoon of culture, community, and fun.
Young entrepreneurs ages 5 to 12 are invited to sign up for a booth, where they will showcase their products and services, and practice the art of selling to the public. Participants will gain fun, hands-on entrepreneurship experience in a real marketplace, learning business by doing business. Space is limited. Register for a booth today.
“City Hall for All fosters civic engagement, inclusion, and connection for everyone, from our youngest community members to our oldest,” said Mayor Kelli Curtis. “The Children’s Business Fair is an opportunity for kids to see that their ideas have value and their community believes in them. We hope they will leave City Hall feeling empowered and inspired.”
To further celebrate the many unique communities that make up Kirkland, the Lake Washington High School Marching Band and cultural performers will lead the Mini Belonging Parade at 2 p.m., looping around City Hall. Attendees are encouraged to pick up decorations and giveaways at participating booths beforehand and join the parade on foot, by wagon, or by stroller. No registration is required. Just show up and jump in!
“The Mini Belonging Parade will bring community together, side by side, as they circle the very building that serves them,” said Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Manager Erika Mascorro. “It’s a reminder that City Hall isn’t just a place where government happens. It’s a place that belongs to everyone in Kirkland.”
There are four pillars to CH4A: community, sustainability, economic development, and trucks. In addition to the event’s new elements, there will be a pop-up market (by adults), sustainability showcase, story time with the Mayor, Truck-a-Palooza, student art exhibit, and fixer fair.
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Juanita Beach and Waverly Beach have been reopened as of 5 p.m., June 23, 2026, for swimming, wading, and other water activities, by recommendation of Public Health – Seattle & King County. The beaches had been closed to swimming since June 16 due to elevated bacteria levels.
Water quality staff from the King County Water and Land Resources Division tested the water this week and notified the City that the waters were again safe for recreational use. King County crews will return weekly to the beaches throughout the summer to take samples to ensure that the water is safe.
Why do the swimming areas close? 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 and there will be no lifeguards on duty. For testing information or to see which beaches are open/closed, please visit the King County Lake Swimming Beach Bacteria page.
For more information about beach closures, please watch our video, which explains the science behind what causes these perennial closures and provides all of us with suggestions on what we can do to help avoid closures like this in the future.
As you make plans for the Fourth of July, remember that fireworks are illegal in Kirkland.
Since 1999, Kirkland has prohibited the sale, possession, and use of fireworks, including sparklers and smoke bombs. The ordinance helps protect people, homes, pets, and open spaces from preventable fires and injuries.
Kirkland Police will have extra patrols throughout the holiday and may confiscate illegal fireworks and issue citations to those who violate the ordinance.
Celebrate safely by joining us for Celebrate Kirkland, with family-friendly activities starting at 10:30 a.m. and continuing throughout the afternoon.
Questions about the fireworks ordinance? Contact the Kirkland Fire Marshal's Office at 425-587-3650 or review Kirkland's Municipal Code.
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Like you, your trees may need some extra hydration this summer. The Washington State Department of Ecology issued a statewide emergency drought declaration on April 8, 2026. If your trees are looking a little droopy during the hot, dry days, use responsible watering tips to help them survive the season — and help you save water.
The name of the game is efficiency. Slow, deep watering that targets trees’ roots is the best way to give them the water they need.
- Weed unwanted plants around the base of your trees to remove competition for water and nutrients.
- Spread mulch under the canopy of your tree (but not on the trunk!). Mulch holds water in the soil and keeps roots cooler on hot days.
- Water bags and water “doughnuts” are great options, especially for new trees. They sit around the base of a tree and slowly release water over many hours. You can buy these in many home and garden stores.
- A less expensive homemade watering option is to drill two or three small holes (1/16- to 1/8-inch) in a five-gallon bucket and set it under the tree canopy. Fill it up and let it drain slowly; this should take a few hours. Larger trees will need three to four bucketfuls drained in different places under the tree canopy.
- If you have professionally installed and maintained irrigation, consider deep water stakes or other specialized tree irrigation systems around your tree to help drip irrigation, bubblers, and sprinklers get water below the lawn to tree roots, where it is needed most. This will increase efficiency and reduce water use.
- Water trees in the morning or evening when it is cooler to help water get into the soil and not evaporate away.
Some large trees may need deep watering every few weeks during hot, dry periods. Young trees will require more frequent watering, up to once a week, as they establish their roots.
Remember, these beautiful summer days are not a good time to plant new trees. Wait until fall when the temperatures are cooler. It’s better for your trees and your water bill!
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WSDOT bridge crews have scheduled their inspection of the NE 80th Street pedestrian bridge. Three lanes of southbound I-405 will close from 5 a.m. to about noon on Sunday, June 28 to perform the inspection. Read WSDOT’s travel advisory.
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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)
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.
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.
Lane Closures on Interstate 405 in Kirkland
WSDOT bridge crews have scheduled their inspection of the NE 80th Street pedestrian bridge. Three lanes of southbound I-405 will close from 5 a.m. to about noon on Sunday, June 28 to perform the inspection. Read WSDOT’s travel advisory.
Upcoming Interstate 405 Closure in Kirkland
Advance notice of 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.
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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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Gen Silent Documentary Screening and Discussion
Location: City Hall (Council Chamber) | 123 5th Ave.
Come and watch a screening of Gen Silent, a critically acclaimed U.S. documentary about issues facing older LGBTQIA+ people toward the end of life. Following the film, Eastside Pride PNW will host a panel discussion on the intersectional experiences of LGBTQIA+ and aging. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Looking forward to a water activities this summer? Watch for tips on how to stay safe:
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