The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda, which starts at 7:30 p.m.: 

• Council will review the Tool Library draft implementation plan.
• Council will discuss an alternative delivery of the Peter Kirk Pool Project.
• Council will receive a briefing on the Totem Lake Southern Industrial Subarea.
• Council will receive a briefing on proposed code amendments for housing on faith-owned land.
• Council will receive updates and hold a discussion on Council policies and procedures.
• Council will discuss a potential affordable housing agreement at Arete Apartments.

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

• Preliminary Utility Rates for 2027-2028
• An update on the Kirkland Cares Low-Income Support Program

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 Aug. 5 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.

Note: The Kirkland City Council Chambers will be undergoing planned major replacement and improvements to audiovisual and broadcast equipment. This work will occur in August due to vendor availability and, as a result, the Aug. 5, 2026 City Council meeting will be held in a hybrid format. Councilmembers will be participating virtually. While on-site attendance for the public will be available in City Hall in the Rose Hill Room, members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate virtually using the meeting information provided on the agenda. Thank you for your understanding during this important upgrade.

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.

Houghton Beach has been reopened as of 7:30 p.m., July 28, 2026, for swimming, wading, and other water activities, by recommendation of Public Health – Seattle & King County. The beach had been closed to swimming since July 7 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 beach throughout the summer to take samples to ensure that the water is safe. 

For additional details, visit King County’s Lake Swimming Beach Data webpage. 

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.

The Junior League Softball World Series (JLSWS) returns to the City of Kirkland for the 26th year this August. A true world series, the softball tournament brings together 10 teams from five regions across the globe for a week of high-level competition. A City-sponsored Welcome Rally will kick off the tournament at 2 p.m. at Lee Johnson Field on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, and games will be played at Everest Park from Sunday, Aug. 2 to Saturday, Aug. 8. 

The Welcome Rally is open to the community and free to attend. Eventgoers can expect a Parade of Champions, live DJ, performances, free hot dogs (while supplies last), and a celebrity game known as the Cats & Dawgs Kirkland Classic. The celebrity teams will be captained by former Seattle Seahawk Marcus Trufant and former University of Washington football player Terry Hollimon. Kirkland City Councilmembers and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson will be in attendance. 

“We are thrilled to welcome the Junior League Softball World Series back to Kirkland,” said City Councilmember Amy Falcone. “Our city has a long history of celebrating women’s sports, and we are excited to support these young athletes from around the world. It’s a chance for our community to enjoy a premier sporting event while showing off Kirkland as a one-of-a-kind destination.” 

The Junior League Softball World Series is administered by Little League and features athletes ages 12 to 14. A total of 27 games will be played in Kirkland during the 2026 tournament. View the tournament schedule to find game times. To learn more about the Welcome Rally, visit https://www.kirklandwa.gov/softball. 

A Kirkland Police Officer stopped a 14-year-old riding an electric motorcycle on a city street on July 29, 2026. The rider did not have a driver’s license or motorcycle endorsement, was not wearing a Washington State Department of Licensing-approved motorcycle helmet, and the motorcycle was not insured as required by law. The same officer had previously stopped the rider and provided a warning and education about Washington’s laws.

The motorcycle was impounded, and the Kirkland Police Department is still reviewing the case to determine whether additional enforcement action should be taken. The stop came after KPD announced increased enforcement of unsafe riding behaviors and electric motorcycles that don’t meet Washington’s e-bike laws last week.

If you’re unsure what type of e-bike or e-cycle you have, you can learn more by visiting www.kirklandwa.gov/ebikes.

Summer is a season of more — more road trips, more hikes, more family vacations, and more time spent outdoors with the people and pets we love. But with more adventure often comes more accidents.

Every day, local hospitals rely on blood donations to care for patients facing traumatic injuries, emergency surgeries, cancer treatments, and complicated births. As summer activity increases, so does the need for blood.

Your donation can help ensure lifesaving blood is available when it's needed most. This summer, we need more heroes willing to roll up a sleeve. 

Help ensure local patients have the blood they need — when every second counts. Kirkland is hosting numerous blood drives this August, including at City Hall on Aug. 19, 20, and 27. Those who donate from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 can enter to win a $3,000 Visa gift card. Make your appointment today and complete your entry at bloodworksnw.org/win.

Celebrate the cultures that make Kirkland a vibrant community at the second annual, award-winning International Night Market on Wednesday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Juanita Beach Park (9703 NE Juanita Dr.). The event is free to attend and brings neighbors together through international cuisine, live performances, artisan vendors, and cultural experiences from around the world.

Now in its second year, the International Night Market continues to build on the success of its inaugural edition, which earned a Washington Recreation & Parks Association Program Spotlight Award for Innovative Programming. The market creates opportunities for community members to experience new cultures, support local businesses, and connect with one another in a welcoming community setting. Attendees can discover new favorite dishes, shop for artisan goods, enjoy cultural performances, and meet neighbors.

Read the full news release here. For more information, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/internationalnightmarket.

Garden hoses are not recyclable in your curbside cart. They can tangle and damage equipment at recycling facilities. Garden hoses may only be accepted at the Houghton Transfer Station if they are more than 50% metal, otherwise please place them in the garbage or find ways to reuse them at home. One creative idea we’ve heard is to turn them into grips for tools and buckets!

To get more recycling questions answered, contact recycle@kirklandwa.gov. Find Kirkland’s recycling guidelines here.

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.