 Kirkland Neighborhood Resource Officer Tiffany Trombley joins us to talk about the Kirkland Police Department’s Cadet Program, the upcoming Cadet Car Show, and guest-favorite British Bake-Off. Plus, we chat fun ideas for the upcoming fall season, back-to-school safety, beach and road closures, upcoming events, and how you can lend your voice to inform the Kirkland City Council. Check it out!
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda, which starts at 7:30 p.m.:
- Council will receive a briefing on potential updates to short-term rental regulations.
- Council will hold a public hearing and then consider code amendments related to civil detention centers.
- Council will consider updates to the zoning code related to affordable housing requirements in low-density zones.
- Council will receive updates on the revised parking enforcement code.
Prior to the above Business Agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 p.m., where they will discuss:
- An update on Sexual Assault/Sexual Motivation and Domestic Violence Support Programs
- A review of the preliminary 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program
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.
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.
Want to meet Kirkland Councilmembers in an informal setting outside of City Council meetings? Bring your own topic to the next Conversations with Council event.
Detectives Recover More Than $30,000 in Stolen Property, Arrest 2
Kirkland Police Department ProAct detectives recently recovered more than $30,000 in stolen property connected to burglaries and vehicle prowls across several cities, including Kirkland, Bellevue, Newcastle, and Federal Way.
The recovered property includes passports, driver’s licenses, mail, two firearms, several high-end bicycles, golf clubs, tools, electronics, and other items. Detectives have already identified the owners of many of the items and are working to return their property.
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Police Impound Another E-Motorcycle
On Aug. 25, a Kirkland Police Officer on patrol observed a young rider operating an e-motorcycle on the road. When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the rider did not stop. The officer later located the rider again, and this time, the rider pulled over.
The officer learned the rider was 14 years old. His parents were called to the scene and the e-motorcycle was impounded.
Reminder: E-motorcycles are not e-bikes. To ride an e-motorcycle, you must have a valid driver’s license with a motorcycle endorsement, registration, insurance and required safety equipment. Also, e-motorcycles cannot be ridden on sidewalks, trails or in parks.
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Outdoor Summer Movie Series to Screen 1st Spanish-Language Film
Gather family and friends for the first Spanish-language installment in the City of Kirkland’s Outdoor Summer Movie series. The Parks and Community Services Department will screen Disney-Pixar’s Coco (en Español) as the final film of the season. This free community event will be held at Juanita Beach Park (9703 NE Juanita Dr.) on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026.
The Coco screening builds on Kirkland’s popular Outdoor Summer Movie series with activities inspired by traditions represented in the film. Beginning at 5 p.m., children can enjoy kid-friendly crafts while supplies last. Food will also be available for purchase from local food vendors.
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A stretch of I-405 northbound will be closed this weekend in Kirkland. The Washington State Department of Transportation will shut down all lanes of northbound I-405 from NE 70th Place to NE 85th Street starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28. The closure will last until 5 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31. During this time, up to three lanes of northbound I-405 will also be closed from the NE 85th Street on-ramp to NE 100th Street.
Drivers should prepare for significant delays throughout the closure. A signed detour (see above) will be in place. Backups on northbound I-405 are expected, and there is likely to be heavier traffic on nearby highways and local streets as people adjust their routes.
When possible, consider transit options as an alternative to driving. You may also wish to schedule discretionary travel around the closure.
Please note that this closure is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled due to rain.
Juanita Beach has been reopened as of Aug. 25, 2026, for swimming, wading, and other water activities, by recommendation of Public Health – Seattle & King County. The beach had been closed to swimming since Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, due to elevated bacteria levels.
Houghton Beach remains closed this week based on test results that continue to indicate elevated bacteria levels. The beach also closed on Aug. 18. It will remain closed for at least one additional week until testing results meet the reopening criteria.
Water quality staff from the King County Water and Land Resources Division tested the water recently and found that the levels of bacteria at Houghton Beach exceeded safe thresholds for bacteria based on the samples collected. King County crews will return to the beach next week to collect further samples.
Time is running out to take the City’s online biennial Community Survey. Share your perspective on the quality of life in Kirkland, satisfaction with City government services, and priorities for the future. Your input helps the City see how well the community’s needs and expectations are being met, and it informs the City Council as they develop the City’s budget for the next two years.
A phone and text-to-web version of the community survey was recently administered to a random sample of Kirkland residents. All Kirkland community members are encouraged to take the online 2026 Community Survey at https://surveys.reconmr.com/S2/1/Kirkland2026/. To share your views, complete the survey before it closes on Aug. 31, 2026.
Back-to-school season is here in Kirkland! Students in the Lake Washington School District return on Monday, Aug. 31, and that means kids will be walking, rolling, and bicycling around our neighborhoods. As we all get back into the routine, here are a few quick reminders to help keep everyone safe:
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Follow the speed limit, including the 20‑mph school zone limit. Kirkland uses school zone safety cameras near several elementary schools, and officers regularly patrol around school sites.
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Always stop for school buses when their lights are flashing or the stop paddle is out.
- Slow down and stay alert for kids walking, biking, and rolling. Please drive predictably during arrival and dismissal times.
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Follow parking rules at pick-up and drop-off.
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You must park at least 30 feet away from stop signs.
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You must park at least 20 feet away from intersections or crosswalks.
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You must park at least 5 feet away from driveways.
- And please avoid stopping in the roadway — it creates congestion and can be unsafe.
- To help reduce traffic, consider walking, biking, carpooling, or taking the bus to school when possible.
- If you’re not headed to a school, try to avoid school areas during arrival and dismissal times to keep things moving smoothly.
With students heading back to school on Aug. 31, school buses will once again be a regular sight on Kirkland streets. Here’s a quick refresher on when to stop and how to safely share the road with buses and students.
When to stop for a school bus:
When a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop paddle extended, drivers traveling behind the bus must stop and remain stopped until the bus begins moving again or the signals are turned off.
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One-lane road: Traffic in both directions must stop.
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Two-lane road: Traffic in both directions must stop.
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Three or more lanes: Traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Oncoming traffic does not have to stop.
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Road with a center turn lane: Traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus must stop. Oncoming traffic does not have to stop.
A few other reminders:
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Flashing yellow lights mean prepare to stop. The bus is getting ready to stop and pick up or drop off students. Slow down and be ready for the red lights and stop paddle.
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Give school buses extra following distance. This gives you more time to react when a bus begins slowing or its yellow lights start flashing.
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Give students plenty of space. Children may be entering or exiting the bus or crossing the roadway nearby. Stay stopped and alert until it is safe to proceed.
Community members are invited to share feedback as the City considers potential changes to its regulations for short-term rentals (STRs).
At the City Council meeting on Sept. 1, staff will present draft code amendments showing how the regulations could be updated. They’ll ask Council for policy direction on five key questions: whether renters should be allowed to run STRs, whether eligibility to run an STR should be based on Kirkland residency or occupancy, whether operators should be allowed two STRs, whether a guest limit should be set and what that limit should be, and whether a limit, if adopted, should apply to the STRs that already exist in Kirkland. The draft amendments also include changes intended to simplify and clarify existing requirements and make the regulations easier to administer and enforce.
Kirkland’s current STR regulations were adopted in 2017. The draft code amendments aim to clarify and update the rules following changes in state and federal requirements and based on the City’s experience administering the regulations.
Community members are encouraged to review the staff report and share their feedback with the City Council before the Sept. 1 briefing. The meeting is an opportunity for Council to provide policy direction to staff. Staff will use that direction to refine the draft code amendments for Council consideration on Oct. 6.
The staff report will be included in the Sept. 1 City Council agenda, which will be available on the City Council webpage starting on Friday, Aug. 28. You can also find information on how to provide public comment or attend the meeting.
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City Hall for All is back on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and we’re building a fun, friendly volunteer crew to help make this signature community celebration a success. It’s a chance to enjoy a community event, connect with neighbors, and be a part of the behind‑the‑scenes magic that makes City Hall feel like a fair for a day.
We welcome volunteers ages 16+. As a volunteer, you’ll work a two-hour shift — or more if you want! Shifts run flexibly between 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. so that you can also enjoy the festival as an attendee. Roles include:
- Greeting attendees and answering questions
- Helping with lunch distribution
- Supporting the bike valet
- Stocking water and rest areas
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Assisting at waste‑sorting stations
- Helping staff at activity booths
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Joining the setup or tear‑down crew
When you sign up, you’ll complete a brief volunteer agreement and choose your preferred roles and shifts. Before the big day, you’ll receive a complete volunteer packet with everything you need to know. Thank you for helping make City Hall for All a welcoming, vibrant, fully community‑powered celebration!
On Sept. 8, 2026, King County will close a portion of the Cross Kirkland Corridor (CKC) trail between NE 52nd Street and 108th Avenue NE to repair a culvert. The damaged culvert runs under the County’s Eastside Interceptor Section 14 (ESI 14) sewer pipe.
King County will also build a retaining wall to support the slope at the culvert site and stabilize the stream nearby. Repair work will last three months. This work will help protect the pipe from potential damage in the future.
During construction, a detour route will be available for trail users. Please follow the detour signs and stay out of the work area.
• Full trail closure within work zone for three months, starting Sept. 8
• Reliable sewer service in your neighborhood
• Work on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Sound from heavy construction equipment during permitted hours
• Connecting an above-ground diversion pipe to maintain service
• 24-hour lights and pumping for temporary diversion pipe to maintain service
• Sound from a generator powering the pumps
• Odors at diversion sites
Get ready for unique arts experiences and artists to take over town! From Sept. 25 to 27, the Umbrella Fringe Festival will bring an eclectic variety of art to locations across downtown Kirkland and the Village at Totem Lake. Kirkland Arts Center has started announcing this year’s participating creatives and will continue to share names on its website as Umbrella Fringe approaches.
Creatives announced so far include:
- Eva Crystal & Friends (Dance)
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James Grixoni: The Blue Rose (Film)
- Odyama: Apocalypse Songs (Music)
- Bonesly Bookworm & Friends (Lit Reading)
- Disgruntled Bit-Players (Improv)
- Aiswarya Ramakrishnan (Dance)
- Kino B. Demented’s Classic Circus Showcase
Umbrella Fringe is known for showcasing unconventional and experimental art. There’s something for everyone — and you just might discover something entirely new! Learn more on the KAC website.
Starting Aug. 19, the City of Kirkland began accepting mercury-containing light bulbs for recycling at City Hall. The drop-off can be found in the lower lobby, where battery recycling is located. CFL, HID, and fluorescent light bulbs are accepted; however, LED, incandescent, and halogen bulbs are not accepted.
The City is partnering with LightRecycle Washington to safely recycle these bulbs. Collected mercury-containing lights are transported to an authorized recycling facility, where trained workers sort and process the bulbs using specialized equipment. Fluorescent tubes and most other accepted lights are crushed in a machine, allowing the glass, metal, and other components to be separated for recycling.
To learn more, contact recycle@kirklandwa.gov or find Kirkland’s recycling guidelines here.
Throughout National Emergency Management Awareness Month this August, we’ve celebrated the role that Emergency Managers play in making our community safer. But they can’t do it alone. Every single one of us can act as our own emergency manager and become better equipped to handle a crisis. Here’s how:
- Be prepared: Put together an emergency kit, make a plan, and know where to get information.
- Be engaged: Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors about what you will do when disruptions or disasters occur.
- Be informed: Take a class, attend an event, sign up for alerts, and know who to count on in an emergency.
(1) NE 134th/136th/137th Streets: 2026 Overlay Program
Drivers can expect continued disruption to travel between 90th Avenue NE and 100th Avenue NE on NE 134th/136th/137th Streets as Kirkland’s contractor begins overlay maintenance on this street. Paving is expected the week of Aug. 31, with final pavement markings occurring weeks later. Working hours are between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
(2) NE 85th Street/I-405: WSDOT Project
Residents and divers should expect a northbound freeway closure at NE 70th Place beginning Friday, Aug. 28 from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31. Lane reductions begin earlier. Freeway traffic will detour on the east side of the freeway to return northbound travel at NE 85th Street.
(3) 132nd Avenue NE at NE 100th Street Drivers can expect minor disruption to travel along 132nd Avenue NE at NE 100th Street as the contractor continues work on the new signals at this location. The new signals will begin controlling traffic at this location very soon.
(4) NE 112th Street at 132nd Avenue NE*
Drivers can expect NE 112th Street to be closed near 132nd Avenue NE. Local access will be maintained, but this extended closure is necessary for the sanitary sewer construction project at the Trend Lift Station.
*Two new street closures are expected to begin Monday, Aug. 31.
(5) NE 128th Street at 120th Avenue NE (at Evergreen Hospital)*
Drivers can expect a section of NE 128th Street to be closed at Evergreen Hospital. King County Metro will relocate the transit center during this closure. Metro users should follow their signage for bus stop changes. This closure is expected for at least three weeks, as Kirkland’s contractor begins the project to repair the entire pavement structure.
*Two new street closures are expected to begin Monday, Aug. 31.
 For project updates, visit www.kirklandwa.gov/capitalprojects.
Summer Concert Series
Location: Marina Park Pavilion | 25 Lakeshore Plz.
Prom Date Mixtape closes out the series. Bring friends and enjoy the music during this summer favorite. All summer concerts are free to attend and are a great way to gather with the community.
Pride Across the Bridge
Location: Marina Park | 25 Lakeshore Plz.
Join thousands of community members for Pride Across the Bridge’s annual Pride celebration, a free, family-friendly festival uplifting 2SLGBTQIA+ community, culture, and connection on Seattle’s Eastside.
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See Spot Splash
Location: Peter Kirk Pool | 340 Kirkland Ave.
Bring your dog to splash and play at the sixth annual See Spot Splash. The event will include vendor booths and lots of soggy doggy fun! Cost is $10 per dog, and pre-registration is highly recommended. Participating dogs must be well-behaved, on a leash upon entering the pool, and vaccinated.
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