 With no guests this week, we spend some time ruminating on Kirkland’s famous (and infamous) wildlife and extra-fun upcoming events that may or may not involve some form of dunk tank. Plus, we talk recent (cat) burglar escapades, surveys, webinars, volunteer opportunities, and e-bike safety. This is a fun one — check it out!
The Kirkland City Council met on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items from the Business Agenda:
- Council held a public hearing on civil detention centers and adopted code amendments prohibiting civil detention centers as an authorized land use in Kirkland.
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Council did not update the zoning code related to affordable housing requirements in low-density zones.
- Council adopted amendments to the Municipal Code related to parking enforcement.
Prior to the above Business Agenda, the Council held a Study Session, where they discussed:
- Support programs for Sexual Assault/Sexual Motivation and Domestic Violence
- 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. 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 Sept. 15, 2026.
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.
Not sure where to find what you’re looking for?
Check out Ask Kirkland — the City’s website chatbot. Click on “Ask Kirkland” in the lower lefthand 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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City administrative offices are closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. Fire, police, and other critical services will remain fully operational. City services normally accessible through email, the Our Kirkland service portal, and by phone will resume at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2.
“Cat Burglar” Apprehended
Last week, a resident in the Moss Bay neighborhood heard banging inside their home and called 911 to report a possible burglary. When officers arrived, they found the unexpected intruder perched at the top of the stairs: a bobcat.
Officer Farman encountered the animal upon arrival, and officers deployed an unmanned aircraft to monitor its movements inside the house from a safe distance and guide the response without placing anyone at unnecessary risk. Officers safely corralled the bobcat into an isolated room until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife arrived.
The bobcat was sedated and later released near Forbes Creek, close to the natural habitat where it was found. No injuries were reported to the resident, officers, or bobcat.
If you encounter a bobcat, give it plenty of space and never approach or feed it. Washington Fish and Wildlife also recommends keeping pets indoors, especially between dusk and dawn, and securing small livestock and poultry. If a bobcat enters your home, move people and pets away from the area and call 911.
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See Spot Splash Returns for a 6th Year of Dog-Friendly Fun
Get ready for your dog to make a splash! The City of Kirkland’s sixth annual See Spot Splash returns Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, bringing a day of swimming, zoomies, and dog-friendly fun to Peter Kirk Community Pool and Lee Johnson Field.
“Our parks and public spaces are here for the whole community, and once a year, that includes handing over the pool to the dogs,” said Councilmember John Tymczyszyn. “See Spot Splash has become a fun Kirkland tradition, and we’re excited to welcome dogs and their people back before we close the pool for the winter.”
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2026 Kirkland Health and Wellness Fair to Offer Free Services and Resources
The Kirkland Health and Wellness Fair returns for its sixth year on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The fair will be held at Juanita High School (10601 NE 132nd St.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to attend and open to the public. As in previous years, attendees can receive free services such as basic health screenings, vaccines, and dental treatments.
“The health of the community starts with the health of individuals,” said Councilmember Jay Arnold. “Each year, we collaborate with King County Promotores Network on the Kirkland Health and Wellness Fair so that we can help more people in our community access essential health services and resources. We’re again grateful for their partnership in putting on this vital community event.”
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Be a Child’s Advocate
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) needs volunteers to help ensure every child has a voice. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children experiencing abuse or neglect. A legal or social services background is not required; CASA volunteers are everyday community members who complete training, receive strong staff support, and commit to visiting a child monthly, gathering information, and sharing recommendations with the court.
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Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
The Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART) is seeking compassionate community volunteers to support survivors of domestic violence. In partnership with the Kirkland Police Department, DART volunteers provide crisis intervention, emotional support, and help guide victims through early court processes. Because this work requires consistency and trust, volunteers are asked to make a minimum commitment of two years.
As a DART volunteer, you will attend one evening meeting, complete one four‑hour office shift, and serve a seven‑day on‑call shift each month. If you feel called to support survivors, DART offers training, structure, and ongoing staff support.
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Help Bring Umbrella Fringe to Kirkland
The Umbrella Fringe Festival is looking for volunteers to help install temporary placemaking elements throughout downtown. Volunteers will bring color and creativity to public spaces in order to make the festival experience memorable. No special experience is needed — just a willingness to get involved and help make Kirkland shine.
If you’re interested in getting involved with Umbrella Fringe, email Christian Lash at clash@kirklandwa.gov.
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City Hall for All is almost here! The staple City event is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 19 and promises to be an afternoon of fun performances, delicious food, engaging activities, huge trucks, and much more. What should you expect this year? Watch our new video and find out!
If you or a loved one is 50 or older, join us at the Senior Resource Fair anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17. The fun and informative event will be held at the Peter Kirk Community Center (352 Kirkland Ave.) and is free to attend. It’s a chance to get questions answered, connect with helpful local resources, and engage with the community.
Come learn about a variety of local services for older adults. These include resources related to health, wellness, legal assistance, transportation, senior living, and more. Visit the event page.
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Kirkland’s Department of Finance and Administration has launched an Online Payments landing page on the City’s website. The new page provides a one-stop shop for the City’s online payment options, helping community members easily find and access any payment service they may need. The Online Payments page is linked directly from the City’s homepage under Most Requested (see above).
Previously, making online payments for City services involved visiting individual department pages. Having a centralized payment page helps provide a more convenient and consistent resource for the community. From the page, you can make payments for utility bills, development permits, citations, pet licenses, business licensing fees, and more.
The leaves are turning and the weather is getting cooler. If you’re considering a furnace replacement, now is the perfect time to learn about how heat pumps can keep your home comfortable year-round while reducing energy use. Heat pumps can both heat and cool your home efficiently — and many households qualify for rebates that make switching easier than ever.
Join Energy Smart Eastside for a free virtual workshop from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 on Microsoft Teams. Staff will walk you through how heat pumps work; their benefits for comfort, health, and the environment; current rebates and incentives; how to connect with installers; and more!
Get reliable, local, and unbiased information from Energy Smart Eastside, which is part of the Eastside Climate Partnership comprised of the Washington cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island, and Sammamish. Register here for the workshop.
Staff is exploring changes to regulations surrounding where and how we do business in the City of Kirkland. New and updated rules could potentially allow small-scale, neighborhood-serving businesses in residential areas. These potential changes could lead to more walkable, connected neighborhoods and expanded access to everyday goods and services.
Before any decisions are made, members of the Kirkland community are invited to share their perspectives and ideas by taking the Neighborhood Stores and Services Community Survey. Feedback from community members will help shape critical components of the project, like allowed business types, hours of operation, location requirements, and more. City staff will review survey responses, analyze concerns and ideas, and communicate the feedback to decisionmakers to help inform their guidance on the code amendments.
It’s been the question of the summer: “Is it an e-bike or an e-motorcycle?” Since we want everyone in our community to be able to learn the rules and ride safely in Kirkland, here’s a breakdown of the differences between e-bicycles and e-motorcycles.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are similar in that their max assisted speed is 20 miles per hour. Riders don’t have to have a driver’s license, registration, or insurance to ride them. The major difference is that Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted, meaning the motor only assists while pedaling, whereas Class 2 e-bikes have a throttle that can engage the motor to propel the bike without pedaling.
Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assisted and have a higher max assisted speed: 28 miles per hour. You must be 16 years or older to ride them, but you aren’t required to have a driver’s license, registration, or insurance.
Finally, we have e-motorcycles, which have no operable pedals. Their motors exceed 750 watts. Not only must you be at least 16 years old to ride them, you are required to have a valid driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement, vehicle registration, and motorcycle insurance.
Let’s work together to ride right and keep everyone safe. Learn more.
While ink and toner cartridges are not accepted in your recycling cart, you can recycle them through Staples. The office supply store offers multiple recycling options, including a free pickup service, prepaid shipping labels, in-store drop-off, and pallet pickup for large quantities.
One year ago, parkgoers at Juanita Beach had an unexpected encounter with an invasive species: They spotted an alligator snapping turtle under the dock. A Kirkland lifeguard managed to safely capture the turtle by grabbing it by the back of its shell and putting it in a tote bin until the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) could collect it. Fortunately, no one was injured in the encounter.
Afterward, the story of Kirkland’s snapping turtle spread far and wide. Though fascinating-looking, please remember that snapping turtles can be aggressive and their powerful jaws can cause serious injury. If you see one, please keep your distance and alert a lifeguard or park staff immediately. You can also report the sighting to the WDFW.
(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 continues overlay maintenance on this street. Paving is now expected the week of Sept. 8, with final pavement markings occurring weeks later. Paving is weather dependent and often rescheduled due to weather forecasts. Working hours are between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
(2) 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.
(3) 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.
(4) 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.
(5) NE 124th Street Intersections with 124th Avenue NE and Slater Avenue NE
Drivers can expect uniformed police officers to control each intersection for one day the week of Sept. 8 as City personnel update signal infrastructure at both locations. 124th Avenue NE is expected Tuesday, Sept. 8. Slater Avenue NE is expected Wednesday, Sept. 9. The intersection signals may be dark or flashing, with periodic stopping of traffic. Allow extra time through these intersections. Work is expected to be done by the afternoon rush hour.
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Outdoor Movie: Coco (en Español)
Location: Juanita Beach Park (north side) | 9703 NE Juanita Dr.
Join us for a special Spanish-language screening of the beloved animated film Coco. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and experience the heartwarming story of family, music, and tradition on our giant LED movie screen on the north side of Juanita Beach Park! Vendors and kids crafts open at 5 p.m. and the film starts at 6 p.m.
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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Co-Working Day and Free Business Advising
Location: Kirkland City Hall | 123 5th Ave.
Instead of working from your house, office, or local coffee shop, join us at City Hall! Startup and Small Business Co-Working is designed to foster collaboration, inspire innovation, and provide valuable resources to help you thrive in your entrepreneurial journey along with fellow entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners.
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