 In today’s episode of This Week in Kirkland, we ruminate on three very important things: our highest performing podcast episode to date, the ability to engage with Council more casually at Conversations with Council, and the connection and civic engagement of the Kirkland Initiative. Plus, we talk upcoming Kirkland happenings, traffic alerts and closures, trees, and more! Check it out.
The next meeting of the Kirkland City Council is on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Here’s a brief overview of some of the items on the Business Agenda, which starts at 7:30 PM:
- Council will hold a Public Hearing on Expressing a Position on Initiative I-001, concerning parental rights relating to children in public schools.
- Council will hold a Public Hearing on Expressing a Position on Initiative I-638, concerning interscholastic sports.
- Council will review the Draft State Legislative Agenda.
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Council will consider adopting updated Utility Rates.
Prior to the above Business Agenda, the Council will also hold a Study Session starting at 5:30 PM, where they will discuss:
- ITS and Traffic Signals Update
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Green Loop Update
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Middle Housing Focused Optimization Briefing
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 PM. 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.
Not sure where to find what you’re looking for?
Check out Ask Kirkland — the City’s website chatbot. Click on the circular icon in the lower lefthand corner.
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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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Community to Celebrate Día de Los Muertos on October 24
Honor loved ones, celebrate cherished traditions, and connect with neighbors at the City of Kirkland’s annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 2 to 4 PM at the Peter Kirk Community Center (352 Kirkland Avenue).
Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a tradition that honors and remembers loved ones who have passed away. Through music, art, food, and shared memories, the celebration brings generations together and keeps the memories of loved ones alive.
Help Make Your Streets Safer at the Neighborhood Safety Program Kickoff Meeting
It’s time to start thinking about transportation safety projects! The City of Kirkland’s Neighborhood Safety Program (NSP) is holding the NSP Kickoff Meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 from 6 to 8 PM at Kirkland City Hall in the Peter Kirk Room. The meeting will give community members a chance to learn how to work with neighbors and City staff to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in Kirkland.
NSP started in 2014 and has transformed streets across Kirkland. To date, 89 projects have been completed. They’ve brought real improvements, such as green bike lanes on Juanita’s 98th Avenue and a crosswalk island in Kingsgate.
Since it began, the City has invested $350,000 a year for pedestrian and bicycle safety projects nominated by residents: crosswalks, traffic circles, sidewalks, signage, and more. This year, City Council has approved nine new projects spanning nine neighborhoods.
Project ideas are reviewed by neighborhood associations, which submit their recommendations to the City. Staff and a community panel then decide which projects to present to City Council based on need, viability, and impact. No technical expertise is required to propose an idea. City staff handles the logistics; community members bring the local knowledge that makes a project matter.
To learn more, visit www.KirklandWA.gov/NSP. You can also suggest a project idea through Our Kirkland and find out how to get your neighborhood involved.
Kirkland voters will have three physical ballot drop boxes to choose from during the 2026 Washington State General Election. The ballot drop boxes will be open 24/7 starting Thursday, October 15, 2026, until 8 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Election Day.
One drop box will be located in the Wester Lot (120 3rd Avenue), south of Kirkland City Hall, accessible from 1st Street. This box was previously relocated in November 2025 to improve voter experience and safety. The new “drive up and drop” design allows voters to submit ballots right from their vehicles, improving safety, accessibility, and efficiency. Voters can also walk up to the box from the neighborhood using safe sidewalk routes that don’t cross vehicle traffic lanes.
O.O. Denny Park Bridge is falling down — or, rather, it’s being demolished. After a fallen tree damaged the pedestrian bridge last fall, the City has been working on plans to replace it. The demolition has been scheduled for Friday, October 16.
Portions of the south parking lot will be closed during the demolition. A replacement bridge is expected to be installed in early 2027 based on current shipping estimates. The new bridge is currently being designed and fabricated, and its building permit is under review. Please continue to stay out of the closed area while demolition and replacement work is underway. We appreciate your patience as we work to restore this important connection.
We want to hear your perspective on life in Kirkland! This spring, the City of Kirkland and the Kirkland Senior Council launched the Kirkland Age-Friendly Community Needs Assessment, a citywide survey to help shape City policy, programs, and services for residents of all ages. Community members are invited to share their opinions by taking the survey at www.research.net/r/k-age between now and October 31.
This effort is part of Kirkland’s commitment to the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which the City officially joined in 2025. The network provides a structured framework that helps communities strengthen the features and services that make them livable from early childhood through retirement. Don’t miss your chance to participate!
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Fire engines rolled up to seven Kirkland elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week as Kirkland firefighters and members of the Fire Prevention team brought fire safety lessons to approximately 1,550 students.
Students in grades K-2 became fire safety superheroes as they learned how to safely charge everyday devices powered by lithium-ion batteries, like tablets, phones, and e-bikes. Fire staff shared simple tips, including using the correct charger, keeping devices off beds and couches while charging, and telling an adult if a battery gets too hot or looks damaged.
Students also got an up-close look at a fire engine, checked out the tools and equipment firefighters use, and had a chance to ask firefighters all their burning questions!
Someone calls 911 after a fall. But it’s their third fall this year. What happens next?
Kirkland firefighters respond to the immediate emergency, but repeated falls may be a sign that someone needs additional support. That’s where Kirkland Fire’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team comes in. The team helps residents get the support they need so they’re less likely to face another emergency.
The MIH team includes two specially trained firefighter/EMTs and two case workers who help residents find care and support. That might mean helping someone find a doctor, making their home safer to prevent falls, connecting them with mental health services, or helping a family care for an aging loved one. The team also helps residents returning home from the hospital and connects people with other community resources.
Learn more about the MIH program on the City’s website.
The Lake Washington Half Marathon is Saturday, October 17, 2026, starting and finishing at Juanita Beach Park. Drivers should expect traffic delays and parking restrictions in the area. A course map is available at OrcaRunning.com. Please note: Vehicles parked on the course will be towed prior to the event.
From 7 to 11:30 AM, eastbound NE Juanita Drive from 93rd Avenue NE to 98th Avenue NE will be closed with a detour in place. From 8 to 10 AM, southbound Lakeshore Plaza will be closed. The City Boat Launch will remain open with minor delays. Lakeshore Plaza parking lot will remain accessible via Kirkland Avenue.
It’s the second Arbor Day of the year in Kirkland! Like many communities in Washington, we celebrate our City’s Arbor Day in October, in addition to the national observance in April. This bonus holiday comes during the City’s Urban Forestry Month, which, not coincidentally, is our best tree-planting season.
To celebrate, the City held an Arbor Day tree planting at Fire Station 21, where City leadership, Public Works arborists, the station’s firefighters, and community members worked together to improve the health of an urban forest grove on site. If you’re inspired to take a leaf out of their book this Arbor Day, look into Kirkland’s Tree Rebate Program!
Learn more about trees and urban forestry in Kirkland.
(1) NE 134th/136th/137th Streets: 2026 Overlay Program
Drivers can expect minimal disruptions between 90th Avenue NE and 100th Avenue NE on NE 134th/136th/137th Streets as Kirkland’s contractor completes tasks on this project. Permanent striping is expected to be applied by the end of this week.
(2) NE 112th Street at 132nd Avenue NE
Drivers can expect the continued closure of NE 112th Street at 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.
(3) NE 128th Street at 120th Avenue NE (at Evergreen Hospital)
Kirkland’s contractor has shifted work to the north side of NE 128th Street doing pavement repairs and concrete work from 120th Avenue NE to 124th Avenue NE. King County Metro continues the transit center relocation currently, but will shortly reopen the transit station. Metro users should follow signage for bus stop changes. Additional ramp repairs continue around the hospital campus to facilitate the coming street overlay of NE 130th Lane and 124th Avenue NE. Pedestrian detours are posted.
(4) NE 132nd Street at I-405 Roundabout Changes
Kirkland’s contractor will modify the two roundabouts for WSDOT on NE 132nd Street’s crossing of I-405 overnight beginning Monday, October 19. Work hours are 10 PM to 5 AM, with traffic control beginning earlier. The modifications include speed cushions at the roundabout’s entry points and select exits to slow traffic and moderate speeds into the roundabout. Striping and sign modifications will also occur overnight the week of October 19. Work is expected to take one week but is weather dependent.
Fall Recycling Collection Event
Date: Saturday, October 17
Location: LWTech | 11605 132nd Avenue NE
Kirkland’s recycling collection events allows residents to dispose of hard-to-recycle items such as batteries, electronics, and household appliances. Vendor reserves the right to refuse any item deemed unacceptable or not recyclable. Some items have a cost to drop off, and only cash is accepted as payment. Please bring exact change.
Green Kirkland Stewardship Events
Date: Saturday, October 17
Location: Multiple locations
Join Green Kirkland for a fun day of habitat stewardship at Rose Hill Meadows Park (10 AM-1 PM) or Juanita Bay Park (9:30 AM-12 PM). Volunteers will help restore critical habitat by removing invasive plants such as blackberry or ivy, planting native plants, and pitching-in with stewardship tasks like mulching and weeding. With your help, this park will have healthy and thriving natural areas for years to come!
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Conversations with Council
Date: Saturday, October 17
Location: Fire Station 26 Community Room | 9930 124th Avenue NE
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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It’s time to vote! Here’s how to find Kirkland’s ballot drop boxes:
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