Kirkland City Council Meeting November 4, 2026

Kirkland City Council study session and regular meeting, November 4, 2026. The Council reviewed the preliminary 2027–2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP), revised upward by about $6.2 million to roughly $230 million. Updates included a $200,000 King County Flood Control District grant for the Holmes Point Drive pipe project, $2.5 million in King County Parks Levy funding and an anticipated $2.7 million in debt for Peter Kirk Pool, and an additional $75,000 annually for neighborhood safety improvements funded by school-zone camera fines. The six-year Transportation Improvement Program totaled $96.7 million for 36 funded projects, with another 22 unfunded projects totaling $136.8 million. Staff proposed a limited-term transportation engineer at an estimated $204,000 in 2027 and $212,000 in 2028; Council gave direction to bring the position forward in the proposed budget. The preliminary budget totals about $1.15 billion and includes a proposed 1% property-tax increase, estimated at $449,756. Council also generally supported retaining paid parking revenue assumptions for Juanita Beach’s gravel lot while staff develops implementation details; no separate vote was taken on that policy.

The Council held public hearings on the preliminary budget, CIP, Transportation Improvement Program, and property-tax levy, with no speakers registered for those hearings. It approved the consent calendar 7–0. A public commenter raised concerns about fairness and bidder access in the city’s tool-library RFP and requested an independent review before any contract commitment; the Council took no action on that request. Separately, the Council voted 7–0 to direct staff to gather Kirkland-specific business data and conduct targeted stakeholder outreach on a minimum-wage proposal, with a check-in by March 31, 2027, and research and draft-ordinance options by June 30, 2027. It also directed staff to arrange a regional discussion and include the work in the city work program, with any additional resources addressed through the budget process.