Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Kirkland City Council held a study session at 5:30 p.m. and a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the City Council Chamber. The meeting included a joint study session with the Park Board, a briefing on state-mandated parking code amendments, proclamations, public comment, the Kirkland Downtown Association annual update, consent calendar approval, and business items on Peter Kirk Pool, Mark Twain Park acquisition, a school district interlocal agreement, and the 2026 legislative session. The Council recessed twice (7:03-7:30 p.m. and 9:15-9:25 p.m.), entered executive session at 10:34 p.m., and adjourned at 10:55 p.m.

Study Session: Joint Meeting with the Park Board

• Park Board members Berenice Bortoni, Denise Lindberg, Vice Chair Juliana Born, and Chair Jared Silvia presented their draft work plan; no Park Board quorum was present.
• Council feedback encouraged adding timelines, costs, and specific engagement methods to the work plan; elevating the Green Loop and Houghton Homestead Park master plan to active projects; and focusing outreach on specific projects rather than open-ended town halls.
• On Peter Kirk Pool, Park Board members expressed that an enclosure should not proceed without new funding, recommended extended seasonal use and phased redevelopment, and asked whether the Council would consider a community survey on a ballot measure.
• Council members largely expressed hesitation about a new ballot measure after prior measures failed, while supporting swim lesson capacity and incremental improvements.

Study Session: State Mandated Parking Code Amendments

• Senior Planner Martha Rubardt briefed the Council on early implementation of Senate Bill 5184, which limits city-required parking minimums and eliminates them in some categories; compliance is required by January 2027.
• Council members generally supported an early action ordinance, an allowance for existing commercial spaces to expand without additional on-site parking, and reducing or eliminating parking minimums in the 85th Street station area, with some emphasizing consistency across neighborhoods.
• Councilmember Pascal requested tracking of parking built and utilization and exploration of a future parking management program.
• No formal vote was taken; staff expects a Planning Commission briefing on February 26, 2026.

Honors and Proclamations

• Councilmember Tymczyszyn read the Day of Remembrance proclamation, which was accepted by Mrs. Latura's second-grade class from Peter Kirk Elementary. The proclamation marks February 19, 2026, as the Day of Remembrance of Japanese American Incarceration during World War II.
• The Lunar New Year proclamation was approved as part of the consent calendar, proclaiming February 17, 2026, as Lunar New Year in Kirkland.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Pappalardo (Splash Forward co-founder/president): Presented a survey with 284 responses (82% from Kirkland) and urged the Council to consider extended shoulder-season programming, third-party operation, expanded activity pool use, and long-term planning for year-round aquatics.
• Michael Foy: Requested the Council adopt protocols regarding federal agents, including mandatory identity disclosure, treating administrative warrants as civil notices only, and active police mediation; expressed opposition to warrantless entry.
• Loita Hawkinson (Kirkland Heritage Society): Asked the city to acknowledge that 443 persons of Japanese ancestry were evacuated from the Kirkland Railroad Depot on May 20, 1942, including the Ubuki family from Kirkland.
• Ava Spainhower: Requested city partnership to introduce the Cyanoshark algae-neutralizing technology into Kirkland waters for safety and environmental benefit.
• Liz Hunt: Opposed a provision in House Bill 2266 that would prohibit special agreements like the Good Neighbor Agreement at the La Quinta supportive housing site; urged the city to advocate for amendment.
• Nicole MacKenzie: Urged the Council to find a way to cover Peter Kirk Pool, while expressing concern about spending on items not requested by citizens.
• Amy Johnson: Expressed gratitude for the city and encouraged investment in the local community; raised ongoing vandalism of EV charging stations at South Kirkland Park & Ride.
• Alex Tsimerman: Made statements criticizing Deputy Mayor Black's role on the King County Housing Authority regarding mixed-status families and alleged trespass; voiced support for President Trump and presented a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Special Presentations

• Kirkland Downtown Association (KDA) Board President Cassandra Joyner presented the 2025 annual update. Highlights included 1,200 volunteer hours, 97 Clean Sweep volunteers, more than 30,000 event attendees, 282 new volunteers, continued Wednesday farmers market, and a downtown ice rink on Peter Kirk Field. 2026 plans include early permitting, sponsorships, and returning the ice rink through January.

Consent Calendar

• Approved 7-0 by voice vote. Items included:
  • Approval of February 3, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
  • Audit of accounts: payroll $7,563,496.06 and bills $12,261,979.28.
  • Claims for damages from Nickolas Buchanan, Cassio Borges Jacomossi Jr., Arti Pinner, The Cincinnati Insurance Company on behalf of Megan Grimes, and John Walsh.
  • Lunar New Year Proclamation.
  • Resolution R-5720 adopting the 2026-2027 Transportation Commission Work Plan.
  • 2025 Fourth Quarter Parks and Community Services Report, Fire Dashboard Report, December 2025 Financial Dashboard Report, and Procurement Report.

Business: Peter Kirk Pool Enclosure Follow-Up

• Deputy Director John Lloyd presented options to increase swim lesson capacity. 2025 data showed capacity of just under 2,500 swim lesson slots, about an 80% registration rate (1,990 people), and a waitlist over 4,600 people.
• Staff recommended extending the swim lesson season into May and September, adding about 1,000 slots (42% capacity increase) for roughly $28,000 net expense; and renovating the wading pool into a larger activity pool (additional 22% summer capacity). Total project estimate: about $10.1 million, with about $19 million in potential funding, including King County Parks levy dollars, impact fees, and debt capacity.
• Council feedback supported moving forward with design of the activity pool and mechanical/bathhouse upgrades, and also asked staff to include enclosure design options in the design phase so the Council can make a more informed decision on future coverage. Councilmembers emphasized swim lesson capacity, timeline for off-season construction, and preserving land acquisition funds.
• No formal vote was taken; staff was directed to begin design work with incremental updates.

Business: Mark Twain Park Acquisition

• Parks Planning and Development Manager Mariah Gill Murphy presented the proposed acquisition of a 0.6-acre property adjacent to Mark Twain Park for $2.54 million. The parcel has an existing revenue stream of about $63,000 per year with annual increases of 4.7-7%, and minimal maintenance costs.
• Resolution R-5721 (authorizing the City Manager to execute a purchase and sale agreement) was approved 7-0.
• Ordinance O-4926 (authorizing condemnation if negotiations fail) was approved 7-0 by roll call.

Business: Interlocal Agreement with Lake Washington School District

• Deputy Director John Lloyd presented Resolution R-5722, a successor interlocal agreement with Lake Washington School District. The district is taking back scheduling and maintenance of most district athletic fields; the city will retain its special role for Lakeview Elementary School under a prior artificial turf agreement.
• Impacts include loss of about 46% of reservation volume and about $90,000 in annual revenue, while saving about 2,300 staff hours, $23,000 in operating supplies, and $40,000 in utility costs annually.
• Councilmembers expressed concern about maintenance standards and enforcement mechanisms for taxpayer-funded field improvements.
• The Council voted 7-0 to postpone approval of Resolution R-5722 to a future meeting for continued discussion between city staff and the school district.

Business: 2026 Legislative Session Update No. 3

• Interim Government Affairs Manager Andreana Campbell provided the third legislative update. The House body searches bill passed and was publicly credited to Kirkland; House Bill 1717 (affordable housing sales tax tool) was now supported by the work group; House Bill 2266 (supportive housing) advanced with amendments; e-bike bills advanced; and Substitute Senate Bill 5855 (law enforcement face coverings) was supported as amended.
• The work group is opposing Substitute Senate Bill 5972 (interest arbitration expansion to correctional officers) and continuing to work on Substitute Senate Bill 6026 regarding ground-floor commercial requirements.
• Councilmember Arnold is scheduled to testify in opposition at SB 5972's public hearing.

Reports

• Councilmembers shared updates on regional committees, including the Eastside Transportation Partnership, Puget Sound Regional Council, Regional Transit Committee, King County Housing Authority, Sound Cities Association, Public Issues Committee, and Juanita Dog Park ribbon cutting.
• City Manager Kurt Triplett reported on letters regarding the Kirkland-Issaquah light rail and a King County Transportation Benefit District meeting.
• The Council voted 7-0 to approve the Mayor signing letters to Sound Transit and the City of Issaquah opposing a truncated line.
• The Council voted 7-0 to approve Councilmember Tymczyszyn's legislative request memorandum for a downtown valet parking public-private partnership pilot aimed at summer 2026 implementation.
• The Council voted 7-0 to approve Councilmember Prem's legislative request memorandum on exploring AI for traffic flow and permit processing, after a 7-0 vote to amend the language to insert 'and safety' after 'traffic flow'.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 7-0.
• Resolution R-5721 approved 7-0.
• Ordinance O-4926 approved 7-0 by roll call.
• Resolution R-5722 postponed 7-0.
• Light rail letters approved 7-0.
• Valet parking LRM approved 7-0.
• AI LRM approved 7-0 as amended (amendment also 7-0).
• Staff directed to begin Peter Kirk Pool design, including enclosure options, with incremental Council updates.
• Staff directed to pursue parking code early action and related commercial expansion/exemption options.
• The Council entered executive session at 10:34 p.m. and adjourned at 10:55 p.m.