Kirkland City Council Regular Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Kirkland City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in the City Council Chamber, following a separate 5:00 p.m. special meeting. Mayor Kelli Curtis called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Councilmember Amy Falcone was excused by a 6-0 vote, and all remaining council members were present. The agenda included the swearing-in of Fire Chief Patrick LeDoux, Pride Month and Youth Council Month proclamations, public comment, a Youth Council report, a large consent calendar, and five business items. The meeting adjourned at 10:55 p.m.

Honors and Proclamations

• Mayor Curtis swore in Fire Chief Patrick LeDoux. City Manager Kurt Triplett praised Chief LeDoux's collaborative leadership and noted he was the top choice of selection panels.
• Mayor Curtis recognized retiring Fire Chief Joe Sanford's four decades of service, including 10 years as chief, and noted the Council was presenting him the Council Coin, the Outstanding Service Award.
• Mayor Curtis delivered remarks and observed a moment of silence for Juniper Blessing before the Pride Month proclamation. Councilmember Shilpa Prem read the Pride Month proclamation, and Jessa Davis, Executive Director of the Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-Monogamy (OPEN), accepted it, speaking about chosen family, legal protections, and Pride as a commitment to dignity and equity.
• Councilmember John Tymczyszyn read the Youth Council Month proclamation marking the Kirkland Youth Council's 30th anniversary. Youth Council co-chairs and alumni accepted the proclamation and thanked staff, advisor Reggie, and the Council.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zoe Babbar, a high school student, asked about road infrastructure around the 85th Street roundabout and expressed appreciation for the city.
• Al Veillette opposed Resolution R-5735, arguing the Council was being asked to approve a $10 million purchase commitment, $4.4 million in general capital contingency spending, an approximately $4.7 million interfund loan from the Development Services Fund, a $1 million diversion from a transportation project, and preparation of a $15 million bond ordinance in one evening. He cited documents posted only four days earlier, no audited FY2024-25 financial statements, unresolved questions about all-in costs, deed covenants, and financing structure, and said Kirkland has over $695 million in identified unfunded capital needs.
• Meredith Bogguess, president of the Kirkland Women's Club, requested $50,000 for kitchen and window upgrades, describing the club's growth from 4 members in 2020 to over 50 and more than $5,000 in donations to local nonprofits.
• Rick Chesmore, an architect, supported the funding request, noting his firm's pro bono work and the building's historical significance.
• Kathy Lofy, co-treasurer of the Kirkland Women's Club, also supported the request, saying the club has already secured $50,000 and needs a city match to complete phase one; she described nonfunctional kitchen appliances, ADA concerns, and window water-intrusion issues.
• Murray McKinney, a Kirkland resident for over 50 years, complained about the fairness of boards and commissions interview selections and raised several Kirkland Highlands concerns, including water system work not expected to be operational until mid-July, 112th Street realignment safety, traffic circles, and the fish tunnel under I-405, which he called a waste of money.
• Ava Spainhower, a Tesla STEM High School sophomore, asked the city to improve waste collection bins and signage at parks, citing a survey at 130 2nd Square Park showing two recycling bins and 13 waste bins, and advocated switching to Recology.
• Jess Harris asked the Council to support an optional embodied-carbon appendix in the state building code being considered by the State Building Code Council, noting the King County Collaborative Climate Collaboration and arguing the building code is the best place to address embodied carbon.
• Alex Tsimerman made a rambling and confrontational statement, complaining that council members were identical, asking Deputy Mayor Black to answer a five-month-old question, and using inflammatory language including fascism and Viva Trump.
• Joe Kunzler, speaking virtually, criticized the previous speaker's treatment of the Council and urged council members to stand up against disrespectful behavior.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the May 7, 2026 special meeting and May 19, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• Acknowledged the audit of accounts: payroll $9,238,543.60 and bills $7,102,524.25.
• Acknowledged National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Ride Transit Month proclamations.
• Acknowledged the 2026 First Quarter Financial Management Report, April 2026 Investment Report, April 2026 Sales Tax Report, Planning Implementation Activities for 2026 Report, and Procurement Report.
• Bestowed the Council's Outstanding Service Award on retiring Fire Chief Joe Sanford.
• Consent calendar approved 6-0. The Council recessed at 8:58 p.m. and reconvened at 9:05 p.m.

Special Presentation

• The Kirkland Youth Council presented its 2025-2026 report. Highlights included 82 applicants, 28 interviews, 9 new members for a total of 41; seven service projects; 18 teen traffic courts; $8,400 in mini-grants; a Kirkland Youth Bill of Rights with nine pillars; and a We've Got Issues e-bike safety video being made with the Kirkland Police Department.
• The 2026 Youth Summit was held April 3, 2026 at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology, with 125 students from 10 schools. Top student concerns included mental health and academic support, safety and substance use, AI literacy and ethics, transportation and mobility, and a desire for inclusion and transparency.
• Council members praised the presentation and encouraged Youth Council members to engage with state legislators on e-bike safety legislation.

Discussion Items

• Department of Ecology Forgivable Loan for Houghton Park and Ride Stormwater Vault: Surface Water Manager Kelli Jones and Financial Planning Manager Kevin Pelstring briefed the Council on a Washington State Department of Ecology State Revolving Fund forgivable principal loan of $3,698,000 for a stormwater facility in the Everest Creek basin. The loan is 100% forgivable with no interest if terms are met. Councilmember Jay Arnold asked whether federal funding stipulations conflicted with city values; staff confirmed the flagged terms are not included. The Council authorized staff to accept the funding 6-0.
• Former LDS Church Property Purchase (13220 NE 132nd Street): Facilities Services Manager LeeAnn Skipton, Financial Planning Manager Kevin Pelstring, and Senior Assistant City Attorney Kevin Hansen presented the proposed $10 million acquisition. The property is 3.28 acres with a 15,000+ square foot building constructed in 1989, zoned RMA 3.6. It was appraised at $11 million and drew 10 offers. Funding would combine a planned $15 million bond issuance, $1.8 million from parkland acquisition impact fee balances, and $1 million reprioritized from a street preservation project, with short-term interfund borrowing from the 119 Fund. The Council approved Resolution R-5735 as amended 6-0, after amendments correcting the fund reference to the 119 Fund, directing the City Manager to designate the zoning to Park upon acquisition, and conditioning execution on revisions to use restrictions and the press release provision. It also approved the fiscal note 6-0. Next steps include a 60-day feasibility period, closing about 30 days later, Parks and Community Services activation planning, and preparation of a bond ordinance.
• Houghton Village Property Surplus: LeeAnn Skipton and Assistant City Attorney Ryan Gompertz presented Resolution R-5736 declaring the Houghton Village property at 10600 NE 68th Street surplus to city needs and reauthorizing the City Manager to solicit buyers. The city acquired the 2.19-acre property in May 2022 for $14.2 million with a three-year interfund loan. The Council approved Resolution R-5736 6-0.
• Central Way Bike Lane Improvements and TIB Grant: Senior Financial Analyst Jessica Clem presented a $1.5 million Transportation Improvement Board complete streets grant and three alternatives. Staff recommended alternative 2, a raised bike lane on an expanded pathway with a six-foot bike lane and eight-foot sidewalk, at a total budget of $3.98 million; alternative 3 would stay within the existing footprint with five-foot lanes at $3.88 million. Funding would use Transportation Benefit District contingency (about $4.2 million available, leaving about $2.8 million), repurposed project funds, and reprogrammed REET 1 and 2. Council directed staff to move the project to the CIP funded list, approve the preferred alternative 2, accept the grant, use TBD contingency for the local match, and reprogram REET 1 and 2 to fund the Parks project shortfall. Motion carried 6-0; staff will return with CIP updates and a fiscal note.
• Parks Rules Update (Chapter 11.80 KMC): Parks and Community Services Director Lynn Zwaagstra, Management Analyst Juliana da Cruz, and Parks Superintendent Jason Filan presented draft updates to the park rules, which have not been updated since 2011. Proposed changes include prohibiting smoking and vaping in parks, a new offense for interfering with lifeguard duties, clarified motor vehicle and e-bike rules, expanded rules on injury to park vegetation, and a new encroachment misdemeanor. Enforcement proposals include designating park rangers as enforcement officers, separating civil infractions from misdemeanors, creating a parks exclusion process, and adding signage and education. The Park Board recommended adoption. Council feedback included renaming the motor vehicle section, considering citywide e-bike consistency, providing alternative e-bike language rather than banning electric assist, clarifying dog swim areas, and clarifying projectile rules. No action was taken; staff will return for adoption at a future meeting.

Reports

• Council members reported on the Pride flag raising, Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation readings, the Indian American Community Service Youth Advocacy Civic Summit, the grand opening of Kirkland Heights, the Puget Sound Regional Council General Assembly, the Regional Law, Safety, and Justice Committee, Cascade Water Alliance, Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee, Kirkland Senior Arts Show, Chamber of Commerce luncheon, Sound Transit board action, State Building Code Council hearings, a ribbon cutting at Crabby Old Pharts Pea Patch, and the Windward Sculpture unveiling at David Brink Park.
• City Manager Kurt Triplett reported he was elected president of RCR again and noted the RCR Principals Assembly on June 10, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Excused Councilmember Falcone 6-0.
• Approved the consent calendar 6-0.
• Authorized acceptance of the $3,698,000 Department of Ecology forgivable loan 6-0.
• Approved Resolution R-5735 as amended and the fiscal note for the former LDS church property purchase, both 6-0.
• Approved Resolution R-5736 declaring Houghton Village surplus 6-0.
• Directed staff on Central Way Bike Lane Improvements, including grant acceptance and funding sources, 6-0.
• Provided direction on the draft parks rules update; no formal adoption tonight, with a future adoption session planned.