October 20, 2026 Kirkland City Council Meeting: Study Sessions and Regular Business

The Kirkland City Council met on October 20, 2026, for a combined study session and regular meeting. The study sessions covered three topics: an update on intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and AI, the Green Loop implementation plan, and middle housing focused optimization. The regular meeting included public comments, adoption of the 2027-2028 utility rates, review of the draft 2027 state legislative agenda, and action on four legislative request memos (LRMs) concerning micromobility, bicycle helmets, Homes Point Overlay (HPO) development standards, and tree removal allowances. Two scheduled public hearings on resolutions opposing state initiatives were not conducted.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved by roll call. Included payroll of $8,270,916.57 and bills of $14,526,619.15.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Six members of the public addressed the council:
  • Several speakers urged the council to accelerate a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, citing noise, health, and environmental benefits.
  • A resident of the Homes Point Overlay (HPO) described difficulty building an accessory dwelling unit due to strict impervious surface limits.
  • The Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance requested that any amendments to the HPO be processed through a robust public process with planning commission review.
  • A speaker from Kenmore supported local police efforts against excessively noisy vehicles and asked for consistent enforcement.
  • A resident proposed a tool-lending partnership via the King County Library System, modeled after Issaquah’s program.
  • A retired cardiologist highlighted the cardiovascular risks of particulate matter from gas-powered leaf blowers and called for a rapid transition to electric equipment.

Public Hearings (Not Held)

• Public hearings on Resolution R-5748 (opposing Initiative Measure 26638 regarding K-12 athletics participation) and Resolution R-5749 (opposing Initiative Measure 26001 regarding parental rights in public schools) were scheduled but not held during the meeting. No action was taken.

Study Session: Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and AI

• Jennifer Palmer, Transportation Engineering Supervisor, presented an overview of Kirkland’s 68 traffic signals (59 connected via fiber or cellular to the Transportation Management Center), current AI uses (multimodal detection at 29 intersections, near-miss analysis pilot), and two potential pilot programs: adaptive signal control (at 6 intersections on NE 85th Street) and near-miss analysis (1–5 intersections). Costs discussed were $74,000 for a MyOVision adaptive pilot and $16,000 per intersection per year for near-miss analysis.
• Council questions focused on integration with existing work plans, staffing, and prioritization of transportation projects. Council expressed support for both pilots but stressed the need to understand trade-offs and resource allocation. No formal vote was taken.

Study Session: Green Loop Implementation Plan

• Mariah Gill (Planning and Development Manager) and Jody Galvin (Parks Maintenance and Green Kirkland Partnership Manager) presented the draft implementation plan. The proposed 13.73-mile loop includes 6.28 miles of existing trail and 7.45 miles of new natural surface trail, requiring over 10 acres of open space acquisition. Funding includes $10 million from the King County Parks Levy plus $3.9 million in grants. Near-, mid-, and long-term priorities were identified, primarily driven by available funding and willing sellers. Three logo concepts (tree ring, banana slug, fern) were presented.
• Council supported a flexible, opportunity-driven implementation strategy, with an emphasis on addressing park needs in North Juanita and allowing community input on the logo design. No formal action was taken.

Study Session: Middle Housing Focused Optimization

• Senior Planner Martha Rhubar provided a timeline of middle housing regulations in Kirkland (starting in 2007) and presented data showing a peak of 194 middle housing permits in 2025. Current trends favor ADUs and cottages, but units are often large, and infill of smaller units is limited by Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and lot coverage constraints. Four potential code amendment packages were outlined: Option 1 (targeted cleanup), Option 2 (general optimization of FAR/lot coverage), Option 3 (incentives for retaining existing homes and age-friendly types), and Option 4 (comprehensive rewrite). The planning work program limits adjustments to lot coverage and FAR in this phase, with height and setbacks deferred to 2028.
• Council expressed general support for Option 2 (optimization) with elements of Option 3, focusing on FAR adjustments to encourage more units and smaller homes, while streamlining the process for homeowners. Several members emphasized the importance of simplicity and stability. No formal vote was taken.

Regular Business: Adoption of 2027–2028 Utility Rates

• Tracy Dunlap (Deputy City Manager of Operations) and Jenny Gauss (Surface Water Strategic Advisor) presented final utility rates after adjustments from preliminary August rates. The adopted rates include water (6.75% each year), sewer (local 8.85% each year; King County pass-through 13.29% and 12.75%), surface water (5.9% each year), and solid waste (5.3% each year). The increases are necessary to meet financial policies, but rates were smoothed over a six-year period and mitigated through staff recommendations.
• Council adopted the four related ordinances (Ordinances 4951, 4952, 4953, 4954) unanimously, acknowledging that the increases are burdensome but necessary, and committed to continued regional advocacy on affordability.

Regular Business: Draft 2027 State Legislative Agenda

• Government Affairs Manager Adrianna Campbell presented the draft agenda, which includes priorities on housing (preserving local planning authority, counting ARCH contributions toward GMA requirements), regional affordability (utility rate impacts), electric motorcycle regulation, transportation funding (exploring road usage charges, supporting noise camera authority, and increasing weight limits for TBD fees), public safety (municipal jail liability, public defense funding, and 100-foot ballot box buffer zones), and behavioral health. The legislative work group also proposes adding the Sound Cities Association to the list of monitored organizations.
• Council provided input, including requests to make explicit that contributions to ARCH or other subregional entities be counted toward GMA housing targets. The final agenda will be considered for adoption on November 17.

Legislative Request Memo (LRM): Micromobility

• Transportation Manager Steven Padua outlined four options: pilot program, contract/partner with private firm, procure city-owned fleet, or hybrid. Council directed staff to commence a due diligence process that includes consultation with the Transportation Commission, to be completed by the end of 2027, subject to budget discussions and available resources. The motion carried 7-0.

Legislative Request Memo (LRM): Bicycle Helmets

• Steven Padua presented options on requiring helmets for e‑bikes, e‑scooters, and bicycles. Options included a local ordinance, further engagement before an ordinance, an incentive-based approach, and state legislation. Council voted 5-1 to pursue a combination of Option 2 (conduct further engagement) and Option 3 (develop an incentive-based program, such as education and free helmet distribution), rather than adopting an immediate ordinance.

Legislative Request Memo (LRM): HPO Development Standards for Middle Housing

• Adam Weinstein (Planning and Building Director) offered options on lot coverage in the Homes Point Overlay: keep existing code (40% for first 6,500 sq ft, sliding scale), standardize to citywide 50%, or create special middle housing allowances. Council approved a motion (6-0) to pursue a surgical, uniform modification to lot coverage (options ranging from 40% to 50% or other staff‑developed alternatives) with standard public engagement. Staff will bring alternatives back for further consideration.

Legislative Request Memo (LRM): Tree Removal Allowances in HPO

• Adam Weinstein presented options: no change (only hazard/removal), focused code amendments with standard or enhanced engagement. Council voted 6-0 to pursue Option 2 with two variants: matching the citywide allowance (2 trees per year) and a half allowance (1 tree per year), applying standard public engagement.

Key Outcomes

• Adopted 2027–2028 utility rate increases for water, sewer, surface water, and solid waste (four ordinances passed unanimously).
• Directed staff to conduct due diligence on a micromobility program, reporting back by end of 2027.
• Chose to explore further engagement and an incentive‑based approach on bicycle helmets, deferring a possible ordinance.
• Advanced code amendments for the Homes Point Overlay: a surgical adjustment to lot coverage (40–50% range) and options for tree removal allowances (one or two trees per year), both with standard public engagement.
• No action was taken on the two scheduled public hearings.