Mark Your Calendars:

/City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 14th, 7:30 pm There is a chance for you to provide public comment to the City Councilmembers and staff on issues of concern to you.

/Houghton Village Update

We planned to spend a few minutes on the latest at Houghton Village but ran out of time. Per the City, nothing much has changed since the January 7th update City Staff gave to City Council. March 20th, City Staff released a Request for Proposal (RFP) to send to developers with responses due April 28th.

The community has made it clear over month and years that they wish the development to comply with the 3-Story zoning is currently has. There was a study session that discussed different financing vehicles including an option to not proceed further with the project.

In other news related to Houghton Village, we have heard a local resident has reached out to the City expressing interest in starting a woman/locally owned, small business at Houghton Village. The idea is a combined wine bar + space for youth & adult cultural & educational programming. This sounds like an incredible fit for the City's goals of activating the space and meeting the community's clear desire for new evening gathering space supporting social connection so we are optimistic it will come to be.

Election Season is Coming: Get Informed + Be Sure to Vote!

/Were you as surprised as we were to find a ballot in the mail? The ballot measure is regarding renewing funding to a finger print system and property taxes. Last day to vote April 22nd.

Election Day for Kirkland City Council is Tuesday, 11/4/2025. That may seem like a long time away - but it will come quickly, and the biggest way you can help shape the future of Kirkland is by voting for City Council candidates you feel represent you. Voter turnout in Kirkland and Houghton has been low in years without a Presidential election, so be sure you vote this fall. Actively learn about the candidates, get involved with campaigns, remind your friends, neighbors and voters across Kirkland to be heard at the ballot box. With issues such as La Quinta Low Barrier Permanent Supportive Housing, the 2044 Comp Plan and plans to rapidly increase density in residential neighborhoods, City driven Houghton Village development and the K-Line Metro’s proposal to widen 108th with dedicated bus lanes having a direct impact on our community - your voice and vote is important to the future of these (and many other) projects.  

With the goal of increasing awareness and increasing voter turnout in 2025 we wanted to share a few resources & updates:

• Over 50% of the Kirkland City Council seats are up for election this year 

  • Kirkland has 7 (seven) City Council seats. 4 (four) of these will be up for election in November (the seats currently held by Councilmembers Jay Arnold, Neal Black, Jon Pascal, Penny Sweet). Mayor Kelli Curtis and Councilmembers Amy Falcone and John Tymczyszyn were elected to City Council in November 2023 so their seats are not up for election this year. 

• HNA is holding a candidate forum on Tuesday, 10/13/2025 and we hope you can join to learn more about the candidates and how you want to vote

  • We have invited everyone who has registered to run as of today (see list below)

• Below is a screenshot from the Public Disclosure Commission website as of 3/11/25, showing the names of people who have registered for the office of Kirkland City Council for Election year 2025

Registered Candidates for Kirkland City Council 2025 as of April 14th. Source www.pdc.wa.gov

LWSD Emerson Campus Expansion Update

Thank you to Brian Buck (Executive Director, Support Services) and Carly Parkins (Project Manager, Support Services) for presenting an update on the Emerson Campus plans. Here is the information they presented. If you have any followup questions, LWSD said you can reach out to Carly Parkins ([email protected]).

/A BIG Houghton THANK YOU to our most recent donors. We appreciate your financial support to the Association activities.