We have some incredible news to share! At Wednesday’s meeting, the Kirkland City Council voted 5-2 to authorize city staff to move forward with negotiating a final agreement with the Eastside Tool Collective!

This is a major milestone for our community. The vote officially approves our proposal as the draft implementation plan for the Kirkland Tool Library. It keeps us on track toward bringing a financially sustainable, ongoing resource to Kirkland—one that will save neighbors money, reduce landfill waste, build practical skills, and make our city more connected and resilient.

Running a tool library is not exactly a lucrative venture. So it’s absolutely no surprise that any proposal received by the city was going to be from people in our community who are passionate about saving Kirklanders money, creating a more sustainable city, and creating spaces where folks can come together, make friends, and learn from one another. It’s also no surprise that those sorts of people would find each other and decide to collaborate rather than compete with one another. Thank you for being part of that.

Throughout the study session and debate, Councilmembers recognized the immense value and remarkable return on investment this proposal represents.

For a one-time startup grant, the City is helping kickstart an institution that will serve residents for years to come. We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the five councilmembers who recognized this vision and, more importantly, accepted our offers to meet and discuss the issue over the past few months. They sat down with us on multiple occasions, discussed their specific concerns, asked tough questions, and allowed us to clear up misconceptions prior to last night’s business meeting. That proactive dialogue made all the difference in building a solid foundation of trust. Thank you to Councilmembers Jay Arnold, Shilpa Prem, and Amy Falcone as well as Deputy Mayor Neal Black and Mayor Kelli Curtis.

City staff will now sit down with our steering committee to iron out the final contract details, space logistics, and operational milestones. Once those negotiations wrap up, staff will bring the finalized agreement back to the Council for a final vote before startup funds are officially released and the real work begins!

Meanwhile, we’ll be starting the process of spinning up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, a lengthy process that starts with incorporating a Washington State nonprofit.

This win belongs to all of us. We are a community-driven, volunteer-powered initiative from top to bottom. We couldn't have reached this milestone without your enthusiasm, but we still need your support as we move into the next phase!

Thank you for being such a vital part of this journey. We are building something truly special together, and we can’t wait to hand you your first borrowed tool!

With gratitude,

- Penny, Judy, Jonathan, and Kurt (ETC steering committee)