Meetings for the week of October 13th

Nicole Myers

— 11 min read

Monday, October 13th 

Tuesday, October 14th

Public Comment (register here starting at noon on the day of the meeting, or in-person starting at 5pm)

Mini City Hall Update In May 2024, we had the 30 year anniversary and the grand opening of the expanded space. In 2024, Mini City Hall served over 15,000 people and responded to over 49,000 requests. Within these requests over 65 percent were human services related, and 45 percent needed language or/and cultural support. Mini City Hall staff and partners offer multi-lingual services in 10 languages: Cantonese, English, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Telugu, Ukrainian, and Urdu. The most common issues and services sought at Mini City Hall are:  Financial support for food, fuel, rent, and utilities  Affordable housing solutions and homelessness  Access to healthcare services and legal resources  Navigating cultural and language barriers, including immigration guidance  Employment readiness and small business support Customers are now concerned about funding cuts, rising demand for non-profit resources, incidents of discrimination, and mistrust of government. 

Release of public utility easement located at 707 96th Ave NE, which is no longer needed - no franchise or public utilty lines are located there. There will likely be a public hearing on December 2nd if this advances tonight.

Council may adopt a resolution denying the Timiri application for Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) Open Space Classification to reduce taxes on a property in Bridle Trails. On September 23, the Bellevue City Council held a study session on the application. On September 24, King County held a public hearing. King County staff presented their recommendation to the County’s hearing examiner at the time of the public hearing. On October 3, the King County hearing examiner issued a recommendation denying the application in full. In 2022, the Bellevue City Council voted 4-3 to deny the request for the same property. Staff analysis shows that this property does not appear to be eligible for all the points claimed under the scoring. 

Review of the Sustainable Bellevue Plan, which may be adopted at a future meeting. In order to achieve 95% reduction in the 2011 baseline emissions by 2050, about 3/4 of the reductions are assumed to be state policies (Clean Energy Transformation Act, Building codes and Clean Building Performance Standard, EV transition and Refrigerant phase-out), 1/4 local strategies (Energy Smart Eastside, Building Emissions Policy, Active non-work trips, Sustainable Commutes, Clean Transit, Non-Road Equipment Electrification, and Waste reduction), and none that is credited to individual choices (though participation is needed, of course) or technological changes. It may be possible to have a 50% reduction from the business as usual trendline by 2035, or roughly a 25% reduction from the 2011 baseline (Note: as of 2023, there was an 8% reduction from the 2011 baseline, but with population growth, we can point to an per capita reduction of about 25%). The goals for the next 5 years (if approved by Council) are for 6,000 homes to convert to heat pumps, 19M sqft of commercial building energy upgrades, 9,000 additional commuters using active transportation, 35,000 more zero-emission vehicles, and 12,000 fewer tons of waste sent to landfill.

 Note: When reading this, it is important to note that these goals are independent of future city population numbers, though the raw materials needed for construction have a very high carbon footprint, so added population will require particularly carbon-intensive investments. The CO2e, global warming potential of a variety of greenhouse gas types, including methane, is dependent on the timescale measured, and it seems that they might be using a different number of years in this presentation vs the storymap, since one has fugitive/process emissions listed at 9% and the other at 6%. This document uses the vehicle miles traveled measure vs. ride alone percentages that are seen in some other recent comparisons. 

Review of 2026 State Legislative Agenda. Bellevue will be asking our legislators to support various Bellevue priorities, which may include Partnership to address the affordable housing crisis, including flexible funding options  Considerations if the Legislature proposes new revenue options  Policy allowing employer shuttles in business access and transit (BAT) lanes  Funding for transportation projects, including SR 520/124th Avenue NE Interchange Project and I-405/SR 167 Corridor projects included in the I-405 Master Plan  Support for digital permitting improvements to MyBuildingPermit.com There is a detailed eight page draft with many more specific items we're requesting. 

Wednesday, October 15th 

2025 Summer Ranger Program report - added staff at Meydenbauer Marina and various parks, assisting 3722 patrons this year and also locking parks, issuing parking notices, responding for off leash dogs and noise violations, etc. 

Bellevue Parks & Community Services is accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), which is renewed every five years. This spring a team of reviewers from across the country awarded the department a perfect score of 154 out of 154 on rigorous standards related to the management and administration of lands, facilities, resources, programs, safety and services.

Discussion of updates to the park naming guidelines. In some cases, parks are named after a natural feature or a person/family, but in some cases (Bannerwood, Chandler, Chesterfield, Compton Trails, Goldsmith, Belshaw, Old Hearthstone and Winfield), the source of the name appears to be unknown.  

Neighborhood Council Candidate Forum, 6:30pm

 Thursday, October 16th 

Keynote conversations with Gretchen Peri, Rob Lloyd, and David May, lightning talks from cities around the state highlighting their innovations, startup pitches, AI for productivity training for office workers, and an E-waste drive. Civic Innovation Challenge winners will be announced.

Consent Calendar: HR report on Classified, Certificated, and Coaches personnel change, $12k of staff travel, Accept donation, Payable $9.7M general fund, $5.3M capital projects fund, $100k ASB fund. 

Public Comment (20 minutes) 4:55 - 5:15 pm  (register by noon on Wednesday)

Preschool Board Report: At 14 elementary school sites, we teach children how to manage emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and engage positively with peers. We align instruction with K–2 standards to create a seamless transition to elementary school. New for 2025-2026 are weekly cultural and language mini lessons, Gold Finch early literacy screener and dylexia risk evaluation, full day option for all students (though 38 students seem to have opted for half-day), and more professional development for preschool teachers. One of the next steps is to work with partner organizations to ensure that all preschool sites have before and after care. Free preschool for all students (at the current capacity of 850) would cost approximately $8.5 million. BSD relies on a blend of multiple, and unpredictable funding sources to maintain a budget-neutral program. Bellevue Schools Foundation and City of Bellevue grants remain the most flexible options for supporting families with financial need. Preschool students are more likely to qualify for free and reduced meals and/or special education services. 

Newport High School Addition and Renovation – Change Order of $1.1M for a retaining wall required to mitigate the steep slope along District property, made steeper with the additional ROW work along Factoria Blvd. (i.e. wider sidewalks, wider landscape buffers, Metro bus shelter, etc.). Finally, the City required added curbing, guardrail, and fencing at the top of the block wall. Of the $140M budget, $131M is currently encumbered, and tennis court replacement ($2M) will be done if the budget allows. 

Voter approval is needed to renew the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O Levy) and Technology and Capital Projects Levy (Capital Levy) every four years, and these expire at the end of 2026, so they are recommended for the February 10, 2026 election. The first of these would be $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the other $0.54 per $1,000 of assessed value. 

Legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session are school funding, affordable housing, a pause on mandates that do not have corresponding funding, and updating the funding structure based on the findings of the K-12 Equity Funding Work Group.

Policy revisions to allow for short-term suspensions when students are found to have demonstrated misconduct that meets the definition of discriminatory language and acts. 

Study Session items for Enrollment and Budget and Finance do not have documents attached, and also a Meeting Presentation may be available closer to the meeting. The meeting had been expected to revise policies on Board Liaisons, Program Planning, and Minimum Fund Balance. 

On a site near the Downtown Safeway, on a 0.41 acre lot that formerly had Sushi Maru, a 24 story tower with 141 residential units and 119 parking stalls. Three active commercial ground floor spaces. South and west facing balconies for sun shading, 29 affordable units at 80% AMI.  The building is mostly teardrop shaped, with a curvy podium and canopy facing NE 2nd. There is over 3.5' of ROW dedication on 2nd, possibly to extend the turning lane. 

City Council Candidate Forum at Overlake Country Club, 7pm 

Upcoming meetings:  

10/20 Human Services Commission public hearing on housing and human services needs

10/21 Bellevue College Community Update on the campus and projects, 5-6pm, Room U208 (rescheduled from 10/7)

10/22 Youth Link Board? 

10/22 Planning Commission: CAO LUCA Public Hearing10/22 Information session about participating in programming at light rail stations for the 2026 World Cup 

11/5 Planning Commission Retreat 11/6 BSD Board Meeting 11/6 ESC: Solid Waste Program Update, Utility Bill Assistance Program, Sewer cost-of-service rate design

11/6 Affordable Housing Strategy Update info session, 6-7:30pm (link)11/18 City Council meeting may include TFP 

12/9 City Council meeting to include Curb Pricing 12/10 Planning Commission: HOMA and Comprehensive Plan Amendments preview

Opportunities: 

The City of Bellevue is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission. Interested community members who live in Bellevue are encouraged to apply online by 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24. (link)

The City of Bellevue is recruiting new members for the Bellevue Network on Aging, a group that supports healthy aging in our community. Interested candidates may apply online by Friday, Oct. 19. (link)  <<< date is a typo, will ask for clarification

Applications for funding through the Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls program are being accepted through Wednesday, Oct. 15, and awards of $2500-15,000 are available. 

PSRC Regional Transportation Plan survey (link)What is the most important transportation problem facing the Puget Sound region today? What is your biggest safety concern? What is your primary mode? Do you have access to a car and bike? What should our priorities be? 

PSRC Regional Economic Strategy survey (link)For Workforce Development, Resources for entrepreneurs, Broadband infrastructure, Affordable childcare, School budget deficits, and Systemic Inequities, what organizations or programs are making progress, what data can be used to track progress, and what additional efforts do you recommend?  Similar background information and questions are also posed for Business Climate, Global Competition, and Quality of Life. 

Petition regarding Bellevue College: Stop the proposal of dissolvement of School of Business & Tech Division (link)

Petition regarding Bellevue College: Stop the proposal of dissolvement of early childhood and parenting programs (link)

Petition to restore bus service for South Bellevue neighborhoods (link)

Petition to restore Interlake High School's second Jazz director (link)

Bellevue Farmers Market Shopper Survey: Share your feedback and thoughts about our 2025 season to help inform us for next year!

If you are in Northwest Bellevue, don't forget to return your household's Neighborhood Enhancement Program ballot - must be postmarked by October 20th to be included. 

Fun and Educational Activities:

Make your reservations now for Seattle (Bellevue) Restaurant Week, October 26-November 8th (link)

10/13 Bellevue Housing Equity Candidate Forum, 6-7:30pm (link)

10/14 Tuesday Trivia at Evergreen Point Bistro, 7pm (link)

10/15 Trivia Night at Forum Social House, 6:30-8:30pm (link), recurring Wednesdays 

10/16 Innovation Exchange at City Hall, 9am-4:30 and celebration from 4:30-7pm (link)

10/16 Great Washington Shakeout at 10:16am 

10/16 Sights and Sounds at Avenue Bellevue, 5-7pm (link), limited supply of free tickets 

10/16 Hopelink’s Reaching Out celebration, 5:30-8pm (link)

10/16 City Council Candidate Forum at Overlake Country Club, 7pm 

10/17 Day of the Dead Celebration at Crossroads Community Center, 6-8pm (link) (Puesta del Sol will also have an event open to the public on Nov 2nd)

10/17 Free Improv for All! class for ages 12-19 Jet City Improv at BYT (link)

10/17 Angels and Devils Halloween theme at Lucky Strike Bellevue, 10pm-2am (link)

10/18 Keep Bellevue Beautiful BelRed cleanup, 9am (link)

10/18 Arbor Day planting at Lewis Creek Park 

10/18 Master Gardeners: Combining plants for garden color all year, 9:30-10:30am (link)

10/18 BelRed Run Club at Downtown Park, with Lululemon Cooldown Yoga and social at Yezi Coconut Dessert, 10am (link)

10/18 Theatre33’s Mawgli performance of the Jungle Book in Russian (no subtitles) for ages 5+, 1pm (link)

10/18 Diwali Performance at Bellevue Square from noon-5pm, henna from 11am-6pm (link)

10/19 Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, starts 10am at Unity of Bellevue (link)

10/21 Downtown Talks breakfast with Dow Constantine, 7:30-9am (link)

10/21 Happy Hour Vibe Bingo at Legion, 6:30-8pm (link)

10/22 Made in Bellevue- Decorating Pumpkins lunchtime crafting activity, drop in 11-1pm (link)

10/22 Upcycling for gifts Zero Waste class at Lake Hills Library, 6-7pm (link)

10/24 Monster Mash Halloween Bash at the Northwest Arts Center, 5:30-8pm (link) – indoor play gym and treats, Free

10/24-10/26 First weekend of Phantom (a steampunk retelling, not a musical) at BYT (link)

10/24-10/26 Theatre33’s Rumors by Neil Simon – razor sharp comedy for 14+, subtitled (link)

10/25 Master Gardeners: Creating a happy home for houseplants, 9:30-10:30am (link)

10/25 October Harvest Market (by Bellevue Farmers Market), 10am-3pm (link)

10/25 Residential Permitting Expo at Bellevue City Hall, 10am-1pm (link) – ADUs, MyBuildingPermit.com, and meet city staff! 

10/25 Halloween on the HIll at SBCC, 10-6:30pm, great for ages 3-14 (link) – pumpkin race, carnival, and magic show

10/25 BelRed Arts Studio opening celebration 11-1pm (link)

10/25 Halloween Spooktacular at Crossroads – pumpkin decorating, Truck-or-Treat, and more 12-3pm (link) 

10/25 Trick or Treat with the Farm Animals at Kelsey Creek Farm (must preregister),  $30-36, 1-3pm

10/25 Crossroads Community Trunk or Treat at the YMCA, 5:30-7:30pm (link)

10/25 Bellevue Symphony Fall Extravaganza, 7:30pm (link)

10/26 Vuori Bellevue x Pivot outdoor workout, 9-11am (link)

10/26 Fall Colors Photo Review at the Leica store, 11am-1pm (link)

10/26 Little Monsters on Main St, 1-3pm (link)

10/27 Transportation Week: Grand Connection Walking Tour, 10am

10/27 Transportation Week: Sustainable Commutes with Metro Vanpool, 1pm

10/27 Jet City Improv’s Improv 101 starts at the NW Arts Center in Bellevue (7 week class), 7:30pm (link) There are also classes on Tues/Wed/Thu for more advanced students. 

10/28 Transportation Week: KC Metro Charging Station Tour, 10am (link)

10/28 Look for the Helpers discussion led by Supt. Kelly Aramaki about supporting students, 6:30-8pm 

10/29 Transportation Week: TOD and Bellhop Ride, 9:30am (link)

10/29 Halloween Luncheon at NBCC, 55+, 11:30-1pm

10/29 Transportation Week: Last Mile Talk and Happy Hour, 4pm (link)

10/30 Transportation Week: Future of the region, 9am (link)

10/30 TW: Micromobility Happy Hour, 3pm (link)

10/31 TW: Tour de Terminals bike tour of the Seattle Waterfront, 10am (link)

10/31 Halloween Factoria, 4:30-6:30pm (link) meet characters and trick-or-treat 

10/31 Open Mic night at Third Culture Coffee, 7-9pm (link)

10/31 Halloween Party at W Living Room Bar, 8-11:30pm (link)

11/1 Yoga in the Gallery at Avenue Bellevue 10:30am (link)

11/7 Open Clay studio at KidsQuest, 5-7pm – exploration is free with admission, glaze and firing is an extra $10.50 (link)

11/7 Family Chess Night at Crossroads, 7-8:45pm (link) recurs monthly 

11/8 Rebalance x Balmuda HIIT yoga class, tea, and light bites at W Bellevue, 9:30-noon (link)

11/15 Keep Bellevue Beautiful Eastgate cleanup, 9am (link)

11/16 TedX Factoria Humanity on the Brink, 3-5:30pm (link)

11/28-11/29 KidsQuest Gingerbread workshops, multiple times, the 21+ event is on Friday at 5pm (link)

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HOMA newsletter excerpt and letter to Planning Commission (link)

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