Meetings for the week of December 8th

Nicole Myers

— 9 min read

Monday, December 8th 

Special City Council meeting and 2026 Legislative Priorities briefing with state legislators, 4pm 

Tuesday, December 9th 

Swearing in of elected councilmembers (though I believe the transition is not until January) Selection of the process to elect the mayor and deputy mayor in January. Selection of the temporary chair for the January 6th meeting. 

Consent Calendar: 

  • Claims and payroll for November, $19.6M and $18.6M
  • Traffic enforcement cameras code change to expand speed camera use beyond school zones to high-risk areas such as hospitals, parks, school walk zones, and locations with high crash risk due to speeding, setting fine at $124, and double in school zones. Identification of 7 sites to have traffic cameras activated in Q3 2026. 
  • One year agreement with Premera Blue Cross for city employee health insurance, $1.62M 
  • New vactor truck from Owen Equipment, about $700k, for delivery in early 2027. 
  • Labor agreement with firefighters for 2025-2027 (only affects 18 personnel working in prevention and education). 
  • Increase in the amount of sick leave that employees can cash out when they leave and offering the health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) to more employees. 

Adoption of the Diversity Action Plan 2035 

Critical Areas Ordinance update - this is done about once every 10 years and we will lose access to some grants if it is not completed by the end of the month. State law requires the designation and protection of five types of critical areas: wetlands, critical aquifer recharge areas, frequently flooded areas, geologically hazardous areas, and fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas. In general, this has been taken as an opportunity to eliminate roadblocks to development and will result in more growth near environmentally sensitive areas. Some of that is probably good - it's expected to unlock development near BelRed - but the idea of multifamily and/or commercial on lots that need a reasonable use exception seems unnecessary. Recent updates that reflect feedback received from the Department of Ecology and are primarily technical in nature are highlighted in yellow in the draft. On November 12th, Council requested that staff start scoping a potential future amendment related to Category III wetland fill to enable more housing potential (I think the focus is TOD areas, but it is not mentioned here). 

In my comment to council, I requested the following: "Of the things that might make a difference, the four simplest to implement at this late hour are the retention of the Intensity Factor section, a reasonable use exception that is capped at a single residence/single residence + ADU/duplex (WDFW recommends single family, non-commercial only), the 30 foot setback from critical area buffers that is obviously helpful as we face more WUI fire risk, and the SPTH for stream buffer sizing (as Woodinville and King County are doing).

         There are also some things in the WDFW recommendations that would really be nice to include if we have more time, such as the identification of specific species and habitats that are important for the city. I think we should leverage the resources WDFW is offering in terms of stream classification, if we don’t have funding in the budget for a city evaluation, rather than relying on consultants that are hired by individual developers. There are also concerning flexibilities for the director to allow reduced environmental function based on cost rather than the feasibility of protecting wetlands, and the idea that there would be site specific exemptions based on evaluation of minimal impact will also allow piecemeal losses. It appears we need to tighten up our requirements for dense native planting as well as fenced protection of the buffers and enforce actual implementation of the native planting that is agreed to." 

Wednesday, December 10th 

Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per individual.On the agenda are the budget, admission/registration/graduation/tuition/fee waivers, changes to policies regarding vision/mission, college planning, electronic communications, data security, and breach notifications, admissions, and the student conduct code, and there is also a tenure item. 

HOMA public hearing: Land Use Code Amendment to expand housing opportunities in mixed-use areas. The City has adopted a target to create 5,700 affordable housing units between 2026-2036. In 2022, the office market was more competitive, often outcompeting residential development in areas like Downtown. To address that imbalance and encourage affordable housing production, the City adopted Phase One: Downtown Interim Official Control (IOC) in May 2023.  Key provisions included: • A larger floor area ratio (FAR) exemption paired with a higher market-to-affordable unit square footage ratio • Parking reductions • Reduced upper-level stepbacks • Flexible FAR “movement” within a project. The HOMA scope was revised in 2024 in response to cooling office construction, new growth targets, and new land use designations in the Comprehensive Plan. 

Since September, some modifications include - ability to pay the fee-in-lieu to get extra building height, rather than actually building affordable units, exemption from ground floor pedestrian-oriented uses* on lots under 20,000 sqft. In October, amenity stacking up to 50% of the base FAR in the area was added, a decrease in the minimum affordable FAR to 0.1 to participate in bonus square footage, and a smaller outdoor plaza minimum to get the height bonus (now 7% of lot area).  (*as an example of what this would have looked like, there is a building called The Karsti in Seattle that included a barbershop in their residential building, despite the fact that it was on a 5,000 sqft lot)

In this meeting, it is likely that a loophole for multiple 9-unit buildings will be closed and a land transfer program created as an alternative, as long as it is within 2 miles. There is also suggested wording for a change that would require 25 foot setbacks from the building that is taller than the neighboring zone, rather than 25 foot setbacks from the property line. In attachment E, I am very happy to see proposed wording that all significant trees within 15 feet of the property line be maintained. It appears that there still has not been a decision about mandatory vs voluntary affordability, but staff is recommending the mandatory option. 

A table that provides a good high level summary is provided in Attachment G; there are different impacts depending on the area and zoning and which option the PC chooses. The overall impact will be mainly the increase in FAR and eliminated limits on lot coverage by structures, and taller building heights. 

Thursday, December 11th

Upcoming meetings:     

12/18 BSD School Board meeting 

1/14 Planning Commission: BelRed LUCA update and Comp Plan Amendment preview (Evans Plaza)

1/15 PSRC Growth Management Policy Board 

1/22 PSRC Executive Board 

1/28 Planning Commission: Process improvements 

2/11 Planning Commission: PSRC centers and Evans Plaza Threshold Review  

Opportunities:

BSD School Board Director vacancy for Director District 4 (West Lake Sammamish and parts of Eastgate, Lake Hills, and Crossroads) (link) Nominate someone or apply by January 7th. 

Bellevue Utilities is updating three essential plans that guide how the city manages its storm and surface water, drinking water, and wastewater systems. Residents are invited to share feedback through a short online survey and to apply for a focus group (link) Survey has been extended through January 1st. 

Fun and Educational Events: 

Holiday photos: Jingle Bellevue (free!), Nordstrom Bellevue Square, Snowflake Lane Factory, Marketplace at Factoria, The Holiday Collective at Avenue, Crossroads Mall

Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink has group skating lessons from 5:30-7:30pm most days (free with admission) (link)

Soccer Scavenger Hunt in Old Bellevue, through Dec 21st (link)

Snowflake Lane performances nightly at 7pm (link), and the BAM balcony can be booked for viewing parties (link)

Bellevue School District Open Houses are happening in the next couple weeks and some will also be offered in January (link)

12/5-12/7 Family Holiday sing along with Ms. Chrisi at Westin Bellevue, 4-5pm (link)

12/5-12/23 The Nutcracker at Meydenbauer Center Theatre (link)

12/5-12/20 The Truth by Florian Zeller at Theatre33, 7pm (link)

12/6 Festival of the Nativity creches on display for 8 days, starting at 1pm (link)

12/6-12/21 The Silver Key at Theatre33, performances at 11am, 2pm, and 5pm on various days (link)

12/8 Registration opened at noon for Parks sponsored activities (link)

12/8 Holiday Magic Auction to support Treehouse starts (link)

12/9-12/10 Christmas in Washington Celtic Christmas at Meydenbauer Center (link)

12/10 St. Louise School Choir at Bellevue Square, 11:30am (link)

12/10 Catapult Accelerator Showcase Night, 4:30-7:15 (link)

12/10 Tech Talk Night with WiDS (Women in Data Science) and PuPPy (Puget Sound Programming Python), 5:30-7:30pm (link)

12/10 BSD Language Programs Info Night at BSD Welcome Center, 5:30-7:30pm (link) Incoming kindergarten families will have the opportunity to submit applications for language program lotteries December 15, 2025 to January 16, 2026.

12/10-12/11 Bellevue Big Picture School Open Houses 6:30-8pm (High School and Middle School)

12/10 Wu Fei performs on zither at Bellevue College Carlson Theatre, 7:30pm (link)

12/11 Autumn Watercolors class at the Bellevue Library, 10:30am-noon

12/11 Hollywood Hill Elementary Choir and HanShan Performing Arts Choir at Bellevue Square, 10:30 and 11:30am, (link)

12/11 Spring District Holiday Celebration and indoor Holiday Market with live reindeer and carolers, 3-7pm (link)

12/11 Intro to Autodesk Fusion at Bellevue Library Makerspace, 4:30-5:30pm (link)

12/11 Startup425 Coworking at Bellevue City Hall from 10:30-2pm (link)

12/12 Pine Lake Middle School Orchestra, 10:30 and 11:30am (link)

12/12-12/14 Winter Wreath making at the Westin, 4-5pm (link)

12/12-12/14 Bellevue Youth Theatre's Elf: The Musical Jr.

12/12 Eastside Improv student showcase at the Redmond Community Center, 6:30pm (link)

12/13 Keep Bellevue Beautiful Crossroads cleanup starting at Stevenson Elementary, 9-10:30am (link)

12/13 Santa Brunch fundraiser at Moss Bay Hall for Kirkland Mainstreet, $35, 10am-1pm (link)

12/13 Saturday Craft and Scrapbooking Workshop in South Bellevue, lunch included 10-4pm (link)

12/13 Jingle Bellevue: Cookie Decorating at Vanity Pham Salon on 102nd, 12-4pm, recurs 12/20, free (link)

12/13 Jingle Bellevue: Write a letter to Santa at House of Hebe, 12-4pm, recurs 12/20, free (link)

12/13 Jingle Bellevue: Photos with Santa at 520 Bar and Grill, 12-4pm, recurs 12/20, free (link)

12/13 Winter Princesses at the Marketplace at Factoria, 12-4pm (link)

12/13 Winter Wonderland Kids Day Away - an ice rink field trip and pizza and a movie at Samena, 2:30-8:30pm (link)

12/13 Ladies' event at W Bellevue, 3:30-10pm (link)

12/13 Feeling Good! Winter Concert, karaoke, and afterparty, 5-9pm (link)

12/13 International Ballet Theatre's The Nutcracker at Meydenbauer Center

12/13 Bellevue Chamber Chorus, 7:30pm (link)

12/14 Grand Menorah lighting at BAM, 5-6:30pm (link)

12/15 Bird Walk at Lake Sammamish State Park, 8-11am (link)

12/15 BSD's open transfer, choice school and language program application period opens

12/16 Bellevue Youth Choir at Market Stage Crossroads, 5-5:30pm (link)

12/16 Glassybaby wreath-making at Suite, 6-8pm (link)

12/16 Take Transit to the Skating Rink (and get $5 off) - will meet at the Bellevue Downtown Link Station at 6pm and walk to Downtown Park, viewing holiday lights on the way (link)

12/16 Eastside Audubon book club - Of Time and Turtles, 7-9pm (link)

12/17 Holiday Luncheon (55+) at the North Bellevue Community Center, $5, 11:30-1pm

12/17 Bellevue Library Book Group: Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend, 11am-1pm (link)

12/17 Queer Climb Night at Edgeworks Bel-Red, 7-9pm (link), recurs monthly

12/19-12/21 Merry K-ristmas Market in Factoria shopping art beauty food and DIY fun with Asian-owned brands. Friday and Saturday 12 pm to 8 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm (link)

12/20 Christmas Bird Count - Eastside Audubon has 15 groups, and one begins at Phantom Lake in Bellevue and traverses the Greenbelt trail to Larsen Lake and Blueberry Farm. The team also drives to two other stops. 18+ (link) The Seattle event is Dec 14.

12/20 Become a Techno-Naturalist - advice on using Merlin, eBird, and iNaturalist at Seward Park Audubon in Seattle, 11am-3pm (link)

12/20 Legion Legacy Toy Drive - bring a toy and have your photo with a sports legend, 12-2pm (link)

12/20-12/21 Gingerbread Decorating Class at the Westin, 4pm (link)

12/22 Holiday Ships at Meydenbauer Bay Park, event starts at 8:15pm, choir performance 8:40-9pm

12/31 Ascend's Havana Nights NYE Celebration, 7pm

12/31 Cinema NYE Celebration at W Bellevue, 9pm (link)

1/7 Preschool Information Session, Virtual on Teams, 10-11am (link)

1/7 School Funding Town Hall with 10 school districts at Newport HS, 7-9pm

1/9 Teen Art Studios by Gage Academy at HCC. Free drop-in class on Fridays with dinner and materials provided, and new mediums are taught each month. 6-9pm (link)

See updates to the Event Listing at https://newbellevue.com/?page_id=82


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