Meetings for the week of July 21st - NewBellevue

Nicole Myers

— 8 min read

Tuesday, July 22nd

Startup425: Coworking in Redmond, 10:30-2pm (link)

The Bellevue-Redmond Tourism Promotion Area (BRTPA) budget and strategic plan. Lodging Charges are collected by Lodging Businesses with over 40 units in Bellevue and Redmond, and DOR remits those revenues to the City of Bellevue. The annual budget and strategic plan were developed with input from organizations currently contracted to administer the TPA funds for the two cities: OneRedmond and Visit Bellevue. Projected collections in 2026 are almost $4M. Bellevue will continue to have Bellhop, Bikehop (for hotel guests only), the airport shuttle, podcast, and is now developing a Tech Walking Tour with augmented reality. Redmond will use TPA funds to promote dog-friendly amenities and evaluate new and enhance existing transportation options in the city

Consent Calendar

Write-off of uncollectable accounts, $78k, collection agencies have given up on these

Contract for copiers and related services with Pacific Office Automation for another four years, $814k 

Study Session: Grand Connection update. Office of the Grand Connection formed and director appointed, property Tax Increment Financing allowance was given by the legislature since they weren't able to provide much funding in the budget.  the TIF might generate up to $44M in present dollars over a 25 year period for a subsection of Bellevue that has a maximum assessed valuation of $500M.  For context, the value of all properties in Bellevue is about $92B, iirc. Grants to activate public spaces have been allocated, and a community engagement pilot with transit information and wayfinding will launch this month. The contractor/construction manager (GC/CM) has been chosen (HNTB), though we still need state approval to move beyond 30% design. Value engineering is needed to keep within the budget; the visionary crossing estimates were far higher than expected, and we need to make it fit within $150-200M. The Transportation Benefit District (TBD) that was created in 2023 has not yet been used to collect funds and could be an extra 0.1% sales tax, generating $10M, and a $20 annual vehicle fee could raise $2M. If the city creates a Local Improvement District, there would be a special levy within the LID area to pay for capital investments. Less desirable funding options are the B&O tax and the banked property tax. 

Study Session: Micromobility code (motorized foot scooters) Authorizes e-scooter use on roadways, in bicycle lanes, on shared-use paths, along paved trails, and in city parks—except where prohibited by signage (Note: It is my understanding that signs will be posted for the Downtown Park circle, for instance, but it may also make sense to ask for a lower speed limit in parks). To enhance pedestrian safety, sidewalk riding is prohibited unless no safe alternative exists, consistent with state law. There will be new signage directing riders to dismount on certain sidewalks. No helmet mandate, allowed 24/7 with the use of reflectors (Note: I think the requirement should be lights instead since pedestrians and park users do not have headlights to illuminate the reflectors). Minimum riding age raised to 16, max speed limit of 15 MPH. 

Study Session: Sustainable Bellevue Quarterly Progress Report and update for 2026-2030

To meet our 2050 goal,  All new construction to be electric;  Decarbonizing existing commercial and multi-family buildings;  1,250 homes to be retrofitted with heat pumps annually;  Transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy;  Reducing annual vehicle miles travelled equivalent to taking over 31,000 cars off the road by 2050; and  100 percent of vehicles registered to be electric.

For Residential decarbonization, there is scaling up Energy Smart Eastside, and other strategies will apply to multifamily and commercial buildings. Funding is needed to promote transit access and reliability, and also fund implementation of the Sustainable Bellevue Plan. Bellevue will support resiliency and the transition to renewable energy. There are groupings of Priority (rapid), Catalyst (longer-term), and Resilience strategies to categorize potential actions.

In a recent survey, 81% of residents say that they have experienced climate impacts such as extreme heat and smoke. The City has partnered with two community-based organizations (CBOs), Eastside for All and The Little Masters Club, to co-design engagement activities and additionally engaged six other CBOs as well as engaging over 25 Bellevue students as youth sustainability ambassadors. There is a 132 page Engagement Summary, which is mostly the free response portion of the survey, and it is great to see what the community thinks about these efforts. 

City energy usage was slightly decreasing in 2018 and 2019, fell significantly in 2020, and has been fairly flat since.  The big change was in Buildings and Facilities energy use. 


Wednesday, July 23rd

5pm deadline to apply for this year's Bellevue Essentials course (link)

Neighborhood Walk in Eastgate from SBCC, 6:30-8pm (link)

Public Hearing: Neighborhood Area Plan for Newport – Boundaries of Newport and Factoria are being realigned. Community members expressed: • A desire for better walking connections, bike lanes, and sidewalks across and alongside busy streets or arterials roads. • Dedicated arts and cultural facilities and culturally diverse murals and artwork that could offer increased opportunities to celebrate cultural events, history, and celebrate diversity. • Ease of access and orientation to natural areas and other green spaces. • Indoor spaces for community gathering were vital to the conversation with neighborhood participants. Staff Report has more maps than Attachment D. Land Use portion of this Neighborhood Area Plan will no longer be included.

Critical Areas Ordinance We are required to periodically review and evaluate their adopted critical areas policies and regulations using Best Available Science (BAS) every 10 years. At the June 25 study session, Planning Commissioners had questions and comments related to the following topics:  Reasonable use exception  Measuring stream buffers from top-of-bank versus ordinary high-water mark  Performance-based strategies  Site potential tree height      For the Reasonable Use Exception, some of the changes include  Simplifying and consolidating requirements  Expanding the allowance for the number of units so long as the footprint is the same  Continuing to ensure the same minimization of impacts to critical areas 

    Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) is the industry standard, and the best practice supported by regional training and state and federal guidance. In comparison, "top of bank" can be less reliable, especially in areas with low or poorly defined banks.      

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) recommended methodology using Site Potential Tree Height (SPTH), to establish Riparian Management Zones (RMZs) and define stream buffers. Bellevue’s current average stream buffer is 85.5 feet  Applying the recommended Site Potential Tree Height (SPTH) method produced a range between 100 and 231 feet, with a large proportion of buffers falling within a range between 187 and 196 feet. This is more than 80 feet larger than our current largest standard buffer for a fish bearing stream or shoreline of the state at 100 feet.  87% of all Bellevue stream buffers would be larger under SPTH  Only 13% of all streams in the city would have the same buffer with either method applied, and there are no instances where a stream buffer would decrease. Based on Council’s direction to balance housing growth, environmental protection, and to simplify our LUCA approach, it was determined that the SPTH methodology is not consistent with this direction. The substantial increase in buffer widths could significantly constrain redevelopment opportunities within our growth areas.     

Other items in the CAO are to add performance-based incentives for daylighting and moving streams, update habitat score, add language regarding buffer vegetation standards for wetlands, add language requiring habitat corridors as part of the minimization measures for smaller buffers, add exemption request allowance for any general geologic hazard area where it can be shown that the slope in the area was manmade, and remove Density/Intensity Calculation in LUC 20.25H.045 (to support Development Factor and Residential Density). 

Thursday, July 24th

Association of Washington Cities Legislative Priorities Committee (link) Nieuwenhuis is our liaison, if there are things we'd like to see added to this.  

Neighborhood Walk in Cougar Mountain/Lakemont, 6:30-8pm (link)

Upcoming:  

7/31 BSD School Board Meeting (retreat on the 29th)

8/7 Network on Aging (BNOA) meeting (link)

8/13 BDC meeting 

9/4 ESC Surface and Storm Water System Plan Update, Utility Bill Assistance Program Expansion

9/10 Planning Commission: HOMA and Planning Commision roles & responsibilities

9/11 Transportation Commission: MIP Update, TFP Update, Curb Pricing 

9/18 NEP open house at NWAC for Northwest Bellevue 

9/24 Planning Commission Critical Areas Ordinance LUCA 

10/2 ESC: Sewer cost-of-service analysis 

10/7 Environmental Sustainability draft at Council, for adoption Nov 18th 

10/8 Quarterly BDC meeting 

10/8 Planning Commission, Neighborhood Area Planning – Eastgate & Factoria, Affordable Housing Strategy Update

10/9 Transportation Commission: MIP and TFP updates 

10/22 Planning Commission: CAO LUCA, HOMA 

Recurring events: Flowers, produce and music events 

Tuesdays: Crossroads Farmers Market, 12-6pm (link)

Thursdays: Bellevue Farmers Market, 3-7:30pm (link)

T/W/Th: Spring District Farm Stand, 11am-3pm (link)

Thursdays: Summer Concerts and Market (Spring District), Music 3-4pm, Market 3-7pm (link)

Live at Lunch Concert and food trucks 12-1pm, most W/Th/F at various locations in Downtown Bellevue 

U-pick Blueberries at Mercer Slough and Larsen Lake are open every day except Monday, and see link for farmstand hours (link)

Bellevue Botanical Garden has garden tours, classes, and events.

In July Copper Kettle is closed on Mondays but opens at 10am on other days, and sandwiches can be preordered (link)

Fun and educational events:

7/21 Feathers and Fun: A Birding Class for Curious (Kids ages 7-12) 10-11:30am (link)

7/22 Pop! Phase Out Plastic 6-7pm, virtual (link) 

7/22 Art on the Avenue guided tour 5:30-6:30 (link)

7/22 Downtown Movies in the Park:  Pokemon: Detective Pikachu Entertainment begins at 7pm and the movie at dusk (link) 

7/25 Rethink, Reuse, Refresh: Safer Cleaners 12-1pm, Bellevue Botanical Garden (link) 

7/25 Tree Giveaway applications open (link)

7/25-7/27 Bellevue Arts Fair Weekend (link)

7/26 $5 Yoga in the park (link)

7/26 free Boxing for Belonging workout series in Downtown Park, 1:30-3pm 

7/30 Startup425 Eastside Summit, 1-5pm (link)

7/30 Build a Popsicle Stick Catapult 3-4:30pm, Bellevue Library (link)

7/30 Chalk Art Fest at the Northwest Arts Center, 3-6pm 

7/31 Crossroads Movies in the Park:  Cool Runnings Entertainment begins at 7pm and the movie at dusk (link) 

8/1-8/3 Seafair Weekend (link)

8/1-8/3 Opening weekend for A Fairy Modern Midsummer with Bellevue Youth Theatre 

8/2 Bellevue International Festival at Crossroads, Noon-5pm (link) 

8/6 Abridged Romeo and Juliet at NWAC 

8/8 Scrap Cooking Club, 12-1pm at BBG 

8/12 Startup425: Startup and Small Business coworking in Bellevue (link)

8/16 Nike and TruFusion HIIT class (link)

9/13 Keep Bellevue Beautiful Signature Streets cleanup (link)

Opportunities: 

Bellevue Botanical Garden is looking for volunteers for horticulture, visitor experience, educational programs, events like Arts in the Garden and Garden d'Lights, and organizational support. (link)

Bellevue Essentials applications are being taken now for the class of 2025, through July 23rd. This is a ten week course that's an introduction to Bellevue city government and is a great way to get started if you'd like to be involved or volunteer. https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/community-development/neighborhoods/classes-and-events/bellevue-essentials

It has been pointed out that office hours for our City Council are not well-publicized.  You can go to each person's profile page (here's Mo's) and the time slot is listed on the far right. Contact the Council Office (counciloffice@bellevuewa.gov) to confirm availability and schedule a meeting.
Mayor Lynne Robinson: Wednesdays, 1:30-5:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 1-5 p.m.
Mo Malakoutian: Fridays, 3-6 p.m.
Vishal Bhargava: Fridays, 3:30-5 p.m.
Dave Hamilton: Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Conrad Lee: No set hours, contact counciloffice@bellevuewa.gov to schedule a meeting
Jared Nieuwenhuis: Thursdays and Fridays, 2-4 p.m.
Claire Sumadiwirya: Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 

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