Tuesday
City Council
Councilmember Janice Zahn is going to Olympia, and her seat needs to be filled until the Nov election. Council discussed the 20 applicants in executive session, and the following people will be interviewed in City Council’s next meeting on March 18th (fifteen minutes per candidate)
– Jaskaran Singh Sarao https://www.singhforstatesenate.com/
– Claire Sumadawirya https://www.clairesumadiwirya.com/about
– Diala Ezzedine https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/city-managers-office/diversity-advantage-initiative/bdan
– Eric Drever – Tukwila police chief and game designer – Vishal Bhargava https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/community-development/planning-commission
See more Council items at bottom of email…
Wednesday
Planning Commission, 6:30pm
Middle Housing Study Session
Staff is proposing an immense density increase, roughly doubling the impact of HB 1110 and 1137. In large portions of the city, there may be 9 middle housing units and 2 ADUs on a parcel that currently has a single family home – and which is only intended to have 4 total units under these state laws. If 6 unit minimums are expanded throughout the city, existing law HB 1998 will allow these to have <200 sqft per unit co-housing buildings with no parking. Likely-to-pass SB 5184 will only require multifamily to have 0.5 parking spaces per unit – these will apply to some areas that are up to a mile walking distance from the nearest bus stop. Commissioners will ask questions of staff tonight, so this is an ideal time for them to hear from the public if you think there are issues they should ask about.
Sign up to speak here https://bellevuewa.gov/planning-oral-comms starting at noon today.
Wilburton Vision LUCA
Planning Commission will take action on the LUCA approval tonightÂ
Thursday
Bellevue School District Board Meeting, 4:30pm
Board to vote on the 2025-2026 Spending Reduction Plan, as adjusted based on community feedback https://www.bsd405.org/about-us/district-budget/2025-26-spending-reduction-plan-proposal/final-revisons
Transportation Commission, 6:30pm
Curb Pricing Study – Community Engagement Update
Community engagement was extensive and 269 people filled out the online survey. Staff is starting to do the curb pricing implementation planning, and the report will be ready in Fall 2025.
Mobility Implementation Plan Update
Ped/bike and vehicle capacity planning
Upcoming:
NW Bellevue neighborhood enhancement program coming in March ($380k)
3/26 Growth Management Planning Council meeting
3/26 Public meeting on Travara development
4/24 Eastrail Regional Advisory Council meeting
Comment opportunities:
The Transportation Facility Plan survey is open until 3/17
There’s a survey and a fun interactive map that shows all the potential projects.
https://www.engagingbellevue.com/2026-2037-tfp
The Mobility Implementation Plan “Open House” online map is available until 3/17
This has a map of the local walking and biking network as it exists and is being imagined. You can see other people’s comments on the map. I am not sure whether the red lines are supposed to denote areas where there are major pedestrian gaps or good pedestrian facilities; I think it’s both, but could also be a reflection of the fact that it includes a lot of old data.
https://www.engagingbellevue.com/2025-mip-update
City Council continued….
Consent Calendar was approved
Grand Connection go-forward design presentation to approve contracts to move into next phase (scope and budget)
Engineering design started 30 months ago, project is on time
Community programming fund $2500-10k grants launching in next several weeks – live music, farmers markets, other celebrations
Artist has been chosen to develop arts plan
Options for development of two city-owned parcels (Metro and Lincoln Center sites)
Plans to be ready for FIFA presence in 2026 (from City Hall Plaza to Bellevue Way)
Fall 2025: will discuss contractor and final design and engineering
Usable on Day 1, but allow additional amenities to be added over time.
Go-forward design $150-200M, 30′ width minimum, separate bike/ped paths. Cost estimate $400M+ altogether
Will ask state for permission to do General Contractor/Construction Manager instead of the traditional Design/Bid/Build, and a consultant will help with that application
Additional contracts required in 2025 to meet timeline
Design is 100% funded already, but 100% funding for Construction and ROW is key for state approval, and the O&M funding plan also in development
City portion likely to increase over previous assumptions if we cannot rely on state/federal funding
Bellevue may have a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 days for repeat offenders in car prowls and shoplifting. Current sentencing is typically 18-32 days. 8% of people with 3rd degree theft convictions have two prior convictions. Bellevue’s community court is expected to open Summer 2025.
Visit Bellevue has a plan to increase tourism revenues, and pointed to $1.9B of economic impact in 2024.