Today
King County Council, 1:30pm
Discussion of County Consortium Consolidated Plan
Housing Needs Assessment, Housing Market Analysis, Strategic Plan and Citizen Participation Plan
City Council, 6pm
Keep Bellevue Beautiful events and Adopt-a-street program, probation partnership, Earth Day plans, and shopping cart retrieval contract
Councilmember Janice Zahn is going to Olympia, with a resignation date of March 28th. Her seat needs to be filled until the Nov election. Council discussed the 20 applicants in executive session, and the following five people will be interviewed (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
2025 State Legislative Update
We are requesting support for the Grand Connection bridge over I-405 and City Hall Plaza reconfiguration, the I-405/SR 167 corridor, the 520 interchange at 124th, support with digital permitting, and affordable housing funding and time. As of last week, there are still bills in motion on the following topics: transit-oriented development (House Bill 1491), lot-splitting (House Bill 1096), state review of housing elements (Senate Bill 5148), parking preemption (Senate Bill 5184), STEP housing (House Bill 1195), mobile dwellings (HB 1443), and more.
Senate will release a proposed budget first, and then the House. The Governor’s budget saves about $4B. A special session may be required if the federal government cuts Medicaid. Some transportation projects may be delayed, and seven new revenue options are being considered (gas tax increase, increases in vehicle registration fees, passenger vehicle weight fees, light duty truck fees, freight project fees, ferry fares, and drivers’ license fees). We want to continue local control of the B&O tax revenue, and would like to revise the 1% cap on property tax growth. Bellevue supports bike and pedestrian infrastructure, Vision Zero, smart mobility, and autonomous vehicles, and environmental stewardship funding.We are also requesting money for utilities expansion and protection from litigation about supportive housing. Bellevue supports affordability goals for TOD. We have over 12,000 housing units in the development pipeline.
Bellevue also has requests to support first responders, law enforcement, justice system, community safety, behavioral health, access to housing, and some/all? of the Association of Washington Cities’ agenda items for 2025.
Wednesday
Parks and Community Services Board, 6pm
Update on CIP park spending plans
Presentation by the Probation Services Division – more than 1500 clients annually
Resource Management presentation about park grounds maintenance and structural operations (playgrounds, community centers, restrooms, etc)
Upcoming:
3/26 Growth Management Planning Council meeting
3/26 Public meeting on Travara development
3/26 Neighborhood Enhancement Plan Kickoff Zoom meeting for NW Bellevue
3/27 Sign Code Listening Session #1
4/1 submit comment to planning commission by 11 am if you want it to be in the packet
4/2 PC packet with updated middle housing draft available online.
4/2 Olympia policy committees cutoff
4/3 Permit policy changes info sessions, 12 and 6pm
4/3 PSRC Growth Management Policy Board
4/4 Sign Code Listening Session #2
4/8 Olympia fiscal committee cutoff
4/9 Quarterly Bellevue Development Committee meeting
4/9 Public Hearing at Planning Commission about Middle Housing
4/16 Legislative Floor cutoff in Olympia
4/22 Ashwood Park presentation to City Council
4/24 Eastrail Regional Advisory Council meeting
5/12 Meydenbauer Park update to City Council
Comment opportunities:
https://www.engagingbellevue.com/sign-code-update/surveys/signcodequestionnaire
How satisfied are you with the current sign regulations?
What concerns, if any, do you have about existing signs in Bellevue?
Are there specific areas in the city where you would like to see signage improve? If yes, please explain where and the ideal type of improvements.
Should the city be more flexible with signage in commercial districts?
Should the city be more flexible with signage regulations in residential districts?
In commercial areas, which would you prefer sign rules to be the same all over?
How should digital/electronic signage be regulated?
What types of temporary signs do you see most often?
Should removal of temporary signs that are damaged, faded, or in disrepair be required?
Do you think that temporary signs enhance or detract from the visual appeal?
Join city staff and your fellow Northwest Bellevue Neighborhood Area residents to kick off the Neighborhood Enhancement Program (NEP) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. via ZOOM.
RSVP to Neighborhoodoutreach@bellevuewa.gov to receive Zoom meeting link.