Published February 7 2022
City manager taps long-time city operational leader for interim role
City Manager Brad Miyake announced he has selected the director of the city’s Development Services department, Mike Brennan, as interim deputy city manager after current deputy city manager Kate Berens takes a new position with a city in the Midwest.
“Mike has been an outstanding leader within the organization since he joined the City of Bellevue more than 30 years ago,” said Miyake. “His ability to foster valuable relationships and support exceptional service delivery has helped build Bellevue’s reputation as a great jurisdiction to work with through the development process.”
Brennan will serve in an interim capacity at the deputy city manager position during this transition period. Brennan, who joined the city in 1987, has been director of Development Services since it split from the Planning and Community Development department in 2008. Prior to that, Brennan had served as the city’s building official and as deputy director for Planning and Community Development.
During Brennan’s tenure as Development Services director, the department spearheaded several innovations, including a move to paperless permitting just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, allowing a smooth transition to remote services. The department also continues to manage record levels of development and all associated permitting, inspections and land use changes. Further, Brennan was instrumental in the formation of a regional coalition of city officials and leaders focused on improving consistency in administration of development codes, a vision that evolved into the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional online permitting portal, MyBuildingPermit.com.
Two leaders within Development Services, current building official Gregg Schrader and land use director Liz Stead, will assume co-directorship of Development Services. Berens announced in late 2021 she would leave to take the role of deputy city manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She will remain with Bellevue until March 1.