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City of Bellevue, WA City Council
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Council Roundup: Cross-Cultural center without walls advances

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    Published March 8 2024

    Community members at meeting to discuss a Cross-Cultural Center without walls.

    Plus, business survey, discussion about city manager selection and Women’s History Month

    At Monday’s meeting, the City Council was briefed on advancements toward making a Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls a reality in Bellevue.

    The city recently issued a request for proposals from organizations interested in providing cross-cultural events and programming. Selection of organizations will occur in early April. Starting in April and May, the city will then contract with selected organizations to host cross-cultural events and workshops in locations across Bellevue. The experiences will be designed around active intercultural engagement, learning and exchange.

    The intent of the Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls initiative is to create interactions between people and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural and other backgrounds. The pilot project will continue through May 2025. The project contracts with organizations are expected to range from $2,500 to $15,000. The Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls program is a component of a larger effort to research the feasibility of a physical cross-cultural center that would bring people together around shared intercultural experiences.

    Further detail is available in the meeting materials.

    Economic development report highlights business survey, retail study

    The council received a quarterly update from the city’s economic development team highlighting results from the recent 2023 Business Survey and a study on Bellevue's retail landscape.

    The fifth business survey conducted by the city showed that Bellevue maintains a strong business environment, with 80% of responding businesses saying Bellevue is a better place to operate a business than other cities, and 92% feeling Bellevue’s economy is stronger than other cities. Even so, challenges such as affordability and access to capital persist. 

    Feedback from Bellevue businesses on the survey highlighted a need to address issues like small business support and retail diversification. Economic diversification efforts through the city are already underway to reduce overreliance on the technology sector, promoting industries such as life sciences, interactive media, arts, tourism and more. Future initiatives include continuing to implement the Grand Connection, business district development and supporting the development of district-scale arts facilities.

    The city also undertook a recent comprehensive study of Bellevue’s retail environment. The study revealed healthy retail performance but emphasized the need for strategic planning amidst increased competition and demand for distinct retail districts with clear, niche identities. Retail is one of the six focus areas of the 2020 Economic Development Plan and employs more than 13,000 people in Bellevue.

    Results from both reports will help inform continuing work by the city and partners to grow and diversify Bellevue’s economy to foster long-term resilience and opportunity creation. The full presentation and discussion can be viewed on a replay through Bellevue Television.

    Council discusses process to select city manager

    In other business, the council discussed the process for selecting a permanent city manager. After former city manager Brad Miyake’s retirement last November, the council appointed deputy city manager Diane Carlson to serve as acting city manager, pending a permanent selection.

    In Bellevue's council-manager system, it is the council’s role to select the city manager, who oversees administrative affairs and policy implementation at the city. The council can choose between direct appointment or a recruitment for the new manager.

    The council was presented with options for permanently filling the position, and directed staff to begin creating a city manager profile as a first step to define desired characteristics and experience for the role. The council will revisit the topic at a future meeting and review options for next steps. More information is in the meeting materials.

    Women’s History Month celebrated

    Also at the meeting, the council read a proclamation for Women’s History Month in March. The recognition, first established by Congress in 1981, celebrates the vital contributions of women to our society and recognizes specific achievements women have made over the course of history in a variety of fields.

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