Published April 25 2025
Plus, Ashwood Park next steps, Great Neighborhoods update and Arts Commission appointment
The City Council on Tuesday honored outgoing Councilmember John Stokes with both a reception and commendation acknowledging his 14 years of service on the council. Stokes announced his retirement earlier this month.
Neighborhood Enhancement Program
The council received an update on the Neighborhood Enhancement Program. Launched in 1988, this program gives residents the opportunity to recommend and select small city-funded capital improvements that typically would not qualify for support against larger or higher-priority projects.
Funds are allocated to NEP neighborhood areas based upon the number of households in each. The program rotates through 14 neighborhood areas in the city on a seven-year cycle. In 2024, 12 projects were completed and an additional nine are slated for completion in 2025.
This year, residents are in the process of selecting projects for the $445,000 that is available for Bridle Trails and the $380,000 for Northwest Bellevue. In 2026, the program comes to the Downtown NEP area with $975,000 and the Lake Hills area with $622,000.
Details are available in the meeting materials.
Ashwood Park planning progresses
The council discussed the master plan for Ashwood Park, originally developed in the 1990s. The park is located next to the Bellevue Library downtown.
The community weighed in via surveys on several master plan alternatives and ultimately preferred one that features a large open lawn with amphitheater-style seating, a plaza, an off-leash dog area, playground, parking, a restroom and picnic shelter. The plan is represented as Alternative F in the meeting materials. The community also preferred keeping the name Ashwood Park, with 92% of survey respondents choosing that name.
The Parks & Community Services Board recommendations concurred with the community input, and the council agreed to continue the required steps to develop the park.
Next steps include completion of environmental review prior to formal council adoption of the preferred master plan.
Updates on Great Neighborhoods planning efforts
The council also received an update on progress made on the 2024-2025 Comprehensive Plan amendments to the Crossroads and Newport neighborhood area plans. These plans – part of the city’s overarching Comprehensive Plan – are an important, community-driven tool for addressing changing needs and conditions for each of the city's 16 neighborhood areas.
Updates to the Crossroads and Newport plans through “Great Neighborhoods” outreach began in 2024 and will return to the council for review later this year. Staff have worked to identify core values and individual neighborhood identities, discovered priorities and conducted robust public engagement to inform the Crossroads and Newport area plans.
Community input included a desire for increased access to green public spaces, more opportunities for improved walking and biking connections and a wish to see vacant or underutilized sites repurposed, to name a few.
Details are available in the council materials.
Arts Commissioner selected
The council appointed Sandra Martinez Osorio to the Arts Commission. She will serve a partial term, expiring on May 31, 2028. Councilmember Stokes, the commission’s council liaison, made the recommendation.
Proclamations for Earth Day, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and International Firefighters' Day
The council issued proclamations in honor of Earth Day, Week of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and International Firefighters’ Day.
The full presentation and council discussion is available on Bellevue Television replay.
Note: The next council meeting will be Tuesday, May 6. The council does not meet on the fifth week of the month.