Published July 18 2018
On Monday night, the City Council by a 4-3 vote approved a Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) for shelters and homeless services. The LUCA adds regulations to the land use code to determine how and where a homeless shelter can be sited in Bellevue. The vote did not involve the selection of a specific site for a permanent men’s shelter.
Following the vote on the ordinance, Mayor John Chelminiak thanked the community for its engagement and involvement in the LUCA process. Public outreach to the community about siting a permanent men’s shelter began in 2016. Most recently, starting in March, the council sought public input for development of the LUCA.
Since August 7, 2017, an emergency ordinance has been in place that outlined the permitting process required to establish a homeless shelter in the city. With the adoption of permanent citywide regulations, an extension of the emergency ordinance is no longer necessary. A previously scheduled public hearing for Monday, July 23, has been canceled.
More information is available in an earlier news release.
Puget Sound Energy franchise agreement
Earlier during the study session, councilmembers were provided an update on the status of negotiations surrounding the updated franchise agreement for electrical energy with Puget Sound Energy and related Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). The agreement is mandated under state law and necessary to manage the city’s publicly-owned rights of way. The five MOUs specifically address community-raised concerns over vegetation management, discontinued poles, performance and reliability, and administrative concerns over facility records and relocation procedures.
The franchise agreement does not apply to private property where, for instance, substations may be located. Bellevue’s existing review processes provided in the Land Use Code are where the city and residents can provide input on new facilities. The agreement would also not apply to major projects such as Energize Eastside, since most of the facilities are located within PSE’s privately-owned easements. In those cases, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is the prime regulator.
Based on feedback and additional information requested by councilmembers, the item is set to return for further consideration in September. More details, including a draft of the agreement, can be found in the agenda packet materials.
Honoring Chinese-American World War II veterans
The council also took a moment to unanimously pass a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to pass a bill collectively awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese-Americans who served during World War II. During the war, nearly 20,000 Chinese-Americans served in the U.S military. Despite their service, up to 40 percent were unable to become citizens until midway through the conflict when the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed. During the discussion, it was also noted that many World War II veterans have passed away, giving the recognition greater urgency.
Bellevue’s support of the bill will be shared with the state’s congressional delegation and other local cities. The full resolution is available to view in the agenda packet materials.