Published April 8 2014
Also, Meydenbauer Bay Park, East Link update, other news
The City Council on Monday unanimously selected Brad Miyake as Bellevue's next city manager, pending contract negotiations.
Miyake has served as acting city manager since May 2013 when former City Manager Steve Sarkozy resigned. The council's decision will be formalized once an employment contract is signed in the coming weeks.
"The council took a very deliberate approach in the selection of our next city manager," said Mayor Claudia Balducci. "Throughout this process, city staff exemplified professionalism and worked hard to ensure each councilmember was well-prepared for the interviews and ultimately the selection of our next city manager.
"This long and careful process yielded a group of candidates that reflected the best of the best," Balducci continued. "Brad Miyake's credentials and obvious ability to do the job, coupled with his thoughtfulness, integrity and responsiveness, are what ultimately pushed him to the top. And, this was not just the unanimous opinion of the council.
"City staff, community partners and members of the public provided valuable, substantive input into what they wanted and needed in our next city manager. The message was clear that Brad Miyake has proven himself to be the best candidate for the job. We, as a council, look forward to working with Brad to build upon the great things the city has accomplished."
During his 23 years at the City of Bellevue, Miyake has served as deputy city manager, Utilities director and deputy director, and the city's budget manager. Prior to joining the city, Miyake worked for King County and for the U.S. Government Accounting Office. He was born and raised in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
Under Bellevue's council-manager form of government, elected councilmembers are responsible for setting policy. They hire a city manager to implement their decisions and oversee the day-to-day operations of city government.
Action on first phase of Meydenbauer Bay Park
Councilmembers also approved a $1.6 million professional services agreement with Anchor QEA, LLC, to perform architectural, engineering and design work for the first phase of the Meydenbauer Bay Park project.
Planned work mostly will occur west of 99th Avenue Northeast, between Lake Washington Boulevard and the Meyenbauer Bay shoreline. It will include an expanded swimming beach, new restrooms, a shoreline promenade and plaza, pedestrian improvements, parking and environmental improvements. The project will move the city a step closer to fulfilling a long-standing vision of connecting the Meydenbauer Bay waterfront with nearby Downtown Park.
Previously, the council approved $9 million for the project in the city's 2013-2019 capital budget. In December, council members accepted a $3 million grant from the state Department of Commerce to accelerate the work.
East Link update
The council received its monthly update on the East Link light rail project. They directed staff to proceed with a proposed design for City Hall Plaza to potentially regain space that will be lost to the light rail alignment.
Other East Link topics covered in the update included opportunities to coordinate light rail work by Sound Transit with planned city road improvements on 120th Avenue Northeast, 124th Avenue Northeast, Northeast 15th Street and Northeast 16th Street. Updates also were given on station area planning efforts, public outreach and a staff work plan.
Arbor Day/Earth Day
The mayor declared Saturday, May 3, Arbor Day/Earth Day in Bellevue and invited residents to plant trees. In keeping with an annual tradition, more than 300 volunteers are expected that morning to plant native vegetation, remove invasive plants and improve trails at Bellevue parks. Also, for the 23rd consecutive year, the National Arbor Day Foundation recognized Bellevue as a "Tree City USA."
Appointments
Debra Kumar was appointed to a four-year term on the Parks & Community Services Board; Meredith Langridge was appointed to fill a four-year term on the Special Events Committee. Both terms expire on May 31, 2018.