Published August 8 2018
On Monday, councilmembers agreed on the initial sequencing of the city’s highly anticipated Neighborhood Area Planning program. The schedule calls for two plans to be completed each year. The process will kick off in 2018-19 with the Northeast and Northwest Bellevue areas, followed by the Crossroads and Newport neighborhoods in 2019-20.
Bellevue has 16 neighborhood areas, which were established in the 2015 update to the Comprehensive Plan. The Downtown and BelRed areas were intentionally excluded from Monday’s discussion, because plans had been adopted for those two areas in 2004 and 2009, respectively. Adding to the complexity of the schedule, all plans must follow the annual amendment cycle for the Comprehensive Plan, as mandated by state law.
When complete, each neighborhood area plan will include a community profile, an opportunities map, a discussion of how of the plan fits into the larger Comprehensive Plan, and visions, goals and strategies for the future. Each plan will require a multi-layered process of engagement, draft development, and council review and action. The city is hoping to create an organic planning process shaped by the interests, priorities and ideas of those who live and work in each targeted neighborhood.
Further sequencing will be determined at a later council meeting, taking into account the results of the initial slate of plans. Additional information on the process is available in the agenda packet materials.
Parks & Community Services Board appointment
Later, during the regular session, the council unanimously appointed Pamela Unger to the city’s Parks & Community Services Board. Unger will serve in the vacated Position 1 seat, starting immediately. Her term expires on May 31, 2020.
Learn more about the Parks & Community Services Board on the city’s website.
Budget public hearing
Later in the evening, 16 members of the community spoke at the second of three public hearings on the 2019-2020 Budget and 2019-2025 Capital Investment Program Plan. A third and final hearing will take place in November.
Bellevue’s budget is produced every two years and includes a seven-year capital budget. The city manager is expected to present his preliminary budget to the council in the fall. Councilmembers will then review and approve the general and capital projects budgets sometime before the end of the year.
The full hearing is available to watch online courtesy of Bellevue Television (near the 37-minute mark). More background can be found in agenda packet materials.
NOTE: The council will be on summer recess during the month of August. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 10.