Published October 29 2020
Plus, public hearing on minimum parking standards
On Monday, the City Council received a report on a civil emergency declaration and associated weapons ban issued over the weekend. The emergency actions, which were terminated later that evening, were due to the threat of violence associated with planned protests in the downtown area. No injuries occurred and no businesses were vandalized.
“This group marched until they decided they didn’t want to march anymore. And we were quite clear with this group, if you are here to peacefully protest, we are here to provide that [safe] environment, and that’s what we did,” said Police Chief Steve Mylett. “There were counter protestors at different points in the march and we were able to allow both groups to lift their voices, get their messages heard in a safe environment.”
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Mayor Lynne Robinson signed a Proclamation of Civil Emergency in Bellevue and an emergency order banning certain items that could be used as weapons in the downtown area. The order was enacted at 7:10 p.m. and terminated at 10:35 p.m. when the demonstration activities wrapped up without incident.
Chief Mylett walked through the circumstances leading up to the Saturday event and some of the information that prompted the decision to enact an emergency order. Bellevue Police reached out to regional law enforcement partners to request additional information and mutual aid due to a concern the city wouldn’t have enough resources if members of the demonstration became violent or destructive. They also informed business owners and the public of the information they had collected.
The city attorney reported that enacting the emergency order provides a tool for police to better protect people and businesses in the area when there is a credible threat of violence. Without the order, police would have to wait until a crime had occurred before stepping in and confiscating items being used to cause harm or destroy property. During the event, Bellevue Police did not need to confiscate any weapons and property damage was limited to graffiti in the street.
In addition to the information presented by the police and fire chiefs and city attorney, a number of residents spoke on the topic during oral communications. Two people spoke in support of the actions taken by the city and two people voiced concerns about the preparations and notice for an event that turned out to be peaceful.
In a video Q&A also released Monday, Chief Mylett stated, “Was it an overreaction? No, it wasn’t. Based on everything that we knew, we were prepared for the worst, but the worst didn’t happen, and I think it was because we were prepared and we were present.”
Later in the meeting councilmembers unanimously ratified the emergency order. The full discussion, including public comment on this topic and the council vote, is available through video replay of the meeting.
Budget briefing on Development Services fees
Councilmembers were presented with the first of several rate presentations during the budget deliberations, containing proposed amendments to development permit fees and rates, and changes to school district impact fees for the Issaquah and Renton school districts.
Each year an internal cost of service study is initiated using tools that assess service levels, financial performance, and changes in development activity. The Development Services department noted the continuing significant demand for construction permits, particularly for leased office space in Bellevue. The value of construction projects in 2020 may reach the highest levels ever during the current development cycle that has been going for more than six years.
Based on the results of the cost of service study and the expectations for the current development cycle, the department proposed raising building permit fees by 1 percent while increasing hourly rates between 1.6 percent and 4 percent for the variety of services provided. The department also has proposed five additional employees in the budget to keep pace with the continuing demand, noting that the department doesn’t hire for positions until the workload and revenue through fees exists to support those positions.
The budget proposal aims to maintain predictable and understandable fees for customers while keeping costs in line with the current market and regionally competitive. The adjustments would add $414,000 to the Development Services budget in 2021.
The Issaquah School District and the Renton School District levy school impact fees on new residential developments in Bellevue that are within those districts. The city collects and passes the fees through to the school districts. Based on the districts’ Capital Facilities Plans (CFPs) those fees are increasing by between 1 percent and 2.8 percent in 2021, depending on the district and the type of housing development.
The council unanimously voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance with the amendments as part of the 2021-2022 budget adoption process. The materials detailing the proposed adjustments are in the meeting agenda item.
Public hearing on minimum parking standards
Earlier in the meeting, a public hearing was held on whether to extend an interim official control ordinance setting minimum parking standards for affordable housing developments near transit service.
On May 18, the council passed a motion directing the Planning Commission to process a permanent Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA) related to these parking standards. In addition, councilmembers approved an interim official control (IOC) to operate until the permanent LUCA is adopted. Because the IOC expires after six months, the meeting action serves to extend the regulations for another six months. The first study session for the permanent LUCA is expected in early 2021.
Six people gave public comment during the public hearing. Four speakers were in favor of the ordinance and two people spoke against enacting reduced minimum parking standards. A replay of the hearing is available on Bellevue Television.