Published January 13 2016
Also, South Bellevue Station community report
On Monday evening during an extended study session, the City Council was briefed on the recent completion of the biennial Human Services Needs Update. The report is an extensive assessment of Bellevue's local human services needs, incorporating the input of more than 400 residents. The findings will be used by the Human Services Commission as they develop recommendations for the 2017-18 budget.
Councilmembers were updated on a number of issues including the concern over affordable housing and increase in local homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse support. Despite these challenges, respondents continue to give the city high marks in terms of livability. Ninety six percent of residents who completed the survey rated the overall quality of life in Bellevue as either "excellent" or "good."
The Humans Services Needs Update has been published by the city since 1989. The report is also used extensively by community-based agencies, city staff, other local jurisdictions and a number of faith-based organizations for planning purposes.
Final South Bellevue Station Area Plan report
Councilmembers later heard a presentation of the final South Bellevue Station Area Plan Report. The report looks at ways to better integrate the future East Link light rail station at the South Bellevue park-and-ride with the surrounding area, such as the Enatai neighborhood and the Mercer Slough Nature Park. Station area planning is a separate process conducted by the city. It is distinct from Bellevue and Sound Transit's ongoing design and mitigation discussion over the East Link project.
The council accepted staff's recommendation to proceed with the implementation of the report's strategies. These strategies range from capital improvement projects to code and policy amendments to leveraging other city programs. The city has been working with a citizen advisory committee and community stakeholders on planning for the area around the future East Main station and will be presenting the committee's recommended East Main Station Area Plan to the council later this year.