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Mar 16, 2021

Now onto the Community Crisis Assistance Team update - this is the program that would use a team of officers trained in mental health responses to arrive plainclothed (but armed) to mental health crises. BPD definitely needs improvement in this regard.

seattletimes.com

Bellevue police agree to $125,000 settlement after a call for a welfare check ends with handcuffs,...

A federal lawsuit alleged a Bellevue Police Department policy that allowed officers to enter a home and take into custody anyone they believed to be a danger to themselves is unconstitutional.

Chief Mylett beginning the talk by introducing the new Assistant Police Chief, Wendell Shirley. From Shirley: "To the Bellevue community - I look forward to meeting you, listening to you, and working with you side-by-side to make Bellevue an even better city."

BPD is looking at ways to integrate the CCAT program with the BFD Cares Team program, but things are still in development. Chief is hoping for a pilot version of the program in Q2. Aaaaaaaaaaand that's it. No real details tonight. Huh.

Now moving on to the MFTE program update. This is the first of maybe 2 study sessions - staff will come back in April with responses to Council feedback tonight. Staff member Mac Cummins talking about the importance of increasing utilization of MFTE as a goal for the overhaul.

Staff will be wanting this to be more of a workforce housing program, but the "difficult discussion" will be how this program layers in with land use coding incentive program, which offers financial incentives to developers and a "double bonus" for the same units.

Summary of the policy issues under examination tonight.

And an overview of the current program, which is only possible in the areas shaded in grey.

The first policy area and recommendation from staff is to expand MFTE eligibility to all multi-family areas in the city. Nearly all have a frequent access to transit (marked in blue hashed circles).

CM Zahn supports, CM Robertson as well - she's been advocating that for "3 years, so let's do it!". This round-robinis the quickest ever - everybody supports it!

Council also supports maintaining the target of 15% of units under the MFTE program being for 2+ bedrooms. Mayor Robinson states the importance for her of this program being able to serve families.

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Staff currently discussing how we have more units for 50-80% AMI than households earning that income, but that's because a lot of even lower income households are occupying the 50-80% AMI units & are rent-burdened. Underscores the deep affordability issue in Bellevue.

2:19 AM · Mar 16, 2021

Staff also notes that MFTE is really the only program available right now to target that 60-80% range - the funds from the 1590 sales tax will go to <60% units, and there are subsidies for the >80% units, but nothing really in that middle range where there's still a lot of need.

Now explaining the basic tradeoff under debate tonight. Council can increase the AMI targets and thus increase utilization, but then the units are less affordable. I hope there are discussions then on what programs will be available to serve the 60-80% AMI population.

CM Barksdale going into that immediately, he sees the discussion less about affordability v. utility but more about what need is and how MFTE is able to fill that need. Staff is recognizing that as a "Scenario 2.5" - between their preferred alternative and deeper affordability.

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