Going to be out and about later, so doing the pre-thread for tonight's Bellevue City Council meeting early. At this first in-person meeting since the pandemic began, CMs will be discussing a potential parks levy on the ballot this November & an update on Vision Zero actions.
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Starting with Vision Zero stuff, staff are highlighting actions taken in 2021, including a leading pedestrian interval pilot program, bike & ped infrastructure projects like the demonstration greenway, and an improved Vision Zero story map.
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The linked story map does not yet have 2021 collision numbers, but staff's information does.
26 people were seriously injured & 1 was killed on Bellevue streets in '21. The combined figure of 27 is the 3rd highest across the 11 years staff has data. storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/140934
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Work to implement the plan this year includes expanding the LPI pilot to Downtown intersections (I'll have a story on this later this week), building out the growth corridor bike network, and further examining a citywide 20 mph speed limit on residential streets.
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Regarding Parks levy, Council will be continuing their discussions from March 7th & March 28th. If Council approves further staff action, work will begin this week w/ the Parks board to confirm project priorities for a levy. Final action by end of July.
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More information from that discussion on a potential parks levy to be on the Bellevue ballot this November. twitter.com/Deutski1/statu
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Staff have estimated that funding all identified Parks priority projects (linked below) would cost $880M over 20 years. However, parks revenue for that time is currently only $300M, leaving over a half billion dollar deficit. bellevue.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&
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Staff are presenting pros & cons of different levy & bond options. A levy of $200 on every assessed $1 million of home value would generate ~$15.4M/year, or $308M over the life of a 20-year levy.
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Interested in hearing CM support for this latter method. Staff note that a program could include an option for exemption for affordable housing, but does not include a AMI percentage for that. More info tonight, I guess!
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Correction. staff do have 2021 Vision Zero data. One death was a person in a car in a September collision. People walking & biking made up 38% of serious injuries in 2021. Majority of serious injuries occurred from September to December.
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Unfortunately, the 51-year-old driver of the silver sedan has passed. The KCME is investigating the cause of death. BPD collision investigators are determining the cause of the crash.
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Three CMs are absent this evening - Stokes, Lee, and DM Nieuwenhuis are all excused from proceedings this evening.
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True to form, I believe Alex Tsimmerman is here for the evening's proceedings. Oh how he was missed.
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2nd speaker is from Snohomish County fire, asking City to welcome back unvaccinated firefighters into the Fire Department. Says the amazing public servants are supposed to stay neutral politically, then claims that people are "fed up" with government overreach.
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Third speaker, also unvaccinated: "just because something is a higher risk does not mean it will happen."
Similarly wants unvaccinated firefighters to be reinstated. Points to the high cost of daily testing for unvaccinated workers.
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Next speaker is daughter of previous speaker who has said her dad has been unemployed for six months, which has put strain on the 7 member household. Says the vaccination goes against her Dad's personal & religious beliefs. Claims that staff had their religious exemptions denied.
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Is citing the "Nuremburg code" as why this is against her dad's rights. Oh boy
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Reached three speakers against the mask/vaccination mandates, so now talking about Mayor Harrell in Seattle and how he has "abused his authority", presumably also opposes the mandate, calling Black Lives Matter signs new Jim Crow. "Stop putting this inequality in our face."
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Got a lot of applause from this room. Mayor asks attendees not to applaud but wave their hands in support instead.
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Next speaker also complaining about Bruce Harrell and his "violations of the American with Disabilities Act". Being perfectly honest, I'm not sure what he's testifying about, though says "Nobody is above the law."
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Final speaker is a perpetual commenter who's been cheering all the Eastside Fire people this evening, supports board & commission meetings to go back in person, says it's important to "read the room" & see body language. Also wants an offleash dog space in the Parks Project list.
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First item on the study session agenda is about the city's Neighborhood Enhancement Program, which adds low-cost neighborhood amenities to each neighborhood on a rolling seven-year basis. Funding allotments are based on size - largest neighborhood of Lake Hills got ~$500k.
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Ideas for NEP projects come from community members from each neighborhood. Particular projects are requested more than others. There's definitely been some creative suggestions through the years. Bat houses and adult exercise equipment were both in my neighborhood Lake Hills.
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Amazon has also donated $1.4 million to complete some NEP projects, including bat houses, art touch-ups for art squares in Wilburton/Crossroads, and Crossroads Park improvements.
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City has also been working on a Spanish translation pilot for the program, received some good feedback, like this person who ((I believe) wants a crossing on NE 8th St between 143rd Ave and 148th Ave. That's something that we noticed on CSB's walking audit of the area.
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CM Barksdale wants city to use community orgs as another way to speak with MF communities. Also would want to see NEP include ways to activate the physical spaces that are being created. Also supports hybrid outreach, noting staff's comment of virtual increasing accessibility.
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CM Robertson likes how the program doesn't just bring physical projects to the community, but also provides opportunities for community to engage w/ each other. Asks staff to consider examining funding needs before next round of NEP begins, as well as consider lessons learned.
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On a ten minute break that I actually get to experience, because I'm following the meeting live and not skipping around for quotes!
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Definitely get the vibe that staff are appreciating being back in person. Everybody's chatting it up in a jovial way, which is legit cool to see.
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Got some better seats now that the antivaxxers have left, returning to the meeting to discuss Parks funding.
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In addition to the components I mentioned before, Council will also be providing direction on what exact role Parks board will take in this process. Council recommends that Parks Board provide input on ultimate projects list.
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Another key example on why Council vision setting is important - finding additional parks funding was an identified Council priority at their retreat in 2021. Staff is following up from that directive.
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Graphic showing the relative timeline for this process. Two Parks Board meetings & lots of Council study sessions. Parks Board will hear what the priorities from the community are, then report back to Council in June for some key decisions like rates, then ballot language in July
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2008 Parks levy, approved by 67% of Bellevue voters, was actually two levies: one for capital project improvements & one for maintenance. Only two projects are slated to be funded from the remaining $20.4M from those levies.
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From the $20M in REET taxes (taxes from real estate transactions) received each year, $10M goes to Parks funding. $7M goes to maintenance, only $3M/year goes to capital projects.
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Now onto Financial Director Toni Call to discuss funding options. For each of the 2 first options, Council could choose to do 2 levies like before - 1 for maintenance, 1 for capital - or combine M & C into 1 levy. Staff note that 9 & 20 years are not the only time scale available
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Voter approved bond, in addition to requiring 60% support, would also need to be 1 levy and have 40% of voters from the previous November election vote in order for result to be valid.
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