Staff are also exploring the option of adding Park Impact Fees for new residential development. This funding source would *not* require voter approval, and would levy fees for new development. It's a funding mechanism already utilized by other Eastside cities.
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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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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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Comparison between the three options staff are presenting. 20 year Pay as you go levy would provide most money over 20 years and would only require 50% support, so it seems like the best option to unprofessional me.
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Pausing for CM feedback on the discussion so far. Staff are not seeking a final choice from CMs, but want general feedback on if the issue should move forward. CM Zahn: "It's important to do this work now so we understand what our options are."
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Has concerns about rising interest rates, but staff say that since the city's levy has been Pay as You go, interest rates have been changing. Bonding would need to take into account interest rates.
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CM Robertson agrees that since everything is getting more expensive, says this is the year to do a levy. Favors a 9 year bond or a 20 year bond. CM Barksdale & Mayor Robinson both all support staff proceeding with their work.
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On Parks Board input, staff are suggesting that their input be used to get general community priority buckets but have Council make the ultimate decision on final projects. CM Zahn asking about Cross-Cultural Center and why it's not in active recreation category.
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Staff share that they're waiting on specific recommendations from the Cross-Cultural study and put it in the partnerships category b/c they had thus far envisioned it would involve a partnership to run it. Zahn wants to make sure it gets "the attention it needs."
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Mayor Robinson notes that there are other projects outside of the "Partnership" category that will have partnership opportunities. CM Zahn asks that Parks Board look at precise definitions of what the buckets are and what they mean.
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CM Barksdale asks what roles Board played in the previous levy. Staff note that they took on more public engagement because they hadn't just had an update completed for the Parks and Open Spaces plan. CM Robertson says this process dovetails nicely w/ the previous outreach.
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Also wants to get projects for underserved neighborhoods like Eastgate prioritized. Mayor Robinson asks what values system is being used to assess priorities. Staff say city is "looking at equity as a primary thing, geographic service distribution." Also listening to public.
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Mayor suggests Council write something to Parks Board to provide direction on priorities. Now getting onto clarifying questions on how the Parks Board decisions are going to inform Council's discussions. Staff say categorization will provide the "first lens" to look at projects.
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