Bellevue City Council Meeting - June 17, 2025: Wilburton TOD Land Use Code Adoption and Ethics Training
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Bellevue City Council Meeting - June 17, 2025
The Bellevue City Council met on June 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a Juneteenth proclamation, 30 minutes of oral communications with 14 speakers, a consent calendar, an ethics code training study session, and the adoption of the Wilburton Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Land Use Code amendments along with three supporting ordinances.
Consent Calendar
- Approved unanimously: Council minutes of June 3, 2025; award of Bid No. 25006 (2025 Overlay Program) to Lakeside Industries for $6,345,443.40; a five-year telecommunication lease agreement with Multicultural Radio Broadcasting, Inc.; board appointments to Cascade Water Alliance; and a three-year labor agreement with IAFF Local 1604 (Battalion Chiefs).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Patience Malaba (Housing Development Consortium) expressed strong support for adopting the Wilburton code, urging 10% affordability at 80% AMI with flexible options for rental and ownership.
- Jesse Clausen (developer/landowner) supported adoption and requested direction to advance the MFTE supercharger and address non-conforming issues for master development plans.
- Lori Wilkie (Rockwood neighborhood) appreciated prior height limits (30-35 feet for buildings, 24 feet for cottages) and urged maintaining the quarter-mile transit radius to protect tree canopy; also raised concerns about co-housing and short-term rental rules.
- Julia Hodges (resident) supported the original planning commission middle housing proposal, emphasizing the need for more affordable homes and criticizing the current trajectory of luxury development.
- Ed Wang (resident) highlighted the affordability crisis: median home price in Bellevue is $2 million, requiring a $500,000 annual income; he urged maximum housing production.
- Pooja Tirapathi (Rockwood neighborhood) opposed the current middle housing proposal, advocating for gentle density (ADUs) and a pilot quarter-mile radius before expanding.
- Joe Kunzler (virtual) thanked the council and raised concerns about Alex Zimmerman's participation on boards and commissions, urging an exclusion policy.
- Janice Hein (Bridal Trails) stated June is Family Month, suggesting the city replace rainbow flags with family-appropriate decorations.
- Alan Huang (resident) reported on electrical pole removal and questioned the reduction of building height from 38 to 35 feet.
- Neil Molnick (Wilburton property owners group) thanked the council and staff, expressed excitement for adoption, and urged direction on the MFTE supercharger.
Discussion Items
Ethics Code Training (Study Session)
- Hillary Evans, ethics officer, presented an overview of state and city ethics rules, including conflicts of interest, gift thresholds ($50), use of public facilities, and campaign activities. The training was informational; no action was taken.
Wilburton TOD Land Use Code Amendments (ORD 6846)
- Staff recapped direction from May 20, 2025: eliminated local street requirement, reduced open space from 10% to 7%, and retained a 14-foot shared use path. Three topics required council direction: fee-in-lieu vesting, flexible access corridor dimensions, and upper-level stepback incentives.
- Fee-in-lieu vesting: Council debated Option A (vest at design review application) vs. Option B (vest at decision). Councilmember Hamilton proposed an amendment to Option A: fee assessed at application, vested for three years, with a one-year extension for good cause. The amendment passed 6-1, and the amended Option A passed 6-1.
- Flexible access corridor: Council considered Option A (planning commission: 47 ft width, 5-ft amenity zones, 8-ft sidewalks) vs. Option B (41 ft, 4-ft amenity zones, 6-ft sidewalks). Option B passed 4-3.
- Upper-level stepback incentive: Added as an amenity incentive option (bonus floor area for stepbacks of 5 ft between 25 and 55 ft, max 20 ft depth). Passed unanimously.
- The main motion on ORD 6846 (as amended) passed unanimously.
Supporting Ordinances
- ORD 6847 (Rezone): Established new mixed-use districts (UC, MU-H, MU-M, MUR-M) for Wilburton. Passed unanimously.
- ORD 6848 (Noise Control): Incorporated new districts into noise code. Passed with one nay (Mayor expressed concern but voted in favor).
- ORD 6849 (Sign Code): Regulated signage consistent with other high-rise districts. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted: Wilburton TOD Land Use Code (ORD 6846) with amendments on fee-in-lieu vesting (Option A with three-year vesting and one-year extension), flexible access corridor (Option B at 41 ft), and upper-level stepback incentive.
- Adopted: Rezone, noise control, and sign code ordinances (ORDs 6847, 6848, 6849).
- Directives: Council directed staff to:
- Advance the MFTE supercharger for Wilburton (return in November 2025).
- Develop options for non-conforming provisions related to master development plan phases (part of HOMA updates).
- Ensure a single consistent standard for affordable units across MFTE and LUC, to the extent allowed by state law.
- Reassess program effectiveness in three years.
- Next Steps: Staff will bring back MFTE provisions and HOMA updates in fall 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, welcome to the uh Bellevue City Council regular meeting for June 17th, 2025. Um before we begin, I don't think there's anything I have to say, so let's do roll call. Thank you, Mayor Robinson. Here, Deputy Mayor Malakutian here. Councilmember Bargaba. Here. Council Member Hamilton. Here. Councilmember Lee. Here. Councilmember New England. Here. Council Member Simadoria. Councilmember New in House, would you please lead us in the flag salute? All right, please. I fled to the flag of the United States. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We have a proclamation tonight. It is the Juneteenth proclamation. You may speak after we read the proclamation, and then we will do a picture together. Thank you, Mayor. Whereas Juneteenth marks a pivotal milestone in American history as the oldest nationally recognized observance of the emancipation of black Americans following the Civil War. And on June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, the last remaining enslaved American in Galveston, Texas, finally received war that they were free. And the celebration of Juneteenth honors the memory of the millions of Africans who preished during the transatlantic slave trade, and the countless others who endured generations of enslavement in the United States. And the legacies of slavery and systematic racism continue to shape the social, political, and economic realities faced by black Americans today. And the city of Bellevue honors the black members of our community who contribute to the richness, resilience, and vibrancy of our city and recognizes the ongoing efforts to ensure that African American history is fully acknowledged as American history. Thank you, City of Bellevue, for welcoming the world and for knowing that our diversity truly is our strength. You remind us that building community is an ongoing and intentional act of collaboration. Three years ago, I hosted a small and sweet Juneteenth community celebration on the Eton School campus. It's now a vibrant event that is co-hosted with the Little School and the Bellevue Diversity Advantage team. This growth is a testament to what's possible when we come together with shared purpose, open hearts, and a commitment to humanity. Thank you for recognizing this day and honoring the Black American experience. Thank you. Dr. Whitehead, did you want to say anything? Yes, just two things. I would first like to remind everyone of our second annual International Festival, which will be held August 2nd in Crossroads Park. So please save the date. And then I would like to close with a quote from Desmond Tutu. My humanity is bound up with yours, for we can only be human together. Thank you. Thank you. Let's do a picture. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? I move to approve the agenda. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?
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