Bellevue City Council Meeting Summary - January 6, 2026

The Bellevue City Council convened for its regular meeting to elect new leadership, approve community grants, and review critical updates on school funding and the Eastgate Housing Campus. Mayor-elect Malikutian and Deputy Mayor-elect Hamilton were officially sworn in following a unanimous election process. The council unanimously approved a $200,000 Arts Commission grant allocation for 2026 and established a procedural framework for future deliberation on school district levy endorsements while receiving factual updates from the Bellevue School District.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: The council unanimously approved the agenda for January 6, 2026.
• Planning Commission Appointment: Caroline Ferries was appointed to serve the remainder of the term on the Planning Commission, expiring May 31, 2027.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Janice Hine: Expressed a position of hope and a desire for unity and humility within the council, citing the "Star-Spangled Banner" and submitting to "God in Trust" as a guiding framework for the council's term. She urged commissioners to put aside factions and pray for God's wisdom.
• Talia Thomas: Expressed a position of advocacy for residents of Plymouth Crossing, emphasizing that residents facing challenges "deserve a home where they're loved" rather than just housing. She argued that acceptance of people with struggles is vital and that those living there are integral community members.
• Aaliyah Baines: Expressed strong opposition to the criminalization of homelessness and facilities like the Eastgate campus. She argued that homelessness is being criminalized despite science and settled law, and urged the council to use their power to create a "positive culture" rather than taking a fence-sitting approach or treating the issue as a campaign point.
• Lisa (Plymouth Crossing Resident): Shared a personal narrative of homelessness following her husband's death and expressed a position of hope for rebuilding relationships between the campus community and Bellevue. She noted that stigma has created a gap but emphasized the shared struggles of residents and their desire to be seen as neighbors.

Discussion Items

• Election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor: Council member Malikutian was nominated and elected Mayor by unanimous vote (7-0) with six nominations opened. Council member Hamilton was elected Deputy Mayor by unanimous vote (7-0). Mayor Malikutian thanked outgoing Mayor Robinson for his steady leadership through COVID and significant growth.
• 2026 Art Grant Allocations: City staff and the Arts Commission presented recommendations for $200,000 in grant funding selected from 67 applications totaling over $464,000 in requests. The council discussed expanding arts funding, the "Bell Red bonus" for the arts district, and the need for increased publicity for events.
• Law Enforcement Appreciation Day: Councilmember Newman House delivered a proclamation recognizing Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (January 9th), affirming a supportive position toward the Bellevue Police Department and emphasizing their role in public safety and community service.
• Bellevue School District Levies: Dr. Kelly Aramaki and John Harrison presented factual information regarding two levy renewals (Educational Programs & Operations and Technology & Capital Projects) on the February 10th ballot.
  • The levies cover 24% of the district's budget, ensuring a seven-period school day, special education support, cybersecurity, and capital improvements.
  • The projected tax rate is 75 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for the EPNO levy and 54 cents per $1,000 for the Tech & Capital levy, maintaining 2022 rates.
  • Councilmember Robinson expressed a position of support for the district's success and moved for a future agenda item to discuss a collective council position on the levies.
• Eastgate Housing Campus Update: Staff presented data on the campus (Porchlight Men's Shelter, Plymouth Crossing, Polaris) and the implementation of an action plan addressing community concerns.
  • Trend Analysis: Staff reported a downward trend in calls for service to Plymouth Crossing and a general decrease in encampments since the action plan implementation. However, data shows a slight overall increase in calls within a half-mile radius.
  • Councilmember Newman House Position: Expressed strong concern that the presentation did not adequately address the safety impact on surrounding residents and businesses (e.g., Hyatt House, Sunset Corporate Campus). She argued that without specific metrics tracking the efficacy of changes (e.g., reduction in men arriving without beds), the city cannot determine if the action plan is truly working.
  • Councilmember Robinson Position: Expressed pride in the campus's success in housing 1,500 individuals but acknowledged a need for better safety metrics and benchmarking against other city areas. She supported the recommendation that future funding contingent on collaboration and safety plans.
  • Councilmember Smotovira Position: Highlighted the need for dual metrics: hard safety numbers and sentiment analysis from residents and businesses. She suggested measuring call volumes on a per-capita basis and setting clear "success parameters" for resident graduation from the system.
  • Assistant Chief Popachuk Position: Explained that calls for service (including assists) are not inherently negative but represent resource usage. He identified "diverting high-utilizing individuals to CCAT/CARES" rather than 911 as a primary strategy to reduce unnecessary police response.

Key Outcomes

• Leadership Election: Councilmember Malikutian was declared Mayor; Councilmember Hamilton was declared Deputy Mayor.
• Arts Grants Approved: Motion to approve Arts Commission recommendations for 2026 project grant allocations (31 project grants + 13 Bell Red bonuses totaling $200,000) passed 7-0.
• Planning Commission Appointment: Caroline Ferries appointed to Planning Commission until May 31, 2027, passed 7-0.
• School Levy Discussion: Motion to direct staff to bring a future agenda item for discussion on a collective council position regarding school district levies (including time for pro/con committees and public comment) passed 7-0.
• Eastgate Campus Metrics: Council directed staff to return in six months with a specific benchmark for success, including sentiment analysis from residents/businesses and data on the efficacy of operational changes (e.g., diversion of 911 calls to CCAT/CARES).
• Adjournment: The meeting concluded with a written report on emergency procurement and a public safety announcement.

Study Session: Eastgate Housing Campus Update

• Data Review: Presented data indicating a 6% increase in calls within a half-mile radius and a 12% increase within a mile radius prior to the campus opening, with recent stabilization. Staff noted a decrease in specific calls to Plymouth Crossing post-implementation.
• Community Concerns: Discussion highlighted tensions between the necessity of housing programs and the quality of life/safety concerns of immediate neighbors.
• Future Action: Staff committed to providing a comprehensive feedback loop on resident and business sentiment and refining metrics to track the impact of the action plan more granularly.