Bellevue Environmental Services Commission Meeting - May 8, 2026
Bellevue Environmental Services Commission Meeting Summary — May 8, 2026
The Environmental Services Commission (ESC) met on May 8, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to review the draft Water System Plan, receive the early outlook utility rate forecast for 2027‑2032, and discuss proposed changes to utility connection charges. The meeting also included public comments on utility assistance and veteran discounts, a staff update on sewer equity recommendations adopted by City Council, and approval of previous minutes.
Consent Calendar
- The meeting agenda was approved by voice vote with no objections.
- The April 2, 2026, meeting minutes were approved with a correction: the CIP budget breakdown listed “$86 dollars” was changed to “$86 million.”
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jennifer Fisher (Executive Director, Bellevue Life Spring) — Submitted a written comment requesting expansion of the utility bill assistance program to support low‑income residents with children, not just seniors. She reported that from July 1, 2025, to March 19, 2026, Bellevue Life Spring paid 51 water bills totaling $30,002.92 for families (80 adults and 112 children under 18). Of these, 16 payments went directly to the City of Bellevue for $21,971.94 (average $1,373.25 per family) and 35 payments went to landlords for $8,051.98 (average $230 per family).
- Mr. Nordhorn (public) — Stated he is a 100% disabled veteran and requested that the City of Bellevue establish a meaningful discount on utility rates for 100% disabled veterans. He noted that in Washington State there are 155,000 veterans, with 35,000 at 80% disability, 25,000 at 90%, and 7,000 at 100% disability. He suggested that after meeting with the mayor and city staff, the request should be placed on the ESC’s agenda for a recommendation to City Council. He emphasized that veterans want a discount, not a handout.
- Alex Zimmerman (public) — Expressed strong opposition to city policies, the mayor, and the City of Bellevue’s public comment rules, which he claimed violate the First Amendment. He made controversial statements about the mayor and commission members.
Discussion Items
- Staff Report — The ESC was informed that City Council unanimously adopted all ESC recommendations from the sewer equity analysis. Staff have been directed to incorporate the commission’s sewer rate recommendations into the overall utility rates as part of the upcoming biannual budget. The commission was also reminded of the Boards and Commissions Appreciation event the following Monday.
- Water System Plan Draft Review — Staff presented the first draft of the updated Water System Plan (informational only, no vote). Key points:
- The plan ensures clean, safe, and reliable water service for the next 20 years, aligned with the 2044 Comprehensive Plan policies.
- The system is performing well overall. Storage deficiencies in the west region (Downtown/Bell‑Red/Wilburton) will be addressed by the Maidenbauer South Reservoir project (completion by 2031).
- Fire flow and minimum pressure deficiencies exist in a few areas and will be handled through the water main replacement program and future capital projects.
- Emergency water supply planning (earthquake resilience) continues, focusing on developing emergency groundwater supplies and a resilient backbone pipe network.
- Staff do not propose new policies; existing policies are sufficient. Community engagement will include a virtual open house and outreach this summer.
- The draft plan will be shared with regulators and neighboring agencies; a final recommendation to City Council is expected later in 2026.
- 2027‑2032 Utilities Early Outlook Rate Forecast — Staff presented a six‑year rate forecast based on the latest operating and capital cost projections. Key drivers:
- Water: Annual rate increases of 6.9% for 2027‑2028, then 7.7% in 2029‑2030, and 7.0% in 2031‑2032. Approximately 2.8% per year is driven by Cascade Water Alliance wholesale supply cost increases; 3.0‑3.2% per year comes from the capital funding strategy.
- Sewer: Annual rate increases of 9.9% for 2027‑2028, 11.0% in 2029‑2030, and 9.2% in 2031‑2032. About 6.2‑6.9% per year reflects higher King County wastewater treatment costs; 2.5% per year supports capital and asset management.
- Stormwater: Lower increases than in prior forecasts; major driver is the capital improvement program and a one‑time vehicle replacement in 2027.
- Combined typical single‑family monthly bill: Estimated to rise by about $18 in 2027 (to ~$248) and reach $371‑$391 by 2032 (including the sewer cost‑of‑service equity adjustments approved by Council).
- Staff emphasized that the forecast does not include the recently approved ESC equity recommendations (would add ~$3 in 2027). Community meetings and online outreach will continue throughout the spring and summer.
- Changes to Utility Connection Charges (Informational) — Staff proposed three amendments to Bellevue City Code:
- Eliminate the Direct Facility Connection Charge (DFCC) and absorb its costs into the Capital Recovery Charge (CRC). The DFCC created affordability barriers for properties on septic (historically only half of costs recovered).
- Simplify the CRC calculation by basing it on water meter size instead of fixture counts (transparent, equitable, and regionally common).
- Change the timing of CRC collection from the utility bill (spread over 10 years) to the permitting stage (consistent with other development fees).
- Staff noted that connection charges generated $5 million in 2026 versus $205 million in rate revenue; the proposed changes would have minimal impact on rates. Developer feedback was generally supportive, with some preferring the option to pay at certificate of occupancy. A formal recommendation will be brought to ESC in June.
Key Outcomes
- Approvals: Agenda and April 2 minutes approved.
- Council Adoption of ESC Recommendations: Council adopted all ESC sewer equity recommendations; staff will incorporate them into utility rates.
- Next Steps for Water System Plan: Staff will share the draft with regulators and the community; the ESC will consider a recommendation later in 2026.
- Rate Forecast: The ESC will receive updated forecasts in June and July; a public hearing and formal vote on the budget and rates are scheduled for September.
- Connection Charges: Staff will return in June for commission concurrence on the proposed code amendments, with a goal of implementation in 2027.
- Calendar: A field trip to CIP projects is planned for the next ESC meeting (two weeks from May 8); elections will be held in June.
Meeting Transcript
It is 6 30 p.m. I call the May 7th Environmental Services Commission meeting to order. Next, I will do a roll call. Commissioner One is excused. Commissioner DePertis. Commissioner Heinosch. Commissioner Laxon. Present. Commissioner Margolis. Present. Commissioner Tyson. Present. All right. Next, I'll look to approve the evening's agenda. I second. Hearing no objections, the agenda is approved as motioned. Oral and written communications are now open. Remember, there is a three-minute time limit per person and 30 minutes total per meeting. Public comments shall be limited to matters relating to City of Bellevue government and to subject matters encompassed within the power and duties of this commission. Persons participating in commission meetings must not engage in speech or conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the meeting. Disruptions may include and are not limited to failure of a speaker to comply with commission bylaws concerning public comment. Joe, are there any written communications? There are written communications. Please. Okay. We received an email this week. Um, the subject utility budget process public comment. Uh I would like to, and this is from Jennifer Fisher at Bellevue Life Spring. She's the executive director there. And she says, I would like to suggest expanding your utility bill assistance program to support low-income residents with children in the household, in addition to seniors. From July 1st, 2025 to March 19, 2026, we have paid 51 water bills totaling 30,000 $30,002.92 cents for families, including 80 adults and 112 children under the age of 18. Of these, 16 were paid directly to the City of Bellevue for a total of 21,971.94 cents, an average of $1,373.25 cents per family. 35 of these were paid to landlords when families had eviction notices with utility balances for total of $8,051.98 cents, an average of $230 per family. Thank you, Jennifer Fisher, Executive Director, Bellevue Life Spring. All right, thank you. Thank you. Um, we have two people signed up for uh public comments this evening. Mr. Nordhorn. Thank you. Good evening, and thank you for that. I just come to talk to you. Um before I start, I know that you just got missed this evening, and uh the uh mayor's office has been so helpful in helping us in uh reason sent this out yesterday. She said, and so as you go through these, I would just like to have you think about on page one. There's an underlining for public understanding and meaningful support, and on the very last page is that thanking veterans in tangible lasting ways, and so what I'd like to talk to you tonight is uh the city of Bellevue establishing a meaningful discount to 100% disabled veterans for utility rates. I first approached the city council on this in early February, and um subsequent to that, I received an email, and it states the utilities department staff are actively reviewing your program, and a stated that they will be reaching out to contact with you. Number two, the environmental service commission will be including your request to review and update the utility rate relief program. Subsequent to that, I met with the mayor, and subsequent to that, I uh we had a second meeting with the city council last week, and um tomorrow I'm meeting with uh Jared Newenhaus, and as I understand it, um, what I would like to have happen is that this program gets on your agenda that you present to the city council sometime, and then the city council decides what what they do. And I don't know if that's the correct assumption, but that's what I understand. So the mayor asked me uh when we met with him how significant is the population for dependent or um disabled disabled veterans in the state of Washington, and I said, I do not know, so I called Washington, DC, and so the disability ratings for the veterans administration goes from zero to 100%, and there are various degrees of percentages depending upon the level of disability.
openpublica.com