Bellevue City Council Meeting – July 17, 2026

Note: The transcript indicates the meeting was called to order on July 14, 2026, but the official date provided is July 17, 2026. This summary uses the official date.

Introductory paragraph: The Bellevue City Council met on July 17, 2026, to conduct a full agenda including three proclamations, oral communications, a public hearing on the Old Bellevue Interim Official Control (IOC) renewal, and three study sessions covering a Bellevue College land use code amendment, business improvement area (BIA) policy, and the Cascade Water Alliance budget and supply program. The council approved the consent calendar, the agenda, and the IOC ordinance, and directed staff to initiate work on the college LUCA. No action was taken on the BIA or Cascade items, which were presented for information.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Patrick Bannon (President/CEO, Bellevue Downtown Association) spoke on the BIA policy, expressing appreciation for the city's work on a clear framework and noting ongoing outreach to property owners; no position on the policy itself.
• Betsy Hummer (Sunset Ranch resident) expressed concerns about Bellevue College's expansion and rezoning from residential to institutional, urging the council to consider the impacts on neighboring residents.
• Stephen Frickie (Bellevue resident with disabilities) requested that the city's e-bike regulations be updated to comply with the ADA by distinguishing between recreational e-bikes and mobility devices, citing Seattle's approach.
• Julie Cobb (Bellevue resident) complained about a lack of notice and transparency regarding new townhouse developments on her street, arguing that deeded single-family lots were being redeveloped without proper communication.
• Alex Zimmerman (Bellevue resident) made allegations of discrimination and misconduct by the city, police, and courts, and was asked to focus on city business.
• Joe Kunzler (online speaker) was cut off after making inappropriate comments.

Public Hearing: Old Bellevue Interim Official Control (IOC) Renewal

• Nick Whipple and Matthew Minard (Development Services) presented the amended IOC, which replaces facade preservation requirements with a stronger amenity incentive (100 points per $1,000 spent on facade preservation, up from 40) and adds objective design standards (doors and vertical elements every 30 feet). The IOC would expire in February 2027, bridging to permanent downtown livability code updates.
• Public Testimony:
  • David Bonathan (Maidenbauer resident and MBNA board member) urged adoption, calling Old Bellevue the city's heartbeat and stressing the need to preserve its historic character.
  • Scott Lampe (President, Maidenbauer Bay Neighbors Association) spoke in favor of the extension, emphasizing the importance of small retail spaces and visual character.
  • Alex Zimmerman spoke but was redirected to the IOC topic; he made brief comments criticizing the city's development.
  • Heidi Dean (Newport Hills resident) expressed frustration that similar protections were not afforded to her neighborhood during prior planning, calling the approach unfair.
• Council Discussion: Councilmembers supported the amended IOC, noting it addresses previous concerns about subjectivity and provides incentives for preservation. A motion to adopt Ordinance 6929 passed unanimously (voice vote).

Study Session: Bellevue College Land Use Code Amendment (LUCA)

• Staff Presentation: Charlie Engel and Nick Whipple proposed establishing a new institutional land use district for Bellevue College, rezoning college-owned parcels from residential (SR4) to institutional. The college's current zoning limits expansion of academic facilities, student housing, and infrastructure. The LUCA includes a 1,000-foot noticing buffer and a two-phase engagement process.
• Council Discussion: Councilmembers emphasized the need for meaningful community engagement, compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods, and ongoing communication channels beyond the LUCA. They also discussed the importance of infrastructure capacity assessments and multilingual outreach.
• Outcome: Council directed staff to initiate work on the LUCA and associated legislative rezone by a unanimous voice vote.

Study Session: Business Improvement Area (BIA) Policy

• Staff Presentation: Jesse Canedo, Edward Butterfield, Amy Pennington, and Anthony Gill presented a draft administrative policy for forming and governing BIAs, covering formation, assessment methodology, governance, financial oversight, and modifications. The policy is a response to interest from downtown and other districts. The Bellevue Downtown Association (BDA) is exploring a downtown BIA with a possible petition in fall 2026.
• Council Discussion: Key concerns included:
  • Need for a clear rationale for a downtown BIA given existing safety and cleanliness.
  • Governance: desire for ratepayer representation on advisory boards, with city manager approval.
  • Advocacy restrictions: some councilmembers favored prohibiting lobbying/advocacy entirely.
  • Assessment methodology: calls for guardrails to ensure fairness (e.g., square footage-based metrics rather than assessed value).
  • Petition threshold: suggestions to increase the required support from 60% to 65% of assessed value.
  • Importance of data-driven metrics and annual reports to ensure accountability.
• Outcome: No action taken; staff will incorporate feedback and return later in the year.

Study Session: Cascade Water Alliance Budget and Rates

• Presentation: John Taylor (CEO) and Andy Baker (Economist) provided an overview of the Cascade Supply Program, a multi-phase, multi-billion-dollar effort to secure water supply from Tacoma and develop Lake Taps. The proposed 2027-2028 budget includes significant capital spending increases, with rate smoothing and bonding to manage impacts. Bellevue's wholesale water costs are expected to increase about 3% per year, adding ~$2.50/month to a typical residential bill.
• Council Discussion: Councilmembers praised the long-range planning, focus on affordability, and community engagement plans. They asked about cost drivers, risk management, and the role of federal funding (WIFIA). Cascade indicated that a route for the pipeline will be finalized by late 2027.
• Outcome: Information only; no action taken.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar approved unanimously.
• Agenda approved.
• Ordinance 6929 (Old Bellevue IOC renewal and amendment) adopted unanimously after public hearing.
• Bellevue College LUCA work initiated by unanimous council direction.
• BIA Policy and Cascade Water Alliance updates received as information; no votes taken.

Reports

• Written reports from intergovernmental affairs and the East Kid Housing Campus were noted in the agenda.