OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Bellevue City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 8, 2026
BodyBellevue, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, September 8, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:33:02

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Council, thank you for being here to engage in the work of our city.

0:04

The council is returning from its annual summer recess.

0:08

We have a lot of work to do as we consider a wide range of issues, including the adoption of our biennial budget later this year.

0:15

Your guidance and input are key to the work of the city, and we appreciate all of you joining us.

0:23

Before we continue with tonight's meeting, I'd like to take a moment to recognize that Friday marks 25 years since the World Trade Center attacks of September 11th, 2020 and one.

0:38

For those of us who remember that day, 25 years ago can also seem like yesterday.

0:44

We remember where we were.

0:46

We remember the images and the uncertainty.

0:49

And above all, we remember the nearly 3,000 whose lives were taken and the extraordinary courage of the first responders and ordinary people who ran toward danger to help others.

1:03

A quarter century later, a generation has grown up with no memory of September 11th itself.

1:10

That makes our collective responsibility to remember and retain that history even more important.

1:16

We honor those we lost not only by remembering the tragedy, but by remembering what followed.

1:23

Americans helping neighbors, strangers caring for one another, and communities coming together in a spirit of service, courage, and shared purpose.

1:34

Those moments reflected some of the very best of our country, our resilience, our compassion, and our belief that even in the face of terrible loss, we stand together.

1:46

As we approach this anniversary, I hope each of us will take a moment to remember those who were lost, those whose lives were forever changed, and all those who served our nation in the years that followed.

2:01

Thank you.

2:03

Before we move on to our agenda items, as you can see, the mayor is not with us this evening.

2:10

He will uh return next week, but for tonight, can I have a motion to excuse his absence?

2:15

So moved.

2:16

Second.

2:17

All those in favor say aye.

2:18

Aye.

2:19

Any opposed?

2:20

Okay.

2:21

That carries.

2:22

Uh thank you for that.

2:23

Um also just want to mention, as I think uh most of you in the gallery can see, uh, Councilmember Sumatouria is joining us virtually this evening.

2:33

Uh with that, City Clerk, if you'd call the roll call, please.

2:36

Thank you, Deputy Mayor Hamilton.

2:37

Here.

2:38

Councilmember Bargaba.

2:39

Council Member Breyer.

2:40

Here.

2:41

Councilmember Newman House.

2:42

Here.

2:43

Councilmember Robinson.

2:44

Here.

2:44

And Councilmember Sumadoria.

2:48

Here.

2:49

Okay, great.

2:50

Okay.

2:50

Uh, with that, Councilmember Bargava, would you please lead us in the flag salute?

2:59

The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

3:04

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

3:09

And Jesse Cloro.

3:15

Thank you.

3:16

Uh we have three proclamations tonight.

3:20

Uh Councilmember Sumataria is going to read the East Side Welcoming Week proclamation and Miwa Like, if you would uh come up to the table, we'd love to hear from you once Council Member Sumitawaria is finished.

3:36

Thank you.

3:38

Whereas Welcoming Week has been celebrated in solidarity on the East Side since 2016 with the cities of Bellevue, Issaqua, Kirkland, Redmond, and Smarish, seeing this as an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, struggles, and the contributions of immigrant and refugee people to the social, economic, educational, artistic, and civic life of our country.

4:03

And whereas we recognize that many immigrants and refugee communities continue to face systematic barriers, shifting policies, and discrimination.

4:13

And we commit to fostering a community where all community members can feel safe, supported, and fully included.

4:21

And whereas East King County is one of the most racial, racially and ethnically diverse regions in Washington State, with 37% of our residents coming from places outside of the United States, and 40% of residents speaking in a language other than English at home.

4:40

And whereas immigrant and refugee community members have historically faced significant challenges in building a new life in the United States, often navigating limited resources and systematic barriers along the way.

5:00

And whereas immigrant and refugee community members are especially impacted by the current federal regulatory environment, facing fear, harassment, uncertainty, and trauma, regardless of their legal status.

5:09

And whereas Eastside community organizations report that more than 80 immigrants and refugees have been detained in the past year in East King County.

5:20

And data from the University of California shows roughly 700 people were detained in statewide in July alone.

5:29

And whereas federal policy changes are also affecting many human services programs, limiting vital resources to immigrant refugee community members and many other people in need, impacting their education, employment, income, food supply, housing, and well-being.

5:48

And whereas it is important to counter many of the negative stereotypes regarding the contributions of immigrants and highlighting that 36% of the new businesses are immigrant-owned, that American agriculture relies heavily on immigrant labor, and that undocumented immigrants paid over 96 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2022 alone.

6:13

And whereas, despite ongoing challenges, Eastide Welcoming Week will continue as part of the region's annual celebration, honoring the contributions of immigrants and refugees, and highlighting the vital role communities play in fostering equity, inclusion, belonging, and a sense of welcoming.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parking Regulation███████████████15%
Land Use and Zoning███████████████15%
Public Engagement█████████████13%
Public Transportation████████████12%
Affordable Housing████████████12%
Procedural████████8%
Community Engagement████4%
Immigrant and Refugee Services███3%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Bellevue City Council Regular Meeting - September 8, 2026

The Bellevue City Council met on September 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, oral communications, a city manager report on summer activities, approval of a consent calendar, a public hearing and action on the BelRed Arts Development Agreement, a study session update from the King County Library System, and a study session on parking reform land use code amendments. The council directed staff to return with additional analysis on the parking reform before final action.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved unanimously: Items 26-512 through 26-513 (minutes, claims) and ordinances/resolutions (ORD 6935-6938, RES 10662-10668). Notable items included:
    • ORD 6936: Acceptance of $500,000 state grant for heat pump incentives.
    • ORD 6937: Acquisition of property in Eastgate for a park, not to exceed $1,900,000.
    • RES 10662: CHIP grant for Saint Andrews affordable housing project.
    • RES 10663: Stormwater inspection contract with Olson Brothers Pro-Vac, $2,460,794.
    • RES 10664 & 10665: Amendments to heat pump rebate contracts ($425,000 each).
    • RES 10666: Amendment to JMA Power Washing contract (additional $250,000).
    • ORD 6938: Amendments to Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program.
    • RES 10667: Labor agreement with Teamsters Local 117 for Police Support employees (2026-2028).
    • RES 10668: License agreement with Axon Enterprise for Drone as First Responder pilot program (up to $3,401,102.60).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Oral Communications (pre‑agenda) : Three speakers: Patrick Hanks supported reduced parking minimums; a resident complained about construction site issues and lack of city responsiveness; Alex Zimmerman criticized the city's budget and immigration policies, calling for lower taxes and more privileges for American citizens. An unscheduled speaker echoed complaints about traffic and city response.
  • Public Hearing (ORD 6939 – BelRed Arts DA) : Three speakers in support: Brady Nordstrom (HDC) called the project a model for collaborative use of surplus land; Maria Lau Hui (BelRed Art District Community Alliance) emphasized the 4,000 sq ft creative space and 60 additional affordable homes; Mary Jane Jagodinski (Bridge Housing) noted the project includes 172 apartments (1,2,3-bedroom) and ground floor arts space. One opponent, Alex Zimmerman, called affordable housing a fraud and claimed 15% vacancy rate in Bellevue. An unscheduled resident expressed concerns about construction and empty apartments. Council closed the hearing.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations: Three proclamations were read and accepted:
    • Eastside Welcoming Week (September 10-19, 2026) – proclaimed by Councilmember Sumatouria; accepted by Miwa Like, who highlighted Bellevue's diversity.
    • Hunger Action and Awareness Month (September 2026) – proclaimed by Councilmember Robinson; accepted by Scott Waleen and Tammy Waddell of Nourishing Networks, who described the organization's volunteer food distribution efforts.
    • National Service Dog Month (September 2026) – proclaimed by Councilmember Breyer; accepted by a service dog handler, who stressed the importance of access rights.
  • City Manager Report: Summer Community Activity and Operations presented by Parks Director Meredith Pettit, Police Chief Wendell Shirley, and Fire Chief Dave Tate. Highlights:
    • 68,000 attendees at Bellevue Family Fourth; 45,000 visits to guarded beaches; 7,300 light rail boardings on July 4.
    • Park rangers provided 8,000 hours of coverage; lifeguards performed 4,100 preventative actions vs. 7 rescues.
    • Fire department activated EOC for FIFA matches and July 4; no structure fires in response area for second year.
    • Police deployed 80 officers for Family Fourth; only one arrest. Safe Roads Initiative and East Safe Street Task Force increased citations by 24% year-to-date. Upcoming drone program expected to be a force multiplier.
  • Public Hearing & Action – ORD 6939: BelRed Arts Multifamily Project Development Agreement with Bridge Housing. Staff (Jake Hesselgesser, Leticia Walgren) presented modifications (FAR, height, ground floor art spaces) and public benefits (172 affordable units, preference for artists). Council expressed strong support; Councilmember Robinson praised the innovative use of surplus land. Motion to adopt ordinance passed unanimously (voice vote).
  • Study Session – King County Library System Update: Representatives (John Scheller, David Frappier, Angie Benedetti, Katie Halsey) reported:
    • 23 million items circulated in 2025 (12 million digital); KCLS is #2 in U.S. and #4 in world for digital checkouts.
    • Bellevue's four libraries had 900,000 visits and 2.76 million checkouts.
    • New programs: tech tutors, ELL classes, Civics 101, welcoming center at Crossroads, summer reading partnership with Bellevue SD.
    • New library sortation system (largest in North America) opened August 19, 2026, in Renton.
    • Councilmembers praised the system's impact, especially for immigrants and seniors.
  • Study Session – Parking Reform LUCA: Planning Commission Chair Johnny Liu and staff Nick Whipple presented recommended code amendments to comply with state laws (SB 6015, 5184, HB 1491, 1183) and consolidate parking rules. Key proposals:
    • Location-based exemptions: no minimum parking within ½ mile of light rail or ¼ mile of BRT.
    • Use-based: residential max 0.5 spaces/unit; commercial max 2 spaces/1,000 sq ft; exemptions for affordable housing, senior housing, small units, child care, conversions.
    • Visitor parking: extended citywide with flexibility for projects over 50 units.
    • Incentive: if 75% of stalls are ≥9 ft wide, 10-15% reduction in total parking.
    • Consolidation of bike parking standards citywide.
    • Council discussion: Members requested additional data on visitor parking, stall size incentives, vertical clearance (staff recommended removal as duplicative of building code), walkshed expansion (½ mile vs. ¼ mile for BRT), and impacts on senior housing. No final vote; council directed staff to return with analysis on these topics, with target date of October 20, 2026.

Key Outcomes

  • Adopted unanimously: Three proclamations (Welcoming Week, Hunger Action Month, Service Dog Month).
  • Approved unanimously: Consent calendar (13 items).
  • Adopted unanimously: Ordinance 6939 (BelRed Arts Development Agreement).
  • Directed staff: Return with additional analysis on parking reform LUCA components (visitor parking, vertical clearance, walkshed expansion, frequent transit network, senior housing considerations) for potential action on October 20, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Council, thank you for being here to engage in the work of our city. The council is returning from its annual summer recess. We have a lot of work to do as we consider a wide range of issues, including the adoption of our biennial budget later this year. Your guidance and input are key to the work of the city, and we appreciate all of you joining us. Before we continue with tonight's meeting, I'd like to take a moment to recognize that Friday marks 25 years since the World Trade Center attacks of September 11th, 2020 and one. For those of us who remember that day, 25 years ago can also seem like yesterday. We remember where we were. We remember the images and the uncertainty. And above all, we remember the nearly 3,000 whose lives were taken and the extraordinary courage of the first responders and ordinary people who ran toward danger to help others. A quarter century later, a generation has grown up with no memory of September 11th itself. That makes our collective responsibility to remember and retain that history even more important. We honor those we lost not only by remembering the tragedy, but by remembering what followed. Americans helping neighbors, strangers caring for one another, and communities coming together in a spirit of service, courage, and shared purpose. Those moments reflected some of the very best of our country, our resilience, our compassion, and our belief that even in the face of terrible loss, we stand together. As we approach this anniversary, I hope each of us will take a moment to remember those who were lost, those whose lives were forever changed, and all those who served our nation in the years that followed. Thank you. Before we move on to our agenda items, as you can see, the mayor is not with us this evening. He will uh return next week, but for tonight, can I have a motion to excuse his absence? So moved. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. That carries. Uh thank you for that. Um also just want to mention, as I think uh most of you in the gallery can see, uh, Councilmember Sumatouria is joining us virtually this evening. Uh with that, City Clerk, if you'd call the roll call, please. Thank you, Deputy Mayor Hamilton. Here. Councilmember Bargaba. Council Member Breyer. Here. Councilmember Newman House. Here. Councilmember Robinson. Here. And Councilmember Sumadoria. Here. Okay, great. Okay. Uh, with that, Councilmember Bargava, would you please lead us in the flag salute? The United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And Jesse Cloro. Thank you. Uh we have three proclamations tonight. Uh Councilmember Sumataria is going to read the East Side Welcoming Week proclamation and Miwa Like, if you would uh come up to the table, we'd love to hear from you once Council Member Sumitawaria is finished. Thank you. Whereas Welcoming Week has been celebrated in solidarity on the East Side since 2016 with the cities of Bellevue, Issaqua, Kirkland, Redmond, and Smarish, seeing this as an opportunity to honor the history, achievements, experiences, struggles, and the contributions of immigrant and refugee people to the social, economic, educational, artistic, and civic life of our country.

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