Neighborhood News - City of Bellevue
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Neighborhood News
March 2022
“Unique and United” virtual
event to spotlight youth talents
Celebrate the vibrancy and strength of our
diverse community with Bellevue Youth Link
and the Diversity Advantage Team’s showcase of
cultural dances, spoken word and more on Friday,
March 4, 6-7:30 p.m. Brief the Chief!
The event, via Zoom, celebrates Bellevue’s growing Police Chief Wendell Shirley
diversity. Bellevue Youth Link is a leadership wants to hear from you.
program sponsored by the Parks & Community Do you have questions,
Service Department and Bellevue Public Schools. concerns or feedback? Do
you want to know more
“Bellevue is one of the most diverse cities in the
about the major projects
state,” said Parks & Community Services Director
that the police department
Michael Shiosaki. “Nearly 100 languages are
is working on, such as body
spoken by students in the Bellevue School District,
cameras, catalytic converter
and we want to celebrate the vibrancy and
theft reduction or police use
strength of our diverse community.”
of force reforms?
The first “Brief the Chief” session will be held
Tuesday, March 15 at noon via Zoom. Please
register at https://bit.ly/3oW42vw.
UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY
Unique & United Future Brief the Chief Zoom meetings will vary
in time and day to help accommodate as many
schedules as possible. Please monitor the city
website and the Bellevue police social media
channels for announcements. @Bvuepd for
Twitter and Facebook.
The event is open to the public and preregistration
is required. For more information or for
accommodations, please contact Patrick Alina, For alternate formats, interpreters, or
Youth Link coordinator, at palina@bellevuewa.gov reasonable accommodation requests please
or 425-452-5254. phone at least 48 hours in advance 425-452-2735
(voice) or email mheilman@bellevuewa.gov. For
complaints regarding accommodations, contact City
of Bellevue ADA/Title VI Administrator at 425-452-
Subscribe to Neighborhood News electronically: 6168 (voice) or email ADATitleVI@bellevuewa.gov. If
BellevueWA.gov/neighborhood-news you are deaf or hard of hearing dial 711. All meetings
are wheelchair accessible.
neighborhood. City staff will provide attendees
with a brief overview of the program guidelines
and schedule, answer questions, and invite folks
to share, discuss and submit project ideas. City
project managers will be available in breakout
rooms for specific project discussions. Each
household in Somerset will receive a postage-paid
NEP Project Request Form in the mail in early
April. $217,000 in NEP funding is available to the
Newport Neighbors: March 3 is Somerset neighborhood area.
the deadline to send in your NEP To find out which NEP Neighborhood Area you
project ideas! call home, when NEP will be in your area and
how much funding your area has been allocated,
Don’t miss the
please visit www.bellevuewa.gov/nep.
opportunity to let
the City of Bellevue The program rotates through the city’s 14 NEP
know what you’d like Neighborhood Areas, serving two areas each
to see done in your year. Since 2015, NEP has rotated through the
neighborhood. Eastgate/Factoria, Cougar Mountain/Lakemont,
West Lake Sammamish, NE Bellevue, Bridle
The project idea
Trails, NW Bellevue, Downtown/BelRed, Lake
submission period is now open for the Newport
Hills, Crossroads, Wilburton, West Bellevue, and
Neighborhood Enhancement Program, a capital
Woodridge Neighborhood Areas.
improvements program that provides you and
your neighbors with the opportunity to propose Questions? Please contact Theresa Cuthill at
and select small-scale physical projects that tcuthill@bellevuewa.gov or 425-462-4186.
improve the quality of life and enhance the
character in your neighborhood area. The city has Welcome to the
a budget of $282,000 for you and your Newport Comp Plan Corner!
neighbors to spend on projects. Brooke Brod, Community Development Department
Submit your ideas in two easy ways: It’s no surprise that Bellevue is growing. Recent
1. BY MAIL: Return the prepaid Project Idea census data shows that King County is one of the
Request Card all Newport residents received fastest growing places in the country. That growth
in the mail in late January. is expected to continue as our region is projected
2. ONLINE: BellevueWA.gov/nep to add 1.8 million people by 2050, and Bellevue
There is no limit on the number of project ideas is planning for an additional 35,000 housing units
you can submit, but all ideas must be received and 70,000 jobs by 2044.
at City Hall or submitted online by Thursday, Bellevue’s Comprehensive Plan is a tool that
March 3, 2022. helps the city to proactively respond to this
growth and change. The plan looks ahead twenty
Somerset years to anticipate the needs of current and
NEP Virtual Kickoff Meeting future residents, business owners, workers and
Thursday, Apr 7, 6:30 p.m. visitors to Bellevue. The plan is organized into
sections that cover important topics like housing,
Email neighborhoodoutreach@bellevuewa.gov
transportation, neighborhoods, parks and more.
for Zoom meeting link
The Comprehensive Plan is updated every eight
A virtual kickoff meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., to ten years and the city is beginning the planning
Thursday, Apr. 7 to kick off the Neighborhood process this month. The entire planning process
Enhancement Program process for the Somerset will take place over two years, and there will be
many opportunities for people to participate and
to share their input and ideas.
We’re introducing “Comp Plan Corner” as
a regular feature in Neighborhood News to
provide updates on the planning process, let
you know about upcoming events and to share
opportunities to participate online.
Save the Date for
The planning process will begin with an Neighborhoods Conference
exploration of the city’s vision and discussions
about the strengths that we want to see continue, “Experience Bellevue!”
and the challenges that we need to address. Saturday, May 14
There are a number of ways for you to be part of BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/
the discussion. community-development/neighborhoods/classes-
■ Register on Engaging Bellevue and-events/bellevue_neighborhoods_conference
(engagingbellevue.com/hub-page/ Don’t miss this opportunity to “Experience
bellevue-2044). You can learn more about Bellevue!” at 24 interactive workshops inside City
the Comprehensive Plan, ask questions, and Hall and outside
share your thoughts at any time. at sites around
■ Respond to the Vision Questionnaire Bellevue and its
Residents should be on the lookout for a neighborhoods.
mailed questionnaire that will be received by Experience Bellevue
every household in the city. We want to gather is for residents,
your feedback on the future of Bellevue. You workers and
can also respond to the questionnaire at visitors who want to experience the treasures of a
tinyurl.com/bellevue-2044-vision growing and exciting city. Invite a friend, meet new
■ Attend a Vision Workshop neighbors and explore YOUR city inside and out!
We’ll be hosting a community event to talk On May 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., participants are invited
about the vision for the future on Tuesday, to Experience Bellevue! Choose from guided
March 22. Register at bellevue-2044-setting- walking tours, site visits, neighborhood bus tours,
the-vision.eventbrite.com park tours and more at multiple locations around
Bellevue plans for people, and that means that we the city.
need to hear from you! We hope to see you at one At City Hall, a range of skills workshops will be
of our upcoming events and hear your ideas for offered including discussions on race, an active
the future. listening class, a workshop on reimagining retail,
CPR and emergency preparedness training, and
much more. City departments will host multiple
Save the date for Evening of
demonstrations and community engagement
Cultural Conversations! opportunities. Mix and match, inside or outside,
Wednesday, April 6 all within current Covid-19 public health
guidelines.
If you prefer to get outside, choose from guided
walking tours of downtown development,
the Wilburton district, and Bellevue’s newest
neighborhood, the Spring District. Parks tours,
tree tours and utilities demonstrations will also be
offered at on-site locations.
Continued on next page
Continued from previous page classes this spring to provide assistance with
The full catalog of experiences, along with cleaning and reorganizing. For a complete
registration details, will be available at class schedule visit BellevueWA.gov/greener-
BellevueWA.gov/neighborhoodsconference living-classes.
beginning April 1. Admission for the day is $10,
with fee waivers available. City exploring changes to the
For more information or to receive an City Noise Code to support
email when registration opens, contact small-scale events and
NeighborhoodsConference@bellevuewa.gov or community gatherings
425-452-6836.
Over the past few years, many city planning
efforts have received stakeholder input that there
is a desire for more gatherings and celebratory
activities throughout the city. This includes
neighborhood gatherings and celebrations,
multifamily resident gatherings, and small events
in corporate plazas and other public spaces to
highlight our multicultural community and add to
the city’s vibrancy.
Safer spring cleaning and
In response to this feedback, city staff completed
responsible reorganizing a process and policy analysis regarding the noise
By Erin Hislop, Utilities Conservation and Outreach code as it relates to events and neighborhood
Spring cleaning traditions are approaching! Here celebrations under 500 people. This review
are tips to help safely clean and reorganize at home identified minor changes that will better support
while making the most of the items you no longer smaller events and community celebrations while
want. Remember: “Every Day is Earth Day!” still limiting negative impacts to neighbors.
1. Choose safer cleaners. Avoid cleaners with The City of Bellevue is exploring amendments to
the words “poison” or “danger” on the label. If the Bellevue City Code to better support small-
you are getting rid of toxic cleaners, they must scale events and neighborhood gatherings by
go to the Factoria Hazardous Waste Drop Off extending the hours allowable for amplified sound
at the transfer station for proper disposal. Find past 5 p.m. and allowing amplified sound on a
recipes to make your own safer cleaners at Sunday or holiday.
home at BellevueWA.gov/hazardous-waste. Learn more about the proposed changes on
2. Donate or Repair usable items. Consider the project webpage:
giving usable items to neighbors through BellevueWA.gov/noisecontrol-update
apps like “Buy Nothing” or sign up to bring a Questions, comments, and feedback can be
broken item you want to keep using to a local provided to project manager, Kristina Gallant,
Repair Fair by visiting RepairEconomyWA.org. senior planner with Development Services at
3. Properly recycle or dispose of items that 425-452-6196 or email kgallant@bellevuewa.gov.
are not usable. Looking to recycle unusual
items such as propane tanks or mattresses?
Bellevue Utilities has compiled a list of
locations that take such items at BellevueWA.
gov/recycle-more. Learn which items you can
recycle at home at BellevueWA.gov/recycle-
at-home.
4. Take a free Greener Living Class. Bellevue
Utilities is offering a number of free, virtual
Virtual Permit Center Shingles: Did you know?
connects customers with Shingles is a viral
permit center staff infection that causes
a painful rash typically
The city’s Development
on one side of the
Services Department is
face or body. The
offering appointments
duration can be two
through a Virtual Permit
to four weeks.
Center for customers
with general questions It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus – the same
about permits and the virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had
permitting process. The chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue
Virtual Permit Center near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the
allows customers virus may reactivate as shingles.
guaranteed time via While shingles isn’t a life-threatening condition,
video meeting with it can be very painful. The most common
permit technicians and plan reviewers. Before complication is postherpetic neuralgia which
applying for any permits, customers can ask causes shingles pain for a long time after your
questions and get real-time answers about the blisters have cleared. A less common complication
permit process – all from the convenience of their affects the eye and may result in facial scarring
home or office. Learn more about the Virtual and, in rare instances, vision loss.
Permit Center and book a meeting at BellevueWA.
The cause of shingles activating is unclear but a
gov/virtual-permit-center.
contributing factor may be lowered immunity to
Customers who have utilized the Virtual Permit infections as we grow older. It’s more common
Center appointments since it launched last in older adults and in those with weakened
summer have provided positive feedback on immune systems.
the ease of scheduling and service they have
Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles.
received. Development Services staff have helped
Other symptoms include burning, numbness or
customers determine what kind of permit they
tingling, sensitivity to touch, a red rash that begins
need and answered questions about city codes.
a few days after the pain followed by fluid filled
Feedback to staff has included kudos on the setup
blisters that break open, crust over and itch.
and service, as well as appreciation for being able
to connect directly with knowledgeable staff who Shingles is not contagious and cannot be spread
can answer questions. Feedback to staff has also from one person to another. However, it can
been used to improve the service by offering cause chickenpox in someone who has never had
additional appointment times for customers. chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine if they come
in contact with a shingles blister. Like chickenpox,
Development Services offers one-stop permit
once the blisters have developed a crust, they are
shopping for land and building development.
no longer contagious.
Department staff review plans, inspect projects
The good news is shingles can be prevented. If
and investigate code violations. These services
you’re 50 years of age or older, even if you’ve
ensure that projects are safe and aligned with
had the single dose Zostavax vaccine or have had
federal, state and city codes. When customers are
shingles, you are eligible for the Shingrix vaccine.
ready to apply for building permits, permitting
If you’ve had shingles, it is possible to contract
in Bellevue is paperless via MyBuildingPermit.
it again. This vaccine is used as a prevention
com. More information about permits and
strategy that is more than 90% effective at
the paperless permit process is available at
preventing shingles and the complications from
BellevueWA.gov/development-services.
the disease. It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t
get shingles. But it will likely reduce the course
and severity of the disease and reduce your risk of for the Curb Management Plan, and to propose
postherpetic neuralgia. amendments to the city’s comprehensive plan in
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) support of the effort.
recommends you get 2 doses of the Shingrix As part of the outreach, the city is inviting people
vaccine. The doses are to be given 2-6 months to respond to a short questionnaire, available
apart. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the at engagingbellevue.com/curb-management-
vaccine and call your health insurance provider plan; it will be live until April 15 at 5 p.m. People
ahead of time to see if it’s covered. will also have opportunities for input at several
For additional information about shingles or the Transportation Commission (BellevueWA.gov/
Shingrix vaccine, visit these websites, or use your city-government/departments/transportation/
preferred web browser to research shingles: planning/transportation-commission) meetings
starting in March.
CDC: cdc.gov/shingles/index.html
The new Curb
Mayo Clinic: mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/
Management Plan will
shingles/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353060
provide a high-level
planning framework to
City seeks feedback to better help guide how curb
manage curb areas areas develop. It will
Competition for assess existing curb
curbside areas – conditions, establish a
the space between curb usage prioritization
streets and framework, analyze costs
sidewalks – and benefits of creating a
in downtown dedicated curb program
and other dense and create a “curbside playbook” of options for
neighborhoods continues to grow as Bellevue permits, designs, and uses.
grows. To keep pace, the city has started work That work is expected to continue throughout
on a Curb Management Plan and is seeking input 2022. More information is available at
from the public, employers and others about how BellevueWA.gov/curb-management-plan.
curb spaces should be used.
Traditional uses of curb areas include on-street WSDOT reschedules start
parking, travel lanes and bus stops. But newer of Main Street bridge
uses for the same space have placed a strain on replacement work
this important segment of the city right-of-way.
Other pressure comes from: Project will require the closure of
■ Charging stations for electric vehicles Main Street, weekend closure of I-405
■ On-street dining areas The state Department of Transportation has
rescheduled the closure of Main Street, between
■ Rideshare services
112th and 116th, in preparation for replacing the
■ Employer shuttles Main Street bridge over Interstate 405 with a span
■ Uses such as delivery services, “micromobility” that includes a pedestrian and bicycle path.
providers that rent scooters and bicycles, and In the February edition of Neighborhood News,
the desire for more greenery to enhance the the closure had been listed as beginning as early
urban setting. as March 1; the new timetable calls for the closure
Recently, the city council directed the to start in late March or April.
Transportation Commission to work with staff In addition to a 150-day closure of Main, WSDOT
and the community to prepare recommendations will close I-405 in both directions through
downtown to demolish the bridge. The timing of
the highway closure is weather-dependent, but
likely would come a few days after Main Street
is closed.
City and WSDOT officials know the closure will
impact traffic around downtown and encourage
travelers to use alternate routes, if possible.
The overpass project is part of WSDOT’s I-405
Renton-to-Bellevue Widening and Express Toll
Lanes Project. The new bridge will span the new,
wider I-405. The project requires that:
Nighttime train testing at the Bellevue Downtown Station.
■ The principal detour for Main Street will be on Image courtesy of Sound Transit.
Northeast Fourth Street. The closure of Main
East Link light rail train
Street will be followed by a 60-day period
when one lane in each direction is open. testing underway
As construction of East Link light rail heads into
■ The detour route for the I-405 closure will
substantial completion, Sound Transit has begun
move traffic onto city streets between the
testing the light rail system throughout the 14-
highway ramps at Northeast Fourth and
mile extension.
Southeast Eighth streets.
Light rail vehicle testing involves different
■ Additional I-405 weekend closures will be
scenarios and components. Some of these
scheduled in the coming months to set
scenarios can be simulated in sequential order,
girders for the new bridge, but those closures
others cannot. Systems testing takes years to
will be in one direction only.
complete, starting at a basic level and becoming
More information about the Main Street bridge more complex over time.
replacement and all WSDOT closures on I-405
Some of the first work involved manually pulling
is at WSDOT.wa.gov/I405Widening. Get the
a train car to confirm it cleared under crossings,
latest information on street closures citywide at
turns, etc. Crews have now progressed to testing
BellevueWA.gov/trafficadvisories.
trains with power. Live wire testing checks the
safety and capacity of overhead power lines.
NE 8th St In early spring, testing will occur in the BelRed
Overlake and Redmond areas. Over this year,
116th Ave NE
120th Ave NE
there will be more night trains as the crews
NE 4th St continue to test different components, including
tracking switches, control lines, signal houses,
110th Ave NE
112th Ave NE
Bellevue
Downtown Park
405
power systems and other functions.
Main St Main St Current testing is occurring at night; future
Bellevue
Botanical Garden testing may occur in the daytime. Crews are
onboard trains but not passengers. You can
Bellevue Way SE
view footage from recent testing here: East Link
testing continues - YouTube (youtube.com/
Surrey watch?v=rpzW1uFHXGQ).
Downs Park SE 8th St
Eastbound detour route
With these activities moving toward the opening of
Westbound detour route the 2 Line in 2023, please remember to pay attention
405
Closure to safety. The trains will be moving fast and can
Open bridges appear quickly. It is important to stay off the tracks at
all times and only cross at designated crossings.
Boards and Commissions Meetings Human Services Commission (6 p.m., 1E-113)
First and third Tuesday of each month BellevueWA.
As of April 2020, no meetings are taking place
gov/city-government/departments/city-clerks-office/
at City Hall. Stay updated on meetings and boards-and-commissions/human-services-commission
cancellations: BellevueWA.gov
LEOFF 1 Disability Board (6 p.m., Room 1E-118)
All meetings are conducted at City Hall unless First Tuesday of each month BellevueWA.gov/city-
otherwise noted. Agendas are subject to change. If a government/departments/human-resources/retirees-
holiday occurs on a Monday, please check the updated former-employees/leoff-1-disability-board
calendar. Agendas can be downloaded from the city’s
Library Board (5p.m., Lake Hills, Bellevue or
web pages listed below. Meeting alerts are available
Newport Way Library) Third Tuesday of each month
through subscribing to the City’s Special Meeting
BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/city-
Notices page. BellevueWA.gov/city-government/
clerks-office/boards-and-commissions/library-board
departments/city-clerks-office/special-meeting-notices
Parks & Community Services Board
(6 p.m., 1E-113) Second Tuesday of each month
Bellevue Diversity Advisory Network
BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/city-
(6 p.m., Bellevue City Hall) Last Tuesday of each month
clerks-office/boards-and-commissions/parks-and-
BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/city-
community-services-board
managers-office/diversity/bellevue-diversity-advisory-
network The Bellevue Network on Aging (BNOA) 8:30
East Bellevue Community Council (6:30 p.m., Lake a.m., North Bellevue Community Center
Hills Clubhouse, 15230 Lake Hills Blvd) First Tuesday 4063 148th Ave NE, Bellevue) First Thursday of each
of each month BellevueWA.gov/city-government/east- month BellevueWA.gov/bnoa
bellevue-community-council Special Events Committee (8:30 a.m., 1E-112)
Arts Commission (4:30 p.m., 1E-109) Second Thursday of each month BellevueWA.gov/city-
First Tuesday of each month BellevueWA.gov/city- government/departments/city-clerks-office/boards-
government/departments/community-development/ and-commissions/special-events-committee
arts-and-culture/arts-commission Youth Link Board (6 p.m.,1E-120)
Environmental Services Commission Second Wednesday of each month BellevueWA.gov/
(6:30 p.m., 1E-113) First Thursday of each month city-government/departments/city-clerks-office/
BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/ boards-and-commissions/youth-link-board
utilities/conservation-and-the-environment/
environmental-services-commission Bellevue’s Neighborhood Services Division offers a
variety of programs and partnerships for neighborhood
Planning Commission (6:30 p.m., 1E-113) Second and
leaders and active residents. To learn more about
fourth Wednesday of each month BellevueWA.gov/city-
citizen involvement opportunities and programs to
government/departments/community-development/
enhance neighborhoods, please visit our website at:
planning-commission
BellevueWA.gov/city-government/departments/
Transportation Commission community-development/neighborhoods or call
(6:30 p.m., 1E-113) Second Thursday of each month 425-452-6836 or email: neighborhoodoutreach@
with fourth Thursday as needed. bellevuewa.gov.
BellevueWA.gov/planning/transportation-commission To subscribe to this newsletter, visit:
BellevueWA.gov/neighborhood-news
City Council Bellevue.Legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
Scheduled
Day Location Public Comment Opportunity
Meeting(s)
First four Mondays
of each Month, Emails to Council are accepted at
Virtual
except August and
December Bellevue TV council@bellevuewa.gov at any time.
6 p.m. Further opportunities for public
August – channel 21 and BTV
Regular Meeting YouTube channel comment are published on each Council
first Monday only youtube.com/user/ agenda and can be found at
BellevueWashington bellevue.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
CDD-22-6685
December – first and
second Mondays only
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