Council Roundup: Grand Connection Crossing takes shape

Published October 25 2024

During Tuesday's City Council meeting, the council received an update on two important milestones for the Grand Connection Crossing. The crossing will provide safer travel for people walking, biking and rolling over I-405, enhance connections to regional transit and trail networks in Bellevue and better integrate downtown with the emerging neighborhood in Wilburton.

The first is the completion of a report that establishes the crossing's location, which will begin at City Hall Plaza on the west and continue over I-405 to Eastrail on the east. The report is a crucial step to begin engineering documentation and environmental review.

The city and consultant design teams will also publish the preliminary design of the crossing which includes design drawings for the entire crossing, environmental documentation and project cost estimates, which will be presented to the Council in early 2025 along with more information about a funding plan.

To view drawings for the crossing, learn how community input formed the initial design, and tell the design team how you envision using the crossing, visit the online open houseavailable now through Nov. 8.

City staff also presented on the work underway to analyze potential uses for the city-owned properties along the crossing route to enhance the user experience, support Bellevue's continued economic innovation, and seamlessly integrate downtown and Wilburton into a connected urban neighborhood. Visit the project pagefor more information.

Budget areas discussed

The City Council completed its series of 2025-2026 budget presentations with a session focused on the final two Strategic Target Areas that guide city operations - High Performance Government and Thriving People and Communities.

In the 2025-2026 proposed budget, Bellevue continues its commitment to providing exceptional city services through data-informed and collaborative decision making, strategic investment of public resources, strong commitment to our employees and inclusive community engagement.

New investments include increased resources toward a more citywide approach to community engagement, maintaining city facilities and investments focused on increasing energy efficiency and future space planning, and establishing an inclusive innovation forum where people from the private and public sector can gather to exchange ideas and advise the city on how technology and innovation supports opportunity, equity, mobility and economic development. The budget also provides funding for Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls programming and initiating the next phase of study to site a future cross-cultural facility.

The Thriving People & Communities target area guides the city's investments to advance Bellevue as a community in which each and every member has access and opportunity to meet their essential physical and behavioral health, economic, recreational, and social needs, feels a sense of belonging, and has an opportunity to thrive. The preliminary budget recommends $16.8 million to support human services programs, including a one-time investment of $2.5 million to bridge gaps after the spenddown of federal pandemic funding,

The Human Services Commission formed recommendations that include several funding sources: the Human Services Fund, Behavioral Health and Housing-Related Services Housing Stability Program and Community Development Block Grant funding.

The Commission based their process and funding recommendations on policy in the Human Services Strategic Plan and data found in the Human Services Needs Update, prioritizing the areas of greatest need and disparity.

City prepares for 2025 legislative session

The council discussed the city's 2025 State Legislative Agenda in advance of the upcoming legislation session in Olympia beginning Jan. 13. The agenda establishes the city's policy priorities and positions for the upcoming session. The 2025 State Legislative agenda also communicates the city's perspective to both the public and state lawmakers, highlighting what issues the city believes should be prioritized at the state level.

Key priorities for Bellevue this session include funding to continue Grand Connection Crossing design work, investments for ongoing transportation projects along the I-405 corridor and SR 520, improvements for the digital permitting platform MyBuildingPermit.comand partnership to address the housing affordability crisis in Bellevue and throughout the state.

Planning for growth

City Council unanimously voted to approve Bellevue's Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update which occurs roughly every decade and guides how the city plans for growth and development over the next 20 years.

Proclamations issued

Two proclamations were issued by council proclaiming the month of October as Disability Employment Awareness Monthand Filipino American History Month.