Published February 7 2025
Plus, aligning land use code to state law, Innovation Forum update and proclamation for Black History Month
This week, the City Council was provided an annual crime and recruitment update by the Bellevue Police Department. Overall crime across the city fell about 6% in 2024 when compared with 2023. The city saw 524 fewer crimes against community members.
Additionally, Chief Wendell Shirley announced the department celebrated a record year in recruitment and retention for the agency. At the start of 2024, Bellevue Police had 32 vacancies in the agency. By the end of January 2025, the department was able to recruit 46 new officers with a net gain of 17 positions.
Shirley credited the department's overall new employee package and robust retention programs as key tools, including a signing bonus (for lateral officers), take-home vehicles and an officer wellness program.
"I believe Bellevue Police has an advantage over others in the region do not have: community support, buy-in from city leadership and a vision that will continue to make us leaders of today and for the future," Shirley said.
The full presentation and council discussion can be found on video replay through Bellevue Television.
Aligning land use codes to state law
Following a study session, the council also directed staff to finalize a proposed land use code amendment (LUCA) in response to House Bill (HB) 1293, which required cities to apply clear and objective design regulations for design review projects. The amendments primarily pertain to Bellevue’s design district overlays like Downtown, BelRed, and East Main and aim to improve clarity in project design requirements while maintaining the city’s high-quality design outcomes.
Key changes include standardizing code formatting, ensuring consistency across design regulations, and modifying vesting rules for Design Review and Master Development Plan permits to provide greater certainty for applicants.
The final ordinance will return for council action on the consent calendar. More details are available in the meeting materials.
Innovation Forum update
The council received an update from members of the city’s information technology team on work being done to create an Innovation Forum, a way to engage the community to increase innovative service delivery throughout city government services and the community.
The work aims to foster opportunity, equity, mobility and economic development through actions including:
- Convening key partners to advance technology in Bellevue and address key challenges
- Partnering with the business community to test innovative ideas
- Collaborating with schools and small businesses to support technology access
- Sharing information on policy related to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence
- Promoting technology support, training and education
In 2024, community members, businesses, and the council offered input through an engagement process on how to further support innovation in city services and the local economy. During that outreach, areas of desired focus for the Innovation Forum included: supporting and enhancing digital equity; augmenting policies and priorities; and building thriving innovation ecosystems.
The next Innovation Forum will be held at City Hall on Wednesday, March 5, 6-8 p.m., and will share the results of engagement so far, drive an action plan and engage community volunteers to take part in the effort. The Innovation Forum will meet four times a year.
Proclamation for Black History Month
In other business, the council proclaimed February as Black History Month in Bellevue, and highlighted "Voices Unbounded," an art exhibit at City Hall during February honoring the talents of 21 Pacific Northwest Black artists. The exhibit is open during business hours at Bellevue City Hall through the end of the month.