Published December 10 2020
Plus, arts funding recommendations and Bellevue Essentials
On Monday, the City Council reviewed and approved 6-0 (Councilmember John Stokes absent) nine amendments to specifically earmark funds or adjust timing of funding availability for key city priorities not already addressed in the proposed 2021-2022 budget. The amendments will be funded through a variety of means including use of the Council Contingency Fund, transportation levies, adjusting the timing of spending over the life of the Capital Investment Program (CIP), or, in one case, through an increase in fees.
Amendments discussed and adopted include:
- Vision Zero timing – adjusts the timing of funding for the Vision Zero Rapid Build Data Driven Safety Program project to support earlier and more consistent action throughout the CIP.
- Growth Corridor pedestrian and bike project – also adjusts the timing of the Growth Corridor High Comfort Bicycle Network Implementation project to dedicate more funds in 2021 to allow for design and potential grants to occur more quickly.
- Communities of Color Coordinating Team – allocates $150,000 for implementing a community-led and staff-supported effort to advance racial equity in Bellevue.
- Enhanced Stakeholder Group/Public Engagement for Environmental Stewardship Initiative – earmarks $50,000 in funds to utilize the specialized expertise and knowledge of engaged stakeholder groups that can assist with achieving Bellevue's Environmental Stewardship goals.
- Environmental Stewardship Initiative Rapid Early Win Actions – adds $100,000 in 2021 and 2022 to the Capital Investment Program (CIP) for ESI Implementation.
- Bellevue Chamber/Bellevue Downtown Association Support – provides $20,000 in funding to both organizations to supplement the city's vital public services in the promoting and advocating for our most vulnerable small businesses and nonprofits.
- Bellevue College Connector – dedicates $100,000 to continued work with King County Metro and Bellevue College on next steps for this mobility project.
- Cross-Cultural Center Feasibility Study – provides $200,000 in funding for the next phase of the cross-cultural feasibility study, including strategic visioning and city master planning integration, partnership assessment and financing.
- Fire Training Administrative Assistant – restores this full-time position and associated expenditures in the Fire Department budget, offset by a revenue increase in the Basic Life Support fee.
A further amendment addressing the Bellevue College Connector project changed the funding source for that amendment from the Council Contingency Fund to transportation levy funds.
The council is scheduled to hold a final discussion and approve the budget at the Dec. 14 meeting. Further details on the budget amendments and other pieces of the budget proposal are available in the meeting materials.
Arts funding recommendations
In other business, the council voted 6-0 to approve recommendations by the Arts Commission to fund arts grant programs for 2021. The council has allocated annual funding since 2001 to support artists and arts organizations providing programs in Bellevue.
During this year’s process, commissioners reviewed 42 applications, 13 of which were from new applicants. They recommended awarding 45 grants to organizations and individuals across three grant programs with the 2021 budget of $145,000, which is equal to last year’s funding amount. 4CULTURE, the cultural funding agency for King County, supplied $15,000 of the total budget amount.
The grants are aimed at providing arts events and programming, including virtual programming, to more than 1.2 million residents and visitors in 2021. Approximately half of the audience will be able to enjoy free or reduced admissions to the programs thanks to this funding. In addition, the grants fund more than 10,000 youth scholarships for arts education programs and support accessible, diverse arts programs.
More information is available in the meeting materials.
Bellevue Essentials 2020
The council received an annual recap of the Bellevue Essentials program, which graduated 40 participants this past week. The nine-week course is designed to help community members better understand how the city operates.
As with many other city services, this year’s curriculum was delivered virtually due to COVID-19. A record 73 community members applied to participate; a record high in the program’s eight years. All 40 who were accepted successfully completed the program.
“It’s through Bellevue Essentials that you’re not only sharing knowledge with the community on how government runs but inviting the community to apply the knowledge gained to work in partnership with you to make it run better,” Bellevue Essentials 2020 graduate Grace Chien told councilmembers at the meeting. “You have nurtured an intentional city culture that values this partnership, which fosters an environment in which civic engagement can thrive.”
A key component of Bellevue Essentials is to encourage graduates to stay engaged with the city and their neighborhoods. The program has an alumni group with more than 250 members. The full discussion is available through Bellevue Television replay.