Council Roundup: Economic Development Plan update nears completion

Published September 12 2025

Plus, city boundary line adjustment, council rule changes and proclamations for Welcoming Week, Hunger Action Month and National Service Dog Month

The council received a report on the most recent update to the city's Economic Development Plan, targeted for adoption in December. Launched as a yearlong effort in late 2024, the update process has shown Bellevue's overall economic performance to mirror that of other strong, "second cities" across the country.

Bellevue's median household income rose 39% from 2018 to 2023, faster than any of the peer cities analyzed for the plan update. More than 10,000 jobs were added from 2020 to 2023. Downtown, in particular, has experienced rapid growth in the last five years, adding 4.3 million square feet of office space.

The city's creative economy, which includes traditional arts and some software development, remained a key economic driver, accounting for 37% of Bellevue's gross regional product.

Opportunities for future growth include emerging sectors such as life sciences, artificial intelligence and clean technology. The plan also recommends further support of arts communities and public spaces.

Staff expect to return to the council in October with draft strategies aimed at furthering the city's successes while managing risks. Additional details are available in the meeting materials.

City boundary changes

The council also voted unanimously to adjust the boundary line with the City of Kirkland to ensure the South Kirkland Park & Ride and the Cross Kirkland Corridor trail fall wholly within the city of Kirkland.

The adjustments were proposed to streamline future development, including trail improvements, a proposed light rail station and transit-oriented infrastructure, by placing the trail and the park and ride under a single permitting authority. The adjustments do not result in any loss of population or tax revenue to the City of Bellevue, and since the properties are tax-exempt, there is no fiscal impact to the change.

An interagency agreement ensures Bellevue retains a meaningful role in shaping future development, including input on design, access, and traffic impacts associated with the development of the park and ride parcel. Bellevue will have a voting seat on relevant planning committees and receive advance notice of permitting decisions, allowing time to comment.

The full discussion and vote are available on a video replay of the meeting through Bellevue Television.

Council rule changes

In other business, the council voted to make changes to its rules and city code related to exclusion from participating in or attending council, advisory board or commission meetings for people who violate the rules of decorum.

Councilmembers unanimously voted to increase the maximum allowable exclusion period from 60 days to 180 days. Councilmembers also voted to include a minimum of three business days after an appeal is received before considering the appeal at a public meeting. These changes align with practices in other cities and maintain constitutional protections and compliance with public meeting laws.

Additionally, the council voted to establish a new rule to limit service on advisory boards and commissions to two consecutive terms, regardless of whether those terms are served on the same or different boards. After serving two terms, individuals would need to wait two years before being eligible to serve again. This change aims to broaden community participation and create more opportunities in city advisory roles.

The details of these changes are available in the meeting materials.

Proclamations

The council also proclaimed Eastside Eastside Welcoming Weekin Bellevue, with a number of activities and events planned from Sept. 15-21, presented a proclamation for National Service Dog Monthand welcomed a special guest to the council chamber to accept the distinction, and declared September as Hunger Action and Awareness Month.