Public urges independent appeals process as council shifts nuisance-hearing authority to police oversight

The Bellevue City Council reopened public comment and then adopted two related ordinances (Nos. 4171 and 4172) that amend municipal code language governing requests for hearings on nuisance violations.

Bridal Hanson, a resident of 2704 Georgia Avenue, told the council she had submitted a written statement and asked why the city was changing who hears nuisance appeals. Hanson said the role historically has been handled by the city administrator and argued that having the chief of police hear those appeals would appear too close to enforcement. Hanson urged the council to retain a degree of independence — suggesting either keeping the authority with the city administrator, creating a board of appeals similar to Papillion’s model, or assigning hearings to a disinterested department head such as the library director. "I just think it ought to be separated more than somebody just because they're not in that chain of responsibility or management," Hanson said.

Chief Jeffrey Clary responded that code enforcement had been moved out of the police department in 2020 and later returned. Clary described the current supervisory structure inside the police department (code enforcement reported to Joey Bachman, then to Lieutenant Banks and through additional supervisory layers), and said the department would provide separation from daily enforcement activity. He told council members that he himself would be largely hands-off for routine enforcement matters and that legal counsel and other subject-matter experts (for example the state arborist in recent tree cases) also weigh in on hearings.

Councilman Preister and Councilman Casey both said they appreciated Hanson’s point about perceived independence but noted that legal review and other expert input would provide additional safeguards. On motions to adopt, the council approved Ordinance No. 4171 and Ordinance No. 4172 by voice vote.

The written letters delivered by Hanson were placed into the record at the request of council and staff.

The ordinances amend sections of the Bellevue Municipal Code related to nuisance-hearing requests; the council’s packet and the adopted ordinance text contain the precise code sections amended and the effective dates.