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Environmental Services Commission to revisit draft bylaws after council ordinances expand exclusion period and limit consecutive terms
Summary
Commissioners reviewed draft bylaw updates Oct. 2 to align with City Council ordinances that would limit service to two consecutive terms and extend decorum exclusion periods to 180 days; staff will seek attorney guidance on wording and bring a final draft back for a November vote.
Bellevue — The Environmental Services Commission on Oct. 2 reviewed draft bylaw changes prompted by City Council action to amend advisory-board code. Staff summarized the proposed edits including limiting service on any board or commission to two consecutive terms and extending the maximum exclusion period for decorum violations from 60 to 180 days.
Staff said the council adopted Ordinances 6,864 and 6,865 on Sept. 23, 2025 to amend Bellevue City Code (chapter 3.55) that governs advisory boards and commissions. The proposed bylaw redlines update the commission’s decorum and membership sections to reflect those ordinances and would also clarify the appeal process for exclusionary actions and make non-substantive formatting corrections.
Commission discussion focused on ambiguous draft language. Commissioner Letterman and others pointed out a difference between the summary language presented to commissioners (“any commission”) and the redlined draft (which used “the commission” in one provision), and asked staff to confirm the intent and run the language by the city attorney. Staff agreed to consult the attorney and return with corrected language at the November meeting.
Action and next steps: Commissioner Letterman moved to bring the draft bylaws back to the commission’s Nov. 6 meeting for final action; the motion was seconded and approved to return for adoption (a two-thirds vote of membership will be required for amendment). Staff said they will incorporate attorney guidance and present final, track-changed bylaws for the commission’s vote in November.
Public comment: During oral communications several speakers addressed the commission. One speaker used inflammatory, offensive language; the commission reiterated it does not condone hateful speech while acknowledging First Amendment protections. Separately, Ashi Mishra of Bellevue Youth Link invited commissioners to the Youth Link Gumbo Night on Oct. 22 at Crossroads Community Center.
The commission took no final vote on the bylaws Oct. 2; staff will return with a revised draft and attorney input for a November adoption vote.
