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Bellevue council approves easement releases, appoints Carolyn Bassana, advances Kids Quest funding and adopts federal agenda
Summary
Council approved two easement releases to enable redevelopment, appointed Carolyn Bassana to the Human Services Commission, advanced a funding agreement for Kids Quest in the consent calendar, and adopted the city’s 2026–2027 federal agenda after minor wording amendments.
At its May meeting, the Bellevue City Council handled multiple administrative and action items, including easement releases, an appointment, consent calendar items and adoption of the city’s federal agenda.
Easement releases: Following staff reports, the council held two public hearings and voted to adopt two resolutions authorizing partial releases of city easements. Resolution 10629 authorized release of portions of a sidewalk/utility and a sidewalk/utility/wall easement for property at 1425/120th Avenue NE to allow a four‑phase redevelopment that will construct life‑science office, residential, retail and dining uses. Resolution 10630 authorized release of an existing water easement at 12835 NE Bel‑Red Road to support redevelopment into a 31‑unit market‑rate townhouse community; the developer will grant a replacement water easement at no cost to the city.
Appointment: Council Member Robinson nominated Carolyn Bassana to fill a partial term on the Human Services Commission based on her experience with the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; the council confirmed the appointment by voice vote.
Kids Quest funding: City Manager Carlson highlighted Ordinance 6915 on the consent calendar, describing a proposed funding agreement with Kids Quest Children’s Museum to provide up to $10 million over the next two biennia and a $4.5 million appropriation from long‑range planning reserves for the initial installment to support a downtown relocation in the former Bellevue Arts Museum building. The consent calendar (including the funding agreement) passed by voice vote.
Federal agenda: Intergovernmental staff presented the draft 2026–2027 federal agenda, emphasizing priorities in transportation and mobility, water infrastructure, and housing. Council proposed and agreed to several small wording edits (tone adjustments and additions on municipal finance, data‑sharing privacy, and ratepayer impacts). Council voted to adopt the federal agenda and authorized staff to proceed with advocacy and appropriation requests, including a $1 million congressional funding request for a real‑time traffic signal safety program that staff said is under consideration by members of the congressional delegation.
Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda: passed (voice vote). - Adopt Resolution 10629 (partial easement release, 1425/120th Ave NE): passed (voice vote). - Adopt Resolution 10630 (water easement release, 12835 NE Bel‑Red Road): passed (voice vote). - Appointment of Carolyn Bassana to Human Services Commission: passed (voice vote). - Approve consent calendar including Ordinance 6915 (Kids Quest funding agreement): passed (voice vote). - Adopt 2026–2027 federal agenda (with council amendments): passed (voice vote).
Staff next steps include recording the adopted resolutions, finalizing the Kids Quest funding agreement details for future funding installments, and implementing the federal advocacy plan during the summer delegation work in Washington, D.C.
