Downtown Bellevue Project Update by the City of Bellevue and King County Metro
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Bellevue IT’S YOUR CITY Bellevue IT’S YOUR CITY FEBRUARY 2008 www.bellevuewa.gov INSIDE Grant Degginger re-elected mayor ;ALQ Linda Pillo is new Police Chief. Page 5 BellevueThe City Council selected Claudia Balducci to be deputy mayor and Grant Degginger to be mayor for the next two years. Grant Degginger, who has Economic Partnership and the serves as the Council’s liaison to the been Bellevue’s mayor since January Regional Issues Committee. Youth Link Board. 2006, will hold the office for a Balducci also is a lawyer by Bellevue’s seven City Council IT’Ssecond two-yearYOUR term after his profession CITY and presently serves as members are elected at large, and fellow City Council members re- the Regional Jail Coordinator for serve staggered four-year terms. The elected him Jan. 7. King County. She was re-elected last Council is responsible for adopting Councilmember Claudia fall to a second term on the council. the general policies for the city, Balducci was chosen to replace John Balducci’s current council which are then implemented by the Children's Hospital. Page 7 Chelminiak as deputy mayor. assignments and appointments city manager and staff. “I am honored to have the include the Association of The City Council meets opportunity to continue to serve Washington Cities Legislative Monday nights in public session as mayor,” Degginger said. “I Committee; the Eastside at City Hall. The meetings can be look forward to working with my Transportation Partnership; viewed on Bellevue Television 21 colleagues to advance the Council the Disability Board; and the (BTV 21) or on the city’s website agenda and maintain the excellent Puget Sound Regional Council (http://www.bellevuewa.gov), where quality of life in Bellevue.” Transportation Policy Board. She they are video streamed live. In Bellevue, the mayor presides over council meetings and study sessions, represents the city in local and regional forums and serves as the chief spokesperson for the Connie Marshall steps down Council. Three-term Bellevue City the council in 1998, and served two Degginger, a Bellevue resident Council member Connie Marshall consecutive terms (2002 to 2005) as since 1982, was elected to the City announced in January that she would mayor. She has also served as a Sound Council in 1999, after serving Downtown Projects. Pages 12-14 resign. In a statement read during Transit board member since 2004. on the Planning Commission, the Council’s Jan. 14 study session, During her tenure, Bellevue including a term as chair. He served Marshall said she had “accomplished underwent many significant as deputy mayor in 2002 and 2003. what I came here to do.” changes, including: A partner with the law firm “I’ve helped to guide Bellevue’s • Transformation of the central Lane Powell PC, Degginger has vision to position itself as the ‘hub’ business district into a regional been active in numerous regional of the Eastside without being the employment center for the issues, and presently serves as chair gorilla,” Marshall said. “We have retail, high-technology and of the Cascade Water Alliance. transformed ourselves to be the banking industries; His current City Council transportation hub, the cultural • Construction of a regional assignments include the Growth hub, the economic hub and the transit center downtown; Management Planning Council; medical hub.” • Construction of a new City the 520 Mediator Panel; the Jail Before a crowd of family and Hall downtown; New Marathon Route Proposed. Advisory Task Force; Planning friends, including King County • Major expansion of cultural Page 11 Commission liaison, the Bellevue Councilman Reagan Dunn, the and arts programs throughout City Council and supporters on Jan. the city; 22 presented Marshall with flowers • Major arterial improvements, and plaques for her nearly 10 years including the Northeast 10th City of Bellevue PRSTD STD P.O. Box 90012 of service. Street overpass, now under U.S. Postage Bellevue, WA 98009-9012 Marshall’s present term would construction. PAID have expired in two years. The Bellevue, WA In her remarks, Marshall said Council is expected to decide soon Permit NO. 61 Bellevue was on the right track, how to fill her position until the poised to become a “world class and next municipal election in 2009. memorable city.” “Connie has been an “It’s been a privilege and honor ECRWSS-C outstanding leader, someone who to serve on the City Council for the kept her eye on the big picture and POSTAL PATRON LOCAL past 10 years,” she said. “And I want got things done,” City Manager to thank everyone who helped me Steve Sarkozy said. “We are going to get here – there are so many of you. miss her immensely.” I have loved my experience and will Marshall began her career on cherish the memories.” Council Corner the nation in which to live, work Slicing the property tax pie Relative Share of 2007 Property Tax Levy and play. for the Average Home Value of $530,000 By Bellevue City Councilmember Don Davidson In coming months, the topic of property taxes is likely to Bellevue It’s that time of year again. Property taxes are due surface again as the City Council $579 Special Districts soon, and a lot of people will be asking themselves the begins public deliberations on the 14% $497 same question: next biennial budget and the city’s 14% “Where do my property tax dollars go, anyway?” long-range financial plan. The If you think the City of Bellevue receives the deliberations will focus on how majority of the property taxes you pay, you’re in for a we maintain the current level of surprise. The fact is that last year, despite imposing a services and meet new demands in modest tax increase to pay for critical capital improvement projects, the the face of rapid growth and other city received only 14 percent of the total property taxes paid by Bellevue challenges. homeowners. For example, the city’s Parks State and local schools combined collected the most, 57 percent, while and Recreation Improvement King County came in second, with 17 percent. Special districts, such as the bonds will expire his year, Port of Seattle, together collected 12 percent. decreasing property taxes by an It’s important we know where our tax dollars are going, and what they average of $26, but leaving the city are being used for. We deserve maximum value from our tax dollars. with no steady revenue stream to Bellevue Schools State Schools $1,109 $1,233 For many years now, the Bellevue City Council has practiced this replace the funds. 27% King County 30% philosophy. We have largely held the line on property tax increases, while Questions the Council will $683 delivering top value for the tax dollars collected. likely face are: 17% We have lived within our means and controlled spending by identifying • How do we ensure the long- efficiencies and encouraging innovation through new technologies and term viability of our city’s other means. And we have attempted to balance residential and business tax economic engine? responsibilities by creating an environment that encourages businesses to • How do we maintain the integrity of our neighborhoods in the face of locate and invest here. continued growth? Indeed, for eight years, from 1998 through 2006, the council imposed • How do we provide the cultural and recreational amenities that no increases in city property taxes. And the 2 percent increase approved by residents and visitors demand? the Council for 2007 translated into a property tax increase for the average • How do we build a transportation system that meets current and long- Bellevue homeowner of about $11 each year. This year’s 2 percent tax term mobility needs? increase will boost taxes by about the same, small amount. • How do we make sure we’re doing what we need to do to promote In comparison, the average Bellevue taxpayer this year will pay an additional environmental stewardship? $148 in property taxes to King County to pay for voter-approved parks • How do we maintain high levels of citizen satisfaction as they relate to expansion and maintenance levies, as well as ferry and flood control district city services such as public safety? levies adopted by the King County Council. Residents and others will have ample opportunity to engage in frank It’s easy to determine where our tax dollars go, and the value we receive. discussions with Council members as we tackle these and other questions. I Low crime, great parks, excellent public safety services, quality residential encourage all of you to stay informed and get involved. neighborhoods and robust commercial areas – all are hallmarks of our community and the reasons why we are considered one of the best places in Residents Talk If you had the time, what kind of volunteer activity would you choose to do? If you are already volunteering, what are you doing now? Nick Ayers: “I haven’t Noriko Obata: “I volunteer volunteered for a while. I built in Bellevue schools. I’d like to houses in Mexico as part of a church volunteer at the downtown library. group, and that was fun. I’d do that My kids are still small and the again. My second choice would library volunteers always help me be to volunteer for the Humane with me with my questions.” Society.” Marilyn Campbell: “I’ve Matt Stermer: “It would be volunteered for the Bellevue Police a community service to help keep Department since last fall. I went the neighborhood clean and safe, through the Community Academy. or maybe the Boys and Girls Club. It’s so fascinating. I work at the Something that helps kids.” Crossroads Police Station.