During a recent meeting, Bellevue City Council reviewed the public draft of the 2026-2032 Affordable Housing Strategy and provided initial feedback. The city’s Office of Housing plans to hold two public sessions on the draft before submitting updated recommendations to the council. This strategy, first adopted in 2017, aims to enhance housing opportunities for low-income households over the next seven years. The update process, initiated in November 2024, engaged over 650 residents and 60 organizations, featuring events like the Better Cities Film Festival.
Additionally, the council received an update on the Inclusive Innovation program, which promotes collaboration among various sectors to foster innovation. The 2025 initiatives included the Innovation Exchange and the Civic Innovation Challenge, resulting in partnerships with four businesses to pilot solutions in areas such as AI and smart technology. Bellevue plans to expand these initiatives and host the next Innovation Exchange in June.
The council also began work on a collection of land use and city code amendments aimed at making city codes more accurate and user-friendly. Lastly, February was proclaimed Black History Month, with an art exhibition titled “Melodies of the Diaspora” showcased at Bellevue City Hall and the Bellevue Arts Museum.