A new bill that will rehash a tense debate from last year’s legislative session could threaten the future of the East Bellevue Community Council.
The bill, likely to be presented in the next few days, could open up the approval of community councils to the entire city, rather than voters who lie within the community council boundaries. Currently, voters within the community council boundary lines vote every four years on whether to keep the body around.
“Our guys are absolutely and totally unrepresented if not for us,” said East Bellevue Community Council Chair Steve Kasner.
The last time East Bellevue residents were asked to continue the council in 2009, more than 82 percent voted in favor, according to city records.
Kasner said just this year the council has worked extensively on the development of the Kelsey Creek and Lake Hills shopping centers, and the body lobbied to make sure extension of 140th Avenue Southeast wasn’t left off the City Council’s list of priorities during budget cutting sessions.
Should the new bill, sponsored by Reps. Steve Kirby (Tacoma), Ruth Kagi (Lake Forest Park) and Jim Moeller (Vancouver), pass it could hurt not only Bellevue, but Kirkland’s Houghton Community Council, the only other such body in the state.
Last year’s House Bill 1812 failed after Houghton and East Bellevue residents passionately testified against it in the Senate. This time around, a bill will come out much earlier in the session, according to Kirkland Rep. Larry Springer, who is not a sponsor, but a proponent of the move.
“I thought it would be best to drop a clean bill, brand new, everyone will be notified and there will be no behind-closed doors allegations this time,” Springer said.
Despite this emphasis on input, Kasner said he has not been able to speak with Springer about the bill. East Bellevue and Houghton created a task force with two members a piece to fight the bill.
Springer said the new bill will smooth out some of the flaws in the old bill, including if voters in the entire city should be allowed to vote on whether or not to continue the existence of the community councils.
