In this issue

Claudia Balducci discusses the accomplishments of the City of Bellevue’s recent past, its present situation and the Council’s vision for the future. Student of the Month, Sharon Ma.  Rotating the Wheels Dinner. BBRC Retreat.  Ode to BBRC’s Sergeants-At-Arms, past and present.

speaker program

Claudia Balducci’s presentation focused on how Bellevue is ready to leap ahead and how it is seizing opportunity, embracing change and welcoming unity.

She spoke about Bellevue’s role in the implementation of mybuildingpermit.com.   In 1998, the building officials from Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, and Redmond began a unified approach to building processes and services. They recognized that many customers work in more than one city; and the lack of uniformity in the processes, interpretations, and codes led to confusion and increases in the cost of doing business. The city building officials began working together to share information, agree upon standards, and pool resources – in other words, governments working together to accomplish similar needs.    This vision has evolved into the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional on-line permitting portal, mybuildingpermit.com.

Claudia recited some interesting statistics about Bellevue.  The current population is 132,000; 41% are minorities.   There is no racial minority in Bellevue schools.  61% of the population has a Bachelor’s degree.    She also mentioned several positive points:

• Bellevue’s police and fire departments are both nationally recognized.
•  95% of Bellevue residents believe the quality of life is very good.
• The City of Bellevue’s bonds are rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s and Aaa by Moody’s.
• Permit activity is up 14%.    Claudia specifically mentioned three downtown projects currently under construction:  Marriott Hotel, SOMA Towers Phase I and Bellevue at Main
• The downtown population and employment are growing but business taxes are not yet up to the level of 2008.
• The Bellevue Botanical Garden’s new Visitor and Education centers will open in June.
• The Bellevue Youth Theatre is building a new facility.

Improving transportation remains a top priority in Bellevue.   $1.5 billion in construction activity for light rail will occur over the next eight years. Bellevue has implemented intelligent transportation systems that are designed to decrease wait times at busy intersections.

Recognizing that tech-savvy residents and workers in Bellevue use their smart phones to do so many things, Bellevue launched a mobile app, MyBellevue, which makes it possible for people to enter service requests and access city news, jobs and social media easily with their phones.

Claudia identified seven strategic areas on which the city is focused:

• Economic Development.  Bellevue is becoming more involved in recruiting business.
• Transportation and Mobility
• High Quality Built and Natural Environment.  One initiative is improving Bellevue’s skyline.
• Great Places You Want to Be.  Claudia specifically mentioned a future park at Meydenbauer Bay and a center for cultural arts.
• Regional Leadership and Influence
• Achieving Human Potential, like updating the diversity plan and finding a permanent home for the men’s homeless shelter.
• High Performance Government

Claudia answered several questions posed by Club members.   She stated that buildings along the Bel-Red corridor will be in the 6-12 story range to give it a campus-like feel and a traffic study will be completed on the East side of Highway 405.  She did not anticipate a future arena on the Eastside because there is no land, team or investors.

She acknowledged that affordable housing is a tough issue and the city is looking at adopting a multi-family tax credit.   Bellevue is working on a B&O tax portal that will allow businesses to file one return electronically for many cities.

In responding to a question about disaster readiness, Claudia mentioned that Bellevue has a state of the art emergency call center and staff dedicated to training neighbors to help neighbors in the event of a disaster.

Club business

Invocation and Introduction of Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Kaj Pedersen gave the following invocation:

Let us take a moment to remember all the religions represented in the Rotary family.  Let us also recall that when we were invited to join our Rotary clubs we were not asked are you a Protestant, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew, a Catholic or a Buddhist, or a Sikh.  You were not asked because all religions are welcome in the Rotary family.  Please join me in a moment of reflection and thanks with these words:

With our friends beside us,

And no person beneath us,

With the bonds of Rotary between us,

And our worries behind us,

With our goals before us,

And no task beyond us,

With a thirst for knowledge,

And a dream of a Polio free world,

We are thankful for our Rotary friends and the meal we are about to share.

———–

Traci Tenholzen introduced visiting Rotarians and guests.

Student of the Month

Tanya Franzen-Garrett introduced our Student of the Month, Sharon Ma.  Sharon is a senior at Sammamish High School who enjoys tutoring math.    She worked on an Indian reservation in Montana building and renovating houses.  Sharon has been accepted at UW and aspires to be a pediatrician.  Kristen Patterson, Sharon’s counselor at Sammamish, highly praised Sharon:

“Sharon is an amazing young lady who lights up the room when she enters it.  I chose her because I have seen firsthand her willingness and joy in helping others.   She shares her talents with others by tutoring her peers, working at her church and helping in many ways around the school.  One of the hardest working kids I know!”

BBRC Retreat

Wendi announced we will be holding our retreat on May 23 during the Club meeting.   She asked us to think about what we would like to do during the next Rotary year, which begins on July 1.

Rotating the Wheels Dinner

Tim Leahy (Texas Tim) and Katherine De Stephano (Kitty Kat) announced in true Western fashion the upcoming Rotating the Wheels dinner, which will be a country hoedown at Tibbett’s Creek Manor in Issaquah on Friday, June 20.  Their announcement was accompanied by the Blazing Sadlers theme song.

Ode to Sergeants-At-Arms

Paul Chapman, our current Sergeant-At-Arms, called the prior Sergeants-At-Arms to the front of room and sang their praises:  David Bolson, John Martinka, Jim Zidar, Wendi Fischer, Jenny Andrews, Chuck Kimbrough and Kit Bowerman.  Paul remarked that the Sergeants-at-Arms were the unsung heroes who held the Club together.  When Paul asked them about their fond memories during their time as Sergeant-At-Arms, we heard stories about prescription drugs and therapy, Colin Radford’s school song and red feathered boas.

Announcements

1. Chuck Kimbrough asked us to pick up any signs on the streets announcing the Bellevue 10K.
2. Tanya Franzen-Garrett promoted the merits of the silent auction at our Charity Golf Tournament by presenting Tim Moriarty the monthly plate of cookies he won at the auction.
3. John Schwager announced a meeting of the Golf Tournament committee next week after the Club meeting.

thought for the week

A Mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.

About the Speaker