Bellevue City Council Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Bellevue City Council meeting on January 13, 2026, included significant discussions on two major procurement-related topics: the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTTE) program update and a parking reform land use code amendment (LUCA). The council reviewed proposed changes to the MFTTE program aimed at incentivizing affordable housing development, including new 8-year and 20-year exemption options, parking requirement reductions near transit, and alignment with land use code updates. Stakeholders expressed support for these updates, emphasizing the program's role in addressing housing affordability and development challenges. The council unanimously directed staff to finalize the MFTTE code update for future action. Additionally, the council initiated work on parking reform to comply with new state mandates reducing minimum parking requirements, with options to eliminate or reduce parking minimums in transit-served areas. The council approved expanding the scope of this reform and directed the planning commission to review and process the LUCA. The meeting also included a quasi-judicial land use item regarding a site-specific rezoning, with the hearing examiner recommending approval; the council will take final action on this on January 27. Overall, the meeting focused on policy and regulatory updates with direct implications for future development, affordable housing incentives, and land use planning in Bellevue.