Seastside Newsletter #94

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Bellevue:

News:

• Bellevue seeks public input on water system plans through Nov. 12: Bellevue Utilities is updating three plans that guide the city's management of stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater systems, and wants residents to weigh in on priorities by November 12. The city is collecting feedback through an online survey and recruiting participants for focus groups to discuss community values around water infrastructure and environmental protection. Residents can learn more and participate at BellevueWA.gov/ssw-plan. (info)

• Bellevue commits $235,000 for emergency food assistance after federal SNAP cuts: Bellevue is putting up $235,000 in emergency funding to help local families hit by recent federal cuts to SNAP benefits, which affect more than 3,000 households in the city including nearly 4,000 children. The money includes $150,000 from city contingency funds that will be split among 11 community organizations already doing food assistance work, plus $85,000 in community donations that Parks and Community Services will use to buy grocery gift cards for distribution through the city's Essentials For All program. Mayor Lynne Robinson said the city wanted to respond quickly through existing partnerships, noting that about one in four Bellevue students now qualify for free or reduced lunch and more than half of SNAP-receiving households include someone with a disability. (info)

Events:

• Eastside Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 11th. (info)

• City Council Meeting on November 12th. (info)

• Hybrid Town Hall with the Code & Policy team on November 17th. (info)

Bothell & Kenmore:

News:

• No news this week!

Events:

• Fall Tree Planting Event on November 8th. (info)

• City Council Meeting on November 10th. (info)

• Startup 425 - Startup & Small Business CoWorking on November 19th. (info)

• Furniture Repair Bank Collection Event on November 23rd. (info)

• Artist Reception on November 24th. (info)

Fall City & Snoqualmie:

News:

• Northwest Railway Museum launches winter season with steam trains and Santa rides: The Northwest Railway Museum kicked off its winter season on Halloween with a lineup of special train experiences running through December, including steam-powered excursions, wine trains, and the return of the popular Santa Trains starting November 29. Regular steam train rides are limited to just three Saturdays in November (the 8th, 15th, and 22nd) before the museum shifts focus to holiday programming, which includes decorated coaches, visits with Santa in historic Chapel Car 5, and the Yuletide Express that takes families to Snoqualmie Falls with Santa riding along to visit each family. The museum recommends buying tickets in advance for all experiences, which depart from either the Snoqualmie or North Bend depots depending on the event. (info)

• Snoqualmie wins approval to slash housing growth target by more than half: King County has officially ratified Snoqualmie's request to cut its state-mandated housing growth target from 1,500 units down to 719, wrapping up a two-year effort by Mayor Katherine Ross and city staff to align the target with what's actually buildable. The reduction follows a 2023 city study showing the original 1,500-unit target exceeded available land capacity since most of Snoqualmie is already developed, environmentally constrained, or sits in the floodplain. The approval process moved through the Growth Management Planning Council in spring 2025, King County Council in July, and became final on October 22 after a 90-day review period for other jurisdictions, with Mayor Ross saying the city remains committed to affordable and missing-middle housing while preserving Snoqualmie's character. (info)

• Snoqualmie to hold public hearing on 2026 property tax levy Nov. 10: Snoqualmie is inviting residents to comment on the city's 2026 property tax levy at a public hearing during the November 10 City Council meeting at 7 p.m., with the city proposing a 0.82% increase that would bring in $71,946 more than last year. State law caps annual levy increases at 1% unless voters approve more, and the city notes that only about 18% of Snoqualmie property tax bills go to city services like police, fire, and parks, while roughly 58% funds schools across the nine taxing districts that make up local property tax bills. Residents can comment in person at the meeting or submit written feedback to the City Clerk by 3 p.m. on November 10 at [email protected] with "November 10 Public Hearing Comment" in the subject line. (info)

Events:

• Snoqualmie Valley Connect Business Networking on November 6th. (info)

• Train Dreams Premier on November 6th. (info)

• Sunday Group Trail Run on November 9th. (info)

• Unleash Your Inner Beader on November 13th. (info)

• Holiday Bazaar on November 22nd. (info)

Issaquah:

News:

• Issaquah launches eBilling option for utility customers: Issaquah is rolling out a new eBilling system starting November 3 that lets residents receive their utility bills by email instead of paper mail. Customers can sign up by logging into their utility billing account, clicking "Contact Preference," entering their email address, agreeing to the terms and conditions, and clicking update to receive a confirmation email—though enrolling in eBilling doesn't automatically set up autopay, which requires a separate step. The city is promoting the option as a more convenient and sustainable way to manage utility bills, with the first eBill arriving in the next billing cycle after enrollment. (info)

• Issaquah shares food resources for residents facing benefit changes: Issaquah is reminding residents about available food assistance options, with the Issaquah Food Bank offering its regular in-person market and express shopping twice monthly, plus emergency food service with pre-packed bags available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from noon to 4 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. The city has compiled a list of additional resources including nearby food banks in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, North Bend, Carnation, and Renton, plus hot meal programs at locations like Catholic Community Services and Eastside Salvation Army, as well as perks like DoorDash's waived delivery fees for SNAP customers. Residents needing help connecting to resources can contact [email protected]. (info)

Events:

• Creative Memories Fall Retreat on November 7th. (info)

• Holiday Market at Pickering Barn on November 7th. (info)

• Grand Ridge Trail Run on November 8th. (info)

• Wreath Making Workshops on November 12th. (info)

• Fall Farm Fresh Market on November 15th. (info)

Kirkland:

News:

• No new news this week!

Events:

• Comedy Night & Juanita Cantina on November 8th. (info)

• Windsor Vista Park Habitat Stewardship on Juanita Creek on November 8th. (info)

• Business Workshops with OneEastside on November 12th. (info)

• Winterfest Tree Lighting on Nov. 29. (info)

Mercer Island:

News:

• Mercer Island public safety bond falls short in early election results: Mercer Island's Proposition 1, a bond measure to fund a new public safety and maintenance facility, is trailing in early general election results with 55.74% yes votes—short of the 60% supermajority needed to pass. In City Council races, incumbent Lisa Anderl leads with 56.52% over Johana Beresky for Position 6, while Julie Hsieh is ahead with 56.34% against Adam Ragheb for Position 7, and incumbents Ted Weinberg and Daniel Becker are running unopposed for their positions. In the school board race, Stephanie Burnett is leading Robert O'Callahan with 67.26% for Position 4, while updated results will continue to be posted weekdays through November 25 when final results are certified. (info)

Events:

• Restoration Event | Wildwood Park on November 8th. (info)

• Business Workshop: Crafting Your Strengths-Based Personal Brand on November 12th. (info)

• Restoration Event | Native Plant Nursery on November 13th. (info)

Redmond:

News:

• Redmond Police Suspend Flock Camera Use Amid ICE Data Concerns: The Redmond Police Department has halted its automated license plate reader system after community and state-level worries that similar Flock camera networks elsewhere allowed ICE access. Though officials stressed no data from Redmond was shared, the city council voted unanimously to suspend the system while reviewing privacy, data-sharing, and oversight policies. (info)

• ICE Conducts Multiple Arrests in Redmond, City Police Not Involved: Federal immigration agents carried out several arrests Monday in Redmond, including incidents near Panera Bread and Bear Creek Village. Witnesses reported ICE agents breaking a vehicle window to detain two men, including one identified as “Rigo.” Redmond Police confirmed ICE operations occurred without prior notice or local involvement, reaffirming that the department does not assist in immigration enforcement. (info)

Events:

• Happy Hour at Brown’s Stockyard Exchange on Nov. 9 from 4-6pm. (info)

• Boots & Brews Line Dancing on Nov. 13 from 7-8pm. (info)

Renton:

News:

• Renton 2025 Election Results: Incumbents Lead, Levies Pass: Early results show incumbents James Alberson, Carmen Rivera, and Ruth Perez leading Renton City Council races. School board candidates Avanti Bergquist and Lindsay Jensen also hold strong leads, while both Renton School District levy renewals passed comfortably. Countywide, Girmay Zahilay narrowly leads Claudia Balducci for King County Executive, and voters approved the Medic One levy and a long-term care fund investment amendment. (info)

• Renton Student Health Hub Marks Milestone Year: The City of Renton, Renton School District, and HCP OneHealthPort celebrated the first-year success of the Renton Student Health Hub, which has connected over 100 students to behavioral health and housing services across all 26 district schools. Officials praised the initiative as a model for early intervention and cross-sector collaboration, with future plans to expand student access to care and community support. (info)

• SWAT Arrests 15-Year-Old in Renton, Recovers Ghost Gun: A 15-year-old was arrested by Valley SWAT in Renton on an Auburn Police warrant, where officers found a ghost gun and 30-round magazine hidden in a toilet. The teen now faces firearm and ghost gun possession charges, with investigators indicating additional charges may follow as the case develops. (info)

• Renton Seeks Community Input on Cedar River Natural Area Restoration: The city’s Parks and Recreation Department is hosting two public visioning sessions on Nov. 5 and 8 to gather feedback on revitalizing the Cedar River Natural Area. Plans include restoring habitats, improving safety, adding inclusive recreation features like a multi-use trail network and bike skills course, and ensuring the space reflects community values. (info)

Events:

• Cops & Barbers Event on Nov. 20. (info)

• Holiday Baazar on Nov. 21 from 11am-7pm. (info)

• K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run & Walk on Dec. 7th from 9:15-10:30am. (info)

Sammamish:

News:

• Sammamish 2025 Election Results Announced: In the latest Sammamish City Council races, Amy Lam led Position 1 with 41.6%, Josh Amato won Position 3 with 61.2%, Michael Boyer secured Position 5 with 52.4%, and Debbie Treen took Position 7 with 58.7%. Victoria Hunt prevailed in the 5th Legislative District Senate race, while school board seats went to Angela Meekhof, Aspen Richter, Natalie Anderson, and Sydne Mullings. (info)

• Sammamish Faces Builder’s Remedy Pressure Under New Housing Laws: Following statewide housing law updates, Sammamish released a new Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement projecting the need for 4,000 new housing units, with half required to be affordable. The city must update its growth plan to stay compliant with Washington’s Growth Management Act and avoid the “builder’s remedy,” which would allow developers to bypass city denial of affordable housing projects if production falls short. (info)

Events:

• Sammamish Landing Clean Up Volunteering on Nov. 11th. (info)

Woodinville:

News:

• Woodinville Crash Hospitalizes Three: A two-vehicle collision on Northeast Woodinville Drive before 6 a.m. Tuesday left one person in critical condition and two others hospitalized. Eastside Fire & Rescue responded, but the cause and potential charges remain under investigation. (info)

• Crypto Exec Jeff Lyon Spends $250K on Woodinville Council Race: Tech manager Jeff Lyon, a Woodinville City Council candidate and cryptocurrency executive, has poured roughly $250,000 into his 2025 campaign—an unprecedented sum for a city of under 10,000 voters. His spending has sparked backlash from local Democrats and developers, who accuse him of trying to “buy” influence, while Lyon insists he’s promoting responsible growth and accountability in city development. (info)

Events:

• Wine and Whimsy Series: Wine Barrel Wreaths at Patterson Cellars on Nov. 7th. (info)

• Live Music by Emmy Saxton at Chelan Ridge Winery on Nov. 8th. (info)

• Harvest Block Party & Market at Redwood Place on Nov. 8th. (info)

What we are currently loving!

• Highlands Bistro (Issaquah Highlands)
  This cheerful newcomer opened in December 2024 in Grand Ridge Plaza, and it hits the sweet spot of casual comfort with a global flavor twist—think pancakes and waffles at brunch, burgers and pasta for lunch, and locally-sourced dinner options infused with nods to Indian cuisine. The space feels fresh and welcoming, perfect for everything from a laid-back breakfast to a full evening out, with friendly service that bridges café ease and full-service polish. If you’re looking for a local restaurant in Issaquah that hasn’t saturated the “tried and true” category yet, Highlands Bistro is a solid pick.

Weather this Week:

• This week in Bellevue brings a thorough transition into late fall with a breezy start and a solid chance of rain on Thursday, pairing well with that cozy sweater you’ve been itching to wear. As the weekend approaches, the skies clear a bit and highs flirt with the low 60s, inviting a crisp outdoor coffee or leisurely walk. Then, early next week, a return to clouds and the occasional shower reminds us that skiing isn’t the only thing to pull out — umbrella season is officially here.