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Bellevue · BEV-CP-2023 · Pages 13-19

Community Engagement

This chapter establishes Bellevue's framework for inclusive, equitable community engagement across all city planning and decision-making processes. It emphasizes reducing barriers to participation, building long-term relationships with diverse and historically marginalized communities, and using innovative outreach methods. It also commits to regular two-way communication and culturally relevant engagement strategies.

Community Engagement Governance Social

“None of the 21 Community Engagement policies in this chapter include a concrete, measurable commitment.” Real Record SAY vs DO analysis · Bellevue Comprehensive Plan

About this analysis

Real Record applies the SAY vs DO accountability framework to every chapter of every Washington comprehensive plan we publish. Each policy in the chapter is read individually and scored into one of four buckets:

  • Measurable — the policy names a specific target, deadline, dollar amount, or action that can be verified later.
  • Strong — binding action language (“shall,” “will adopt,” “require”) without a measurable threshold.
  • Aspirational — encouraging or supportive language (“encourage,” “support,” “consider”) with no enforcement.
  • Monitor only — policies that commit to tracking or reporting but not to action.

The accountability score shown in the sidebar is the share of policies in the chapter that landed in the “Measurable” bucket. A score of 0–19 (red) indicates most policies use aspirational language without concrete accountability; 20–49 (orange) is mixed; 50 or higher (green) means the chapter is dominated by measurable commitments.

The underlying text comes from the official adopted comprehensive plan published by the Bellevue planning department. Scoring is performed by Real Record analysts using a structured rubric; the raw policy text and bucket assignments are archived in the Real Record civic data warehouse.

Read the full methodology, sources, and rubric at Real Record · About.

Goals (1 total)
  • CE-Goal: To ensure that the public has on-going opportunities to participate in all planning efforts
Stronger Policy Language (9 policies in this chapter)
  • CE-4: Conduct detailed and community-informed stakeholder analyses to identify what neighborhoods and segments of the community will be impacted by city projects...
  • CE-18: Establish meaningful, regular and ongoing coordination and exchange of information with Tribes to recognize mutual benefits and the potential for impacts on all policies...
  • CE-19: Provide equitable access to the city's programs, services, and events - including accommodation for youth, older adults, persons living with a disability...
Show all 9 stronger policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 5 stronger policies are catalogued in the Real Record civic data warehouse and indexed by policy number against the adopted plan text. See how policies are scored →
Aspirational / Monitoring Language (12 policies in this chapter)
  • CE-1: Build relationships and coordinate engagement between the city and diverse cultural groups across the city and region through programs and partnerships such as a cultural...
  • CE-9: Encourage the use of plain language writing and design within public-facing engagement materials to ensure information is concise, inclusive and easy to understand.
  • CE-10: Encourage and support engagement with the entire community, including residents, employees, business owners and visitors to the city or area of the city under consideration.
Show all 12 aspirational / monitoring policies
The four examples above are a representative sample. The remaining 8 policies in this bucket use language like “encourage,” “support,” “consider,” or “monitor” — phrasing that does not create an enforceable commitment. See how policies are scored →

SAY vs DISCUSS: Did this come up in meetings?

Real Record has not yet indexed any Bellevue briefings tagged to this chapter’s topics. Browse all Bellevue council and planning briefings to see related discussions in context.

View Bellevue Briefings →