MEYDENBAUER BAY PARK PHASE II:
We are in touch with the City of Bellevue Park Department and are waiting to hear about the first meeting with the design team from Berger & Associates. The MBNA will have a seat at the table when this process starts. 
 
Demolition of the two older duplexes on the site should start soon. Engineers and surveyors should be on the site soon as well. 
 
We have added several new members to the MBNA Board bringing us to 11 members. Keep up to date with what we're doing for you. Follow us on Facebook. Subscribe to our newsletter.
 
MILFOIL TREATMENT:
The annual Meydenbauer Bay Milfoil Treatment program is about to get underway with a scheduled start date of July 17th, which is the earliest it can be accomplished. This program, which is under the MBNA Permit, brings together treatment of the shoreline in front of the Yacht Club, the condos fronting the bay, the city docks, the park, and also individual homeowners who live on the Bay.
 
The MBNA Treatment Coordinator is Betty Mastropaolo, who can be reached at bmastro@gmail.com. Cost for single family homeowners is $350. The material used is DIQUAT which is approved by the EPA and DOE and is not harmful to humans or pets. Treatment is highly recommended this year as the hot weather in May gave these weeds an early start.
 
SAFETY AND WATER SAFETY IN MEYDENBAUER BAY:
This summer brings an increase in paddle boards, kayaks, swimmers and others using the bay. Be alert and remember to follow the speed and wake rules and the noise ordinances. The Mercer Island Marine Patrol will be a frequent sight in the bay where they will be checking boat registration, operator permits, and safety equipment. Do not be a violator!!!
 
SECURITY:
There are other levels of security ashore in the park, with the park Rangers (425-452-7225) and the Bellevue Police 911. Please lock your car and boat and keep your valuables out of sight.
 
DO NOT FEED THE GEESE OR OTHER WATERFOWL:
We have had several closures of the Meydenbauer Park swim beach due to high levels of E Coli bacteria. One of the contributing factors of this is goose poop. Feeding geese and other waterfowl makes this problem worse. 
 
BELLEVUE CITY COUNCIL ELECTION, FALL 2023:
This fall, there are four City Council seats available with eight people running. Two are incumbents with six challengers. The MBNA will be sponsoring a Candidate Forum to be held on October 12, 2023, at the Overlake Golf Club. There will be more information sent out on this as we get closer to the events.
 
SEA LION IN THE BAY:
Several weeks ago, a large California Sea Lion was seen in the Bay by at least two people at two different times. This situation has been reported to the proper wildlife agencies and the police. The Sea Lion was no doubt in the lake after salmon and appears to have moved on. If sighted, it should be avoided, but reported to the MBNA at 425-785-9000.

Get involved with MBNA. Follow us on Facebook. Subscribe to our newsletter. We'd love to hear from you!

The MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

(1) MILFOIL TREATMENT: WATERFRONT PROPERTY OWNERS: As you can see, the milfoil in the Bay is particularly thick this year. Each year, the MBNA, together with the City of Bellevue, Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, the Condominium Homeowners Associations around the Bay, and 35-40 private waterfront property owners pay to have non-native invasive milfoil around the Bay treated for eradication when permitted by the State of Washington. For further information, contact Betty Mastropaolo at bmastro@gmail.com.     
   
(2) DO NOT FEED THE GEESE OR OTHER WATERFOWL: We have had several closures of the Meydenbauer Park swim beach due to high levels of E Coli bacteria. One of the contributing factors of this is goose poop. Feeding geese and other waterfowl makes this problem worse.     
   
(3) CRIME AND CAR PROWLS: This is the season for crime and car prowls in and around the parks, as well as parking areas adjacent to them. Please lock your cars, do not leave personal items, valuables, bags or containers in visible locations in your vehicles. Homes, boats, cars, etc. should keep windows and doors shut and locked at all times. Call 911 to report any theft.    
   
(4) SPEED, NOISE AND BOAT WAKES ON THE BAY: The city, Marine Patrol and others are reviewing the need for speed and wake reduction for boats in Meydenbauer Bay. No changes are planned for this year, but please be courteous, follow existing speed and wake rules, and be aware of noise issues within the Bay.     
   
(5) SECURITY AND SAFETY IN MEYDENBAUER BAY: Within the Meydenbauer Bay Park, visitor moorage and marina: Park Rangers can be reached at (425) 452-7225, Mercer Island Marine Patrol at (206) 275-7920 or 911, Bellevue Police at (766) 0446 or 911.     
   
(6) LAKE LEVEL: The water level in Lake Washington is at a high summer level due to a cool spring, reduced snow melt, fewer lockages also due to cooler weather, high fuel prices, and COVID. The Army Corps of Engineers has been maintaining their target level of 22’ above sea level but expects levels to drop by a foot or so as the weather warms up and activity increases.     
 
(7) SEAFAIR: Seafair will be upon us in three weeks after two years of COVID. Be safe so everyone can enjoy the races and the Blue Angels with their new F-18 Superhornets this year.  

Get involved with MBNA. Follow us on Facebook. Subscribe to our newsletter. We'd love to hear from you!

The MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

Hello Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors. It is spring on Meydenbauer Bay, and the rain is warmer!
 
Sadly, our longtime MBNA board member and past President, Aaron Dichter from 10,000 Meydenbauer, passed away last week from natural causes. Aaron was a founding member of the MBNA, was the second President, and he devoted hundreds of volunteer hours working with the neighborhood and the city planning for the Meydenbauer Bay Park. He will be greatly missed. 
 
Some of you may have noticed a series of lighted orange buoys around the bay a few weeks ago. These were gillnets placed there by the Muckleshoot Indians who have treaty fishing rights to Lake Washington and its surrounding area. Recently, their chief fish biologist informed me that they are trying to increase the sockeye salmon runs by identifying and catching non-native predator fish, such as Bass, Pike, Carp, and others that feed on salmon fingerlings. I was also told that they caught a significant number of predator fish both in Meydenbauer Bay and elsewhere in the lake and that they may continue this process through the summer in various locations.
 
REI has significantly increased their rental Kayak and paddleboard inventory at the city dock adjacent to the park. Therefore, you should expect more renters out on the water this summer. While boating, please be on the lookout for novice paddlers around the bay. The MBNA is working with REI and the city to ensure there is room for everyone on the bay.
 
In addition, the City of Bellevue, the City of Medina, the Mercer Island Marine Patrol, MBNA, and Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club are looking into proposing a 7 Knots no wake zone in Meydenbauer Bay. If adopted, this would extend from Pickle Point to Groat Point across the mouth of the Bay. With the increase in paddling, swimming, floating, sailing, and other water-related activities, this is viewed as a water safety issue for all Bay users.
 
Please follow and like MBNA's Facebook page which will be updated regularly with news and happenings around the Bay, including the City’s plans for expansion of the park. As summer approaches and traffic around the Bay increases, this will be the best place to stay up to date on neighborhood news. You can also feel free to post questions and comments about issues facing the neighborhood such as traffic and safety. (Please keep comments kind and constructive.)

The MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

Hello Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors. We hope you survived the winter, and now this spring, are getting ready for a wonderful summer on the Bay. As president of the Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors Association (MBNA), I would like to bring you up to date on a few issues around the Bay.
 
Due to Covid related delays, the design work on phase II of the Meydenbauer Bay Park has been pushed back until late 2022 or early 2023.
 
The MBNA is in preliminary planning discussions with the Park Board, and leadership in the Bellevue Park Dept. on items we hope to include in the design when that phase starts. This will include traffic and parking.
 
Water Safety in the Bay will receive special emphasis this year. REI, the tenant in the whaling building with the kayak and paddleboard rental concession, Bellevue Park Dept., Mercer Island Marine Patrol, and Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, will be holding a Water Safety Day in June. This event will be open to the public, and will stress water safety in and around the Bay. The date for this will be announced soon.
 
We have heard rumors of food trucks being proposed for the park this summer. The MBNA board would not be in favor of this due to bird and rat attraction, and trash and additional parking requirements.
 
Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club is studying the possibility of dredging portions of the bay, which will eventually be necessary due to mud and silt buildup from Meydenbauer Creek. The Bay was last dredged in 1965.
 
The MBNA board is exploring expanding our presence around the Bay, and are looking at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. In addition, we are teaming up with the Lochleven Neighborhood on issues of mutual concern.
 
Questions? contact us at board@mbnabellevue.com. Thanks for your support.
 
Rod Bindon, President
Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors Association

The MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

It is early October and your MBNA Board would like to update you on a few items.
 
The Upcoming City of Bellevue City Fall Election Cycle:
This year there are three City Council positions open. The incumbents are Lynne Robinson, Jared Nieuwenhuis and Conrad Lee. The challengers are Gina Johnson, Ruth Lipscomb and Dexter Borbe. The MBNA had planned to hold a Candidate Forum in October as we have for the last 13 years when there have been City Council elections. Our event was scheduled on October 14th at the Overlake Golf Club.

However, due to the increase in COVID cases and the Delta Variant, we have decided to cancel this in-person event. We have made arrangements with three other Neighborhood Associations for our MBNA members to attend ZOOM Candidate Forum events which are as follows:
 
Lake Hills: Thursday, October 7th, 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4254665345.  All questions will be moderated through chat.
 
Newport Hills: Tuesday, October 12th, 7:00 p.m. The Zoom link will be published the week before the event on the Newport Hills website and Facebook page. (See links below.) No chat available, but the organizers will accept written questions sent to: info@newporthillscommunityclub.org by October 10th.
 
      Website: http://www.newporthillscommunityclub.org
      Facebook: (20+) Newport Hills Community Club | Facebook
 
Bridle Trails: Thursday, October 21st, 7:00 p.m. / Further information to come.
 
Oct 13 - 6:30 PM East Link update with Lochleven, Vuecrest & Meydenbauer:
The Lochleven Community Association has confirmed the following meeting with Sound Transit. This is important that your voice is heard.  The meeting will  include a review and examination of the upcoming changes to transit once light rail is running from downtown Bellevue.  This is a input pivotal meeting before routes are finalized.  If you are wondering on the impact to getting to downtown Seattle, the International District, UW or Seattle Center to watch the Krakens, you should attend.   Major changes are coming to multiple routes including the 271, 550 and others.  With these change, bus routes are shifting and will terminate at South Bellevue P&R or Mercer Island, requiring a transfer to the light rail.   Attend to share your concerns and suggestions.   Time: Oct 13, 2021 06:30-7:15 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87385057969

Meydenbauer Bay Park Update:
This summer we had good traffic at Meydenbauer Bay Park. The REI Kayak and Paddleboard Rental Program was very popular. The increase in security hours was successful, with both Park Ranger and Security Services enforcing park hours, and the lifeguards were excellent.
 
MBNA Board Members have been meeting with the City of Bellevue Park Department officials on the planning for Phase 11 was delayed due to COVID restrictions and the inability to conduct in-person meetings. It is expected that this will start with design work in mid 2022.
 
Mifoil Treatment:
Milfoil treatment took place in mid-July with the City of Bellevue, the various condos around the Bay, Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, and 35 single-family residents around the Bay participating. As usual, the Mercer Island Marine Patrol who patrol the Bay under contract with the City of Bellevue did an excellent job.
 
Thank you for your support.
 
Rod Bindon, President
Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors Association 

​The MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

It has been too long since we at the MBNA updated you on matters around Meydenbauer Bay. The COVID-19 pandemic has put most projects behind, including those that pertain to the City of Bellevue and our communications. We would like to bring you up to date on several important topics.
 
Milfoil Treatment: As you will recall, the MBNA coordinates the annual eradication treatment of milfoil between the City of Bellevue, Meydenbauer Bay Yacht Club, single-family residents of the Bay, and several of the waterfront condos on the Bay. Due to Federal and State regulations, this cannot be completed until salmon hatching season is over in mid-July. At that  time, treatment by our licensed applicator, Northwest Aquatic Eco-Systems is scheduled for July 16, 2021. The milfoil bloom this year has been extremely vigorous due to warmer weather. For those of you single-family homeowners who would like treatment, the price remains at $330. We urge you to contact the MBNA at: bmastro@gmail.com or marvinbpeterson@msn.com to arrange for this treatment.
 
Meydenbauer Bay  Park Phase II: Design work for Phase II of the park, which was scheduled to start in 2020, was pushed back due to COVID-19. Very preliminary discussions are now underway to begin design work in 2021, and we expect the City to send out a Request for Proposal for the design work before the end of the year. The MBNA will be monitoring this process closely as it requires parking and traffic studies and other access issues to be addressed.
 
The Grand Connection: Some of you may have heard about this initiative on the part of the city. When completed, this pedestrian pathway will connect all Bellevue Parks, and also provide access from Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington. The MBNA will be involved as the connection reaches Meydenbauer Bay Park after crossing Main Street.
 
Marine Patrol and Policing on the Water: The recent movement in some cities to “Defund the Police” has resulted in the City of Seattle cutting their Harbor Patrol Unit from 28 officers to 15. Because of this forced reduction, their ability to patrol has been eliminated, and they are now only responding to emergencies. Because of this, they have terminated their contracts to patrol Medina and Hunts Point. This has now placed a heavier burden on the Mercer Island Marine Patrol who patrol Bellevue, Renton, and Mercer Island. Response times will be lengthened and frequency will be reduced. We are concerned that these reductions will cause a shift in anchoring and swimming from Andrews Bay by Seward Park to Meydenbauer Bay, and we are in the process of preparing for these changes as much as possible.
 
Water Safety and Security: There have already been three drownings in two days in Lake Washington, with one just outside Meydenbauer Bay. The lake is still extremely cold due to increased snow melt in the mountains, and we urge all boaters, swimmers, and paddle boarders to use increased caution while enjoying the Bay. We also urge extreme caution for power boats operating in the Bay to avoid these people powered vessels.
 
The November Bellevue City Council Election: Three members on the current City Council are up for reelection this fall. Current Mayor Lynne Robinson and Council Members Jared Nieuwenhuis and Conrad Lee will be running again in November. It is anticipated that the MBNA will have a candidate forum prior to this event.
 
As most of you know, the MBNA is a 501C3 Non-Profit Corporation. Our mission is to preserve, protect and enhance the quality of Meydenbauer Bay. As we approach the planning, design, and eventual construction of Phase II of the park, it is anticipated that we will be hiring consultants in the areas of Traffic, Parking, Design, and Legal. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

We want to thank you for your continued support and interest in 2019 as Phase I of Meydenbauer Bay Park entered its first year of operation and plans for the final Phase are ready to begin. 
 
To update you, several members of MBNA’s board recently met with representatives of Bellevue’s Park Department to review the first ten months of the new Park’s operation. Topics included in the meeting were safety & security, hours, noise level, lighting, parking, traffic, park rangers, police patrol, the REI kayak rental program, visitor moorage, and use of the curved pier.   Our intention was to share input, largely provided by our members, to help the City understand the needs and livability of our neighborhood.  Our comments were well received and we left with the sense that areas needing improvement would be addressed.   As a point of interest, there were 89 police calls regarding the park between March and August, with most being for noise or similar disturbance. 
 
We also discussed the next, and final, phase of the park and its design.  Design work is scheduled and budgeted to begin in 2020.  It is somewhat dependent on the nationwide search for the new park director who will replace Patrick Foran.  The search is underway.   MBNA will be deeply involved with the design of the final phase. It includes two of our major concerns: the City’s proposed closure of SE 100th and the activity center suggested for 99th & Lake Washington Boulevard.  These desires will increase the areas existing traffic problems significantly. We are also hopeful for a greener phase II.
 
We have changes in our board membership.  Ray Waldmann retired after ten years which included serving as MBNA’s president.  Many thanks to Ray for his guidance and commitment. We have welcomed Scott Lampe, who previously served on the City’s transportation commission.  We welcome Scott to our ranks.
 
MBNA sponsored another successful City Council candidate forum just prior to the recent fall election. 
 
This year the Argosy Christmas Ship will visit Meydenbauer Bay on Saturday 21 December from 7:40 - 8:00 pm.  The performance will take place just off the new park and there will be a bonfire sponsored by the Bellevue Park Department. 
 
At year’s end we all receive numerous invitations to support our favorite charities. We hope you will include MBNA in your giving.  The coming year will bring increased activity and financial needs for MBNA as we work on attaining our goals for the last Phase of the park which impact traffic and livability in our area. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004
 
We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.

The Meydenbauer Bay Neighbors Association has been notified by Bellevue of a security plan for the new park. The key elements:

• Beginning May 20, Cascade Global Security will provide on-site overnight security from 10:50pm-4:00am nightly through Labor Day.  One security guard will be at Meydenbauer most of this time (they will also cover Downtown Park at least once/night).  They are responsible to clear the park after closing hours and to clear any disturbance or nefarious activity.  They will be uniformed and with a marked vehicle but unarmed and instructed to call 911 if problems escalate.  After the summer season, we will evaluate ongoing security needs for the remainder of the year and into the future.
• From May 25 to September 2, Park Rangers will be on duty throughout the park system daily from 9am-1am.  Due to limited staffing, Rangers anticipate visiting Meydenbauer 2-3 times daily.  Rangers have no set visitation times as they respond to citizen calls and emergencies on an as-needed basis throughout the system.
• Lifeguards will be on duty June 22-September 2, from noon-7pm.  While their primary duty is to safeguard the beach area, they may also provide rule enforcement within the park and will call 911 in case of emergencies.
• The on-site caretaker, Jon Abood, provides 24/7 security for the Marina.  While John’s main duty remains the Marina, he represents an additional on-site presence to supplement the other security measures.
• Bellevue Police have been alerted to the presence of this new park, and will be providing emphasis patrol as calls permit.

 
Bellevue has urged park visitors and neighbors to call 911 to report any annoying or suspicious behavior in order for the City to build a record of security concerns.

As you know, the MBNA runs on donations. We are a 501c3 corporation, and your donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

This clip shows the extent and features of the new park.  MBNA has been actively participating in its development from the earliest days of planning right through implementation.  The formal opening of the park is now planned for March 16, 2019.

As you know, the MBNA runs on donations. We are a 501c3 corporation, and your donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004

As we near completion of Phase 1 the new Meydenbauer Bay Park, we want to provide you an update of the City’s future plans for the Park.  The City’s has placed the Meydenbauer Bay Park in the City’s new 2019-2025 Capital Facilities Program (CIP).   The following is a summary what we have learned:

• Planning Starts in 2020.  No money is budgeted for 2019, but planning is set to begin in 2020.  The 2019-2025 CIP budgets $3.5 million for planning, design, and permitting as follows 2020: $500,000, 2021: $1.5 million, 2022: $1.5 million.  Actual construction is not yet planned, but could begin in 2022 or 2023.
• Phase 2 Will Be the Last Phase Completing the Project.  The City budget refers to completing all the elements of the Park.  The next Phase will be the last Phase.
• Phase 2 Scope and Cost Will Be Massive.  According to the Master Plan, the Park could include marina reconfiguration, pedestrian promenade, parking structures, a floating boardwalk, an elevated viewing platform, an activity building on 99th Ave, a gateway from Downtown, and closing 100th.  , The total cost for Phase I was $19.2 million, including design, permitting, and construction, which is more than three times the 2010 estimate of about $6.0 million.  The 2010 estimate for the remaining phases was $38 million, so the cost of the remaining phases could top $100 million.   

MBNA recognizes that Phase 2 presents significant issues for the community. Our counsel recommends that MBNA start planning now so that MBNA is ready to participate with the City when the planning starts in earnest a year from now.  This preparation could involve active participation by the MBNA community as well as retaining planning consultants, traffic engineers, attorneys, public relations consultants and others. 

The MBNA Board will be meeting soon to begin to put together a plan of action and to estimate the resources required.  We’ll keep you posted. 

As you know, the MBNA runs on donations. We are a 501c3 corporation, and your donations are tax deductible. Donations can be made using Paypal or mail check to:

MBNA
1100 Bellevue Way NE, Ste 8A
Box 278
Bellevue, WA 98004