The Bellevue City Council will hold two public hearings on Monday, April 15. One hearing is on cost savings options for the East Link light rail project; the other is on interim zoning to regulate medical marijuana.

Monday’s hearings will be part of the council’s regular meeting, which begins at 8 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall, 450 110th Ave. NE. The public hearings portion of the meeting is anticipated to begin at 8:30 p.m. or later.

East Link cost savings options

Prior to the public hearing, the council will hold a study session beginning 6 p.m. to discuss cost savings recommendations by a steering committee composed of staff from the city of Bellevue and Sound Transit.

Bellevue has been working with Sound Transit since early last year on ways to reduce or eliminate a portion of the city’s financial contribution for a downtown light rail tunnel.

The two organizations are working under an agreement that calls for the city to provide $100 million in up-front contributions toward the cost of a tunnel. An additional $60 million in “contingent” contributions by the city is the target of the cost savings efforts.

Cost savings options involve the alignment along Bellevue Way, 112th Avenue Southeast, and the location of a downtown light rail station. Final action by the council and Sound Transit Board on these options will establish the East Link alignment for final design and permitting.

The council is scheduled to choose which cost-savings options to endorse at its meeting on April 22; the Sound Transit Board is expected to make a final selection at its April 25 meeting.

Medical marijuana collective gardens

Last May, the council adopted an ordinance and held a public hearing to establish interim zoning to regulate medical marijuana collective gardens for a six-month period. In October, the interim zoning was extended for another six months.

Monday’s meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to comment regarding medical marijuana collective gardens, and for the council to consider extending the ordinance for an additional six months.