The Bellevue City Council took the first steps in moving toward a permanent homeless shelter in Bellevue at Monday’s council meeting when it voted unanimously to approve a letter of agreement between the city and King County.

The proposed shelter wouldbe located in the Eastgate neighborhood next to the Eastgate Park and Ride and would be theoretically be opened for winter of 2019, city staff said. It would share a 4.3-acre site with a King County Health Department building.

“This will help us meet the goal of keeping homelessness rare, brief and one-time,” said Camron Parker, the Bellevue Parks Department project manager for the shelter.

Imagine Housing and Congregations for the Homeless were two community partners working with the government agencies to get the permanent shelter running.

The joint letter of agreement approved at the council study session is not a binding agreement, but just gives the go-ahead to city and county employees to look at the feasibility of a permanent men’s shelter at the Eastgate location. Both Bellevue and King County have similar goals and would save resources by working together, the letter implies.

The shelter is part of the council’s “vision priorities” to help alleviate a growing homelessness problem on the Eastside.

According to data presented to council, more than 1,200 homeless persons went through Eastside shelters in 2015, with 78 men in year-round shelters and 571 men in winter shelters. In the “One Night Count,” 245 people were found to be living outside and 252 children in the Bellevue School District were in the homeless student program.

Other Eastside cities were taking on shelters as well, according to city staff. A shelter for women and families was being planned in Kirkland and a shelter for at-risk youth and teenagers is open in Redmond while Bellevue was planning for a men’s shelter.

The initial plan for the shelter has 100 emergency beds, a day center and cafeteria, services such as medical, mental and case management and “service-enriched” permanent housing.

The Eastgate site was ideal for several reasons, staff said. The Eastgate Park and Ride was a transportation hub which would allow the homeless men at the shelter to get where they needed to go and back with ease. The fact that King County Health Department offices are already on site would allow for health, mental, dental and social services to help the men easier. The fact that it was just down the hill from Bellevue College could allow some collaboration for continuing adult education as well.

“This site has many of the characteristics ideal for a permanent shelter,” said Dan Stroh, Bellevue’s planning director. “It’s uniquely suited for a homeless shelter.”

Council members were unanimously for continued analysis of the location and outreach to nearby residents and entities, but even so had some concerns.

“I want to be sure we maintain our great standards for homeless resources,” said council member Kevin Wallace. “I also want to dive into best practices for mitigating sites like this.”

Council member Jennifer Robertson wanted continued stake holder meetings throughout the process and to include developers, Bellevue College faculty and transit users in those conversations.

Deputy Mayor John Chelminiak said the site was ideal for the shelter and that it was a “must-do.”

“This is an Eastside solution for an Eastside issue,” he said.

Mayor John Stokes said this site was the result of a lengthy look around the city for a suitable location. Council member Vandana Slatter wanted to be sure there was online outreach while council member Lynne Robinson emphasized her desire for strong mental health services.

The city will be reaching out to local residents throughout August and September, according to Mike McCormick Huentleman, neighborhood outreach manager.

There will be multiple ways to keep engaged in the process.