The Meydenbauer Center, located in downtown Bellevue across the street from City Hall, can host theater events, large…More conventions or corporate meetings. The convention center has 54,000 square feet of convention meeting space, including a lobby, exhibition rooms with room for thousands of people, a theater space with a stage, ticketing area and 410 seats. Services at the conference center include packages that include event planning, technical and audio-visual assistance and catering. Parking is available in an underground garage, and the venue is walking distance to the Bellevue transit center. The theater has been host to jazz music, ballet, drama, the Bellevue Philharmonic, and other types of shows and concerts.</p> <p> </p>

Founded in the 1860s and incorporated in 1953, Bellevue has grown from being merely a Seattle suburb to a city with…More its own distinct identity. Nearly 120,000 people live in Bellevue, which makes it the fifth largest city in the state. About 30 percent of the population is foreign-born and a third of residents speak a language other than English at home. It also boasts some of the most academically accomplished public schools, with many of its high schools recognized nationally for their level of achievement and college-readiness.</p> <p>However, it is still a city in transition, with major changes that will change the face of Bellevue. Regional transportation authority Sound Transit is planning to bring light rail from Seattle to Bellevue, but the exact location of the route is under debate. The city also is working on a new park that would connect downtown to Meydenbauer Bay and a new road connection between downtown and the eastern parts of the city.</p> <p><b>City governance:</b></p> <p>The seven-member city council meets at City Hall 6 p.m. every first through fourth Monday of the month, except for August and December, which have fewer council meetings. The city has seven city council members.  The city council alternates between four-hour long extended study sessions and evenings with a study session and city business meeting. The meetings are televised on <a href="http://www.bellevuewa.gov/bellevue_tv.htm">BellevueTV</a>, which is available on the web or on cable channel 21. People may address the council but are asked to keep their statements under three minutes -- or five minutes if they are speaking for a group. The council limits the number of speakers allowed to the microphone to three on a particular side of any topic.</p> <p>The City Manager works at the direction of the city council and handles the day-to-day business of running the city. The mayor is chosen among the council members.</p> <p><b>City hall:</b></p> <p>City hall is located at the corner of Northeast Fourth Street and 110th Avenue Northeast. Most departments are headquartered there, including departments with stations throughout the city, such as the police and fire departments. The parking structure under city hall is free for people who are conducting city business, such as paying a utility bill, applying for a business license or applying for a building permit. Parking validation is available at the Service First desk in the lobby area of the first floor.</p>

The Bellevue Police Department consists of 177 commissioned officers, including a bomb squad, SWAT officers, bicycle…More officers and others. Forty people also work in Bellevue police administration as support staff.</p> <p>The department is headed by Chief Linda Pillo.</p> <p>There are two intersections where red light running is enforced with a camera. There also are two speed photo enforced school zones.</p> <p>While the police are headquartered in city hall, there are several police outposts throughout Bellevue:<br> <br><b>Crossroads Bellevue,</b> 1336 156th Ave. NE;  425-452-2891</p> <p><b>Factoria Mall,  </b>3915 Factoria Blvd. SE; 425-452-2880</p> <p>The official Bellevue Police Department website is: <a href="http://www.bellevuewa.gov/police.htm">http://www.bellevuewa.gov/police.htm</a>  and people can find them on Facebook at:  <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellevue-WA-Police-Department-Official-Website/124528990940876">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bellevue-WA-Police-Department-Official-Website/124528990940876</a></p> <p>The police department posts photos of recovered stolen goods on the city's <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bellevuewashington/collections/72157622340132462/">Flickr page</a>.</p>

Youth Link is an city-sponsored youth leadership organization that oversees city projects that help Bellevue teens.…More Among the projects that have started under the leadership of Youth Link since it was founded 20 years ago are:</p> <ul> <li>The Safe Rides Program</li> <li>Ground Zero Teen Center</li> <li>Bellevue Skate Park</li> <li>Youth Volunteer Corps</li> <li>Teen Talk Radio</li> <li>Outspoken Newspaper</li> <li>Youth Involvement Conference</li> <li>The Youth Link Community Leadership Awards</li> <li>Bellevue Youth Court</li> </ul> <p>Youth Link has a board made of six teenagers and six adults, and it also has a Youth Council, which organizes and plans work groups for upcoming and curent projects.</p> <p>The Youth Council and many of Youth Link's programs meet at City Hall in room 1E-120.</p>