Some Bellevue City Council members faced accusations earlier this week that they violated the state of Washingtons open-meetings law. By Nicole TsongSeattle Times Eastside reporterRelatedMore Bellevue news, events listingsThe Bellevue BlogSome members of the Bellevue City Council faced accusations this week that they violated the states open-meetings law. The charge arose during a meeting earlier this week about light-rail routes in South Bellevue. For the past month, the City Council has had contentious debates about switching its endorsement on a light-rail route.

Last week, the council directed city staff to draft a letter to Sound Transit explaining the change in its position. Some drafts circulated via e-mail, members said, and before Mondays council session, council member Claudia Balducci said she stumbled on a gathering of council members Kevin Wallace, Jennifer Robertson and Deputy Mayor Conrad Lee. During the councils session later that evening, she asked the three to explain why they had met outside of the council. The council later voted 4-3 to change its preference to the South