The Bellevue City Council met on June 17, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a Juneteenth proclamation, 30 minutes of oral communications with 14 speakers, a consent calendar, an ethics code training study session, and the adoption of the Wilburton Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Land Use Code amendments along with three supporting ordinances.
Good evening, welcome to the uh Bellevue City Council regular meeting for June 17th, 2025. Um before we begin, I don't think there's anything I have to say, so let's do roll call. Thank you, Mayor Robinson. Here, Deputy Mayor Malakutian here. Councilmember Bargaba. Here. Council Member Hamilton. Here. Councilmember Lee. Here. Councilmember New England. Here. Council Member Simadoria. Councilmember New in House, would you please lead us in the flag salute? All right, please. I fled to the flag of the United States. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We have a proclamation tonight. It is the Juneteenth proclamation. You may speak after we read the proclamation, and then we will do a picture together. Thank you, Mayor. Whereas Juneteenth marks a pivotal milestone in American history as the oldest nationally recognized observance of the emancipation of black Americans following the Civil War. And on June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, the last remaining enslaved American in Galveston, Texas, finally received war that they were free. And the celebration of Juneteenth honors the memory of the millions of Africans who preished during the transatlantic slave trade, and the countless others who endured generations of enslavement in the United States. And the legacies of slavery and systematic racism continue to shape the social, political, and economic realities faced by black Americans today. And the city of Bellevue honors the black members of our community who contribute to the richness, resilience, and vibrancy of our city and recognizes the ongoing efforts to ensure that African American history is fully acknowledged as American history. Thank you, City of Bellevue, for welcoming the world and for knowing that our diversity truly is our strength. You remind us that building community is an ongoing and intentional act of collaboration. Three years ago, I hosted a small and sweet Juneteenth community celebration on the Eton School campus. It's now a vibrant event that is co-hosted with the Little School and the Bellevue Diversity Advantage team. This growth is a testament to what's possible when we come together with shared purpose, open hearts, and a commitment to humanity. Thank you for recognizing this day and honoring the Black American experience. Thank you. Dr. Whitehead, did you want to say anything? Yes, just two things. I would first like to remind everyone of our second annual International Festival, which will be held August 2nd in Crossroads Park. So please save the date. And then I would like to close with a quote from Desmond Tutu. My humanity is bound up with yours, for we can only be human together. Thank you. Thank you. Let's do a picture. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? I move to approve the agenda. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed?