Bellevue City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025
Bellevue City Council Regular Meeting – October 7, 2025
The Bellevue City Council met on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included three proclamations, oral communications, approval of a consent calendar, two study session items (the 2026 FIFA World Cup strategy and hazard mitigation/disaster debris management plans), and adoption of an ordinance imposing repeat offender sentence enhancements for certain theft crimes.
Consent Calendar
- The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, which included: the minutes of September 16 and September 23, 2025; a resolution authorizing an interagency connection agreement with King County for AFIS; a resolution authorizing Amendment 7 to the Conservation Futures program interlocal agreement (providing $1,565,881 for a completed property acquisition in the Coal Creek/Lakemont neighborhood); and a resolution authorizing amendments for project management and funding upgrades at the Bellevue Aquatic Center (adding $38,300 for project management and $689,189 for construction upgrades).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Joe Kunzler (virtual): Expressed concern about the King County District Court's failure to restore competency for certain misdemeanor crimes (citing a trespass violation case). He urged the council to ensure that the new repeat offender ordinance would not be undermined by court procedures, and he praised the Bellevue City Attorney and defense counsel for their work.
- Alex Zimmerman (in-person): Accused the council of antisemitism, Nazism, and changing rules specifically to target him. He claimed he had been trespassed five times over 35 years and had prevailed each time. He called the council "Nazi Gestapo pig" and "anti-Semite." The mayor interjected to stop the speech, but Mr. Zimmerman continued briefly.
- Lee Sargent (in-person): Expressed appreciation for the council's work over the past three years, stating that despite disagreements, the council focuses helpfully on behalf of the city.
Discussion Items
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Study Session Item 1: 2026 FIFA World Cup Strategy (Information Only)
- Emil King (Community Development Director) and Liz Flores (Cultural Tourism Specialist) presented the city's game plan for the World Cup, which will be held June–July 2026. Seattle will host six matches at Lumen Field. Key points: an estimated 145,000 additional visitors to King County (based on a Deloitte/Tourism Economics/CoStar study), with 15,000 expected in Bellevue, generating a projected $23 million economic impact. Activations will focus on the two-line light rail stations (South Bellevue, Downtown, Spring District, BellRed). A public information session and call for station activations is scheduled for October 22, 2025. The city is working with regional partners on anti-human trafficking training, streamlined block-party processes, and a permanent mural in the BellRed Arts District. Councilmembers asked about coordination with eastside jurisdictions, public safety, traffic, light rail contingency (possible delay), business readiness, and the need for metrics to measure legacy impact. The mayor requested improved bike connectivity and alternative parking arrangements.
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Study Session Item 2: Overview of Hazard Mitigation Plan and Disaster Debris Management Plan (Direction)
- Carl Lunek (Emergency Preparedness Manager) and Christy Osterveen (Transportation) presented two plans. The Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies severe weather as the top natural hazard (followed by earthquake scenarios from the Cascadia and Seattle fault lines, wildfire, volcano, and flood). For every dollar spent on mitigation, the city saves $6 to $13 in response and recovery costs. The plan has been submitted to FEMA and the state for approval; the council directed staff to return with a resolution adopting the plan. The Disaster Debris Management Plan covers roles, priority routes, and temporary debris management sites. A major earthquake could generate 3.5 million cubic yards of debris, requiring 180 days to clear and 216 acres of temporary staging. Five neighboring cities (Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Newcastle, Medina, and Yarrow Point) are participating; Redmond, Kirkland, and Beaux Arts declined at this time. Councilmembers discussed social vulnerability mapping, coordination with smaller cities, and the need for public education. The mayor questioned why flood was ranked low (eighth) and noted the severe impacts on low-income residents; staff agreed to reexamine the scoring. The mayor also asked about FEMA reimbursement for the 2024 bomb cyclone—staff confirmed the state rejected the appeal—and about emergency water well assessments, which utilities is addressing.
Key Outcomes
- The consent calendar was approved unanimously.
- The council directed staff to return with a resolution adopting the City of Bellevue Hazard Mitigation Plan at a future meeting, with the resolution expected to be placed on the consent calendar (motion passed unanimously).
- Ordinance 6866 (adding a new Section 1.16.030 to impose repeat offender sentence enhancements for certain theft crimes) was adopted on a vote of 6-1. The ordinance includes a 30-day minimum sentence for repeat offenders (18 or older, two or more theft convictions in Washington in the past two years) and discretionary provisions including an inpatient treatment alternative, electronic home monitoring for substantial risk of harm, and eligibility for diversion programs such as community court.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome. I just saw the bumblebee in the back. Okay, welcome to the Bellevue City Council meeting for October 7th, 2025. Clerk, could would you like to do the um roll call? Mayor Robinson here. Deputy Mayor Malikutia. Councilmember Bargava. Here. Councilmember Hamilton. Councilmember Lee. Councilmember New England. Here. And Councilmember Simon Devoria. Councilmember Hamilton, would you like to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? My Pledge of Algie. The United States of America. And the Republican individual with liberty and justice for all. All right, so here's my minutes. Okay. Okay, so we have three proclamations today. We have Indigenous People's Day being read by Councilmember New in House, I believe, and received by Sharon Sini, ADA Title Six, Equal Opportunity Officer for the City of Bellevue. Welcome. Go ahead, Councilmember. Thank you, Mayor. Honored to read this proclamation this evening. Whereas Indigenous people have lived in the Puget Sound region since time immemorial, and whereas we acknowledge the land we are on as the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish people, including the Duwamish, the Suquamish tribe, the Makoshute Indian tribe, and the Snoquami Indian tribe, and whereas native communities and tribal nations across the countries have endured centuries of displacement, assimilation, violence, and erasure, yet continue to persevere and sustain their cultures. And whereas we express our deepest respect to the original caretakers of this land who continue to live here today and honor their heritage. And whereas indigenous people have made and continue to make vital contributions to our region through stewardship of the environment, advancements in science and technology, leadership in the arts and literature, and countless other areas. And whereas the City of Bellevue reaffirms its commitment to equity, inclusion, and opportunity, and to strengthening relationships with Native Americans, Alaska natives, Native Hawaiians, and all indigenous communities. Now I, therefore, Jared Newenhouse, on behalf of Lynn Robinson, mayor of the City of Bellevue, Washington, on behalf of its city council, do hereby proclaim October 13th, 2025 as Indigenous People's Day here in Bellevue, Washington, and urge all residents to reflect on the history, the contributions, and the resilience of Indigenous people. Bellevue further commits to building strong relationships with our tribal neighbors and honoring the heritage and ongoing contribution of Indigenous communities. Sharon Sene Yenesha, Zentin Nishle, Kisani Hopi Fire Clan, Bush Jean, Honakani Desh Ado Hopi Sun Clan de Chinale. My second clan is who I'm born for, which is my protection clan, which is Fire Clan, which is from the Hopi tribe of Northern Arizona. My third clan is my Che, my grandfather and my mother's side, which is Honogatni, which means one that walks around, which is one of the original Navajo clans. My fourth clan is my Gua from my Hopi side, and we are a son clan from that side. As an indigenous woman and a veteran of the United States Navy, I am proud to be here working for Bellevue as a public administrator and as a professional here. Working at the disability inclusion, language access programming, and equal opportunity. Most sincerely, this proclamation for Indigenous People's Day represents the existence of my people and indigenous people across the world who are still here and who still matter. May each of you walk in beauty today and every day. That means I walk in beauty. Thank you. Thank you so much. Please uh stay around and at the end of all the proclamations, we'll do pictures. Thank you. Okay, next we have uh walk and roll to school day, read by Councilmember Bargawa and uh accepted by Dr. Heather Sanchez, the chief operating officer of our Bellevue School District. Councilmember Barga. Yes, thank you, Mayor. Um, whereas walk and roll to school day in October continues to encourage children to safely walk or roll to school or to the bus, school bus, while supporting the growth of safe routes to school programs across the United States and around the world. And whereas all children benefit when communities work to improve the safety of people walking and rolling.
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