The City Council convened for its first of two meetings in a week, addressing a proclamation for Transgender Awareness Week, extensive public testimony regarding the Critical Areas Ordinance Update and the Mid-Biennium Budget, and a state-mandated Co-Living housing code amendment. Council members focused on balancing environmental stewardship with housing production needs, specifically regarding degraded wetlands and stream buffers in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) zones, while also allocating emergency contingency funds for immigrant support and food assistance amidst federal funding volatility. The meeting concluded with the approval of the budget update timeline and direction to finalize the co-living legislation.
Critical Areas Ordinance Update (LUCA):
Mid-Biennium Budget & Council Contingency:
Co-Living Housing LUCA:
Meeting for November 12th, 2025. Um City Clerk, who do you do the roll call, please? Mayor Robinson. Here. Deputy Mayor Couldson. Councilmember Markabat. Yes. Councilmember Hamilton. Here. Councilmember? Yes. Councilmember New England? Councilmember Simadwari. Thank you. Councilmember New in House, could you please lead us in the flag salute? I'd like to read this to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We have one proclamation tonight that will be read by Councilmember Hamilton for Transgender Gender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance. Whereas more than one million adults in the United States identify as transgender or non-binary, an estimated 1.6% of the adult population, according to recent national data. And whereas transgender non-binary and gender non-conforming people contribute greatly to Bellevue's culture and community, enriching the city's diversity and helping advance equity, inclusion, and understanding for all. And whereas, despite continued progress, transgender and non-binary people still face discrimination, barriers to opportunity, and acts of violence, underscoring the need for awareness, acceptance, and collective action. And whereas each year, Tranton's gender awareness week raises visibility and promotes education about the experiences of transgender and non-binary communities, while encouraging allies to take part in building inclusive communities. And whereas first recognized in 1999, following the death of Rita Hester, a black transgender woman, transgender day of remembrance, observed on November 20th honors the lives of transgender and gender nonconforming individuals lost to violence and calls for reflection, compassion, and change. And whereas the City of Bellevue reaffirms its commitment to fostering a community where every person is treated with dignity and respect. Each year, city staff and residents gather to observe Transgender Day of Remembrance and to read the names of those lost to violence, standing in solidarity with the transgender community. Now, therefore, I, Dave Hamilton, on behalf of Lynn Robinson, mayor of the City of Bellevue, Washington, and on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim November 13th to 19th, 2025 as Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance in Bellevue, Washington, and encourage all residents to participate in ceremonies and activities that promote understanding, visibility, and respect for transgender and non-binary people in our community. Thank you so much. Thank you. Um I'm just gonna say I see Karina Elakis signed up for public comment and wonder if she would like to speak at this time to the proclamation. I don't know who you are, and I know this is kind of unexpected, but if not, that's okay. All right, um, let's go on to joining us virtually. Oh, virtually. Well, if you would uh I'm gonna give her that option. Karina, can you hear me? We can awesome. Uh thank you, Council members. Um, I really appreciate um this day of remembrance. I have uh very close ties to those who have been lost in the transgender community and seeing such a large city uh represent and remember those uh who we have lost is a very meaningful gesture. And I really appreciate you for continuing this tradition and pushing it forward into the future. And my emotions um great significant um just gesture and bringing their struggle into the public conversation. Thank you. Thank you for speaking. I appreciate that. Okay, so on to oral communications. City clerk, do we have anybody signed up? Yes, thank you, Mayor. Uh, there are 10 pre-registered speakers this evening. So before I start going or calling the names, I'll go over a few of the rules that the council has in place. So the total time for oral communications is for a period not to exceed 30 minutes, and all topics must relate to City of Bellevue government.