The Bellevue City Council convened a session to address public safety remembrance, community park development, transportation planning updates, and the mid-biennium budget adjustments. The meeting began with a proclamation for the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, followed by public testimony on sustainability strategies, park naming, noise ordinances, and government transparency. The Council then considered and directed staff to finalize the Mobility Implementation Plan update and approved several ordinances related to the 2026 budget, including property tax levies and development fees, before adjourning.
Council Member Lee and Councilmember Hamilton remotely, and we have uh Councilmember Bargava is absent tonight. Uh so let's start with the roll call. Here. Deputy Mayor Malikutian here. And Councilmember Bargava, as the mayor mentioned, is absent. Councilmember Hamilton. Councilmember Lee. Councilmember Lee is uh connecting currently, so we should have him online shortly. And Councilmember Newman House. Here. Councilmember Simidoria. Councilmember Summeduiria, would you please lead us in the flag sleep? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and America. And to the Republic for witches fans, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And just the world. And it will be accepted by Elaine Waite White, a member of our own Bellevue Network on Aging. Elaine, if you want to come sit up here at the Dais. Thank you for being here. And we have Franz Lowenhurst, too, from our transportation, a champion of Vision Zero. Councilmember New Enhause, go ahead. Whereas the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed annually on the third Sunday of November to honor those who have lost their lives or have been seriously injured on roadways and to recognize the families, the friends, the first responders affected by those tragedies. And whereas in 2024, approximately 39,500 people in the United States and more than 730 people in Washington State lost their lives in traffic crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Each one a devastating reminder that traffic deaths are preventable. And whereas between 2015 and 2024, 22 people lost their lives, and 232 sustained serious injuries on Bellevue streets. Each loss ripples through our community, touching parents, children, siblings, friends, and neighbors. And whereas the City of Bellevue remains firmly committed to its vision zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Through its safe system approach, the city prioritizes safe road design, responsible behavior, equitable enforcement, and effective emergency response. And whereas the 2025 World Day of Remembrance remind us that ending traffic violence requires shared responsibility from engineers and educators to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. Now therefore I, Jared Newman House, on behalf of Lynn Robinson, mayor of the City of Bellevue, Washington, and on behalf of the City Council to hereby proclaim November 16th, 2025 as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims in Bellevue, and encourage all residents to join in a moment of silence to remember those impacted by traffic crashes and to reflect on our shared responsibility to create safer streets for everyone. Councilmember? Certainly. Okay, let's uh can you say what we're doing this again for? Just reread that part. The World Day of Remembrance for Road. Put your mic on. The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. All right, we'll have a moment of silence right now. And remembrance for the many road traffic victims that we so hard tried to avoid having. Thank you. My name is Elaine White, and I'm honored to have been asked here tonight to accept this proclamation for the World Day of Remembrance. On the beautiful clear evening of December 21st, 2023, my favorite older brother was killed while out on his evening bike ride in West Seattle. This was an activity he loved, cycling, and he did it often, all times of the day, and in all seasons of the year. He was a member of Cascade Bicycle Club, was a ride leader, taught cycling safety, and was a member of Cascade's elite cycling team. He was an accomplished, able and alert cyclist. He had no chance against that Chevy Tahoe, which was making a left-hand turn. The resulting impact ended Steve's beautiful life far too soon. The entire story from the night of the collision to the resolution of the court case in June of this year, which resulted only in community service for that driver, has been sheer heartache for my family and Steve's entire community. He was so well loved because he was a good man and he has deeply missed. We simply must do better to protect vulnerable users. Far too many people in our communities live with the senseless loss of a loved one due to road traffic collisions.