Bellevue City Council Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Bellevue City Council met on June 2, 2026, to discuss and take action on two major study sessions: expanding the Utility Bill Assistance Program and advancing the Safe Speeds Bellevue initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The meeting included proclamations for Pride Month and National Gun Violence Awareness Day, public comments on traffic safety, immigration enforcement, and other community concerns, and approval of the consent calendar. Deputy Mayor Hamilton presided in the absence of Mayor Malicoutian and Councilmember Breyer, whose absences were excused.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar by unanimous vote, which included three items related to the Grand Connection Crossing project (design contract and preconstruction work for general contractor/construction manager).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Raymond Zhao expressed support for reduced speed limits but urged investment in multimodal infrastructure and traffic calming to naturally encourage slower driving.
• Ann Clark, a resident of the Vassa Park neighborhood, described dangerous speeding on Southeast 34th Street near a school bus zone, citing a lack of sidewalks and recounting her own serious pedestrian injury. She warned that a child could be killed if action isn't taken.
• Steve Pantel, a Bellevue resident for 30 years, supported the Vision Zero strategy and speed limit reductions but encouraged faster implementation of low-cost safety projects, particularly for biking infrastructure in Factoria and Somerset.
• Alex Zimmerman claimed he had been repeatedly trespassed and targeted by city officials due to his candidacy, alleging misuse of city funds and calling for accountability.
• Guillermo Rivera, on behalf of Eastside for All and Safe Heaven, reported on immigration enforcement activity, stating that in just the last two weeks, 12 Bellevue residents had been detained (13 documented detainees) in Lake Hills, Crossroads, and Sammamish High School neighborhoods. He called for policies to protect immigrant families.
• Heather Kelly, a lifelong Bellevue resident, described the fear and disruption caused by federal immigration enforcement, noting that parents are being forced to make childcare plans in case of deportation. She urged the council to recognize the human and societal consequences.
• Lynn Franson requested a speed limit reduction to 25 mph on Southeast 34th Street to enable sidewalks, crosswalks, and speed cameras, noting that families and children are at risk.
• Dr. Varinder Sadio, speaking on behalf of a neighborhood regarding a proposed safe parking program, expressed support for the program but opposed its location in a residential area due to traffic, safety, and animal welfare concerns.
• Joe Kunzler (virtual) defended the city's actions regarding Alex Zimmerman and asked for continued exclusion of his disruptive behavior.

Discussion Items

Utility Bill Assistance Program Expansion

• Staff from the Utilities Department and the Environmental Services Commission presented a recommendation to expand the long-term utility bill assistance program to all low-income households (up to 80% of Area Median Income, or AMI). Currently, 1,100 households receive assistance annually costing over $1 million.
• The recommendation (Option B1) maintains a 70% discount for seniors and disabled residents below 50% AMI, provides a new 35% discount for seniors/disabled with incomes 50-80% AMI and for all other households up to 80% AMI.
• Estimated annual assistance per household ranges from $500 to $1,600.
• The expansion would be funded by a 1.2% rate increase to water, sewer, and stormwater bills, equating to $2.79 per month for a typical single-family home.
• The council unanimously directed staff to incorporate the recommendation into the upcoming biennial budget and utility rates.

Vision Zero and Safe Speeds Bellevue Program

• Staff reported that 2025 was the worst year for traffic safety in the last decade: 3 fatalities and 38 serious injuries, 61% higher than the 10-year average. Speeding became the leading contributing factor.
• The Safe Speeds Bellevue program proposes reducing speed limits on streets currently posted at 30 mph or higher. The recommendation covers 64% of these streets with a 5 mph reduction, 20% with a 10 mph reduction, and 16% unchanged.
• Implementation is planned in phases starting in 2027, beginning with the urban core and high-injury network (which covers 8% of city streets but accounts for 68% of fatal and serious injury crashes).
• The council approved a motion to direct staff to finalize city code amendments to adjust speed limits in accordance with the Safe Speeds Bellevue recommendations.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar (unanimous).
• Directed staff to incorporate the Commission's utility bill assistance expansion (Option B1) into the 2027-2028 budget and utility rates (unanimous).
• Directed staff to finalize and bring back an ordinance amending Bellevue City Code 11.32 to adopt the Safe Speeds Bellevue recommended speed limit changes (unanimous).
• The council noted that the City Manager will provide a report on the Community Crisis Assistance Team (CCAT) program at a future meeting.