Published January 30 2026
Plus, school district levy and immigration resources
On Tuesday, the City Council received a report on the 2025 Human Services Needs Update. Conducted during a year of significant federal funding cuts, the report identified substantial gaps across the human services continuum in Bellevue.
In addition, the council considered recommendations from the Human Services Commission regarding how the city’s 2027- 2028 human services funding should be allocated between three funding sources: the 2027-2028 Human Services Fund, the 2027-2028 Housing Stability Program Behavioral Health and Housing Related Services, and the 2027 Community Development Block Grant program. Together, these funding sources will offer approximately $6.5 million per year for human services.
To ensure city funding goes where the need is greatest, the Human Services division of the Parks & Community Services Department conducts an extensive assessment of the human services needs and issues affecting Bellevue’s most vulnerable residents every two years. The Human Services Commission uses the Human Services Needs Update for its funding recommendations to the council.
The 2025 Needs Update gathered input from more than 700 community members through focus groups, surveys of residents and service providers, and interviews with subject matter experts. The analysis of the data revealed 10 critical areas of need that informed the commission’s recommendations, including three life-sustaining priorities: food, housing and shelter, and financial assistance.
The council directed staff to return with a resolution regarding the proposed funding allocations and contingency plan. Details for the recommended funding allocations are provided in the meeting materials.
Update on Safe Speeds Bellevue
In an update on the Safe Speeds Bellevue program launched last year, Transportation staff reported that four Bellevue streets with speed limits reduced in July saw a significant reduction in high-end speeding (40 mph or higher).
As a result, transportation planners are proposing speed limit reductions for all Bellevue streets with a posted limit of 30 mph or higher. The proposal presented to the council includes no change to 21% of streets, a 5-mph reduction to 59% of streets and a 10-mph reduction to 20% of streets. The proposal also includes a 25-mph limit for most of downtown, and a small 20-mph speed zone centered around Old Bellevue and Downtown Park.
Beginning in February, staff will share the draft speed limit proposal with the community and seek input on possible scenarios for phased implementation. Staff plan to return to the council in the summer with the results from this outreach and will seek approval of the lower speed limits. Speed limit reductions will likely need to be implemented in phases over one or more years to align with the available capital budget.
The Safe Speeds program was created to support the Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on Bellevue streets by 2030. Streets in Bellevue with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or higher make up only 25% of the total street mileage but account for 88% of crashes in which a person is killed or seriously injured.
In addition to reducing speeds on four streets initially, the program included gathering community input through nearly 500 survey responses. More than 75% expressed concern about the impact of vehicle speeds on the safety of people driving, biking and walking. When presented with the safety benefit of lowering speed limits, a majority supported lower speed limits, particularly when paired with enforcement and street design changes.
Full details are available in the agenda materials.
School levy support
The council also received information and comments about the Bellevue School District renewal propositions going to voters in a special election Feb. 10: Proposition No. 1 for educational programs and operations levy (EP&O) and Proposition No. 2 for technology & capital projects levy. According to the district, these levies comprise roughly one-quarter of the school district’s funding.
At their Jan. 6 meeting, the council expressed interest in taking a collective position on the propositions. Both pro and con campaigns were invited to the Jan. 27 meeting to speak. Only the pro campaign accepted the invitation to present. After the presentation, the council unanimously voted to support the school levies. The full discussion is available on Bellevue Television replay.
Immigration resources and information highlighted
At the start of the meeting, Mayor Mo Malakoutian highlighted available resources and information about how the city operates relative to federal immigration enforcement activities.
He said in part, “Federal immigration enforcement actions are outside the control of local cities. The City of Bellevue does not participate in those activities, and our local police officers do not have a role in federal civil immigration enforcement.
“What is our responsibility is to uphold our community’s values of integrity, respect and care in the work we do locally. Bellevue remains committed to being a welcoming and safe city — one that serves and supports all who call this community home, including the many immigrants and refugees who contribute so much to our city.”
He went on to encourage members of the community to call 911 for local assistance if they are in danger and shared the city’s online resources, available in multiple languages, including a list of frequently asked questions about how the Bellevue Police Department operates relative to federal operations and policies.
Proclamations for International Holocaust Remembrance and Americans of Chinese Descent
The council read a proclamation marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly to commemorate the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, and to honor the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered.
A proclamation was also read to acknowledge the rich histories, perspectives and experiences of the Chinese American community. More than 15% of Bellevue’s vibrant and dynamic community identifies as being of Chinese descent.