Published April 18 2025
Plus, Wilburton land use, community assistance program and Sikh heritage proclamation
The City Council met in executive session Tuesday to review the qualifications of applicants for appointment to the council seat John Stokes is vacating. Councilmember Stokes had announced earlier this month he would step down from his Position 1 seat on May 2 to focus on his family.
After the session, the council unanimously voted to appoint finalist and current Planning Commission member Vishal Bhargava to the council for a partial term ending upon certification of the November general election.
Bhargava has been a member of the Planning Commission since 2020 and brings more than a decade of experience in urban planning, technology leadership and community service.
Commission chair Craighton Goeppele praised Bhargava while discussing another item of business at the meeting. “Our loss [from the planning commission] will be your gain on the council,” he said.
Bhargava must run in the November election to retain the Position 1 seat. The person elected for Position 1 in this year’s race would then serve through Stokes’ original term ending Dec. 31, 2027.
Wilburton land use discussion
The council also received an update on the Wilburton Transit-Oriented Development Area Land Use Code Amendment and rezone, including the Planning Commission's recommendation.
The land use code amendment (LUCA) and rezone advance the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Amendment adopted in 2024 by establishing new zoning districts and development standards that support affordable housing, sustainable design and a connected, walkable urban environment. It also introduces flexible incentives to encourage public benefits, such as open space, multimodal access and green infrastructure.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of the LUCA following a series of study sessions and a public hearing. The LUCA and rezone for the Wilburton Transit-Oriented Development Area will be considered for further action by the council at a future meeting.
More information can be found on the project website and meeting materials. The full presentation is available on video replay.
Jubilee in the Community celebrates 16 years of community assistance
The council also received an update on the Jubilee in the Community program, which provides exterior home maintenance assistance to Bellevue homeowners who face physical or financial barriers to maintaining their properties.
A long-standing partnership between the City of Bellevue and local nonprofit Jubilee REACH, the program offers a wide array of services, such as yard cleanup, power washing, junk removal and fence repair.
In 2024, more than 72% of Jubilee projects came from first-time applicants. Volunteers with the program completed 124 projects, an 11% increase from 2023. A total of 953 volunteers participated, contributing hundreds of service hours for Bellevue community members.
Volunteers are available to communicate in español, 简体中文, 繁體中文,日本語, 한국어, Pусский or Tiếng Việt. More information is in the meeting materials.
Proclamation for Sikh heritage
The council issued a proclamation celebrating Sikh Heritage Month and encouraged community members to join in celebrating and recognizing this community in Bellevue and King County, which has the seventh largest Sikh population of any U.S. county.