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Bellevue public hearing draws calls for millions more in climate and Vision Zero spending
Summary
At a public hearing on the preliminary 2025–26 budget, residents and advocacy groups urged the Bellevue City Council to increase climate spending and accelerate Vision Zero projects, asking for specific allocations for heat‑pump rebates, multifamily decarbonization and expanded cross‑town transit.
Courtney Nygaard of People for Climate Action told the City Council during a public hearing that Bellevue currently underinvests in climate work, saying the city spent about $5,000,000 in 2024—roughly 0.46% of the overall budget—and asking the council to add about $10,000,000 per year to meet the city’s 2030 and 2050 greenhouse‑gas targets.
Other speakers elaborated on program priorities. Bill Westry urged expansion of the Energy Smart Eastside heat‑pump program and asked the council to fund a $5,800,000 rebate program for lower‑ and middle‑income homeowners so roughly 1,200 furnace replacements a year could proceed. Paul Bruno and others pressed for a $2,500,000 annual program to help decarbonize 100 multifamily buildings under 20,000 square feet. Multiple speakers also called for more frequent cross‑town bus service to reduce single‑occupancy vehicle trips.
Public‑safety and transportation advocates pushed for increased Vision Zero investments. Christopher Randalls of Complete Streets Bellevue welcomed funding increases in the preliminary budget but said the council needs a larger, faster commitment so the city can design and construct hundreds of rapid‑build safety projects and complete a connected bike network. Several speakers suggested the city consider a Transportation Benefit District as a financing mechanism.
Council members heard testimony from students, nonprofit leaders and health professionals connecting climate and transportation investments to public health. Dr. Anne Marie Dooley asked the council to treat Vision Zero as a public‑health issue. Katie Wilson of the Transit Riders Union supported a proposed regional transit coordinator position and reiterated the case for improvements that make transit faster and more reliable.
The hearing also included a disruptive and offensive public comment that prompted staff to proceed through the preregistered list; the council later closed the hearing after receiving 17 preregistered comments. Deputy Mayor Malakutian said the council would hold a study session on the budget after the comprehensive‑plan discussion and would place follow‑up questions and requested data in the staff “memory bank.”
Next steps: the council will discuss budget strategic target areas in upcoming sessions and return to deliberations and a tentative adoption timeline in November.
