Bellevue Council adopts emergency appropriations ordinance; mayor explains veto rationale for related ordinance

Bellevue City Council on Feb. 23, 2026, approved Ordinance No. 2-26, an ordinance making permanent appropriations for current expenses and other expenditures for the city during the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2026, and declaring an emergency to allow immediate effect. The motion to adopt passed by a 7-0 vote.

The vote came after Council suspended the rules and gave the ordinance its third reading by title only. Council Member Shepherd moved to suspend the rules and give the third reading, seconded by Council Member Daniel; that motion passed 7-0. Council Member Baker then moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2-26 as an emergency, seconded by Council Member Wynbissinger; the adoption vote was 7-0.

Mayor Kevin Strecker used his remarks earlier in the meeting to explain his recent veto of Ordinance No. 21-25. The mayor said he vetoed that ordinance because he wants all five related ordinances to be considered together so the package is uniform, rather than passing one while the rest remain unresolved. He also expressed appreciation for city administration and employees and thanked Council members for their work on the ordinances.

Law Director Mr. Wallingford noted the veto procedure and timeline for the council: “The Mayor has ten days or the next time Council is in session to veto an ordinance which was done correctly in this matter,” he said, and added that while there is a procedural route for Council to override a veto, it would require waiting the statutory period.

The ordinance adopted on Feb. 23 sets the city's permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and was enacted with an emergency clause, allowing the provisions to take effect without the usual waiting period. Council did not record any amendments to the ordinance during the meeting. The ordinance passed on a recorded voice vote of 7-0.