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Bellevue council holds hearing on ban for off‑road recreational vehicles; third reading set
Summary
At a July 7 council meeting, Bellevue held a public hearing on Ordinance 4220 to prohibit operation of off‑road recreational vehicles on city public property; police and the city attorney described enforcement plans and a limited e‑scooter exception. Third reading set for July 21, 2026.
The Bellevue City Council on July 7 held a public hearing on Ordinance 4220, a proposed code change to prohibit operation of off‑road recreational vehicles on public streets, sidewalks, trails and other city property. Mayor (speaker 1) opened the hearing and the council heard detailed enforcement and definition considerations from police and legal staff.
Police leadership warned the council the measure is aimed at preventing dangerous operation of mini‑bikes and similar motorized devices in parks and streets. The police chief (speaker 8) described repeated incidents involving children and said enforcement would emphasize deterrence and education: "We're trying to make a statement early... Our goal is compliance and safety." The chief added that, without action, the problem could produce severe injuries: "We're gonna have death if we don't take care of it." The chief also said officers expect to use warnings for most cases and reserve citations for repeat or aggressive violations.
City Attorney Amy Battalion (speaker 13) explained the ordinance includes a specific exception for certain e‑scooters, allowing devices similar to shared scooters to operate on sidewalks, trails and other pedestrian pathways if operated by a single rider and limited to a motor speed of 20 miles per hour. Battalion said the e‑scooter language and some speed thresholds could be revisited to align with frequently traveled downtown areas such as Old Town and American Heroes Park.
Several council members asked about alignment with regional language. Councilman Preister (speaker 5) welcomed a regional approach and noted neighboring jurisdictions are also grappling with similar problems. Staff said MAPPA and regional technical committees are working to develop consistent language; council members asked staff to re‑evaluate the ordinance when regional guidance is available.
The hearing closed with the mayor and staff agreeing to schedule a third reading and a vote on July 21, 2026, at 6 p.m. in council chambers. No final ordinance vote occurred on July 7.
