On October 28, 2025, the Bellevue City Council approved the allocation of $600,000 from its contingency fund for urgent community needs. The funds will be divided equally among organizations that provide legal assistance to immigrants and refugees, as well as those offering food and financial support. This decision follows the city manager’s recent approval of $235,000 from the operating budget for immediate food assistance.
The council’s action came after a public hearing on the 2025-2026 biennial budget and capital improvement program. Community members raised concerns about increasing needs, which led to the council’s decision. Earlier in the biennium, the council allocated $1 million from the contingency fund for similar purposes.
The new funds will be distributed through agencies already contracted under the city’s human services funding. The council also reviewed proposed updates to the city’s Critical Areas Ordinance, as recommended by the Planning Commission. The updates are intended to protect environmental features such as streams, wetlands, and steep slopes, in line with Washington’s Growth Management Act…