Bellevue City Council approved a reduction to speed limits on most streets with current limits of 30 mph or higher, with implementation beginning in 2027. The change complements the city's ongoing initiative to lower neighborhood speed limits from 25 mph to 20 mph on local streets this summer.
The Council also received an update on the city's long-range financial forecast, noting expected flat revenue growth through 2028 before resuming growth in 2029. Staff attributed this to inflation-driven cost increases and reduced consumer confidence affecting sales tax and business tax revenues. The Council held a public hearing on the 2027-2028 preliminary budget, with community input sought through meetings, surveys, and information sessions.
A recently completed Electric Grid Capacity Study, conducted with Puget Sound Energy, confirmed that Bellevue's substations will have sufficient capacity to serve expected needs over the next decade, supporting the city's goal of adding 35,000 housing units and 70,000 jobs by 2044. The study also identified new collaboration methods to ensure clean, reliable electricity delivery.