The Bellevue City Council has appointed Claire Sumadiwirya as its newest member, following a unanimous vote to fill the seat vacated by Janice Zahn. Zahn, who will leave the council on March 28, is transitioning to a role representing the 41st Legislative District in the State House of Representatives. According to a city news release, Sumadiwirya was chosen among five potential candidates and will serve until the November General Election results are certified.

In eco-friendly news, Bellevue's streets have been significantly refreshed through the Keep Bellevue Beautiful initiative. Over 160 cleanup events have resulted in the removal of 260 bags of trash. Additionally, more than 5,392 stray shopping carts have been collected and returned to retailers, thanks to reports made via the MyBellevue app and weekly sweeps by a contractor.

City staff presented council members with an overview of the 2025 State Legislative session and Bellevue's agenda. Established by the council last October, this year's priorities include securing funding for the Grand Connection Crossing design, supporting transportation projects on Interstate 405 and State Route 520, and improving MyBuildingPermit.com, Bellevue's digital permitting platform. The city is also focused on addressing housing affordability.

Bellevue, along with the rest of the state legislature, is facing a projected $10 to $15 billion gap in the operating budget over the next four years. Budget proposals, which will include allocations for operating costs, capital, and transportation, are expected to be presented by the end of March. These financial challenges are an important factor in the city’s and the state's fiscal planning and commitments.