The Bellevue City Council convened on April 15, 2025, to discuss the appointment of a new council member following the upcoming retirement of Council Member Stokes. The meeting began with an executive session dedicated to evaluating the qualifications of the four finalists selected from a pool of twenty applicants. This session lasted approximately thirty minutes before the council reconvened to continue their regular meeting.

During the discussions, it was emphasized that the council's decision to appoint a new member is a unique opportunity, as it is uncommon for council members to select their colleagues directly. The council expressed gratitude for the high caliber of candidates, acknowledging the difficulty in narrowing down the applicants to the final four.

The selected candidate will serve until November, at which point they must run for election to retain their seat for the remainder of Stokes' term, which is an additional two and a half years. The council reiterated that all applicants are encouraged to participate in the upcoming election, highlighting the community's strong interest in council representation.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of the upcoming decision and the council's commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as they prepare for the changes in leadership.