The Bellevue City Council on April 15 voted to appoint Vishal Bhargava to Position 1 on the council effective May 5, 2025, and approved a staff resolution to release a city water easement at 11040 Main Street to accommodate a private redevelopment.

Appointment: A motion to appoint Vishal Bhargava (motion text read from the dais) was moved and seconded; Councilmember Lee provided the second on the record. The council took the vote after a brief discussion about the effective date and the timing of Councilmember Stokes’ departure; Stokes was recused from the appointment discussion and was recorded as recused for the vote. The motion passed with all remaining voting members in favor.

Easement release: Council also held a public hearing and, with no public testimony, adopted Resolution 10496 authorizing staff to execute documents to release an existing water easement at 11040 Main Street. Staff said the property owner is redeveloping the site as a 351‑unit residential building with 117,000 square feet of below‑grade parking and mechanical space. Staff reported that the water main inside the easement would be removed and capped because utilities and fire determined the line is a redundant fire‑flow loop and is not required for future service. The easement had been declared surplus and — because it was originally acquired at no cost to the city — staff recommended no compensation for the release.

Votes at a glance:
- Appointment of Vishal Bhargava to Position 1 (motion text: "I move to appoint Vishal Bhargava to position 1 on the Bellevue City Council effective 05/05/2025 and contingent upon Council Member Stokes' resignation on May 2.") — Outcome: approved. Vote: yes 6; no 0; abstain 0; recused 1 (Councilmember Stokes). Mover: not specified in transcript; second: Councilmember Lee.
- Resolution 10496, release of water easement at 11040 Main Street (motion text read by council member): "I move to adopt resolution 10496, authorizing the execution of documents necessary to release an existing water easement located at 11040 Main Street, which has been declared surplus to the city's needs and is no longer required for providing continued water service." — Outcome: approved. Vote: yes 7; no 0; abstain 0. Mover and second: not specified on record.

No dissenting votes were recorded at the microphones. Both actions were procedural in nature: the appointment fills a council vacancy subject to the departing member’s resignation, and the easement release enables a private redevelopment after staff concluded the line is redundant for fire flow and future needs.