Good evening and welcome to the May Parks and Community Services Board meeting.

Eileen is absent today.

Otherwise, everyone else is here.

We are at quorum, and so this meeting is now called to order.

Is there a motion to approve tonight's agenda?

I move to approve tonight's agenda.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Second.

Thank you.

Let's vote.

All in favor to approve tonight's agenda, say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, say no.

The agenda is approved unanimously.

Next up, is there a motion to approve the April 2026 meeting minutes?

So moved.

Thank you.

Is there a second?

Oh, second.

Thank you, Eric.

All right, let's vote.

All in favor to approve the April 2026 meeting minutes.

Uh say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, say no.

All right.

The minutes are unanimously approved.

All right, next up is oral communications.

The Parks and Community Services Board values community input and looks forward to hearing from you during its meeting.

Please be aware that in compliance with Washington state campaign laws regarding the use of public facilities during an election.

No speaker may support or oppose a ballot measure or support or oppose a candidate for an election, which includes your own campaign.

Any speaker who begins discussing topics of this nature will be asked to stop.

There are rules adopted by the city council limiting the topics about which the public may speak during our meetings.

Under ordinance 6752, the public may only speak during public comment about subject matters that are related to City of Bellevue government and are within the power and duties of the Parks and Community Services Board.

Following the board's bylaws, the total time allowed for oral communications shall not exceed 30 minutes.

Each speaker will be allowed to speak one time for up to three minutes.

We will follow the order in which individuals signed up.

If you do not get a chance to speak this evening, you're always invited to email your comments to us at Parkboard at Bellevue.gov.

So now I'll turn it over to Ryan, who will read names from the online and in-person sign-in sheet.

Thank you, Chair.

We have three pre-registered speakers this evening.

Excuse me.

And there's also one written communication that I'll get to after those three.

Yeah.

So our first speaker this evening is Amy Hirataka.

Yes.

Hi, and thank you for your time this evening.

My name is Amy Hirotaka.

I am a fourth-generation Japanese American Yonsei.

My great-grandparents and grandparents were farmers in Bellevue and returned some years after the war.

My father graduated from Smanish High School here in Bellevue.

And except for their incarceration at Pine Dale and Thule Lake and the time directly following, my family has lived and worked in this region for over a century.

I'm here tonight representing ESON Bellevue, a community-based nonprofit organization.

We celebrate the history and resilience of the Japanese American community in Bellevue through place-based art installations and historical markers of remembrance.

Our purpose is to increase knowledge and understanding of the agricultural history and contributions of Japanese Americans in Bellevue and the surrounding areas to share the impact that racism and incarceration had on this once thriving community and engage current and future Bellevue residents with local history.

Most recently, as many of you probably know, ESON collaborated with King County Parks and local artists for installations along East Rail and the Northeast 8th Street Crossing, which was the site of the former Bellevue Growers Association Packing and Shipping Warehouse.

Prior to World War II, this was the only location from which Japanese American farmers could distribute their produce.

My hope tonight is to honor the experience and legacy of the Bellevue Japanese American community through the naming of this special park.

I'd like to thank the City of Bellevue for their partnership throughout this process, and thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Our next speaker is Scott Lampy.

Thank you very much.

My name's Scott Lampy.

I and uh I'm a pleased to be here, Chair Clima, Councilmember Breyer and uh Parks Board members and staff.

I just briefly wanted to introduce myself tonight.

Um I'm here representing the Maiden Bower Bay Neighbors Association.

Uh we've been uh an organization since 2007, and just over the last six months I was named the president of the organization, and we have an 11-member board that's been actively engaged in the whole uh first phase of the park and now the second phase of the park.

We have folks that live right on Lake Washington in the condominiums around there, and also representatives of the Maiden Bower Bay Yacht Club.

And want to explain express our gratitude.

Uh several weeks ago, your new um member of the uh staff here, Wyatt Thompson took us on a really nice um walking tour there, and it was an opportunity for all the board members to firsthand sort of express a lot of our views, and I know that Wyatt had just moved here coincidentally from Manhattan, Kansas is a small world thing.

He and I actually grew up in western Kansas.

We couldn't be more different than it is here.

But um anyway, look forward to working with Wyatt and the rest of the staff.

And also, I guess a couple things that uh the MBA has been really pleased about um in the original uh master plan for it.

It actually planned to close 100th Avenue, and that's being left open now south of Main Street, which is a huge help to congestion in that area.

And the other thing that was uh has changed has been um on 99th in Lake Washington, there was going to be sort of a community center, and that's been either uh completely eliminated or certainly postponed, which we think that'd be a real difficulty getting access in and out of that.

Um, so anyway, I again just wanted to briefly introduce myself and of course that park, we're really excited because it's going to be such a key element of the park system and at the terminus of the grand connection.

So look forward to hopefully speaking for you again in the future, and um again thank you for the opportunity to be here tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And our next pre-registered speaker is Alex Zimmerman.

Thank you.

You know, it's a bit time.

Oh, time is good.

Less you talking, better for everybody.

My name is Alex Zimmerman, I'm president of Stand Up America.

I 50-time candidate for election, seven times Bell will prosecute me.

Seven times.

Oh, cases dismissed and for last three years from 24 to 25, Mayor Robinson, together with Mo Muhammad, and give me trespasses for three years.

I call Mayor Robinson and Dory Chip Prostitute because they did this because I candidate against here.

And Mo Muhammad, Mayor, I don't know, I need crying or I need laughing.

I know decide what this happened now.

Yeah, so right now I want to speak about something.

Yeah.

For probably 10 years in every meeting, I talk why you don't show faces, because I speak around 5,000 times from Tacoma to everyone, and if everybody show faces, you only one place who not show faces.

Or answer me why you don't show us faces because Alexanderman.

I think there's only one reason.

And you dirty Nazi Buster never give me this answer.

Are you all Idiot?

Mayor Robinson make totally cut us a fundamental First Amendment free speech.

Make 30 minutes in only 10 10 people.

And you can see this in camera, and I repeat this, you know this in every meeting.

Yep.

Um because Alex Zimmerman bad boys.

So can you answer me somebody maybe?

Bill of Cousel can answer this idiotic situation.

Then Aleximerman Boy, why 150,000 people cannot speak?

Can somebody ask for?

And I ask you about this many times.

Are you all quiet?

Why are quiet?

Because you didn't get to the deity is exactly who you are.

I cannot find another answer.

Yeah.

So right now, today, three year my trespasses gone.

What is Mar Robinson?

This is for this, I call her Chip Dory Prostitute.

The gather.

Can you speak about topics that are within the power and duty to exactly about government?

You interrupt me again.

It's not good.

Yeah, you're doing this in every meeting.

Remember, I told you this in every meeting.

So situation very simple.

Viva Trump.

Viva New American Revolution.

Stand up, slab, and happy cow.

And guys, stop and steal us money.

Billion.

What is you doing?

Nazi bastards.

Thank you very much.

Well, I want to let the public know that the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Board does not condone hateful or offensive speech from any individual.

While we would prefer people refrain from making these types of comments, the board respects individuals' First Amendment free speech rights.

Individuals are allowed to express their thoughts or feelings, whether we agree with them or not.

Thank you, Chair.

Um, so that ends our pre-registered list this evening.

We will open up the floor if there's anyone who else else who wishes to speak.

So we'll start with the folks in this room.

If you'd like to speak, please raise your hand or come on up.

I just wanted to come say hi.

Uh Heather Trescas, former Parks board member.

Um, just want to come sit on this side of the table for a change.

Um, but I'm a board member of ESON Bellevue along with Amy, and just wanted to express um how wonderful it has been to work with park staff on um the project for the park, uh Main Street Park, and uh looking forward to hearing your conversation today with regards to the naming, but this is a really incredible opportunity um to tell a very important story uh in Bellevue's history and and to honor the legacy of the Bellevue Japanese American community.

So thank you and um thanks for all your service and nice to see everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the room who wishes to speak?

Yeah, please come on up.

Hello, I'm not gonna take three minutes.

I came here kind of on a win too.

Cause I I think I believe I sent an email earlier, this like Monday, I think, and I was talking about um pickleball and tennis, and how like there's a lot of pickleballers on tennis courts, and like lately, lately I went out, um, and I like every time I go out to play tennis, I saw there's always picklewallers on the tennis courts, and I feel like it's a little bit crowded, and if there's anything that we could do about that, like make more tennis or sorry, pickleball courts, or and I also saw that there's a lot of basketball courts where there hasn't been any like players on them, and then I think if it's possible we could like incorporate some pickleball like courts on the basketball courts to make it like have more just like courts available.

Because I feel like it's really hard to find the already like scarce tennis courts to play on, and yeah, it's that's it.

I'm sorry, I should have asked you to say your name.

Oh, sorry, Angela.

Thank you.

I just could clarify me.

I'm just where were you referencing that?

Oh, um, summer like around Somerset area.

Yeah, all right.

Thank you so much.

Is there anyone else in the room who wishes to speak at this time?

I think that's it for the room.

Uh our virtual room.

If anyone online would like to speak, uh please raise your virtual hand.

Okay.

Hello.

Hello, my name is Nicole Myers, and I appreciate all the work that's been done to um commemorate the things that the Japanese community has done within Bellevue.

I notice for this particular area, even though perhaps the policies don't allow us to recognize individuals that this appears to be the area where the Matsuzawa Suzuki Farm was, according to the um, I'm sorry, I do have a toddler here.

And um, apologies.

I'm gonna try to run away from them.

Um, I also wanted to uh mention that um there were some happy things that were done um with youth in the community, and um Sainan Kai was one example of a Japanese youth club that existed in Bellevue.

I think um around 1930, there was also uh the Bellevue Judo Club and an individual there named Toyogo Yoshino, um, who was remembered as someone who loved teaching kids, and um he was you know in heavily involved in the formation of that club.

Um I did want to find examples of more individuals to um highlight some of their contributions, and I'm sorry I didn't have time to do more.

Um but uh I just wanted to uh thank you again for all the work that's been done um to recognize the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

Are there any other speakers on or folks online who wish to speak?

Not seeing any.

One other thing I will mention this evening as part of oral communications.

Uh, we did writ receive a written communications.

Um, you may have seen it.

It is in your um artboard email inbox uh arrived today from a person's name is Gordon Pulson.

Um, and they had some interesting and um concerns around the docent program at Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Uh staff are looking into this and we'll be working on that.

So I wanted to let you know if you'd like to look at that further.

Thank you.

And uh I believe that is it.

I'll turn it back to you, Chair to close oral communications.

Yeah, and uh maybe we'll get some follow-up on that like in email form.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, um, thank you so much, Ryan.

Um, that concludes oral communications.

Uh now we'll jump to the next item.

Oh, we have one person who just raised it and oh, I think I think it's okay.

You were sorry.

Right on the custom.

We have one more uh oral communication, so uh someone online has joined us.

Hello, good evening, and thank you for all the great work that you do.

My name is Janile Martin, and I am one of the former docents from the Bellevue Botanical Garden, and I sent an email earlier because last week the docent program at the Bellevue Botanical Garden, which is a city park, was um ended without any input and without any of our notice.

Um we as a well, many of us, I will just speak for myself, we're a little shocked by this because we are the history keepers for the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

We tell the valuable stories, and we work with all the wonderful guests who come there.

And um, Gordon, another docent, sent something, and we would appreciate if you might look into this a little bit further and uh tell us what we might do to continue being docents.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

Set.

Okay.

Thank you, everyone.

Uh so now it can uh now we've concluded oral communications.

Um we'll move on to the next item on on our agenda, uh, which is city council communications.

So I'll turn it over to council member Breyer.

Hello, it's a pleasure to be here.

It's great to meet you, uh, Commissioner.

I don't believe we've had the privilege of meeting yet.

I was uh absent last meeting on medical leave, but should be here for the rest.

So great to see you.

Um so we actually got our briefing yesterday, um, from Isan Bellevue.

Yes, the individual that was presenting to us is here as well.

Um we did have a colleague that was interested in expanding the naming process to all members that are Asian American in Bellevue, but I push back respectfully because I figured it would be best to have um, or I guess personally and as the council liaison to the parks board uh was interested in having uh Isan Bellevue be sort of the main contributor to the naming process.

Would love for you to chime in on that as well.

Um and I know that the art commission was also interested in potentially collaborating.

Should there be any art installations that happen?

I don't know if that's a direction that's going to be taken for this uh uh park or the I think there is reflective elements that may be included in the planning.

If I'm memory serves me correctly, I'm getting a nod, so maybe that means yes.

Um, it's early in the conceptual phase, but that that could be an option, yes.

And if if they would like to be brought along, or if um that's something that the uh commission is interested in, it'd be cool to see that type of cross-functional collaboration, but just an idea.

Um we also, as a council approved to send a letter to Sound Transit yesterday urging sub-area equity.

It looks like we are going to get our um four line established, meaning we're gonna get a train from Bellevue to Kirkland, uh, which is pretty exciting.

Um they said the implementation will be 2050, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna be like 52 by then.

So can we do it any sooner?

Um we'll we're trying to find some creative ways to find uh ways to expedite that hopefully uh way before 2050.

Um also finalized some MFT updates for HOMA, meaning more development and crossroads in Newport Hill shopping areas and working with developers to provide uh financial incentives, and we also had a recent uh commission appreciation event where I had the pleasure of awarding most of you that are here for your incredible work and thanking uh Commissioner uh Paul Clark as he finishes his term and promising to continue to advocate to leashing our dogs.

Uh though not that that's not his legacy, it should not be contained to that because he's contributed far more than that.

But uh, yeah, there were no, I'm joking.

Um, but that is uh all I've got on my end.

All right, thank you, Councilmember Breyer.

Does anyone have any questions about these topics?

No.

All right.

So next up is director's report.

So I'll turn it over to assistant director Cameron Parker.

Thank you.

Uh just two items.

One is to uh just confirm and make sure you all have gotten invitations to July 4th.

Um with uh your opportunity to RSVP for that event.

Um it's uh uh particularly special uh year this year with the 250th uh sort of anniversary of the um of the United States uh being celebrated is also overlapping uh with some of the World Cup action will still be in town.

So uh it's gonna be a full house at uh Bellevue Downtown Park.

We're sure it could be the largest uh attendance we we've had.

So we'll we'll see how it all turns out.

But um uh so all the more reason to take advantage of your VIP privileges and attending that event.

Um the other uh thing I wanted to spend a few minutes on is just uh taking uh a bittersweet moment to to honor and uh bid adieu to uh to Paul.

So this being his last meeting.

Um we have uh a couple uh things to provide for him as well as um the the legacy does go well beyond um uh off leash dock and leash dog issues for sure.

Um Paul was first appointed in uh 2018 and is completing uh eight years of service, uh reappointed in 2022.

Uh he served as a vice chair in 2022 and chair in 2023.

Um and uh just to give you I I had to write this down because I couldn't keep it all in my head.

But uh during that time, uh Paul was involved in uh so many different projects, um, including both phases of Maidenbauer Bay Park phase one.

I think you just got in for phase one.

Yeah, I got a free hot dog at the opening.

That's right.

Uh so that counts.

Um fully involved in in all the phase two work uh that has gone on as well.

Um the uh more recent projects like Eastgate Commons.

Um, reaching back uh a little ways that we had um developments uh and redevelopment at Surrey Downs Park, uh Newport Hills Woodlawn Park, which I believe if I remember right, you came up with the name Woodlawn Park.

Well, we all agreed, but yeah, we're we got a little stuck on that naming process.

Um, and Paul, you I think you were chair at the time, if I remember, or vice chair.

No, I think Heather was chair.

Uh okay because we're doing it on Zoom.

Yes.

Oh, that's right.

Okay.

Um I just remember uh we were having the discussion and in typical form.

Uh Paul had done a significant amount of homework uh looking at at park names across the region and offered that suggestion, which which ended up sticking uh for that beautiful park.

Um the Airfield Park Master Plan adoption, Ashwood Park as well, and then we get into um uh numerous parks and open space system plans, comprehensive plan updates, neighborhood plan updates, recreation plan updates.

Exactly, a few accreditation, maybe two accreditation cycles, I believe, and then uh it would be um uh several budget cycles as well, and worth noting there.

Um Paul had a big part in the uh drive behind the 2022 parks levy as well.

So um that particular legacy we'll we'll definitely live on as we work on those projects that were identified um in that program uh for that uh levy program.

So um with all of that, just a heartfelt thank you from the staff in the city for your service and uh the years that you spent advocating for parks and community services.

We heard you may have visited downtown park a time or two.

I may have visited all sorts of different so there was a uh something to hang on the wall.

I don't know if you can see it at home, but it's beautiful sunset.

Yes, thank you.

Okay, thank you, Cam Randy.

Um, so now we'll turn it over to board communications.

Uh we'll start from one end of the table and go around and I just need to see for Paul, this might be a good time.

So yeah.

Kick it off.

Thank you, Paul, for all your service.

Um, I think it's important that community members get involved with the communities they live in, and you've done that for the last eight years, and then some uh greatly appreciate it, and I look forward for us to maintain and build on the relationship.

I've only known you for about a year now.

Um, but uh I look forward to growing that.

Thank you.

Um most know that uh about three weeks ago, I finished my uh prior career and have had a little bit more time, so I got a little bit more to talk about uh this time.

I'll try and keep it brief.

Um I attended the Great Neighborhoods Victoria and East Great community input sessions that were there.

I know we're gonna get a presentation on that.

Um I was really impressed, and I'll save some of my comments for QA when we get to them.

Um, and I appreciate staff putting that on and opening up and gathering input from the community.

It's always important whenever the city is going to be making decisions that are going to impact them that they're allowed to give that input.

So I really appreciated that.

Um I attended uh Piranha, am I pronouncing this or Piranha, uh the Asian Indian Festival at Crossroads Park?

Um amazing food, amazing culture.

You got to go through you got a passport and got your passport stamped every time you learned that went to a learning station.

Um, and I learned a lot that I I did not know.

Uh so I was appreciative that that community within Bellevue shared that with us.

Uh, we also had um my wife and I uh walked the paths and and trails between Phantom Lake and Larson Lake Blue Blueberry farm there.

And uh I not that that's of note, but what I found interesting was at both lakes, we had people that were fishing, and I'm a fisherman and I enjoy doing that, but I I was amazed to find out that those lakes here within Bellevue are naturally stocked.

They're not stocked by the fish and wildlife, they naturally occur there and people were catching things.

So it's nice that we have that in our backyard.

Um I had the opportunity also to hike the Coal Creek Trail and right, it was right after the windstorm we had the Friday prior.

Uh lots of down trees and branches.

Uh I cleared what I could.

I saw other hikers doing the same, but um I had passed on communications over the parks information line.

I'm uh hoping that I might get some follow-up on that.

I didn't ask for follow-up at the time, but uh the more I thought about it, I was thinking uh I'd like to hear on that.

So I'll follow up and uh with that myself.

Um this Saturday is uh part of the Keep Belle View Beautiful program, and they're doing cleanup at Killarney Creek Park there in West Bellevue.

I plan on being there.

I hope to see others of the community there.

Um particular note, the we're getting into boating season and it's 40th boat launch.

Um I've noticed in the past that there's lots of parking violations, not that that's the park's job, that's the police department's job.

I was hoping Chief Shirley, and I know that is very low on their priority dealing with parking, but it's a very limited time of year for people to be able to get their boats out of that launch, and you have people that don't have boats parking in the stalls there that prevent uh boaters from being able to use that facility.

Um that's all I've got for now, but thank you.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

So I wasn't quite as busy as Eric was, at least not in the parks, but yes, I will.

I'll get there someday.

Um so I wanted to first of all thank Paul for your service.

I want to say, Paul, one of the things your that you leave with me is your dedication to a theme of connectedness.

In so many of our discussions around planning, you would bring up this idea of connectedness in the trails, and I think that's really left its imprint on our overall parks direction, not just for one single park, but how we're thinking about the parks as a whole, and it makes it so much more accessible to so many more people.

So thank you for that.

Um, really appreciate your leadership in that area.

From my side, what I was uh doing was well, we had one sunny day, so I did go to Phantom Lake.

I did note that people are still using our Robinson kind of work around, because it's still very hard to get onto the lake, and uh I I know that um there may be things that we can do about this, there may not, but I just wanted to bring up that that will just continue to be an overflow place.

Um, I also wanted to say that I had the opportunity to speak with some folks who found out that I was on the parks board, and I asked them what are your big issues?

Um a number of people echoed what Angela, um one of our speakers today mentioned, which is a lack of opportunity to play in certain popular areas, especially for sports that are popular in that area.

So uh for soccer fields, hey, where can I get a pickup soccer field?

They're all taken.

How can I book that at the last minute?

Um, so that uh opportunity for spontaneous play, especially for adults was noted by uh some of the folks that I spoke to.

Another was uh not directly connected with botanical gardens, but they had noticed a lot of non-native species in our non-invasive species, but just not native to the Pacific Northwest in the park's landscaping, and they asked if we had programs related to eventually replacing those with native and bee-friendly species.

And I did not have an answer for them, but I thought that was a really great point because we have a lot of beautiful flowers around here.

So that's it from my side.

Um, thank you again for your services.

Um, I think uh been on the board for about three years now, keep me honest, maybe four.

Who knows?

Very close here there, but you've always been on the board, and you know, obviously outside of this board, you're very engaged in the community.

I think you've you know coming in to a board for the first time.

You know, you're always looking to others to figure out how to do this, and what can we say?

What can we do?

What should we push on?

What should we ask?

And you're a really great example to all of us.

Um, so thank you so much.

On my side, as you guys know, I have young children, so I'm actively in the parks, most every other day.

Um, very grateful for the extended sun.

We can go out even later, keep them busier, they can go to bed earlier.

So very much appreciate that.

I still want to continue looking into, you know, as we prepare for winter, right?

Like, how do we know which parks, you know, have lighting, what options are there?

I feel like usually when you're in the middle of winter, you get to 5 p.m.

and there's very few options for where to go.

Um, so I think having a little bit more guidance for parents to figure it out.

I think I called this out a couple of meetings ago, but some of the Bellevue schools have closed off access to part like to their playgrounds for parents after hours.

That used to be an option.

So I think a lot of folks are kind of hovering into very busy parks.

Like as you can imagine, kids are fighting for the playgrounds at particular hours, which is amazing.

But also, you know, again, our services are completely needed and used and talks about the great parks that we have that they're so popular.

But um, I do, you know, I agree that even during these most popular periods of time, somebody called it out.

The basketball courts are kind of always empty though.

Um, you know, as you were mentioning it, you know, it's it's definitely one of those.

I use the basketball courts to practice scootering and bike riding with my little ones.

There's never typically anybody using it.

Um so that could be something to look at.

I don't know how we could measure activity or usage of some of the older elements that have been there for a long time, but if there's opportunity to kind of put something that would be more popular now or for the current population, I'd love to consider that and help out.

And as I go and check out parks, I'll let you know what time and what was happening in my reports.

So happy to do that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

See, Linux.

Um, well, thank you for your service.

And I still remember uh first time meeting you.

You're interviewing me when I was not a board member yet, and look at what type of decision you made.

But I appreciate um uh all the all the insights that you bring to the board.

Um I know you are somebody who's very prepared and gives uh insights to um all the different decision making process during over the years.

So again, thank you and do remember to visit us, you know.

Um, and as for for me, um, the past month, I went to the Bellevue Downtown Park and uh did some exercising, walked around the the uh the laps, did some laps over there, and I did notice people were feeding ducks.

Um, and then also the water was a little bit opaque.

Um, so those are just some comments I had.

Um, in terms of the cleanliness of the park, I I thought you know, when I was walking there, it was really clean, no garbage line is true and about.

So um again, uh my wife and I are very uh are always very impressed with the professionalism of the of the service people as doing the the cleaning uh well peaking up after after the visitors.

So um overall, I think that was that is the comments that I have right now.

Thanks, Steve.

Paul, would you like to go next?

Yeah.

Um, pretend on the mic.

Should turn on the mic.

Yeah, maybe I'll figure out how to do this someday.

Um before I ramble through a few of these um points, I did want to reference the basketball tennis, um pickleball issue, because as maybe some of you remember, pickleball was a huge issue.

I use the word pickleball activist community, which is a real thing in Bellevue.

Um, real people, real organization, real data collection.

And one of the things they did to get those eight to twelve courts at Airfield, for those of you who weren't part of that process, is they came to us with hard usage data on where the temporary courts were, how much they were being used, what the lines were, what the wait times were, and that's why I definitely echo Michelle's point about, and I know it's hard with concerns about surveillance, legitimate concerns about surveillance.

We don't want to create a big spy network, but we also would really benefit from some anonymized data on how much these courts are used to try to better load balance um those things.

Um scarce resources.

And I've my old college roommate lives in the area and he is a tennis player, and he was less than enthused when I spoke to him about the uh pickleball um advancements.

So um uh it's it's it's not easy, but that data would be invaluable.

Um with respect to um a few points, there's not that many on the way out the door here.

Um I did want to really emphasize though that your work here matters.

Um sometimes our political culture gets obsessed with executive offices like presidents and mayors and governors and whatnot, but I I believe the heart of our system, the way the founders intended it was for the legislature to be at the heart of our system.

And as evidenced by council member prior schedule today, she can't be everywhere at once.

She can't be at every public feedback meeting, every chance that we put up some poster boards and ask community members to talk to us about what they think.

Um and that face-to-face community engagement is valuable.

If we want to have um responsive government, which I mean, who doesn't, right?

Um, somebody has to help.

And all of you here are doing that.

And so thank you for sacrificing your nights and and the Wednesdays of the random uh weeks where you're at uh community centers and whatnot, talking to folks in the community, being the face uh of the council and providing that uh initial recommendation.

So thank you for that.

It's important, it's actually essential.

Um, and it's associated with a kind of a frustration we all have, which is that um in about a month, you're probably gonna have to listen to a hateful vile and insulting public comment from some buddy.

Um, and I hope you can keep in mind that you're doing your part to propagate forward these incredibly sacred First Amendment freedoms that we have, because you don't need First Amendment freedoms if you're not saying obnoxious or controversial things in the minds of at least some of the listeners.

And so hopefully, as you persevere through that, and I know Chair Klima has the most difficult job as the gavel hovers.

I've I've only done it for a year, but it's a frustrating thing to do.

Um, thank you for your scrutiny on that.

Um, yeah, please please understand how important it is that we go through that.

Um I'd I'd loved it if we had a level of of maturity sometimes where we didn't have to do that, but um it it's still incredibly important.

Um, and finally, I did want to uh thank council member Jennifer Robertson.

She's not here, but um, she gave me that appointment in 2018, what just one of the most incredible people who's ever served on our council.

Incredibly knowledgeable.

Um, thanking her again for her discernment, I guess.

I'm kidding.

Um, and uh thanks to all the park staff.

I mean, uh Director Foreign, Director Shiosaki.

Um, haven't actually met Director Pettit, but um I I'm sure the department's in good hands.

Um, thanks also to Cameron, the Shelleys, Ryan, Scott, Maryam Zarian, and so many others that I've had the chance to work with over the years.

We truly have an elite park system in Bellevue, this truly S-tier level park system that only happens because of a thousand things behind the scenes.

And most of it's not us.

We're an essential part of it, but most of it is the staff, and so thank you so much for for serving the city in the way that you do.

Um, and most of all, thank you to Rollwina.

You have been great for so many years taking the gavel and running with it.

And I am very, very proud of seeing you and your leadership on this board.

So leaving optimistic here, looking forward to Ashwood Airfield Bellred, more maiden bower.

There's always more maiden bower, it seems.

Um, but with that, um yeah, let's get the dogs leashed.

Thanks.

Thank you, Paul.

Oh, so a few words for Paul.

It's been great serving on the board together.

Um, some of my favorite memories of us include insisting you drive the golf cart during our retreat at the Bellevue golf course, uh, us climbing the bamboo play structure at the opening of Bridal Trails Valley Creek Park, and then us awkwardly saying hi to everyone at Kelsey Creek Sheep Sharing.

Uh I really appreciate how you always showed up to events outside of our board meetings, listened to our neighbors about city matters, and then brought what you heard from the community into our discussions.

I appreciate uh all the work you did.

You were a fabulous fabulous member, vice chair, chair, and also mentor to me.

Uh, thank you, Paul, for your dedication and bell view.

And I look forward to seeing what you do next.

Kind of weird because I was gonna bring up some boring communication stuff.

Should I do that now?

Or just move on.

I'll run really quick.

I'll run really quick.

Okay, uh Earth Day pulled invasive Ivy at Wilburton Park with a dozen enthusiastic neighbors, checked out Earthfest.

That was really awesome.

And then another good example of Paul always showing up.

We went to uh the Bell Red Park community meeting together and heard a lot of interesting things.

Um, saw lots of fun comments about parks and arts.

Um, favorite comment was someone wants it to be a cool park, but not too cool because it'll get crowded.

So they're worried you guys would make it too cool.

Um and there's a survey out now.

Uh so please spread it with your neighbors about the Bell Red Park.

So you could get a lot of uh preliminary ideas of this first part.

Okay.

Sorry about that.

And with that, that could concludes board communication.

All right, uh, so thank you again, Paul, for all your work.

Um, so the next item of our agenda uh is the Eastgate and Factoria Neighborhood Planning.

And our presenter tonight is Justin Panganiban, senior planner uh of community development of the community development department.

Thank you so much, Justin, for joining us tonight.

Fantastic.

Thank you so much.

Uh good evening, Chair Klima, Vice Chair Palverde, uh, members of the board and public.

Um tonight we are very excited to share our progress on the great neighborhoods program for East Gate and Factoria.

We launched this work back in August of 2025 with council to update neighborhood area plans for these two neighborhoods.

And over the last nine months uh or eight to nine months, we've heard from over 1,200 different people across 31 events, really wanting to share their vision and ideas for how they want to see the future of Eastgate and Pactoria grow.

And this feedback was used to craft draft plans that lay the foundation for future neighborhood improvements.

And so the policies tonight that we'll be reviewing were shared with the public earlier this month, and we are in the process of hearing from the community boards and commissions before we take an updated set of policies to the planning commission in June with the full draft.

So the input that we hear tonight will be incredibly valuable.

So this in uh this meeting is information only, although we invite a discussion tonight on how draft policy supports park recreation and open space needs for both these neighborhoods.

So a formal recommendation is neither requested nor uh required from this board, but the feedback from the session will be shared with the planning commission as they provide direction to staff and consider different inputs when they provide that input to staff.

So we would like for this discussion to focus on any gaps or areas of opportunities to consider around these uh policies for Eastgate and Factoria, and we will kind of take that feedback, uh, iterate on the language of the policies, and then share that back with planning commission when we come to them in June.

So for tonight's agenda, we'll go over the overall neighborhood planning process, Hawaii it matters, what we're uh pulling together.

We'll discuss the different elements that comprise the neighborhood area plan.

We'll walk through what we've heard from the community over the last eight months and then spend spend time talking about the draft Eastgate and Factoria policies.

I think we'll leave about 15 minutes of discussion for each of the plans.

There's a lot of content, so I'll hope to be as concise as possible, but to also be clear in terms of the uh the content in front of you.

So, to provide some background on the program, um, it was initiated by city council back in 2018 to update all of Bellevue's 16 neighborhood areas, many of which have not been updated for several decades.

And so the primary objective of this uh neighborhood plan update is to create plans that are relevant, community driven, and reflective of both citywide and local priorities.

And this is done by engaging the community who lives, works, plays, and learns in these communities so that their input shapes the plan outcomes.

Um these plans serve as a guide for decision making and informs how the city will partner with others to realize a 10 to 20 year vision for that neighborhood.

And to date, we've completed four neighborhood area plans.

So Eastgate and Factoria would make our uh our fifth and sixth uh plan that we are updating.

Neighborhood area plans are part of Bellevue's comprehensive plan, which is the city's uh overall guiding document for how the city grows and develops over the next 20 years.

And the vision, goals, and policies in the plan describes what the city wants to achieve while also balancing flexibility and how the city responds to changing conditions across different neighborhoods and different populations.

There are many different ways to implement a policy, whether it's investing in new facilities, creating new regulations, or supporting programs and partnerships.

So a policy around parks and open space, for example, could um support a built project like a park.

It could support a partnership with a recreational provider, or it could uh support a land use provision for incentivizing or acquiring open space as part of new development.

So many different avenues there.

The comprehensive plan also uh informs our functional plans, such as the parks and open space system plan, which provides more detail and implementation specifics.

And so, actually, in the 2022 Parks and Open Space System Plan, they identified uh opportunities to expand parks and open space and regional connectivity to trails for both Eastgate and Factoria.

And so the neighborhood area plan is meant to reflect these opportunities and also identify other priorities that we learn from the community that might inform a future functional plan update.

So, to give you a sense of the actual kind of planning boundary, because these neighborhoods are um these neighborhood areas are comprised of many different neighborhoods.

Um, both these neighborhoods follow the I-90 business corridor, which historically has some of our highest concentrations of hotels and employers outside of downtown.

Um, the Eastgate neighborhood to your right includes areas on both sides of interstate 90, and so north of I-90, you have residential areas, apartments, light industrial offices, and Bellevue College, and then to the south, it's primarily residential in nature.

And then bordering Eastgate is Factoria, which is bounded by I-90 and I 405, uh, predominantly a commercial and employment center, best known for things like Factoria Mall, the T-Mobile headquarters, and it is home to a number of professional services, retail, restaurants, many of which are international in nature.

And beyond the commercial areas in Factoria, you also have pockets of residential to the southwest, Mockingbird Hill, as well as to the east as you head towards Eastgate.

So the neighborhood area planning process is divided into four phases.

In previous phases, we work with the community to identify values and priorities to develop a draft vision and set of priorities that should be building blocks of this draft plan.

We are currently where you can see the star.

We are at the refined phase.

We just kicked it off.

And so we developed draft plan policies for community to review.

And so I mentioned the beginning.

We are getting input from the community.

We are going to return to the planning commission in June to uh review draft plans, incorporate this feedback that we hear, and we intend to then go through the planning commission process and city council later in the fall.

So neighborhood plans are organized into five sections, and there are relevant policies for this board to consider that are found in all five sections.

Neighborhood identity policies focus on the physical and cultural elements that make and anchor these neighborhoods and make them unique.

Mixed use and neighborhood center policies focus on our mixed-use areas of the city where there is a kind of a density of services and retail and housing options.

So how to make those places attractive to be in, easy to get to, have unique offerings for the community.

Community gathering space policies focuses on the indoor and outdoor spaces that people go and gather and celebrate and meet others in their community.

Mobility and access policies focused on how people move around their neighborhood, whether it's through biking, walking, taking transit, driving all the kind of the range of different modes, and finally environmental policies focusing on enhancing the natural environmental qualities of both these neighborhoods.

So as I mentioned in the beginning, we've had extensive engagement to date.

So we did the discover phase towards the latter half of 2025, which really focused on identifying values, opportunities, and challenges.

And so the planning team engaged the community through events and platforms that reached residents, business owners, students, and many others in the community with an emphasis on those who are less likely to participate in this process.

And so activities included tabling, online and mailed questionnaires, workshops and walks with the community.

And a number of those activities were summarized in the engagement reports that were part of your agenda materials.

And then starting in January, we uh focused on developing a draft vision statement and set of urban design and policy priorities for community review.

And kind of the hallmark of this particular phase was an urban design workshop that uh had a lot of hands-on activities, family-friendly for all people of all ages, to identify public space improvements and provide feedback on our vision and policy priorities.

And to supplement this urban design workshop, we also visited a number of different community groups to do these types of workshop activities in their spaces.

So I like to include this collage just to really emphasize that this plan is shaped by community, and we heard from many different voices and many different perspectives in many different settings.

So we were in classrooms, apartment common spaces, and as you can see on the bottom, we are even at busy arterials, trying to get a sense of what these streets look and feel like and how we can look at improvements.

So I'll begin with what we learned from Eastgate and the Eastgate policies, and we'll kind of wrap up the section for discussion.

Um, so in terms of Eastgate, we learned that many community members value a safe, natural, diverse, and economically prosperous neighborhood.

And so some of the assets that people have called out include uh the neighborhood's mature trees, which largely define Eastgate's residential areas, streams and parks.

Parks is obviously another one of its key assets.

So community parks such as Eastgate Park and Robinswood are just outside the neighborhood area.

But there are also a number of smaller neighborhood parks like Lattowood, Sunset Mini Park, and one day Eastgate Commons that people really just enjoy walking and spending time in.

People appreciate in Eastgate, the convenience of being able to access transit, go to grocery stores, restaurants, and coffee shops in a neighborhood, but also being able to enjoy the outdoor recreation.

You can get to hikes, kind of within walking, driving distance from many places there.

And finally, people really care about their neighbors.

It's not uncommon to see people going on these values and assets, the team developed a vision statement of what Eastgate will look and feel like over the next 10 to 20 years.

And this vision statement focuses on opportunities for Eastgate's diverse communities to thrive and connect and really enhancing the neighborhood's diverse natural, recreational, and commercial assets and really creating hubs for the community on both sides of Interstate 90.

Interstate 90 is a barrier, and we recognize that there is opportunities to reconcile that barrier, but also to create vibrant hubs on both sides that serve the community.

And as you can see by the bolded statements on that vision statement, there's really an emphasis on parks and open space, especially since there are very few walkable spaces for the community to gather in Eastgate today.

So I'll briefly go through the kind of the kind of the greatest hits in terms of kind of what these policies intend to achieve, and we'll conclude with discussion.

So just starting off with the neighborhood identity section.

This set of policies really seek to enhance Eastgate's distinct qualities as a convenient, green, and welcoming neighborhood.

So the three policies here from a parks and open space standpoint is intended to achieve and foster diverse recreational and cultural amenities within the neighborhood, incorporate trees, which I said is a kind of a key value into the design of various public spaces, and to maintain the quality of trails, streetscapes, and natural areas that people really identify with in the neighborhood.

For community gathering space policies, I divided them up into kind of three kind of key areas.

One way that we can achieve the vision for Eastgate is through community partnerships.

So there's a suite of policies focused on coordinating with organizations, churches, schools, including Bellevue School District, as well as private development to increase opportunities for cultural and recreational programming.

There's another set of policies that are really focused on expanding and connecting Eastgate's parks and open space network.

So there are parks outside of Eastgate, there are parks inside of Eastgate, as well as an opportunity to add additional new neighborhood parks where there are gaps in park access today.

And in a few slides, we'll highlight a concept map that will illustrate where some of these gaps and opportunities might be.

And so, in support of the adopted Bellevue Airfield Park Master Plan and continued partnerships to help fund and design a new aquatic regional center, there are policies that really support how we continue to partner and make this park an integral part of the neighborhood area that really resonates with the community's needs and identity.

Policies in the mobility and access section really focus on improving local and regional connections to destinations around the neighborhood.

So as it relates to parks and open space, we have the mountains to sound greenway trail.

You can see a map there of how it extends from Seattle to communities to the east.

So you have green belts, streams, and different hiking trails.

I would say streams are probably one of the most prominent features of Eastgate.

You have Vassa Creek, Swibbs Creek, Sunset Creek, Richards Creek, East Creek, the list of creeks go on.

And so where appropriate, we really want to emphasize policies that support the integration of recreational and educational opportunities into streams.

Whether that's an opportunity to integrate educational signage, hiking trails, habitat viewing areas, ways to make that a more integral part of the neighborhood experience.

So, how do we apply these policies?

Um, we, um, as part of this neighborhood plan, one key element are concept maps.

And the intent of these concept maps are to take these policies and to begin locating and visualizing them within a neighborhood so community has a sense of where these potential improvements could be.

Um, and so community feedback has very much informed where these opportunities could be located.

And as the name suggests, these maps are conceptual.

So they're not meant to be a project list, but really help the city and partners identify where a project could be in the future, as well as support how we might implement them with a variety of partners.

So to kind of go through the uh kind of the different opportunities that we've explored through these maps.

There are things like um enhancing third places or gathering spaces with the community.

We try to map uh where environmental enhancements could be, where potential parks might be.

Um we simply have something called thresholds.

Um, that's kind of a way of saying what are visual markers that let you know that you're entering Eastgate or a special part of the neighborhood.

And then uh you'll see in the next map um just ways of improving streets, trails, and other connections so that we are creating a cohesive and connected parks and open space network.

I know that we've already thrown a lot at you already, but I just want to conclude with this map because this really is meant to highlight how these policies could be applied at a conceptual level and to really create a cohesive vision for community gathering spaces in Eastgate.

So to start with like those light green bubbles to the south, those are uh potentially um kind of concepts for new neighborhood parks.

This is informed by policies and community input that uh we've heard that there is a lack of walkable uh neighborhood park space south of I-90.

So, how do we begin to conceptually understand where those might be?

How we can serve those those residents and neighbors.

Uh the orange cogs that you see throughout the map represent destinations where people want to see more opportunities for indoor and outdoor gathering spaces.

So we've heard everything from existing community facilities like libraries to shopping centers like Sunset Village and Eastgate Plaza.

So there are opportunities for us to partner and understand how those can be stronger community assets.

Uh the purple um little circles, we call them thresholds.

Those are the visual markers that let people know you're entering the neighborhood.

So we identify those as opportunities, particularly at the edges, to let people know that you are entering a special place through things like signage, art, and other kind of visual identification.

And then tying these elements together are those blue dashed lines, which are ways through local streets and arterials to create that connected uh sense of um of walking, biking, be able to get through all these open spaces in a safe, pleasant, and convenient way.

And so uh I'll turn it back to you, Chair Klima.

Um, our ask kind of from from staff is to get direction on whether or not um these concepts provide adequate direction to inform service and investments to inform kind of the vision of Eastgate.

Um, so comments on both the policies as well as the concept maps will be helpful in terms of thinking how we might uh refine those before we take them to planning commission.

Thank you, Justin.

Uh, for this discussion, maybe we could aim because we're a bit on time, maybe aim for 7.15.

It's a kind of a goal.

So um does anyone want to share their initial comments on the eastgate?

Um vision.

Who wants to go first?

Go ahead, Elizabeth.

So, first of all, thank you so much for this.

And because I couldn't attend some of those events, thank you for sharing all of the pictures of the participation that we got.

That was great to see.

Um, I love the idea of thresholds.

I don't know it, I think that's what it was called.

I don't know that we've seen that before that I remembered it, but I think we've talked a lot about wayfinding, and I really appreciate that because it adds that element of beauty and connectedness to uh the wayfinding experience.

So I loved that.

And I also loved the emphasis on transportation between the parks because it is a little bit less walkable in certain parts of Eastgate.

So very much appreciated that.

That was really helpful guidance.

We could do a lot more with Sunset Village, like it would be fantastic to have something there.

So for me, um, just a comment that it seems very well done and really captures some of the opportunities in Eastgate, which is and Factoria, which are very beautiful in places.

I'm just really looking forward to hearing more about how that pans out, especially along the streets, so that it's you don't have to kind of look above the street to see all the natural beauty.

You know, I just focus on the trees when I'm walking in some of the neighborhoods, and wouldn't it be nice to be able to look around and see all of that?

Thank you.

Okay.

Who would like to go next?

Uh Eric.

Yeah, first a generalized question because it will probably simplify what I have to say.

Uh as part of the program, do we do SEPTED?

Uh crime prevention through environmental design.

Um, is there because a key element was public safety, and we saw the community's comments.

First thing on your list was safety.

Um, when I attended, uh, the only policy that even came close to touching on public safety was lighting, which fantastic.

That's a way.

Yeah.

Um, but I would like to make sure that we're meeting that community's need.

Obviously I have bias here.

Um, but um doing an actual study is part of that as it relates to environmental design to meet safety needs for whatever it is that's going in, is going to be critical because nothing else functions if we don't if people don't feel safe in that in environment.

Um, and I think we only slightly touched on it, so I would like to at least see that we explore it.

There may not be a need to do more, but it I would like to see that we at least explored the different avenues.

Um, the last project um that got brought before us, um, they talked about fencing to keep the balls from going into the street.

That's public safety.

Um, proper lighting, obviously, shelter that becomes public safety.

So um see seeing some intent behind uh the project revolving around the public safety aspect, um, is critical as we move forward with whatever project with the uh the community decides to move forward.

So, yeah, thank you for your comment.

And I'll say that as when we introduced the scope of the project to council when we launched in August of 2025, public safety was also a key consideration for how we develop policies and plans for Eastgate Infectoria.

And we recognize that public safety is a is a multi-pronged um approach, and so design only kind of accomplishes maybe so much of that equation.

A lot of it is also relying on our partnerships with different organizations with police and fire as well.

And so they all have kind of a place in that.

I would say that um public safety is a lens in which we are um looking at all of these different policies.

So I think there are opportunities to make that more explicit where possible in the plan as well.

And I neglected to say thank you.

Um I got a chance to talk with you that night.

Uh, you represented the city very well.

I got to watch you engage with others.

I thought the city did a really good job of making sure that the community was heard that night by the people that were there.

So thank you.

Appreciate that.

Thank you.

Um, I definitely want to echo what Eric was saying and you may maybe strengthen it just a little bit if possible, because what you said about maybe it's not necessary.

We don't know what kind of city we're gonna have in 10, 20 years.

Um, I imagine it's gonna be awesome.

But you you just if there are small changes that we can make now to um head off issues, whether it's police, whether it's fire, whether it's whatever, uh, whether it's balls rolling in the street, um, I would definitely love to get ahead of that.

Um another thing that I found interesting, um, transportation issues kind of jump out to me sometimes.

Uh page 15, I guess.

Uh, what would help you get around?

Um, I see something that mirrors the transportation department data, which is after cars, the way people get around the most is walking.

Yeah.

Um, far more than transit, far more than than bikes.

And it's uh interesting how that's borne out on this uh and factorias.

Uh what is it?

Poll question.

What would help residents get around more easily in this is in this neighborhood?

Yeah.

And that takes a couple different forms.

It could be kids trying to get down to the grocery store or the donut shop.

It could be um, I've got an 80-year-old um family member uh who lives in a very suburban neighborhood, not that dissimilar from uh Eastgate, and he fills his rings every morning by walking on his neighborhood streets.

And these um And we've got them all over the city, but Eastgate has some of them, these connecting paths that may only be 30, 40, 50 feet long, but the fact that you can get from one neighborhood, so you're not just walking around in a circle, but you can get into another neighborhood, walk around in that circle, or maybe if you string them enough of them together, maybe those 15-year-old kids can get to the donut shop.

I don't know.

Um, but um that kind of thing for walkability um would be incredible to see more of.

There's already some.

Um and then the last thing I was gonna say on the gathering space concept slide, you had three green sort of fuzzy circles uh representing kind of initial kind of darts thrown there saying, hey, it'd be great if we had parks here that would dovetail into the goal of uh closing the parks gap.

Um I would say the one on the left is probably the most important of those, just in terms of the neighborhood type and the topology.

I mean, you're gonna get a lot more people walking that third of a mile or more to that park based on the general flatness than you will on the two off to the right.

Um just a whole lot of uphill downhill over there.

But uh other than that, great presentation.

Love to see it.

Thank you.

And I actually want to add a comment that came up during the open house regarding this map because I think it would benefit um the board members here.

So I think another kind of neighborhood park opportunity that came up was actually north of uh what used to be the Eastgate elementary school, now will be uh big picture school.

I think it resonates with a couple comments we heard already about um with um schools closing or not schools closing, but schools kind of um no longer having access to to playgrounds like the um the loss of Eastgate Elementary School, I think was a pretty big hit for the community because a lot of folks lost access to playgrounds, for example.

So I think um having stronger policy and concept support for having more of those neighborhood scale parks south of Eastgate, I think will be incredibly valuable for achieving the vision there.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Want to go next, Michelle?

Thank you so much for the presentation.

Um I have a couple questions.

Paul covered covered one on the on the green.

I I maybe a question for staff though to follow up on that.

Ultimately, like what are our opportunities in those kind of highlighted spaces, right?

Like I know that we have some big limitations in availability and it was a great effort just to get Eastgate Commons put together right in the middle of a neighborhood.

Um so I'd love to hear more about, you know, it doesn't have to come today, but in future, like is that feasible to develop and clicking refresh on Redfin, right?

Yeah.

Is that is that really it?

Well, not exactly.

But with Eastgate Commons, that's uh a little bit of what happened there.

Um but we look for opportunities.

I would say, you know, we're looking out 20 years with these um neighborhood area plans.

So not, so these are potential locations.

Not necessarily that we will fill all of them, but um it's where we might see opportunity.

For instance, a couple are sort of aligned along streams or larger parcels where there may be more opportunity if properties are turning over, for instance.

Um, so there's a lot of variables that go into it, but a lot of it is willing landowners.

A lot of it comes down to willing landowners.

Yeah.

Makes sense.

Uh my second question again, uh willing landowners, I guess is the theme, but um one of the big policy points for Eastgate was the gathering place and Eastgate Plaza, um, which again is a huge parking lot, majority of the time.

I feel like it's your welcome to Eastgate neighborhood as the Eastgate Plaza.

Um, you know, they're it's getting better.

I feel like a lot of neighbor like the facility is, you know, the the locales are great.

Um, but definitely similar to factory, right?

A lot of parking space and kind of dead space.

So I know typically that would require us to, you know, develop some partnerships with, you know, the actual developers or the proprietors of of those areas.

And I didn't really see a policy to that effect.

I felt like I saw one about partnering with Bellevue, partnering with um, sorry if I I was looking at them before, but specifically who do we partner with to make this happen in Eastgate Plaza.

Specifically, I feel like we need to create or be adamant about having these partnerships.

No, no, no idea how we do this otherwise, or we create our our markers or get our our parts in our canopy in these areas otherwise, right?

Like we would definitely need their agreement.

So I'm not sure what the zoning is or you know the the current situation with that.

I was I'm gonna take a look, but yeah, love to figure out what to do there.

Yeah, thank you, Vice Chair.

And I think I think as Ryan had mentioned as a kind of like a 20-year plan, we also recognize that these policies kind of have to endure kind of other uh types of expected changes in the neighborhood.

I think we've heard I think a earlier this session about HOMA housing opportunities and mixed use areas.

And that is one of the kind of the recent um uh land use code amendments that's looking to introduce uh more mixed-use opportunity for what we call neighborhoods and mixed use centers in across the city, but they are pertinent to East Gate and Factoria.

So again, policies can also help support kind of as we look at these areas potentially redeveloping in the future, how we might explore partnerships that way or explore um potential uh code updates in the future to kind of realize those opportunities.

Yeah, and I know this is going to the planning commission, so very important point on them helping make some code updates to to make this a possibility.

But I faith-based organizations was the other one that we made a policy recommendation to create partnerships, which is especially important in Eastgate because it is filled with faith-based organizations.

I think I don't know if you open up the map, uh, I can recall at least three or four right around just that intersection alone.

And they're pretty big campuses, some of them are isolated as well.

I I don't I don't know what opportunities we've engaged with them so far, but I'd love to see us explore that further.

And I don't know if that's limiting, right?

Because obviously a very particular type of organization.

I think the they have other programs that they partner with with the city too.

So um, but would love to know more.

Thank you.

Keith, you have a comment?

Sure.

Sure.

Thank you.

Thank you for the presentation.

Um my question is more of I guess process for procedure.

So um since we're talking about neighborhoods evolving over time, 10, 20 years, things will change, right?

Uh, do the uh how are these policies once they're adopted?

How are how often do we uh review these policies and and how do we go about amending these policies?

Great question.

So the intent of the great neighborhoods program was to essentially go through all of those 16 neighborhood areas.

So if we do two neighborhoods per cycle, that would be about eight to ten years.

That's also aligned with when we uh update our comprehensive plan.

So I think what's nice is that as we look at these neighborhood area plan updates, we're also aligning the aligning them with updated citywide vision and policies as well.

So the intent is for um us to revisit these uh um these plans um likely kind of on a decade cycle.

Um, and that again that kind of comes down to making sure that these policies are evergreen so that um we're still meeting the vision as things change, things develop over the next 10 to 20 years.

Got it.

And that's a if uh certain um policies are adopted now, but they are, you know, a couple years down the road is updated.

Let's say uh individuals or groups they want to petition for changes.

How do they go about doing this?

Certainly, so um maybe not specific to like great neighborhoods, um, but um uh property owners have the opportunity to um um apply for land use changes to update the future land use map.

And so the future land use map is the kind of the city's blueprint for like the type and scale of development we want to see in the city.

So they have an opportunity to apply for that and um go through the process to get that updated and that uh kind of impacts kind of potential future uses for that site.

Um kind of in terms of like other um mechanisms, like these are broader neighborhood area plans, but there might be opportunities to focus on specific areas as the need arises.

One example that I could think of is um is like uh high capacity transit.

There's been a lot of conversations around sound transit and what their plans are along the I-90 corridor, and so kind of depending on the work program, there might be opportunities to also uh revisit these plans in the future to think about kind of those change conditions like light rail service or whatever might might come to these neighborhoods.

Thank you.

Thank you, Steve.

And then I have one comment.

Um thank you so much for all these policies.

Um my one comment is about um incorporating like history into the identity of the neighborhood.

Um I think we had a discussion back where I wasn't sure where the name Eastgate came from, and I don't think there's a Westgate, so like knowing that, and then I'm also bringing this up for a policy.

SEG N28 for the development of Airfield Park as a community park, reflective of neighborhood identity and programming needs.

I was curious if maybe we could also mention history there.

I ran into someone who asked if Airfield Park will be a place where you could ride fly drones or if there will be a plane there.

And so I think it would be really nice to have some kind of history touch at Airfield Park as well.

I think it's a great comment.

And actually what is a nice fun fact is if you're driving across I-90 on 150th, there are these polls on either side of 150th that are actually hearkening back to the uh airfield parks days as an airfield, actually.

So there's already kind of a nod to that history there, but to your point, I think history is I think an incredibly important part of uh of that neighborhood.

Yeah, are we keeping the polls?

I I presume so.

The plan isn't doing anything about about taking up the polls.

Okay, yeah.

Thank you.

That was my comment, uh, a nod to the history of the area.

Great.

Thank you.

Um it looks like we're we're we're good on time um to move on to the factoria one.

I think there's a lot of shared themes that I think are between East Gate and Factoria, so maybe some of these will be echoed as well.

So I think with that, am I good to proceed?

Yeah, all right.

So again, like Factoria kind of right next door, similar themes, but also some very different ones as well.

So uh when we engaged uh community members around kind of what they value for Factoria, safety has come up again, but there are also uh themes around diversity, accessibility, and affordability.

Um some of the neighborhood assets that were recognized.

It's it's diverse and international retail options.

Um the comment of Factoria being Bellevue's next international district has has come up quite a bit.

And people across the city, the east side and across the lake really enjoy the diverse cuisines and shops that Factoria has to offer.

Um people also really value the neighborhood's convenience, uh, has many places to work, shop, eat, access services.

So most people can meet their daily needs right in Factoria if they so choose.

Um also has great access to highways as well as the mountains of sound trail.

So a pivotal place for people to access, whether they're driving, taking transit, walking, or biking.

And so kind of noting that kind of that international emphasis that we hear, um, Factoria's vision statement really focuses on fostering that global, vibrant and walkable residential commercial community that brings together people, brings together new housing and retail opportunities.

Um, so as you can kind of see in the areas bolded and in green there, again, focus on gathering spaces that bring people together and really an emphasis on bringing parks and open space in a place that actually has no um uh parks and open space today.

So, in terms of uh policies, um, gatherings gathering space policies in Factoria, similar to Eastgate, focuses on those unique partnerships for developing gathering spaces.

Um, there are uh private properties such as Factoria Mall that people use as gathering today that I think there are opportunities to strengthen through partnerships with their property owner through opportunities for cultural programming.

I think we already have a couple city events that happen in Factoria Mall throughout the year.

Um there's also a couple uh Bellevue School District properties.

Um there's uh Newport High School.

There's also uh the former Puesa del Sol site just up the hill that are also opportunities for us to think about what our um kind of opportunities to collaborate with Belview School District looks like.

Um and there are also opportunities for new neighborhood parks um in factoria as well, given that there are none of that scale today.

Um policies around the environment in Factoria focuses on um enhancing Factoria's access to nature and greenery, whether it's kind of providing stronger connections to uh natural spaces that are just outside Factoria, such as Cole Creek to the south and um Sunset Ravine to the east, or prioritizing introducing greenery, new tree canopy as part of future development.

There's a lot of hardscape today, so really thinking about how to kind of break up the hardscape and really uh work with development to introduce those sustainable and natural elements, I think will be pretty key.

Um, I think it's pretty self-evident when you're out there, but Factoria has a very low tree canopy compared to other parts of the city.

So these open space investments can also help bolster um that uh that need and opportunity.

Um and I'll kind of cluster these uh policies together because these are really the policies that really make for a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood.

So thinking about uh having well-maintained streets and trails that invite people to feel comfortable walking and biking and taking transit to their destinations, having actively programmed spaces and places for people to meet and uh bond, and then figure out ways of really helping Factoria's international population access important destinations and make them feel welcome in the community.

So we have an international community there in terms of its businesses, uh, international employee committee, uh not employee um community with kind of T-Mobile and a number of other offices there.

So really emphasizing how to kind of recognize that inclusivity in terms of signage, in terms of open space design, and in terms of just kind of how we uh foster community connections.

And then to kind of take that similar concept map exercise for Eastgate and to apply it for Factoria.

Um, some of the moves that we are looking at in terms of creating that cohesive open space and gathering space network includes um thinking about kind of parks throughout Factoria.

So conceptually looking at opportunities on both sides of Factoria.

Um, we know that today Factoria and Col Creek Parkway are pretty major barriers to access, a lot of a lot of traffic congestion, um, sidewalks that maybe are not as wide as they should be.

So really thinking about ways of really bridging um these different kind of disparate parts of the neighborhood together.

Um the orange cogs on the map represent spaces that people gather in the neighborhood today, such as Factoria Mall, Newport High School, um, uh a number of different kind of faith-based properties as well.

So thinking about how we can enhance our partnerships with those places, and finally thinking of opportunities to mark the identity of Factoria as people enter the neighborhood.

So people are entering the neighborhood through the through the East Trail, through the mountains to sound, as well as uh through kind of the adjacent highways and neighborhoods, so thinking about how we can really recognize Factoria through those threshold moments as well.

So I know that was a lot shorter because there were less policies there, but again, equally as valuable into ensuring that we are uh kind of achieving the desired parks recreational open space investments to support Factoria's vision for gathering space as well.

So I will turn it over to you, Chair Klima again.

Oh, thank you, Justin.

All right, who would like to make a comment about the Factoria policies?

Okay.

Okay, go to Paul.

So, um I basically only lived in two areas in Bellevue, and one of them was Factoria.

So I lived and worked there from 97 till 2001.

And different now.

Um but it's a very, very different neighborhood than Eastgate in just about every way.

Um they're both technically growth corridors.

Um, but Factoria is pretty much just a growth corridor, whereas Eastgate is much more of a sprawling sort of, it's got just a lot of different types of uh cityscapes or suburban scapes in it.

And so when it comes to how do you walk around the area, how do you bike around the area, where do you put parks around the area, it's it's it's it's more like downtown.

Even even more so, I think, than uh Bell Red in a way.

Um the kind of park we're looking at in Bell Red, it's gonna be really hard to put in Factoria.

Um so we do have a parking lot.

Um, I say we, the private owner of Factoria Square Mall has a parking lot.

Um, whether or not there could be development incentives to to create something interesting there, I don't know.

But um I think the assuming the city stays in the trajectory it does, and that Factoria's as a neighborhood stays on the trajectory it does, it's going to be a lot more dense at some point.

Um I know that there has been a vision of Factoria Square Mall to look a little bit more like what we see at Alderwood in terms of building housing and underground parking and just as essentially densifying what's already a commercial area.

There have been a few failed attempts at that.

I don't know when that's finally going to take root, but um I hope that we are keeping an eye on that in terms of um whatever kind of park build-out and trail build-out that we land on that it takes into account that there could be two, three, four X density there in 20 years.

And so what that looks like specifically, um, I don't know.

It's it's uh it just strikes me a lot more like a hub and spoke type situation as opposed to a more um I don't like a mesh network that we might have down out in East Eastgate Moore, and I know this, I know what's happening at crossroads and what has been happening at crossroads for decades, this kind of community gathering space happening in a private uh um private property is there's a lot so much of that is organic, it's not you can necessarily push on that and make it happen.

Um, but I definitely I mean, if there's anything that we can think to do to move Factoria Square Mall in that direction, that would certainly resolve a number of the uh concerns or the hopes that uh the feedback that you uh showed us um yeah, elaborated.

So anyhow, um very very interesting though, and uh looking forward to Factoria kind of getting that taking that next step towards what we've talked about for a long time in terms of trail screen space and and anything else.

So thank you.

Thank you, Paul.

Who would like to go next?

Elizabeth?

I would just like to say plus one to what Paul said.

I mean, if you spent time in crossroads, you know that it's vibrant, it's full almost every day.

It's hard to get a table, people are in every single shop, plus there's a park, there's a community center, there's a skate park, there's a youth theater.

Um, and all of those benefit everybody, including the owners of the mall and all the residents who live nearby.

Wouldn't it be great if we could work with folks in Factoria to do the same thing?

Because I also go to Factoria.

I mean, they have a target.

How can they have the target?

And like if you go to Factoria Mall, you know that they just do not have the foot traffic.

Like, no, there's probably more people in like half the size in crossroads at any given time than there are in factoria.

I don't know, I'd have to measure, but it's it's drastic.

And so um that is I think really important to whatever happens in Factoria, and to add on to that the look and feel as one enters Factoria from the rest of Bellevue is I wouldn't say dismal, it's very busy, but it's very concrete.

And part of that's unavoidable with T-Mobile, but a lot of it does have to do with the screen streetscapes.

And so I was really glad you brought up those streetscapes because just making that single, I think we all you all know what I'm talking about.

Like that one rogue where there's all the Bactoria Boulevard, yes.

If we that streetscape were more green and inviting for people and cyclists and the people who work there would be fantastic.

So really looking forward to seeing what we can do there.

But I noticed that you had that green space, like a public, potentially a park um right by the mall.

And I think along that boulevard would make a big difference.

Thank you.

Elizabeth, uh Eric.

Yeah, I concur with all those comments.

I frequent Factoria frequently um uh just because I that's where I live.

And uh all the comments resonate with me because there is no place when we want to go to the parks or trails that you've heard me mention we're going out of Factoria to do it.

So I selfishly have uh am invested in have where this goes.

Um and then my comments uh regarding public safety apply here as well.

So I I want to make sure that whatever we decide to do, it's a welcoming inviting place that people feel safe.

Thank you.

Steve?

So um can you turn to the slide um relating to the pol uh I guess walkability and um here?

Yeah, another one.

Oh, more further up, uh, I guess the the state that that uh we are thinking of adopting vision, vision.

Yeah, so um one of the things that one of the keyboard here is a walkable pedestrian oriented design um and complemented by stroll access to transit and regional transit.

So I'm just thinking like every time I go there, I'm in my car.

Um, and so when I'm driving on Factorial boulevard, yeah, I see I I see um cars, and I guess it one one of the things I'm um that if we put up a mission statement like that where it's walkable, right?

Is that too much emphasis on walkability and pedestrian?

Um, because that area is, and I go in there to grab stuff and I drive out.

Um so I'm not sure what the people who are in those neighborhoods are thinking in terms of okay, do they really want a walkability?

You know, do they want us to adopt something, a visa vision statement that says, hey, we want it to be very walkable.

That's a great question.

And I think it comes down to Factoria kind of serving many different types of people.

There are people who live in res in kind of residential areas kind of outside of Factoria Boulevard that walk to access grocery stores or restaurants.

There's also a huge student population in Newport High School.

Um, if you're go if you go out there during lunchtime, you have students walking down Factoria Boulevard to to go to TNT and other other restaurants and grocery stores.

So I think there is a benefit to walkability.

I think part of it is understanding that balance of how we balance the needs of different modes um in factoria and recognizing that there is also going to be a potential future state where um high capacity transit will also influence how people move around factoria as well.

Um it's also kind of interesting that South Bellevue station is close to Factoria, but it's also very difficult for people to get there today.

So I think that's all kind of part of the calculus as to kind of its walkability and also these other aspects of of getting around.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah, so I I guess that sentence I would, you know, maybe balance it out a little bit more.

Um, at least from my perspective.

Yeah, maybe um I I would like to stress a little bit more on public transportation and and uh I know it's there, but you know, it's uh I I guess it's not bolded in green.

Gotcha.

It was only bolding green because I was trying to focus on the open space ones, but yes, it yeah, it will it will be unbolded in the final statement.

I got it.

Thank you.

Thanks.

No, thank you for your comment.

Uh any other comment.

Oh, okay.

And then uh mine is another nod to history, the name Factoria.

Was it full of factories for Boer?

Oh, supposed to be maybe.

You can watch a Valley TV history minute that I did probably 15 minutes ago that says how a factoria got its name.

Oh, okay.

So, it's supposed to be a factory.

All right.

So I have to watch.

Okay, that's good.

Oh, what were you gonna say?

Did you know that there is a Southgate grocery store factorium?

A South what?

South Gate.

Oh, no.

It's like a Korean uh mini mart.

It sells Korean products, but it's called Southgate.

Okay.

And so now we have an East Gate.

And we need a West Gate and then a North Gate.

South gate.

Oh, okay.

Um, and yes, uh the the focus on uh pedestrian safety.

I'm really excited about that.

I do like sometimes I'll drive it's kind of I feel weird, like, oh let's we watched a movie at the AMC and then drove across the street to eat dinner and I felt a little silly doing that.

But yeah, I look forward to uh uh all the work you guys are doing to help increase pedestrian safety as a focus for this area.

Thank you, Chair Klimba.

And I'll maybe add just to the history point for one uh one other item is that in our plans, it's not just policies, it's also narrative.

And so we're as part of the plan, we also are uh explaining a little bit more about like the history of both these neighborhoods, so that hopefully will build the through line in terms of here's some of the kind of the historical context for these neighborhoods, and when we talk about a history policy or how that applies into the built environment, I think hopefully that'll make it clear how that can be expressed.

So thank you.

Sounds exciting.

All right.

Uh any final questions for Justin?

Well, I thank you for your time.

I just want to just conclude.

Oh, no.

I want to just kind of emphasize that what we heard tonight is super valuable.

Uh what we'll do is we take back this feedback we hear from boards of commissions.

We prepare an engagement report that we share with planning commission after study session.

So we'll we'll capture that there as well as part of our agenda memo and presentation.

So rest assured the feedback that we hear tonight will be a part of the inputs that planning commission will consider when they provide uh staff with direction.

So thank you so much for your time tonight.

Oh, awesome.

Thank you for all your work, Justin, and Kira presenting this tonight.

Okay.

Um next item on the agenda.

Uh we're going to discuss naming recommendations for the park at Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast.

Um our presenters tonight are Betsy Anderson, senior planner of the Parks and Community Services Department, and Susan Ula, sorry, ELUP, Capital Project Coordinator of the Parks and Community Services Department.

Thank you for joining us tonight.

Thank you, Chair Klima and Vice Chair Valverde and board members.

It's wonderful to be here with you this evening.

My name's Betsy Anderson and joined by Susan, and we're excited to be sharing some information with the board about a relatively new park in Bellevue's park system, and also we'll be seeking the board's recommendation for a name for the park.

As part of this evening's presentation, we're also going to be providing some background information about how the park came to be in the system, as well as a partnership that the city has been undertaking with the organization ESAM Bellevue, and you heard a little bit about that from Council Member Breyer's report as well as oral communication.

ESAM Bellevue is devoted to commemorating Japanese American heritage here in the city.

So to that end, this evening's presentation is in two parts.

So the first part of the agenda will be focused on that background information and context that the board needs to inform deliberation about the name, and then the second half of the meeting will be focused on an overview of the naming process with some time for the board to review the name options for the park itself.

So in terms of the park site, you can see that the park in question is located at the corner of Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast.

And so just to orient everyone, we're actually just to the north of the East Main Station on the South Tunnel Portal.

So there we are with our cardinal directions kind of covering the board.

The park itself is actually built over the Sound Transit Tunnel that leads into downtown.

It's about 1.75 acres, and the land for the park was acquired by Sound Transit as part of the East Link light rail line, so the line two now, and actually was dedicated to the city, constructed by Sound Transit and dedicated to the city in 2024 as part of Sound Transit's park mitigation plan.

So as you might imagine, it's rather unusual for us to acquire an already constructed park.

And so that's why we've got a park that exists today that doesn't yet have a name.

A few other details about the park that are helpful to point out.

As you may notice, it's actually located along the Lake to Lake Trail.

So it's on Main Street, and it's not too far from the East Trail, which is cut off on the aerial photo, but it's just on the other side of 405.

Also in the future, there will be a rapid ride K-line stop just on the north edge of the park.

So very central, well served by transit.

And the pathway that you can see provides a nice connection through the site for the neighborhoods that are nearby.

Here are some photos of for folks who haven't been there yet.

Um you can see that it's it's a very nice respite from the street traffic.

It provides expansive territorial views over toward Wilburton.

So these are looking, the main photos looking to the east.

And then on a clear day, there's actually a very nice view of Mount Rainier to the south from the park.

This photo also shows there's a generous winding accessible path through the site that it is quite sloped, so it does embrace a kind of a central lawn gathering area.

And you can see this is a this is an overview perspective, but this shows what's on the ground out there now for those who haven't been out there, but you can see that central um that central pathway and that gathering area in the middle of the park.

So another really important piece of information for the board as you consider um potential park names is the city's partnership with ESON Bellevue, and would love to provide a little bit of background information for that for you all to know about as well.

Um, the partnership, ESAM Bellevue as an organization formed around the same time that the two line was being constructed, with um, as as Amy noted, a mission to commemorate Japanese American heritage here in Bellevue.

And since about 2018, city staff in both the Arts Program and parks and community Services have worked with ESAM Bellevue to evaluate and identify potential sites for a primary Japanese-American commemoration here in the city.

And beginning in that 2018 period, there was a site committee that was formed that looked around at a number of different locations throughout Bellevue and through that process identified a short list of potential parks.

And actually, this park site was on them.

We didn't, we the park wasn't finished yet, but we knew it was happening.

And it was identified as a suitable location because it's in a very central area.

It's obviously quite visible, it's well served by different types of transportation, and it's also close to the site of a number of different historical Japanese-American farms.

Fast forward from around 2018-19 to 2023, Council and the 23-24 mid-biennium budget update allocated funding to parks and community services to work with ESOM Bellevue on a feasibility analysis for the project and also on an early concept design with the idea that that might serve as seed money that ESON Bellevue could potentially use for private fundraising.

And so that concept design feasibility was conducted and completed in 2024 and confirmed the site was feasible.

The concept design itself was completed in 2025, so just in December this past year.

And so the image that you see here is is taken from that.

And you can see we're looking, um, we're looking down on the park from above, so just straight from above, and you can see that central pathway is still there, the plantings are still there.

The kind of biggest move is a plaza that's located in that central gathering area that illustrates a map of Bellevue.

So the two lakes are shown on either side, and it also illustrates the location of the historical Japanese-American family farms that were here, just to show the extent of those before World War II, before the community was forcibly relocated to incarceration camps.

North of the north of that plaza area, you can see there's it's just a white circle.

That's a placeholder for a shelter structure that would be designed later as part of the design process.

But the idea is to provide protection from the elements.

Also, an area that could be used for heritage display or potentially artistic elements to really help tell this story.

You'll see some other placeholders labeled on that slide.

Those are because the slights site is sloped, those are intended to inspire people to walk up through the park and learn about this really important part of Bellevue's history.

So again, those might have artistic elements, they might have interpretation.

As Council Member Breyer mentioned, we're not sure if this is going to fall more in the art camp or the interpretation camp that will be determined during design, and we can we can answer any other questions about that.

One other thing to note about this is in terms of the project scale, it's similar to a large scale art installation or a playground addition to an existing park.

So you can see that the element of the pathway is still there, the gathering areas are still there, and we're really adding this new program element that's intended to instill a sense of reflection and provide education.

Here's a view from within that plaza area itself.

The water illustrated is not literal water, it's it would either be etched or it would be integrated colors so that that space can be used by people.

In terms of the actual project delivery, Esan Bellevue as part of their mission has committed to fundraising for design and construction for the project.

So the city is working with ESON Bellevue on a memorandum of understanding to define those fundraising targets and roles and responsibilities for that work.

And for those that are familiar with the Inspiration Playground Project at Downtown Park, probably everyone, but the Bellevue Rotary partnership that built that is quite similar to the structure that we're proposing here.

And so this is this sums up my my background summary for you all, and I'm going to hand the floor over to Susan who will describe the naming process for the new park has been conducted along apparel track, but separately from the commemoration project.

Public outreach for the naming process began back in spring of 2025.

And as is typical, began with a community survey.

The survey was translated into the six most common spoken languages within a one-third mile of the park and was promoted via the project webpage, neighborhood news article, emails to nearby neighborhood associations, social media posts, and yard signs.

In addition, a postcard indicating our website and survey was mailed to all residents and businesses within a one-third mile of the park.

As a reminder for the board, this slide provides an overview of the city's process for selecting new park names.

As you can see in the right hand corner is a copy or a photo of the yard sign that we have with a QR code for people to scan so they can indicate or propose a new park name.

During the community outreach phase, staff received over 258 unique names from 157 respondents.

These names were screened against the criteria in the city's naming policy, resulting in a short list of about 30 options.

Here is a summary of the council resolution 10151, which establishes the city's naming policy for parks and recreation facilities.

The board has reviewed this recently as well as in support of other park naming efforts.

As you see here, the resolution identifies four broad categories that park and park facility names should fall within, and it also provides an overarching requirement that the city consider how potential name meets the other city priorities, including diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The board may also remember the slide from the October meeting when staff shared an inventory of Bellevue's named parks, open spaces, and then facilities, of which there are nearly 100.

These are grouped into six broad categories and illustrate the more than that more than a third of the Bellevue's park names are naturalistic and more than a quarter are place-based or refer to their location.

This slide shows that we're doing a great job meeting the first two council criteria with room for improvement in the other two categories.

The department has recently developed additional implementation guidelines for park naming to support the park board and staff.

These guidelines were shared with the board during last October's meeting and have been used to narrow the possible list of park names to nine options for board consideration.

Staff have also conducted research to inform the list of potential names for board consideration.

So the nine options that are listed here.

Once the board identifies and recommends a name for the park, the name will be presented to the city council who will make the final naming decision, similar to other naming processes.

Thank you for your opportunity to present this morning or this evening.

I'm sorry.

And we are happy to answer any questions that may assist with your deliberation.

Thank you for the presentation, Betsy and Susan.

Did you have something that you have?

No.

Oh, sorry.

I must have mixed it up.

Okay.

So now we'll turn it over to board discussion.

We estimate this shouldn't take more than half an hour.

So 820 is kind of our goal.

Before anyone shares their naming preference, let's start off with general questions on the park or the process.

So does anyone have any questions about the park or process?

Eric.

Yeah.

So some of the names that are offered up here.

I can't tell if this is a suggestion from the city or these are suggestions from the community members.

Based on the last naming structure we did, my preference is to give a lot of serious consideration to the voice of the community.

And so I'd be interested if that data is available.

If there's some numbers we can throw at the like, yes, these were all of these names were come came up with by the community and/or half of the people wanted this specific name, but we couldn't use it because it doesn't meet the criteria, you know.

Knowing what the community wanted would be beneficial, at least for me, in trying to make a recommendation to council.

Speak to that generally, you know, related to this list.

So these names were generated from the community list, and the main street park name and variations of it was by far the most popular.

Um, off the top of my head, you know, maybe a tenth of the suggestions were somehow related to the park's location on Main Street.

Um, and so we did take into account just the frequency of the names.

Thank you.

Um, if that helps.

And I think you know, we can certainly, you know, pull together more data, you know, and detailed data about the number of suggestions.

Thank you.

All right, does anyone have any additional questions related to that?

Um go ahead, Steve.

Just a con for me.

Um refresh my memory.

Um the the organization eSun Bellevue.

Uh they are, they are agreeing to fundraise or or okay.

And so do they have a preference on our uh on a certain name?

ESAM Bellevue, like other community members have the chance to participate in the open naming survey, so most likely many of the suggestions you know that were contributed would have been contributed from them in addition to you know community members' suggestions.

And so in terms of a specific um a specific name suggestion, I can't speak on behalf of the organization.

Um I think that, you know, I think the goal would be not to have a name that conflicts with the commemoration project, but you know, in terms of choices that are made, you know, obviously it's within the board's purview to decide there.

Did I miss anything, Susan?

Are there questions about the process?

Okay.

Um so let's open it up for anyone to share their current preference between the naming options.

So does anyone have like a preference they'd like to share?

Oh, go ahead.

Awesome, just to be the first.

Um I think on my side, again, we're we're commemorating the history of Japanese Americans in Bellevue.

It's part of the theme of what we're putting together here.

It sounds like our options are either either Isan or Nikkei or just something very generic.

Um I would not prefer one of the generic options because I feel like then it wouldn't tie very well to the theme.

Um, so I'm more leaning towards ASON or Nikkei Park.

Not necessarily the legacy or heritage park.

I feel like those are two again, generic or just translations of the definition of the word isan.

So I'll start there.

Anyone else would like to share?

Elizabeth?

Sure.

So first of all, thank you so much for providing all of the background information on the different categories.

That was very helpful.

I agreeing with Michelle.

I um I don't think we should choose a generic name.

There's so many re near view parks, um, mountain view, cascade view.

Yes, it's beautiful, but that's not a um a unique or meaningful name, I believe, even to that community because we have a lot of parks also that have re-near view.

Um I want to speak to the potential name Isan Park.

I I personally prefer that name.

I think the history of Japanese Americans in Bellevue is the history of Bellevue.

Um I'm a mixed race person.

There's no one thing that I'm gonna say, oh, that has to be my history, the history of every single group, the Norwegians, the Swedes, everybody who lives here is my history.

So it's important to me that we that I can see that history everywhere that my kids can see that history.

And so I I do really think it's important to uh incorporate that in this particular park's name, not just for one group, but for everybody.

And yeah, already for the points that Michelle raised.

Legacy heritage, um are already uh they're not uh what's the right word?

They're not very specific names.

They don't tell us what heritage, what legacy.

Um, I think my second choice would probably be um Bellevue Nikkei Park, just because the Bellevue Japanese American Legacy Park is a very long name.

Um, and I think people would most likely shorten it, and it would be great if the shortening that people had available to them is the name that represented the historical um the historical events and and people's stories that we're trying to recognize.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Who would like to go next?

Eric.

Uh I concur with the other board members.

Um I think the Bellevue Japanese American Legacy Park is a fancier generic name that's too long.

Um and I I lean towards Isan Park 2.

The only thing I would caution with that if I if I'm voting right now now, I would say Isan Park, but I give a cautionary.

Uh I have a pet peeve about naming parks after organ or not parks, but anything after an organization.

You know, key bank or the it it doesn't sit what would be with the exception of the culture that this group brings to this thought process.

Um I think that exemplifies exactly what we're trying to do with what this group is exemplifies exactly what we're trying to do with this, and because of that, I would encourage the board to strongly consider Isan Park.

Thanks, Eric.

I could uh just jump in quick just to sort of underline that point.

There is no intention of the park being honorific to the organization.

It's um it is the the word and the meaning of the word.

I think both the organization selected that word for the same reasons that the board's talking about.

That's how I took it.

I just wanted to get it out in the open so there's no misconstruction.

So I appreciate the clarification.

Thank you.

Uh Paul.

I wish I knew Japanese, um, because inheritance and legacy are different things.

Um Legacy is a great name, um, especially when it's rendered in the language of the people dispossessed, because that tells the story in one word that we're trying to tell.

Um, and it links it to the design of the park, which is already kind of in its nascent stages.

So um inheritance is actually not so good because it's kind of literally not the inheritance of the people who are dispossessed.

But um, I'm going to take it on faith that the consideration has been given by those suggesting this name that it is an appropriate um an appropriate thing to uh to label the park as.

Um so I am 98% on board with it.

Um as the other three.

Yes.

Translate.

Instead of translates, yes.

Okay.

Legacy translates to Isan, and actually here it says inheritance is case show.

So it doesn't comes with the primary according to Google anyway.

Okay.

I mean, language is complex, but yeah, I understand.

We can't say it's 90.

Um, no, no, no, I'm 100% on board name wise.

Um, now that that's resolved.

It's just uh the the remaining percentages are, and I think it's not an issue, but I want to at least bring it up that we have a Japanese American commemoration um at Wilburton.

Uh light rail stop.

And this is not a light rail stop technically, but it it kind of is.

And so the wayfinding aspect of this, I want to make sure.

Um, and I don't think it's an issue.

I just it was something I was thinking about as I was reading over these documents.

Is there anyone who's gonna get off at the wrong stop because of oh, I'm getting off at the Japanese American commemoration stop?

I don't think so.

But I would just bring it up.

Oh, go ahead.

Um, I mean it's it's a fair thought.

We've talked a lot about the confusion involved in generic names or like names that exist in multiple places.

I think in this case, ESON would be more distinctive than um naming it Bellevue Japanese American Legacy Park, because that immediately calls to mind that one particular stop versus thinking, okay, ESAN Park, where is that?

I need to look it up.

Oh, that's a memorial.

So that's my two cents.

I think you're right.

Yeah.

So yeah, I'd I I joined the previous uh three speakers.

Okay, thanks, Paul.

Steve?

Um I uh it my preference uh will is also similar to all the um it but one concern that I do have about ESM park is um I guess is confusion, right?

But I I guess when the design of the park is going in, there will be historical context that explains it.

Um but is there is there still opportunity to maybe add certain things like Isan Memorial Park or or something like that that kind of stresses that this is a this is not just the park.

It's to uh present something that people might not know.

Um so that's that's kind of my feedback.

And in terms of the other ones, Bellevue, yeah, Bellevue Japanese American Legacy Park, that's really long, Bell V Niki Park.

I'll just thinking about the stock that's immediately Mountain View.

I'm thinking of California.

Main Street Park, I'm thinking like uh my office is is close to Main Street on the other side of the so um so those are my comments.

Thanks.

Um one idea to offer related to that question of you know, do we say Isan Memorial Park?

Um, one of the things we've talked about in the naming guidelines, and the board may remember is that if we you know choose to use a non-English name, we could also provide, you know, what that definition is in English, also the original alphabet as well.

So that might be ways, you know, a way to consider interpreting that aspect of it.

Um for Steve's question about adding memorial, is it too late at this point or what would or sorry, just checking in on that part of Steve's question.

One piece of background information there, just related to the ESON group's name for their project is they've deliberately opted not to choose the word memorial because it's it's past facing instead of also including the future.

I think that's their interest in legacy as a term.

I'm speaking on behalf of them.

So and that's their project.

It's distinct from the name of the park, but it's another piece of context for the board.

I always think when we have words in different languages concatenated like that.

It always sounds strange if you say it out.

Translated and somehow Legacy memorial Park doesn't ring right in my head, even though I understand if you leave the um isan portion of it sort of in a non-English state, it kind of works.

But the more we sort of start to think in this one Japanese word we know now, um, or three or four, I guess, um, that we start to I don't know, it starts to become more dissonant, I think.

Thanks, Paul.

Um, my comment is I prefer Isan Park.

Um when I did the Google search, I also saw that in another uh Japanese spelling, it could come out of stomach acid, so making sure we have the right symbol is very important.

Um other than that, I don't know, can someone else do a Google search and verify I didn't make that off?

Um there's also an Isan group in Thailand, but I don't think that's gonna cause confusion.

Um yeah, and I love that the unique the name is unique, commemorates the people.

Um then I have a really weird Rowena cons if you this is the really goofy thing.

If you turn the map of the park upside down, the pathway kind of looks like it spells E Son already.

I don't know, maybe that's just me.

If we could we can just uh all right now pretend the vertical sidewalk is the I, and then there's an S, and then there's an Oh my gosh, that's just me.

I think so.

Is that a goofy observation?

Do you also I actually do see it?

The N is yeah.

So I feel like the park was already designed.

Like, we just have discovered the name.

It was there all along.

It found us.

Sorry, that's uh those are my upside down.

Yeah, so upside down, it looked like it already spelled Isan to me.

And I visited it yesterday and I didn't see the mountains, so I was a little not thrilled at that name that day, and I did agree the other name was a bit long, and mainstream felt a little generic.

So I also am for Isan Park with the caveat, the c the Japanese characters are the correct characters.

Yeah, does anyone have any final comments on that?

Okay.

Um wait, what am I doing?

We already did the preference, so then we say.

So I would say, does anyone have a suggested consensus option?

I feel like we kind of have a consensus option to discuss.

I was feeling it was Isan.

With the correct Japanese character.

Okay, maybe I should just jump to this part uh at this time.

Should I read that one or this one?

They're kind of written slightly different.

Oh okay, uh, can I entertain ask for a motion for a recommended recommended park name?

Yes.

I move that the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Board recommends to the city council the name Isan Park for the park at Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast.

Thank you, Elizabeth.

Is there a second?

Second.

Uh would anyone like to speak to the motion?

When you just mentioned the character name, did you mean that the name Isan with a character on it as a park name?

Or do you mean just for us to veffen?

It's Japanese character?

I think.

Okay.

Yeah.

Like if you have signage in the park and it says Isan, like have a Japanese character next to it.

Yeah.

It could be any language, right?

But that name is just the motion.

And make sure it's the non-stomic acid character.

Yes.

This was just a good he looked at the Google search.

I'm going to be watching the minutes for that too.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, the the make sure the Japanese character refers to the heritage translation.

That's actually not part of the motion.

That's just advice.

That's advice.

That's the discussion in the motion.

Okay.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

So we had a second, right?

And then we kind of had a discussion related to the motion.

Yeah.

Clarification.

And then with that, uh I guess I'll say all in favor of the motion.

Um, can I just say that?

Or should I all in favor of the motion to recommend to City Council Ison Park as a preferred name for the park at Main Street and 12th Avenue Southeast.

Say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, say no.

Okay.

That's uh it's the motion has been approved unanimously.

So the motion to recommend to city council the park name, Ison Park as a preferred name of the park at Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast has been approved unanimously.

Is that correct?

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, thank you.

Awesome.

Wow.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for that.

Okay.

Thank you, Betsy and Susan.

Oh, sorry, I'm getting all mixed up.

With that, uh let's discuss new business.

I'll turn it over to Ryan to see what agenda items we expect to cover during our June meeting.

Yes, thank you, Chair.

Um, I'm excited about the Isan Park name potentially because it would be one of the shortest, I think.

If not, I'll have to look at that.

But uh that that aside, um, yes, June meeting.

Uh, we are actually looking at a special meeting for that to uh be held at Robinswood Park.

Um, and there's a couple reasons to do that.

One is to get out and look at what's been happening at the park.

Um there's some new field orientation that's pretty interesting with youth cricket.

Um, it's gonna be some new features added to the park in the future at the playground area, and also we should be able to go to the tennis center and just get a uh you know, quick tour of that.

Um, and so that would be the first part of the meeting.

Um probably starting around five o'clock, but we'll get a little more logistic information out on that exact timing.

Um, and then we would have um dinner there and also discussion would be focused on the budget.

Um, and so that special meeting um is a good setting for that topic.

Uh some of you were around two years ago for the prior budget discussion at the golf course.

So this would be um similar along the and along those lines.

So that is what we're lining up for June.

Um so we will be starting a little bit earlier.

That of course is entirely optional.

Um, if you can only make part of the meeting, but I would be interested in hearing if anybody knows they will not be attending that meeting or will be have uh time constraints.

That would be interesting to know.

Um I'm not gonna be there.

Yeah, that is Newport Kaiser's graduation.

Uh my son was there, and I'm not sure what the plans are, but that's once in a lifetime for that family absolutely event.

So um a maybe for me at this point, I will find out promptly.

Thank you, Eric.

Very good.

Good dog.

I hear it, there are a lot of graduations that time.

We've been in front of some of them, but not all of them.

So we'll have more.

We'll send out more about the details on that.

But um yeah, but that is the June meeting.

Um I think that's all I have.

Thank you.

Thanks, Ryan.

I guess with that, uh we've completed all the items on tonight's agenda, and so I call the meeting now adjourned.

Thank you.

And then if we