Council Roundup: New park name reflects Japanese-American community’s contributions

Published July 24 2026

Plus, Transportation infrastructure needs for future growth, affordable housing tax incentives and tourism promotion budget

At Tuesday's meeting, the City Council gave preliminary approval to name a new park at Main Street and 112th Avenue Southeast "Isan Park." Based on community input, the Parks & Community Services Board recommended the name, and the council unanimously agreed with that choice.

In September 2024, Sound Transit transferred the park property to the city. Staff reviewed and evaluated 258 park names proposed by community members, using criteria in the council's naming policy. The Parks & Community Services Board recommended "Isan," which means legacy or heritage in Japanese, due to its uniqueness and reflection of the Japanese-American community's contributions to Bellevue.

A local, community-based organization and the city have a partnership agreement to develop a commemorative installation in the park to honor Bellevue's Japanese-American community.

More details, including a site map, are available in the meeting materials.

Preparation underway for the transportation budget

The Transportation Department shared an update on the types of infrastructure Bellevue will need to keep up with future growth, support the city's traffic safety goals and maintain livability in our neighborhoods. As more people live and work here, the city will need new or improved sidewalks, bike lanes, streets, intersection upgrades and transit connections.

Staff explained that Bellevue has identified about $1.5 billion worth of transportation projects, but with current funding levels the city will not be able to build all those projects in advance of the increased demand on our system. Staff also introduced a simpler way to organize projects so it's easier for the public and decision makers to understand what is needed and what the department plans to build in the near term.

Transportation staff explained how a Transportation Benefit District could help fund more improvements sooner. The district could raise additional money through a 0.1% sales tax increase and a $20 vehicle registration fee. This extra funding would help Bellevue build key projects that better connect our local network to regional transportation and transit systems and help prevent mobility and safety concerns that could come with future growth if the city is not prepared.

The city is asking for public feedback right now. Community members can share their transportation priorities in a survey open through Aug. 20, which takes about 5 to 7 minutes to complete. Feedback will help shape the preliminary transportation budget and capital project list for 2027-32 that will be shared with the council on Sept. 15. Details and additional engagement opportunities are available at Transportation Capital Projects.

Updates to affordable housing tax incentives move forward

The council reviewed proposed updates to the city's Multifamily Tax Exemption program, which provides benefits new multifamily developments that dedicate a portion of units to affordable housing.

Along with administrative changes, the revisions establish a four-year "Supercharger" catalyst program designed to increase housing affordability in certain mixed-use areas and would allow eligible projects that pay in-lieu fees for mandatory affordable units to participate in the program. The recommendations align with updates to the city's Housing in Mixed-Use Areas land use code adopted in March.

The council directed staff to draft legislation adopting the proposed changes and return to a future meeting. Review the meeting details to learn more.

Bellevue-Redmond Tourism Promotion Area budget

As the legislative authority for the Bellevue-Redmond Tourism Promotion Area, the council reviewed the area's proposed 2027-2028 budget and strategic plan governing the use of revenues collected from lodging charges from businesses with more than 40 units of taxable lodging.

Tourism is a significant economic driver for the city. In 2025, Bellevue hosted more than 2.2 million overnight visitors who collectively generated more than $2 billion in economic impact.

The council unanimously directed staff to draft legislation authorizing the $3.78 million budget proposal and return at a future meeting. For more information, see the meeting details.