August 25, 2026 FOMP Meeting Summary

August 25, 2026 Meeting Summary

Welcome and Introductions: Justin Camputaro, Marymoor Park Administrator; Greg Helland, SODA, FOMP President; Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Bird Survey, FOMP Secretary; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop, neighbor; Claire Waltman, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop; Shai Hinitz, MAR/C; Mary Vogel, CMG/Marymoor Live; Online: Jannell Seigwarth, CMG/Marymoor Live;

Marymoor Parking Program: Justin requested a free-form open-ended discussion of the daily parking fee.

The $1 daily fee started in 2003, and at that time it was initiated solely to bring in $$$. At the time, Marymoor was the only KC park with a parking fee. [Claire noted than some of her family members stopped coming to the park when the fee started.]

About $400K gathered in 2005. It now brings in significantly more. However, rising costs of labor will mean that Parks will start to lose money at the $1 rate sometime in the fairly short term. That’s why Justin requested this discussion.

So, should parks increase daily fees?

• Most parks that have parking fees are mostly at a higher rate than $1/day.
• Greg mentioned that it’s amazing that the rate has not increased in 23 years.
• Justin stated that it’s pretty clear that either they raise the fee or eliminate the program

Here’s what was discussed related to enforcement:

• It took a while before enforcement was allowed. This required special authorization, since normally Parks has no law enforcement powers - Parks can’t enforce illegal parking such as in fire lanes, for instance, and must request a sheriff to write those tickets.
• Enforcement does not occur at all hours, and there is minimal compliance when it becomes known that it is “not enforced”.
• Current indications are that ParkMobile has not increased compliance.
• What can be done through investment in technology to allow for much cheaper enforcement?
• The parking booth at the East entrance during afternoon rush barely breaks even.

As for technology:

• Existing payment machines are obsolete and getting impossible to keep running
• ParkMobile has to be manually checked; they don’t currently have a process to scan a license plate and get ParkMobile to indicate payment status.
• Technology might or might not be worth the cost, even though it would make enforcement more efficient.
• Justin pointed out that, for accessibility (not everyone has credit cards and/or cell phones), there will always need to be physical machines.
• There was discussion about whether Park Mobile could make special events parking more efficient. Michael suggested that people might pre-pay for parking in exchange for faster entry to event parking.

Some of the general comments:

• Shai asked about how many people who visit the park come every day? Every week? Every month? Lack of this information is going to mean that Parks will be deciding in the dark.
• Shai also averred that very occasional visitors will care less about the fee than those who come regularly.
• Claire suggested seasonal differences in prices – like $1 in winter and $2 in summer.
• Michael suggested that raising the daily price without increasing the parking pass fees would keep the park accessible to regular visitors, and would probably encourage purchasing of passes. If that would streamline enforcement, it could be profitable.

FOMP users seriously asked, why keep charging for parking???

• The parking control staff feels like they can monitor and control parking lot usage in a positive way. It is a simpler way to make it difficult/impossible for improper usage such as commercial use.

• Probably, that means the purpose has shifted from revenue generation to management of the park.
• Dropping the parking fees would probably not be acceptable politically.

Having no way to make any additional conclusive determinations, Greg decided to terminate the discussion after an hour.

CIP/Project/Facility Updates:

a: Eastside Audubon Birdloop: Working on planning for the fall. Pulled out a lot of blackberries from the meadow at August work party.

b: Marymoor Community Gardens: 322.5 lbs in July. Poundage is not the best assessment, as they are moving to less dense produce like kale, rather than potatoes. Comparing weight year to year is no longer meaningful.

c: R/C Field (MAR/C):

Season end for classes.
Had their end-of-summer party/barbecue. Well attended on the big event.
Shai raised the issue that the mowing staff is not scheduled, and flying has to cease when they are present. MAR/C would like a determined schedule, at least as much as possible. Justin reported that special events and equipment issues interrupt any regular schedule.

d: Marymoor Velodrome Association: Dog Days of Summer this Friday – Corgi racing!

e: SODA - Off-leash Dog Area:

Hog fuel delivery this week and next.
Also installation of salmon booms in the river that limit (but don’t eliminate) swimming.

f: SES/CMC - Concert Venue & Clise:

Last concert in September. Tents will then come down, followed by fences on the 21st and 22nd fences come down.
Clise rentals are difficult due to the concert schedule and late determination of available dates.
CMG is happy with how the year has gone.

g: Events:

CHOMP – Estimate of ~4000 attendees. Footprint was a little bigger, which made it more open and fluid. Organizers felt it ran very smoothly. Very family friendly. Car numbers were higher (and they don’t charge for parking). Mary did mention that some of the vendors might have used foil, rather than compostables, as they should be required.
Ganesh Festival September 18-20. Parks has modified their parking plan for that festival, but other park users are encouraged not to drive in.

h: Maintenance:

Clise updates start on the sun room in a week or so. Roof replacement and kitchen updates will follow.
Signage heights, complained about previously, have been checked and identified.
Replacement soccer goals have been ordered.

i: Capital Site/Planning: Crosswalks and Pea Patch Rd. sidewalk are in planning.

Next meeting, TUESDAY, September 22nd, 2026 in the Art Barn

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These notes do not constitute an official record of the meeting. They may have inaccuracies and omissions. If anyone has any complaints about the content of these notes, they should direct them to Michael Hobbs at fomp@marymoor.org, and he will endeavor to correct them.