Redmond council interviews three candidates for parks commission, will forward names to April 7 consent agenda

Redmond City Council held a special meeting March 24 to interview three applicants for the Parks, Trails & Recreation Commission and indicated it will place the candidates on the April 7 business meeting consent agenda for possible swearing‑in if the consent agenda is approved.

Lindsey Falkenberg, Parks Planning Manager, introduced the applicants as Eugene Vidalas, a Redmond resident and electrical engineer who serves on the Move Redmond board; Jose Gonzalez, an educator and outdoor professional with more than 30 years in experiential education and recreation programming; and Cindy Yoon, an active parks user and parks advocate with a tech‑industry background and board service on the Seattle Symphony and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Council Vice President Nueva Camino opened questioning by asking what success would look like for each candidate after two years. Candidate Eugene Vidalas said, “Success for me would be more understanding of, like, the park system, like, as a whole … knowing the ins and outs of it and the details of it.” Jose Gonzalez said success would include understanding programming and operations and improving participation and risk management for youth and families. Cindy Yoon emphasized measurable indicators, public feedback and boosting participation in city programs.

Council member Kreitzer asked each candidate what unique skills they would bring. Vidalas highlighted his project‑integrator experience and attention to construction and installation details. Gonzalez cited his academic and practitioner experience in recreation management and risk assessment, adding he brings a parent’s perspective on youth programming. Yoon pointed to marketing and budget experience, saying she has managed budgets “as much as $3,500,000” and could help better publicize programs and improve inclusivity and accessibility.

On park design and amenities, Council member Forsyth asked candidates for innovations or features to bring to Redmond parks. Vidalas praised Downtown Park’s event‑friendly layout and urged more planning for logistics and expanded restroom facilities at high‑demand parks. Yoon proposed sustainability and community‑building ideas tied to pickleball — including recycling broken plastic pickleballs and repurposing them into large fence signage, citing an example used in Sammamish. Gonzalez described inclusivity as removing barriers — equipment, timing, location and transportation — and said the city should engage communities to understand why people may not be participating.

The council indicated broad support for forwarding the three applicants to the April 7 business meeting consent agenda. The presiding official told candidates they may be sworn in after the consent agenda is passed and thanked Falkenberg for recruiting the candidates. The meeting then was adjourned.

The next procedural step is placement of the three candidates on the April 7 consent agenda; no formal vote or motion was recorded at the March 24 meeting.