TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Jen Baker
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: May 11, 2026
Approved
Date:
5/17/26
COUNCIL DISTRICT: 3
SUBJECT: Actions Related to the Japantown Business Improvement District Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Assessments, and Setting a Public Hearing on the Levy of Assessments
RECOMMENDATION
(a) Preliminarily approve the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Report as filed by the Japantown Business Improvement District Advisory Board, or as modified by City Council.
(b) Adopt a resolution of intention to levy the annual assessment for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, and set Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. as the date and time for the public hearing on the levy of the proposed assessments.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
Approval of this action will result in a resolution of intention to levy assessments for the upcoming fiscal year of the Japantown Business Improvement District and set the time and date for the public hearing.
BACKGROUND
The Jackson-Taylor Business Improvement District (BID) was established by City Council in 1990 pursuant to the California Parking and Business Improvement Area Law of 1989 (BID Law) and subsequently changed its name, with City Council approval, to Japantown BID to promote the economic revitalization and physical maintenance of the Jackson-Taylor business district. City Council appointed Jackson-Taylor Business and COUNCIL AGENDA: 6/2/26
FILE: 26-641
ITEM: 2.9
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 11, 2026
Subject: Actions Related to the Japantown Business Improvement District Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Annual Assessments, and Setting a Public Hearing on the Levy of Assessments
Professional Association (which has since changed its name to the Japantown Business Association to align with the neighborhood name) as the Advisory Board for the BID, to advise City Council on the levy of assessments in the BID and the expenditure of revenues derived from the assessments for the benefit of the BID. The BID service area is shown in Attachment A – Japantown BID Boundary Map.
Pursuant to BID Law, the Advisory Board must come before City Council on an annual basis to present a report as shown in Attachment B – Japantown BID Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (Report). The Budget Report proposes a budget for the upcoming fiscal year for the BID to advise the City Council on the levy of assessments in the BID and the expenditure of revenues derived from the assessments for the benefit of the BID.
City Council is required to: 1) review the Budget Report and preliminarily approve it as proposed or as changed by City Council; 2) adopt a resolution of intention to levy the assessments for the upcoming fiscal year; and 3) set a date and time for the public hearing on BID-related actions. Absent a majority protest at the public hearing, at the conclusion of the public hearing, the City Council may approve the budget for FY 2026- 2027 as filed or as modified by the City Council and levy the BID assessments for FY 2026-2027.
ANALYSIS
The Advisory Board prepared a budget as shown in the Report (Attachment B) for City Council’s consideration as the proposed budget for the BID for FY 2026-2027. As required by BID Law, the Budget Report has been filed with the City Clerk and contains, among other things, a list of the improvements and activities proposed to be provided in the BID in FY 2026-2027 and an estimate of the cost of providing the improvements and activities. There are currently 202 active businesses with a tax certificate located within the boundaries of the BID, and the Advisory Board recommends no change in the method and basis for levying assessments.
City Council may approve the Budget Report as filed or modify the Budget Report and approve it as modified. After approval of the Budget Report, City Council must adopt a resolution of intention to levy the annual assessment for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and fix a time and place for a public hearing to be held on the levy of the proposed assessment.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 11, 2026
Subject: Actions Related to the Japantown Business Improvement District Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Annual Assessments, and Setting a Public Hearing on the Levy of Assessments
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
The Advisory Board will come before City Council next year to present a report that proposes a budget for the 2027-2028 fiscal year.
FISCAL IMPACTS
Adoption of the proposed BID budget does not directly impact City revenue. It is anticipated that a healthy BID will encourage growth of the retail community, which indirectly generates additional business tax and sales tax revenue for the City. The BID assessments are restricted for use exclusively by the BID and are estimated at $28,575 in FY 2026-2027. The FY 2026-2027 Proposed Operating Budget, subject to City Council approval, includes projected assessment revenue and corresponding expenses totaling $28,575, as detailed in the Source and Use Statement for the Business Improvement District Fund (Fund 351).
The City will charge an administrative fee for its costs to collect the BID assessment.
The City’s administrative fee will be one percent of the assessment collected by the City, and the amount will be reviewed annually as part of the annual report submitted by the Advisory Board to the City. The administrative fee will be paid to the City as a deduction from the assessments the City will forward to the BID.
COORDINATION
This memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, City Manager’s Budget Office, Finance Department, and the Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement Department. This memorandum has also been coordinated with the Japantown Business Association.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
The budget for FY 2026-2027 was reviewed and approved by the Advisory Board on April 16, 2026, as shown in Attachment C - Japantown Business Association Board of Directors Meeting Minutes April 16, 2026. This memorandum will be posted on the City Council Agenda website for the June 2, 2026 City Council meeting.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
May 11, 2026
Subject: Actions Related to the Japantown Business Improvement District Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Report, Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Annual Assessments, and Setting a Public Hearing on the Levy of Assessments
BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
No board, commission, or committee recommendation or input is associated with this action.
CEQA
Not a Project, File No PP17-004, Government Funding Mechanism or Fiscal Activity with no commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
JEN BAKER
Director of the City Manager’s Office
of Economic Development and Cultural
Affairs
For questions, please contact Salvador Alvarez, Senior Executive Analyst, City Manager’s Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, at [email protected] or (408) 793-6943.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Japantown BID Boundary Map
Attachment B – Japantown BID Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Attachment C – Japantown Business Association Board of Directors Meeting Minutes April 16, 2026
BID ZONE 1
BID ZONE 2
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
Boundary Map
Attachment A
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
565 N. 6th Street, Suite G. San Jose, CA 95112. phone (408) 298-4303. [email protected]
Japantown BID Budget Report for Fiscal Year 2026-2027
There are no proposed changes to the boundaries of the BID. Zone 1 and Zone 2 remain the same in terms of geography. See attached BID address range sheet.
1. Estimated budget and improvements:
Japantown BID Income, Zones 1 and 2 $30,000
Japantown Farmer’s Market Booth Fees & Merchandising 30,000 Japantown Farmer's Market Sponsorship 10,000
CSJ Neighborhood Business District (NBD) Grant 5,000
Fundraising efforts (merchandise sales) 2,000
Parking Program Income (leasing from NPOs to businesses) 1,000 Non-BID membership 0
Total $78,000
* All figures are estimates. Any additional or unused BID funding will be used for beautification, marketing, events, office expenses, or carried over for Year 2027-2028.
2. Improvements and activities funded by BID:
Japantown Certified Farmer’s Market $35,000
Marketing and design (advertising, promotions) 13,000
Street cleaning, maintenance and graffiti abatement 10,000 Office expenses (rent, insurance, hardware and software) 5,000 Tree maintenance and planting 6,000
Infrastructure repairs and improvements 3,000
Utilities (web, phone, subscriptions) 3,000
Total $75,000
* The JBA has financial reserves to accommodate any potential cost overruns for infrastructure improvements in 2026-2027.
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 1 of 7
3. Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Planned Expenses for Japantown Farmer’s Market Volunteer honorariums 20,000
Promotional (special event features), merchandise 6,000 Permits, licensing and inspections 5,000
General expenses (garbage bags, storage, cleanup) 2,000 Organizational expenses (management and volunteer software) 2,000 Rent 0
Total for FY 2026-2027 $35,000
4. Current Japantown BID Assessment rates are below:
Zone 1 $
Financial institutions 550
Retail (over 10 employees) 375
Restaurants 275
Professional Services (CPAs, Attys, Drs, Agents, etc) 200 Retail (10 employees or less) 200
Commercial Property Owners 175
Non-Retail (Artists, Industrial, Mfg, Repair, Wholesale) 100 Zone 2
Any business 75
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 2 of 7
Japantown BID Address Range
Zone 1 - per breakdown* Zone 2 - $75 any
E. Taylor St. 131-275 (odd)
52-274 (even)
E. Taylor St. 2-50 (even)
281-340 (all)
Jackson St. 80-300 (all) Jackson St. 1-79 (all)
N. 1st St. — N. 1st St. 598-698 (even)
N. 2nd St. — N. 2nd St. 595-694 (all)
N. 3rd St. 600, 601, 608, 698 N. 3rd St. 607, 609-694 (all) N. 4th St. 573-605 (odd)
576-620 (even)
680-702 (all)
N. 4th St. 607-679 (odd)
624-674 (even)
N. 5th St. 575-607 (odd)
590-640 (even)
683, 690, 695
N. 5th St. 565-573 (odd)
613-681 (odd)
560-580 (even)
650-680 (even)
N. 6th St. 520-702 (all) N. 6th St. —
N. 7th St. — N. 7th St. 598-702 (all)
Japantown BID Income Sources 2026-2027
Business Classification Fee ($) Number/
Qty.
Gross
Revenue ($)
% of
Revenue
Financial Institutions 550 1 550 2
Retail (over 10 employees) 375 1 375 1
Restaurants 275 18 4,950 17
Retail (10 employees or less) 200 29 5,800 20
Professionals 200 24 4,800 16
Commercial Property Owners 175 24 4,200 14
Non-Retail 100 25 2,500 8
Zone 2, Any Businesses 75 86 6,450 22
Total Revenue 208 $29,625 100
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 3 of 7
JBA Board of Directors 2026
Tamiko Rast, President 408-564-1663 [email protected] Rasteroids Design, Ernest & Fred [email protected] Jim Nagareda, Vice President 408-219-4103 [email protected] Nagareda Studio, Nikkei Traditions, Commercial Property Owner Carolyn Kogura, Treasurer 408-605-1880 [email protected] Kogura Company, Commercial Property Owner
Miles Rast, Secretary 408-564-1662 [email protected] Rasteroids Design
Jacqueline Bates 408-234-4537 [email protected]
Prayer Garden Church of God, Commercial Property Owner
Richard Kogura 408-605-5530 rkogura@mcmdiversified.com
Kogura Company, Commercial Property Owner
Alexis Nichols 408-791-2621 [email protected]
Glossi Studio, Kaizen Studio
My Nguyen 408-421-1420 [email protected]
Wynn Smog Center
Carole Rast 408-807-3365 [email protected]
Roy's Station, Commercial Property Owner
Jordan Trigg 408-839-2309 [email protected] Commercial Property Owner
Rina Trigg 408-660-6814 [email protected]
Commercial Property Owner
Lynne Yamaichi 408-772-4129 [email protected]
Santo Market, Lotus Preschool
Patricia Yasukawa 408-221-5126 [email protected]
Commercial Property Owner
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 4 of 7
Highlights from 2025-2026 Fiscal Year
Communication: the JBA maintains a website for the Business Improvement District (www.japantownsanjose.org), a website for the Japantown Farmer's Market (www.jtownfarm.org), two Instagram channels (@japantownsj and @japantownfarmersmarket), one Facebook page (Japantown Business
Association), and a Facebook group (Fans of San
Jose Japantown). JBA also maintains a private communication channel to keep JBA businesses apprised of San Jose City Office of Economic Development and District 3 postings, as well as Japantown-specific notices, news, and updates.
Social Media and Marketing/Merchandising: The JBA continues to market its brand with design contributions from local artists and businesses. Japantown’s official Instagram account, @japantownsj, is showing year-over-year growth without any paid advertisements (11.2K to
14.9K followers in 2023-24; 16K total followers in 2024-25; 17.3K total followers in 2026).
The Japantown Farmer's Market: The Japantown Farmer's Market returned as a seasonal event from May-October 2025 and will reopen May 3, 2026 for its new season. This is an event entirely funded, managed, and operated by the JBA with the help of volunteers. We are very grateful to Dan Gordon of Gordon Biersch for fully sponsoring the rental fee of the market space, thereby removing vendor fees for our small, minority-owned family farms and increasing marketing efforts. For the 2025 season, over 80 farms, bakers, and artisans participated in the market, and it was supported by a total of 21 volunteers donating over 1.1K onsite man-hours.
An average of 1K visitors attended the market every Sunday, with a total of 29K visitors over the entire season, and it received MetroActive's Best of Silicon Valley Gold Award for Best Farmer's Market in San Jose/South County.
Beautification: The JBA continues to work with the Rast Family to maintain the appearance of Japantown, including graffiti abatement, street sweeping, weeding, and litter/biohazard cleanup.
Frank, Miles, and Crystal Rast continue to sweep Zone 1 of Jackson Street 7 days a week, and Carole Rast maintains many of the street's planters. Jordan Trigg maintains most of Taylor Street's Zone 1.
A. The JBA maintains a total of 50 juvenile street trees in Japantown, planted in collaboration with Our City Forest and self-planted by our organizations in 2020 and 2021.
Our juvenile trees require significant shaping and pruning by a professional Arborist, and
we handle fertilization and pesticide control. The trees are still being watered in the summer by neighbors and businesses that “adopted” them, and by college students volunteering for the JBA. The JBA also maintains the mature trees on Jackson Street from N. 4th through N. 6th Street.
B. JBA Board Members and community members continue to maintain the 20 large plastic planters we placed on sidewalk bulb-outs on the N. 6th/Jackson, N. 6th/T aylor Street, and
N. 5th/Jackson intersections. Filled with succulents and other drought-tolerant plants, the planters help visibility for drivers and provide extra safety for pedestrians.
C. Carole Rast painted the windows and doors of Japantown businesses with holiday decorations, as she does every year
. The JBA paid local students to clean the windows
in January 2026, and established a quarterly window-cleaning schedule to keep up appearances throughout the year.
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 5 of 7
Public Events and Festivals:
D. Japantown hosted Viva Calle as a hub for its ninth time in September 2025, and is on the route for the San Jose Rock N' Roll Half Marathon every October and the Silicon V alley
Turkey Trot every November.
E. Lunar New Year celebrations were held in February 2026 with a performance by lion dancers, mochi-making at Lotus Preschool, and artist appearances with special event shopping experiences, including custom-printed fukubukuro bags.
F. Nikkei Matsuri, a springtime festival held in Japantown since 1978, has grown steadily in size and space in the last several years due to a revamped format (+30 vendor booth growth in two years); the JBA
assists with communication and event strategy, and the
corresponding Yu-Ai Kai Fun Run (same-day event that leads into Nikkei Matsuri).
G. The JBA co-promotes the Gordon Biersch Thursday Night Market, bringing hundreds of visitors to the weekly summer event.
H. The Obon Festival, Japantown’s oldest and largest festival, set a record for the most Obon dancers in the continental United States in 2025 and will continue to expand its footprint to accommodate larger crowds and increase pedestrian safety in 2026.
I. Japantown's Halloween, hosted by San Jose Taiko with support from the JBA, continues to grow in attendance and popularity
. The JBA provides $1K in donated candy to local
businesses to augment each Jackson Street business's initial investment of $250-500 in candy.
Engagement: the JBA worked with the City of San Jose, Japantown Community Congress, Japantown Neighborhood Association, and to a lesser degree, neighborhood groups from Hensley, Vendome, Hyde Park, and Northside to disseminate information, provide feedback, and collaborate on the following issues:
J. Pedestrian, traffic, and Department of Transportation issues, including Smart Meters and parking management; and status reporting of streetscape, roadway , and lighting
infrastructure.
K. The JBA also prompted and/or participated in two traffic studies in Japantown, resulting in the installation of four (4) traf
fic-calming speed humps on the 500 and 600 blocks of N.
5th Street.
L. Safety and crime issues, including repeat offenders responsible for theft, vandalism, and property destruction. Regular correspondence with the City of San Jose, County of Santa Clara,
TRUST, and SJPD regarding individuals in crisis within the BID. Assist with communicating complaints from Japantown, Hensley, Vendome, and Hyde Park neighbors regarding code compliance issues.
M. Economic development; regular correspondence with the City of San Jose regarding buildings and developments in historic, planning, permitting, or building reviews.
Assist
businesses and provide legal/organizational connections to address sticking points, whether ADA compliance, Historic Reviews, utilities, etc. Provide organizational support JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 6 of 7
and thought-partnership for upcoming developments in the BID Zone and broker relationships for vacant retail spaces. Discuss revisions and inform policy for the Historic Preservation Ordinance with D3 Councilmember Anthony Tordillos' office.
N. The JBA also participated in the application (led by Sustainable Japantown, the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, and San Jose
Taiko), for the designation of Japantown
as a California Cultural District by the California Arts Council. Japantown was announced as one of ten new CCDs as of December 2025.
JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 04/01/2026 7 of 7
THE JAPANTOWN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
MONTHLY BOARD MEETING
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, April 16th, 2026 at 9:30am
Zoom hosted by James Nagareda
Japantown Business Association Members
President Tamiko Rast, Vice President Jim Nagareda, Treasurer Carolyn Kogura, Secretary Miles Rast, Jacqueline Bates, Richard Kogura, Alexis Nichols, My Nguyen, Carole Rast, Mark/Lynne Santo, Jordan Trigg, Rina Trigg, Patty Yasukawa I. Attendees
Board Members: Tamiko Rast, Jim Nagareda, Carolyn Kogura, Richard Kogura, Carole Rast, Alexis Nichols, My Nguyen, Jordan Trigg, Rina Trigg. Absent: Miles Rast, Jacqueline Bates, Lynne Santo, Patty Yasukawa
II. Additions or Deletions
None.
III. Reports
A. 2026-2027 BID
Tamiko explains the BID process and expected JBA revenues ($70-75K annually from 200+ businesses with the Farmer’s Market being a significant income source. Jim asks about changing rates and increasing the district’s boundaries; Tamiko explains it would require a lawyer, legal process, and property owner notifications, and is too time-consuming for this fiscal year.
Motion to approve: Carolyn firsts, Jim seconds. Unanimous approval.
B. March Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve: My firsts, Jim seconds. Unanimous approval.
C. Treasurer’s Report
Carolyn reports $7K in BID fees received in March. Carolyn and Tamiko set up a $40K 5-month CD at California Bank & Trust for the JBA.
Motion to approve: Jim firsts, Carole seconds. Unanimous approval.
D. Japantown Farmer’s Market Report
Tamiko reports that the Farmer’s Market will reopen in less than two weeks.
Nearly $10K in sponsorships have been secured, including contributions from 565 N. 6th Street, Suite G • San Jose, CA 95112 • (408) 298-4303 • www.japantownsanjose.org 1
Swenson Builders, Kay’s Shiseido, and Glossi Studio. The booth rate was raised by $10 per week ($80 for bakers), agricultural booths remain free, volunteer liability coverage has been coordinated, and Tamiko is working on formalizing the dog valet process.
E. Japantown Neighborhood Association (JNA)
Richard: no updates.
F. Japantown Community Congress (JCCsj)
Richard: no updates.
IV. 2026 Planning Priorities
A. Tamiko reported that two Roy’s baristas are watering the Jackson Street trees on a weekly basis and will clean the Zone 1 windows before Nikkei Matsuri.
Discussion about replacing the aging/falling Japantown metal blade signs; replacement and materials needs to be discussed.
B. Events
Carole reports that Nikkei Matsuri is on April 26th, the Japantown Farmer’s Market opens May 3rd, and Viva Calle will return to Japantown on June 14th.
The Night Market reopens May 7th.
C. Crime and Safety
Carole reports finding an abandoned, still running vehicle in the middle of N. 5th Street in front of the former Kubota restaurant. Reported as possibly stolen and involved in a hit-and-run. Jim asks about the effectiveness of speed humps installed on 500 and 600 block of N. 5th; neighbors noted mixed effectiveness with drivers continuing to speed on 5th.
D. Business Updates
Tamiko reports that the Kai family said the renovation of the Kubota property is dependent on the contractor submitting insurance requirements and awaiting San Jose Public Works Department clearance for the building permit.
E. Neighborhood Updates / Miscellaneous Updates
Jim asks about Ukulele Jams’ Rodney Takahashi’s health. Rina gives an update for Jtown Pizza’s reopening. Celebration of Life event for neighbor Lisa Bach on May 2nd.
F. Announcements
No updates.
565 N. 6th Street, Suite G • San Jose, CA 95112 • (408) 298-4303 • www.japantownsanjose.org 2
G. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn: Tamiko firsts, Jim seconds. Unanimous approval. Meeting adjourns at 10:10am.
Next Meeting:
Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 9:30am
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86341719266?pwd=Q2lMN2xwYjUybGJaZHh1bGtMd01ydz09 565 N. 6th Street, Suite G • San Jose, CA 95112 • (408) 298-4303 • www.japantownsanjose.org 3