Title
Approval of Resolution Designating a Portion of Cherry Street With the Honorary Name of Kato Street
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the resolution designating the portion of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue with the honorary name of Kato Street to recognize Olympia’s Sister City relationship with Kato, Japan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the resolution designating the portion of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue with the honorary name of Kato Street to recognize Olympia’s Sister City relationship with Kato, Japan.
Staff Contact:
Susan Grisham, Assistant to the City Manager, 360.753.8441
Presenter(s):
Susan Grisham, Assistant to the City Manager
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia has maintained a Sister City relationship with Kato, Japan, for more than 45 years. A Sister City Friendship Agreement was established between Olympia and what was then the Town of Yashiro, Japan, in April 1981. Kato subsequently became a city through municipal consolidation.
The City and Kato reaffirmed their commitment to the Sister City relationship in 2023 in recognition of its 40th anniversary. The City also works with the Olympia-Kato Sister City Association (OKSCA) to promote friendship and cultural exchanges between the communities.
The Sister City relationship has also been recognized through reciprocal street naming. Kato, Japan, has an Olympia Street, providing a physical recognition of its relationship with Olympia. The proposed honorary Kato Street designation provides a similar recognition in Olympia and reflects the longstanding friendship between the two communities.
If passed, the City will designate the portion of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue with the honorary name Kato Street. The designation recognizes the significance of the Olympia-Kato relationship and provides a lasting public acknowledgment of the friendship between the two communities.
The proposed honorary Kato Street designation aligns with the City Council Work Plan item to strengthen Olympia’s relationship with Kato, Japan. The designation provides a tangible and lasting way to recognize the 45-year Sister City relationship and supports the City Council’s direction to strengthen connections and cultural exchange between the two communities.
The designation is honorary and does not replace the legal name of Cherry Street. Cherry Street will remain the official street name, and property addresses and official addressing systems will not change.
The honorary street signs will meet applicable Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) criteria for size and shape, with a brown background and white lettering. The signs will be placed below the signs displaying the legal street name.
The City mailed notice of the proposed honorary street name to all affected property owners within a 300-foot radius of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue at least 20 days before City Council action.
Following Council consideration of the resolution, the City will host a public unveiling ceremony for the honorary Kato Street designation on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the corner of 4th Avenue and Cherry Street.
The event will celebrate Olympia and Kato’s longstanding Sister City relationship and provide an opportunity for City officials, representatives of the Olympia-Kato Sister City Association, community members, and others connected to the relationship to recognize this milestone.
The ceremony will include remarks highlighting the history and importance of the Sister City relationship, followed by the formal unveiling of the honorary Kato Street sign.
Climate Analysis:
The proposed honorary street designation is not expected to have a material impact on greenhouse gas emissions, climate resilience, or the City's climate goals.
Equity Analysis:
The proposed designation recognizes a longstanding international community partnership and cultural exchange relationship. The honorary designation provides a visible acknowledgment of the relationship between Olympia and Kato and the community members who have contributed to it over more than four decades.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City provided notice of the proposed honorary street name to affected property owners within a 300-foot radius of the proposed designation.
TCOMM 911 has confirmed that the proposed honorary name does not duplicate or have the potential to be confused with an official street name in Olympia or the TCOMM emergency services area.
The unveiling ceremony will provide an opportunity for the broader community to participate in recognizing Olympia's Sister City relationship with Kato.
Financial Impact:
Costs associated with fabrication and installation of the honorary street signs will be funded through existing City resources. The total cost for the fabrication of the honorary street signs is $336.
Options:
1. Move to approve the resolution designating the portion of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue with the honorary name of Kato Street to recognize Olympia’s Sister City relationship with Kato, Japan.
2. Do not approve the resolution designating the portion of Cherry Street between State Avenue and 8th Avenue with the honorary name of Kato Street to recognize Olympia’s Sister City relationship with Kato, Japan.
3. Take other action.
Attachments:
Resolution