OPINION: Levy Lid Lift money Will Finance Silver Tower Re-Development, Regardless of United Health Care

 

Silver Tower

I've lived in Redmond 40 years and am saddened the ever-rising cost of healthcare is changing the landscape for us. Insurance prices increase to cover the costs. Hospitals are uniting to achieve "critical mass" for negotiating power.

In this environment, why didn't Evergreen bundle their services with other provider groups? For example, MULTICARE (Overlake, Tacoma General, Deaconess in Spokane and Good Samaritan in Puyallup.) Favouring INDEPENDENCE of groups, Evergreen thought could stand-alone as a 400-bed hospital system vs. the insurance giants. *Somewhat ego-eccentric* Or, were they just ham-strung by a weak Public Hospital Buying Group?

Good news!  At a Board meeting today, I learned all our Levy Lid Lift money ($255,000,000) will be put towards developing the second floor of the Silver Tower and Plaza Building *without* need for a new levy or bond money. WE let Evergreen increase our property tax "to build capacity," for more doctors, beds, instrumentation, expanding mental health and maternity services. We'll soon be reaping the benefit!

And, there's a well-sourced rumour United and Evergreen will come to an agreement very soon. In the meantime, Evergreen is holding "workshops," website updates, and extensive PR. Unfortunately, the voting public and patients will remember this chaos and the inconveniences we faced. Yet, they may also remember the quality of health care and services provided close-by.  

I sure hope the rumour is true. I've already done a lot of homework. I know Humana can insure my two knee replacements and foot surgery at EvergreenHealth. Besides, I like their independence from Proliance and Evergreen's surgeons more. **However, my priority need is mental health so may have to sign with MULTICARE-Overlake, Kaiser or Providence/Swedish. or Virginia Mason** I don't know where to get mental health insurance now that United Healthcare (OPTUM) will cease services come May 31. Mental health care is the limiting factor for my choice of an insurer.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 3/6/2026

Building Community In LWSD Schools

 

Patients getting treatment from EvergreenHealth May Keep Insurance Until May 31

 

EvergreenHealth patients will not be insured by United Healthcare, effective 3/1/2026 

If you are already getting treatment you may keep the in-network price until May 31

Emergency room care and mental health or substance use crisis services will remain under network.

-- William Howe, CPA, MBA

    EvergreenHealth Chief Financial Officer 

Open Enrolment For Medicare Runs October 15 -December 7

EvergreenHealth patients will not be insured by United Healthcare, effective 3/1/2026 

If you are already getting treatment you may keep the in-network price until May 31

Emergency room care and mental health or substance use crisis services will remain under network.

"Annual open enrolment for Medicare coverage in 2026 runs from October 15 to December 7, but you can also sign up for Medicare in the three months leading up to and the three months directly after you turn 65.

Free Medicare Insurance Helpline

EvergreenHealth has partnered with American Senior Resources to provide a free Medicare insurance helpline that makes licensed insurance advisors available to help you:

• Verify Medicare plans accepted by your healthcare providers
• Compare Medicare plans to meet your personal needs and preferences
• Identify a Medicare prescription plan that covers all your medications at the lowest cost
• Mail or email literature for any Medicare plans of interest
• Assist you throughout the Medicare plan enrollment process

The helpline is provided to Medicare beneficiaries at no cost and with no obligation.

Call the Helpline toll-free at 1 (877) 915-7528 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Schedule your consultation at the most convenient time for you. 

Medicare 101 Workshops

Additionally, American Senior Resources are hosting in-person Medicare 101 Workshops nearly once a month in one of two locations on our Kirkland campus:

• The Red Auditorium, located right across from the Emergency Department.
• Tan 101, located in the EvergreenHealth Surgery & Physicians Pavilion. Once inside, take the elevator down to the 1st floor and Tan 101 is adjacent to the staircase.

Find a convenient day and time for you:

Wednesday, February 11, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, March 11, 2026	2:00 p.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, April 8, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, May 13, 2026	2:00 p.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, June 10, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, July 8, 2026	2:00 p.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, August 12, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, September 9, 2026	2:00 p.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, October 14, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, November 11, 2026	2:00 p.m.	Red Auditorium
Wednesday, December 2, 2026	10:00 a.m.	Red Auditorium

You may also click here to sign up for online workshops.

These educational workshops are walk-in events with no registration required.

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More Benefits with Medicare Advantage Plans

Another option when choosing a Medicare plan is a Medicare Advantage plan. A Medicare Advantage plan gives you hospital and doctor coverage as well as additional benefits like prescription coverage, dental, vision, preventative health screenings and more.

EvergreenHealth is partnering with the following Medicare Advantage plans in 2026:

• Aetna
• Humana
• Regence BlueAdvantage Medicare HMO
• Regence MedAdvantage PPO
• Traditional Medicare
• UnitedHealthcare
• Medicare Supplements (all)

Council Office Hours and Committees - Forsythe, Kritzer, Stuart, Parsi

      

Jessica Forsythe 

Position #3

City Council

Council Term Expires 12/31/27

Email Jessica Forsythe

Phone: 425-305-7206

Office Hours: By Appointment (feel free to email)

Boards/Committees: Eastside Transportation Partnership, Disability Board.

Past Boards/Committees: Council President 2022-2023, PSRC Executive Board Alternate, Eastside Human Services Forum Representative, Redmond Senior & Community Center Stakeholder Group, Growth Management Policy Board

Past Advisory Committees

City Council 2024 Subcommittees: Alternative Crisis Response Planning, Multi-Modal Transportation Planning Parks and Human Services Committee Chair, AWC Federal Priorities Committee, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, 

Vanessa Kritzer

Position #5

City Council

Council Term Expires 12/31/27

Email Vanessa Kritzer

Phone: 425-305-9892

Office Hours: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 3-4 pm at Redmond Senior and Community Center Lounge (outside community room)

Boards/Committees: Community Facilities District Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership, OneRedmond Board of Directors, Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 Salmon Recovery Council (Chair), Lake Sammamish King Conservation District 

Advisory Committee
City Council 2026 Subcommittees: Tenant Protections

Kokanee Interlocal Agreement Management Committee

Melissa Stuart

Position #4

President, City Council

Council Term Expires 12/31/29

Email Melissa Stuart

Phone: 425-588-6550

Office Hours: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 3 - 5 p.m. at the Redmond Library.

No office hours: May 14, June 25

Boards/Committees: King County Growth Management Planning Council,  Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board,  Community Facilities Districts Board of Supervisors

Advisory Committees:  King County Regional Water Quality Committee, Association of Washington Cities Legislative Priorities Committee, OneRedmond Government Affairs Committee, Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee

Sayna Parsi

Position #1

City Council

Council Term Expires 12/31/27

Email Sayna Parsi

Phone: 425-556-5845

Flexible Virtual Office Hours

Sayna Parsi was sworn in as a Redmond City Council Member on January 20, 2026. She previously served on Redmond’s Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commission, where she championed outdoor fitness amenities, sustainable park management, and equitable access to public spaces.

Sayna serves on the board of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Central Puget Sound chapter and works with Eastside Audubon on conservation and environmental education. With professional experience across small businesses, nonprofits, and large corporations, she brings a broad, results-oriented perspective. 

Source:  City Council Web page.

What A.I. Says About Redmond Blog

City of Redmond Neighborhoods, February 2026 

  Below is A.I.'s response to:  "is Redmond blog good?"

The Redmond Neighborhood Blog is generally considered a valuable, long-standing resource for hyper-local news, though whether it is "good" depends on what you are looking for—objective reporting or community advocacy. 

Strengths & Content Focus

• Hyper-Local Expertise: The blog has been active for nearly two decades (since at least 2007) and provides deep dives into topics often overlooked by larger outlets, such as city council decisions, land use policies, and local school district levies.
• Active Advocacy: The site's primary author, Bob Yoder, explicitly describes the blog as an "advocate" and "trouble-maker" intended to bring balance and accountability to local government.
• Niche Investigative Reporting: It frequently covers environmental concerns, such as potential aquifer contamination, and tracks the impacts of rapid development on Redmond's "soul" and affordability. 

Things to Consider

• Opinion-Driven Tone: Many posts are written from a specific viewpoint, focusing on "watching" the city administration and critiquing rising costs of living and property taxes.
• Format: As a Blogger-hosted site, it has a traditional, text-heavy layout that may feel less modern than newer media platforms.
• Community Presence: It maintains an active Facebook Group (Friends of Redmond Neighborhood Blog) where residents can discuss local issues directly. 
• Comparison to Other Sources

Source	Best For
Redmond Neighborhood Blog	Deep-dive civic analysis and critical community advocacy
Experience Redmond	Tourism, events, and highlighting local businesses
City of Redmond News	Official government announcements and public meeting notices
Move Redmond	News specifically about transit, biking, and urban walkability

UPDATED 3/4: EvergreenHealth Contract With United Healthcare Terminated

EvergreenHealth community-owned hospital

Evergreen's contract with United Healthcare was terminated March 1, 2026

Details and FAQ  (& read comments)

EvergreenHealth is the largest public hospital in the State of Washington. It is community-owned and remains independent of the large hospital chains.  After month-long negations their contract with United Healthcare expired on March 1, 2026. 

Dr. Etorre Palazzo is Evergreen's CEO.  Here's a short clip of Etoree (1.5 min) explaining Evergreen's attributes and mission in our community. He's done much to enlarge their capacity of services, including mental health treatment in primary care clinics and emergency departments.

My daughter was born at Evergreen Health 33 years ago.  

-- Bob Yoder, 2/20/2026, updated: 3/34/2026

Bellewether Breaks Ground In Overlake, 328 Affordable Homes

Bellwether Housing Breaks Ground on 328-Home Affordable Housing Community at Overlake Village Light Rail Station

REDMOND, Wash. — Bellwether Housing today celebrated the groundbreaking of Prisma, a 328-home mixed-use affordable housing community located directly across from the Overlake Village light rail station in Redmond.

Thirty-three residential units will be set aside for people living with disabilities.

The  ground floor commercial spaces will include a city services center, small business incubator, nonprofit support hub, digital literacy media lab, and culturally informed community services to benefit residents and the surrounding community. A third commercial space will host a small tenant, such as a café or food-based business, to activate the street and promote community interaction.  

The City of Redmond will own and operate a small business and city services center with a walk-up service counter and rotating public safety and human services support programming.  

The Wayfinder Hub, led by the Friends of the Village Collective, will feature a commercial kitchen, media lab, and culturally relevant support services to incubate small businesses and spark community-driven innovation. 

When complete in 2028, Prisma will provide 328 affordable apartment homes for individuals and families earning between 30% and 80% of Area Median Income, including a significant number of family-sized units. Resident services will be led by Hopelink.

-- Bellwerther Housing, 2/19/2025

 

UPDATED, 2/21/26: LWSD "Wins" Levy Votes

Eleven school districts had EP&O and Capital & Facility propositions. All districts "won" as of 2/19/26:  Here's a partial list: 

• LWSD:              63.41% EP&O "yes;" / 63.14 % Capital & Facility "yes";; 28.21% votes counted
• Bellevue:           66% EP&O yes/ 66% Capital & Facility / 64% yes; 27% votes counted
• North Shore:     64% EP&O yes/  Capital & Facility 63% yes; 32% votes counted
• Issaquah:          54/% EP&O yes / 54% / 32 Capital & Facility 54% yes; 32% votes counted
• Vashon Island:  EP&O / 77% yes; 42% votes counted.

The LWSD vote includes two levy lid lifts.

Six other districts had an EP&O / Capital & Facility votes:  Enumclaw, Federal Way, Fife, Riverview, Snoqualmie Valley, and Tahoma. 

Besides two school tax levy lid lifts, stormwater treatment will increase 12.5% according to Redmond Councilmember Melissa Stuart. Utilities up 8%.  

-- Bob Yoder, 2/19/2026, updated: 2/21/26

Executive Lump Sum Merit Increases, Two Standouts

 

December 17, 2025 Exceptional Increases

CAROL HELLAND, Director of Planning and Community Development

Salary:  $237,750  Exceptional Lump Sum Merit Increase: $12,339.54     

Total Salary:  $247,745.63  COLA 3/8%

"The City of Redmond vision of housing individuals that are unhoused is core to our mission. Carol has shown remarkable leadership in putting the City at the forefront of affordable housing efforts. Because of her extraordinary efforts, I am requesting Carol Helland receive a 5% lump sum exceptional merit increase. Carol has demonstrated diligence in supporting affordable housing in Redmond. She has acted as Redmond’s voice on the ARCH Board, worked with Kenmore and Plymouth Housing to transfer the permanent supportive housing project to Redmond, worked with neighboring developments to deal with access issues, worked with Council to transfer land to Plymouth and stood strong in the face of much criticism outside interests. Her commitment to service is evidenced by her openness to engage stakeholders in housing policy and processes while at the same time overseeing planning and community development within the City. For all of the above reasons and many others, Carol should be rewarded with a small token of the City’s appreciation for her remarkable commitment to serve the Redmond community and specifically for her efforts to further Redmond’s housing goals."  - by Melissa Files, COO

LISA MAHER  

Minimum Salary: $206,184  Exceptional Lump Sum Merit Increase $21,390.  3.8% COLA

"The Executive Department is reorganizing and expanding the management capabilities due to growth in the department. Specifically the department will take on three new divisions - City Attorney, Emergency Management, and Grant Management as well as the federal lobbyist contract. Currently there are only two managers in the department, the COO and the Deputy Director. Lisa will be promoted into a new "assistant COO" position to allow the department to have a COO, assistant COO and deputy director. Until the position goes through the compensation study for Exec and Deputy Director positions the title of the position is unknown at this point, nor is the salary set. Once the salary study is done another adjustment to Lisa's salary may be necessary"

-- Source:  Public Record Request, 2026

Art Abstraction

 

Max Feingold, Redmond resident, 2017

"One of favorite things in a photograph is a quality abstraction that makes you stop for a moment and wonder exactly what it is your looking at." - Scot Bunk

UPDATED: Municipal Water Tainted With "Forever" Chemical

 

min 1 - 1:40 great intro even without video picture

min 1:40 - 4:15 boring chemistry discussion

min 4:15 starting of a very interesting discussion 

Toxic "forever chemical," (PFOS) is explained.  In Redmond wells #1 and #2 it is elevated above State standards .  (See table.)

The City is monitoring PFOS and related forever chemicals quarterly.  Monitoring started on April 2024.  Elevated PFOS levels above Federal standards are in boldface. This table was published in the 2/3/2026 Redmond Council study session packet. 

Reverse osmosis filters, remove ~ 94% of the contaminants. Amazon sells them. 

-- Bob Yoder, 2/12/26 

A Call For Action To Test Industrial District For Toxic Chemicals

Filthy stormwater treatment pond at All Wood Recycling 60 feet
from salmon-bearing Evans Creek. B. Yoder/2006

The Following is Dr. David Morton's public comment to the Planning Commission for "Items from the Audience."  David Morton, PhD is a Redmond resident who regularly speaks at government meetings about ways to improve our environment.  

I’d like to discuss a critical land use issue that affects Redmond's drinking water aquifer, and may cause PFAS contamination in Wells 1 and 2. PFAS is a man-made toxic chemical that never breaks down. It once was used to manufacture firefighting foam.   

Last week, I testified before City Council about PFOS levels exceeding EPA's 4 ppt standard in these wells. Tonight, I want to focus on the land use aspect of this problem—specifically, the Evans Creek Relocation Project and the DTG Recycle site, formerly All Wood Recycling.

The DTG site sits within Redmond’s Critical Aquifer Recharge Area I (where groundwater contamination can reach municipal supply wells in under five years. In August 2013, a massive fire at All Wood Recycling required multi-day firefighting efforts. (See here, here, here, and here.) A former Redmond Natural Resources Manager informed the City Council that firefighting foam was used to extinguish that blaze and that about 1900 fish in Evans Creek were killed. *

The concern is straightforward: the foam likely contained PFAS, and those "forever chemicals" may have infiltrated Redmond’s aquifer. Bob Yoder's research suggests additional historic contamination sources at this industrial site—oil spills into Evans Creek, failing detention ponds, and septic systems that may have channeled PFAS-contaminated water underground.

Here's the land use policy problem: the Evans Creek Relocation Project will disturb soil on the DTG property. When the Department of Ecology sampled soil there in 2022, they did not test for PFAS. This is a significant gap in the environmental review process, especially given the site's MTCA contaminated cleanup status and location in Redmond’s CARA I (see the image below).

Since the Planning Commission advises the Mayor and City Council on land use policies, I urge you to recommend that the City require PFAS testing at the DTG site before any ground disturbance occurs. Identifying and remediating contamination sources is essential to prevent ongoing pollution of Redmond's drinking water.

With a 2029 EPA compliance deadline and costs for treatment of Wells 1 & 2 potentially in the tens of millions, Redmond cannot afford to overlook potential contamination sources in its CARAs. Sound land use policy demands testing before digging.

I ask that you advise Council to strengthen Redmond’s critical area protections by requiring PFAS assessment before approving projects in CARA zones, particularly on properties with known environmental violations or firefighting foam use.

* See the archived video of the Aug. 27, 2013, City Council Study Session beginning at 1:30:12. The comments about the fish kill and the firefighting foam use begin at 1:31:47.

-- David Morton, PhD, 2/11/2026