Adopt A Stream Drain; Report Spills

 

Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood

Adopting a neighborhood storm drain is easy (and fun!) and can help reduce street flooding and keep pollutants like yard chemicals, pet waste, and garbage out of our lake and streams. Most stormwater in Redmond flows into a storm drain—the metal grate in the street – and is carried to a nearby waterway. By spending just 15 minutes a month removing leaves, garbage, and debris from the top of the storm drain, you can help prevent flooding and protect the waterways that are home to salmon, frogs, and other critters.

Sign up to adopt a drain

Report Spills

Help Redmond keep soap, oil, dirt, and other pollutants out of our streams, lake, and underground drinking water sources. Call the City's Water Pollution Hotline any time you see pollutants on the ground, in the street, or in the natural environment. Working together, we can stop pollution in its tracks. Report environmental concerns to Redmond's Water Pollution Hotline: 425-556-2868

Learn more about keeping our water clean

 -- redmond.gov    Posted by Yoder, 10/25/24

Update: Nerdy Notes On The Redmond City Budget

A drive-through voter ballot drop-box is at City Hall

Budgets are boring and probably the last thing on your mind with the Election and Halloween around the corner.  However, I'm a government nerd and wanted to share some of the City Budget Hearing chaos I'm feeling.    

The City Clerk sent me the Budget calendar after I asked for it.  IMO, the calendar could have been written during one of their many briefing meetings to engage the public with the budget early on; but the calendar wasn't formalized until the second, October 1 Hearing .... "kinda bas akwards."  

THE PROCESS:  Three budget hearings are required; and a 4th is optional. Council decided the public would have its usual 3 minutes, instead of 4 minutes to speak in these important Hearings. Of interest, I remember Councilmember Stuart once saying on the Dais that no more than 1 minute for public comment was necessary.  

Now, to get you up to date:  The first Hearing (July 16) 👆was for public input on the "Capital Investment Program," (pg. 23) "Business Technology Investment Program" and a "Departmental Budget Overview."  With public our input, Council may change the Mayor's proposed, Preliminary budget.   

 

The lack of information for the 👆second October 1 Hearing was annoying and poorly timed, as follows:  

• The Hearing immediately followed the mayor's very short 2025-2026 Preliminary Budget (PB) presentation.
• The public had NO TIME to evaluate the PB and speak on it at this Hearing 

Removing Redmond"s Waste -- Past, Present, Future

Redmond Historical Society holds Saturday Speakers Series meeting on

Removing Redmond's Waste - past, present and future:  

Resources:

Video of the Presentation  

• Upcoming Events | Redmond, WA – November and December classes are listed to dive deeper into sustainability topics. Sam Wilder teaches the classes.

• What Goes Where Tool | Redmond, WA – What goes where tool for specialty items. Plug in the item you would like to know what to do with.

• Residents | Redmond, WA – A complete guide of what goes where in Redmond recycling, composting and garbage carts. A reminder, composting is free (as part of garbage service) for all residents- including condos and apartments and businesses.

• BNProject | Home (buynothingproject.org) – This was the group for donating Items you no longer want or receiving items for free from your neighbors that one of the members discussed.

Posted by Yoder, 10/23/24

NOTICE: PUBLIC HEARING ON CITY BUDGET, November 4

Redmond City Hall 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held during the Redmond City Council special meeting on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 7 p.m., at the Redmond City Hall Council Chamber, 15670 NE 85th Street, Redmond, Washington, for the purpose of soliciting comments and suggestions on Mayor Birney's preliminary 2025-2026 biennial budget (in full.)

Community members may present oral comments during the public hearing or provide written comments at budget@redmond.gov. All members of the public are invited to attend the Hearing whether they comment or not.  

BUDGET RESOURCES: Preliminary Budget Summary;  Preliminary Revenue Forecast 

City Seeking Comments For Downtown Homeless Project

City Seeking Comments For Downtown Plymouth Homeless Housing Project 

INVITATION TO COMMENT:  COMMENT DUE DATE BY:  NOVEMBER 12, 2024

Description of Proposal: Construction of a six-story mixed-use development including 100 units of permanent supportive housing property management offices, resident services, interior and exterior resident amenity spaces, and approximately 2150 sf of commercial space. 

The building and surrounding fenced structure is located in Downtown Redmond across from Anderson Park and not far from Redmond Elementary. It will permanently house 65% homeless individuals from the Eastside and 35% homeless from the Seattle area.  The facility has "no barrier" to entry.  

 

To view more information about this project, click the link below.

Plymouth Supportive Housing | Redmond, WA 

 

To comment contact the city planner:

• David Lee
• dlee@redmond.gov
• 425-556-2462

Date of City Notice:  Monday, October 21, 2024 

                                           King 5 inclusive coverage 

Nami Eastside "Healing through Connection" GALA

"The National Alliance of the Mentally Ill" (NAMl) Eastside chapter celebrated its many years of community service October 10th with a GALA dinner event at the Redmond Marriot. The theme was "Healing Through Connection."  Over 100 attended with many stories shared of personal struggles and recoveries.  I connected with several attendees about personal bipolar stigmatization.  

Over ~ $97,000 was raised, mostly during an energetic auction.  The auctioneer, Jonathan West was very entertaining and effective.  He's a radio talk-show host for "warm 106.9."  He was a class act with his own story to tell.  Some of the items auctioned were:  Seahawk vs. 49er tickets, an AirB&B overnighter, Alaska Air tickets, a Woodinville winery taste, Kraken Club ticket seats, restaurant dinners, dinner deserts and mental health wellness baskets.

The event attracted several of our elected officials:  Don Constantine and Sarah Perry were honored and gave speeches. Roger Goodman and Osman Salahuddin dined with the crowd.  

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (Text, Call, or Chat)

Contact Nami-Eastside

info@nami-eastside.org

--Bob Yoder, NAMI member

   10/10/24

350-Bed Forensic Center Planned For Western State Hospital

Gov. Jay Inslee and leaders from the state Department of Social and Health Services break ground on the new Forensic Center of Excellence on the Western State Hospital campus.

On Thursday morning, state leaders gathered in Lakewood to break ground on a new hospital to be built on the Western State Hospital campus. The hospital will be a secure facility with 350 beds to serve forensic patients (those accused of a crime and ordered by a court to receive treatment before trial).

Construction of the new Forensic Center of Excellence will complete by 2029.

This project turns a page in state history. Washington state is a different place than it used to be. Western State Hospital is a different place than it used to be. And under the direction of Gov. Jay Inslee, the state’s approach to behavioral health care is different than it used to be.

It’s all change for the better.

Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium

Posted 10/18/24

2024 VOTER GUIDE TO INITIATIVES AND CANDIDATES

      Pro and Con Video of I-2066 State Initiative 

Let's Go Washington - Pro Initiatives

Progressive Institute - Con Initiatives

Seattle Times Voter Guide To All Candidates And Initiatives

License Plate Readers, 22 Camera Readers To Be Installed

License Plate Reader / Flock

In a 8/5/24 regular meeting Council approved funds to implement the "Flock" license plate reader program.  Installation of 22 cameras and subscription cost for two years are priced at $93,534.40.  It's likely the Mayor will finance the balance through the General Fund or Capital Investment Program.      

THE PROGRAM:   Strategically located intersections are identified within the City to place the "Flock" cameras to capture the most license plates entering and leaving the City limits. 

Councilmember Steve Fields made a point to say the program will not infringe on people's privacy. 

The concept of this approach is for officers and dispatchers to be alerted whenever a “Wanted” or “Hot List” vehicle or vehicle used in the commission of a crime is captured on a Flock camera. Officers will respond to the area and look for the vehicle based on the last known location. Vehicles typically placed on “Hot Lists” include stolen vehicles, wanted persons connected to vehicles, and missing persons. 

-- Re-posted by Yoder, 10/17/24 

   Source 8/5/24 Council meeting

SUSPENDED IN MOTION, Autumn Fall In Redmond

Credit/John Reinke 

On my way to the 90th Street Runoff Pond this afternoon, I spotted a small autumn leaf suspended in midair.  It was dangling from a single spider strand.  In the background behind it you will see the Sammamish River Trail.  The river itself is flowing behind the wall of foliage alongside the trail.  Who knows, salmon may be migrating upstream as I took this picture.

-- John Reinke, Redmond photojournalist  

   10/13/2024

CITY WATCH/ Part One: Additional Water Storage Space Needed For Overlake, $25M Price

Councilmember Stuart asked: what steps are needed to plan for the anticipated water storage deficit in Overlake, especially in light of anticipated growth in the area. CM Stuart expressed the importance of addressing potential storage shortfalls ahead of growth. 

Staff Comment:   Given the ability to move water supply within the system as needed, the needs identified in Overlake can be met by adding storage in multiple locations in Rose Hill and Overlake. The well service area (including the Education Hill Tanks) can be fed by the higher Rose Hill/Overlake pressure zones but the higher Rose Hill/Overlake pressure zones cannot be fed by the well service area. 

Additional storage in Rose Hill will directly benefit the Overlake area. The WSP specifically identifies adding a third storage tank on Education Hill.   The total estimated cost to add the needed storage is $24 million (in 2023 $). 

To provide the total volume identified in the current plan, a new reservoir site will be needed to meet the 20-year demand. 9/16

Source:  10/8 Council memo:   Councilmember Comment Councilmember Fields requested information on the key risks facing Redmond’s water distribution and storage system and asked how the Water System Plan addresses or mitigates such risks. READ MORE:

CITY WATCH: The City Council Will Hold Hearing To Oppose I-2066

 Vote "yes" on I-2066.   Washington residents and restaurants deserve a choice on using gas and/or electricity.  It's estimated the average consumer would have to pay ~$35,000 to convert all their appliances from gas to electric.  If I-2066 passes gas won't be banned from use by restaurants and households.  

Washington State has placed a ballot measure before the voters. Initiative Measure No. 2066 concerns regulating energy services, including natural gas and electrification. Initiative 2066 is scheduled to go to the voters at the General Election on November 5, 2024. 

The City Cou  the Council to take action on the resolution to declare its official position in opposition to I-2066. 

 "COUNCIL TOOL"   RCW 42.17A.555(1) authorizes the Council to take action to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot measure so long as (a) the agenda includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members.

(Same Tool used by Council to validate their I-2117 Hearing)

Source:  10/8/24 Study Session "hopper." 

Council will hold a hearing at the October 15th, 2024 Business Meeting for the Council to take action on the resolution to declare its official position in opposition to I-2066. 

"COUNCIL TOOL"   RCW 42.17A.555(1) authorizes the Council to take action to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot measure so long as (a) the agenda includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members.

(Same Tool used by Council to validate their I-2117 Hearing)

Source:  10/8/24 Study Session "hopper." 

Bob Yoder, Opinion:  10/17/2024

National Indigenous Peoples Day For Eastside Youth

A Proclamation On Indigenous Peoples' Day, by Joseph R. Biden,

October 7th, 2022

Indigenous Peoples were forcibly removed from ancestral lands, displaced, assimilated, and banned from worshiping or performing many sacred ceremonies.  Yet today, they remain some of our greatest environmental stewards.  They maintain strong religious beliefs that still feed the soul of our Nation.  And they have chosen to serve in the United States Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other group.  Native peoples challenge us to confront our past and do better, and their contributions to scholarship, law, the arts, public service, and more continue to guide us forward.

                       "Am I Enough?" celebration at Lake Washington High

 Am I enough to be seen as an indigenous person?  Watch a short video HERE of students celebrating "Am I Enough." 

Mary Wilber, Program Coordinator of the Eastside Native American Indian Association organizes events for our Salish Sea indigenous youth.  She invites indigenous students from three school districts to her Monday evening classes at Lake Washignton High.  

Pam and I celebrated with the Eastside Native American families at Lake Washington High and in a Pow Wow at Juanita High.  Both ceremonies touched our hearts.  School Board members Siri Bliesner and Mark Stuart participated in the Lake Washington festivities.

Posted by Yoder

10/13/24

School Board Directors Tour Two Schools October 15

 

Some or all of the LWSD School Board of Directors will tour schools in the district on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.  Open to the public Board members will not conduct business of the district an no decisions will be made. The board provides a community report about their site visits at their regularly scheduled board meetings. Schedule: International Community School - 10 a.m. Blackwell Elementary School - 1 p.m.

Contacts: School board meeting information:  Teresa Harding, tharding@lwsd.org, 425-936-1257   Media inquiries:  Shannon Parthemer, sparthemer@lwsd.org, 425-936-1342

Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube for up-to-date news and information.

UPDATED 10/13: Council Notes: Funding For "Mini City Hall" and Avondale Water Main Replacement

Redmond City Hall

The City is asking our State legislature to fund significant projects next session, as follows:     

1) $1,024,475 to replace several miles of aging, brittle asbestos water main pipe on Avondale Road NE.  In addition, pavement will be re-surfaced for a total cost of $3.3M. 

The pipes "are brittle," with numerous breaks in the last five years.  Key concerns are: 

• Health and water quality
• Impacts to salmon-bearing streams
• Fire protection 

2)  $618,000 for 1,700 sf city service space ("Mini City Hall") in the Overlake Bellwether building.  With State funding the following services would be provided by 2028:  

• customer service
• police desk
• mobile integrated health
• translation services (42% of residents are foreign born)
• multi-cultural lobby with rotating art
• 333 units for low and moderate income (30-80% AMI) families and individuals. 
• access to light rail - across street from the Overlake Station. 

Source:  Amy Tsai, Redmond's

Chief Policy Advisor

Council Study Session, 10/8/24

Privately Owned Scooter Transportation

This comment was made by Patrick T. under a Redmond 2050 Facebook post:

"I ride a scooter as my primary method of transportation 99% of the year (unless it's actually frozen or snowy, like two weeks out of the year). Beyond all the advantages in cost to own and operate, I can just shoulder surf or lane-filter past stopped traffic AND I still get to be fully motorized so the time it takes me to get somewhere doesn't go up for 50 minutes (unlike with a bus). Also I can get up to 40mph so I can do longer distance travel on roads. It truly is a life hack, the best of both worlds. If it's rainy I have a rainproof jacket and pants, and if it's cold I have an extra layer. Screw traffic! "  

Patrick T.  

Redmond 2050 Facebook Page

Scooters have a small footprint so parking space is readily available, as well. 

 

"Pro Scooter Shop" on NE 95the Street by the Connector Trail and the Eastside Gym.  425-968-5058  A convenient location for a trial run.  

Other scooter stores.  Helmets are for sale at most stores.  

Posted by Yoder

10/12/2024

Old Redmond Schoolhouse Early Learning Center

In 2016, Lake Washington School District received a bond approval to begin renovating the original schoolhouse to be the district’s first early learning center. It technically opened in September of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to celebrate its opening. Instead, a crowd gathered on February 1, 2023 to mark the delayed opening with a presentation, ribbon cutting and a community open house.

Fun fact: Redmond Coucilmember Osman Sulahuddin is in this video. He always wears clean white sneakers😃. Osman is the youngest member on Council and he represents our youth exceptionally well.

posted by Yoder

10/12/2024

Sign Up For Osman's "Youth Board" - Be A Voice For The Eastside.

 

YOUTH BOARD: As a Redmond Councilmember, one of my main goals has been to engage more youth in the political process. That is why I'm excited to announce the launch of my Youth Board, a chance to participate in advocacy, policy initiatives, community events, and more! If you are a middle school or high school student (or if you know of someone who may be interested), this is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in the field and allow you to be a voice for youth all across the eastside! Applications are due on Wednesday, October 16th at 11:59 PM. Apply here: https://bit.ly/os-youthboard,

Redmond Natural Art

 

90th Street Run-off pond near the Sammamish River. 

Photo by John Reinke 

Letter to the Editor: UPDATED: Mayor Birney Has Too Much Power

Unlike its neighboring cities, such as Mercer Island, Bellevue, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell, and Sammamish, which ALL have a council-manager form of government, City of Redmond has a strong mayor-council form of government. Under the strong mayor form of government, mayor has too much power: while the council has legislative power, the mayor has veto power; the mayor is the chief executive officer, centralizing executive power. We have all witnessed the damages done allowing downtown homeless housing in Redmond and the entire Eastside when the mayor has too much power yet free from checks and balances.

Safe Eastside

Posted, 10/9/2024

Letter to the Editor: City Council Deprived Peoples' Rights On Homeless Decision

The Washington Constitution states, “All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.” When the Redmond City Council, deprived people of their rights to give input and rushed to give away public land to Plymouth Housing for developing a low-barrier homeless building in downtown Redmond, they failed to comply with the Washington Constitution.

Facts about the Plymouth homeless building in downtown Redmond:

• Located across the street from Anderson Park, only 0.5 miles from Redmond Elementary School;
• This is a 5-story, 100-unit, single adult only homeless building;
• No drug testing will be conducted. Drugs will be allowed in the building;
• Other than lifetime registered sex offenders, all other sex offenders are eligible;
• Other than meth producers who were convicted in the past 5 years, all other drug producers and drug dealers are eligible;
• The city made falsely claim and secretly plans to limit eligibility to people with disabilities. According to state law and the common practices of the state, county, and city, mental illness and substance use disorder are all considered disabilities. The city and Plymouth Housing want to secretly limit eligibility for this building to people with mental illness and drug addiction ;
• Homeless people from outside of Redmond are eligible;
• The City of Kenmore started this project via RFP in 2022 and rejected it in 2024 after three public hearings. The City of Redmond approved this project in 7 days with no public input period at all;
• The city is now withholding critical information and refuse to hold any public hearings;
• We, the people, must remind elected officials that they are elected by the people and for the people.

Safe Eastside

Posted by Yoder, 10/23/2024

City Conducting Traffic Safety, Signal Timing, and Operational Improvement Counts This Fall

Credit C.O.R. 

To support many city activities, including traffic safety, signal timing, and operational improvements, city staff are conducting the annual fall traffic and pedestrian counts. This work will be ongoing through early December.

Learn more about this work https://redmond.gov/863/Traffic-Co

-- X, 10/3/24

unts

Updated 10/27: Neighborhood Stormwater Threatens Sammamish River Salmon.

 In response to this post the City posted this advisory on their website front page.

Redmond's pollution truck advertises their pollution hot line:  425-556-2868 
photo by Yoder

We live two houses up from the intersection of NE 100th Street and 169th Ave. NE.  City public works had two trucks there working on a major drain to "clear up stormwater pollution."  Comcast is planning a downhill dig into 169th Ave. to install new cable that's eroded.  Comcast must have notified the city of a possible pollution problem since there was no "salmon sticker" near the drain.  A sewer line parallels the stormwater pipe making things more complicated.   

Copper residue from vehicular tires and/or fertilizers, car-washing soaps, and lawn mower oils may all have contributed to the pollution.  My guess is the stormwater pollution may have been caused by corrosion from Comcast's aging cable, tire contaminants, a sewer line leak or all three. This particular drain is in a prime location for stormwater run-off; collecting stormwater from two long residential roads. One could say the subject drain services a mini-stormwater watershed. 

  Fortunately, there are two nearby "wet-vaults" just downhill from the subject drain. Vaults treat the stormwater before it eventually enters the Sammamish River where salmon are migrating.  The supervisor said the vaults were fully operational containing only 20% sediment and didn't need to be vacuumed.  While Public Works was there they cleaned out a drain above the house from ours.   

If you have concerns about possible pollution in your neighborhood call the city hotline at 425-556-2868.  I asked the city and two city councilmembers for a "salmon sticker" for this drain and they didn't respond.  

-- Bob Yoder, Updated: 10/27/24 

Updated: "Council Conversations" In The Downtown Park

Downtown Park COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, The Safety Table / photo Yoder

I sat in at three tables conversing with councilmembers and residents at the busy Safety table, Environmental Sustainablity table and Miscellaneous table.  Council V.P. Jessica Forsythe presided over the Safety Table. Feedback from a resident/family living in a downtown apartment was especially interesting.  He wanted stop signs placed on Cleveland Street intersections and other downtown intersections -- said he saw pedestrians getting mildly brushed.  He said Uber drivers were the worst; always looking at their cell phones. Another guy complained about gangs that prey on residents for their belongings. He thought only 4 - 6 police officers patrolled the whole city and asked for 16 more officers.  I think Jessica said the department had over 140 officers (traffic, patrol, detective, drone, criminal, crime etc.) with plans for 4 more.  CM (councilmember) Fields asked why the need for 16 more officers?  I questioned the need for council taxing their city utilities and raising the business tax to fund a $6 million dollar public safety gap. IMO, the .25% city excise tax on construction was funding enough. 

I briefly sat in at CM Stuart's Environmental Sustainablity Table. Trees were a topic of great interest.  One resident said low income housing developments "lit up the heat map" owing to significant tree loss. Ms. Stuart said our canopy goal was 40%.  We're at about 38% canopy now.  Ms. Stuart alluded to the Master Builders lawsuit against Kirkland. The city has kept our existing 2018 Tree Regulations as is for 16 years (!) and now the new, approved Update has been delayed for two years longer because of the lawsuit, with no end is sight.  So, 40% goal seems out of reach. I suggested focusing on park and street trees like we have in the Downtown Park. Ms. Stuart lives in Overlake; she knows about the green roof installations on many of the buildings there.  My feedback was the city needs code for encouragement of "green roofs" in all downtown construction projects. At least three developments (villages) are planned for Redmond by 2050 and we need green roofs and wall gardens in those buildings,  

CM Stuart took this opportunity to update us on Sound Transit's light rail progress to our downtown. It was very interesting. I believe she said it will reach our downtown by mid-2025 and cross the bridge by late 2026.  I'm not light rail has something to do with our environment, but maybe in part.  I met Council President Vanessa Kritzer after the event; she spoke of a green vegetative - tree ring around the City one day.

Conversations didn't stop after the event was formally over.  I chatted with two on-duty police officers about "speed cameras."  It re-enforced my belief `they would consistently slow my "speed" around schools, but the ramifications to traffic congestion are unknown. I had a 25-minute talk with Andrew Villeneuve about our "news desert."   He wants to start an online newspaper and I plan to help him.  

Councilmember Fields has been pushing for neighborhood Conversations for years.  This one was a total winner and weather permitting, I hope we have many more!  Thank you Steve.  

-- Bob Yoder, 10/1/2024

[All  the councilmembers participated except for Angie.  Retired councilmembers Pat Vache' and Hank Myers were present. Sue Stewart, Kiwanis Secretary and Siri Bliesner retired LWSD Director, and active member of Civic Genius were present.  

[Siri is starting a Civic Genius roundtable on affordable housing.  "Deliberative Democracy" is at their core. If you would like to join Siri please email her at: siri@ourcivicgenious.org]  

Redmond Community Leader, John Oftebro, "Now And Then"

Photo:  LinkedIn 

John Oftebro 

NOW 

President of the Redmond Historical Society 

John Oftebro in 1967 pictured
outside Kusler’s Pharmacy / Internet

John Oftebro

THEN

Award Winning Pharmacist, Businessman, and Couger Alumnus