Mayor Birney Introduces Preliminary Biennial Budget

 

Mayor Angela Birney / redmond.gov

REDMOND, WA – On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Mayor Angela Birney introduced the City of Redmond’s preliminary 2027 - 2028 biennial budget at City Council’s regular business meeting. Over the next several weeks, Council will review and discuss the draft budget ahead of the final budget adoption, which is anticipated for Tuesday, Nov. 10. 

Mayor Birney provided an introduction and an overview of the budget in a letter and an executive summary. The full budget can be viewed at redmond.gov/Budget. Some highlights of the preliminary 2027 - 2028 biennial budget include:

• Housing and Human Services funding to address community needs, including a Housing Navigator, affordable housing investments, and severe weather services.
• Public safety investments to support core operational capacity, emergency preparedness, and operational readiness.
• Rebuilding the City’s Teen Center and ensuring the community’s vision is fully reflected in the new building.
• Redeveloping the City’s Maintenance and Operations Center.
• Rebuilding Fire Station 11.
• Protecting the environment by advancing the City's sustainability and climate resilience work.
• Funding for the RedLink program, a safe route to school action plan, and a transportation network wayfinding plan.
• Creating a new city department that will focus on getting permits approved faster and enhancing the City’s customer service standards.

The City continues to seek community feedback on the preliminary 2027 - 2028 biennial budget and will host two additional public hearings at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and Monday, Nov. 2. Public comments related to each budget hearing can be submitted by email to budget@redmond.gov. 

Portion of Sammamish River Trail Closed Starting October 13

 The Sammamish River Trail in Redmond runs North transitioning into the 19 mile Burke-Gilman Trail in Bothell then into the heart of University of Washington campus. 

Credit/ King County

Starting Tuesday, October 13, 2026, a section of the Sammamish River Trail will be fully closed for construction from the North Shore Parking Lot at NE 145th Street south to NE 143rd Street.

Heavy equipment will occupy the full width of the trail. Trail users will not be able to pass through the work area during the closure.

The closure is expected to last a few hours, but work may take longer and could continue over multiple days. The trail will reopen as soon as possible and at the end of each workday if additional work is needed.

Please follow posted closure signs. Thank you for your patience as we complete this work.

Questions? Contact parksinfo@kingcounty.gov or (206) 477-4527. 

King County Councilmember Dunn Issues Statement Following Passage of a New Tax

 

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn/ credit King County

Dunn issues statement following Council passage of new tax

 

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn issued the following statement Tuesday after the King County Council passed a sales tax increase without requesting approval from voters. The tax does not have a defined spending plan but is expected to fund youth homelessness services through the Department of Community and Human Services. Its passage comes on the same day as the appointment of a new Inspector General, who is being hired following an Ombuds investigation that revealed waste, fraud, or abuse likely occurred across other DCHS youth-oriented programs.

“Families Across King County are being squeezed by the high costs of housing, groceries, and fuel. At the same time, the county has had to take repeated steps to address waste and fraud in its own spending. The difficult truth is that raising taxes will not make life more affordable. Before asking King County families to once again pay more, we ought to get our own house in order.”

-- King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn

Dean Weidner, Gives EvergreenHealth Largest Gift In History

Dean Weidner, EvergreenHealth longtime philantropist

Dean Weidner was a patient at EvergreenHealth when CEO Ettore Palazzo stopped by his room. Weidner, a longtime philanthropist at the hospital, asked him a simple question: "What's the biggest challenge EvergreenHealth will face in the next 20 years?"

Palazzo’s response was: "Growing. Having the space to care for a community that's growing right alongside us."

That conversation led Weidner to give $100 million to EvergreenHealth, the largest gift in the community-owned hospital's history. The gift will fund a new Patient Tower, with construction beginning in 2027, expanding the hospital's capacity to serve the community for generations to come.

This morning, EvergreenHealth announced Weidner's gift. 

Dean and Ana Weidner were dedicated to the health and welfare of their community. Dean was a successful business leader in the multifamily housing industry. Ana devoted much of her life to philanthropy, with a particular passion for wildlife conservation and animal welfare. They have been actively involved in improving care and supporting key projects at EvergreenHealth since 2019. Ana Weidner passed away in 2024, and Dean Weidner passed away in early 2026. 

-- Press release, 9/28/2026

Bob Yoder, Founder of Redmond Neighborhood Blog

Bob Yoder / credit EvergreenHealth

Bob Yoder is a long-time resident, community advocate, and the founder of the hyper-local Redmond Neighborhood Blog. [1, 2, 3]

• Background: He has lived on Education Hill in Redmond, Washington, for over 40 years after moving from Arizona. Professionally, he worked in medical products sales and marketing. [1, 2]
Community Advocacy: He started the Redmond Neighborhood Blog in 2007 to track local environmental issues like industrial pollution in Evans Creek and to cover city council meetings, local events, and public affairs. [1, 2, 3]
Recognition: He received EvergreenHealth's 2024 Community Service Award for his leadership and advocacy regarding local mental health care and behavioral health awareness. [1] 

Source: AI,  9/26/2026

UPDATED: WALK FOR EPILEPSY October 3

The Walk was a success!  ~ $70,000 was raised for the Epilepsy Foundation; over 300 participated in the park walk sharing their stories.  Next year the event will be held in Spokane, as well!  8 friends and family participated in my daughter's Spokane virtual walk. They raised $1,800!  Brooks was carried right along with them!  

Walk a mile in the park to advocate for epilespy care. Bring your friends!  Pam, I and Zo are on the "Brooks the Brave" team.  Brooks is my 2-year old grandchild struggling with medication-resistent seizures requiring brain surgery and lengthy rehabilitation.  His parents are amazing, loving caregivers dedicated to his rehabilitation!  Brooks is doing so much better!

Sign up or get more info through the Seattle Walk for Epilepsy Event Page.

Schedule

9:30 AM | Arrive and get checked in or get registered and ready to walk! Explore our partner tents, enjoy light refreshments and participate in our family-friendly activities.
9:55 AM | Opening Remarks: Hear from community partners, celebrate our top fundraisers, learn about our mission and recognize our loved ones affected by epilepsy and seizures.
10 AM | Walk with your team! The Walk course is 1 mile long. Feel free to walk as many times as you would like! 
12 PM | Event Ends / food truck/ speakers

Questions?  Email Bob Yoder:  redmondblog@gmail.com

Dr. Ettore Palazzo, Our Exceptional Puget Sound Executive

The Future of Community Healthcare, by Dr. Palazzo (video)

EvergreenHealth CEO Dr. Ettore Palazzo (ai)

 

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of EvergreenHealth is Dr. Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP. He also serves as the Superintendent of King County Public Hospital District No. 2.  Monroe Hospital [1, 2]

About Dr. Ettore Palazzo

Dr. Palazzo is a long-tenured physician and healthcare executive who transitioned from direct patient care to executive leadership within the EvergreenHealth system.

• Appointment as CEO: He took over as CEO on December 10, 2023, succeeding the retiring CEO, Jeff Tomlin. [1]
• Long Career at EvergreenHealth: Dr. Palazzo has been part of the EvergreenHealth medical staff for over two decades, having originally joined the hospital system in 2003 as an internal medicine hospitalist. [1, 2]
• Previous Leadership Roles: Before steping into the CEO role, he accumulated extensive administrative experience across several key leadership positions in the organization, including:
  • Chief Medical and Quality Officer (where he oversaw clinical quality, patient safety, risk management, and infection control during the pandemic)
  • Managing Physician of the Internal Medicine Hospitalist Service
  • Information Technology Medical Director of Inpatient Services
  • Quality Medical Director [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Education & Credentials: He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine and holds a Fellowship from the American College of Physicians (FACP). [1, 2]
• Community & Board Involvement: Beyond his work at EvergreenHealth, he serves on the boards of the Washington State Hospital Association and the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce. He has also been a vocal advocate for community health initiatives, backing voter-approved property tax increases to expand local primary care, urgent care, and behavioral health infrastructure. [1]
  

Strategic Focus: As a leader, Dr. Palazzo frequently speaks on modernizing healthcare, including the integration of AI in healthcare, expanding services for seniors, and sustaining community-funded health programs. [1, 2]