LWSD Restructures And Grows During The Pandemic

                                                           Vote "Yes" for LWSD Levies!

LWSD Board of Directors / Internet

The LWSD Central Leadership Administration has restructured and grown significantly since the pandemic. Human Resources has its own Superintendent, an Executive, and four Directors to do the job. Thirty Directors (~$185,220) and three new Executive Directors ($192,610.) appear the workhorses. Two of seven superintendents are new. Is LWSD getting too big for it's britches?  When I report on their Operating Budget you'll have an idea.

As you see below, the new "Director of Business Services," department has a big responsibility with four Managers and 32 reports. The Communications Director has a much less challenging job but is paid the same as the Director of Business Services. The School Board should take action on these imbalances.

SHANNON PARTHEMER  Salary excluding benefits: $185,220 

DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS (1 Manager, 12 reports)

Mailroom secretary

Print Center supervisor

Volunteer supervisor 

LINKS coordinator

Support services coordinator 

Bindery specialist

Web specialist 

Social media specialist

Video/media specialist

Receptionist/Front Desk

Communications Manager

Graphic artist

CHRIS BRENEGEN  Salary excluding benefits: $185,220

DIRECTOR BUSINESS SERVICES (4 Managers, 32 reports)

Budget & Fiscal Manager (5 reports) Supervisors (2)

Accounting Manager (9 reports) Technicians (13)

Purchasing Manager (2 reports) Senior Buyer

Payroll & Benefits Manager (4 reports) 

Sodexo Nutrition Services

"READ MORE" for the seven superintendents' salary and benefits, compared to Redmond's COO.

Forest Steward Gary Smith Leads Work Party At Smith Woods Park

Green Redmond organized a work party at Smith Woods Park today to mulch a trail from it's eastside towards the park's western wetland.  Gary Smith, a long-time Forest Steward & Chair of the Parks and Trails Commission managed the project.  Sharon from City Parks worked hard and kept a close eye on the pitchforks, iron rakes and awesome ergonomic wheelbarrows.  About twenty-five neighborhood volunteers literally "pitched" in, laying 15 yards of mulch to build the trail.  Mulching six inches deep was necessary. We completed the project in only 2.5 hours.

The trail is an east-west connector with a destination to a donated park bench honoring the Smith family.  A ceremony to dedicate the bench is planned for next month. 

Forest Steward Gary Smith is in the foreground catching his breath.  The trail heads west from here towards the wetland.  Double click to enlarge.

Gary is standing left side of the mulch pile, Sharon is second from the right. So sorry the photo is blurred. Click pic to enlarge.

Internet

 Gary's been the Forest Steward at Idlewood Park for years. Here he's educating a child on restoration.  Learn more about Gary HERE (scroll)

Bob Yoder, Photos and Report, 1/15/2022

The Origins of Pickleball: How It All Began / And Where To Play!

 

 

Many thanks to Shelly Bowman, Redmond Parks Commissioner, for sharing this amazing video on the origins of Pickleball.  The City is offering two outdoor courts at the Senior & Community Center.  Last summer two Perrigo Park tennis courts were temporarily converted to Pickleball on a rotating, trial basis.  Shelly says there's a court at Nike Park, Westside Park, Spiritbrook Park and two Grasslawn Park tennis courts with partial pickleball lines. Shelly says "apparently the ORSH (Old Redmond School House) is offering 4 indoor opportunities starting March 1 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings."  Two Redmond gyms each offer two portable courts at 24 Fitness and 425 Fitness 

Register with the City for ORSH pickleball here!

-- Reported by Yoder

Lake Washington School District Levies, February 2022

New Levy for Critical Construction Needs:   

Total cost for all the projects is $295 million, allowing for construction costs, construction inflation, sales tax, and other fees.  

The Levy will provide classroom space for 2,350 students by: 

• Adding a new elementary school on underdeveloped land on Redmond Elementary Campus, with up to 24 classrooms = 550 students
• Additions at Finn Hill, Kirkland and Redmond Middle Schools = 600 students
• Additional high school capacity for about 1,200 students
• Acquiring property for future schools.

This Levy authorizes an average of $49.2 million per year over six years. The levy rate is estimated to be an average of $0.52 per $1,000 of assessed value. This rate combined with previously approved construction measures will total $1.32 per thousand assessed value. The tax rate for construction levies will decrease over time as past bonds are paid off and prior construction levies expire.

###

Renewal Educational Programs & Operations Levy: The average annual amount per year is $92.3 million. The measure replaces an expiring levy and the levy rate is estimated at $1.03 per $1,000 of assessed value.

 Renewal School Technology & Capital Projects Levy: The average annual amount per year is $44.3 million. The measure replaces an expiring levy and the levy rate is estimated at $0.49 per $1,000 of assessed value.

FAQ  (election is February 8th)

Source:  District website

LWSD High Schools Transition To Remote Learning

Three Lake Washington School District schools transitioned to temporary remote learning earlier this week.

Lake Washington, Redmond, and Juanita High Schools moved on Monday to temporary remote classes.  Eastlake High School move to remote learning on Wednesday.

Per the district website, shortages are the result of COVID-related quarantines, general illness and other absences.

-- Seattle Times, 1/12/2022

Mayor Angela Birney Reviews 2021 Accomplishments

Bear Creek Floods Behind Safeway Closing The Trail

The photo below shows Bear Creek spilling onto it's floodplain after an "atmospheric river" deluge the first week of January, 2022.  The photo was taken behind Safeway on the "Bear Creek Trail and Greenway." The creek crested ~ Friday. This photo was taken on Sunday. You're looking at floodplain not the creek. The creek is in the distance.  Nearby Avondale Way bridge is a great place to see salmon in September and October when spawning.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

The City did a great job posting interpretive signs along the trail. This one explains flooding.  I saw evidence of a deer in the creek riparian. It's amazing urban downtown Redmond is home to these critters!  (Of note: A family was having lunch on the Creekside picnic table.)

(The rains and snow were so bad last week that all five passes were closed; Leavenworth declared a state of emergency calling in the National Guard. Another atmospheric river is expected the week of 1/10/2022.  I'll take another picture on Thursday when I think the creek will crest.) 

UPDATED: Councilmembers Jessica Forsythe and Vanessa Kritzer Elected Council Officers

The election was held during the January, 4th Regular Council meeting.  A video of the meeting is here.

Councilmember Jessica Forsythe was elected Council President, (5-2)  Carson, Fields, Kahn, Kritzer, Forsythe.  (Stewart nominated Anderson.)

Councilmember Kritzer was elected Vice President, (4-3) Anderson, Stewart, Carson, Kritzer.  (Forsythe nominated Anderson, Anderson declined the nomination, Anderson and Kritzer nominated Stewart for Vice President. Carson and Fields advised against it.)

Councilmember Kahn nominated Councilmember Fields for President. Mr. Fields declined.  Fields nominated Ms. Kahn for V.P.  Ms. Anderson voted "no."  Ms. Kahn nominated Mr. Fields for V.P.  Councilmember Anderson voted "no."  Councilmember Malissa Stewart was nominated for V.P.  Councilmember David Carson discouraged her owing to lack of experience. (This is her first year as a representative.)

Council President Jessica Forsythe

Jessica Forsythe

Position #3
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Jessica Forsythe
Phone: 425-305-7206
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Parks and Human Services Committee of the Whole, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, Eastside Human Services Forum (EHSF)

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio which works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Ms. Forsythe is a thoughtful, creative thinker who takes a holistic approach to every project. She believes strongly in being involved at the local level and knows first-hand the impact one person can have on their community.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Jessica graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Environmental Design. She has worked in environmental design, architecture, branding, and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She has volunteered with numerous community and charity organizations, most notably her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Jessica has also served on various non-profit boards including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

She enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Council Vice President Vanessa Kritzer

Vanessa Kritzer

Position #5
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Vanessa Kritzer
Phone: 425-305-9892
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Finance, Administration, and Communications Committee of the Whole, Community Facilities District (CFD) Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP), Sound Cities Association (SCA), WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council, Lake Sammamish Kokanee ILA Management Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Committee.

School District Levies, Town Hall Q&A Session

This page will be updated with Levy specifics.

Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream

"Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved A Salmon Stream, 1980 - 2020,"

Redmond Historical Society.

Redmond Historical Society: "Bear Creek a small stream east of Seattle – some Redmond residents don’t even know it runs through town ending at the Sammamish River between Marymoor Park and Redmond Town Center -- but Bear Creek is notable for its historically strong runs of wild salmon. In the past half-century those runs have declined, especially that of the threatened Puget Sound Chinook. That trend is sadly common in Northwest waterways, but in this case the decline has been slowed by local efforts to support the fish."

Gary Smith, a standout Redmond volunteer, Parks Commission Chair, Water Tender Board member and WRIA 8, compiled a research project and supporting materials interviewing the following stewards of Bear Creek, most of them Water Tenders:

Interview with Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl  -- Water Tender President & Board member with long family history of life at  Paradise Lake, the headwaters of Bear Creek.  

Interview with Terry Lavender, *Founder of Water Tenders and Board Chair. Terry describes her long experience on Bear Creek working with citizen groups and county officials to preserve and rehabilitate property on and around the creek.

Interview with Mayor John Marchione.

Interview with Dick Schaetzel, past President of Water Tenders (1991.)  Very active. Dick's home is 30 feet from Bear Creek. 

Interview with Tom Murdock, Executive Director of "Adopt A Stream."  

Ray Heller, King County Basin Steward for Bear Creek, 91-93

Written Q&A with Roger Dane C.O.R. Public Works.

Many thanks to the Redmond Historical Society for initiating and publishing "Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream," 1980 - 2020  (7/13/2021)

-- Bob Yoder, 1/7/2022

Redmond Parks and Recreation To Reopen January 4th

December 28, 2021

Redmond, WA – After an extended closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation Department will have a phased reopening of indoor programs, facilities, and services starting Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. With increases in COVID-19 vaccination rates, expansion of boosters, eligibility of vaccinations for children five and older, and additional safety protocols, city staff are eager to welcome back participants to a safe environment for indoor recreation.

The Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, Old Firehouse Teen Center, Old Redmond Schoolhouse, and Bytes Café within Redmond City Hall will reopen to the public while adhering to all city, state, and county guidelines including, but not limited to the following:

• Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test administered within the last 72 hours to a staff member upon entering the building, per the King County Public Health Order.
• Participants ages two and older will be required to wear a mask at all times inside city facilities.
• In accordance with Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Proclamation, all recreation staff were required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 18.

Indoor facility rentals, for groups of five to 85 people, will be available starting Jan. 4 at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village.

To find hours of operation, register for activities, and learn more about recreation and rental services, the community can visit www.redmond.gov/PlaySafe.

For questions and more information, contact Jill Smith, Communications Manager, at jesmith@redmond.gov or 425-556-2448. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov/PressReleases.

 Prancing puppy Zoey wishing you a Happy New Year!

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Development of Esterra Park Leveled A Forest To Provide Needed Microsoft Housing

SHORT VIDEO OF ESTERRA PARK, THE ESTERRA APARTMENTS. AND OFFICE SPACE -- Worth every minute

Many posts on the controversial deforestation of the land are here!

2600 apartment units / 6 communities 

285 rooms/ 2 hotels

Project Overview

Lincoln Properties (PARKSIDE) is designing three multifamily buildings on blocks 5, 6A and 9 of Esterra Park. Building “6A” on block 6A is proposed at six stories with 215 homes. Building “A” is proposed as an eight-story building with 212 homes that straddles blocks 5 and 9. Building “B” is also on blocks 5 and 9. It is proposed as two buildings connected by enclosed walkways, with heights of five and six stories and 231 homes. The north portion of Building “B” faces the Park at Esterra Park.

Project Overview

The project (white structure on right) incorporates a 7-story office building with 3-levels of underground parking featuring a new access road with fire truck and utility access. (The white structure on the left is lodging.)

Project Number:  LAND-2018-00817

Project Overview

Avalon Bay Communities is designing a six-story, 330-home building on block 8 of Esterra Park. Block 8 is across NE Turing Street from the Park at Esterra Park site. The design for the building includes a ground-level courtyard that opens to the side facing the park.

Project Overview

As part of the Esterra Park Master Plan, Capstone Partners is designing a 2.67-acre publicly-accessible park. After completing design of the park, Capstone will construct, own and maintain the park. Early in 2014, Capstone solicited input on park design and presented a design to the Parks and Trails Commission in June and August 2014. Capstone presented a park design to the City Council in August 2014. Elements in the current design include: 

• Hill climb
• Meadow
• An open green
• Overlook
• Plazas
• Terraced garden
• Tree groves

-- Esterra websites, 12/20/2021

 

Hello Mr. Yoder,  We do not maintain a specific record tracking Councilmember meeting attendance.   However, we do have that information included with the information for each council meeting in our online Meeting Information Center. In addition to being announced during the meetings, attendance is noted on the minutes/summaries for the meetings, which can be found at: https://redmond.legistar.com/.   If you click on the “Meetings Calendar” on that web page, a new page will appear showing all Council meetings, by date.  At the top of the page, you want the search box to show 2021 so it will show all 2021 meetings. To the right on that page, there are links to meeting details, meeting agendas, meeting summaries or minutes, and videos if they are available.    There is also a feature within the “Meeting Details” link, where you can click on each meeting’s details, click onto “Show: All Agenda Items” (as opposed to Show: Legislation Only) and then click on the “Roll Call”, link on the right hand side of the page where it will let you know the attendance at that particular meeting.    Please let me know if you need help accessing these links or navigating the page to find the information you need.  I can be reached at 425-556-2195.   Thank you.  Sara Smith  City Clerk's office     On 12/14/2021 8:25:04 AM, City of Redmond wrote: RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of 12/14/2021, Reference # W022020-121421 Dear Bob, The City of Redmond received your public records request on 12/14/2021, regarding “Hello - RE: Councilmember Varisha Kahn meeting attendance Since January 1st, 2021, how many in-person Business meetings has Ms. Kahn attended? How many remote Business meetings did Ms. Kahn attend ? Same for Study Sessions, Council committee meetings and misc. meetings (like "Community Conversations." ) How many unexcused meetings did Ms. Kahn have? ### What is the salary and benefits for councilmembers? Thank you! Bob Yoder” Your request will be forwarded out to the applicable department(s) for response.  You will be notified regarding the status of your request by 12/21/2021 (5 business days per RCW 42.56). Thank you for your submission, City of Redmond Public Records Coordinator Login: City of Redmond Public Record Center  On 12/14/2021 8:25:04 AM, Bob Yoder wrote:

Public Records Rules and Resources

City of Redmond Public Disclosure Policies and Procedures (PDF)
Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56)
Attorney General's Open Government Resource Manual
Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington

Public Records Request Fees

General Records Fee Schedule (PDF)

Police Records Request information

More information about Police Records Requests

Are you a Law Enforcement or Government Agency requesting a record?

Email the Police Records Office

 

The City Clerk is the City’s designated public records officer, and oversees compliance with the Public Records Act. To contact the City Clerk, Cheryl Xanthos, please email cityclerk@redmond.gov.

The City Clerk has delegated the responsibilities of overseeing the public records request program and processing requests to other staff. Please direct questions regarding the public records disclosure process to the Public Records Disclosure Program Coordinator: Sara Smith, Phone 425-556-2195, email slsmith@redmond.gov.

 

Public Records Office

Physical Address

City Clerk's Office
15670 NE 85th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 97010
M/S: 3NFN
Redmond, WA 98073

Phone: 425-556-2195
Fax: 425-556-2198

Police Records Office

Physcial Address

Redmond Police Department
8701 160th Ave NE
Redmond, WA 98052

Mailing Address

P.O. Box 97010
M/S: PSPDR
Redmond, WA 98073

Phone: 425-556-2600
Fax: 425-556-2540

 

Receipt of Request: You will receive notice that your request has been received within 48 business hours. If you do not receive this notice within 48 business hours of your submission, please contact the records officer at 425-556-2195 in order to ensure that your request was received properly.

UPDATED, 12/21: Art Is Back In Redmond!

Laura Lee Bennett (correct spelling,) is Executive V.P. of the Redmond Historical Society and a VALA Board member. She gave me a tour of VALA, highlighting community Penny farthing art. 

Laura Lee is standing next to Dawn Laurant's "In Place" oil painting.  Dawn is a past VALA Board member and art appraiser.  (double click to see Dawn's artwork.) 

Crystal Edwards is President of VALA Eastside ("Venues for Artists in the Local Area.")  The Penny farthing is her creation. VALA's Mission is "Connecting artists to artists, artists to the community, and the community to art." Years ago VALA had an art center at Redmond Town Center, then moved to Kirkland.  This is their new space back in Redmond, and the first exhibit is called "We Are Here!" Many past VALA Board members, volunteers, and other contributors are in the show.  

VALA is an official blinker stop for "Redmond Lights 2021." Stop by and pick up a holiday blinker!  Their art center is at 8020-161 Av. Ne. #104, just a hop across the street from NW  Downtown Park.  Find hours of operation at their website! 

-- Bob Yoder, 12/18/2021

   Photos, Yoder

Redmond's "Verde Esterra Park" Is 644 Units With A Bicycle Shop

 

Overlake's Verde Esterra Park to open January, 2022 / Yoder, 12/17/2021

The vision
Capstone designed the park and ran it past Council and Parks & Trails Commission.  The City won't maintain it. 

The last phase of Esterra Park, the 28-acre mixed-use redevelopment of an old hospital property (Group Health) in Redmond, will be carbon neutral. This phase includes an office building leased to Microsoft, which has a stated goal of operating as a carbon negative company by 2030, more than 600 apartments and the overall project's centerpiece, a 3-acre park.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Verde at Esterra Park is a 634-unit residential development located in the Overlake community of Redmond, WA. The property abuts a 2.6-acre park and offers easy access to the region’s largest employer and to public transit. Verde at Esterra Park features 34,000 SF of outdoor amenity space, including two courtyards, two rooftop decks, and a central mews. Interior amenities include a collaborative working space and an on-premise bike shop. Bike-friendly facilities and easy access to public transit help reduce residents’ dependence on vehicles.

Verde at Esterra Park takes the site’s challenging grade and transforms it into a celebrated feature, with unique stepping of the building masses mimicking the natural landforms and patterns of the Sammamish Valley. The development’s folded planes maximize solar exposure for units and frame memorable vignettes of the park and surrounding context. Amenity spaces and exterior courtyards are located adjacent to the park to enable interaction with nature.

-- Runberg Architecture Group

Website information:  "If you could design your own park, (Esterra Park) what would you include? Exercise, music, food trucks, restaurant pop-ups, gathering spots, a comfortable work area, green space? We agree with you. When completed in 2022, The Park will have all that and more."

Yoder, 12/17/2021

8-story Modera Overlake's Plaza Is A "Crown Jewel"

Modera Overlake / Apartments.com

The site is approximately 1.41 acres in size and is located on the southwest corner of Bel-Red Road and NE 21 Street, in Overlake. Currently, this would be the first Redmond redevelopment along Bel-Red road, in Overlake Village. (15260 & 15248 Bell Red.)

The proposal is to construct an 8-story mixed-use apartment building with approximately 288 residential units and approximately 3,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space.

The development is proposed to have four levels of parking; two & half below grade and one and a half above grade. 

The applicant is proposing an 8-story building, which is possible in this zone with the use of various incentive techniques, including the plaza dedication, subterranean parking, and provide housing above the minimum required. Why doesn't the Planning Department incent with a "green roof?"

Modera Overlake will set the design direction and tone for this neighborhood for years to come. Staff believes that this project has done a good job in breaking up the massing of the overall building by creating two unique facades on NE 21st and Bel-Red Road. Staff believes that the bold design and brick façade will create a building that differentiates itself from other mid-rises in the area. The corner (above) creates a simple gateway that helps highlight the commercial space and provides ample pedestrian zone next the busy road. The plaza design will be a jewel in the crown of the overall project and will be a great example of what other pocket parks throughout the community can be. 

-- Design Review Board pre-application meeting memo, 8/15/2019

Abridged by Yoder, 12/17/2021

Photo, City of Redmond

King County Directs Public to Prepare Now for a Rapid Surge in Local COVID-19 Omicron Cases

The highly infectious Omicron variant is moving at an astonishing speed, according to the latest projections. We project the number of King County cases by next week to be three-times higher than the highest peak we've seen previously in the pandemic. We expect case numbers to continue to rise in January.

A similar pattern is expected to emerge in other parts of the United States.

The severity of Omicron cases is not clear at this time. Most fully vaccinated people should be protected from severe infection, but we expect to see many more serious cases in unvaccinated people, as well as many milder breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.

The rapid rise in cases has the potential to be more disruptive than previous waves, endangering the health care system's ability to care for people, as well as being a major disruptor to businesses, schools and key infrastructure, as employees become ill.

King County residents and workplaces are urged to take steps now to reduce the risk to themselves, their families, and others in order to lower the impact of the expected surge on the health care system and the community.

The latest projections are based on the rapid rate of spread of the Omicron variant in other countries, along with the latest local sequencing data.

"If we do a very simple 10-day projection of this rate of growth, we should expect 2,100 daily Omicron cases in King County on December 22, 2021. This is approximately 3 times the number of cases seen at the highest point in the pandemic for King County (December 2020)," said Trevor Bedford, computational biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.