LWSD awarded grant to reduce bus emissions

Lake Washington School District Transportation Department was awarded $560,000 for new school buses! The WA State Dept. of Ecology awarded the grant to the district. The grant’s objective is to reduce emissions by replacing older buses with newer buses, thereby reducing toxic emissions up to 99%. Read more here: http://bit.ly/2wtN

Source:  LWSD Facebook

UPDATED OPINION: City loses opportunity to advance Zero Emissions and Green infrastructure

Steve Fields (Internet}

We all know that climate change is a huge issue in our country and our city.  In fact, during Council's retreat on Saturday, January 27, 2018 they voted "Green infrastructure  - Zero Emissions" as their No. 2 priority, out of 7 priorities. 

Sadly, in a Regular meeting on August 21 the council  rejected council member Steve Fields' request to represent the city in a global Green city-city conference.  All his traveling expenses will be paid by a  host city in China and a Canadian non-profit.  He was referred to the organizations by an acquaintance in the Chinese community.

Regardless, Steve is going to the conference as a citizen or a public official if he is sanctioned by Council.  The conference is from 9/18 - 9/28.  After consulting with the city attorney and submitting a written report to council explaining conference benefits he requested the City sanction his participation so as not to be construed as a gift.  Despite our City's Number 2 priority for the environment Steve Fields got raked over the coals by council "concerns."

A few of Council's concerns which led to a technical "No" vote were:

1.  His spousal travel (Council VP Carson)  Response:  Council member Anderson said non-profits often  pay for spousal attendance as an incentive.  Steve said he wouldn't take his spouse if requested by council.

2.  Couldn't find a website on the Canadian and Chinese organization. He wanted a willingness to transfer knowledge and experiences.  (Carson)  Responses: Steve  gave council a copy of the organization's certificate.  The organization has been operating for three years. Steve emphatically committed to sharing his knowledge and experiences.

3)  Confusion over payment as a citizen vs. payment as a council member and if Steve's trip expenses would be considered a gift from the city. Skeptical about other costs to the City..(Council Pres..Birney)  Response: The City attorney said if Council sanctioned the trip it would not be considered a gift. City costs would be minimal

4)  Similar concerns as Birney's  (Padya)

5)  Staff expenses in preparing Steve's report. The conference was of little value.  (Margeson)  Response:  Steve said it was a good opportunity for Redmond to share insight with other cities world-wide.

Council member Hank Myers was not in attendance.

If you read the annual retreat summary you'll see  Council decided on "conditions which guide success."  1) clarity of roles and goals, 2) impactful work, 3) sense for purpose, 4) willingness to transfer knowledge and experience. 5) Challenge  6) Pride in work, a sense of purpose and ownership.

Steve clearly meets all the criteria for the conditions of success in this endeavor. In my opinion the advancement within our Green City and Green infrastructure priority was shanghaied by  politics and and a fear of the unknown.

- Bob Yoder

Note:  An economic exposition will be held at the same location and time with funding by an Canadian non-profit.

"Seattle Times News Partners" - site of area blogs

The "Seattle Times" publishes a "Local News Partnership" site with links to selected local blogs in Puget Sound.  For clustered cities find the local news blog map HERE, click on Local News then scroll all the way down to the partnership map to find over 15 local news blogs, including mine.  Click on the city link that interests you.

The Bellevue and Shoreline blogs are especially well done. Some blogs have been discontinued. 

- Bob Yoder

Letter: Proposed zoning changes to the Sammamish Valley

Have you heard about the proposed zoning changes to the Sammamish Valley? It is very important not only locally, but state wide as it is an attack on the Growth Management Act. Check out FriendsofSammamishValley.org There is a meeting on Hollywood Hill on 8/27 at 7 pm. Learn about the proposed Beverage Ordinance and how it will impact land use along Redmond-Woodinville Rd in the Sammamish Valley. The meeting will be held in the community barn in The Farm at 15605 NE 144th Pl, Woodinville, 98072.

FriendsofSammamishValley.org

- Barbara Lau

World-renowned chalk artists gather in Redmond

International, national, and regional artists chalked their incredible street art at Redmond Town Center August 17 - 19.  It was the second year RTC hosted the exhibit. 

Ramko van Schaik from Holland is a 3-D artist, and in my opinion, he's on par with Dale Chihuly as far as creativity.. Ramko's interactive 3-D art is displayed, along with other artists, in this video.  It's a must click!

Future artists!   

B. Yoder

"Redmond Neighborhood Blog" is more user-friendly

With my wife Pam

Dear "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" readers,

Great news!  As of today, the "Redmond Blog" is user-friendly on your mobile devices!  Search "Redmond Blog" on your smart phones and check it out!  I think you'll like what you see and share the blog with your friends!

I don't make any money on this blog and write it as a hobby.  As you see I'm very passionate about our city and neighborhoods having lived here 40 years. 

I'd love to meet you at coffee someday and share stories.  Soul Food on Tuesday, late mornings is one of my haunts.  Community events, like the Downtown Park Grand Opening in September, are good places too.

All the best,

Bob Yoder
redmondblog@gmail.com

Housing density increases in neighborhoods - short plats

Density isn't increasing just in our downtown.

Last year the city Development manager said, as I recall about 14 "short plats" are proposed for future development. Above, is a photo of land being divided into parcels to build four housing units. Do you see the red cottage on the right?  The owner is selling it and a contiguous lot behind  for probable development (14,400 SF.) It's located across from the 85th & 166th Ave stoplight. Would the city even consider a development here?    Imagine up to 12 additional cars struggling to get onto 166th, the log-jam they could create at the intersection and safety issues. Of course the tall evergreen would be leveled.  

A short plat development further up the road will add up to 8 additional cars.  We've had to look at this development for almost two years,which included significant tree cutting.   

In my walks around the neighborhoods, I've seen three Short Plat proposals.  I wrote one of them up.  You can read it HERE. Who knows where the other proposed plats are located..  Hopefully, in other neighborhoods, like Grasslawn, Viewpoint, Overlake and SE Redmond. 166th Avenue -- a major gateway to downtown Redmond is seriously troubled.with traffic and the short plats only add fuel to the fire.    

B. Yoder, opinion

Definition:  A Short Plat (also referred to as a short subdivision) is used to divide land into four or fewer parcels or lots, any one of which is less than five acres, for the purpose of sale, lease, or other transfer of ownership.

Middle school students launch weather satellites

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a weather satellite – Rose Hill Middle 

school students collect data 17 miles in the air

Students in the Rose Hill Middle School Satellite Club worked all year for the big launch. All their hard work paid off on June 9 when six of their satellites floated to an elevation of 90,312 feet collecting weather data. The team of 13 sixth- and seventh-graders designed and built the 7” by 7” cube satellites for conducting atmospheric research. Students worked in teams to program the flight computers and sensors to collect the information. The satellites were able to document temperature, humidity and other weather conditions while attached to a weather balloon.

The group gathered at Devrie’s Dairy Farm in Moxee, Wash. for the launch. A transmitter with GPS tracking enabled the students to follow the real time position and speed of the satellites using a phone app. The satellites traveled at speeds of 60 miles per hour before falling back to Earth using a parachute. The equipment landed 150 miles north, near Waterville. The students attached video cameras to the satellites and spent the last few weeks of school reviewing the flight footage and analyzing the collected data. Club members used “space gummy bears” as the passengers for the flight. They were eaten shortly after landing.

Redmond mayor says rapid growth is here to stay

Mayor John Marchione
(Internet)

The following are excerpts from Mike Rosenberg's "Seattle Times" article of 8/11/2018:  Sure looks like rapid growth is here to stay.  

Redmond grew its housing stock by about 15 percent this decade, behind only Seattle among major King County cities.  Redmond is actually one of three King County suburbs (along with Issaquah and Federal Way) where a majority of homes are in multi-family buildings.

"Moratoriums and people who want to slow down growth exacerbate the housing problem." said Redmond Mayor John Marchione.  "I hear people who say' I want you to stop the growth in downtown and I want to lower prices.'  And that's economically impossible.  It's illogical but people still ask for that."

"If you really want housing prices to be stable, you need to increase the supply to lessen the price hike."

Of course, a big part of why housing doesn't get built in my suburbs is community opposition.  Marchione, the Redmond mayor guesses about one-third or his city's resident are generally opposed to all growth. What does he tell those people?

"I ask, where do you want your kids to live?"  Marchione said. He also tries to counter the impression among some homeowners that renters are "other," different people, noting that he himself recently downsized from a single-family house to an apartment.

Source:  "Housing Construction is at historic lows, while Seattle is setting records." 
By Mike Rosenberg, 8/11/2018 "Seattle Times."

My trip to Europe -- Redmond History & urban transportation

Two long rows of "scooters-motorcycles " blanket a plaza
in Sorrento credit/ Pam Yoder

On July 23, our family burst out of the Redmond bubble for an eye-opening visit to Ireland and Italy.  After 40 years of life in Redmond it was about time to gain new perspectives!

Our trip was instigated by my nephew, playing the Irish in a  Aussie Rules Football. tournament.  We lost both games but the Guinness, Jamison and lively pubs made up for it.

I had my eye out for the McRedmonds in Ireland.  None to be found.  Luke McRedmond immigrated to America during the potato famine and homesteaded here in 1850.  Upon becoming postmaster in 1882 he renamed the town from "Salmonberg" to Redmond.  [Click on the hyperlink to read a fascinating account of the early development of Redmond up to Microsoft's presence.]

My daughter Lexie, and her boyfriend had to leave after the tourney.  Pam and I extended our trip to visit Venice, Rome, Sorrento and Capri.  Great times!! but the biggest negative was a plethora of noisy, invasive "scooters" in Sorrento (pop. 16,500.)  They appeared as a scooter-motorcycle hybrid....not the kind I know...and often drove only feet from back-street restaurants.  As opposed to Ireland, Italian streets have no curbs so the "scooters" can drive and park most anywhere,  Cars had less presence. I saw a handful electric bikes and bicycles but no bike shares.  Rather, the streets and plazas were loaded with many large scooter parking spaces, as seen in the photo.

Electric bikes and bike shares have a smaller parking footprint than scooters and our curbed streets make these bikes less invasive and more controlled.  Electric bikes and bike shares are more appropriate than scooters for our urban centers and are the wave of the future for Redmond.

B. Yoder, opinion

Link Light Rail to Redmond

Link Light Rail to Redmond Project Summary

Sound Transit is extending light rail from Seattle to Redmond, with four stations in Redmond. Two stations, Overlake Village Station and the Redmond Technology Station, will open in Overlake in 2023. These stations are now under construction.

Two stations will open in 2024, one in Southeast Redmond and another in Downtown Redmond. The Downtown extension is in design, with Sound Transit preparing to solicit proposals from design-build teams this fall to complete design and construct the extension. Light Rail Extension to Downtown

The Downtown Redmond Link Extension is the 3.4-mile extension of light rail from the future Redmond Technology Station at NE 40th St. to the terminus station in Downtown Redmond.

Street Closures During Construction While most light rail construction for the Downtown extension will be along SR 520, limiting impacts to city streets,

There are five areas that will be significantly impacted by construction:

The Overlake “Triplets”

1. NE 40th St. at the eastbound SR 520 ramps

2. NE 51st St. at the eastbound SR 520 ramps

3. NE 60th immediately east of SR 520 Downtown Streets

4. NE 76th St. between 164th and 170th Aves. NE

5. 166th Ave. NE between NE 76th St. and Cleveland St.

Source:  Council Study Session memo of 8/28.

Great Blue Heron spears bullhead

credit John Reinke

This is a Great Blue Heron just after it caught a brown bullhead which is a local species of catfish here in Washington state.  The picture was taken this month at the wetland enclosure on the east side where 90th Street crosses the Sammamish River here in Redmond.  

- John Reinke

The City's Annual Citizen Survey, "National Night Out" and "Rockin' on the River" Events

Take the City's Annual Citizen Survey, Register for "National Night Out" against crime and "Rockin' on the River" Summer Concerts. 

Click here to begin

 "National Night Out" against crime is an excellent way to connect with your neighbors over a potluck.  I've hosted one and went to another last year.  On my first, a council member stopped by to say hi.  On the second, a friendly police battalion chief showed up in her nice car and spent a lot of time with us.  When you register you can request as visit from Fire, Police, a Council member and even the Mayor!  But register early.  There are only so many city folks to go around!

credit "Experience Redmond"

My wife and I have been to three "Rockin' on the River Summer Concerts."  The music is lively and so much fun to dance to while the atmosphere is still laid-back and relaxing. You can buy a fully loaded hot dog at the Kiwanis booth or bring your own for a picnic on the lawn.  We're going back every year! Bring your own chairs or a blanket.

As for the government survey I've had reservations taking them in the past since they've been so excruciatingly long.  They were also created by city staff to seemingly justify their actions and direct us to their goals. Not so. with this survey!  It is prepared by an independent outside consultant, is objective and without leading questions.  My only wish is more space for written feedback. It's a good survey and should help the city stay connected and engaged with us. 

B. Yoder, opinion

Home prices and population skyrocketing

Richard and Eileen  Morris

Thousands of Microsoft, Nintendo and other employees commute into Redmond every day raising the daytime population almost three-fold.  Of course most prefer living in Redmond to avoid the commute and to live in the premier LW school district. Supply simply can't keep up with demand and prices are skyrocketing.  Typically a bidding war begins right after a house is listed with the deal closed within a week.

My long-time friend and neighbor Richard and Eileen Morris sold their Education Hill, 2490 sf house for an incredible $906,000. They purchased it in 1982 for $100,000.  I'm really going to miss them but it's his time to retire (and "get the hell out of dodge." as I like to say.)  He, like many old-timers was a passionate community volunteer.   Richard spent hours building-out the Redmond Historical Society website and was honored the "History Hero" in 2012,  I will miss them dearly but they're not far away!

B. Yoder

Redmond growth will accelerate for years.  Currently our resident population is close to 68,000.  According to city projections,78,000 residents are expected by 2030.