The 2023 Pay Plans are being approved by Council this week. Below, is a review of the proposed Pay Plans for the city executives.
EXECUTIVE PAY PLAN (does not include Bonuses, Benefits and Perks)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) $178,000, $213,000, $250,000 / year - low, middle, high range
Fire Chief, Police Chief, Public Works Director: $223,000 (high-end)
Directors: Human Resources, Finance, Information Officer, Parks, and Planning & Development. $215,000 (high-end.)
Deputy Directors: Fire, Police, Public Works, Information Services. $195,000.
Deputy Directors: Finance, Parks, Executive, H.R, Planning & Development Public Works. $187,000.
Mayor Birney pushed hard for a Deputy Director in every department.
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| Director Carol Helland |
I believe
Carol Helland, the city's "Director of Planning & Community Development"
is the most influential executive in the city. As Administrator of the Technical Committee, Public Notice, DRB, planning staff, Human Services and other high level duties she has great powers. Mayor Birney and council rely heavily on Helland for her understanding and implementation of Redmond's Growth Management Act requirements. Her interpretation of building codes, amendments and other planning armamentaria shape the form, function and character of downtown Redmond, Overlake and our gentrifying neighborhoods. She negotiates Development agreements
with the mayor. (A 21-acre redevelopment contract with NELSON has been inked, with RTC on deck.) Carol recently hired Deputy Seraphie Allen to connect with OneRedmond, assist the Redmond 2050 Long Range Planning Team, oversee the department's ~ 60 planners, directs the Human Services Commission, if that's not enough, oversees the planning commission staff. Director Helland is truly an urbane planner extraordinaire.
To give feedback or request information on planning and any other departments email Heather Burtsch, the city's "Customer Experience Coordinator." She's a great resource and very professional. Heather can be reached by email at info@redmond.gov or call 425-556-2900.
-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 1/19/2023, updated, 3/2/2023
We live in "unincorporated Woodinville" and had the occasion to drive through downtown Redmond for the first time in a while. Holy cookie cutter, I haven't seen so many gray apartments lined up one after the other along a major thoroughfare, with almost no setback from the street for trees.
ReplyDeleteEither the council or the Community Development department failed residents of the city. I'm not sure why every building has to look exactly the same with almost no character or distinguishing features? Housing was needed, yes - but downtown Redmond now feels soul-less. Gone are the days where you could grab cheap eats at Herfy's or Frankie's. Now you're stuck with expensive restaurants sitting in the first floor retail spaces of these apartment buildings, if they're lucky enough to be able to pay the rent these spaces charge. I get it - old strip malls are eyesores, but they often house popular businesses that would otherwise be unable to afford higher rent.
On the other hand, I have been super impressed with what Woodinville has done with the schoolhouse district and Woodin Creek areas. It actually feels like it has character and it has adequate parking for the retail that's there. The Molbak's redevelopment seems encouraging and hopefully it can continue the trend in that area. That actually feels like a place I would want to live if I was single and wanted an apartment or if I wanted to downsize. Redmond does not.