Disenfranchised Citizen Gripes About The Little Things

This is my edited Letter of gripes written to the Council Ombudsperson.

Council lining up to receive the Salary Commissioners
I will report their salaries, stipends and benefits when they are available.

Council, 

I know you work hard and I hope the salary commission gives you what you're due, including the stipends and benefit improvements you and HR are giving yourselves.   

The city is wealthy from construction income yet you are nickel and diming us with fees:  Utility fees, Park fees, Recreation fees, Senior & Community Center fees.  Are fees at Perrigo, Meadows, Hartman courts next?  Fees are so many and scattered all over the Community/Senior Center that I can't sum them up. 

Your action of charging residents and commercial a $15 fee on automatic utility payment looks ridiculous considering our city wealth. After 40 minutes of trouble shooting with utility staff I learned "a Director" acted too soon and now the fee must be reversed "until Council makes a decision on what to do."  Should COO Files get involved?  

I didn't appreciate CM Stuart calling me out in public after the Hearing on Initiative 2117.  Amongst your new procedural rules that limit public participation, you should look at yourselves. Vice President Jessika Foresythe gave a good report on the specifics of the Climate Commitment Act as it relates to city monies.  

Finally, Council President Vanessa Kritzer's participation during King County Councilmember Perry's "Town Hall" was excessive, shortening Ms. Perry's Q&A significantly. Other's felt so too. She IS a good speaker and does a lot of it.   Perry's Community Engagement manager (and city councilmember) Osman Salahuddin generated a good turnout with great speakers.  

 

Thank you for your interest and representation.  

Sincerely,

 

Opinion Bob Yoder, 9/9/2024

Redmond resident