UPDATED, 4/28: Council member Steve Fields leads discussion on pedestrian / car collisions

Not the best picture 😁 (l-r) Fields, Myers, Padye, Birney and
Anderson.  -- click to enlarge photo

Council member Steve Fields is concerned about a possible rising incidence of  bike and pedestrian collisions with cars due to city growth.  He had heard anecdotal reports of collisions especially at intersections and asked Police Chief Wilson for a statistical report. At last Tuesday's Council Committee Safety meeting the Chief said the "collisions per 1,000 were exceptionally low."

• 2016 - 36 car / pedestrian collisions and 28 car / bike collisions
• 2017 - 22 car / pedestrian collisions and 14 car / bike collisions 
• End of March, 2018 -  6 car / pedestrian collisions and 4 car / bike collisions. 

These stats don't look "exceptionally low" but that's my opinion. The Chief said collisions increase in winter months owing to darker days, inclement weather. jaywalking and dark clothes.

Council member Hank Myers quipped with perfect timing "wearing black is appropriate when going to a funeral." 

The Chief said many of the collisions occur downtown around 161st near the transit center and bus lines. 

Downtown lighting is poor which makes matters worse, even with the new LEDS.  According to the city, LEDS  improve lighting uniformity and color rendering of streatscapes.  Unfortunately, we just don't have enough of them.  Perhaps at Seritage?

Council member Steve Fields was the Presiding Officer of the safety committee and summarized there wasn't an increase in collisions according to staff but quietly suggested a study session. The Chief added the Downtown Park will bring challenges.  The other 6 council members were quiet.  

Police Bike Teams were another topic.  The teams are riding the streets in tandem as "bike teams." primarily to engage with the public and for maneuverability.  In my opinion, when "bike shares" enter our downtown the Police Teams will be spending a heck-of-a-lot of their time enforcing permits and kibitzing with the Downtown park-goers.

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The topics above topics were reviewed during last Tuesday's Council Committee of the Whole safety committee meeting.  It was the first Council Committee of the Whole safety meeting on record and all council members were present. Mr.Margeson left early.  Steve Fields had brought up the collision topic at an earlier council standing committee in which he was the Chair.  With the change in Committee structure, Mr. Fields is given the title of Presiding  Officer of the Council safety committee.

3rd  in a series on CCOW

UPDATE & OPINION: City of Redmond City Council passes historic "Council Committee" legislation

Bob,

Looks like 1913 was the first adoption [of standing committees] through Ordinance No. 4.   The next amendment, according to the legislative history, occurred in 1974.   From my read on these two documents alone, many rules, procedures, and most likely, applicable laws, have changed.   

I hope this helps.

Michelle 

Michelle M. Hart, MMC

City Clerk|City of Redmond

425.556.2190 (ph)|www.redmond.gov

NOTES:

UPDATED: City Council reviews regional aquatic pool partnerships

No. 2 of Series:  Council Meeting Of The Whole



During the Special Meeting, as seen this video, President Birney clarified that King County is contributing  $2M to towards a regional aquatics center in north east King County. Council Vice President  Carson mentioned he had talked with council members in Kirkland and Bellevue about a partnership with positive results.   Council member Margeson was "very pleased to see Bellevue, Kirkland, and Redmond are working together despite initial reluctance from one of the communities" (probably Kirkland.) President Birney was thrilled.

This Park's & Human Services "Council Committee Of The Whole" was canceled by President Birney owing to inadequate agenda noticing.  The meeting immediately devolved to a council "Parks and Human Services" standing committee.  In this video, Parks & Culture Manager Carloyn Hope is presenting to council.  Council had minimal conversation amongst themselves; it was mostly informational.

Five Council members were present:  Chair Hank Myers (sweater), member David Carson (short sleaves,) member Jeralee Anderson (white jacket,) President Angela Birney (left of HM,) Hank Margeson (tie.)

High level staff were present:  Parks Director, Dep. Parks Director, new Planning Director, Parks & Culture Manager, Parks Operations Manager.

After multiple "Where As" statements the Mayor summarized his draft statement [in part]:

Council "Committee Of The Whole" passes, improves job performance

Council Committee Of The Whole

At Council's March 27th Regular Meeting council passed Ordinance 2917 that changes their 4:30 pm Tuesday Council Standing Committee meetings of 3 councilmembers to "Council Of The Whole Committee" meetings of 7 councilmembers.  The vote was 7-2 (Fields, Anderson.)  

The creation of Council Committee Of The Whole (CCOW ) last week has historical significance because Council's "old" Standing Committees were first installed by Council in 1913 under Ordinance No. 4. (Ref. Michelle Hart, city clerk.)  CCOW meetings will significantly open up the workings city government to the people as well as empower Council's decision-making process on legislation and policy-making.   

Owing to the significance of CCOW meetings I will be reporting on them on a regular basis....in Series format. Their first meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, April 3 at 4:30 in City Hall.  Details are in the Agenda here.  

B. Yoder  

READ MORE  - Mr. Myers letter about the CCOW and his analysis of it. 

OPINION: Council Committee meetings are very informative and interesting, open to the public

Council members Fields (with tie), Birney (in red) and Carson (facing back) met with Police and Fire executives during yesterday afternoon's "Safety Committee Meeting.  Council member Fields chairs this committee.  Credit/ B. Yoder

Four times a month on Tuesdays the city council meets with staff at 4:30 pm to discuss city business.  They are called "Council Committee Meetings" and are significant because city staff are present and important business is reviewed, discussed and conducted. The public is invited to attend but may not comment and must remain silent.  Council and staff don't typically mingle with you. Bench seating is available. The meetings are held on the first floor of City Hall in the Council Conference Room across from chambers.  Whether or not there is quorum no formal action is taken at these meetings.  Meeting agendas and minutes can be found HERE, after scrolling.   If you have any interest in the workings of city government I encourage you to attend!

I found this "Safety Committee meeting" very interesting and informative.  A police executive reported that many of the baby-boomer officers were retiring and state training requirements slow down the commissioning process.  He indicated the Patrol force is in full swing but that officers-in-training had to take the "minor" duties like traffic control while being paid as fully commissioned officers.  It was interesting when Fire executives indicated, not counting the downtown apartments, over 35% of the apartment complexes don't have sprinkler systems and some don't have alarms.  The department historically takes a lot of calls from the 60-01 apartment complex in west Redmond,  Both Police and Fire reported they were under budget.  Council member Fields mentioned he's recieved anecdotal reports from citizens of near-miss ped-auto collisions at intersections.  He asked Police to look into it and requested data to confirm.  

In last night's study session "Council Rules and Procedures" were reviewed with Michele Hart, the city clerk.  What I found most interesting was the Council President (currently Ms. Angela Birney) works with the Administration to set agendas and determine topics for study sessions. Her e-mail is abirney@redmond.gov.  Under "Rules and Procedures" Council is planning to rename council committee "standing committees" (3 council members) with "Council as a Whole" (7 council members.)  Their rules will forbid "final action," as in study sessions, even with quorum; and absences needn't be recognized or approved.  

In meetings "Parks and Human Services" are reviewed on the first Tuesday of every month and Mr. Myers is currently the chair; "Planning and Public Works" meets the second Tuesday of every month and Ms. Padhye is the chair, "Public Safety" meets every third Tuesday and Mr. Fields is the chair.  "Finance, Administration and Communication" meets the fourth Thursday and Mr. Margeson is currently the chair.  All chairs are council members.  [For a detailed description of these committees "READ MORE." ] 

B. Yoder

SOURCE: Council Meetings Calendar, 3/20/2018, Study Session, Rules and Procedures amendment
https://redmond.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx