(l-r) Councilmembers Richard Cole, Hank Margeson and Pat Vache', circa 2010
At this week's Council study session many interesting topics were covered - SE Redmond Park, Reservoir Park, and a Community Advisory report on Vision 2050 - but what stood out for me was Councilmember Anderson's brief comment that retired 3-term councilmember Hank Margeson is "a resource" and was open to help/consult with council when needed. He "leans left" and is a good fit.
Margeson chaired the Citizen's Advisory Committee for the new Senior Center. He gave a very impressive summary report to council on the Center (without notes.)
I did a blog search on "Hank Margeson" You might find it interesting. Additional stories can be found at this "Margeson label" search.
Good evening Mayor and Council. My name is Rosemarie Ives, former Redmond mayor 1992-2007, and I am here to provide comment and some history relating to the Town Center Amendments on tonight’s agenda. Although I would like to comment on Tree Regulations, four minutes is hardly enough time for such important issue. Such a full agenda precludes the public from giving any substantive testimony on more than one item. I hope that Madam Mayor would consider my making a few remarks after testimony from others is concluded.
I was on the Planning Commission when the first conceptual plan for Town Center was presented in preparation of the annexation of the beloved, treed 120 acre property into the City and the heart of our downtown. The Planning Commission worked for 18 months in 1986-1987. I was an opponent of “the enclosed mall that was initially proposed while the late former councilmember Richard Cole was a proponent. Once the land use decision was made, together Mr. Cole and I authored the 39 conditions that constituted a compact with the community and that were eventually placed on the development. In 1987, Mr. Cole and I were elected to City Council….Together we led the council through much of its process of deliberation over the next two years. In 1992 when I was elected mayor, Town Center owners proposed a new open air, pedestrian and downtown oriented design incorporating the 39 conditions encouraging redevelopment and revitalization in the adjacent downtown. that was approved in 1995 in Development Guide Amendment 94-004. Construction began in 1996.
This is one of Mayor Birney's most informative videos on City operations, in this case the Fire Department. It includes engaging interviews with staff and amazing statistics.
I can most relate to Fire Marshall Todd Short's interview. He's responsible for fire prevention. One of his duties is "proper addressing."
Thirty-five years ago, I almost lost my rental to a kitchen fire. The tenant was toasting pop tarts. The fire crept behind the oven; smoke took over the whole upper level. The fire fighters said they had a terrible time finding the house. Several engines drove all around looking for the road and street sign. Once there they did an excellent job extinguishing the fire. Even though the temperature readings were okay, they put an axe to the sheetrock behind the stove to look for evidence of fire. Yikes. I was really impressed and thankful when they blew out the smoke with a powerful fan.
Okay, it was time for trouble-shooting. I looked for the street signs next to my rental. Three close-by streets form a Y leaving no street sign next to my house. We didn't have a Fire Prevention Marshall back then so I called CM Richard Cole who incredibly drove to my rental, and looked at the roads and signs. It wasn't long before Public Works installed proper signage. Thank you Richard!
One last experience: Last year my neighbor told us her house had a mild "burn" smell. We called the Fire Department and soon three firefighters arrived. They were very thorough. One of them spent a very long time looking at the furnace...it may have been Mr. Short. Turns out the filter hadn't been changed for years. She was told to buy a new furnace. They said calls like this are very common in the Fall when folks start-up their furnaces. They fanned out the smell! Great customer service!
This is an interesting 2011 report about the process the city went through in passing the "Backyard Chicken" ordinance. The current, approved Chicken ordinance is detailed here.
NOVEMBER 9, 2011: Council approves Animal Husbandry (backyard chicken) code 6-2 (Carson and Cole voting NO). A noted requirement is covenants will be honored and supersede the animal husbandry code.
Redmond City Council held a final study session November 7 on "Small Animal Husbandry" - commonly known as "Backyard chickens." Their normal Tuesday meeting was cancelled for the Election. Council plans to adopt "Backyard chicken policy and code" on December 6, without any further study sessions.
After thorough discussion, Council consented to Chicken regulations. The ordinance is expected to include the following code:
Mandatory registration. (Permits, subject to land use requirements, are not required.
Maximum allowable chickens decided by Residential zoning only. Lot size is irrelevant.
One Acre (R-1) and 1/2 acre (R-2) lots are allowed a maximum of 10 chickens (hens only).
R-4 and R-5 lots are the most common SFH lots in Redmond. (4-5 lots/acre). R-4 lots allowed a maximum of 4 hens, R-5 allowed a maximum of 3 hens. R-6 maximum 3 hen
In R-8 lots chickens won't be allowed.
Setbacks: 15' setbacks for adjacent property required with exceptions.
Slaughter: May slaughter 1 chicken per day on site. More than 1 chicken must be slaughtered off-property in a slaughterhouse, farm, non-residential area.
Predators: sturdy coop required
City Small Animal Husbandry Code will not supersede Homeowners Associations (HOA).
No roosters
Councilmember Kim Allen was the proponent. She ran the meeting and drove consensus. Councilmember Hank Margeson had experience in Tacoma with backyard hens in his youth and was considered a council 'expert.' Hank suggested "no more than a handful of chickens," except for 1/2 acre lots. He said "chickens should only supplement food, not feed a family of four year-round." Councilmember Carson has two dogs and his wife was in real estate; he was against backyard chickens. Councilmember Hank Myers suggested keeping the rules simple saying too many regulations will keep people from participating. Margeson owns a horse and raised 3 hens as a kid living in Tacoma. Mayor Marchione was present and quiet throughout the discussion.
Cole, Stilin, and Vache were openly concerned about chicken owners who mistreat or miss-manage their poultry. Code enforcement was their big issue. Apparently, the history of chicken neglect and nuisance in other cities is very low. Cole ended the discussion stating he won't endorse backyard chickens on the basis of: smell, noise, real estate, disease, predators, potential for harm to the animals. His property is governed by HOA rules.
Margeson referred to Sustainable Redmond for their help in getting the word out and educating Redmond citizenry.
UPDATED, October 9, 3:28 PM: According to Mayor John Marchione's density plans at the September 26 "Downtown Construction projects" town meeting, the city has already achieved 50% of their Downtown density goals set for 2030. This includes 711 dwelling units currently under construction (see table below) and existing newer residential apartments like RED 160, Cleveland, and Veloce.
According to data listed in the Urban Center Element of the Comprehensive Planlink, the 2030 target for dwelling units in the downtown is 6,170. 2300 units are on record as built as of 2010. So 2300 + 711 units = 3011 in 2012 for at least a 50% density.
In the town meeting, Mayor Marchione confused some members of the viewing public saying "We're planning to be an urban community that's going to be over2200 units." He went onto say "There will be $330 million in private investments in building out this vision including 200+ affordable housing units" to achieve a variety of incomes and choices.
With Overlake residential redevelopment getting off to a slow start - and "One Redmond" in hibernation - it's possible the private sector will build more aggressively downtown. In fact, an Evergreen Health Hospital official said their parcel west of Redmond Medical Center is slated for apartments rather than another clinic.
One of the drawbacks in building downtown is coping with the high water table when installing underground parking. The downtown is built over the city aquifer and wellhead protection zone and according to City Planner Gary Lee constrains underground parking. Lee says the city requires 1.25 parking places for every residential unit which puts a pinch on parking for the downtown.
Despite emerging traffic, parking and pedestrian crosswalk issues from Redmond's rapid downtown residential growth, the Mayor was happy with downtown progress, saying "to have any cranes now in this economic environment is remarkable; to have two cranes and a third one here in 30 days show people want to come here and want to live here and the demand is high.." According to statistics presented by Steve Bailey, Dir. of Finance in an earlier meeting there are three jobs in Redmond for every living unit.
Councilmember Emeritus President Richard Cole said before his retirement he felt the City over-committed to taking additional density. The Mayor said plans and decisions to grow to 4-6 stories downtown were made in l997-1999, long before his time as Mayor.
Below is a list of current residential downtown construction projects with their number of units totalling 713. These projects don't include existing projects already built like Veloce (300 units), RED 160 (250 units), and the Cleveland Building, etc.
Many residents still don't know that the Redmond postal service has moved their retail operations on 85th Street to their parcel drop-off distribution center in Southeast Redmond at *7241 185th Ave. NE. They moved July 28.
The Redmond Reporter (RR) published two good stories on this.
In the Reporter's first story, Mayor Marchione said "for the USPS to leave downtown at a time when the downtown core is growing makes no sense." According to the RR, The USPS left mostly for financial reasons.
The Redmond postmaster has attended multiple Chamber of Commerce meetings over the years and their financial constraints and relocation options were available. The City Council is a Member of the Chamber with Councilmembers Cole and Vache' held Trustee positions during the Postmaster's participation.
Here is a list of retail post offices in or close to Redmond where you can mail insured letters, returned receipts, buy stamps, etc. Some grocery stores also sell stamps. USPS Parcel pick-up remains exclusively in the SE Redmond post office. (Find map and my story here.)
One reader recommends the Post office at Bartell's in Bridle Trails Shopping Center. (see comments). Bella Bottega shopping center in the QFC lot has drop box for letters.
Posted by Emily Heffter
"Seattle Times," Local News, March 8, 2012 at 11:06 AM
(Updated with Eyman’s comments.)
The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that a 2010 Mukilteo ballot initiative banning red-light cameras is invalid.
The long-awaited ruling means initiative efforts in other cities around the state, including Longview, Bellingham, Monroe, Redmond and Wenatchee, are also invalid.
It’s a big loss for initiative king Tim Eyman, who had adopted the cause of banning the cameras and helped people in cities across the state fight to have them banned. Read More >>
Aerial View of Redmond Town Center, Bear Creek and SR520 - before widening
Historic Bear Creek 100-year Flood Plain in blue (Macy's is red box)
In 2008 WSDOT decided to widen SR520 from 4 lanes to 8 lanes. The widening occurred in 2009 on the northside of SR520 towards Bear Creek. The impact to Bear Creek and Redmond Town Center's flood plain was significant enough to warrant realigning (relocating) the creek away from the widening project.
Earlier, Councilmembers Richard Cole, Kim Allen, and Nancy McCormick traveled to Olympia to request funding to relocate the Creek. State Finance Chair Ross Hunter allocated $8 Million towards the project. The City Department of Natural Resources and WRIA (watershed agency) funded another $2 Million. The project has been held up by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Yesterday, Roger Dane, Redmond Natural Resources wrote:
"The City continues coordination with the Army Corps in order to secure permit approvals. We believe the agency and their partners are working towards approval, and at this point we expect to be under construction in summer 2012."
Bear Creek is a protected "Shoreline of the State." Chinook, a federally-protected Endangered Species live and spawn in it's channels and backwaters. According to local experts, the salmon run was poor this year. If you have any questions or suggestions for the city, contact Roger Dane at rdane@redmond.gov. Word has it the funding is contracted for 5-years before it expires.
Council approves Animal Husbandry (backyard chicken) code 6-2 (Carson and Cole voting NO). A noted requirement is convenents will be honored and supercede the animal husbandry code.
Redmond City Council held a final study session November 7 on "Small Animal Husbandry" - commonly known as "Backyard chickens." Their normal Tuesday meeting was cancelled for the Election. Council plans to adopt "Backyard chicken policy and code" on December 6, without any further study sessions.
After thorough discussion, Council consented to Chicken regulations. The ordinance is expected to include the following code:
Mandatory registration. (Permits, subject to land use requirements, are not required.
Maximum allowable chickens decided by Residential zoning only. Lot size is irrelevant.
One Acre (R-1) and 1/2 acre (R-2) lots are allowed a maximum of 10 chickens (hens only).
R-4 fand R-5 lots are the most common SFH lots in Redmond. (4-5 lots/acre). R-4 lots allowed a maximum of 4 hens, R-5 allowed a maximum of 3 hens. R-6 maximum 3 hen
In R-8 lots chickens won't be allowed.
Setbacks: 15' setbacks for adjacent property required with exceptions.
Slaughter: May slaughter 1 chicken per day on site. More than 1 chicken must be slaughtered off-property in a slaughterhouse, farm, non-residential area.
Predators: sturdy coop required
City Small Animal Husbandry Code will not supersede Homeowners Associations (HOA).
No roosters
Councilmember Kim Allen was the proponent. She ran the meeting and drove consensus. Councilmember Hank Margeson had experience in Tacoma with backyard hens in his yourth and was considered a council 'expert.' Hank suggested "no more than a handful of chickens," except for 1/2 acre lots. He said "chickens should only supplement food, not feed a family of four year-round." Councilman Myers suggested keeping the rules simple saying too many regulations will keep people from participating. Councilmember Carson said his wife (who's a real estate agent) would immediately get chickens if she knew the ordinance was adapted. Carson owns a 9,000 SF lot and two dogs and two cats. Margeson owns a horse and raised 3 hens as a kid living in Tacoma. Mayor Marchione was present and quiet throughout the discussion.
Cole, Stilin, and Vache were openly concerned about chicken owners who mistreat or mis-manage their poultry. Code enforcement was their big issue. Apparently, the history of chicken neglect and nuisance in other cities is very low. Cole ended the discussion stating he won't endorse backyard chickens on the basis of: smell, noise, real estate, disease, predators, potential for harm to the animals. His property is governed by HOA rules.
Councilmember Hank Margeson refered to Sustainable Redmond for their help in getting the word out and educating Redmond citizenry.
REPUBLISHED: In a March, 2011 Business Meeting, Redmond City Council heard a startling report from Jane Hague forecasting large bus service reductions in King County Metro for 2012 - 2015.
Why? Sixty-two percent of Metro's budget is funded by sales tax revenue and revenues are significantly down in this economy. Hague, one of two King County Councilmembers representing Redmond citizens gave the city council reassurances.
(l-r) Council President Richard Cole, Councilman Hank Margeson, Council Vice President Pat Vache'
UPDATED: Council President Richard Cole (left) is retiring after 24 years on city council. Richard was elected in 1988 after a stint as Chair of the Planning Commission. Mr. Cole has been very active on growth management issues over the years as an Executive Board member on the Puget Sound Regional Council.
Candidates Tom Flynn and Joel Wright are running for Richard's open position, #5. Councilmembers Hank Margeson (center) and Pat Vache' (right) are endorsing Mr. Flynn for the position.
Councilman Hank Margeson of Education Hill, is running unopposed this year. Hank has taken over some of the work Mr. Cole did on Suburban Cities Association. Hank is smart, well-liked, and a passionate councilman for our Region. No one works harder with such zeal and joy as Margeson.
Opinion By Yoder
Photo by Yoder during a city council "Study Session" in City Hall
This is "the heart and soul" of Overlake urban center -- President Richard Cole
UPDATED OPINION: Hold onto your hats. Redmond residents are in for a ride of their life once "Group Health Overlake Master Plan" gets underway. The ride could last for years - the roads dusty? Patience with the flag men. Will "Avoid Overlake" tweet? But, the potential for this district! Oh, My! All you have to do is live long enough.
The mayor has many names for Overlake -- "a neighborhood," "a village," an "urban center" and the "glitzy part of Redmond." Whichever name you choose Overlake is sure to be Redmond's urban mecca 20 years from now, leaving our current downtown, the "Old Redmond."
Last week, Redmond city planners presented council with an overview of the 28-acre "Group Health Overlake Master Plan." Notice of Hearing. A Hearing is scheduled for October 18th at 7:30 PM in City Hall. Send your comments for the record to Associate Planner Denis Lisk by October 18. Email: dwlisk@redmond.gov. Or call 556-2400. City council must approve this plan.
The development plan started years ago when Group Health closed their Redmond hospital, located at 15670 NE 85th Street - between 152th Ave and 156 Ave, two blocks north of NE 24th Street.
Group Health and the City of Redmond agreed on a long range development plan for the parcel. Five types of projects will have to be permitted. Phase One will develop 1.38 million square feet of office, hotel, and retail. Most of the construction phase is on the north and east of the parcel, along 156th AVE and includes:
12-story, 180 room hotel and conference center (NE corner with underground parking).
4 - 10 story commercial office parks (north and SE corner) with landscaped courts and plazas.
25,000 s.f. ground floor retail (on the west along 152nd Ave. - might be included in this phase)
2.6 acre grassy park with pathway up the middle of the site.
Phase Two includes 1400 multi-family residential units in the NW and SW parcel areas. Development progress depends on transportation infrastructure. An SR 520 access ramp is crucial. NE 26th Street construction and grid build-out is needed along with Sound Transit.
Group Health is in the background - trees are scattered between parking areas.
TREES: The site is located on hill rising from west to east and covered with 1050 trees scattered throughout the parking areas. Enormous amounts of earth-moving, grading and clearing are necessary to make a "hardscape" suitable for building. Underground parking garages will compound the work. Large earth-moving equipment and trucks traveling local roads may be expected for several years at a time. Read More >>
Redmond Council President Richard Cole & Mayor John Marchione
September 2011
Pres. Richard Cole
Op-Ed: As many residents are aware, Redmond established a pilot traffic and school zone safety program earlier this year. The goals of this program are simple: (1) modify dangerous driver behavior and (2) prevent car-pedestrian accidents in school zones.
Traffic safety has long been one of our community’s top concerns, and this program promised to be an effective use of technology to affect behavior, reduce the cost of enforcement and improve traffic safety. Much like the shoplifting cameras we see in so many grocery and retail stores, the cameras collect evidence of possible violations. This evidence is then reviewed by an officer to determine if an actual violation occurred. Then and only then is a ticket issued.
Mayor John Marchione
The violation does not go on one’s driving record, and the City Council has mandated that any funds remaining after court costs be dedicated to capital projects that improve traffic and pedestrian safety. By using technology in this way, the City could otherwise put its limited number of police officers to work in schools, in neighborhoods, and around town to address other public safety issues that are important to Redmond’s citizens. From the beginning, the Council and the Mayor committed to review this pilot program after a year.
We have appreciated the many residents we have heard from on both sides of the issue over two years of public process, from emails to conversations at National Night Out events in August to public testimony at Council meetings. Consistent with what we have told residents all along, next month we will review all the data and community input gathered to date to determine the future of the program.
The recent initiative petition will be another important consideration in this discussion, and represents the wishes of some who would like to vote on traffic/school safety cameras in February 2012.
It is worthwhile to note that the petition circulated in Redmond is virtually identical to one in the City of Bellingham that was recently invalidated by the Washington Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals noted in the Bellingham case that a petition to require a vote on traffic and school safety cameras “exceeds the lawful scope of the initiative power; it is not a valid ballot measure.”
Despite the court’s ruling on the petition’s validity, the Council and Mayor have heard the perspective of our residents who signed it, and will consider this along with all the data and other feedback we have received as part of our ongoing assessment.
Our evaluation will be completed by December, well before any referendum can be held. To discontinue this review at this time would be a disservice to our community, and an abdication of the City Council’s duty on an issue which the Court of Appeals has clearly affirmed is its responsibility. As we prepare for these discussions next month, we continue to welcome your thoughts at mayorcouncil@redmond.gov.
Op-Ed By Council President Richard Cole and Mayor John Marchione
UPDATED: Last night, city council reviewed the 2010 employment estimates for Redmond. Total employment was down 15.2% from 90,704 ('09) to 76,876 in 2010. Actual employment loss was approximately 7% or 6,000. The 7,746 jobs (8.25%) lost when Microsoft relocated employees from Redmond to Issaquah and Bellevue in 2009-2010 are not counted.
As a result, Council voted to lower their 2030 employment target from 126,600 to 119,000. The source for employment estimates is Puget Sound Regional Council
Councilmember Pat Vache' got a "no" from staff when he asked if the job loss "will affect housing targets." President Richard Cole had concerns of a housing imbalance, saying "Redmond has been picked on in the past" for being behind in housing goals. Staff responded, a small imbalance could create an oversupply of housing in our favor.
The percent reduction in jobs by sector, based on Redmond licensing data is, as follows:
Construction Resources, - 25%
Finance, Insurance, and Real estate - 15%
Manufacturing, -23%
Retail, --2%
Services, -4%
Wholesale, Trade, Transportation - 3%
Government -4% [*includes reduction of 19 contracted jobs (2%) paid by Microsoft, B.Y.]
Education, -5%)
Redmond was ranked the highest for percent job loss 2009-2010, as compared to other cities. To name a few: Redmond, -15.25%, Sammamish - 9.59%, Sea Tac 6.80%, Woodinville, -4.75%, Seattle, -2.35%, Mercer Island, - 1.33%, Bellevue, -1.03%, Kirkland ++1.02%, Issaquah ++5.59
(Redmond's net job loss is 7% after Microsoft location corrections)
Council President Richard Cole said in yesterday's Redmond Reporter:
"Council's [red light safety program] decision will be based on the infraction and collision data, not a few thousand signatures.
“Our decision on whether we renew the contract or not will virtually have nothing to do with (Harlan's) signature gathering," said Cole, adding that council members would certainly take notice if Harlan brought in 25,000 signatures. "That would send a message," he said.
Mr. Cole’s dismissal of our effort as being only 1/5th of what it would take to get the council’s attention is a dismissal of the campaign’s volunteers and supporters and their incredible effort. It is a dismissal of at least 3,845 registered voters in Redmond that have, or will, take the time to sign the petition, put a stamp on an envelope, and send it in to us. Please reach out to Redmond Council council@redmond.gov and let them know that it is their job to listen to the citizens of their city.
The initiative law was written such that 15% of the registered voters in a city can sign a petition to put a measure on the ballot (in the case of Redmond, that is 3,845). The drafters of that law wanted to create a very high hurdle for voter access to the ballot. We hope to hit that high hurdle.Mr. Cole is saying, “Thanks for your efforts, but a few thousand signatures is a drop in the bucket. Bring me five times that amount and then we’ll notice”. 4,000 to 5,000 votes is what it takes to elect a mayor or city council member in Redmond. Read More >>
UPDATED: In their July 12 meeting, Redmond Council voted on Resolution No. 1363 to support and endorse King County Proposition 1, a 6-year "Veterans and Human Service Levy" renewing and replacing the expiring Levy. After five council members discussed their positions, Council passed the resolution 6-1 (David Carson - opposing).
Bellevue and Kirkland city councils
passed resolutions earlier endorsing the Levy.
In the 2011 August election, county residents will vote on Prop. 1. The 2011 levy is 5 cents/ $1000 of assessed property value, or $20 in 2012 for the average-priced $400,000 home in King County. A CPI capped-measure is built into the Levy. Read More >>
SEATTLE – Redmond will receive $3.3 million for transportation improvements via action this week by the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC).
The funding will help construct pedestrian improvements on Cleveland Street from Redmond Way to 164th Ave NE. “Helping communities secure federal transportation funding is one of the key roles of the PSRC,” said PSRC President, Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown. “This project rose to the top on its merits and can not only deliver improvements for the future, but help grow jobs in the near term.”
Redmond City Council President Richard Cole is on the Executive Board of PSRC. Council member Kim Allen represents "Suburban Cities Association" on the PSRC Growth management planning board and chairs the Eastside Transportation Partnership. Read More >>
Redmond's economic development plan, coined "Community of Excellence Project", underwent serious study during Council's July 12 meeting. Several councilmembers appeared frustrated by the lack of progress and lack of background information on the plan. Council Vice President and REDA member, Pat Vache' tried his best to explain the problem and offer solutions.
The "Community of Excellence Project" is referred to in city documents as:
a "complete Live, Work, Play and Learn community....of diverse businesses, quality schools, state-of-the-art healthcare, gate way ports to the world economy, commitment to environment sustainability and excellent quality of life..."
the Project is a collaborative effort between the City, "Realize Redmond", the Chamber and "Redmond Economic Development. Alliance" (REDA)
The Project envisioned the intent to "leverage the strengths of each organization, clarify roles, and reduce duplication of efforts and energize." But, Council admitted this wasn't happening. They proposed a revised working statement, called "One Redmond Initiative". Read More >>
Laughs are on President Richard Cole as Council plans the Centennial
UPDATED: At the end of each Study Session Meeting, Council usually has a "Talk Time" to chat about miscellaneous things not covered in their business session. The July 12 session was literally one to remember. It started with chatter about this year's Derby Days event and ended with belly laughs from tales of President Richard Cole's days past. Here goes: Read More >>
