Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Mayor Birney Honors Women's History Month
Thursday, August 31, 2023
Downtown Monotony
Beijing based public company financed this $31 million project. The yellow building is under construction and part of the project. The remaining orange vapor barrier film is being covered with more drab materials. See the small cranes at work? |
Last month, the planning department distributed a questionnaire with pictures of different building designs. Believe it or not, there are still many large projects in the pipeline. Please take the survey!
Who was our mayor in 2008? Mayor Ives / Mayor Marchione? Building design surveys, open houses, and workshops should have been done ~ fifteen years ago. As is, we will have to live with this and other high profile ugly buildings with no art for over ~ 50 years. 😮
-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 8/30/2023
Monday, April 24, 2023
The Legacy of Rosemarie Ives
Mayor Rosemarie Ives - Redmond's unprecedented 4-term mayor
I have the strong opinion that the mayor should make the City a priority...in the beginning learning as much as possible about the organization, its responsibilities AND keeping in touch with the people in an authentic way on a regular basis. Unfortunately, Mayor Angela Birney is president of Suburban Cities which I think shows poor judgement and she's not paying attention to what's going on at home.
Mayor Rosemarie M. Ives Biography
Mayor Rosemarie M. Ives Biography
First elected as Mayor of Redmond, Washington in 1991, Rosemarie M. Ives served an unprecedented four terms of this economically vibrant and naturally beautiful Northwest city, 16 miles east of Seattle. The community of 51,000 residents serves as home to corporate headquarters for Nintendo of America and Microsoft as well as several thousand small businesses where over 90,000 people are employed. Mayor Ives served as the full-time CEO, responsible for seven departments with over 500 employees and a biennial $368 million budget. In addition to the oversight for day-to-day operations, Mayor Ives was a founding member of consortia on regional emergency communications, housing, and water and represented both Redmond and 39 suburban cities on regional committees on multi-modal transportation, emergency preparedness, youth, regional justice, environmental protection, and growth management.
While Mayor Ives presided over a period of significant economic development in Redmond, she devoted much of her efforts to preserving residential neighborhoods, open space and other elements of Redmond’s unique quality of life. Her vision statement for the City was and still is “Together, We Create a Community of Good Neighbors,” which reflects her approach to building civic partnerships that draw on the strengths of neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, and businesses. Her priority issues included enhancing communications especially with the increasing culturally diverse residents, stewardship of the environment, commitment to youth, and improving mobility.
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Tom Hinman, Redmond Activist And Commissioner Passes
Tom Hinman June 6th, 1945 - July, 24th 2022 |
Share a memory, expressions of sympathy, or give flowers on Tom's Neptune Society Page.
My sympathies will be shared on Tom's Neptune page. BY
Dear Friends and Family,
Tom Hinman, was a long-standing Redmond planning commissioner and environmental & community activist.
He founded "Imagine Overlake" to organize and facilitate resident participation in the redevelopment of Overlake. Tom co-founded "Sustainable Redmond." and was nominated for a "Leadership Eastside" award. Tom's annual meetings were attended by council members, environmentalists and citizens at large.
Tom loved urban trees and their contribution to our ecology and well-being. After the Group Health clear-cut he led volunteers in salvaging and transplanting understory shrubs to the Audubon Bird Loop. Tom activated urban tree conversations at Council meetings. He pushed for and accomplished a city requirement to map trees on land use notices.
Tom cited the Overlake Corridor expansion, Group Health clear-cut, and the Nokomis Building dispute as examples of the City’s long-standing disregard for resident and community input on issues of growth; and wrote abundant of emails to change that.
Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Pat Vache': Redmond Town Center's Early History
Pat Vache' in his early days / courtesy of Arnie Tomac |
In 2022, Pat Vache', a "Founding Father" of Town Center gave testimony encouraging Council include the founders in the development process citing their previous experience (and collective wisdom.) He emphasized the need of engagement opportunities, especially town hall meetings.
Mr. Vache' stated “Throughout the history of Redmond Town Center two issues were foremost, 1) protecting open space and 2) creating a major retail facility for all to enjoy. If history taught us nothing else, it is clear that three elements were important then and are critical today:
1) Redmond residents want and deserve the opportunity to engage,
2) A robust retail environment is a necessity for Redmond residents and the economic sustainability of the City of Redmond, and
3) Redmond residents demand a sustainable environment, an environment characterized by trees, lots of trees and open space, lots of open space," in fact a minimum of 43 acres."
THE EARLY HISTORY - a quick story
Town Center’s modern history began in late 1978 when the Old Redmond Golf Course (in King County) was purchased by Winmar, a Safeco company. A total of 120 pristine acres were purchased, including the 87-acre golf course. Forty-four acres would remain open space. (C. Beason played a large role in that.) The acreage was invaluable to the community. Open space is a very big part of Redmond culture.
Winmar proposed development of the 87 acre golf course twice, once in 1979 for $4 million (per Town Center Associates) and again in **1982 for $6 million ($16.5 million in today's dollars.) Though open space was desirable, The Sammamish Valley News, businessmen and many residents wanted shopping and commercial development.
To counter development, in 1978 a coalition of preservationists, “Civic Action for Redmond Environment” (C.A.R.E.) formed to retain the golf course and influence public opinion. One of the C.A.R.E. Presidents Richard Grubb, Pat Vache', Arnie Tomac, Chris Himes, the Beasons and other citizen activists organized the coalition. Grubb, Vache' and Tomac became councilmembers. Himes became Redmond's first full time Mayor. Nothing ever came of the 1979, $4 million Town Center Associates offer, probably because of C.A.R.E.
Pat Vache', Redmond's first planning commissioner and a councilmember of 16 years, says "in over eight years the public, planning staff, and Policy Advisory Commission had a series of public meetings, visioning exercises and just about any type of public process imaginable. Town Center didn't just happen. It has history."
"Old Redmond" vs. "New Redmond" issues were reaching a boiling point. So, in 1982 Council, led by Council President Arnie Tomac and councilmember Pat Vache', proposed a $6 million bond measure to “let the voters decide" if they wanted to purchase the land for preservation or take Winmar’s offer and develop it. According to Rosemarie Ives, the 60% supermajority bond failed by 2%.
Mayor Doreen Marchione is quoted in the Sammamish Valley News, “we have no choice but to annex the property for reasonable development.” Former Mayor Rosemarie Ives felt the city should have immediately gone out for a second vote.
With that, Vache' notes by 1986, (Ord. 1328) 120 acres were annexed from King County, pre-annexation zoning was completed, the ***Master Plan was approved, and the property was incorporated into the City of Redmond. *Seven years following the City’s 1988 approval (Ord. 1416) Winmar didn’t develop anything with Town Center, though there still was much debate and talk. In 1994, Winmar proposed an outdoor mall of 1.3M square feet of shopping and offices. The proposal was approved by Council in 1995 (Ord. 1841.) Construction started in 1996.
-- written by Bob Yoder, 7/15/2022
Sources: Sammamish Valley News, Pat Vache, Arnie Tomac, Nancy McCormick, Rosemarie Ives, Holly Plackett, 4/8/2022 Fairbourne Properties Letter to Redmond City Council, Seattle Times, 8/10/1997.
Arnold Tomac's Leadership and Involvement with Redmond Town Center. Arnie is a good friend of Pat Vache'.
* Quick stories: Though, not directly related to Town Center, past councilmember and planning commissioner Holly Plackett wrote Winmar's seven "idle" years were spent developing Target, Mervyns, and Bella Bottega cinema.
This story is so interesting! As editor of the Sammamish Valley News at that time, I was deeply involved in studying the options for this property. Redmond was sorely in need of a better commercial zone….the town was growing and there really was a great need. Although Town Center perhaps failed to fulfill that dream entirely, there is still hope. The city has grown…the possibilities are still endless! I hope Redmond marches ahead, brings itself completely into this century to keep up with the vast population growth!
--Deb Akerstrom, 7/2022. Deb is presently a Director on the Redmond Historical Society Society. 12/2022
###
** The MASTER PLAN was approved in 1986: "The design and development of this zone is controlled by a Master Plan established to ensure that development here integrates with and positively influences future development of the Greater downtown area and retains traditional building styles, street patterns, variety of uses, and public amenities." (Ord. 1328.)
The MASTER PLAN was scrapped in 2022. New language: "Design and development of this zone is controlled by zone-based regulations and additional special design standards for development projects located within the downtown urban core."
Saturday, July 9, 2022
Updated, 7/21/2022 Imagining Town Center's Redevelopment
Pam relaxing on our way to the Center after dinner at BJ's / credit Bob Yoder / click to enlarge |
I've become more aware of Redmond Town Center (RTC) since word got out the new owner, President David Harvey of Fairbourne Properties, LLC is planning a "re-make." In fact, if you can believe it, RTC was built in 1997 and is a quarter century old. The structure is sound and architecture modern but it's 2022, and light rail is coming, along with thousands of jobs.
According to a Mr. Harvey's letter to Council, "Fairbourne will make much-needed capital investments including streetscapes, entry points, and the center-facing downtown, the new Light Rail station, landscaping and pedestrian access and building facades." Before & after renderings of the entry points show off exciting, creative improvements.
Harvey says his intent is not to "tear it down and start over." This may be the case for the most part, but once the parking lots (either side of my wife) are dozed this attractive walkway could go with it.
It's rumored 12+-story building(s) with lots of commercial and some residential may be sited on these old parking lots. One or two levels of public parking is a possibility. A "SR 520 gateway" at Bear Creek Parkway could improve vehicular circulation.
The good news? According to Mr. Harvey, "20% of new units would be priced at more affordable rents using the city's inclusionary and Multifamily Tax Exemption programs." Fairbourne can do better.
Harvey sees an opportunity to "elevate Town Center above the Bellevue Square of the Eastside." He wants to "keep it as a homebase for local restaurants and shops as well as unique national tenants." His goal is to double restaurant space. Retail space? Unknown. Could there be indoor shopping and recreational space?
The Arts Festival was a fun stroll, meeting friends along the way. It will be open again tomorrow, along with Derby Days. Cheers!
-- Bob Yoder, 7/8/2022
Source: Letter to Redmond City Council Members, Co-Signed by David Harvey, President Fairbourne Properties and Patrick Woodruff, Managing Director, Pacific NW Hines Interests. April 8, 2022
Friday, July 8, 2022
OPINION: Vote "No" On Public Safety Levy, Rosemarie Ives
Redmond Police in library watching over the Community Court |
On July 16th, Redmond City Council is making their decision on the Public Safety Levy. You may give them your comments and opinion at this email: Council@redmond.gov BY
Good evening Mayor and Council,
Opinion: My name is Rosemarie Ives, former Redmond mayor, 1992 through the end of 2007
I am here tonight to discourage the council from proposing a new levy to fund staff and programs in both police and fire departments. At a time with the highest inflation rate in 40 years, the threat of a recession, rising gas, food and housing costs, this is hardly the time for the City to ask the people to increase what they already pay in taxes. An additional levy will worsen an already unaffordable Redmond.
Thursday, July 7, 2022
Commissioner Gary Smith Given High Honors By Mayor Birney
Gary Smith teaching child about trees |
July is "Parks and Recreation" month. During "Special Orders of the Day" Mayor Birney honored four citizens for their contributions to the City Parks & Rec. One of them is a friend of mine, Gary Smith.
Allow me to paraphrase the Mayor's recognition of Gary.
- Parks and Trails Commission (2018 - present) Chair
- Advanced Sustainably pushing forward the East Redmond Corridor.
- ADA stakeholder working to improve access to all users of Parks and Trails
- Green Redmond Forest Volunteer for many years leading and working numerous forest restoration projects. Gary is the Forest Steward at Westside and Idlewood Parks.
- Gives valuable input on the "Tree Canopy Strategic Plan."
- Significant contribution to the pond restoration at Smith Woods Park (and project manager of the program honoring the owner who gifted the land.)
- Advocate for fish and fish habitat in and around the City.
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Former Mayor Ives Challenges Staff On Puget Sound Energy Plan
Rosemarie Ives |
Good evening Mayor and Council Members,
Rosemarie Ives, former mayor 1992-2007
I am speaking again against the Sammamish Juanita Transmission Line. Though much information was provided, I have one question: why did City staff support Puget Sound Energy’s business interests over the environmental interests of the people of Redmond AND the Puget Sound region who have committed to preserve the Sammamish Valley farmlands and open spaces for decades?
After becoming mayor in 1992, the Comprehensive Plan identified the east-west Transmission line at NE 95th Street as the northern boundary for manufacturing and industrial uses and with everything north remaining rural. The owners of the land north of that transmission line approached the City with a proposal for a golf course that is Willows Run today. After extensive negotiations, the City agreed to zone the property “urban recreation” with the understanding that this land would remain “open space,” with the owners required to uphold a long list of environmental regulations and responsibilities, and that in perpetuity, the golf course would remain open to the public. I believed strongly that zoning for a golf course was the best way to preserve the historically rural Valley, protecting it from any kind of business, manufacturing or industrial intrusion.
Thursday, June 16, 2022
Rosemarie Ives Funds Two Scholarships For Redmond High Graduates
Rosemary Ives / soundaction.org |
Four years ago, former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives (1992-2007) funded a new scholarship to support a Redmond High School graduate furthering her/his education.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Rosemarie Ives Upset With Redevelopment Process Of Redmond Town Center
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.
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives Recounts Her Accomplishments
I asked Rosemarie if she would describe her three greatest accomplishments as Mayor of Redmond. She kindly offered the following: BY
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Redmond Celebrates Land Donation, Develops Smith Woods Park
Don and Elaine Smith always had the idea of turning their 10 acres of diverse natural land into a public park and wanted to keep it natural for the enjoyment of others in the community. Don died in 2009 at age 94, Elaine now lives in Emerald Heights. She turned 97 on New Years Day, 2022.
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Forest Steward LeAnne Ludwig, Rosemarie Ives and Gary Smith, Chair Parks and Trails Commission and Project manager. Gary made it all happen. Donors Don and Elaine Smith's memorial bench. Photo credit / Kerry Smith |
Rosemarie Ives with John Couch, Parks and Recreation Director of ~ 30 years Photo Credit / Kerry Smith |
r-l, Leanne Ludwig,Smith Woods Forest Steward, John Couch, Rosemarie Ives, Jon Ives,Gary Smith, Gary's daughter Kim with dogs, Gary's granddaughter Sabrina. Celebrating the new memorial Ginkgo tree. Photo credit / Kerry Smith |
Thursday, February 24, 2022
Former Redmond Councilmember Richard Grubb Passes Away
On February 14 former Redmond city councilmember Richard Grubb passed away five days shy of his
83rd birthday. Mr. Grubb has been a resident of Redmond since 1982.
Richard was president of CARE (Civic Action on Redmond Environment) , a citizens group devoted to
preserving the 120 acre Redmond Golf Links property that is now Redmond Town Center.
Mr. Grubb was a “regular” at City of Redmond Planning Commission and City Council meetings providing
well-researched and thorough testimony on land use and environmental issues important to the people
of Redmond. such as the preservation of agricultural lands in the Sammamish Valley. After years of
providing testimony as a citizen activist and city hall watchdog, Mr. Grubb ran successfully for Redmond
City Council in 1991, serving two terms ending in 2000. During those years he served as the unofficial
poet laureate providing tributes for city officials upon their departures.
Mr. Grubb and his wife, Eunice who pre-deceased him in 2021, were residents of Education Hill for
close to forty years. Together they had a small crafts business as well as being committed to animal
advocacy in King County including providing foster care to small dogs and cats.
-- Courtesy of Rosemarie Ives, 2/24/2022
Ten Redmond Blog posts on Richard Grubb are here. (scroll)
Thursday, February 10, 2022
UPDATED 2/11/2022: Observations And History Of Troubled Evans Creek
Stormwater run-off pond seeps contaminated water into Evans Creek, 2006, B. Yoder |
This blogpost focuses on the pollution of Evans Creek from Redmond's SE industrial district. Evans creek will be relocated and land rezoned as a result. My "Evans Creek Relocation" input was unreported at the Planning Commission Hearing of February 9th, 2022 so I'm trying to catch up here. Hopefully, elected officials will develop a greater understanding and empathy for the industrial district and health of the creek. Evans Creek borders north and east of the district. The presence of an aquifer is significant. In a 2006 hike along northern Evans Creek I stumbled into the rough-and-tumble industrial district. Trucks blew horns; a few pushed me into narrow dirt shoulders. Clearly, they wanted no part of me. Curious, I sneaked back often, specifically looking for the creek and sniffing around the oil trucks. Below, is some of the damage I found:
I reported the environmental abuses to Redmond's Code Enforcement Officer, Carl McCarty. He called in 5 agencies, violations were identified, fines were paid. Mr. McCarty recorded the outcome somewhere in his files. No question, today staff is fully aware of the aquifer, the underground streams and general hydrology. They will be prepared for a healthy transition to commercial zoning. Some history: At least 20 years ago Mayor Rosemarie Ives hired Jon Spangler as Natural Resource Manager. Jon mapped the Evans Creek Relocation plan; primarily he managed stormwater run-off. Redmond is now proudly one of the regional leaders in stormwater management. Mayor Ives may have also hired Cathy Beam. She's the environmental principle planner for development. Ms. Beam is called upon to evaluate the influence of development on the environment. As I remember, she wasn't exposed in a big way to the early industrial issues of Evans Creek. However, I ran into her on-site once. Attention elected officials: For values of preserving the aquifer and protecting our fish, I urge the City to expedite the transition from industrial to commercial. I'm confident Mayor Birney will make certain the stormwater facilities are upgraded and toxins monitored, as needed. (It doesn't hurt the Mayor is a Biologist.) We are extremely fortunate Council values so highly our environment - including protection and restoration of our streams, clean water, fish, riparian trees and varied habitats. |
Note: I'm not sure of the operating status of the industries so at times erroneously switch the present with the past. Dates are approximate and inaccurate.
Friday, November 5, 2021
UPDATED OPINION, 11/7/2021: What Will Redmond Look Like In 2050?
Guy emphasized the importance of "promenades" for connecting a hierarchy of streets. Promenades are not boulevards but important avenues with canopy and wider (20')sidewalks. The Parks Director and Mayor Ives talked with excitement about street-side cafes, book stores, spilling over onto wider sidewalk promenades. (Thank you COVID for the later.)
Guy suggested improving the "green ring" along the Sammamish River by softening the eastern slope of the river with a more gradual grade to "get out of the ditch". He suggested building a bike/running trail on the west side to allow for more passive activities on the eastern slope. He thought Luke McRedmond Park had great potential. [He failed to point out King County has jurisdiction over the river corridor.]
Mayor Birney and Council, please zone for greater use of promenades, wider sidewalks and bike lanes, specifically in the Nelson Master Plan and SE Redmond Neighborhood (where new schools are planned.) Thank you. B. Yoder
READ MORE for the abridged Berger report and my opinion:
Saturday, October 28, 2017
TIME TO VOTE! ALMOST DONE!
Entrance to the Abby Road and Emerald Heights neighborhoods (click to enlarge) |
A compilation of candidate blog reports, stories and opinions is posted at this link. I hope you find some of this information helpful.
I support Steve Fields for City Council Position #2. Mr. Fields is endorsed by - the Eastside Business Alliance, "Friends of Osama Hamdan," King County Democrats (unanimous,) Washington Bikes, former Mayor Rosemarie Ives, among others.
I endorse Kathy Lambert for County Council, Cassandra Sage for LWSD Director District #3 and Vandana Slatter for the 48th LD. -- B. Yoder
Click "Comment" below-left to read candidate comments
Monday, February 13, 2012
Community activists take City of Redmond to court to enforce long-standing tree ordinance
UPDATED: A legal fight over Redmond's Group Health Overlake Village is brewing from the City waiving a long-standing tree retention ordinance. "Citizens and Neighbors for a Sustainable Redmond" ("Sustainable Redmond") of which Mayor Emeritus Ives is a member, and two neighborhoods, are suing the City and the Group Health landowner for a 100% clear-cut of the 28-acre site. Removal of all trees on the site, including 65 extra-large trees over 30.25 inches in diameter are slated to be cleared. The diameter on one "Landmark Tree" is estimated to be over 50 inches, and 250 years old. Group Health's arborists claimed the trees were dangerous and will fall over in wind storms. City associate planner Lisk said the eleven significant trees in the "park" area will be removed and the remaining "parkland" will be hydroseeded.
City council voted 6-1 (Kim Allen) to waive the long-standing 35% tree retention ordinance. At least four councilmembers justified the tree ordinance Exception by referencing requirements of the Growth Management Act. Ive's showed council a city map of all the buildings in Overlake that could absorb the City's density requirements.
Several stakeholders were quoted in a February 12, 2012 online Seattle Times article by Keith Irvine, as follows: Mayor John Marchione justified 100% tree removal saying: Read More >>
Monday, January 9, 2012
Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives objects to clear-cutting 28-acre urban Group Health site
This Group Health structure in Redmond's Overlake Center will be replaced mostly by a park and nearby 13-story hotel. "The City is required to seek opportunities to preserve landmark and significant trees in connection with the design of the park." The approved plan identifies "approximately 12 significant trees and no landmarks" in the area of the future park. There is no guarantee they will be saved. - D. Lisk, Assoc. Planner, Redmond. |
Good evening Mayor and Redmond City Councilmembers. My name is Rosemarie Ives. I am here tonight as a resident to ask for reconsideration of the council’s decision on December 13th regarding the Group Health Master Plan and Development Agreement.
As the former mayor, I know that this forested property matters to the people of Redmond and those of us who are here tonight object to the clear-cutting of this iconic site. I believe that the criteria for exception to the tree preservation/retention regulations have been misapplied and not justified. Read More >>