Showing posts with label bobyoder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bobyoder. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Great Blue Heron, by Reinke

 

John Reinke / Redmond Neighborhood Blog 

"Great Blue Heron with fish." By John Reinke

Painting or Photo?  John Reinke's heron is foraging under the Leary Way Bridge in Redmond.  Great Blue Herons are celebrated as Redmond's "Species of Local Importance". They forage in the riparian habitat of Redmond's streams, wetlands and the Sammamish River. Redmond heron raise their young in the Cottonwood rookeries of Marymoor Park and Issaquah.

Photo by John Reinke, Redmond photographer
Source:  Cathy Beam, Principal Environmental Planner, City of Redmond.

Sunday, July 11, 2021

OPINION: Virtual Derby Days

historylink.org

THE CITY OF REDMOND says:  "Redmond Derby Days is canceled this year due to budget reductions approved in the 2021/2022 budget.  Financial impacts resulting from reductions in revenues for events, restrictions on gathering and in-person activities, and extended, and closure of facilities related to related to the pandemic have resulted in staff layoff and reduced or eliminated programming in the 2021. Please contact Christin Everson at ceverson@redmond.gov for more information."  redmond.gov

OPINION:  The City's statement is confusing and worthy of correction. All is not as bad as it appears.

1)  Only 7 staff members were laid off (Parks and Recreation.) They (and an additional full time employee) were hired back.  No other employees were laid off owing to the pandemic.  

2) *Monthly construction tax revenues regularly increase by double digits  

3)  All departments are usually under budget.

-- Bob Yoder, 7/11/2021

__________________________________________________________________________________

*The City of Redmond's Director of Finance, Ms. Files, gave a very encouraging monthly finance report to council on January 24th.


1.  All city departments are under budget.
2.  Revenues are up 13% owing to one-time revenue from taxes on construction projects.
3.  Expenditures are lower owing to:
        - $3M economic contingency fund adjustment.
        - $6M salary and benefit savings owing to turnover pay.
        - $2M adjustment of one-time project monies in the general fund.

-- Source:  Council Committee of the Whole meeting, 1/24.