Redmond Senior & Community Center Ribbon Cutting

 

(L-R) John Marchione, former Redmond Mayor; David Carson, former City Councilmember; Jessica Forsythe, City Council Vice President; Keri Pravitz, Head of Community Affairs for Amazon on the Eastside; Loreen Hamilton, Parks and Recreation Director; Senator Patty Kuderer; Redmond Mayor Angela Birney; Vanessa Kritzer, City Council President; Senator Manka Dhingra; Cari Scotkin, Redmond Arts and Culture Commissioner; Angie Nuevacamina, City Councilmember; and former City Councilmember Tanika Padhye. Photo: City of Redmond

UPDATED 12/5/2023: Angie Nuevacamina Upsets Incumbent David Carson for Council Position #7

Angie Nuevacamina defeated David Carson, 53.67% (5937) to David's 46.07% (5097.)  

What is the significance of the bisected butterfly? 

The meaning of the butterfly is cultural to current day Mexico and Senegal- where I have heritage from. It signals transformation, hope, and are quite a force when moving together. In the design, my name is in the middle- acting as a bridge and being able to hold multiple perspectives.  -  Angie Nuevacamiona.  

The demographics of Redmond have changed dramatically in the last five or so years (~ 50% brown.)  Angie ran on "inclusive," "welcoming," and "equity," and it paid off.  She also prioritized affordable housing, safety, a healthy community and transparent government.  She rallied the voters with a call for "Nothing about Us without Us."  Angie is a member of the LBGTQ community, a queer artist, and small business owner, as a financial services professional.  She currently volunteers on the City planning commission.    

 

David M. Carson, the conservative incumbent of 16 years placed most of his cards on safety:  1) extra police coverage for light rail users, 2)  keeping the county accountable for a drug-free homeless facility in Overlake.  3) he flipped flapjacks for the fire fundraiser at every Derby Days.  4) he served on regional emergency coalitions.  As Presiding Officer on the Parks Council he advocated for access to Redmond's seven "String of Pearls" park properties.  He is a OneRedmond Board member, Foundation member and Kiwanis member.  He praised the Police Department "Sniffer" canine in his political statement.  All this, and Marymoor Village, the new fire station, Senior Center and other facility improvements weren't enough to win over the voters. 

The voters chose values embracing the Redmond's welcoming culture, over a developer/business centric incumbent valuing safety. 

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 11/25/2023

Find 16 years of articles and opinion on Councilmember David Carson HERE

Glimpse Of Redmond Councilmembers In Action

l-r Melissa Stuart, David Carson, Jeralee Anderson, President Jessica Forsythe, Varisha Khan, V.P. Vanessa Kritzer, Steve Fields (remote.)           Staff have backs to the camera.

I'm going to periodically report on the important Council "Committee of the Whole" meetings.  It will give you a chance to watch and listen to our representatives and see them take action on the agenda.  Most of their work with staff gets done here.  This is a meeting  of the "Planning and Public Works Committee."

Click HERE to watch the tape of five councilmembers discussing Redmond's "signalization intersection project" with Kirkland ($2,218,035.)   Scroll the tape to find:  Stuart, 15:35m;  Forsythe 16:40m;  Carson 17:00m;  Stewart 21:00m;  Fields 22:00m;  Krtizer 23:15m. (Kahn did not participate.)    

Ms. Khan's term ends December 31, 2023.  She's participated in less than 75% - 85% of council meetings.  The Mayor would have her exact attendance records.  

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 10/9/2023

    Photo:  RCTV Comcast 21  

Redmond Council Position No. 7 Contenders - BIO and Priorities

 City of Redmond Council Position No. 7

Contenders

DAVID M. CARSON

Redmond City Council Position No. 7

Priorities and BIO

ANGIE NUEVACAMINA

Redmond City Council Position No. 7

Priorities and BIO

Redmond Council Position #7 Primary Race a Virtual Tie

King County Redmond Primary Election Certified Results: 

Sadly, only 29.31% of Redmond's 33,853 registered voters voted....that's 9,923.

The Council Position #7 race was razor-thin:  

• David M. Carson, 3,745 votes, 39.40%
• Angie Nuevacamin, 3795 votes, 39.93%
• Amit Gupta, 1939 votes, 20.40%

I offered to videotape and post interviews of Mr. Carson and Ms. Nuevacamin.

-- Bob Yoder, 8/27/2023

UPDATED 9/30: Position #7 Council Primary Update, Neck 'n Neck

Angie vs. David, a virtual tie.                                                               

Incumbent, David M. Carson

As of August 4, Angie Nuevancamina, Redmond Planning Commissioner leads incumbent David M. Carson in the Primary with 40.02% of the vote.  Carson's share is 39.34%; right now, a photo finish.  Amit Gupta has 20.35%.  

David Carson is a seasoned councilmember of 12 years and leans to the right.  He doesn't make a big thing out of political endorsements since council members are nonpartisan.  He actively supports small businesses and the community.  Angie Nuevancamina is a Redmond Planning Commissioners; she leans left like most of the present councilmembers and is openly supported by democratic representatives and organizations. She's a supporter of small businesses, as well.

-- Posted by Yoder, 8/4/2023, updated: 9/29/2023

Councilmember David Carson Running for Re-election

Councilmember David Carson is running for re-election of Council Position 7 in the Primary.  Here, David is serving up flapjacks at the annual Derby Day Pancake breakfast. 

David M. Carson

16318 NE 50TH WAY

REDMOND, WA 98052

(206) 484-8480

carson4redmond@outlook.com

www.carson4redmond.com

UPDATED: City Council Meeting Notes, 04 April 2023

 

CM Melissa Stuart
Featured
City Council group picture not available

CLICK THIS LINK FOR VIDEO NOTES OF COUNCIL'S REGULAR MEETING 

OF 04 APRIL 2023:   

https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRedmond/videos/1005053090870596

 (short pause at start of tape)

ADVANCE TO 3:00 for poet Laureate Laura Da's description of her poetry inspired "Nature & City History Walk" around our lakefronts.     

ADVANCE TO 4:52 for Dr. David Morton's "Item From The Audience" suggesting solutions to various city challenges.  

ADVANCE TO 11:53 - Mayor  Angela Birney kicks off Council's OMBUDS report where resident inquiries (positive and negative) are addressed.  As follows: 

CM Varisha Kahn passes the baton to Council VP Vanessa Kritzer. Kritzer mentions a resident's concern about the mayor's salary; resident complaint about "State of the City" recording glitches. Domestic violence. CM David Carson brings attention to businesses coping with simultaneous road construction on 76th and Cleveland Street.  CM Melissa Stuart gives an excellent report of the city's C.E.R.T. program dealing with first responder preparations for an earthquake.  Council President Jessica Forsythe directed the OMBUDS report and city process. Traffic. FBI. CM Jeralee Anderson, QR Codes for park users, "Show and Tell" by Anderson on recycled materials used to build "green roads."  Stuart summarizes Public Works committee report. CM Steve Fields had nothing to say.  

Angela Birney, Carson, Forseythe, Kahn, and Kritzer's terms end 31 December 2023. 

Reported by Bob Yoder, Community volunteer, 04 April 2023

UPDATED 2/16: Council Authorizes Electric Fire Engine Purchase, Service By 2026

Electric Fire Engine, Pierce Manufacturing

On Feb. 7, 2023, Redmond City Council authorized the acceptance of a grant toward the purchase of the City’s first electric fire engine. The Fire Department applied for and received a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology, which covers 25% of the costs of the electric engine program. 

Redmond will be the first agency in the state to receive the grant, and the engine will be the first electric fire engine in Washington, as well as one of the first few in the country.   

The Pierce Volterra electric fire engine is the first to enter service and has proven effective in its years of use. The project’s total costs, including charging infrastructure, are $2.3 million, of which the grant will pay for nearly $600,000. It is estimated to take about 25 months to receive the new unit now that it has been ordered, as each Volterra engine is built to order. 

Madison, Wisconsin, currently has an electric unit in service, and new electric units will enter service this year in Portland, Oregon, and Gilbert, Arizona. In preparation for this project, Redmond Fire Department personnel visited Madison, Wisconsin, where a Volterra engine has been in service since 2021. They met with Madison’s fire personnel to discuss their experience with the electric engine and its benefits.

“We’ve learned the benefits of these new electric engines reducing fuel costs, and with its backup diesel engine, it will be even more reliable than a traditional diesel engine,” said Mayor Angela Birney. "Quieter operations also help our first responders communicate at the scene of an incident and keep our Redmond community safe." 

Redmond’s Environmental Sustainability Action Plan targets 2030 for city operations to achieve carbon neutrality. The electric fire engine will contribute towards this goal, and its location at Fire Station 12 will also reduce diesel emissions in the vicinity of the station. 

Redmond’s grant is from the Washington State Clean Diesel Program and Volkswagen Settlement Grant Program, in cooperation with the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants program administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The DERA program funds state and local governments to replace or modernize old diesel vehicles with alternative technologies.

-- Jill E. Smith, Communications Manager
    jesmith@redmond.gov, 425-556-2448 

NOTES:

$600,000 grant. Total project cost: $2.3 million

AMAZON may support the program in some way. 

Council Member David Carson was concerned about the short 18-month trial of the Michigan prototype and longevity of the batteries. Michael Despain, COR Fire Department, said the batteries will last 7-9 years and will require a second series of batteries in the lifetime of the truck.  (The typical lifetime of a Redmond fire engine lasts 20- 25 years.)   

It's hard to believe, but even with the diesel back-up, among other features, Despain said $8,000 per year will be saved in maintenance. 

Truck available ~late 2025

-- Bob Yoder, Notes, 2/15/2023

Source:  1/24/2023 "Council Committee of the Whole Meeting - Parks and Environmental Sustainability," CM David Carson, Presiding officer.  Meeting video and agenda:  https://redmond.granicus.com/player/clip/2495?view_id=2&redirect=true&h=b2a2ea34d14425db8f2aa904a2e709b8

UPDATED: Council Member David Carson Urges Access & Enhancement to "String of Pearls" Park Properties

CM David Carson

Council Member David Carson says....

"When I joined the Redmond City Council in 2008, I fully expected that park properties along Redmond’s eastern edge (collectively known as the “String of Pearls”) would be, at the very least, made available to Redmond’s citizenry to enjoy since they’ve been in our inventory for now more than 50 years. That unfortunately has not happened, and budgets don’t seem to be getting any easier to afford city-developed projects. Leveraging of our civic pride is a way to do this and involve our residents. It would be a real achievement to make these beautiful properties available to our hiking and recreating public.  

Below, are David's thoughts:

Unapproved LIME e-Bikes Are Left in Our Parks

 

Years ago the City approved LIME BIKES. Not now. This one is on Education Hill / credit Yoder

My wife was walking our puppy near Hartman Park and saw a LIME e-Bike on the park grass.  A City worker told her he hated them because they get in the way of his mower and they look bad. He complained when he reports them it takes 2-3 weeks before they're removed.  

Mayor Birney mentioned about a month ago the City didn't have a contract with LIME for their bikes.  New news. When the City had a contract the bikes looked like the one above, with a wire basket.  The new ones have a lime-colored plastic basket usually with graffiti on the stem.  

Council Member David Carson dislikes them and especially can't stand abandoned shopping carts. He  promotes a City Facebook App for reporting pot holes, etc. to customer service.  I'll try to find it for you.  In the meantime email Info@redmond.gov for customer service.  

-- Bob Yoder, 10/21/2022

UPDATED: Redmond 2050 Visioning Workshop

My beautiful wife Pam on left.  Planning Manager Jeff Churchill wearing red shirt. Yasir Alfarag with Berk Consulting in middle. Credit, Bob Yoder

This map is the starting point, before participants shuffled Legos according to their perspective of 2050. The white Lego stacks represent existing jobs.  Five urban centers including residential neighborhoods were mapped:  Overlake, Downtown, Marymoor, SE Redmond, and "NE 90th & Willows" local center. Overlake is slated to accommodate half the jobs in the city.  Can you find the "NE 90th & Willows" local center?  

The Redmond 2050 "Draft Environment Impact Statement" (DEIS) is much more than visioning the Redmond environment.  It's a living story about "how we can accommodate anticipated growth."  

I enjoy visioning in general, but was confused by the "DEIS" acronym and so brushed Redmond 2050 aside until Pam and I attended a "Visioning Lego Tabeling Workshop."  I was hooked.  It was super fun, productive and exceptionally engaging (one if the city's favorite words.)  The workshop was organized and managed by thc city's Long Range Planning Manager, Jeff Churchill (Jeff is a Redmond High graduate, with lots of equity.)  

Mr. Churchill described the participants' Lego conclusions at a Council Study session, saying the Lego community chose "SE Redmond"  for the most job and housing growth as compared to Marymoor, the downtown, residential neighborhoods, and Willows.  However, Churchill noted SE Redmond and Marymoor had infrastructure challenges. 

Councilmember David Carson was "utterly baffled and confused by the first two slides" of the Lego workshop.  Said Carson, "if someone could actually explain it to me...." and "what do I take away from that."  Mr. Carson, a 13-year councilmember, probably knows the Development community better than any representative.  A Council conservative, David is connected to "One Redmond"...Redmond's Chamber of Commerce "on steroids."

Council's focal points for growth were "Centers"  and "Centers & Corridors"  Mr. Carson preferred the "Center and Corridor" option.  "Centers & Corridors" is defined as:

• highest concentration of jobs near light rail, frequent bus routes (compared to other options)
• higher job growth in Overlake (compared to other options.)
• greater risk of manufacturing displacement compared to "Centers" option.
• low housing displacement / affordability, diversity of housing types (58,179 targeted housing units, second to Overlake)
• need to study potential of new local center at "90th St. & Willows"
• high jobs along Willows.
• can accommodate 27,000 new jobs. 

The "Centers" focuses on Overlake for high job growth, then Marymoor and SE Redmond; studies for potential protection of industry and manufacturing are required.  "Centers" accommodate 30,100 new jobs and targets 53,697 housing units. Mr, Churchill advised development in Marymoor and SE Redmond area could be influenced by wastewater and sewer infrastructure challenges.

Last week the Planning Commission evaluated the 90th St.& Willows local center.  Commissioner Sherri Nichols worried about consequences to some of the long-time businesses like Eastside Gym. (I went there for years. Loni, the owner, is a super dude.)  The "district" is zoned for 2-4 stories.  According to Churchill, upzoning is likely so buildings could go even higher. 

And then there's "benefits."  After developers deliver "benefits" to the public like Open Space, water fountains, plazas, and mini dog-parks, they can qualify for Bonus stories to boost their building height.

According to the Story Map, the 90th St. & Willows local center has potential for households second only to Overlake.  I was surprised by the high stack of Legos there.  The corridor is a sleeper.   

-- Bob Yoder, photo Yoder, 8/2/2022

Update: 2022 Derby Days Grand Parade

Our City Council members are rounding the corner!  Council member Jessica Forsythe is the festive one in yellow sneakers.  She's Council President.  Do you see Council member Vanessa Kritzer with the baby bump?  She's making modern history in Redmond as the first ever pregnant Council member! 👶 Vanessa is Council Vice President in a very challenging year.  (Rent regulations, Tree regulations, Public Safety Levy, Town Center amendments, Evans Creek realignment, Senior Center funding decisions and on.)  Councilmember David Carson marches as the senior member with over 13 years under his belt.  Councilmember Melissa Stuart (in red) lives in Overlake Urban Center where representation is sorely needed.  Varisha Kahn is back from a long illness marching with hat. Jaralee Anderson poured OJ at the firefighters' breakfast.  Steve Fields wasn't seen. 
 

click to enlarge

Former Mayor of 16 years, Rosemarie Ives and Jerry Torell hold the banner as the Redmond Historical Society members march with organic vegetable and fruit costumes, in concert with the parade's sustainability theme.  

-- Bob Yoder, picture and video, 7/9/2022

UPDATED 6/19: The High Value Of Downtown City Trees

Three landmark oak trees. The Design Review Board says one must go.

.

Councilmember David Carson led Council discussion on the Senior & Community Center monthly report.  It was the April 26th "Committee of the Whole" meeting. Councilmembers Varisha Kahn and Steve Fields were absent.

Eric Dawson, Project Manager gave each councilmember a tree heath assessment map  (or something similar.) Thirty-two trees will be removed,  mostly from around the building. 199 replacement sapling trees will be planted.  The high count is attributable to the 128 replacement tree requirements in the "Shoreline jurisdiction."  

President Jessica Forsythe asked "how many trees can potentially be saved, especially looking at the first one nearest the River Trail?  It's a pretty substantial tree and lots of people enjoy the shade. There's about five I'm hoping we can do something." 

Mr. Dawson said mildly, he was looking into small shrubs to give away to homeowners.  huh?  At one time he said the City could afford a "green roof" on the Center.  A sliver of one is planned.

President Forsythe asked about reworking the trail rather than removing the tree.  Mr. Dawson said the Design Review Board studied every angle to find the "best connection point" between the river and the Center. They decided the entrance to the Center near a landmark tree was the most inviting and the tree would need to go; yet he committed to one more look.  

Parks Chair Councilmember David Carson was positive about saving the tree saying "it took 50-60 years to get that tree to where it's at."  He said it was an ideal shade tree for the picnic tables. City planner Cameron Zapata said Red Oaks are sometimes called "Champion Trees." 

Odds & ends:  Vice President Vanessa Kritzer asked about the pickleball courts. Eric said they will stay open until the cranes are up.  "Art Hill" will close for staging.  Late 2022, early 2023 construction cranes will be up.  Councilmember Malissa Stuart got assurances from Mr. Dawson that full programing with some finishing touches will be in place late 2023 when the Center opens.  

I did quite a bit of research on the "inviting entrance" near the landmarks seen in this photo. The OPSIS Health Assessment marked the three trees as "significant" Oaks measuring 24", 20", and 24".  I measured them: all three were a minimum 30 inches ABH while standing on their roots. These Oaks are landmarks.  I fear the the middle landmark will be removed unless Council intervenes. I'm not positive they are Red Oaks. The foliage of  three Oaks looks different from the Heritage tree.

It's interesting four Oregon White Oaks are designated tree replacements.  For more information about the tree replacements.  READ MORE: 

UPDATED: Redmond Police Update, 2021

 

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe

In a March 14th City Hall meeting, Police Chief Darrell Lowe gave Council an overview of 2021 activities, as follows:  

• 78 commissioned staff, with 8 vacancies; 38 professional staff, with 4 vacancies
• Mental health specialist:  376 response calls, 1,127 total contacts (follow-up with families, courts, health systems and other services.)
• 25,000 calls for service in 2021; a 2.8% increase over 2020.
• 1,171 arrests in 2021; 294 fewer arrests than 2020.
• Crimes per day, down 2.3% from 2020.
• Public Record Requests up 6.8% from 2020

Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer asked if violence picked up during the pandemic.  Chief Lowe said domestic violence increased but it was "yelling" rather than physical. Arrests occurred.  Councilmember Carson asked for a breakdown of the levels of crime and citations of 2021.  Chief said the statistics will be released monthly.  

Councilmember Melissa Stuart asked about the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Chief said the trend is low for citations, that the job is primarily "relational." Last year the policy changed to a "community response model" where SRO's don't work at just one school; they float.  

The Chief explained the problem with retail shoplifting.  Councilmember Fields asked about catalytic converter theft. Redmond police and other jurisdictions organized a task force to respond. He mentioned an engraving program.

Councilmember Jeralee Anderson and the Chief emphasized the importance of locking your car.  Years ago I learned the hard way.  I won't go into the details, but my company car was stolen and returned two days later by a Redmond officer.  She said youth will steal cars for a joy-ride. I had no idea how she found it.  What an angel!

-- Bob Yoder, 3/19/2022

   Source:  Safety, Council Committee of the Whole meeting, 3/14/2022

To learn about the 2007 Levy and see total costs per household of the 2022 Levy click:  https://www.letsconnectredmond.com/safety

Updated: Council Decides On Senior & Community Center Funding

The proposed $48 million Senior & Community Center adjacent to City Hall will be funded, in part, by $16,000,000 "council-manic" bonds.  These bonds don't require voter approval or increase taxes and will utilize future revenues to pay the bonds.  

Council voted 5-2 (Carson, Kahn) for "Option 3" bonding at their March 8th Study Session.  They chose a $16,814,039, 20-year council-manic bond bearing 3% interest. Total debt after 20 years is $21,000,000.  Interest after 20-years is $5,393,340.

"One-time money" ($16,814,039) from 2021 construction taxes will not be spent. Enormous construction activity in Redmond's urban centers generates one-time money. The City accumulated $11,066,344 one-time money in 2020, as well.  According to the Council President the funds must be used for capital expenditures, not operations. 

Councilmember David Carson prefered "Option 1."  He liked that $2 million in interest is saved up front over the life of the loan.  "Not knowing what could come, paying the price down as much as possible is a safe, conservative route," said Carson.

CM Kahn was present and quiet.  

-- Bob Yoder, 3/15/2022

Council Looks At Citizen Participation

Internet

The City Council reviewed "public comment" parameters during their March 8th Study Session. Why now?  I maintain disruptive "homeless hotel" activists, their personal attacks on the Mayor and staff and endless weekly commenting set the wheels of change in motion. Also, passionate firefighters consumed Council business time with lengthy objections to the vaccine mandate.  

Currently, and historically, Council has given individuals a period up to four minutes "to be heard."  This period is technically known as "Items from the Audience."  Sometimes topics are emotionally charged, with large, time consuming turnouts.  "Being heard" can be lengthy but seldom is it disruptive.  Councilmember Anderson asked Council to read the "public meeting participation guide" https://www.redmond.gov/189/City-Council. She suggested taking comments during Study Sessions and endorsed the four-minute rule.  The Mayor and Council officers decided conducting the business of the City was the number one priority, over participation from the public. 

Councilmember David Carson said listening to the people is part of the job. CM Steve Fields agreed, referring to Hartman pool commenting. At times Mr. Carson helps speakers by sharing relevant information. Council President Jessica Forsythe was concerned about defining "disruption" and asked Mr. Carson how he'd describe it.  He said: pornograpy:  it's hard to describe until you see it."  President Forsythe mentioned you might  be able to stick to four minutes if you kept speakers on the same topic to three. Fields nodded yes.  

I believe in the principle:  "Public participation is the hallmark of good government."  So, who does a good job at this?  The City of Kirkland has a model plan.  Lake Washington School District's procedure is:  1)  sign in, mark your talk topic, 2) a school board member explains: a) the 3-minute rule, measured with green, yellow and red lights, b) total commenting time is limited to 30 minutes, c) emails to the Board are accepted 3) speakers with the same topic can all speak as long as they don't repeat each other. 

The Planning Commission uses the three-minute rule. In my experience, it's rare a citizen will show up to comment, so why not 4-minutes?  Seriously. Complex land uses take time to present.  Recently, I made a HEARING comment to the Commission (about tree regs.) I spent lots of time preparing a 4-minute talk and was shocked when the Chair announced I had 3-minutes, this at the HEARING.  I don't think they sent my written comments to Council either.

-- Bob Yoder, 3/12/2022, opinion

Kringles Bakery Reaches Out For Community Support

Hi Bob! I thought I'd suggest you do a story on Kringles Bakery and the difficulty they are having paying off their landlord and staying in their location. They are doing a gofundme campaign. I think their story may be representative of a lot of what's happening to small businesses in Redmond right now.

-- Emily Johnson, 3/4/2022 Thank you Emily!

Photo credit / Four Square

Kringles Bakery is the yellow "cottage" building located at the junction of Cleveland Street and Redmond Way. You can't miss it! They've been in this location for nine years. The bakery is a flagship small business for Redmond owing it's high visibility, support to our community and amazing, one-of-a-kind kringles! OMG they're good, but notch your belt accordingly.

This is a bakery that really cares about our community. Every Sunday the Redmond Assembly of God parashers pick up baked goods for their morning. Rev. Robroy Ranger sometimes holds small group meetings in the quaint seating area. Day old goods are recycled back to the community. I know they do a lot more.

In these pandemic times, Kringles has one really good thing going for it. Councilmember David Carson is a frequent customer. I've chatted with him twice there; he's usually on his computer. David has strong ties with One Redmond, an organization that supports small businesses.

Kringles still needs community support in a big way. Donate what you can to the: gofundme campaign.!

Thanks for supporting Redmond's small businesses! 

-- Bob Yoder, 3/4/2022

City Council Makes Final Decision On "Homeless Hotel" And Similar Low Income Housing Accommodations

Redmond's Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel (Komo)

In their Business meeting on February 1st, 2022 Council deliberated and voted on regulation issues of the Silver Cloud "homeless hotel," and similar *types of low income housing.  

The Redmond hotel borders Bellevue neighborhoods, a pre-school and small businesses. Bellevue's George B. emerged as the spokesman-activist for the protesters. They were highly organized. 

Last Tuesday George B. spoke, with Mayor Birney giving him extra time.  Apparently, roughly 85% of the homeless residents will be from outside Redmond.

Throughout this painful months-long drama rarely did I hear of Councilmembers visiting the Bellevue businesses other than CM Fields and possibly CM Forsythe.   

However, last night Councilmember Jeralee Anderson was the star.  CM Anderson met with George B. the day previous.  She was all ears as he explained his expectations for "no negative outcomes."  George complimented Jeralee as "astute and thoughtful."  He called her "a gifted politician."  CM Anderson's connection with George should be vital to the success of this social experiment. 

CM Anderson verified permanent that homeless housing doesn't have to be located in hotels alone.  The housing can go where hotels are permitted, not necessarily built.  

CM Steve Fields was bothered by feelings of lack of trust between Council and the Executive branch.  Time and again he asks for greater Council oversight powers.  CM David Carson asked Planning Director Carol Helland to add context to the amendment to help Mr. Fields.  Ms. Helland, with her depth of knowledge addressed all the questions; she's brilliant. 

It's important to know the County will require additional "homeless hotels," possibly as frequent as every two years.  Thus, separation of permanent supportive housing and other types of emergency low income housing need spacing for density issues.  The Planning Commission recommended half mile (2641') separation between  "homeless hotel" housing types.  Vice President Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer recommended separation of no less than 1,500 feet. The vote was YES for 1,500 feet (Kritzer, Forsythe, Kahn, Stewart.) 

An amendment fixes the hotel occupancy to 100.  CM Anderson suggested greater latitude. Council voted YES 7-0.  

HB 1220 required amendments to Redmond Code, thus, Council's deliberations.  Although *permanent supportive housing, *transitional housing, *indoor emergency housing, and *indoor emergency shelters are allowed  under our Redmond Zoning Code, it does not define nor clarify the provisions through which  are mandated consistent with HB 1220 requiring amendments to current Redmond regulations.

Bob Yoder, OPINION, 2/3/2022

Read More on HB 1220

UPDATED: Councilmembers Jessica Forsythe and Vanessa Kritzer Elected Council Officers

The election was held during the January, 4th Regular Council meeting.  A video of the meeting is here.

Councilmember Jessica Forsythe was elected Council President, (5-2)  Carson, Fields, Kahn, Kritzer, Forsythe.  (Stewart nominated Anderson.)

Councilmember Kritzer was elected Vice President, (4-3) Anderson, Stewart, Carson, Kritzer.  (Forsythe nominated Anderson, Anderson declined the nomination, Anderson and Kritzer nominated Stewart for Vice President. Carson and Fields advised against it.)

Councilmember Kahn nominated Councilmember Fields for President. Mr. Fields declined.  Fields nominated Ms. Kahn for V.P.  Ms. Anderson voted "no."  Ms. Kahn nominated Mr. Fields for V.P.  Councilmember Anderson voted "no."  Councilmember Malissa Stewart was nominated for V.P.  Councilmember David Carson discouraged her owing to lack of experience. (This is her first year as a representative.)

Council President Jessica Forsythe

Jessica Forsythe

Position #3
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Jessica Forsythe
Phone: 425-305-7206
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Parks and Human Services Committee of the Whole, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, Eastside Human Services Forum (EHSF)

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio which works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Ms. Forsythe is a thoughtful, creative thinker who takes a holistic approach to every project. She believes strongly in being involved at the local level and knows first-hand the impact one person can have on their community.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Jessica graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Environmental Design. She has worked in environmental design, architecture, branding, and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She has volunteered with numerous community and charity organizations, most notably her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Jessica has also served on various non-profit boards including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

She enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Council Vice President Vanessa Kritzer

Vanessa Kritzer

Position #5
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Vanessa Kritzer
Phone: 425-305-9892
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Finance, Administration, and Communications Committee of the Whole, Community Facilities District (CFD) Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP), Sound Cities Association (SCA), WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council, Lake Sammamish Kokanee ILA Management Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Committee.