The Downtown Park public forum was time well spent

OPINION:   The City of Redmond held an Open Forum last night for the public and staff to hear presentations from five Downtown Park consultant candidates.  I and my wife listened to the first three consultants and Q&A which lasted two hours.  About a third of the audience appeared to be filled with staff and consultants.  Extra seats had to be brought into City Hall. 

All presentations were professional and helpful but the last consultant called "Land Morphology" appeared to be the most engaging and enthusiastic about Redmond and dug the deepest for "who we are."  They seemed to have a good grasp of  the surrounding downtown parks, Heron Rookery, our aquifer, and the rich cultures within Redmond.  They handed out small models of the park showing two sheltered structures comparing this idea to the Chihuly Museum by the Space Needle.  Having a well lit, warm place to gather seems important in our climate.  Art and Culture is destined to be a big part of the Downtown Park...and probably rain gardens.  History was brought up a lot, too and Land Morphology once included an archeological dig in one of their parks.  You never know what could turn up during the development of the park considering the Indian artifacts found around Lower Bear Creek.

All three consultants had to deal with questions about dogs and pets.  I don't think any of them recommended a dog running area.  Public process and wonkish diagrams were emphasized by the last two consultants -- I'm sure much to the happiness of the attending staff.  Though public process can be boring at times it tries to capture the broader public and design the framework for launching the park.  We got to critique each consultant with "scorecards." 

I wish now I had stayed to listen to the last two consultants, but two hours was plenty for me and you can go to www.redmond.gov to watch all five presentations.   If you attended, the Mayor put on a good show with food before-hand and some fascinating art-musician-dancers performing during breaks for the cameras and audience. 

Bob Yoder   

Some facts and news on Redmond's water resources

UPDATED:  Redmond is known for it's green forest and stream buffers, trails and multi-faceted parks.  Of course it takes water and lots of it to keep our fair city green.   Jon Spangler, a resident of Redmond and 22 year city employee who manages the Department of Resources is expert on all things water in Redmond.   During his presentation to Council on "Water Resources Strategic Plan" some noteworthy facts and stories surfaced, as follows:  

Redmond's wells suck out 800 million gallons from the ground per year to supply 35-40% of Redmond's drinking water.  It rains 11 billion gallons of water/year in Redmond.  (The Mayor couldn't believe it but Jon proved his number on 42 inches/year of rain on 16 square miles.)  So even with rapid development a lot of rain should enter into the ground.  Jon said keeping the base flows in streams is important so they don't dry up in the summer.  The city's stormwater system is impressive with 220 miles of stormwater pipes, 100 major ponds and over 50 miles of small streams.  All of the treated stormwater eventually drains into ponds or Bear, Evans and Kelsey Creek and the Sammamish River. 

Our well water keeps the price of water low though the infrastructure costs are relatively high.  Cascade Water Alliance would supply Redmond with water piped in from the White River but demand for this water is falling and it's likely the Tolt River and our wells will provide for us adequately for quite some time. 

Jon said, some of our ground water is contaminated with hazardous waste from surface infiltration but Mr. Spangler said, "though it's at very low levels and it's not a risk to anybody's health but it's something we want to keep an eye on so it doesn't become a problem."  The city is working with select industries and commercial interests to mitigate the contamination.

Councilmember Hank Meyers asked about the ALL WOOD Recycling fire and the tons of water dumped on the fire which is an infiltration site for our groundwater.  The water ran into the creek and into the groundwater.  Spangler estimated 1900 fish were killed in Evans Creek from the fire foam that was used.  Spangler said, "I don't believe there's an imminent threat to the groundwater but we plan to do some indicator sampling over the next 6 months."  Aquifer monitoring wells are not in the immediate infiltration site of the fire. 

Reported By Bob Yoder

LETTER: Where will the children moving into downtown Redmond go to school?

Susan Wilkins said...

Where are the children from the new apartments and condos in downtown Redmond supposed to go to school? Redmond Elementary is already near capacity with 401 students and Redmond Middle School is seriously overcrowded with 970 students. Nearly 400 elementary students from the east side of Redmond (Woodbridge, Evans Creek & Hidden Ridge) are bused out to Dickinson Elementary and Alcott Elementary every day. Both of these schools are more than 3 miles outside the city limits. Students from River Trail, north of QFC, are bussed up to Rockwell Elementary. It seems like the vision for downtown Redmond is walkability - walk to shops, walk to parks, walk to entertainment, walk to the transit center. But walk to school? Forget-about-it! Why hasn’t the City of Redmond told the school district to plan for students living in the downtown area and insisted that they build schools to meet the walkability model that is being developed?

The school district says that there isn’t enough land available to build schools in downtown Redmond. Note that Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWIT) built a satellite campus next to Marymoor Park in 2004 and DigiPen just moved into its new campus along Willows Road last year. A number of churches/religious groups have converted warehouses in the industrial areas that are comparable to a typical school in size and space usage. Redmond could really use another elementary and a middle school downtown (or maybe a K-8) that residents could walk to.

Bob Yoder has hit a nerve when asking what the future identity of downtown Redmond is going to be. Maybe the plan is to create a thriving, exciting downtown for Yuppies (young urban professionals) and DINKs (Dual Income, No Kids) in which case, downtown schools will not be needed. If children are supposed to be part of downtown Redmond, then the City needs to open a dialogue with the school district about where they will go to school within the City limits – and insist that the schools be located where children can actually walk to school.

By Susan Wilkins, Education Hill, Redmond

 

Redmond's identity crisis

Where did all the outdoor art go that is now replaced by a parking lot?  The city does have a call for artists to plan art for the Cleveland Street corridor. 

Five more buildings will be torn down in the next four months to make room for an expanded Downtown Park.  Few will use the park until the downtown builds out.  It will be an eerie place for a while. 

What's holding back Leary Way from developing with quaint shops while right next door a tall crane builds a 6 story apartment community abutting the sidewalk?

Western brick and wood buildings are being dwarfed by multi-colored high tech apartment communities.  Do they match up?  

Thousands of residents will be moving into downtown Redmond bringing with them more congested roads and pedestrians you can barely see..   Where is the street lighting?

The city has been planning to reconfigure 166th Ave from four lanes to three lanes for safety for many years.  Will the Mayor have the guts to stay on schedule before his term ends?

Currently Downtown Redmond has about 2800 residents.

By 2030 the Administration's vision is 13,000 residents. We are facing a crisis of growth for years to come. 

Bob Yoder, opinion

Looking back on seven years at Redmond Neighborhood Blog - moving forward

Bob Yoder, Editor

Reminiscing in December 29, 2012 about the direction of my blog

EDITORIAL:  As another year comes to an end, I'm looking back to 7 years of publishing this blog and am thankful for those readers who have benefited from the community news and local government reporting that is so hard to find these days.   Up until the last year I've been able to post original stories every 2-3 days and from the looks of my th stat counter, the word of my blog got around.  In fact, I stopped distribution by email two years ago.  Now, I'm entering a  new phase of blogging where I report original stories less often because my life demands it.   But, I'm just as passionate about Greater Redmond and making sure my readers get the inside scoop on city, school district, and hospital district government news.  So stay tuned and you will be rewarded. 

Some of the biggest changes in Redmond are it's urban growth and the challenges that come along with it.   As I age, I remind myself I need to be more adaptive and accepting to these changes.   With Tent City planned in the St Jude school neighborhood for the 4th time in 6 years we must live yet again with the reminder of homelessness at a time we see homeless on almost every major street corner.  I've written the city to find a different city location for a change but it takes more than one voice.  Good news:  the city is responsive to a good argument.

Fortunately, it looks like the economy is starting to show some life and the school district may have enhanced support for their planned 2014 levy.  District leaders need to show the voters a good plan for expansion to adjust for severe overcrowding (and under-utilization) in many of their schools.  Having a stronger economy and a good, transparent plan to limit portables will help our district fund and adequately accommodate our school children.

EvergreenHealth hospital and medical center has made big strides in their governance process during this blog's watch but there's still some work to be done.

I will continue to aggregate news stories I think are special or are overlooked by the local press.  I can usually find short pieces that only take a few moments of my day to post them.   So my blog is now more of a hobby than an avocation and I can get on with the important things of my life like family, work, and friends.   But, I don't want to lose you when something big comes up, so stay tuned.   Often it's a letter from a reader that moves the traffic and pushes the post into the "Most Popular" column on the sidebar. 

Best Wishes to you all in the year ahead,

Bob Yoder

OPINION: We can do better on the city budget, By Councilmembers Myers and Carson

WE CAN DO BETTER
On Tuesday, December 4, the Redmond City Council passed a budget for 2013 through 2014. The administration says the budget “is reduced to take into account the continued lack of service demand in development review [and other items]” is a 4% increase over the current budget. The budget includes a 1% property tax increase even though we will have a $10 million surplus at the end of 2012 (the 1% increase is worth about $450,000 over the next two years). As the two dissenting votes on the budget, we want the residents of Redmond to know that the city can do better.

BUDGETTING BY PRIORITIES
In 2008, we adopted a process called Budgeting by Priorities, a technique designed to fund the highest priority services first, with input from the public. It was proposed by the authors of the book “The Price of Government” as a method to counter unsustainable growth in government taxes and fees. Essentially we establish a revenue prediction, and go through the various services in priority order until we run out of money. This is not a stand-alone process, however. Central to the premise of the book is that there is an acceptable price for each level of government that citizens are willing to support. Get above that level and taxpayers react negatively by rejecting tax levies, supporting restrictions on raising taxes (58% of Redmond voters supported I-1185), and even electing candidates who promise to be more fiscally responsible.

HOW DOES REDMOND STACK UP?
On the one hand, the price of government as a percentage of the total income base in Redmond is going down. One the other hand, the reason is because we have increased the population density in Redmond so that the total income base has gone up faster than the cost of government services. This is true for all eastside cities. Redmond even has a policy of encouraging this by creating high density development in downtown and Overlake. This is why high income density communities such as Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Medina and Yarrow Point have costs of government half of Redmond levels.
On the third hand (economists always need at least three hands), how do we compare to similar cities in our area? As a group, the cities of Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland and Issaquah spend about 4.7% of residents’ total income for all services including water, sewer and storm water utilities. For Redmond, the cost of these services is 6% higher at 4.98%. Woodinville and Sammamish don’t provide the same utility services, but we can compare the cost of basic government services for these cities as well. For the six largest eastside cities, the population weighted price of basic municipal government is 2.83%. For Redmond, it is 14.5% higher at 3.27%.

Mayor Marchione has said that it is an improper use of the Price of Government tool to compare relative costs of neighboring cities. That is like saying that it is improper to compare new car prices in Bellevue with car prices at Kirkland dealers, or wrong to compare grocery prices at QFC in Redmond to those at QFC in Sammamish. All six neighboring cities share the same labor pool, cost of living, topography and service expectations. All six cities provide high levels of basic municipal services and enjoy similarly high satisfaction ratings by residents. Probably the most directly comparable city to Redmond is Kirkland, yet our cost of municipal government including utilities is 31% higher than Kirkland and the price of basic government excluding utilities is 16% higher in Redmond. All cost data come from the Washington State Auditor for the same categories of costs, while population and income data are from the U.S. Census Bureau for 2011.

RHETORIC VS DATA
Two arguments were raised to support raising property taxes to the legal maximum. First, it costs something to maintain any new capital project we build. We all understand this. Whether it is a house or a car or a lawn mower, anything we buy will generate ongoing maintenance costs. When we look at the data provided by the administration, it is amazing how little it will cost to maintain our proposed projects. The Mayor’s projected ongoing costs related to the proposed new capital projects is 0.65% per year. For every $100 we spend on capital, it will cost us 65 cents a year in ongoing costs. Anyone who has ever owned an Audi or a Fiat can tell you what a bargain that is. This argument also overlooks that the purpose of these capital projects is to encourage and accommodate new development, which in turn generates new taxes at an even higher rate than the current tax base. We won’t be paying those new ongoing costs from the current tax base, but from a significantly larger one.

The second argument for raising taxes is concern about possible shortfalls in future years. This argument has been used every budget for the last three budget cycles, and yet each biennium our surpluses have increased. If we had not taken any property tax increases in the last six years, our current budget surplus would be “only” $8.5 million, or over 5% of the current basic budget. These rhetorical arguments are contradicted by any data analysis of possible effects.

WE CAN DO MUCH BETTER
Proponents of higher taxes argue that the increase isn’t really very much. We ask, are they even necessary? As a government, we should not be taking any more money from our residents than we need in order to operate our services honestly and efficiently. We know any money that’s collected will be spent because Governments don’t do profit sharing or pay dividends. In addition to being more diligent about our cost of government, we need to have a higher threshold for raising taxes than simple anxiety or rhetoric. Raising taxes should be the last option, not the first.

David Carson
Hank Myers

LWSD Administration to update website to clarify Rosa Parks reboundary scenarios, in response to public comment

Seven Redmond Ridge parents eloquently and with great civility gave oral presentations to the School Board and Superintendent Pierce at last night's LWSD business meeting.  Their concern was primarily the continued frustration with district policy and process in resolving overcrowding at Rosa Parks. 

Their combined presentations lasted 30 minutes and brought a very positive response from Superintendent Pierce.  Pierce said she wants the process to be transparent and will update the website.  "I have no intention to hold information back," she said.   An earlier presenter, Julie Ann, said  "Thank you for listening and understanding how important transparency is in developing trust-based relationships with key stakeholders."

 Four School Board members engaged with the presenters afterwards.  Specifically, Director Carson asked if Pierce could fine-tune the most popular Scenario C (to include the Deveron neighborhood at Wilder and adjust numbers to "true capacity".)  Director Egglington requested that "true school capacities" be posted and available to the public.  Director Pendergrass asked for clarification on language grandfathering 5th and kindergartners.  Director Bleisner asked for clarification and updating the website before the December 10 deadline for surveys. 

Go to this link for survey forms and Reboundary clarification updates: http://www.lwsd.org/News/temporary-boundary-change/Pages/default.aspx.  

The benefits taxpayers receive from EvergreenHealth

EvergreenHealth

EvergreenHealth King County Distict #2 assesses a small annual levy (.30/$1000) on King County private property owners to fund community programs for growth and and health and wellness. 

The total 2013 Regular Property Levy for EvergreenHealth King County District #2 was  $15,190,664 and is broken down into:  1)  Regular levy for Debt Service = $ 10,970,493.65 and 2) Levy for Community Programs = $ 4,220,170.45.  

So what do we get for our money?    Laurene Burton, Administrative Director at EvergreenHealth (Hospital) provided the following answers:                                            

"2013 Bond proceeds of $10,970,493.65 are used to pay costs of acquiring, construction, remodeling and equipping the Districts’ health care facilities and have been used for:

· Constructing the Evergreen Surgery and Physicians Center (ESPC)
· Acquiring equipment and furnishings for the ESPC
· Completing improvements to the inpatient services areas within the hospital
· Remodeling certain areas of the hospital
· Acquiring and installing equipment
· Acquiring and installing clinical and administrative IT
· Constructing the DeYoung Pavilion
· Acquiring equipment and furnishings for the DeYoung Pavilion.

2013 Levy for Community Programs totalled $4,220,170.45 and pays for the following: 

Community Advisors: A group of Board appointed individuals representing the public hospital district region that provide input to Evergreen and the Board of Commissioners. $17,000

Community Health Education: Offers comprehensive outcome-based programs for individuals within our community aimed at promoting health, wellness and injury prevention within the framework of the organization's strategic goals, leading health indicators and objectives. $554,499

Community Healthcare Access Team (CHAT):Healthcare Access: Supports clients facing barriers to accessing healthcare services. Needs are assessed by social workers and clients are connected to financial, social and primary or specialty health resources in the community. $382,426

Northshore Senior Center: Programs that receive funding: Evergreen Enhance Wellness Program and Adult Day Health. In addition funding to support Senior services in Kirkland provided by NSC. All programs provided mental health support for older adults and may decrease length of hospital stay.$127,500

Senior Health Specialists: A dedicated healthcare team providing specialized complex care for elders who are frail and have multiple medical conditions, including expert assessment and treatment of dementia with behavioral health problems.$1,471,000

Community Grief and Bereavement:Professional bereavement staff supports Evergreen patients, staff, individuals and families in the community facing anticipated death and/or following the death of a loved one. Services include consultation, counseling, education, referrals and support groups, including support to children and teens, sudden traumatic and perinatal loss. $140,000

Healthline: Healthline is a multi-service department of providing 24/7 nurse triage, physician referrals, class registration, centralized scheduling along with additional support services for various hospital departments.$1,724,000

City of Kirkland: The Kirkland Senior Council provides advocacy for the senior population and distribution of educational materials; Kirkland Steppers is an organized physical activity program for seniors. $8,000

Community Health Initiative: Working with Lake Washington, Northshore and Riverview School Districts, establish immunizations programs for underserved children. $15,000"

 

Send your ideas for community health programs to LHBurton@EvergreenHealth.com

By Bob Yoder

UPDATED EDITORIAL: The LWSD School Board needs to be more assertive on overcrowding policy

UPDATED EDITORIAL:  According to Lake Washington School District BY-LAWS,  "The job of the Board is to represent the citizens and to lead the organization by asking critical questions and by determining and demanding appropriate and excellent organizational performance." 

School Board of Directors are elected officials and are each authorized a $4,800/yr stipend to work with due diligence to represent their constituents and lead the Administration.  They presently waive their pay.  This self image of volunteerism mitigates their over-sight of our District Superintendent and accountability to their constituents.  Though improving, the Board is not "demanding excellent organizational performance" especially of late, when it comes to overcrowding and facilities planning solutions.

Infrastructure policy plans to limit portables are still not aligned with population growth and problems passing future levies could result.

Levy funding policy, re-boundary policy, facilities planning policy, reconfiguration policy, and regional feeder school adjustment policy are prime examples of when the BOARD's voice and active representation and administrative oversight is expected and could use improvement

The Lake Washington School District has 98,987 registered voters. Yet, when the KIMBALL BOARD "asked the community" in 2005 if they should run a bond to completely overhaul and rebuild the schools only 427 citizens responded. Community involvement in the decision making process reached at a low point under KIMBALL. The PIERCE BOARD needs to "lead the organization" (By-Laws) with an updated Decision-Making Policy to involve the greater community.

"Community Involvement in Decision Making Policy" code was adapted 12/2/74, last revised May 7, 1990 and is over twenty-two years old. The Board and Superintendent needs to update these governance policies to be more effective and accountable.

By Bob Yoder 

UPDATED: Downtown Construction Build-Out Achieves 50% of 2030 Downtown Density Goal

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 Plan link, 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 over 2200 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. 

85th Street Apartments	85th St. NE and 158th Ave. NE	148	includes 3,000 square feet of retail	under construction
Centerpointe Mixed Use	16345 Cleveland St.	134	6 stories; 212,556 square feet (includes retail)	under construction
Old Town Mixed Use	16175 Cleveland St.	149	6 stories; 205,390 square feet (includes retail)	under construction
Redmond Square Apartments	7977 170th Ave. NE	154	2 4-story buildings with a parking garage below	under construction
Stelvio	15815 Bear Creek Parkway	32	plans call for mixed-use space	approved but on hold due to economy
Vision 5	8525 163rd Court NE	96	8 units with 96 single-room occupants; 37,168 square feet	under construction

At the current pace of downtown construction it appears the city could significantly over-shoot their 2030 density target of 6170 dwelling units.

Opinion By Bob Yoder

Updated: Council Studies Plan To Rejuvenate Old Town District

Pho Restaurant, 2011 - an historic hotel/ photo Yoder

2013: The need for higher and better purposes for the Old Town Downtown neighborhood were discussed at a September city council/mayoral study session.

Leary Way is at the heart of Old Town which is delineated by Cleveland Street, Redmond Way to Gilman and 164th Avenue. Sixteen landmark buildings, 40 years and older, occupy this historic district.     David Scott Meade, Chair of Redmond's Design Review Board, commented on Leary Way at the Council meeting, as follows:

"We are working on new guidelines and standards. I'd like to wrap my arms around the historic district and create an envelope of landscaping, hanging pots, street furniture, paving scapes, and opportunities to promote the businesses and structures that exist here now. I'd like to see a higher and better purposes so we can enjoy them for the next 100 years."  

Miguel Llanos, Landmarks Commissioner said  "There's a Master Plan for the Downtown Park but not for Old Town. Old Town is a vibrant district that uses it's history to make it different from the rest of Redmond and other parts of the Eastside." Miguel ran down a list of Old Town signature historic buildings contributing energy to the downtown core: The Matador, Redmond Sports Bar, Half Price Books, Brown's Garage Liquor Store.

Miguel suggested a guided tour of the vacant second floor of the Pho Restaurant  on Leary- once an historic hotel. "We need to reach out to Old Town tenants and landowners, like the Nelsons", said Miguel, to help rehabilitate the core.  Graffiti is tagged on the metal siding.  The Pho Restaurant building has a new owner and he may be more amenable to removing the metal siding (10/8/13 Council Meeting).   

David Scott Meade agreed that something is needed to be done with the metal siding on the Pho Restaurant and to save, improve, and enhance the Old Town structures, in general. He recommended applying transfer development rights as bargaining chips to trade for improvements. "Incentives are needed now before things change," said Meade, "Leary is the heart of what Redmond is and, as Miguel notes, and we need to be more proactive."

"A Master Plan is needed before Old Town gets overwhelmed," said Llanos.

-- Bob Yoder, 9/2011, Updated 9/2013

Without a Master Plan Old Town rapidly deteriorated.  Leary Way is now the home of a crime-ridden "pot shop," a vape store and crazy utility box art. Two other pot shops are located in Old Town.  Panhandlers hang out.  And an 8-story residential building will wall off the north-end of Leary and plug the historic district. However, Palmers and the RBG offer flowered curbside dining and deck out the holidays with colorful lights. Development of the gas station is still up in the air and providing scarce parking space. 

Rosa Parks Parents and School Board Frustrated by "glacial slowness" of LWSD Administration

Rosa Parks Elementary on Redmond Ridge is severely overcrowded and the LWSD School Board and Administration know it.   More than 20 parents and students have presenting twice during Board meetings for over an hour about the unacceptable conditions and Superintendent Pierce visited the school in August.   Pierce's short term solution so far is to add more administrative help and limit recess to two grades at a time.   The school's ten portables cut out 50% from the play areas not leaving much room for fun or a solution to the overcrowding.   The school structure and grounds have a capacity of 483 students yet according to parent Heather Rosenburg "it's almost approaching 800 students." 

Another parent, Karen Swenson says "enrollment could reach 900 students if development keeps increasing at Redmond Ridge East.  Sending only Kindigardners to Wilder does not achieve right size.  We need a decision by the end of January before Kindigarden registration - including forcasted enrollment - to decide if we should stay, move, varience, home school, and go to private schools." 

Dr. Pierce will hold a meeting with the Rosa Parks community September 27, 6:45-8:15PM, at the school to seek feedback on short term solutions and discuss long term plans. According to parent Beth Zimmerman, Katheryn Reith of the Administration identifies short term solutions as: 1) eliminate full day kindergarten, 2) convert specialized classrooms to regular classrooms, 3) set new boundaries, 4) bus students, 5) add two more portables.  Zimmerman called the overcrowding an emergency situation. 

Julie Ann, parent of a second grader and past community liaison to the Seattle Public Schools understood the Superintendent Pierce's goal not to reboundary twice for students in Redmond East.  She recommended temporary relocation saying North Shore District has accommodated schools similarly in the past where she once lived and the boundaries are not complex. 

A parent with a second grader recommended moving Kindergartners and 1st Graders to Wilder (which is 75% of capacity with declining enrollment).  Or, to move Redmond Ridge East except Chandler to Wilder. 

Boardmember Chris Carlson said:

"I wanted to hear from somebody from Redmond Ridge East.  I have yet to hear from such people.  It still feels we have a community that's asking to move the other half of your school but I haven't heard that yet.  People clamouring to "Please bus us to Wilder" would be fantastic but I haven't heard that yet." 

Boardmember Chris Carlson from the Kirkland district concluded for the Board saying,

"We do feel your pain and the solution is going to be frustratingly slow - glacial.  It won't happen before the next meeting.  The community must work with Superintendent Pierce.  We as a Board are not writing a check to move all those kids [to Wilder Elementary].  It's unacceptable not being able to solve it [the overcrowding] this year but it's slow.  Tracie will work with you as a community.  It's something we are hoping you can work with her." 

Redmond's new school board member Siri Bliesner said "it's been a long term problem and it's important to be addressed now."   Redmond Ridge school board member Doug Eglington said "it's not fun.  It's frustratingly slow and will take some time." 

President Pendergrass from Kirkland and Juanita area said "there will be a solution" before Kindergarten registration in January so parents can decide where to send their kids.  "Superintendent Pierce is trying to involve the entire Redmond Ridge East and West communities and it takes time."

Reported by Bob Yoder

"The job of the Board is to represent the citizens and to lead the organization by asking critical questions and by determining and demanding appropriate and excellent organizational performance." (LWSD By-Laws)
 

Mayor Marchione and staff participate in new city Wellness Program

From left, Erin Saunderson, Emma Calvert, Jessica Tramp, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, Andrew Sundene, Julie Tramp and Christoph Myer visit with the mayor Tuesday afternoon. Marchione signed a proclamation to make November to be National Diabetes Month in Redmond. All of the teens were diagnosed with diabetes — most since before they turned 7. In addition, Marchione, 45, was diagnosed at age 38
Bill Christianson, Redmond Reporter, (Republished from 2010)

 In their August 21, 2012 meeting City Council approved the Mayor's new Health and Wellness Program with Additional Benefits.  Start-up costs will be $78,625 in 2012 and $71,625/year (based on 60% participation.)  The program will provide individual coaching, and other educational resources and tools to assist managing health risk factors of staff. 

Marchione expects to get full return on investment through good participation by staff.  Participation is the key to the program.  In house events and marketing literature will be introduced to city staff to encourage participation.  The program will address risk factors like nutrition, stress management and obesity.  City staff will be given incentives (undisclosed) to participate and improve. 

Mayor Marchione (age 47) was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II at age 38 and is in a good position to lead staff as a role model of participation.   Could we see the Mayor walking our sidewalks or swimming in Hartman Pool?  Will he declare November as "National Diabetes Month" as he did in 2010. 

The City of Redmond remains one of the best employers to work for in our area with 2009 wages and benefits averaging $108,000/employee and turnover very low.  Average pay per household in Redmond over the last three years is $92,164 according to recent City finance "Dashboard" data.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Redmond Reporter

How livable will Redmond be in five years?

EDITORIAL:  When City councilmembers visited neighborhoods during "National Night Out" in August, one of the most common questions neighbors asked was about downtown construction and downtown parking. I've spent hours searching the city website and emailing city officials trying to get a straight answer - even a simple list of construction projects and the most Mayor Marchione's Administration can come up with is "Major Projects Under Construction, dated Sept. 30, 2011." Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer when "customer service" is at such a premium by the Mayor?  I believe the Mayor is in a defensive mode with the election only two years away and he wants to minimize the severe traffic congestion issues we will be plagued with once the thousands of "sleep and eat" apartments with inadequate underground parking are installed. Redmond is destined to be one grid-locked, "drive through" boring community unless the downtown business community can be revitalized. But delaying the two-way lane conversions at Redmond Way and Cleveland St. until after the election only limits predictability and business migration to our downtown. Some Councilmembers appear to be looking the other way with interests outside of Redmond, and anywhere but here. One result: we now have over 20 "H" wayfinding Hospital signs in Redmond where no hospitals exist. Council did clarify in their last meeting "we DO have a Downtown Park." It's that green patch of grass used by dog walkers, awaiting the Mayor's "Master Plan."  Another patch will be added in a year after Marchione demolishes the Brown Building and  quasi-historic Redmond Cycle.  How about a water fountain for the downtown technology workers and their pets?   In the meantime, neighborhood housing projects continue to develop and scar our hills.  Will Redmond be drivable in five years? Livable?    Bob Yoder, 8-30-12

Since publishing this opinion under the "City of Redmond, WA." header page, the City Communications Administrator wrote the city would be updating their website over the next several weeks.  We'll see.  BY. 

LETTER: Kimball Administration callous in not allowing student to participate in graduation ceremony.

LETTER:  The high school graduation ceremony is an academic and social event for students, friends, and family members to celebrate the completion of more than 12 years of education. For most teenagers, the high school graduation ceremony is a special, exciting milestone in their lives that is held only once for each graduating high school class in May or June.  Student “R.S.” (diagnosed with a mild mood disorder) wanted to be included in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration - he didn’t request that he receive his diploma without completing all of the requirements.

The two credits that he was short could have been made up during summer school, but there is no way to recreate the graduation ceremony and celebration with members of his class. This was obviously very important to him and to his family and the callousness of the Lake Washington School District in denying him the opportunity to participate in the graduation ceremony with his class is disturbing and unforgivable.

He could have walked and received an empty diploma envelope, as was the practice at my high school and at my college for students who were within 2 credits of graduation.

By Susan Wilkins, LWSD parent and PTSA volunteer
  ...in response to:  "Parents' request to let student "RS" participate during graduation ceremony is denied."

WHY WE SHOULDN'T RAISE PROPERTY TAXES IN REDMOND NEXT BUDGET: "REDMOND REPORTER : LETTERS"

This Letter from Redmond Councilmember Hank Myers (truncated by Yoder) was published in the Redmond Reporter's July 20th edition (this weekend).  The Letter wasn't published in Reporter's online edition:  www.Redmond-Reporter.com.  To read the entire Letter which includes a compliment to the Marchione Administration, please read the newspaper edition delivered to your home.  The Redmond Reporter is available from newspaper dispensors at bus stops, apartments, Redmond Town Center, the post office, at select businesses, the Redmond library, City Hall and Old Redmond School House Community Center.

WHY WE SHOULDN’T RAISE PROPERTY TAXES IN REDMOND NEXT BUDGET, By Councilmember Hank Myers,  Redmond Reporter, 7/21/2012

At Tuesday night’s City Council Meeting, Finance Director Mike Bailey outlined the state of the current Redmond budget as we passed the 75% mark of the biennial period. The highlights are that Redmond’s cash on hand position is $9.5 million better than projected for this point in time. Even excluding a $4.0 million sales tax special payment from the State, we are still well over $5.0 ahead of our own projections. This strong cash position is due to our recovering sales tax revenue, as well as property tax collections that are about $1.5 million better than projected. On the expenditure side, Mayor Marchione and his Director team are under-spending the budget by 7.63% (compared to 7.08% last quarter). The City Council is the most frugal department, under-spending its budget by over 23.5%.

Last week Mr. Bailey presented an analysis of overall economic trends which show a strengthening recovery, particularly locally. If sales taxes follow the economic trends, we should see significant improvement in our single largest revenue source. Unlike other cities in our area, Redmond continued to raise property taxes in each of the last four years of the great recession. In dollar terms it is not a big amount, but it is not the only tax increases our residents have had to pay, and it came during a time when real income was declining.

Looking at all this, there are three excellent reasons why we should not raise property taxes in the next budget.

First, we don’t need the added revenue. We are looking at a budget-end cash surplus approaching $12 million. This is the third cash surplus in three budgets. At the end of the last budget we added a new multi-million dollar reserve fund that puts our reserve capacity well above city averages in our state. At the end of 2008 we created an innovation fund to encourage more efficient service delivery out of that surplus. By contrast, increasing property taxes the allowed 1% raises just under a million dollars for the biennium. Our residents rate city service delivery at impressively high levels. Conservatism is a laudable virtue in budgeting, second only to accuracy.

Next, how a government considers its citizens is vital. Except for a small amount of development services, all of the general fund revenue comes from taxing the productivity of the community. There are easy rationalizations for tax increases: “it’s not a lot of money” or “other governments are raising taxes more”. The bottom line is that any government that puts its own needs ahead of those of its citizens is not worthy. Besides, the property tax is the only general tax within the direct control of the city.

Third, the budget will be structurally balanced without a tax increase. We did not need the property tax increase in the current budget to assure a six-year structurally balanced budget, nor did we need it in the previous one. The question is how do we use our current surplus to create the most sustainable benefits for our residents? We have spent the last two surpluses creating innovation funds and super-safe reserve levels. Now is the time to use our surplus outside of city hall, almost literally putting it on the streets for the benefit of everyone.

My suggestion is....(please read the newspaper edition for Mr. Myers's closing remarks). 

Hank Myers
Redmond City Councilmember
P.O. Box 7151
Bellevue, WA  98008-1151
(425) 892-4820

UPDATED EDITORIAL: Parents' request to let student participate during LW High graduation ceremony is denied

EDITORIAL:   UPDATED:  On June 4th 2012, four adult friends of  student "RS" got up to speak to the Lake Washington School Board and Superintendent about his mild mood disorder called Cyclothemia or "Bipolar III."   One speaker was his mother.  "RS" was a Senior at Lake Washington High, a 2-3 sport athlete and an honor roll student more than once. According to Mr. Keller, "He was on track to graduate until earlier this year when he came down with onset of  manic depression.  This child is a couple credits short of graduation."  

All four of RS's supporters asked the Board and Superintendent to make an exception and allow RS to Walk with his classmates during graduation ceremonies.  Mr. Phillips and Keller spoke up saying, "RS spent thirteen years in LWSD Kirkland schools growing up with his friends and their request was based on him staying with the group of kids he's been with his entire life.  He was a model citizen for Kirkland," said Phillips.  Phillips pleaded during his three minutes, "Right now RS feels ostracized and doesn't quite grasp why he can't graduate or complete things right now.  Let him Walk with his friends to at least give him dignity.  Hopefully, this summer he'll know his next assignment is to finish high school."

The school board was thoughtful and deliberative.  Director Chris Carlson recommended the Administration look for "a compassionate clause as for any illness" in the laws governing this plea.  Director Siri Bliesner recommended looking at the policy statement in the "504 medical component."  In the end, the Kimball Administration made the decision not to let RS walk.  (Dr. Kimball retires mid-July.)  According to Keller, David Larson, School Support for Lake Washington High, concluded verbally that RS wasn't disabled, he was never hospitalized and his psychiatrist diagnosed him with only the mild mood swings of  Bipolar III.

This RS story reminds me of my best friend in high school, "Robert."  He was voted "All School Boy Athlete" by his peers and graduated on the Honor Roll.   He and two girls got seriously drunk just before graduation and painted a neighbor's fence with slanderous graffiti and then on his high school gym.  He was allowed to walk - with all humility - only to have Bipolar 1 episodes his senior year in college and a diagnosis in 1980 seven years later.  Once  struck with a chronic illness one is always recovering.  The mortality rate from Bipolar I and II is 20% from suicide, he lost his brother to it, and  bounced back from multiple job losses. 

The bright spot for Robert and  RS is how far medications have come -- from the lithium trials of the mid  '60's - when "taken" with sobriety.   RS has plans to go to Bellevue College next year for his certificate.  I'm sure our LWSD community is 100% behind RS and wishes him a full recovery and a bright futrure in whatever career he chooses.

By Bob Yoder
Suggested reading:  "The stigma can hurt, badly," By Jim Colvin, author of "H.E.R.E. and Getting There," a book about designing treatment systems to reduce stigma.  "Wenatchee World," 7/8/2012.

Letter to Editor includes a response from the Kimball Administration and a new report from Yoder:  http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2012/07/letter-kimball-administration-callous.html

Still time to see four Great Blue Heron "chicks" - if you hurry!

These four Great Blue Heron juviniles are almost "fledged" -  still time to see them if you hurry!

According to temporary park signage it's been at least 20 years since herons have built their nests at Marymoor Park. The heronry (or heron rookery, if you prefer) is located adjacent to the off-leash dog area. It's enclosed by an orange plastic hazard fence, to keep dogs and humans out from the area underneath the nests.

A man there on Saturday showed me a photo he had taken a few days ago of a young heron that was on the ground just inside the enclosure. It evidently landed there after having fallen out of its nest. I subsequently spotted two young herons up in a cottonwood tree south of the area, so some have already successfully left the nest.

The herons started building their nests in late March or early April. I counted a total of eleven nests in 5 or 6 cottonwood trees, by the end of April. Initially, it was very easy to see the nests and watch the herons build them, because the leaves were just starting to grow and were not yet large enough to block the view. The nests are large and sometimes appeared precariously placed, but they have managed to stay together and none have fallen down.

Parents feed their young by regurgitation. When a parent arrives back at the nest it's greeted by loud croaking and cackling noises made by the youngsters as they compete for food. According to signs posted at the site, all of the young herons will be fully fledged (able to fend for themselves) by the end of July, so there's still time for folks to go out there and have a look.
 
The City of Redmond designates the Great Blue Heron as their "Species of Local Importance."
 
Story and Photos By John Reinke, 6/25/2012
Directions to Marymoor Park:  http://binged.it/Me0lUZ

Weekly BNI "referral meetings" gives boost to small business

Julia Anderson, Physical Therapist is smiling after the Friday's BNI
 referral meeting / Painting contractor JC is signing new members

UPDATED:  Small businesses are working hard to stay connected in this economy to keep their Redmond customer referral base healthy.  Nat Seymour, invited me to his weekly  Redmond BNI "referral meeting" this Friday at Redmond's Family Pancake House.  The banquet room was alive with BNI chatter as members caught up from the week before and met the new visitors.

Two other BNI Groups meet in Redmond at different times and locations.

45 is the magic number for BNI small business members.  I was prepared to give a 45 minute talk about my exciting new neighborhood consulting business plan, only to hear the gong off after my second swallow of coffee.  Table talks must have circled 3-4 times, not counting two 8-minute presentations.  Read More >>

Updated Editorial: Redmond PD "Safety Alerts" really help.

Editorial:   UPDATED:  The following Redmond Police Department (PD) "Safety Alert" email (below) was in my inbox this morning and I immediately opened it for Jim Bove's safety tips and events.   If you want to be on his email list for Safety Alert Updates" email Jim at jbove@redmond.gov   The City's Notice of Public Disclosure of emails at the bottom is a refreshing measure of transparency and worthy of your gaze.  I've never gotten spam from giving out my email  address at city function sign-ins - but that's your call.

The Safety Alert email from Jim Bove, Redmond PD is copied here: 

Jim Bove, Outreach Facilitator
Redmond PD

Dear Redmond Community and Friends,Plenty of information to share; as always, feel free to forward…..

"Cheeseburger in Paradise" National Night Out Against Crime  is Tuesday, August 7th this year (always the first Tuesday in August)…and a sunny day is always guaranteed. We ask neighborhoods, businesses, and apartment complexes to participate in the 29th Annual Night Out. The police department, fire department, city council, mayor, and others will attend as many parties as possible between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. We ask citizens of Redmond to turn their porch lights on and come outside to take a stand against crime with your neighbors—some do BBQs, potlucks, ice cream socials….the fun/list is endless. If you’ve never done this, it’s a great event for fun, friends, and community! Note this year's online registration form. For more information, visit: www.redmond.gov/PublicSafety/Police/national_night_out 

Read the PD email public disclosure warning >>