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. 

The Mayor praised Gary noting "this only scratches the surface" of his contributions to the City.   A list of posts on Gary's contributions and activities are HERE. 

Gary spoke to the Council and audience after the Mayor's recognition.  He thanked the Parks and Trails commission saying "the commission was his platform for multiplying efforts I might have given."

Gary gave thanks to the "Green Redmond" program kindly saying it was "started by Mayor Rosemarie Ives fifteen years ago."

Gary Smith is a public speaker extraordinaire - intelligent, whitty, powerful voice, emotionally controlled, with great presence.  His likable personality, deep passion for  Redmond's environment and ecology, and long-time commitment to the community makes him very special.  Thank you, Gary.  

-- Bob Yoder, 7/7/2022

City Is Warming To Off-leash "Pop-Up" Dog Parks

Kirkland's off-leash dog area
photo credit/ Bob Yoder

Dog Parks In Redmond, /First post.

The City is serious about off-leash dog parks, especially in the downtown area harboring smaller apartment dogs. Staff  is estimating about $50,000 to build a "pop up" off-leash demonstration park. 

"The  project is currently unfunded but there's a desire by the Parks and Trails Commission to see it expedited.  I've said this before to my Parks & Rec. Commission friends, there's equipment that will save thousands of dollars in labor during installation and removal. 

When I discovered the pop-up parks in Kirkland, a parks manager recommended a $4,500 mechanical tool that cuts labor costs (est. 438 staff hours) dramatically during installation and removal. 

I'll shoot this note to City Parks Operations Manager David Tuchek. I hope he'll give it a try.  The City of Kirkland is cooperative could be a good resource. 

-- Bob Yoder, 3/6/2022 Source: Council Parks Committee of the Whole. 3/2/2022

Learn "Hands On CPR" in this one minute video - or sign up for an Evergreen Health program

      AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Official 2012 Hands Only CPR Video Guide (1min)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation has come a long way with the new AHA approved compression method called "Hands Only CPR".  View the one minute clip to see how simple and effective it is.  Or watch this engaging two minute interactive AHA clip here. 

Evergreen Health Hospital teaches the program to adults and children from various locations, but I haven't seen their program in Redmond yet, have you?   Of 400,000 citizens in the hospital district, "1,986 residents took the Hands Only CPR program last year, according to Kay Taylor, Director of Marketing, Evergreen Health.   About 1/5 of the participants are adults and were charged $40 each for materials. 

Under commissioner oversight, it's free for the rest thanks to levy funding.  They are considering expanding the program since so few in our community know about this simple and easy life-saving CPR technique and some have asked for it.   If you want to sign up for the hospital program or see Evergreen run it in your city try 425-899-3000 or visit the Evergreen Health website.   The commissioners and administration may decide to expand the program in some way with your input (and your tax dollars).  Do you think they should?   The City of Redmond teaches the technique in their C.E.R.T. program and new RedmondReady program (redmondready.org).  

King County Public Hospital District No. 2, registered with the State and Seattle Times for public noticing as "Evergreen Healthcare," was established in 1972 to serve citizens in north King and south Snohomish counties. Registered voters (155,154) elect 5 Commissioners to oversee the 2012, $15,285,968 annual levy and $9,242,180 capital bond.   Serving more than 400,000 citizens every year, the District operates a 290-bed hospital and a network of primary and urgent care centers. Evergreen Healthcare district boundaries include Bothell, Duvall, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, part of Sammamish and parts of unincorporated northeast King County.
 

Evergreen Hospital Board approves 2012 Budget; refunds taxpayers $476,799.

Evergreen Hospital Commissioners
at 2010 Redmond ER Medical Center plaza ground-breaking

UPDATED:  The Evergreen Hospital District #2, Board of Commissioners approved the 2012 budget and levies during a Special Public Meeting and Hearing on 7:00AM, November 11, 2011.  Superintendent Bob Malte submitted the budget for approval.  As a citizen-journalist, I attended and spoke at the Hearing. 

READ MORE about the tax increase and capital bond refund to taxpayers >>

Advertising Is Ramping Up At "Evergreen Redmond Medical Plaza" and "Swedish/Redmond ER and Outpatient Center"

Shopping Cart Advertisement at Bella Bottega 

UPDATED:  For several months now Evergreen has been successfully advertising Evergreen Redmond Medical Plaza scheduled to open sometime in March of next year.  This shopping cart ad at QFC Bella Bottega  is very effective.  Have you seen these cart ads in other grocery stores?

This ad hits on four key features of Evergreen Redmond Medical Plaza:

1. Primary Care
2. ER Department
3. Specialty Care
4. Specialty Care Imaging & Lab Services

Several months ago, I attended an Evergreen Hospital Commission Meeting and listened to their marketing consultant recommend cart advertising, theatre spot ads, road signage and other ideas.  The Medical building is speaking for itself  by it's presence and attractive brick features.  Once the signage is up Redmond travelers won't miss the location for accessible, fast, comprehensive medical treatment.

One of Evergreen's competitors in Redmond is "Swedish/Redmond: ER and Outpatient Center" on Union Hill Road across from United Parcel Post.  Swedish/Redmond is celebrating their December opening with a "holiday housewarming" event on Saturday, December 18, 10-2.  Their ER Opens Dec. 21st.  Have you seen any of their advertising?  Read more....

At the Friday night Redmond Mustang boys basketball game, a light-blue "Swedish/Redmond" banner hung on the gym wall, and a full-page color "Swedish Medical Center/Redmond" ad took the program inside cover. The tag-line:  "Now there's an ER right in your neighborhood".  Were you one of the many hundreds attending "Redmond Lights" last night?  Swedish was sponsoring it and passing out hand-warmers.  Read more....

READ MORE

Salary Commission asks: how do councilmembers see themselves - as citizen-councillors or paid professionals?

Redmond City Council

UDATED:  With direction from Council and in accordance with municipal code, the Mayor appointed  seven citizens to sit on a Salary Commission to decide if Council should get a raise.  Last night, I attended the third (of seven) Salary Commission meetings.  A public Hearing is scheduled for November 10.

It's been six years since Redmond's elected officials' compensation was reviewed.  In that time, the CPI has increased 16.5%.  Redmond city councilmembers are paid $10,500/year as part-time city employees and some receive health care benefits.  Each councilmember works an average about 90 hours/month.  Hourly pay is approximately $10.50/hour with no cell phone or milage allowance.  Some work a lot more, others less.  Most councilmembers have full or part-time jobs.   

Commissioner Mary Bourguignon raised a policy question:  "Are we to look at Redmond council as a "citizen-council" doing public service and paid an honorarium OR as salaried professionals, paid a pro-rated salary?

Commissioner Marilyn Rice asked, "Do we want to act as a small city"?  Commissioner Bourguigonon said she used to work for the City of Seattle City Council where the Mayor had a paid chauffeur as part of his automobile allowance.   Commissioner Rice asked:   "How does council view themselves"?   Commissioner David Chicks suggested the Reporter run a poll to engage the community on these questions, though concluded they are not statistically valid.

Commissioner Karin Duval started a discussion on the number of candidates participating in the last council election.  Commissioner Sally Chen said she and three councilmembers (Vache, Stilin, Allen) ran for council office in the last election.  Vache' and Stilin ran unopposed.   One commissioner asked why candidate turnout is so low.  Commissioner Randy Coggan bluntly concluded:   "Apathy".  Ms. Chen suggested younger candidates on lower incomes may be less likely to dive into a race. 

COLA's were discussed by committee facilitator, Kerry Seivers (HR Director).  Most cities use the CPI-W index to benchmark adjustments.  Redmond is one of the few cities using a more flexible and some might say more subjective "nonuniform index".  The city HR department includes some of the largest employers in the city and small businesses, along with municipalities in their index.  Commissioner Sherry Sanders asked if LWSD salaries were included in the nonuniform index.  Ms. Seivers' immediate response was "yes" and then changed it to something less.  Ms. Sanders indicated LWSD shouldn't be included in the nonuniform index. 

The CPI-W increased 16.5% since council's last 2004 pay adjustment.  How will the Salary Commission keep Council's COLA uniform with the rest of Redmond's city workers?  CPI-W appears the only constant.    

The Salary Commission is holding a public Hearing on Wednesday, November 10 in the City Hall Council Conference Room (1st floor).  Public is invited to address the Commissioners and staff.   The Mayor's compensation will be reviewed later this year by Council in open Hearings.

Reported by Bob Yoder
This is my first report on the Salary Commission and I am unfamiliar all the commissioners and their names.

COMMENT: THE CITY OF REDMOND "WANTS YOU!" So don't be shy!

COMMENT:   The City of Redmond is looking for new commissioners and citizen advisers - again!

At last count, they need four Arts Commissioners, two Parks and Trails Commissioners, one Planning Commissioner, one youth advocate for the Arts Commission, and a citizen advisor for SE Redmond Neighborhood.  So don't be shy! 

I happened to glance at the Sammamish Reporter (1/22) to read the following snippet from an article "Commissioners will shape future of Sammamish". 

"The city council went into an executive session behind closed doors to deliberate on which of the 14 candidates it would appoint to four vacancies." 

Holy!   How does Sammamish so successfully attract and empower their commissioners?  What are they doing that's so right?  What could Redmond be doing to stampede applicants to the Mayor's office?  Does the city need leadership training classes?   What's up? 

The front page headline of the Sammamish Reporter proclaimed "citizens mobilize for a stronger voice with city".  hmmm. Why are their citizens so engaged and active?   

If you want to apply for one of Redmond's nine vacancies, don't be shy, contact the Mayor John Marchione's office at mayor@redmond.gov.   He's the one who appoints the commissioners.

By Bob Yoder

Is this the City of Redmond's first blog?

I just discovered the Redmond Library blog and added it to my Blog List. The Library blog started up in early June, 2008 and already posts 93 informative, interesting stories. The blog's tag line is: "Community Outreach initiative of the Redmond Library Board of Trustees." The presence of the City LOGO is telling. I wouldn't be surprised if some Friends of Redmond's Library are participating in this master piece. I see many stories authored by Trustee Lorin Catudio, but others write, too.

The Library blog is informative, aesthetically pleasing and garnished with lots of maps, art, photos and is easy to read. My favorite piece so far is the story about the Marymoor Connector Trail. It has encouraged me to jump on my bicycle and check it out!

Will the City of Redmond post or link this blog to their new website once it's built? I think so. Could the Redmond Library one day be the most broadly distributed blog in the City? Possibly. The Library Board of Trustees meets at 7PM the first Wednesday of every other month. I'm going to stop by one time and say thank you for their wonderful new publication. I hope you read it. You'll see.

Commissions are the incubator of city Leadership.

OPINION: In a story a few posts down, I focused on three recent problematic issues surrounding two city Commissions. I hope you'll enjoy reading this positive story about the great good that comes out of our Commissions.

When thinking about "what's right" with our commissions it is clear commissions often serve as an "incubator" for the growth and development of new city leaders, councilmembers, and mayors.

For Example:

1. Four sitting councilmembers were once commissioners. Councilmember Hank Margeson was a past Vice Chair with Parks Commission. Councilmembers Richard Cole, Kim Allen, Pat Vache, and Nancy McCormick were once on the Planning Commission. Of special interest, Pat Vache sat on the first Planning Commission established by the City. I nick-name Mr. Vache "The Commissioner".

2. Tom Payne was on the Parks Commission before election to Council. He has since resigned.

3. Suzanne Querry was a Parks Commissioner before Vice-Chairing the Planning Commission. Suzanne is the only citizen I know who has served on two commissions. She is well qualified to be a councilmember should she choose to run.

4. Richard Grubb has been a long-time community activist, councilmember and eloquent speaker. I don't know if he was ever a commissioner. Maybe a reader could fill in the blanks.

5. Mayor Rosemarie Ives informed me she served on the Planning Commission for six years and as councilmember for four years, before being elected Mayor for 16 years.

6. Mayor Doreen Marchione served on Council for two years.

7. Mayor John Marchione served on Council for four years, though not on a commission.

8. Redmond's first woman Mayor Christine Himes opened up a dozen new parks and a citywide trail system so she may have been on a Parks Commission of sorts before becoming Mayor?

Citizen Advisory Committees and the Redmond Historical Society are other ways to volunteer and grow into a commissioner or council seat. Miguel Llanos, V.P. Redmond Historical Society and Newsletter Editor was recently sworn in to the Landmarks and Heritage Commission. Councilman Hank Margeson served on the Education Hill CAC. Planning Commissioner Querry was the Ed. Hill CAC liaison. Martin and Lori Snodgrass once chaired two different commissions as spouses under the Ives Administration. I posted a story on the Snodgrasses in 2007.

The bottom line? "Much good" comes out of our commissions! Personally, I have high hopes for an Arts Commissioner to rise up to a Council position. I believe their time is coming.