Updated 9/2: Kiwanis Club Trail Clean-Up

 

(l-r)  Bob Yoder (walk-on,) Pat Vache' (Founder,) Sue Stuart (Secretary) Dave Juarez (Lead / Organizer)

I think, twice a year the Kiwanis Club does a "trail clean-up."  (They have a great tool that allows you to pick up trash without having to bend over and get your hands dirty.)  We cleared out several "camps" including a tossed grocery cart.  

Residents are always invited to participate in Kiwanis events even if you're not a member.  For me, this event was really fun, great exercise and a good way to meet some members.  Bear Creek is one of my favorite places in Redmond.  It was a joy to make it better.  

Flash:  Sign up for their September 28 Mariner fundraiser HERE, at their website.  Great seat locations and for a good cause!  $27 of each ticket purchased will be donated to Kiwanis feeding programs!  

- Posted by Yoder

  updated: 9/2/2024

Lake Sammamish Kokanee Salmon Release Celebration

It was special for all of us to join with the Snoqualmie Tribe in celebration of  the Release of the endangered "Little Red Fish." 

l-r, Redmond Council Member and Vice President Vanessa Kritzer, Congresswoman Kim Schreier, Issaquah dignitary and King County Executive Dow Constantine. (click to enlarge)

Steve Laing, President of Trout Unlimited, Three Rivers Chapter, Issaquah.
(click to enlarge)

 Redmond Council Vice President Vanessa Kritzer describes the potential and restoration of Idylwood Creek  (YouTube)

Snoqualmie Tribe and Guests Celebrate the Release of Kokanee (YouTube)

King 5 video of the Kokanee comeback

Kokanee Salmon Work Group

"Spawning Grounds" www.bit.ly/SpawningGroundsFilm

 A film on Saving the Little Red Fish

Lake Sammamish Kokanee

Posting,  pictures and video by Bob Yoder, 10/15/2022

UPDATED: Affordable, Pleasant Housing At "Friendly Village"

The Village is surrounded by nature.  
Restored Bear Creek runs through the Village. Homes on right / credit: Yoder
(click to enlarge)

I was kibitzing with long-time resident John Oftebro at the Derby Days Historical Society booth.  I found myself at a loss when the subject of the "Friendly Village" came up.  

Fast forward:  Last week, on a sweltering day Pam, I and Zoey took a ride to the Friendly Village.  Driving east on NE 95th Street (also known as Conrad Olsen Road on Google maps,) the Friendly Village, 55-plus mobile home park, immediately came into view. The Village opened in 1971.

I was surprised by the beautiful landscaping, an old growth tree, and the attractive, well-maintained homes.  The varied amenities include a common hall, fenced dog park, new pool, and salmon-bearing Bear Creek running through the 40-acre parcel.  

In the common hall, I bumped into Mary, a kind lady and long-time resident of the park.  She was selecting gleaned groceries from the food service area. 

I really enjoyed my conversation with Mary.  She pointed towards the creek saying the land was first a "wash" and later a turkey farm.  She is happy her home is creekside.  Mary said Ms. McRedmond, a descendent of the McRedmond founders used to live in the Village.  She now lives a bit east on Conrad Olsen Road. Mary suggested I knock on her door.  It's possible, Ms. McRedmond may still be going to the Redmond Cafe once a week.

The Village, including 224 pads, was purchased by the King County Housing Authority (KCHA) in 2017.  The Housing Authority apparently charges $850/month per pad. Some utilities are covered. The county also gets credits for housing seniors.  Mary said the Village is a "cash cow" for the county.

Village living is affordable, attractive, and green.  Home prices are roughly $90k - $375k (RMAX)  

-- Bob Yoder, 7/31/2022

EXTRA!  FOR SALMON WATCHERS:  The City of Redmond's NE 95th Street Bridge Bear Creek Enhancement Site  (excellent map.)  The Bridge is a great  place for viewing salmon (Sept.-Nov.) 

King County Tax Increase Proposed To Preserve 65,000 Acres

The price of preserving 65,000 acres of natural lands, trails, farmlands, and urban green space in King County averages $22.00/year/ $700,000 assessed property. 
Photo, Seattle Times, 5/19/2022

Tax will also restore full funding of Conservation Futures
West Seattle Blog, May 19, 2022

OPINION:  King County proposed property tax increase ‘tone deaf’ against incredibly high cost of living facing families. 

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Thursday issued the following statement in response to a proposal from Executive Dow Constantine that would raise property taxes across King County:

“We cannot again raise taxes on King County residents who are already struggling to make ends meet. A new property tax in particular would raise costs for homeowners and renters alike, even as so many are more vulnerable than ever to losing their housing. Meanwhile, every King County resident is already feeling the financial pain of record-level inflation and the massive rise in gas prices — and there are many economic unknowns on the horizon including the significant risk of a recession. To add to this mounting list of financial burdens at this time is tone deaf.”

-- Press Release, May, 2022

Large School Of Chinook Spotted At Redmond Trestle Bridge

Photo by John Reinke, Redmond resident, 9/10/2021
(click to enlarge)

"Thanks (John Reinke) for sending the photos of the salmon in the Sammamish River. I saw them when I was walking on the trestle bridge as well, and I agree, it is the biggest school of salmon (mostly Chinook) that I have seen. We've saw a few in lower Bear Creek last week, and they should really move upstream with the rain later this week. 

I believe the Chinook congregate upstream of the trestle because there is a deeper channel/pool there compared to many places in the river. There may also be some groundwater flow into the river that helps to keep it slightly cooler. There are also salmon concentrating under and downstream of the 90^th Street bridge outfall because there is groundwater being pumped into the river through the outfall pipe there. The groundwater entering the river provides a cooler pocket of water for the fish to rest until moving upstream.

 

Thanks, and enjoy the fall,"

 

Tom

  

Tom Hardy (he/him) Stream & Habitat Planner, City of Redmond
425-556-2762    twhardy@redmond.gov    www.redmond.gov

Woody Debris Installation Planned For Bear Creek Restoration

The Bear Creek Large Woody Debris (LWD) project at Keller will enhance a 4,000-foot reach of stream on the former Keller family farm property. To date, 60 gallons of Roundup has been sprayed on Keller Farm to remove invasives. Councilmember Varisha Khan was concerned about contamination to the groundwater feeding into Bear Creek salmon habitat.

In 2015, the City of Redmond purchased 83-acres from the Keller family for the future Keller wetland mitigation bank (KWMB). Because the KWMB is focused on restoring wetlands on the old farm fields, the city committed to separately funding the restoration of the adjacent reach of Bear Creek.

The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is located mostly on the former Keller property, and immediately adjacent to the KWMB along Bear Creek. The Bear Creek LWD project and the KWMB project are separate but interrelated because of their proximity to one another. The projects were designed in coordination with one another to maximize habitat benefits and to maintain zero flood rise.

The city’s Bear Creek LWD project is funded through Redmond stormwater fees and from a $340,000 Cooperative Watershed Management (CWM) grant.

The reach of Bear Creek is an important migratory and rearing corridor for salmon. The enhancement of this reach is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Recovery Plan. The Bear Creek LWD project will install 37 log jams in the stream and plant about 3-acres of buffer. This work will complement the 80-acres of planting, wetland creation and enhancement, creation of stream channels and off-channel habitat provided at the KWMB. Construction will be coordinated between the projects, with both being constructed this summer and planted in the fall and winter.

Redmond's Downtown Aquifer

An excellent link describing the many facets of Redmond's environment. This video was filmed in 2016 and we still face the same challenges, if not more.https://www.redmond.gov/1068/Environment

City moves forward with Evans Creek relocation plan

At tonight's regular business meeting, city council approved by consent agenda a $910,868 "Evans Creek Relocation Consultation Agreement."  The funds will pay for a preliminary design and to secure permits to relocate 3500 feet of Evans Creek channel out of SE Redmond Industrial area into adjacent open space to the north and east.

Evans Creek is a Class One salmon bearing stream but is impacted by adjacent industrial development with untreated run-off and untreed, paved buffers less than 50 feet wide in some places.  Class One stream buffers are supposed to be 200 feet wide but 50 foot buffers have been grandfathered in SE Industrial Redmond.   Evans Creek  Relocation is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan owing to the wealth of habitat in the upper reaches of Evans Creek.  With the relocation Chinook and Coho will be able to swim from the confluence of Bear-Evans Creeks to the upper reaches of the watershed. 

Redevelopment of some aspects of SE Redmond Industrial will be more economically feasible with removal of the stream and buffer from it's present location.  In addition, passive recreation along the Bear-Evans Creek trail to Perrigo Park will be enhanced since the new channel will share the same open space with the trail.

Total cost for the relocation is $7.6 Million and is funded by City of Redmond Capital Improvement Projects fund.   The preliminary design will be completed before 2014; the first phase of construction is planned to start by summer, 2015. 

Reported By Bob Yoder   

City road constuction contractors overlook stormwater treatment

This is the first report in a series on road construction, road conditions in the city...

The City of Redmond requires developers and their contractors to install fabric filters in and around project storm drains, to keep silt and pollutants from entering into stormwater lines. Stormwater treatment is important because it all eventually drains into our creeks and rivers and ultimately into Puget Sound.  City  inspectors or the contractor may repair this in the near future.  It's ironic the construction project involves building a stormwater trunk-line under the road.

Unprotected 166th AVE NE storm drain in Redmond covered
 with asphalt spilling from a temporary curb. 2/18/12 

Correct Method:  Storm drain is protected with filter cloth
 and the stormwater is treated.
  (Milwaukee, WI)

Asphalt is a thick brownish or black substance derived from the same crude oil which produces kerosene, gasoline and vinyl. It is literally scraped from the bottom of the barrel after all other petroleum-based products have been refined or processed.  Petroleum products are pollutants.

The city announces in their RCTV-21, website, twitter and AM 1650 storm reports to do your part to keep our storm drains clear of leaves and debris.  For city action on road or drain problems please write council@redmond.gov for help.    

Reported and photographed by Bob Yoder
Photo of fabric grate from Internet (Wisconsin)

Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives objects to clear-cutting 28-acre urban Group Health site

This Group Health structure in Redmond's Overlake Center will be replaced mostly by a park and nearby 13-story hotel.
  "The City is required to seek opportunities to preserve landmark and significant trees in connection with the design
of the park."  The approved plan identifies "approximately 12 significant trees and no landmarks" in the area of the
future park.  There is no guarantee they will be saved.  - D. Lisk, Assoc. Planner, Redmond.

The following, was presented to city officials by Redmond's Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives, on January 3, 2012 during "Items from the Audience"

Good evening Mayor and Redmond City Councilmembers. My name is Rosemarie Ives. I am here tonight as a resident to ask for reconsideration of the council’s decision on December 13th regarding the Group Health Master Plan and Development Agreement.

As the former mayor, I know that this forested property matters to the people of Redmond and those of us who are here tonight object to the clear-cutting of this iconic site. I believe that the criteria for exception to the tree preservation/retention regulations have been misapplied and not justified.  Read More >>

Community Meeting on Backyard Chickens and Animal Husbandry

Animal Husbandry

Webster's definition of  "animal husbandry": 

archaic : the care of a household
2: the control or judicious use of resources : conservation
3a : the cultivation or production of plants or animals : agriculture b:  the scientific control and management of a branch of farming and especially of domestic animals.

The City of Redmond will hold a meeting on August 3 from 6 to 8:15 pm at City Hall for a community conversation on backyard chickens and animal husbandry in general.  At this event, participants will have an opportunity to share their interest, questions and perspectives with city staff  about possible amendments to Redmond's policies.

Currently, Redmond's regulation addresses domestic animals and limits the ownership of small animals such as chickens to lots one-half acre or larger. Ownership of larger animals such as horses and cattle are limited to lots one acre and larger based on the type of animal.

Residents have been asking for backyard chickens to be permitted on lots smaller than one-half acre.  If you can't make the meeting and wish to post a comment below, please do. 

Posted by Yoder
Internet photo

"Sustainable Redmond" to hold booth at Derby Days; launches new website

Sustainable Redmond is hosting its first in a series of public events, beginning on July 22nd from 7-9 pm, at the Redmond Library, in Meeting Room 2. Cecile Andrews will talk about “Living Sustainably: Simpler, Slower, Smaller.” Cecile is the author of three books related to sustainability and voluntary simplicity: the recently released “Less is More”, along with “Slow is Beautiful” and “The Circle of Simplicity”.

Attendees will also have an opportunity to learn more about Sustainable Redmond - a grassroots organization focused on local sustainable actions. A group of dedicated Redmond-area citizens have been meeting since November to form Sustainable Redmond, which is part of the Sustainable Communities All Over Puget Sound (SCALLOPS) network (scallopswa.org). Some of the current group members come from a variety of other local organizations related to sustainability, such as the Audubon Society, Redmond Parks and Trails Commission, Water Tenders, Green Redmond, Redmond Pedestrian and Bike Advisory Committee, and the Marymoor Community Garden.

The County "Open Space Amendment" impacts Redmond and Woodinville

About the Open Space Amendment (OSA) - Informational Meeting, June 15, 7pm, Redmond Library.

The Open Space Amendment (OSA) provides additional protection for over 100,000 acres of open space land owned by the county. According to County Executive Sims, these lands are among our most treasured natural spaces, and were originally acquired for their high conservation value. Upper and Middle Evans Creek Natural Areas and Middle and Lower Bear Creek Conservation Areas are on the List. (photo is Bear Creek)

This amendment to the county Charter strengthens protections against the sale or transfer of protected properties by the county. The conservation-oriented uses of the lands would also be permanently preserved. There would be no change in how residents currently use these spaces.

The specific properties protected by the Amendment were chosen for their high value in safeguarding the county’s drinking water, habitat, recreation opportunities, and rural economy: Clean drinking water – protects the water quality of rivers, lakes, streams, and aquifers that county residents rely upon for their drinking water.

An informational meeting on June 15, 7pm at the Redmond Library will review a draft list of properties that would receive higher conservation protection and information on the potential methods for managing that list under the proposed “open space amendment”.

No new land would be purchased under the proposed open space amendment. No direct costs are associated with the proposed amendment.The Council is expected to decide by July on whether to put charter amendments on the ballot for a public vote.

A few of the over 100 open space properties in the Redmond area that the OSA would protect include: Cougar Mountain Regional Park, Evans Creek Natural Area, Lower Bear Creek Natural Area, Middle Bear Creek Natural Area, Cold Creek Natural Area, and Tiger Mountain Regional Park. Maps of all 100+ of the open space properties are available in PDF.

Open Space Charter Amendment King County web page.

The King Conservation District - who runs it? where do our tax dollars go?

King Conservation District Mission Statement:

"To Promote Sustainable uses of Natural Resources through Responsible Stewardship"

UPDATED, 6/09, Opinion: Did you know? The City of Redmond received several hundreds of thousands of dollars from the King Conservation District last year? The funds will go towards restoration and flood mitigation of Bear Creek when SR520 is widened.

Every year, every citizen in King County pays $10 per parcel of property to fund the "King Conservation District". This county tax brings in over $6 million dollars per year to pay for Salmon Recovery meetings, staff, watershed monitoring, and education. The money is also used for restoration projects, habitat conservation acquisitions, farm plans and numerous other conservation projects.

The District is overseen by five* Board of Supervisors - two are appointed* and three elected. This election that has gone unnoticed for years and decided by a few hundred votes most years. Most polling places are limited to King County libraries so it is a relatively unknown event. Perhaps, the RedmondLibrary Blog would comment or post a story about the election?

On March 19 the King Conservation District held elections. Almost 3000 people voted - four times the previous record. Many conservation groups were backing Mark Sollitto but he was disqualified for improperly filing his application. Mark still received 1199 write in votes. Preston Drew, Vice President of Citizens Alliance for Property Rights, a resident of Fall City received 1357 votes and is the new Supervisor. Just prior to the election, the Board appointed David Irons, an Associate Supervisor, to a vacated seat. Max Prinson, a strong Conservationist, is an Associate Supervisor as of this posting.

The Property Rights folks are now in a very strong position within the Conservation District. I have heard that the Property Rights majority is organizing to take on the foundations of environmental regulations and "Best Available Science" after winning the court case on the CAO clearing restrictions.

There will be another seat open next Spring. (Read "Comment" below for full disclosure). Let's keep improving the turn-out. Come out and vote in 2010. The past Board has been very supportive of Redmond for salmon recovery, flood mitigation, and Bear Creek restoration. Let's hope the new King County Conservation District Board of Supervisors will spend our tax dollars just as wisely.

--This story was contributed in large part by a Woodinville environmentalist.

EARTH DAY! Redmond High Senior Recognized with Environmental Scholarship.

Eastside Audubon chose Hailey Hargraves, a senior at Redmond High School, to receive the Len Steiner College Scholarship Award. The award recognizes Eastside students who have demonstrated leadership in environmental issues. Len Steiner will present Hailey with the $500 scholarship at the April 23 meeting of Eastside Audubon, where the members will honor this outstanding young woman.

An ardent environmentalist, Hailey plans to attend Smith College, where she will major in environmental science and policy making. No matter where her degree leads her, Hailey is “committed to making a difference and to convincing others that green should be their favorite color.”

At Redmond High School, Hailey excels academically, maintaining a 3.6 G.P.A. while taking Advanced Placement classes and serving as a leader among her peers. Her list of accomplishments is long and includes participant in the Johns Hopkins University Summer Program in Bioethics; SEAFAIR ambassador and scholarship recipient; president of the Environmental Club; Honor Society member; treasurer of the Key Club; delegate to Evergreen Girls’ State; Follow the Leader grand prize winner.

-For more information contact: Kathryn Reith, Director of Communications, (425) 702-3342 Shannon Parthemer, Community Relations & Communications Coordinator, (425) 702-3300

Basketball and Church draws Mayor John Marchione back to the neighborhoods.

Updated, 3/22: It's refreshing to see Mayor John Marchione getting out into the community and showing interest in the neighborhoods that elected him our city CEO and Representative. John participated with Fire and Police in student Olivia's High School Dodge Ball Fundraiser at the beginning of his term, but then became bogged down with managing the bureaucracy and budget. For a while , I was fearful John would morph into a total bureaucrat. It doesn't look like it now, but we'll know for sure by baseball season.

Currently, tournament basketball and city-church land use activities are pulling John back into the neighborhoods. Yeh! At the last Council meeting John announced high numbers of students busing to Tacoma to root for our H.S. Boys State Basketball players in the State tournament. It must have helped. Redmond took 5th in the State!

(The http://www.redmondboysbasketball.com/ high school site has stories, pics and video clips).

Did you hear, Lenny Wilkens, the winning Sonic coach during the 1979 NBA championship, was the featured guest at the Washington Cathedral's (WC) event last Saturday? John Marchione's council work on WC land-
use Reviews engaged him with the church . Mr. Mayor was part of the Saturday ribbon-cutting ceremony for WC's massive new recreation/sanctuary facility. (Pastor Tim White is on the left). I missed it, but who knows, John could have been asked to start the tip-off in the Redmond-Woodinville basketball game played in the WC gym (played by football players). If John can throw in the ball to start high school dodge ball games why not throw the tip-off for this church basketball game?

Mr. Mayor, council and staff get involved with churches often during land use proposals. In the case of Washington Cathedral (WC) a large and complicated annexation and re-zone was required at the city's sensitive northwestern Gateway. Critical wetland, streams, slopes and severe traffic were mitigated; this project abutted rare valley agricultural land. The city drew the line on WC's 10 acres along 124th. WC wanted to develop this hillside land to build a large grocery store for income. Meta, Mega or Mighty - a church this size needs income. I attended WC many years ago when it was a Nano/Micro-church at Lake Washington H.S.

St. Jude Catholic Church on 166th Av. & 104th St. stands out in it's association with Mayor Marchione. John is a parishioner. Past Mayor Rosemarie Ives attends. Every year, the Parish hosts a "Mayor's Breakfast". Several high-level staff are members. To many neighborhoods, St. Jude is the home of Tent City 4 (TC4). Though TC4 was a success, two years ago the city and citizens underwent a painfully long and troublesome Review and Appeal process. "Temporary Use" was put to the acid test and failed so miserably that this year the Planning Commission re-wrote the code. When TC-4 opens up this spring at St. Jude any appeals will be adequately managed. My wife and I attended this church once, thinking it was Episcopalian! A Public Notice Sign was just posted for a TC4 opening this Spring.

During the Ed. Hill Neighborhood Citizen Advisory Committee, the City and Mayor Ives got involved with the Pastor Robroy Ranger's Redmond Assembly of God (RAG) on 166th Ave., half way up the hill. Robroy spent months, if not years, generously hosting the Advisory Committee and attending Planning Commission meetings. Part of what came of the meetings were the 166 Ave. 3:2 lane improvements and plans to extend 160th Ave. north. The RAG has a basketball court and the church has hosted teams looking for facility. The RAG also hosts a highly regarded day-care service. The church practices speaking in tongues and other charismatic methods of spiritual enlightenment. Pastor Robroy is incredibly passionate and a friendly sole.

A much smaller land use project transpired a few years ago at Redmond Presbyterian Church on NE 100 St. & 166th Ave. Marchione, a councilman at the time, wasn't directly involved but staff was present. Redmond Presbyterian is only 5 minutes from my home so I had some questions about the tree removal to install a parking lot and children's building. Actually, at the project's completion, I found I could enjoy the trees even more because I could see them -- when taking a short-cut through the forested church lot to the Junior High -- and walking the NE 100 St. sidewalk. In addition a lush, green forested greenbelt and a bio-swale is present and best seen inside the sanctuary!

I've attended all the churches listed above but finally found a home at Redmond Presbyterian with Rev. Dr. Larry Grounds and his flock. The church inspires faith in God, celebrates children, and honors community. Larry did his Doctoral dissertation on "Children Stories in Worship". Now I know why we love and learn from his skits for the children every Sunday! Larry's talks are exceptional. This verse about neighbors read last Sunday at Redmond Presbyterian triggered me to post this story. Coincidentally and in theme with this story, Larry Grounds played basketball in High School. He broke his ankle while playing. While in recovery his ministry germinated.

UPDATED: Community Dirt Bike Trail and forest gets trashed.

Recent trashing, dumping, and littering in the vicinity of the Dirt Bike Trail

This slide show tells the sad story of recent disrespect for our neighborhood by adults and youth.

Currently the City Parks and Recreation Department does not supervise the Dirt Bike Trail or surrounding water district forest. This slide show tells the sad story of recent (and past) disrespect for our neighborhood by adults and youth.

Redmond Parks & Recreation Department asks users to:

1) respect the neighborhood
2) remove litter and keep area clean of litter
3) limit bike use to marked areas.
4) not remove soil within the root zones of trees and shrubs.

Clearly, citizens are not being held accountable to Parks Department guidelines. I couldn't find any "marked areas" but did find a significant cedar tree painted green marking the site of a "tree house". It's not just our kids who need supervision. A short side trail at the terminus of NE 100th St. accesses a dump site. Adults are dumping plastic jungle gyms, picket fencing, boxes, and paint buckets.... right off of 171st Ave. I don't set policy but if this were my park I would shut it down until the neighboring kids and adults cleaned it up. What would you do?

Even though the kids aren't responsible for adult dumping they are privileged to have this beautiful place to ride their dirt & mountain bikes and play in the forest. The neighborhood needs to take year-round care and ownership of this beautiful forest and bike trails. Youth leaders need to step up and monitor the site year-round...not only during the summer. The Parks and Trails Commissioners could visit this "corner forest" periodically to see how the city could help. Neighborhood work parties once a year would go a long way towards restoring the beauty of this forest.

The above is my comment to Mr. Larsen, Parks Director and the Mayor's Parks & Trails Commissioners.

If you want to send feedback to the city I will copy your comments made at this post to Mr. Larsen, the commissioners and the Mayor.

CC: Redmond Police
Mr. Craig Larsen, Parks & Rec. Director
ParksandTrailsCommissioners@redmond.gov
Mr. Mayor