Meadows, Pollinators, Trees, Seeds and Gardens!

Letter to Council and Office of the Mayor:  

I really liked​ Deputy Park Director Dave Tuchek's presentation last night:  ​His naturalized meadow growing ​efforts will develop this Priority habitat!   ​His short explanation and education of pollinators was really interesting and brought things into a worldly perspective.  Amazing in-house construction and design of the Anderson Community Gardens!  And, Redmond wild flower seed packets to boot. ☝

Am so ​happy you are on a Redmond 2050 mission towards 40%​ tree canopy​; and you are identifying planting locations towards that end.  ​How will you build your tree stock for these massive plantings? ​The development community will have to pitch in. 

​

Please write a modified tree regulation ordinance to balance our tree canopy ​with housing needs.  ​A modified tree ordinance will build replacement tree stock ​and give us a chance to reach 40% canopy by 2050.  

https://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2025/04/tree-code-needs-modification-to.html  

​

Though you may be targeting low canopy locations, the Heron Rookery has immense cultural, natural, environmental, and historical value.  This forest remnant is a city gem.  I did a planting there last year and the city knows there's root rot and stoney soils.  My wish is you commit to a major understory restoration effort there, and construct narrow pathways for nature walks. Thank you! 

-- Bob Yoder, 4/25/2025

Celebrating Earth Day At EvergreenHealth

 Earth Day has been celebrated April 22 every year since 1970

Read Jeff Friedman's full profile

By Jeff Friedman, FACHE, Vice President Operations

"This year's Earth Day theme at EvergreenHealth is Our Power, Our Planet. We're encouraged to take action, protect and preserve our planet. Here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, our own efforts – in concert with others around the world – will help protect our shared island home.

One of the purposes of Earth Day is to celebrate our natural environment, so let me share some of my personal story.

UPDATED OPINION: Proposed Tree Code Update Needs Modification To Accomodate Housing Needs

Cottages in Kirkland / photo Master Builders
After removal, replacement trees must be planted on and *off-site.

The City of Redmond is refreshing their Environmental Sustainable Action Plan (ESAP) and wants Redmond 2050 input on trees, EVs, heat pumps and more.  Click ESAP to participate.  

OPINION:  The city has not updated their tree regulations in over 26 years.  They are procrastinating to accomodate  much-needed housing.  The removed trees are replaced with saplings but at numbers that can't reach Redmond's 40% canopy goal.  Off-site planting sites for replacement trees should be identified by Parks, Planning and Public Works to broaden canopy cover. The replacement trees are supplied by the developer and installations financed with one-time money and CIP funds.  

*Suggested off-site planting sites:  Parks, trails, Keller Farm (forested) wetland tree mitigation bank, streets, sidewalks and by-ways, urban growth easements, Light rail stations, M&O Center and other large city projects, the Heron Rookery and western open space,  schools, "plant a tree" neighbohood programs, Hartman forested wetlands, Green Redmond, RTC open space, mouth of Bear Creek, and more.    

According to the Master Builders Association  "A good tree code responsibly maintains or grows the level of tree coverage in a city while also allowing much-needed housing for current residents. newcomers and future generations."    

The city has a 40% canopy goal.  Canopy provides cooling, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, aesthetics, raises property values, improves mental health, lowers blood pressure and more. 

In my opinion, the following 2019 tree regulation modifications would improve code to accomodate need for balancing trees with much-needed housing.  It's a compromise:   

• For every one Landmark tree (30 inches or more) removed, six "replacement saplings trees" (rather than three) must will be planted either on-site, off-site or fee in-lieu. ($2,000.) in that order.  
• For every one "Significant" tree  (6 inches in diameter at breast height) removed three saplings (rather than one) must be planted either on-site, off-site, or fee in-lieu ($500) in that order.
• For each tree removed illegally by topping the contractor's penalty will be tripled. 
• On-site tree replacements  are aren't required for single family homes.  

Council, the Mayor and the Director of Planning & Community Development need to impliment suggested or similar abreviated code to maintain our quality of life while building much-needed housing. 

Bob Yoder, opinion, 4/21/2025

Kritzer Elected Chair Of Salmon Recovery Council

 

Redmond Council President Vanessa Kritzer Elected Chair of WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council

REDMOND, WA - City Council President Vanessa Kritzer was elected to serve as chair of the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed (WRIA 8) Salmon Recovery Council, a partnership working to protect and restore salmon habitat in the region, including Redmond’s streams. The watershed is also referred to as Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 and covers an area of Puget Sound near the shore and inland from the north end of Elliott Bay to south Everett and east to the Bear Creek basin, the Issaquah Creek basin, and the upper Cedar River basin.

“It’s inspiring to see what we can accomplish when we work together, and I look forward to leading on this vital salmon recovery work. I encourage all residents to join in by learning about what you can to support our salmon and a healthier ecosystem,” said Council President Kritzer.

The WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council is composed of elected representatives from 29 local governments in the WRIA 8 watershed, plus partners and representatives from community organizations, business, environmental interests, and state and federal agencies. The council oversees the implementation of the science-based Chinook Salmon Conservation Plan, a response to the listing of Puget Sound Chinook as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

Our watershed is home to multiple species of salmon, including Chinook, coho, and sockeye, as well as kokanee, a small red landlocked species native to Lake Sammamish. Salmon are an important environmental and cultural resource for our region, and their survival depends heavily on our choices. Recovery efforts seek to restore salmon runs to levels that would consistently support sustainable runs for tribal and recreational fishing year-to-year.

Updated: Bomb Cyclone Hits Anderson Park

Four Anderson Park landmark trees were blown down in the same western direction by the eastern winds of the "bomb cyclone.".  

This landmark fir crashed into the well pump station and snapped in half.  Amazingly, it was the only park structure hit by a tree.  Power lines down.  No CERT volunteers present.

This park cottonwood fell in a western direction like all the rest.  The large root

balls will be saved and used in rivers, streams, mitigation banks, for erosion control, soil preservation and salmon habitat.  The city does a great job of installing them in Bear Creek, the Sammamish River. and their flood plains.  These 70-year+ old trees are irreplaceable.  

Photos by Yoder, day after the November 21 "bomb cyclone" 

Posted 11/22/24, updated 11/23

Big Feller, Much More Than A Dead Tree

  

Juel Park 

Snags like this one provide awesome habitat for woodpeckers, bats, screech owls, small mammals and insects.  Do you see the Piliated Woodpecker hole?   This snag is in Juel Park not far from Bear Creek ... a perfect perching site for eagles, Osprey and hawks.  - photo Yoder, 11/1/24

Adopt A Stream Drain; Report Spills

 

Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood

Adopting a neighborhood storm drain is easy (and fun!) and can help reduce street flooding and keep pollutants like yard chemicals, pet waste, and garbage out of our lake and streams. Most stormwater in Redmond flows into a storm drain—the metal grate in the street – and is carried to a nearby waterway. By spending just 15 minutes a month removing leaves, garbage, and debris from the top of the storm drain, you can help prevent flooding and protect the waterways that are home to salmon, frogs, and other critters.

Sign up to adopt a drain

Report Spills

Help Redmond keep soap, oil, dirt, and other pollutants out of our streams, lake, and underground drinking water sources. Call the City's Water Pollution Hotline any time you see pollutants on the ground, in the street, or in the natural environment. Working together, we can stop pollution in its tracks. Report environmental concerns to Redmond's Water Pollution Hotline: 425-556-2868

Learn more about keeping our water clean

 -- redmond.gov    Posted by Yoder, 10/25/24

2024 VOTER GUIDE TO INITIATIVES AND CANDIDATES

      Pro and Con Video of I-2066 State Initiative 

Let's Go Washington - Pro Initiatives

Progressive Institute - Con Initiatives

Seattle Times Voter Guide To All Candidates And Initiatives

Updated 10/27: Neighborhood Stormwater Threatens Sammamish River Salmon.

 In response to this post the City posted this advisory on their website front page.

Redmond's pollution truck advertises their pollution hot line:  425-556-2868 
photo by Yoder

We live two houses up from the intersection of NE 100th Street and 169th Ave. NE.  City public works had two trucks there working on a major drain to "clear up stormwater pollution."  Comcast is planning a downhill dig into 169th Ave. to install new cable that's eroded.  Comcast must have notified the city of a possible pollution problem since there was no "salmon sticker" near the drain.  A sewer line parallels the stormwater pipe making things more complicated.   

Copper residue from vehicular tires and/or fertilizers, car-washing soaps, and lawn mower oils may all have contributed to the pollution.  My guess is the stormwater pollution may have been caused by corrosion from Comcast's aging cable, tire contaminants, a sewer line leak or all three. This particular drain is in a prime location for stormwater run-off; collecting stormwater from two long residential roads. One could say the subject drain services a mini-stormwater watershed. 

  Fortunately, there are two nearby "wet-vaults" just downhill from the subject drain. Vaults treat the stormwater before it eventually enters the Sammamish River where salmon are migrating.  The supervisor said the vaults were fully operational containing only 20% sediment and didn't need to be vacuumed.  While Public Works was there they cleaned out a drain above the house from ours.   

If you have concerns about possible pollution in your neighborhood call the city hotline at 425-556-2868.  I asked the city and two city councilmembers for a "salmon sticker" for this drain and they didn't respond.  

-- Bob Yoder, Updated: 10/27/24 

Updated: "Council Conversations" In The Downtown Park

Downtown Park COUNCIL CONVERSATIONS, The Safety Table / photo Yoder

I sat in at three tables conversing with councilmembers and residents at the busy Safety table, Environmental Sustainablity table and Miscellaneous table.  Council V.P. Jessica Forsythe presided over the Safety Table. Feedback from a resident/family living in a downtown apartment was especially interesting.  He wanted stop signs placed on Cleveland Street intersections and other downtown intersections -- said he saw pedestrians getting mildly brushed.  He said Uber drivers were the worst; always looking at their cell phones. Another guy complained about gangs that prey on residents for their belongings. He thought only 4 - 6 police officers patrolled the whole city and asked for 16 more officers.  I think Jessica said the department had over 140 officers (traffic, patrol, detective, drone, criminal, crime etc.) with plans for 4 more.  CM (councilmember) Fields asked why the need for 16 more officers?  I questioned the need for council taxing their city utilities and raising the business tax to fund a $6 million dollar public safety gap. IMO, the .25% city excise tax on construction was funding enough. 

I briefly sat in at CM Stuart's Environmental Sustainablity Table. Trees were a topic of great interest.  One resident said low income housing developments "lit up the heat map" owing to significant tree loss. Ms. Stuart said our canopy goal was 40%.  We're at about 38% canopy now.  Ms. Stuart alluded to the Master Builders lawsuit against Kirkland. The city has kept our existing 2018 Tree Regulations as is for 16 years (!) and now the new, approved Update has been delayed for two years longer because of the lawsuit, with no end is sight.  So, 40% goal seems out of reach. I suggested focusing on park and street trees like we have in the Downtown Park. Ms. Stuart lives in Overlake; she knows about the green roof installations on many of the buildings there.  My feedback was the city needs code for encouragement of "green roofs" in all downtown construction projects. At least three developments (villages) are planned for Redmond by 2050 and we need green roofs and wall gardens in those buildings,  

CM Stuart took this opportunity to update us on Sound Transit's light rail progress to our downtown. It was very interesting. I believe she said it will reach our downtown by mid-2025 and cross the bridge by late 2026.  I'm not light rail has something to do with our environment, but maybe in part.  I met Council President Vanessa Kritzer after the event; she spoke of a green vegetative - tree ring around the City one day.

Conversations didn't stop after the event was formally over.  I chatted with two on-duty police officers about "speed cameras."  It re-enforced my belief `they would consistently slow my "speed" around schools, but the ramifications to traffic congestion are unknown. I had a 25-minute talk with Andrew Villeneuve about our "news desert."   He wants to start an online newspaper and I plan to help him.  

Councilmember Fields has been pushing for neighborhood Conversations for years.  This one was a total winner and weather permitting, I hope we have many more!  Thank you Steve.  

-- Bob Yoder, 10/1/2024

[All  the councilmembers participated except for Angie.  Retired councilmembers Pat Vache' and Hank Myers were present. Sue Stewart, Kiwanis Secretary and Siri Bliesner retired LWSD Director, and active member of Civic Genius were present.  

[Siri is starting a Civic Genius roundtable on affordable housing.  "Deliberative Democracy" is at their core. If you would like to join Siri please email her at: siri@ourcivicgenious.org]  

GreenRedmond Tree Planting Events , Two Locations

Below are planting event dates and site locations. Find a site map here  Email:  greenredmond@redmond.gov for the times.  The event usually starts at 9 AM.  

September 2024
Microsoft work party  (closed) 09/25/2024 Arthur Johnson Park
Last Saturday of the Month Volunteer Event  (Click) 09/28/2024 Viewpoint Open Space
October 2024
First event of planting season  (Click) 10/19/2024 Arthur Johnson Park
Green Redmond Day Planting Event  (Click) 10/26/2024 Viewpoint Open Space

Posted by Yoder, 9/13/2024

City Joins 350 Mayors On Commitment to Electrify Fleets

Commitment to bring electric vehicles to Redmond will help reduce pollution, improve public health, and boost the clean energy economy for Redmond residents

REDMOND, WA - Today, Redmond Mayor Angela Birney joined nearly 350 U.S. mayors on a new collaborative commitment to electrify at least 50% of municipal fleets by 2030 and increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure by 500% by 2035, with at least 40% of charging investments to benefit disadvantaged communities. As a member of Climate Mayors – the bipartisan network of mayors from across the United States committed to climate action – Mayor Birney is helping to deliver cleaner air, lower tax bills, and a more sustainable future for all Redmond residents.

UPDATED: Council Plans Public Hearing On "Climate Commitment Act" Initiative

The Mayor made a precedent-setting exception to RCW #427855 when she opened "Items From the Audience" in City Hall last week.  The RCW code prohibits public testimony on candidates, initiatives and measures - pro and con - during Council business meetings.  Setting precedent by using a new "tool" Mayor Birney and council agreed a city Hearing was necessary for Initiative No. 2117.  Her exception brings up the question of why a Hearing couldn't be scheduled for the Plymouth decision.     

Mark your calendars for a potential October 3 Council Hearing in City Hall on ballot Initiative No. 2117 repealing sections of the "Climate Commitment Act."  The repeal would increase greenhouse gas emissions throughout the State and forfeit $1M in Supplemental funds. The city already received $2.2M from the Act to advance critical climate mitigation/resilience. (Supplemental funds would be allocated for electric charging stations and transportation infrastructure.) 

City Council strongly opposes State Initiative No. 2117.  The Hearing will give  public an opportunity to learn about the measure and weigh in. In short, the initiative will repeal the market-based "cap and invest" carbon program -- which reduces greenhouse gas emissions -- and will prohibit carbon tax credit trading.  It's possible, but doubtful a repeal could increase costs of fuel recipients and fuel suppliers.  

Council has a deep commitment to environmental sustainability.  In 2020 they declared a "climate emergency" and adopted a 30-year plan for the community to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.  They have worked closely with the city Legislative coordinator to make the Hearing happen; and in conjunction with other jurisdictions.

The Climate Commitment Act has already generated $3.25 billion statewide for forest protection, transportation projects, electrification efforts, wildfire prevention, salmon recovery, tribal investments and more.  

Source:  7/23 Council Study session and "Council Talk Time" memos.

Reported by Bob Yoder

UPDATED 1/29/24: Pearce PRD Deforestation Rivals the Devastation of Group Health's Tree Habitat

A Bobcat's "last stand" in Sigmund and Werner's backyard / credit Sigmund

In 2007, I made two trips to Sigmund and Werner's house to commiserate with them about their severe loss of a forest bordering their property.   Losing a neighborhood forest and it's wildlife is close to losing and mourning the loss of a dear friend. It hurts and it takes time. I know this from the Education Hill Perrigo Heights clear-cut. Sigmonde showed their pictures and I listened. She took me on hurried walk through the forest before the clear-cut. It was all over in just a few days.

The photograph of this urban Bobcat was taken by Werner & Sigmund. Their home borders on a North Redmond 18-acre forest.  Over 300 mature trees were cleared for 76 single-family homes with lot sizes ***4000 - 22,000 SF, according city documents. The project (178th Ct. NE & NE 116th St.) is known as "Pearce PRD" and is one of many environmentally sensitive projects in Redmond developed by Eric Campbell's Camwest Development, Inc. of Kirkland, WA.

According to a "Wildlife Study Report" filed by wetland , wildlife, and forest consultant Chad Armour, LLC on January 20, 2007 "the site may have the potential to support as many as 68 different species of wildlife". Sigmund has also observed coyotes and deer in her backyard and there have been neighborhood reports of *black bear. Where will they go?

Camwest paid an arborist for a tree preservation plan required by city permit. The arborist reported that 294 significant trees were clear-cut. That's 54% of the 489 significant trees on the project. 39 Landmark trees were presumed removed.  Landmark trees are supposed to get special protections. (see Councilwoman Kim Allen's statement, below).

Chad Armour made two brief site visits. Among Mr. Armour's qualifications, he is a "certified wetland delineator" and has a certificate in commercial real estate. He was hired by Camwest to write environmental reports for the city land use permit. 

Mr. Armour reported: nine wetlands and 20 State Priority habitat tree snags, ideal for Pileated Woodpecker nesting. He identified a foraging P. Woodpecker, and a Great Blue Heron "in the vicinity". The Great Blue Heron is valued by the State and Redmond as a Priority Species of Local Importance. Nesting P. Woodpeckers are potentially endangered and have protections when nests are present. I was told by a resident Armour spent only several hours during each of his two visits to the site.

Mr. Armour stated a heron rookery is located about one mile SE of the site. City planner Cathy Beam indicated months ago these eastern rookery nests were vacated. Mr. Armour also noted a stream map indicating coho salmon migrate to within a few hundred feet of the project site. A tributary to Bear Creek and two ponds are present.   

Obviously, significant and devastating deforestation of  "urban open space" has occurred. Habitat destruction was far more extensive than Camwest's Tyler's Creek and Perrigo Heights developments. Fortunately, Camwest does a good job restoring and enhancing their streams, wetlands, and forest buffers. However, according to the neighbors, the development will be setback only 20 feet from their properties and exposed neighborhood trees will be endangered by resultant high winds.

Councilwoman Kim Allen is to be commended for speaking up for the neighborhood during Werner's Landmark Tree Exception appeal. Councilman Richard Cole appeared insensitive during reconsideration of the Landmark Tree appeal stating Werner was slowing down the project. Ms. Allen is a qualified lawyer and is a strong council advocate for "green" protections and standards. ** Ms. Allen's statement urging amendments to city tree preservation standards are below. The city is holding a Community Meeting on Thursday, 7/28 to ask for ideas on how to improve Residential Development permitting. Contact Jeff Churchill for more information by emailing: jchurchill@redmond.gov.

*** The City Neighborhood Map and Notice of Application quote different lot size ranges.

**'Councilmember Allen read a written request to the staff as follows, 'Tree retention is an expressed value of the citizens of Redmond articulated in the Comprehensive Plan, Neighborhood Plans, and community meetings. Redmond’s tree retention law reflects that a detailed and thoughtful analysis by the Administrator of what should be a detailed and written account of extraordinary circumstances is required to justify the felling of any landmark tree or drastically reducing our declining canopy. In this case there is no record of that detailed analysis by staff which does both the staff and the citizens a disservice. Our Code Administrators should begin to provide a written and detailed analysis of their reasoning on all of these exceptions to our Tree Retention Ordinance and that the code should be amended to provide notice to adjacent property owners when such a request is made.' - contributed by Werner

###

QUESTIONS:  Was off-site mitigation required?  It not, how where were they replaced? PRD' appeals are Quasi-Judicial. Was there adequate notice?  Tom Hinman, a respected planning commissioner, influenced the city years later to map significant and landmark trees on the Notice of Application. Why did it take so long?   In 2022, Tree Regulations were updated to protect/preserve Redmond's remaining trees on private properties.  It's 2024 and the updated tree regulations still haven't been implemented owing to legal issues Kirkland is facing. No comment.   

Opinion and report by Bob Yoder, ~ 2007, updated 1/29/2024  

Additional "land use" articles are found using the blog search engine.

Atmospheric River Flooding Event in Redmond, 12/5/2023

The December 4-7, 2023 atmospheric river dumped almost four inches of rain at SEA-TAC.  Peak rainfall was 1.83 inches on December 5th and 2.07 inches on December 6th.  

This video was taken just north and east of the Redmond Safeway store.  The city closes the trail during floods. The Avondale Bridge crosses Bear Creek upstream.  The bridge is a good location foe salmon watching. Deer have been seen in the riparian behind Safeway. It's also a hangout for homeless neighbors.  

This photo shows flooding south of Redmond Way behind Overlake Urgent Care.  Bear Creek is barely be seen in the distance, where the rusty bike/ped bridge ends. In preparation for light rail, the creek channel had to be altered, restored and the riparian was enhanced with tiny trees and shrubs.  White irrigation pipes were installed for the summers.  A video of flood plain activity is here.  

White pipes irrigate tiny shrubs of the Bear Creek floodplain 

 - Bob Yoder, 12/9/2023

"Bear Creek" posts from the blog search engine.

"Trees" posts 

"Land Use" posts 

"Opinion" posts 

It's SalmonSEEson, good viewing locations

It is Salmon SEEson! Adult salmon are making their trip from saltwater to our local streams to spawn. With luck, patience, and good timing, you can watch this amazing Pacific Northwest ritual. The trestle over the Sammamish River on the Redmond Central Connector is a great viewpoint. -- City of Redmond

Juel Park, the bridge over Leary Way, the "rusty bridge" and 90th Street Bridge over the Sammamish River also are good local viewing spots. 

-- Bob Yoder, 9/25/2023

Salmon Migrating towards Lake Sammamish

Drone photo (1 of 3) by Jason Sperling (Sept. 2022)

 "Migrating salmon navigating from Lake Washington, into the Sammamish River, heading to Lake Sammamish...west to east at this time of year."

-- William C. Leak, Kenmore Facebook Group 

Could some of these be Chinook migrating to Bear Creek?  

Posted by Yoder, 9/4/2023

90th Street Pond Restoration Underway, Fish Protected

Green Heron spears a frog on the 90th Street Bridge stormwater pond

The City of Redmond budgeted a little over a million dollars to remove sediment and restore the functionality of the 90th Street stormwater runoff pond.  The pond is located at the intersection of the 90^th Street Bridge and the Sammamish River.  The project is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of October.

For over twelve years, I have been observing and photographing the abundant wildlife that often appears in this pond. Great blue herons frequently catch fish and frogs here.  Above, is a rare Green Heron spearing a frog!  Different species of waterfowl often appear during the spring and fall migratory seasons.  I once photographed six adult male wood ducks together in the pond at the same time!

In addition to the varied birdlife, I have photographed:  a beaver on two different occasions, a raccoon, river otters frolicking in the pond twice, and a coyote, which really surprised me.

I don't know what will become of this wildlife once the project is complete.  A worker said they netted all of the fish at the east end of the enclosure, and relocated them to the west end, nearest to the river.  This was to protect the fish. The worker said that when entering the pond the accumulated sediment was so deep where they were netting the fish, that it came up to their shoulders!

--Photos and Story by John Reinke, 8/7/2023

City removing rich, organic soil from the pond

"The existing NE 90th St stormwater pond treats the runoff from the 90th St stormwater basin before it drains into the Sammamish River. It was constructed in 2000 and currently provides about two thirds of the water quality treatment required by today’s regulations. The pond works by allowing sediment to settle out of the stormwater before it enters the Sammamish River. Over the last 20 years, significant sediment has accumulated, filling up a portion of the pond. The City will be removing the accumulated sediment from the pond during the summer of 2023. "

(Source:  NE 90th Street Stormwater Pond Retrofit | Redmond, WA )

Dr. David Morton Accepts the Climate Action Challenge

Replacing dying cottonwoods with new trees at Idylwood Park.  Dr. David Morton is digging

 (far right) in the background.  Councilmember Hank Myers is in the foreground.

The Redmond Climate Action Challenge makes it easy and fun to reduce your environmental impact. By taking the Redmond Climate Action Challenge on October 4, 2021, my wife Gail and I have reduced our annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.8 metric tons. We selected the actions specific to our journey, tracked our progress, and watched our carbon footprint decline as we made changes at home.  Here are some actions we’ve taken:

1.      Reducing air travel by 9,000 miles per year saves us 7,200 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. We mostly stay local, but in 2021, Gail made a round trip to Portland in her 2018 Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, and I made two round trips to Renton in my 1990 Geo Metro XFi. Zoom and Microsoft Teams make it unnecessary to do a lot of flying and driving.
2.      Nature has replaced 3,000 square feet of our lawn with drought-tolerant plants like buttercups, dandelions, clover, and blackberry. Although they are non-native and invasive, they require zero watering, minimal mowing with a manual reel mower, and provide nectar and pollen for bees. This saves 42,600 gallons of water a year and earns 4,260 “Sustainability points.” The 40,000 sq. feet of forest that we have been allowing to grow on our property since 1994 has removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than our cars have released into it.
3.      By adopting smart driving habits, we save 110 gallons of gas and 2,960 pounds of CO₂ equivalents a year. Avoiding heavy acceleration, coasting when possible, light braking, and driving the speed limit help a lot. I turn off my car when stopped at traffic lights; Gail’s hybrid does that automatically. My car has no gas-guzzling air conditioner. And I regularly service our cars and keep their tires properly inflated.

UPDATED: Evans Creek Relocation Put On Hold

The city environment planner, Cathy Beam, reached out to the community yesterday with a poster session on the pending Critical Area Update soon to be reviewed by the Planning Commission.  

Attendees learned the Evans Creek Relocation project was held up by King County permitting and the trenching to relocate the creek to the north hasn't started.  Trenching was supposed to begin last year.  

A large swath of invasive reed canary grass is being removed by mowing and applying Roundup.  It's a big project.  It's anticipated the relocation project will re-start sometime next year.  

Critical seismic areas didn't appear to be of deep concern with staff since entire Puget Sound area is subject. They referred to building codes as protecting the city structures in the event of an earthquake.  

The council-approved tree regulations are still not in effect owing to prolonged negotiations with the Master Builders.  Thus, current projects are vested under the old, more lenient regulations.  

Questions and concerns about the city's shallow aquifer was noted.  

-- Bob Yoder, 6/23/2023