OPINION: Marchione administration's $40 million parks bond proposal-- a hoax?

I am very disappointed the Marchione Administration and 6 park commissioners would even CONSIDER a preliminary $40,000,000 parks bond for 2009. Specifics of the proposal were described in detail by Parks Director Larsen (photo above) at the last Council study session. (Please look for "comments" below this story for elaboration).

Citizens just finished spending 6 hours of their evenings participating in Mayor Marchione and Richard Cole's "Budgeting by Priorities" (BP) workshops. When Parks Director Larsen discussed "the number" ($40m), I never heard him refer to the BP workshops or citizen requests for more park services. I think it was a councilmember who remembered a vague request for more natural open space.

Did you know, Council recently approved $2,300,000 in taxpayer money for 0.9 miles of park "trail" --a 15 foot-wide black-topped 'road'? (Click on the title of this story to read all about it. )

Only last year, the Council proposed and passed a $637,122 park bond and allocated an additional $605,000 of capital improvement funds (CIP) to our parks and recreation program. In addition Council passed city-wide impact fees on developers. For an eye-opening summary of where our 2007 park levy and capital dollars will be spent READ THIS.

As a result of last year's park levy, our property taxes increased on average $21/year. The proposed $40,000,000 park levy alone would increase our property taxes an average of approximately $140/yr per household. The increase is over 6.6 x last year's increase! It's almost equivalent to last year's "fire & police" increase of $143/yr/household.

Gas is over $3.60/gallon, fruit and vegetables are now priced by "the each" rather than "the pound", we burn gas in traffic jams because city roads can't keep up with growth, and the needed fire station in North Redmond isn't built. The list goes on.

Yes, you can read Richard Morrises informative reports here about the splendor of our parks. They truly are what makes Redmond, Redmond. But, at what cost to further the park system?

Did you know, every year 5% of our General Operating Fund is transferred to our Capital Fund? Most interestingly, 19% of the total 2007 - 2012 Capital Fund of $216,000,000 is allocated to Parks! Yikes! That's $40,000,000!

$40M (proposed bond) + $40M (capital) + $637K ('08 levy) = $80,637,000 total park & rec. budget allocation -- wished for by the Marchione Administration in 2009... This isn't counting impact fees.

My goodness! This can't be real! Is it a hoax? I feel manipulated. When citizens cry "NO" to this incredulous $40M bond proposal the Council is then positioned to say "NO" to many of the citizen's requests for funding their projects. It appears the Marchione administration is "conditioning" us to lower our expectations for our budget priorities. In the least, he's applying the fundamental principle of negotiations: "start high".

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REF: All of my research was taken from Links to city documents on the sidebar of this blog (scroll down) and by searching "levy" in the blog search engine .

CC: Council, Mayor, Parks Director, Parks & Trails commissioners

OPINION: The importance of "regionalism" to mitigating SR520 environmental impacts

Watershed Resource Inventory Area 8 (WRIA-8)

At last night's Council "study session" Council President McCormick and Mayor Marchione talked about the importance and relevance of "regionalism" to our city. Redmond officials appear to be "speaking with one voice" on Regional issues.

Mayor Marchione is an active member on the Sound Transit Board. I've watched him on TV. He is sharp and stands out as a leader. Councilmembers Richard Cole and Nancy McCormick have been active on the growth management issues of Puget Sound Regional Council. I think councilmembers Allen, Myers and Vache have worked on the regional issues of Human Services

Management of our watershed is regional, as well. The above WRIA 8 map demonstrates the extent of Redmond's connection with other cities in our regional "watershed area". Our watershed area extends from Everett south to Greater Auburn! It's used in large part by the state Department of Ecology to monitor salmon populations, water quality and flooding in our region.

Marchione represents Redmond in policy on the WRIA-8 committee. Jon Spangler (Redmond Public Works Stormwater Manager) is the active participant in regular meetings. Mr. Spangler recently facilitated a joint meeting with three agencies about SR520 impacts.

Last night, Mayor Marchione talked about the importance of the WRIA-8 committee to mitigating the environmental and flooding impacts of the SR520 expansion from 4 to 8 lanes. Endangered salmon and safety from flooding are the key issues.

A Bellevue official (with the help of Jean White, WRIA-8 manager) wrote a letter to Governor Gregoire requesting mitigation. Woodinville (and Redmond) citizen activists contributed significant flood data used in the letter.

Thus, Bellevue, Woodinville, other WRIA-8 cities all cared about what was impacting Redmond from the SR520 expansion. Woodinville and Redmond citizen activists created a groundswell. They wrote letters and sent a short video clip here and photos of the 12/3 flood to Rep. Ross Hunter, Chairman of Finance (and other key representatives.) Indeed, the effort was regional!

Ross was very concerned from the inputs and is taking action to fund $7M to meander Bear Creek away from the highway expansion. Rep. Hunter recently announced a TOWN HALL MEETING at Redmond City Hall on May 20, 6pm. I urge neighbors to attend Rep. Hunter's meeting in force to encourage or support possible approval of funding!

A 2008 field trip with Ms. Marsh.

Redmond's poop once flowed downhill to "South Treatment Plant" in Renton. Yesterday, Redmond High School science teacher Ms. Marsh, took 25 students and a smattering of parents to the Renton plant for an incredibly fascinating three hour tour. Yep, that's right --fascinating!

Ms. Casey Plank, full time tour guide, gave an awesome tour! Her 4 minute video clip above touches on it. If she had more time she would have taken us to the "WaterWorks Garden wetland" and art adjacent to the plant.
Some interesting history! Did you know that Redmond's wastewater was all dumped into Lake Washington 50 years ago? Thirty pipes pipes from Eastside cities all dumped (pun intended) poop, TP, pharmaceuticals, floss, tampons and other waste into the lake. Swimming, fishing and other water sports were non-existent. One day, citizens couldn't take it anymore and the pipes were capped. Only ten years later the lake water was clean, thanks to friendly bacteria! Today, one 14-foot pipe empties into the plant!
Casey told us only the "4 P's" should go into toilets. Can you guess what the *"4P's" are? Pharmaceuticals is NOT one of them! They are not good for our salmon. Drugs and hormones have been attributed to male fish producing eggs in some eastern rivers! That's right!
In 2011 Redmond's poop will begin flowing north of Woodinville to the Brightwater treatment plant currently under construction. But that's another story! Thank you Ms. Marsh for this one!
If you're looking for something to do with your family or friends on EARTH DAY, Casey will be giving a tour of the wetland park, art, and wastewater treatment plant. Don't miss the heron rookery! Did you know herons are Redmond's "species of local importance"? EARTH DAY is Saturday, April 19. The tour is from 10am to 2pm. Questions! Call 206-296-8361.
Bob Yoder, co-author, Education Hill Neighborhood
Frequently asked questions on the city's website. "4P's" below
2.5 minute video clip of a segment of Casey's underground tour.

*the "4 P's" are poop,pee,puke, and TP.
The History of Metro - sewage treatment, bus transit, and other county regional issues.

"Dodge Ball for Dollars" at RHS! -- Olivia Boker's culminating project

[See comment]

link to my opinion story on this event

An incredible event happened at Redmond High School last night, all because of Senior Olivia Boker's entrepreneurial and caring spirit. Some called the event "Dodge Ball for Dollars". Olivia Boker's (photo above) purpose was to excel in her Senior year "culminating project". Her goal was raising money for "The Invisible Children" of northern Uganda and entertain! She had a little help from lots of volunteers. Advisor Erica Gililand, her parents, Natalie and untold passionate others pitched in.


Olivia's Dodge Ball tournament was a gigantic success. I think we may be seeing more of this crazy sport at RHS for years to come. Watching players get nailed reminded us of the days we called it "War". I loved this game!!

Mr. Mayor Marchione attended with two city teams -fire & police- to throw in the opening ball at Oliva's volunteers (below). Unfortunately, he couldn't be around to watch his Fire Team take the trophy from a team of H.S. boy athletes. With two resounding, simultaneous "zingers" at the bell our city department put out the fire!
The colorful Teacher Team was awesome on all counts. If it were me, I'd have voted them "Best dressed". "The Clean Up Crew" -- young boys dressed in garbage bags and duct taped hats won. About a dozen teams played and the bleachers will filled. But, it's Coach Greg's Mustang Girls Ballistics team that got the most photo exposure. Yes, my daughter, #21, is on the team!

I'm not sure how much Olivia Boker's fundraising team earned for the abducted 20,000 Ugandan boys and girls, but it was significant. If you want to make a contribution contact Ms. Gililand in room E206 at RHS or click http://www.invisiblechildren.com/.

A short video clip of Dodge Ball follows, but first some parting facts about the Invisible Children of Uganda:

• Since 1986 20,000 boys and girls were abducted as child soldiers in General Kony's Lords Army Resistance (LAR) militia.
• More than 90% of LRA troops are children.
• 250,000 children in Northern Uganda receive no education.
• 60% of the schools don't function.
• Only one teacher for every 300 students!!!
• and on..... do you want to make a donation? (click on the link)

Home sweet home

There's no place on Earth quite like Redmond, Washington.

Our fair city is known by many nicknames (both formal and informal): Bicycle Capital of the Northwest, Microsoft Town, a community of good neighbors.

But for me (and I suspect a great many of my fellow residents) Redmond is synonymous with merely one concise, cherished word. Home.

My attachment to Redmond is all the more powerful because it is the only home I have ever known. I've happily spent all twenty one years of my life here, and can't imagine spending the rest of them anywhere else. While I do love traveling, and sightseeing, there's perhaps nothing more exciting to me than coming home.

I call it returning to Redmond.

My thoughts always turn to coming home when that plane is taxiing to the runway to depart for SeaTac. Or when I'm passing under the 148th Avenue overchange on State Route 520, heading towards downtown. My favorite sight from the highway is when Redmond Town Center comes into view from the sloping hill. You can see the retail district, the forested hills above, and on a clear day, the breathtaking Cascades far and away, towering over the fields of Marymoor Park.

The future and well-being of the City of Redmond are vitally important to me. In fact, concern for Redmond is what led me to become involved in politics and civic affairs just over six years ago.

I was a freshman in high school at the time, and greatly concerned about the impact of Tim Eyman's harmful initiatives. Initiative 747 had recently passed then, putting the squeeze on Redmond and King County, and Eyman was going after Sound Transit, the very agency that will eventually provide me and all other Redmond residents with a way to reliably and quickly get out of town without an automobile.

I had no political experience and no connections back in February of 2002. Just an incredibly strong instinct that what Eyman was doing was harmful to Redmond, harmful to my family, and harmful to my future. So I launched a website to oppose him.

In 2003, recognizing that effectively blunting the impact of Eyman's initiatives was difficult without having better ideas, I founded the Northwest Progressive Institute, a strategy center which I continue to lead as executive director. Today NPI has over a dozen staff (nobody is yet on the payroll, but that will change soon) and more of us live in Redmond than any other municipality in the Pacific Northwest, giving NPI a strong connection to the community.

I am not only a proud liberal, but also a partisan Democrat as well (I serve on the Executive Board of the 45th District Democrats). I may not be an independent, but I am open minded. I enjoy listening to the perspectives of conservative and Republican friends even if I disagree with what they're saying. I pay close attention to reader feedback, whether it's praise or criticism, and I use it constantly to improve my writing.

While I do follow national and state politics very closely, my posts here will usually focus squarely on life in Redmond or city government - this is, after all, a neighborhood blog! Our relationship with the rest of the Puget Sound region is important, however, and I will touch on that, especially in the context of topics like transportation. If you're someone who would like to read my analysis of the presidential race - or another non-Redmond political topic - I invite you to check out NPI's blog, which we update about every day, published (as the description says) from majestic Redmond, Washington.

Or, more simply...home sweet home.

- Andrew Villeneuve

REDUX: Redmond Junior High 166th Avenue safety improvements

At last night's council meeting, the Council and Mayor gave "the green light" to road safety improvements on 166th Ave adjacent Redmond Junior High. The present 4 lanes will be re-channeled to 3 lanes, wider sidewalks, with bike lanes.

The Mayor is working with LWSD authorities to reconfigure the RJH parking lots to improve circulation. Construction is not not planned for completion until the first quarter of 2009. This is right during the school year. The delay is attributed to ordering light poles for 104 & 166 intersection. The rechannelization will probably be done first to convenience students, parents, and vehicular traffic.

Council felt confident in approving construction owing to the positive survey results at the last RJH public informational meeting. "100 citizens showed up" and 74 completed surveys. With the exception of one* survey question participants were positive about the improvements. *41% of those surveyed felt it would be more difficult to merge onto 166th Ave. The survey found most wanted rechannelization extended to NE 100th Street.

The February 7 Community Meeting SURVEY RESULTS on 166th improvments are listed here. If you were unable to attend the meeting how would you respond to this survey? Interestingly, 20 of 74 surveys were mailed in after the meeting. Can we assume the surveys were completed soley by community meeting residents?

Several councilmembers and the Mayor appear to prefer to rechannel 166th all the way down the hill to 85th, but they want to wait until the residents become comfortable with the RJH road safety improvments first. Councilman Pat Vache stated Redmond already has several 4:3 conversions showing rechannelization works and has safety benefits.

Some concerns about the rechannelization of 166th Ave. were voiced by a few citizens after the public meeting: 1) fencing is too close to 166th and impedes line-of-site. 2) during the AM commute cars may back up to NE 100th St. and make it impossible to turn left. Also, some drivers actually get out of their car now on 100th St. to punch the crosswalk light button. Will a timed light be programed at 100th?

Opinion: The Open Meeting Act - what is it good for?

I attended the Council Study Session last night to: 1) watch Jane Hague, KC councilmember meet with council and 2) listen into the "Open Meeting Act" in-service by city attorney Jim Haney.

I left the Hall early because all I could see were the backs of Haney, Hague, Marchione, and staff -- much better to watch from the couch at home with strong cup of coffee!

Last year during the elections, a campaigner raised a big stink about a supposed "open meeting act violation". That's the only time I can remember it being a significant issue. Political banter and vitriol is about all that came of it.

The Act requires that the public and all council members be invited and/or present at "meetings" when any city business is transacted or discussed. To bring the law into perspective, a $100 personal fine is charged to violators....the equivalent of a speeding ticket. KUDOS to council and mayor for holding this meeting to lay the ground rules for legislative civility!

Several compliance issues were discovered during council's meeting that were lacking during the previous Administration (Ives).

>> Linda, the Information Officer, informed council/mayor that council emails were not being archived by the city. Thus, email research cannot be conducted during a violation claim. But, do taxpayers want to pay for the extra labor and computer storage to archive emails just to enforce a violation that's on par with the cost of a traffic ticket? And, what is the standard of practice in neighborhing cities?

>> Council Committees (for Safety, Public Works, Parks, etc.) are composed of 3 councilmembers. When a 4th councilmember shows up, the meeting becomes -- by letter of law -- a bonafide Council Meeting and "advertisement to the public" is required. Even if the visiting councilmember just listens, it's considered a council meeting, according to Haney. As I see it, the inclusion of "listening" as active participation hinders the legislative process and penalizes councilmembers and commissioners who want to be involved.

This Act is loaded with holes and gray areas. "Telephone calls in series" mixed with "emails" to transact business can never be fully documented. Hey, anyone can open a blind email address to communicate in confidence with another. Finally, a councilmember can phone/email others with "intentions to deliberate" but at what point does "intention" become "discussion"?

Councilman Myers was rightly concerned the Act - by letter of law - could interfere with a well-meaning, productive legislative process. I believe the Act should be upheld for the public as a precautionary measure and guidline to encourage the council's awareness and discussion of timely issues of city importance. Any comments on this?

Mayor Marchione and council are to be commended for devoting hours of their time to understanding an Act that benefits citizens and guides our representatives.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Factoids:

The state legislature is not bound by this Act! State agencies, local governments, and boards & commissions are bound by it. WAC 42.30.010 - .920

It takes only 4 councilmembers actively participating in an unadvertised "meeting" to violate the Open Meetings Act. "Meetings" include emails, phone trees, and informal chats where city business is discussed or transacted.

Exclusions to the Open Meeting Act are: 1) real estate transactions, 2) litigation, 3) collective bargaining. These items are transacted behind the closed doors of an "executive session".

Violations can result in a recall election if misfeasance or malfeasance is involved. I compare a recall to being thrown in jail for drunken driving and having your licence removed. Actually, recall would less punishing for most?

The Act was initiated by a citizen in 1971 (before emailing was used - according to Haney) .

Shops in downtown "B&B" strip mall to get "the boot"

161st Street will punch straight through Redmond Way and B&B Auto to connect with Bear Creek Parkway. This red roofed, unsightly strip mall will be leveled. Redmond's first skyscraper (Cleveland building ) is in the background. (Taken from 161st / Redmond Way intersection.)

Small businesses are just beginning to exit the older downtown strip malls of Redmond and more will follow. Downtown real estate is expensive so these shops are being forced out of their digs by "higher and better uses."

The historic and now unsightly "Redmond Shopping Square" (pictured above) is scheduled for demolition by 2009, according to tenants. The 58-year old 8-store strip mall is anchored by B&B Auto Parts, Frederick's Appliance Center and Parker Paint. It's at the intersection of Redmond Way and 161st St. According to tenants & historical society, "Sol" has owned the property since about 1955. Before that, I think it was a grocery store run by a Filipino farming family - but the Historical Society or Sol would know best.

I visited almost every store in the Square including having a savory lunch buffet at Kanishka Cuisine of India. Great food and I discovered taste buds never known! Sol wasn't happy when the city asked him to demolish his Square for the road. At last resort, the city had to "take" Sol's (with compensation) property because improving traffic circulation downtown is now critical. Luke at Frederick's Appliance said they were happy with the city's relocation support and terms.

The 161sth Street extension will move B&B, Frederick's, Parker Paint and Kanishka Cuisine of India out of the immediate downtown but I don't know what will happen to the smaller eastern shops. Rumor has it a "modern" retail and or parking may go in. Will our fair city convert 161st Street to an attractive, pedestrian friendly "promenade" with outdoor shops, book stands, dining, bicycle racks, and...? Is this an opportunity!

Where will the small businesses flee? It appears most prefer to be associated with Redmond, but downtown real estate is expensive ....up to 5 times more expensive than their strip mall digs, according to a tenant. The Bell-Red and Rose Hill areas were mentioned a lot. Parker Paint is planning to merge with their Bellevue Store when they move and focus more on retail business. I hoped for Kanishka Cuisine, they would move to the evolving Overlake urban"international district".

When my neighbors watch Black-tailed deer wander down 116th St. looking for a new forest home taken by redevelopment, I'm saddened. Fortunately, these small businesses aren't on the "endangered list" - in fact, I'm counting they will thrive. We WILL miss our "old friends" at the Redmond Shopping Square and look forward to rediscovering them when they find their new homes next year. In the meantime, this historic mall and their tenants will be in business all this year so stop by, and say hi!

A native of Redmond owner of the EASTSIDE GYM ( 95st St. & Willows Rd.) first told me about the proposed extension of 161st St. The Gym is friendly & affordable & I can bike to it from my home on Ed. Hill. It was dis-located last year from a strip mall demolished to build a new Group Health clinic and multi-family housing. (near the construction cranes.)

View Larger Map

Outdoor Art funding to be decided for the Public Safety Building during Council meeting of 1/15

Approved outdoor art for Police Building (right)

"Redmond Arts Commission (and baby)" picture posted on the Arts Commission Website

A city proposal to approve an "Art tax" to fund a $30,000 Outdoor Art project for the remodeled Public Safety Building is linked HERE. A photo of the artwork was provided courtesy of councilman David Carson.

Council will "vote" on this proposal during their meeting on Tuesday, 1/15. This item is on the "Consent Agenda" so council automatically authorizes use of existing funds & conversation will avoided unless a councilmember "pulls Item #4".

The Arts Commission has been recently rejuvinated and reorganized with nine capable, creative, enthusiastic citizen volunteers and outstanding staff. Some of them are my friends. The commission holds public meetings advertised on their website. Comments from citizens are welcome and appreciated by the commissioners by email RAC@REDMOND.GOV or during meetings.

Comments? Opinions? Thoughts?

Our "Western Gateway view corridor" is harmed by a new project

Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor and "wooded hillside" assets are blocked off by the new "ElementRedmond" townhouse project. 15-20 foot setbacks don't help the look.

"Gateway View Corridors" are a similar yet different issue from "Shoreline View Corridors." Have you seen the "ElementRedmond Townhome" project just west of Willows Road on Redmond Way? For affluent Redmond, WA. they look "affordable" but at $400,000 and up? Though not near a "shore", this project seriously harms Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor. I gag every time I drive down Rose Hill and see this massive cluster of "mega-town homes". We need new housing and ElementRedmond has nice amenities, but at this 'price'? Click on the link above to learn more about them.

These tall, angular structures, seem to jut out at you. Worse, they completely block the views we once had of the green wooded hillsides of Education Hill and North Redmond. Thin setbacks leave virtually no room for vegetative buffering. These structures, "3-deep" with garaged parking, appear to be set-back only 15 feet from Redmond Way sidewalk! Prepare for increased traffic congestion on Rose Hill a year from now.

The above pictures tell the story...or take a drive down Rose Hill. How on God's Green Earth could we allow this "WALL" of structures blocking public the scenic views of our wooded hillside city asset? (ref: Guy Michaelson, Berger Partners, Seattle)

Is it time for the city to amend zoning and design standards to protect our public view Gateway and Shoreline corridors from mega-projects and mega-homes?

Or would you prefer just to leave public view corridors unregulated, with the market deciding how far property owners will go with obstructive, intrusive buildings?

What are your thoughts? Any comments?

Staff report on proposed 520 widening project unveils serious environmental shortcomings by WSDOT

Click HERE for aerial photo of Bear Creek & 520 widening site:

Mayor Ives asked staff to give a report to council on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) SR 520 road widening plan. It won't be long before WSDOT files a city application to reduce our Bear Creek buffer protections from 150 feet to 60 feet!

WSDOT failed to file a complete Environmental Impact Statement on the widening project leaving the public out of the process. It is now clear WSDOT has shown complete disregard on three key environmental issues.

• Issue #1) environmental impacts to Bear Creek endangered Chinook & habitat were never addressed or acknowledged by WSDOT.

• Issue #2) Critical Area Ordinance wetland mitigation sequencing was ignored. Instead, WSDOT is mitigating the myriad of project wetlands off-site and not addressing required "no net loss" wetland management practices.

• Issue #3) WSDOT is not compensating for loss of flood plain storage.

City of Redmond stormwater engineers estimate it would take $10 million to fix the environmental (and flood hazard) component of the WSDOT widening plan. The city could probably find grant money to pay for restoration of the northern bank of Bear Creek. Estimated city cost is $2.5 million. WSDOT's 8 lanes of traffic only 60 feet from Bear Creek has a huge impact on the environmental and flood hazard components. Thus, it is expected WSDOT would be responsible for the majority of the restoration work.

Managing Bear Creek/520 flood hazards, natural resources, and preserving our endangered species and heritage can't be accomplished without the support and encouragement of our state representatives. THE BOTTOM LINE is we need to write our state legislators and request their effort to fund the Bear Creek/520 restoration.

We have some good news already! State Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy have already responded to citizen input and are requesting additional information! Two influential and powerful Redmond council members are traveling to Olympia next month (Allen & Cole). Mayor Ives and Mayor-elect Marchione both appear enthusiastic and optimistic. But, we have a lot of letters to write!

Mayor Ives has even suggested writing Ron Sims in King County about shifting half of the widening to the South. Below are quick links to our representatives. Please take 3 minutes to sent them a note!

STAFF VIDEO REPORT at December 11 council meeting: http://www.redmond.gov/aboutredmond/rctv/ondemandcouncil.asp
(scroll 1/3 into the tape)

Contact Senator Rodney Tom, Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy HERE:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?city=Redmond&street=10019%20169th%20AVe%20ne&zip=98052 Citizens outside of Redmond can locate their Representative's contact information at this link, too.

Representative Deborah Eddy is a crucial contact for us since she is Vice-Chair of the "Local Government Committee". Her committee deals with land use and local permitting issues. Ms. Eddy's website is HERE: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/eddy

Representative Campbell: House Select Environmental Committee http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/campbell

Senate members or Natural Resources and Recreation Committee http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/NROR/members.htm

King County Executive Ron Sims: exec.sims@kingcounty.gov

James Pater, Permit Review, WA. Department of Ecology mailto:dapa461@ecy.wa.gov

FYI, Washington State Environmental Hearings Office Website is: http://www.eho.wa.gov/. This office hears appeals to the Shoreline Management Act. The City of Redmond hears appeals to the Buffer Variance.

OPINION: Proposed SR 520 widening threatens Bear Creek

Editor's Update, 2/9/2011

Opinion:  $8M funds were approved by the state legislature to alter the creek away from the highway widening.  Finance Chair Ross Hunter had a lot to do with funding approval along with impetus from the city, the regional watershed coalition and engaged citizens.  The City approved $2M for the project.  No work has been done on the project after more thant two years.  Engaged citizens think it's because of an archaeological site and lack of flooding onto the new highway. The new highway was elevated during construction and severe flooding hasn't encroached the highway.  The comments below this post may be of interest to you.  B.Y.

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OPINION:  The Department of Transportation "flyway" construction on SR 520 & Redmond Way is just the beginning of more to come.

If the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) gets it's way SR 520 will be widened to within 50 feet of Bear Creek. Yes, that's right! However, WE may be able to improve the project if WE speak up and write to the City of Redmond by December 9.

Many citizens consider Bear Creek a vital part of our city culture and heritage. Thousands of years ago Sqwak indians lived off the salmon and mussels of Bear Creek. Today, families walk behind Redmond Town Center to observe and enjoy the scenic creek, salmon habitat, and riparian foliage. Teachers take their students to the creek in the Fall to release salmon fry. In 1999 the Chinook salmon were declared a federal threatened species. WSDOT will have to remove many of the trees that provide shade and cool water needed for survival of Chinook. Treated, roadside stormwater with drain into the creek. And, the creek would remain a straight-line ditch without off-channel salmon rearing opportunities.

See an aerial photo of Bear Creek & 520 widening site: http://tinyurl.com/2ks8t2

Concerned citizens can't stop this project but we can write the following city planner and state representatives to request WDOT not build on top of Shoreline buffers -- within 50 feet of Bear Creek Chinook habitat.

The most important person to write right now is Cathy Beam, Principle Planner, City of Redmond. Comments are due to Ms. Beam by December 9. You can email Cathy at: cbeam@redmond.gov . Or fax: 425-556-2400. Questions? Call Cathy at 425-556-2429.

In your email to Ms. Beam: reference to File # L070501 or just mention the SR 520 widening project. Mention your concerns about the salmon habitat, noise buffering and anything else important to you and ask to re-route Bear Creek away from the WSDOT 520 widening project. Be sure to leave your name and address.

Your letter to Ms. Cathy Beam is very important because it also registers you to participate in the Shoreline Permit and Buffer Variance Permit proceedings should you so choose. This site will be updated on a regular basis for your convenience.

Five years ago the Shorelines Management Citizens Advisory Committee spent months carefully crafting a Shorelines Management Policy for Redmond. 150 foot buffers were approved by the City Council --which WSDOT is now requesting to ignore in their Buffer Variance Permit application. Is this fair? Is it right? Will you write your representatives?


Contact Senator Rodney Tom, Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy HERE:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?city=Redmond&street=10019%20169th%20AVe%20ne&zip=98052 Citizens outside of Redmond can locate their Representative's contact information at this link, too.


Representative Deborah Eddy is a crucial contact for us since she is Vice-Chair of the "Local Government Committee". Her committee deals with land use and local permitting issues. Ms. Eddy's website is HERE: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/eddy

Representative Campbell: House Select Environmental Committee http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/campbell

Senate members or Natural Resources and Recreation Committee http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/NROR/members.htm

James Peter, Permit Review, WA. Department of Ecology mailto:dapa461@ecy.wa.gov
FYI, Washington State Environmental Hearings Office Website is: http://www.eho.wa.gov/. This office hears appeals to the Shoreline Management Act. The City of Redmond hears appeals to the Buffer Variance.

Feel free to post personal comments here.

By Bob Yoder
Opinion updated on 2/9/2011

Redevelopment of Redmond Streets and Highways

The City Council meeting of 11/20 was centered on the redevelopment work, planned but not approved, for SR 520 widening near Marymoor Park and the light at 166th AV. & 104th ST. intersection by Redmond Junior High.

SR 520 widening by Bear Creek:
The proposed SR520 widening near Bear Creek drew attention from "Citizen Vicky" and Brian Dennis - both gave 4 minute "Items" talks to council. Vicky made a plea to citizens to write their legislatures to hold off on the widening until the Evergreen Point bridge was fixed. Brian agreed and asked staff and council to take a hard look at noise mitigation requirements.

Brian and Vicky are not the only citizens concerned about SR 520 widening. Three citizen groups have formed in opposition of 520 widening - many asking to re-route the creek away from the highway. My next blog will give detail and, again, a plea to write your state representatives. This project will bring SR 520 fifty feet from Break Creek where 150 foot buffers are required now by city law.

166th Av & NE 104th St traffic light by Redmond Junior High
John Marchione had preliminary concerns about approving a consultant for final design of the light because the traffic light installation included up to four blocks of rechannelization. A federal grant will pay for the installation but Marchione objected stating Council would be untrue to the Open Public Process they committed to for any rechannelization.

Channelization related to the light could extend as far as NE 100th ST and could be completed by the end of 2008. Staff stated the purpose of the modest channelization was to: 1) help make the intersection run efficiently, 2) improvements to pedestrian safety, 3) the grant paid for it.

Richard Cole was most unyielding of the council. He emphatically stated during election doorbelling he talked to "several hundreds" and "it was unanimous everyone" was against the rechannelization -- especially along the hill. One should know that Mr. Cole's constituents and neighborhood is in N. Redmond where faster traffic through 166th to downtown is valued. Cole didn't feel design work was needed to calculate safety requirements in front of the school.

Vice President, Councilman Pat Vache offered the most widely accepted comments that the redevelopement should be all about SAFETY -- not how many feet from the intersection rechannelization should go. Ives and Allen supported Vache's emphasis on safety. Vache agreed to preliminary design work. Marchione motioned to approve the grant but bring it back to council for preliminary review before bidding work would begin. Approved.

President Nancy McCormick noted that the speed study done by Evans Consultants did not include buses and trucks. Mr. Cairns, Traffic Planner, said they would be included in further reviews and that a public process was required for any extensive rechannelization - as required by Council.

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Of a personal note:

I can find four good reasons why rechannelization from 4 lanes to 3 lanes would be valuable to our neighborhood:

1) The Neighborhood Community Advisory Committee met for months on the issue and after thorough review voted for rechannelization,

2) The City paid good taxpayer dollars for an independent, qualified consultant whose recommendations were to build the 4:3 conversion; the city ALWAYS accepts qualified consultants for land use applications - why not here?

3) City Council passed "Streets" legislation committing to building new streets that are bicycle friendly. A 4:3 conversion would create wider sidewalks and bike lanes!

4) The council plans to hold public meetings on any rechannelization proposed outside of the traffic light project.

Marchione shouldn't be fingered for Redmond's skyscraping growth

As of this writing, John Marchione is 16% ahead of Jim Robinson with 45% of the registered voting and all precincts reporting. John has it in the bag.

From the day John pulled ahead I've heard a number of Jim's supporters state concerns that "Marchione will turn Redmond will be another Bellevue"; "Marchione will assert the values of Bellevue upon Redmond"; "Marchione will draw in businesses and grow tall skyscrapers".

These accusations about Marchione are emotionally charged and not sound. Our "strong mayor" form of government doesn't empower Mayor-elect Marchione to set growth policy. Land -Use policy decisions shaping our growth resides with Council and the Planning Commission, not the mayor.

The Council listens to the mayor, city staff, planning commission, and citizens about growth issues. Council then decides on their growth policy, by vote. Mayor Marchione won't vote. John will supply information to Council needed to make their decision. And, he will carry out the Council's growth policies. The advantage of Marchione for Mayor are his regional relationships with Bellevue, Kirkland and other neighboring cities. John will be able to facilitate our council's policy with greater alacrity and effectiveness than our tenured, home-spun Jim Robinson.

Rosemary Ives' appointed commissioners have already recommended a 10 + story skyscraper at the Group Health site on Overlake. It appears our Council is all for giving the free market room to grow taller buildings (skyscrapers) in the Overlake Urban neighborhood. By growing "up" planners figure more open space can be saved for urban parks.

In short, many major decisions about how Redmond will grow and look have already been made by our council (including Robinson) under the Ives administration. The wheels are already in motion to urbanize Overlake with or without John as mayor. A major, $40M regional stormwater facility for our downtown has already been approved for Redmond Way and NE 8oth Street. $30M Bear Creek Parkway is approved by council. Robinson voted on all of them. When the streets get torn up and traffic staggers, don't blame John. The entire council voted on the plan under the assistance of Mayor Ives.

So, what do you have to say about that?!