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]  

UPDATED 10/20/24: Miguel Llanos, Redmond Historical Society / 25th Anniversary Celebration

Miguel Llanos

Miguel Llanos is seen orchestrating a "Redmond Historical Society (RHS) Speaker series" event / photo Yoder

I first met Miguel Llanos during the 2008 Perrigo Woodland (Ashford) Trail neighborhood demonstration march through the Perrigo Heights preliminary plat to save its woodlands from development. Council was inspecting the safety of the 40% steep slope sewer line at the time. Miguel set up an exhibit to educate citizens on the history of the woodlands.  

Llanos is an extraordinary Redmond community member.  Among his many roles, he was a co-founder of the Redmond Historical Society, editor of the Redmond Recorder newsletter, a commissioner of Redmond's Landmarks and Heritage Commission, on the Design Review Board, and the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.  He played a big part in the founding of the Redmond Library. 

Miguel was sworn into the Landmarks and Heritage Commission after Rep. Ross Hunter's Town Hall meeting.  The commission meets when an owner of one of the 16 properties listed as historic by the city wants to make a change. or when a property owner wants to have their property added to list.

Miguel was a strong advocate for preserving Old Town and its 2-block row of historic "Perrigo Plat" Craftsman bungalow houses on 164th Street.  The old Brown Bag Cafe bungalow on 164th was once owned by long-time Mayor Bill Brown (1913-1948) and did not meet the commission's historic criteria.  [Same for the E.A. Walcher House, a 112+ year Craftsman-style bungalow on 8117-166th Ave. NE, also once owned by Bill Brown.]

Miguel currently lives in Los Angeles with his family.  He's in town for the Redmond Historical Society's 25th Anniversary Celebration and Social where he will give a 30-minute slide show. The Redmond Historical Society President John Oftebro did a fabulous job emceeing and directing the event.  

Approximately 100 attended the event, including the first full-time Mayor Chris Himes and John Couch, Parks and Rec. Director of 30 years.  Couch dressed up as Mayor Brown. Hilarious!   

Bob Yoder

Updated 9/27/2024, Updated 10/20/2024

See a Video of city attorney Jim Haney swearing in Miguel to the Landmarks & Heritage Commission. 🙂 

UPDATED: Parks and Recreation Rewards Households With Fee Assistance

Have you heard about the Redmond Parks and Recreation Fee Assistance Program Application?  Application forms are available at the Senior Center Customer Service desk. 

Applicants who meet eligibility requirements can be awarded up to $1,000 per person, per year to help pay for day passes', monthly passes, punch passes, etc.  So far, this program rewarded over $43,000 to ~ 345 recipients 2024.  

Eligibility:  

•   Household income of $70,000 or less qualifies for a 50% reduction in activity fees.   
•   Household income of $47,000 or less qualifies for a 70% reduction in activity fees. 
•   Household income of $28,800 or less qualifies for a 90% reduction in activity fees.  

Proof of Eligibility:  Examples of accepted documents include, but not limited to:  1) Utility billing, 2)  Social Security Benefits statement, 3) most recent tax return, 4) DSHS statement or award.  

 -- Posted by Yoder, 9/14/2024

Elise Farrel-McWhirter - Redmond Historical Society Speakers Series

Saturday Speaker Series Walking with History: 

Elise Farrel-McWhirter 

Saturday, September 14th at 10:30 AM 

 In the Old Redmond Schoolhouse at 

16600 NE 80TH ST, Redmond, WA 98052  

Born an heiress in the Age of Industry, Elise Farrel-McWhirter led the life of one of the most intriguing socialites in New England in the early 20th century. Follow the incredible life journey of a woman who was independent and bold before it was in vogue. Before the Women’s Suffrage Movement, before Women’s right to vote, 

Elise Farrel-McWhirter lived a remarkable life on her own terms and traded the glamour of society for a small farming community in rural Washington—a community named Redmond that she chose to live in over all the other places she had traveled in North America, Asia, and Europe. 

We can walk with history today, because she donated her beloved home upon her death that became Farrel- McWhirter Park. Learn about one of Redmond’s early leading ladies, who loved children, horses, nature, and left us all a legacy that helped foster Redmond’s modern-day Parks Department.

Registration is not required. Please note this is an in-person program. A recording will be available following the event. 

Posted by John Oftebro

President, Redmond Historical Society

9/12/2024

Downtown Park Receives Canadian Award of Excellence

Credit:  CSLA's Awards Atlas.

 REDMOND, WA - The City’s Downtown Park earned the prestigious Award of Excellence for Small-Scale Public Landscapes from the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA). The award recognizes the innovative design and thoughtful planning behind this tech-savvy urban space.

Designed by PFS Studio, a leading planning, urban design, and landscape architecture firm based in Vancouver, BC, Redmond Downtown Park is a testament to visionary design's power in reinvigorating urban spaces. The park, located in the heart of Redmond, is a vibrant gathering place for community engagement and cultural activities.

Critical Area Ordinance, Public Hearing

 Great Blue Heron 
"Species of Local Importance"  
Sammamish River, Redmond, WA.   

Hello Planning Commissioners:

"I only caught part of your meeting last night, but it sounds like the State is requiring updates to the Critical Area Ordinance? 

As a college educated biologist -- similar to Mayor Angela Birney -- Critical Areas are important to me.   In the Ives Administration, I made "Species of Local Importance" and "Habitat of Local Importance" comments to the Planning Commission chaired by Mr. Snodgrass.  After much discussion, the commission decided on the Great Blue Heron (GBH) and Riparian habitat, in which it lives.   

City Dog Park Opens On Education Hill

 

Zoey getting ready to enter the small dog side

The new Redmond Pop-Up dog park is located behind the Hartman pool and high school baseball field.  Follow the signs on 104th for limited parking; it's easily walkable.  

We talked to Parks staff when it was under construction.  Brett Barker 😀 said it will be closed late August to make room for the high school cross country races.  Zoey romped happily today with two large dogs!  We had nice chats with their owners too!  

See you there!

-- B. Yoder, 4/19/2024

"Beat the Bunny" Event Was a Hopping Success

 

Pat Vache' (orange vest) working the water station / credit Pam Yoder

The City of Redmond's 8th Annual "Beat the Bunny" 5k Run/Walk was a hip-hip hopping success.  

There's Pat Vache' -- on the right -- working the water station at mile 3.  Pat's the Founder of the Redmond Kiwanis Club (and renowned, past City Council President).  The Kiwanians exhibited and volunteered at various stations along the Marymoor Trail.  

Over a hundred must have turned out at the Marymoor Community Center for the start, with many families, young children and athletes "competing." Several sights along the way ...  the Marymoor Park climbing peak, a cricket game, a goose nest high above, a light rail segment and of course, construction. 

-- B. Yoder, 3/30/24

Redmond Senior & Community Center Earns LEED Recognition

REDMOND, WA - The new Redmond Senior & Community Center recently earned the first-ever recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council for sourcing wood from climate-resilient forestry. The Council, which manages the LEED certification process, awarded the building an innovation point during the process and lauded Opsis Architecture and Sustainable NW for verifying that wood came from forests managed sustainably.

“We are honored to receive this historic recognition,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “The senior and community center was designed with environmental sustainability in mind, and it is exciting to know all who walk through these doors will be coming into a place that not only cares about them but cares about the building’s impact on our planet.”  

SafeEastside Activists Demand "A Say" On Downtown Homeless Housing

 

 

Redmond is in turmoil over Council's decision to allow Plymouth Homeless Housing in our downtown.  Blue signs objecting to downtown "low-barrier" homeless housing (where drugs are allowed in the hotel with conditions) suddenly appeared all over Redmond's downtown today (3/12) including this one at Anderson Park. 

At no fault of their own, Council wasn't transparent in their decision to house100 homeless and low income people in Redmond's downtown.   According to Planning & Community Development Director Helland, a public Hearing wasn't required; and "comment periods" were tabled in the rush to qualify for funding. Thus, SafeEastside activists are demanding "a Say." 

Various ways to have a Say:   

• Phone or email Council President Vanessa Kritzer (and other councilmembers.)  Request an appointment with her. Councilmember Kritzer holds office hours. 425-305-9892.
• Phone or email Councilmember Melissa Stewart. 425-305-9892. She holds walk-in office hours at the library, 3 - 5 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month.   
• Every other week on Tuesday's at 7:00 p.m. the public has a 3-minute opportunity (under review) to address the Council and Mayor at City Hall.   
• Email: the Mayor, Council or Carol Helland, Director of Planning & Community Development at MayorCouncil@Redmond.gov.  
• Contact Councilmember Steve Fields, the senior member of Council.  He owns a coffee shop in Redmond and can meet you there. 425-403-9476.
• Reach out to Mayor Birney.  Mayor@Redmond.gov 

-- Opinion by Bob Yoder, 3/12/2024, Updated 4/16/2024  Photo: Yoder

Mayor Birney Proclaims October 28th "Green Redmond Day" at Heron Rookery

 

Mayor Birney with parks staff
She's giving her Green Redmond speech and proclamation in front of the Heron Rookery

For a must see video of the Rookery go HERE!

About forty of us  on October 28th planted ~ 400 trees to replace the secondary growth, Douglas Fir dying from root rot.  An earlier planting failed from drought.  The city will water this summer.  We planted shade tolerant, hemlock, cedar and pine. Pam and I are standing next to orange-tagged saplings yet to be planted. 

-- Bob Yoder, 11/5/2023

UPDATED: Esterra Park Opens in Overlake Neighborhood

Esterra Park as seen from Verde Apartment.  Note the green roof. Four surrounding buildings also have green roofs.  Two restaurants serve park visitors. One features soft serve and pizza! / credit Bob Yoder

REDMOND, WA -  Recently, Esterra Park (2808 Calder Avenue NE), celebrated opening in Overlake Urban Center. This 2.67-acre park is the first major privately-owned public space (POPs) in Redmond and helps meet the needs of the growing neighborhood.  

The park was created by leveraging developer incentives written in Redmond’s Zoning Code, with the goal to benefit the entire community. Together, the City, Capstone Partners, and JLL worked with care and intentionality to determine how the community would engage with the space. 

From its layout to its accessibility features, as well as the selection of plants and reclaimed wood seating areas, the design elements were meticulously selected to be welcoming and accessible to the community. Notably, the inclusion of a wildflower native pollinator mix aligns with the City and partners’ shared commitment to supporting local ecosystems and providing a haven for the birds and bees.

The completed park, which was designed and approved by the Parks and Trails Commission in 2014, includes public art, a plaza, an accessible elevator, tree groves, a meadow, an amphitheater, and integrates a hill climb to the north of the park to easily access the nearby light rail station.

To learn more about the project, visit redmond.gov/1979.

Halloween Run Through The Park

Zoey reluctantly wears her Halloween costume after a long run in the Redmond Dog Park.  Here, she's lapping water from a bowl the city thoughtfully installed.

- Bob & Pam 

Redmond Ospreys And Their Nests

Marymoor Park juvenile osprey / credit Reinke

According to the Marymoor Park website, this tall osprey nest platform located near Parking Lot B was constructed in 2008, to replace a decommissioned cell tower. The new platform has been used by ospreys ever since.  

A juvenile osprey is currently occupying the nest.  (A juvenile can be identified by the white fringe around all of its brown wing feathers, which adults do not have.) 

I discovered that there are two empty osprey nests only a half mile away and still inside the park.  One nest structure is located in a tall lighting tower on the perimeter of baseball field #6 and the other is similarly located on the perimeter of baseball field #8. .

Empty osprey nests on Marymoor lighting tower

During all of my visits to the platform, only the juvenile has been present and I have never seen it flying around or accompanied by adult ospreys.  However, my visits have all been of fairly short duration, so I presume that the adults are still attending to the juvenile.  Nonetheless, the fall migration season has already begun, so presumably the juvenile and its parents may have already departed.  

-- John Reinke 

    Redmond, photojournalist 

   10/8/2023

Redmond Poet Laureate Laura Da' Events, October 6th / 14th

Redmond Poet Laureate Laura Da'

Join Poet Laureate Laura Da’ at Idylwood Park on the shores of Lake Sammamish to celebrate the debut of her "Poetry Walk" inspired by the ecosystem within Redmond that supports the kokanee salmon. 

• Friday, October 6th, 6:00 - 7:30PM
• Idylwood Park

This unique and important environment has carried life in the region since time immemorial and is at the heart of this year’s projects by Da’. The Redmond STEM Center and the Seattle Design Nerds will also be creating a one-night-only projection in the park inspired by the Poetry Walk prompts, poems by Da’, and the workshops hosted by the Poet Laureate at Old Firehouse Teen Center.

The projection is made possible by a grant from the Academy of American Poets for Laura’s recognition as one of the 2023 Poet Laureate Fellows.

-- Redmond Parks and Recreation

###

Redmond Historical Society - Saturday Speaker Series

On October 14th, the Redmond Historical Society invites the community to an exciting conversation with Redmond Poet Laureate, Laura Da’, on the topic of “Currents of Time and Place: Poetry that Engages with History and Image in Cascadia.” 

Date/Time: Saturday, 10:30 AM, October 14, 2023. Doors open 10:00 AM.

Topic:  "Currents of Time and Place: Poetry that Engages with History and Image in Cascadia”

Speaker:  Laura Da', Redmond Poet Laureate

Location: Old Redmond Schoolhouse, 16600 NE 80th St., Redmond, WA 98052. 

More info: https://www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/rhs-events

This program is the second of the Society’s Saturday Speaker Series for the Fall 2023 season. This will be an in-person program at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Admission is free to RHS members, and a suggested donation of $5 for non-members.

Redmond Recreation and Pool Programs

 

Park and Recreation Activity Search

Tel. (425) 556.2300

Email: guestservices@redmond.gov

REDMOND POOL PROGRAMS  

How to Register 

• Swim School
• Public Swim  (Lap, Senior, Youth Swim  & Adult Swim Lessons, Water Aerobics)
• Adult Lessons
• Masters
• Lifeguard Training
• Swim Team
• Pool Rental

The Redmond Pool is new. Take a deep dive!  Read about the pool HERE.  

Senior Center "Camp WeGO" Smashing Success

Pam and I were lucky to participate in the the Senior Center's WeGo Sports camp last month. It's for ages 50+. Having a 22-year age "buffer" we were shoe-ins. The sports themed  camp was at the city's iconic Farrel-McWhirter Park. Sara Bouwman curated some fun and stimulating games. The barbeque was tasty. The sing along touched me with familial nostalgia.   Marty Boggs, the Center's manager, lined up sportscaster and storyteller Tony Ventrella as guest speaker. (Marty and Tony are sitting on the lower right.)  He and his staff truly put on an incredible camp.  It was so sad to hear after over 25 years with the city Marty's retiring.  He's moving to a charming city, into a custom home, surrounded by his family. 

Here we are with our Sports Participation Awards -- We were ALL winners!

Redmond Rainbow Crosswalk

Beautiful art!  But don't stare down at it when you're in the crosswalk.  
Drivers may get distracted and not recognize it's a crosswalk. 

The Public Works Director was there.  He said they bought a thermo-applicator machine to paint this crosswalk and will use it for painting other asphalt art.  NAMI Eastside mental health art near the Together Center would be another good candidate!  Don't you think? 

Eastside LBGTQIA artists"

- photo and comment by Yoder, 9/2/2023

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: Council Member David Carson Urges Access & Enhancement to "String of Pearls" Park Properties

CM David Carson

Council Member David Carson says....

"When I joined the Redmond City Council in 2008, I fully expected that park properties along Redmond’s eastern edge (collectively known as the “String of Pearls”) would be, at the very least, made available to Redmond’s citizenry to enjoy since they’ve been in our inventory for now more than 50 years. That unfortunately has not happened, and budgets don’t seem to be getting any easier to afford city-developed projects. Leveraging of our civic pride is a way to do this and involve our residents. It would be a real achievement to make these beautiful properties available to our hiking and recreating public.  

Below, are David's thoughts: