Carol Helland, Director of Planning & Community Development |
For the Director Helland's job description....
Carol Helland, Director of Planning & Community Development |
For the Director Helland's job description....
Tom Hinman June 6th, 1945 - July, 24th 2022 |
Share a memory, expressions of sympathy, or give flowers on Tom's Neptune Society Page.
My sympathies will be shared on Tom's Neptune page. BY
Dear Friends and Family,
Tom Hinman, was a long-standing Redmond planning commissioner and environmental & community activist.
He founded "Imagine Overlake" to organize and facilitate resident participation in the redevelopment of Overlake. Tom co-founded "Sustainable Redmond." and was nominated for a "Leadership Eastside" award. Tom's annual meetings were attended by council members, environmentalists and citizens at large.
Tom loved urban trees and their contribution to our ecology and well-being. After the Group Health clear-cut he led volunteers in salvaging and transplanting understory shrubs to the Audubon Bird Loop. Tom activated urban tree conversations at Council meetings. He pushed for and accomplished a city requirement to map trees on land use notices.
Tom cited the Overlake Corridor expansion, Group Health clear-cut, and the Nokomis Building dispute as examples of the City’s long-standing disregard for resident and community input on issues of growth; and wrote abundant of emails to change that.
Internet |
Currently, and historically, Council has given individuals a period up to four minutes "to be heard." This period is technically known as "Items from the Audience." Sometimes topics are emotionally charged, with large, time consuming turnouts. "Being heard" can be lengthy but seldom is it disruptive. Councilmember Anderson asked Council to read the "public meeting participation guide" https://www.redmond.gov/189/City-Council. She suggested taking comments during Study Sessions and endorsed the four-minute rule. The Mayor and Council officers decided conducting the business of the City was the number one priority, over participation from the public.
Councilmember David Carson said listening to the people is part of the job. CM Steve Fields agreed, referring to Hartman pool commenting. At times Mr. Carson helps speakers by sharing relevant information. Council President Jessica Forsythe was concerned about defining "disruption" and asked Mr. Carson how he'd describe it. He said: pornograpy: it's hard to describe until you see it." President Forsythe mentioned you might be able to stick to four minutes if you kept speakers on the same topic to three. Fields nodded yes.
I believe in the principle: "Public participation is the hallmark of good government." So, who does a good job at this? The City of Kirkland has a model plan. Lake Washington School District's procedure is: 1) sign in, mark your talk topic, 2) a school board member explains: a) the 3-minute rule, measured with green, yellow and red lights, b) total commenting time is limited to 30 minutes, c) emails to the Board are accepted 3) speakers with the same topic can all speak as long as they don't repeat each other.
The Planning Commission uses the three-minute rule. In my experience, it's rare a citizen will show up to comment, so why not 4-minutes? Seriously. Complex land uses take time to present. Recently, I made a HEARING comment to the Commission (about tree regs.) I spent lots of time preparing a 4-minute talk and was shocked when the Chair announced I had 3-minutes, this at the HEARING. I don't think they sent my written comments to Council either.
-- Bob Yoder, 3/12/2022, opinion
To hear Mayor Birney's video chat with the planning commissioners click this link. (advance to 1:45 minutes)
To get familiar with the Planning Commission visit here.
-- Bob Yoder, 9/23/2021
"BI-CENTENNIAL FLAG, Dedication September 27, 1974. This is a beautification Project by the City of Redmond, Jaycee's, Lion's, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Chamber of Commerce." |
The N.Y,C. developer |
Nesting herons / KIM CASHON-SMITH |