OBITUARY: Nancy Louise McCormick -- May 2, 1944--March 16, 2023

Nancy served 6 terms on Redmond City Council

 Nancy Louise McCormick -- May 2, 1944--March 16, 2023

Born in Billings, MT she was the daughter of Walter William Mauritson and Mary Louise Hanson. Nancy graduated from Montana State University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education. During her college years she was also a proud member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.

In 1966 Nancy began her career in Three Forks, MT as a high school teacher. After that she moved to Bellevue, WA and continued teaching until 1970. While raising her two boys, Nancy moved to Redmond, WA and became a Redmond City Council member in 1986. From 1986 to 2009 Nancy held many positions on the council including Council President. She had a huge passion for regional politics and the City of Redmond.

Nancy loved being a part of the neighborhood Tamarack Lane, spending time with family and friends, being with grandchildren Turner and Shea, planting flowers in her yard, reading, attending her monthly book club, and keeping up with current events. Nancy will most be remembered by her desire to leave the world a better place. She lived life to the fullest and had the most giving heart.

She is survived by her son Jeffrey Scott McCormick, his wife Tracy McCormick; grandchildren Turner and Shea McCormick; and lots of extended family and wonderful friends. She is predeceased by her parents, Walter and Mary Mauriston, her in-laws Robert and Stella McCormick, and her son, Ryan Walter McCormick.

A graveside service will be held for Nancy on Saturday, April 22nd at 1:00 PM at Cedar Lawns Memorial Park, 7200 180th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98052. Following the graveside service, we will celebrate Nancy's life at Redmond City Hall at 3:00 PM.

To send flowers to the family of Nancy Louise McCormick, please visit Tribute Store.

Published on March 26, 2023, "Seattle Times.''           BLOG posts on Nancy McCormick 

9/6/2006, Citizen Guide to City of Redmond Government

The photo is of City of Redmond, WA council members of the year 2006: John (Pat) Vache, Kimberly Allen, John Marchione, Jim Robinson, John Resha, Nancy McCormick

(Pres.), Richard Cole.

My entry today is in memory of my Dad and his good works for his community. September 28 is the birthday of my father, Joseph D. Yoder, Jr., an appointed & elected 'city councilman', Public Works Committee, Village of Tequesta, Florida.

Council members get paid about $800/month. I'm guessing they may put in 25 hours of work a week, maybe more. The "council core" is McCormick, Cole, and Robinson. They have been members for over 20 years each. Nancy McCormick, past planning commissioner, from Montana, is President of council. Pat Vache is Vice President. Mr. Richard Cole is a past planning commissioner and was Council President prior to Ms. McCormick and lives in North Redmond.

Vice President Vache goes back to the days when the Planning Commission was first formed in Redmond. During Mayor Himes term he supported keeping the Redmond Golf Course. He was appointed by the Mayor in 2003 and elected in 2006. He works at a small business and lives off of NE 116th Street, a view corridor. He avidly supports the development community, as does Cole and McCormick.

Councilman Jim Robinson is slightly moderate. I've revised my opinion on his stance on growth. He is definitely pro-growth though did vote against the "steep-slope exception" which allows utilities on steep slopes. He was on the Sensitive Area Ordinance CAC years ago. At the Critical Area Ordinance Public Hearing he motioned to keep the wetland buffers to remain unchanged -- narrow. (No one seconded).

Jim works in a cubicle for Boeing in procurement as a financial analyst and is proud of his worldly travels. He lives in the View Point Neighborhood adjacent to Marymoor Park. Among Mr. Robinson's contributions to the city are close relationships with Mayor Ives and her staff....dedication and intellect. He appears sensitive to the "green" element but as Council Park's Chair he did not push to negotiate for Perrigo Heights acquisition.

I think Jim was first on council to acknowledge global warming. Jim voted against the financing scheme for the new City Hall. He labeled City Hall art "razor blades" and lost support of the Arts Commission Co-Chair.

Planning commissioners Charlie McCarthy and Martin Snodgrass, strong pro-growth planning commissioners, have endorsed Jim in his run for Mayor. Planning commissioners Parnell and Querry endorsed Jim; Parnell, McCarthy, and Snodgrass voted against the designation "Riparian Habitat of Local Importance". Mayor Ives recently endorsed Mr. Robinson, as well as Mr. John Couch, 30-year Parks Director. With the exception of Ms. Allen, it appears THE OLD GUARD is backing Jim in his race for Mayor.

Mr. Cole is a retired Boeing CPA and tends to be the council penny pincher. His values of pragmatism, frugality, and independent thought. Unfortunately, Cole's decision-making skills often compromise and his decisions can be abrupt. Mr. Cole is resourceful and considers himself a nerd on news. An autocrat by nature he can be unbending and single-minded during deliberations, especially with Rosemarie present. He is pro-growth.

With the Microsoft agreement to accommodate 12000 new workers to Redmond within the next ten years it is impossible for any candidate not to accept growth. 

Ms. Nancy McCormick is retired from the insurance business with strong connections to business, though she plays the neighborhood advocate well and does care. Years ago, Nancy was a planning commissioner. Her ego will occasionally rise up and overshadow planning and park commission advice.

MISC: Cole and Vache are on the Board of the Chamber of Commerce. Cole and McCormick both have strong survival instincts and attentiveness to the people. Cole and McCormick have been the target of divisive criticism from Mayor Rosemarie Ives. Robinson has a good sense of humor and wit and Marchione will make you chuckle occasionally. A good sense of humor goes a LONG way during boring government meetings, especially if you watch as many as I.

Messrs. Marchione, Resha, and Ms. Allen all live on Education Hill and are the junior councilmembers with Allen being elected in 2006.  

Ms. Allen was a highly respected planning commissioner by her peers and the mayor and was an attorney from Scottsdale a few years back. She is a moderate, a "compromiser" and more than any councilmember has fresh ideas about how and why to involve the public in decision-making. She has the ability to get to the root of an issue and get beyond 'ego'.

Mr. John Resha is a bright, young, complex council member enthusiastic about his role. He withdrew from the 2007 Election citing need for quality family time. He plans to continue public service. He promotes public engagement.

Mr. Resha's neighborhood was negatively impacted last year when a short plat with towering homes was constructed with only a 5 foot setback from the neighborhood backyards. Sadly, his neighborhood view corridor was destroyed along with backyard privacy. A For Sale sign is on his property (6/07). Though Mr. Resha dislikes regulation, It's too bad Mr. Resha's neighborhood didn't have the same opportunity as N. Redmond CAC to regulate the "look and feel" standards for their community. It's possible Mr. Resha carries some "baggage" to the dais on certain neighborhood issues, perhaps as a result of this neighborhood design flaw.

Mr. Resha is an "expert" on transportation issues and works for a "traffic association" (WSDOT?) - He was Parks Chair during the Perrigo Heights march and 3.5 acre acquisition. I think John adds a valuable perspective to the Council and works hard with creativity, smarts and compassion for Redmond and the neighborhoods. John announced June, 2007 he would not run for a second council term. John spearheaded a new land-use Public Notice policy measure to improve neighborhood awareness of land-use process.

Mr. John Marchione is an amiable, bright first-time councilman. He has been very active in Hartman Park Little League with his family. I think he was past President of the league. John has been CFO of the Meydenbauer Center for 10 years. He is influenced by the development community however chooses to proactively shape growth rather than "be shaped". John is a leader on city finance and budget issues and currently Council Chair of Finance. John is probably the most capable candidate for managing staff and keeping costs in line. Burnstead and the and Eastside Business Assoc. endorse him as well as the neighborhoods. He supports the intersection light at 104th & 166th but appears undecided about the re-channelization of 166th. Ms. Vache is his campaign manager with Cole & McCormick & Resha & Vache supporting him in his bid for Mayor. Council candidates Margeson, Conlin, and Carson endorse John. Marchione has strong regional presence.

Marchione is a Board Member of the Cascade Water Alliance -- an important muli-jurisdictional organization responsible for assuring our water supply in years to come. The mayors of Kirkland, Bellevue and Duvall endorse John. Mayor Ives does not. Like his mother, past-Mayor Doreen Marchione, John has strong "administrative" skill sets. I think his degree is in Public Administration. Of bureaucratic bent (job, education) Mr. Marchione is appearing more involved in contributing to outcomes of cultural initiatives. He appears to make decisions and "vision" by exploring the collective inputs of Redmond's diverse citizenry. John leads by consensus-building. He style is "management- decision-maker" rather than the "charismatic-delegation-style" of Mayor Ives.

Honorable Councilwoman Kim Allen kallen@redmond.gov is the cities newest council member. (6/07). She was supported by Rosemarie Ives during her Election a couple years back. Last time I checked, Ms. Allen was endorsing Mr. Robinson. Kimberly is a lawyer and she is smart. Kim moved up from Scottsdale, AZ about six years ago. She was a leader on the Planning Commission for a few years and was endorsed by all 6 commissioners in her run for council. (Mayor Ives appointed the commissioners and council approved). Ms. Allen is a strong advocate for any citizen that speaks up for the betterment of the city.

One of Allen's goals is to upgrade our city website. My Neighborhood blog probably wouldn't exist without her encouragement. She is a strong defender of Citizen Advisory Committees. She is upset with the "blanket" land-use zoning 12 years ago that led to the Perrigo Heights, Avondale Crest, and Tyler Creek project mistakes. Kim is a strong advocate for reworking city Public Notice policy to improve public participation in land-use project. I could easily go on about all the good Kim has brought to Redmond in only 2-years.

Ms. Holly Plackett has been one of Redmond's most dedicated public servants over recent years. She was a Redmond planning commissioner for 6 years and councilwoman for 4 years. She lost her council seat when running unsuccessfully against Mayor Ives in the Election prior to 2007. She wants to make staff support and information more accessible to council than Mayor Ives did. Holly wants to restore trust in the Administration. She wants an audit of the city books. She is pro-neighborhood wanting citizens involved before decisions are made. Holly has no desire to raise taxes on small businesses. She is probably the most "GREEN" . She has issues with Planned Residential Permits. However, with the Microsoft Agreement requiring accommodation of 12,000 new workers to Redmond, Holly will have to make significant personal concessions to growth, if elected mayor. Holly lives in the Grasslawn Neighborhood and works at a Redmond bank. Probably, her strongest asset is "citizen advocate" and persistence to serve.

The Planning Commissioners planningcommission@redmond.gov are some of the most informed, dedicated, tactful, and challenging (!) group of Redmond citizens I've attended many of their meetings in city hall. The don't get paid. I have great admiration for our Planning Commission. They are incredibly hard workers, good listeners, and can be quite entertaining when a delicate situation needs to be settled. Occasionally confusing and time-wasting "Code-speak" appears to be used to keep the viewing public confused and content "off the record". It is important to note all Commissioners and Boards are appointed by "a" mayor and approved by "a" Council so they are under their influence! They're kind of like judges. And, I would ere not to acknowledge the city staff support, Sarah Stiteler and Terry Marpert.

Other Commissions and Boards get less public exposure than the Planning Commission. If fact, sometimes it seems city staff get more public attention than the Mayor's appointed Arts and Parks commissioners. Arts Commission is contacted at rac@redmond.gov . Parks Board is reached at parkboard@redmond.gov. Public and council exposure has been on the upswing this year. Arts commissioners hold 3 meetings/year on RC-TV 21 and Parks commissioners presented the 2007 and levy proposal with great success.

Recently, I've seen Lori & Martin Snodgrass presenting to Council on several occasions. They are strongly aligned with Mayor Ives and her staff and endorse Robinson for Mayor. This intelligent and dedicated 'Snodgrass citizen-team' have given countless years of public service in representing Redmond citizens (and elected). It is my understanding, Lori has chaired the Parks & Recreation Board of Commissioners for years; and ran for Council office. I think Lori is retiring from the commission after 9 years of service. (6/07) And, it is my understanding, 'Marty' has been a planning commissioner for years and Chair of the commission for over 6 years. The 'Snodgrass dynasty' is one that will be remembered.

Planning commissioner Charlie McCarthy persuasively represents the development community interests and endorses Robinson for Mayor. He is 101% pro-growth. My comment: Growth means jobs and jobs are good, as long as it is proactively controlled and approved within reasonable design standards and with regard to citizen values, affordability, and quality of life. The Microsoft Agreement is a growth engine without a "governor". We are "out of control". Mega-houses consume land and resources for the few and must downsize to make the best use of developable land for all.  Higher density development of the downtown is under-utilized.

It wouldn't be fair not to acknowledge Mr. Richard Grubb, past city councilman, present city activist. He is an advocate for citizens needing help on protesting problem land-use projects and outspoken like Cole.  

STAFF: Speaking of "the top", the Acting Director of Public Works, Mr. Bill Campbell bcampbell@redmond.gov career responsibilities advanced on MARCH, 2007 when Mr. Rhodes retired. Mr. Campbell is co-anchoring with Mr. Rob Odle, Planning Director, the powerful Land Use Technical Committee that makes all the major land use decisions (other than appeals to council & the state supreme court). Mr. Odle is the "Code Administrator" giving him powerful latitude to interpret our Development Guide ordinances according to staff and the Mayor's needs. Mr. Odle is "The Administrator" of all proposed development project. Senior Staff, like Steve Fischer, would coin him the "queen bee" while Steve is just a "worker bee" carrying out the decisions of his superiors. Judd Black, development manager is "the point man" all most land-use hearings (appeal and public). He is "the defender" of the technical committee and of the developer. The Assistant Planner, Jim Roberts wears many hats but appears to be the "dealer" or negotiator between the city and the developers. He manages the Development Dept. Jim has an expressive, likable outgoing personality, but there is little question his job description is to "keep the growth engine revved".  Mr. Roberts interviewed me 3 times about Public Notice inadequacies but took little change-action.

Public Works is the largest city department per budget dollars, # of employees. Mr. Rob Odle, Planning and Development Director, lives in Redmond in the N. Avondale area. Mr. Odle has strong regional presence and is responsive to citizen comment. He was promoted from Policy Planning Manager in 2005. rodle@redmond.gov [under construction for thee 2007 election]

By Bob Yoder
updated, 2/8/2011

Mayor Rosemarie Ives and Jim Robinson's last council meeting

No photo was found on the city website of Mayor Ives and Council together with each other.

Rosemarie was cheerful and wearing a purple dress with Santa lapel pin. She was sitting next to Council President Nancy McCormick (adversaries) in a bright red dress.

-Mayor Lauinger of Kirkland gave a commemorative plaque to Mayor Ives after reading it. Very friendly comments. Rosemarie stated she considered Kirkland our sister city. Rosemarie cried.
-Microsoft executive, Jim Stanton, read a letter from Steve Balmer, CEO of Microsoft. He recalled Rosemarie's city theme "Redmond is a community of good neighbors". He spoke to Rosemarie's legacy in environmental stewardship.
-Rosemarie cried some.
-A representative for the City Hall union representing 1/3 of all city hall workers complained again about employee relations.
-Rosemarie cried lightly as she started to read the Consent Agenda. No items pulled.
-Rosemarie spoke highly of the 5-acre wetland at Microsoft Redmond West enhanced by Microsoft.
-Rosemarie told councilmember Vache to speak to the microphone several times. Fussing on how the BIDI committee was terminated.

Bob Yoder's COUNCIL & MAYORAL "AWARDS," 

• Most improved (relationships w/Ives & humor) - Richard Cole
• Most emotional - tie between Kimberly Allen & Rosemarie Ives
• Most humorous - Jim Robinson
• Most uncomfortable w/the moment - Nancy McCormick
• Most value-centered - Pat Vache
• Most amiable - Hank Margeson
• Most family oriented - John Marchione

Jim Robinson's dedication for 16 years of council work: '
"Redmond montage" given to Robinson by McCormick & Rosemarie. 

Rosemarie noted: Sensitive Areas ordinance, intelligence, wit, humility, champion of diversity, inclusive, gracious, blossoming environmental ethic. 

McCormick spoke of Jim's: passion, wit, x-rated goodbye to Richard Grubb. 

Cole spoke of Jim's sayings - "City Council is the bottom of political food chain", "if you torture the data it will confess", "show me the delta", a fellow bean counter with Robinson. 

Vache said: values - truth & honesty, authentic (Robinson smiled), objectivity, data-driven, humor is really good when you figure it out. 

Marchione said: thoughtful, insightful, dry wit and courage, battle star galactic hobby, 

Allen said: a hoot, new ideas, institutional knowledge, vision, steward of environment, dancing with the stars, sharing. 

Margeson said: dedication, supporter of environment, parks, trails, role model, unique instincts. 

Cole: asked Jim to sign his George and Laura Bush calendar. Robinson's response: Angelina Jolie joke,

Robinson's farewell:   16-years ago, a great ride, Redmond is not just anytown USA (Ives), thank Ives (ahead of her time esp. w/ environment not afraid to ask for strong city services), Cole's vote for NO was yes?, thanks staff for job well done, get involved in politics - especially children. "simply have to make peace with planet earth", run into nasty elements on campaign but also good people who care, 2005 prostate cancer "in the end all we really have is each other." People first. [standing ovation].

Marchione's dedication: got Redmond montage from Ives & McCormick. Rosemarie said: she is in common with John as a 1-term councilmember , church, neighborhood. John is Mayor #10. Job can be scary and unclear, great staff, commend his family, challenge to balance personal life & family. McCormick said: regional affairs. Cole said: didn't know who he was 5 years ago.
Robinson humorously said: "I suppose I was supposed to say something nice"? Good first impression of John doorbelling. Jim liked, best of all, John's logical and clear statement of issues and following up. Vache said: he won't say goodbye. Allen said: glad not to be standing in John's place, collaboration. Margeson said: families intertwined, John coined "dodger" mantra for being offside in soccer. Met John as soon as he arrived in Redmond. Marchione responded: new chair for me? Claim to fame of finishing his council term - his Mom could not.

-Rosemarie's Dedication: McCormick gave Ives a wrapped gift. Remembered, Rosemarie called her for help about being Chair of Planning Commission. 5 years on planning commission. Public office is toll on families. [struggle for words]. Rosemarie responded: Nancy appointed to Planning Commission at same time. Tom Bower. Thank you to Nancy for devotion. Exquisite crystal gift. Cole said: joked of "cruel and unusual punishment to be together for over 20 years." Robinson said: reminisced about first meeting Ives. Admired her laughing at his jokes. "Council retreat with Dr. Phil". National League of Cities. Vache said: he predates Ives for Planning Commission, Values - big picture perspective (River Walk), Environmental vision, Celebrating and having fun & diversity, the kids. Marchione said: daughter born on same day as Mayor Ives mayoral appointment, name recall, not retiring or shy, passion, environmental ethic admired, Allen said: remembered first met Rosemarie in purple track suit strolling up street saying hi , set bar high, independence, voice, energy, CRYING (both) "my mentor", stand on the shoulders of those before you. Margeson said: passion, leadership for a quarter a century, generation that only know Ives as mayor. Norman Rockwell El. fundraisers appreciated more than known. Rosemarie responded: if there's food & a party I'll be there (crying). told of her video made by Van Eckstrom of Rosemarie expressions - on government web site. Crying about how the people of Redmond motivate her in tough times and the wonderful staff. Proud of Green Gateway of Leary Way. Jesting with Richard Cole about putting up with each other. Proud of Town Center. crying some. Staff brought big box of Kleenex to party. Issues are interrelated and very complicated. Saying lots of hail Mary's for city officials. Adjourned, smiling at the crystal McCormick gave her saying is reminds her of the "Ice Thaw" art outside of City Hall.  Laughing....

-- Bob Yoder

Redmond's Great Blue Heron and "Riparian" creek habitat -- Regulate or Celebrate?

I was obsessed with this bird, probably because I did my senior project on it in college. My present thinking is it should be "proclaimed" a Species of Local Importance, not regulated.  - B.Yoder, 7/17/2022.

.....most future blog entries will be significantly shortened, for your convenience.

Opinion: Our city Great Blue Heron was regulated by the City Council under the Ives Administration three years ago to elevate their protections to the status of *endangered species. Despite these protections, all of the city's heron's rookery nests are inactive, according to city environmental planner Beam. When land use decisions are made by city council - as in the recent Bear Creek Parkway Extension decision - council was more concerned about the rookery trees then the heron. In fact, the bird itself was never mentioned. Redmond no longer has active nesting rookeries. Our "Heron Rookery" near Leary Way is simply a forest remnant across from the Saturday Market. The few herons we do see are migratory foragers.

Please consider asking council to revoke this "Species of Local Importance" ordinance and replace it with a symbolic Proclamation by which we can proudly celebrate our honored species....and ICON. Our rookeries have not been restored. The heron ordinance has no teeth.

Councilmember Nancy McCormick recommended 3-years ago our city consider symbolic PROCLAMATIONS for our "species and habitat of local importance"; rather than laws. Council is in the process of updating our Critical Area Ordinance and Shoreline ordinances and now would be an excellent time to support Nancy and tell council and Mayor Marchione what you think! Email: city council at council@redmond.gov. Or, if you'd rather keep the ordinance tell them.

Three years ago I and a few others nominated "riparian habitat" be designated and protected as locally important under the ordinance. The planning commission vote was split and it wasn't passed. I now understand the council's decision.

Today, I urge you email our council asking they symbolically PROCLAIM "Riparian habitat as city habitat of importance". Riparian habitat is the green band of vegetation that grows along our creeks and streams. Riparian habitat is critical for flood and erosion controls, stream water quality, endangered salmon and wildlife habitat and valued as a city asset.

In fact, a recent Berger Partner's parks consultant identified the "green ring" surrounding our city a unique city asset for tourism and our quality of life. The green ring consists of the riparian vegetation of Sammamish River, Bear Creek, Evans Creek and our northern green hilltops. In addition, a "string of pearl" park & trail system is planned for the Eastern Bear Creek and Evans Creek Corridor. Five parks will "touch" the riparian habit of these salmon bearing creeks! Great Blue's find food and shelter in the green riparian vegetation of our creeks - a symbiotic relationship.

Developers and landowners are now using riparian habitat as an amenity. And city development code helps protection and sustain of our riparian habitat. Take a drive through Camwest's Tyler's Creek. They did a tremendous job enhancing and restoring the creek and wetlands. I know, because I walked and studied the parcel before development.

Riparian wetlands and Perrigo creek was recently protected by the city and developer in the controversial Perrigo Heights development adjacent Hartman Wetlands. The city purchased 3 acres of greenway forested riparian habitat to help buffer the wetland and stream from excessive sunlight, enhance wetland water recharge, drying winds and preserve a greenway amenity. All this without a law.
I hope you will write Nancy McCormick, Council, or Mayor John Marchione to ask them to deny and revoke the Great Blue Heron regulations and PROCLAIM our beautiful wader bird as our symbolic species of local importance. And will you ask Nancy McCormick, council-at-large or Mayor John Marchione to PROCLAIM Redmond's #1 natural natural asset -- "Riparian" as habitat of local importance?

It's all up to you. 'We' have to tell 'them' what is important to us!

Postscript:  Riparian Habitat was proclaimed Redmond's Habitat of Local Importance by Mayor John Marchione in his first term.

*This statement should be verified by the Department of Fish and Wildife.   Beam told me years later there are no protections for the bird.

Nancy McCormick remarks about wildlife in Redmond.

Nancy McCormick
 Six-Term Redmond City Councilmember 

"Another neighborhood picnic in the record books, the 28th, and not only did we have a cougar killed the other night on SR520 close by, but it turns out we have also had a bobcat a block away from my house. Wow. Redmond is supposed to be an urban center -- and we have cougar, bobcat, raccoons, deer, and bunnies, all sighted this summer."

  -- Nancy Mauritson McCormick
 posted by permission, photo and source: FaceBook account, 9/09

Downtown Park Groundbreaking 2

Credit/Jeni Craswell

Nancy McCormick (retired CM) is far left.  She's a strong advocate and defender of the Downtown Park. On the night of her retirement from Council she gave a check towards the Downtown Park to Mr. Mayor. Nancy is now a member of the One Redmond Foundation.  Rep. Joan McBride of the 48th District is right of Nancy.  Councilmember David Carson is the tall guy in the blue shirt. Molly Hill, the wife of Sen. Andy Hill is speaking. Mr. Mayor is behind her. King County Councilmember Kathy Lambert was present.  Is that John Aftebro  (V.P. RHS) in the foreground with the blue cap?

The photographer, Jeni Crawsell was Marchione's 2007 campaign manager, the Executive Director of  "Realize Redmond" (precursor to the One Redmond Foundation) and now works for Hopelink.

An individual on Facebook thought the Park should be named after John Couch, the city's Park director of 30 years.  Nancy McCormick the "Facebook park defender" responded a park can't be named for someone until they've been deceased for at least 2 years.

Photo source:  Facebook

12/18/06, Will Resha and McCormick lead on CIP?

6/14/07 - FINAL UPDATE - SEE BOTTOM - YES Mr. Resha did lead. Thank you, John.
Updated on 1/9/07 - see bottom
Updated on 4/27/07 - bottom of blog
My intent is to address with specifics the cheap, symbolic, budget cuts several councilmembers have dreamt up to try to fill a $2.8M gap left from the failed levie lid lift vote. Can you believe city officials would go so low as to cut "Derby Days" and "Redmond Lights" for a quick fix? It' appears it's their way of 1) "getting back" at the electorate for the levy defeat, 2) "proving their seriousness" for fire and police deficiencies, 3) distracting the public from scores of millions of dollars of idle long term unallocated cash reserves 4) last minute budget 'planning' and 5) dealing with their guilt of over-spending on City Hall.
The new City Hall will ultimately cost us $70M over 30 years. How could these officials (with the exception of Ms. Allen and Mr. Robinson) be so remiss in their planning to now call for $300,000 in cultural program cuts to fill their gap? It doesn't have to be this way.Mayor, Councilmembers Jim Robinson and Kim Allen say cuts aren't required this year or next if we re-work our long term capital allocations. Cole, Vasche, Resha, Marcione and McCormick think otherwise. Resha is re-working the CIP (Capital Improvemnent Plan) for a new proposal in January. Will Mr. Resha reassess and bring new perspective to the table? Will Council President McCormick adjust and lead?
Stay tuned.
1/15/07 update: In last week's review of the CIP, John led the discussion. With $32M in unallocated capital funds (that can be used for non-capital operations) John suggested the Admininstration (mayor) allocate unused 5% transfers to areas of more immediate needs, like parks. The Mayor side-stepped and the rest of council was mute. The failure of the city to negotiate for the Perrigo Heights forest was still too fresh for them. Thanks for trying, John and thanks for your public service. We will miss you on council.
1/9/07 update: In the Council Study Session tonight, Mr. Resha boldly demonstrated open-mindedness, flexibility and resolve to allow the council-at-large time to thoroughly study C.I.P. options. He formed a sub-committee with Ms. Allen and Mr. Marchione to study and and review C.I.P (capital budget) options. Stay tuned.
4/27/update: BIG BREAKTHROUGH on how council is starting to think about and utilize our CIP - capital fund program. Council President Nancy McCormick demonstrated her power at this week's study session on their proposed August, 2007 levy lid lift. She is recommending tapping into the wealthy CIP to fund maintenance & operations (M&O) for parks... This act alone would lower the proposed parks levy assessement from 10 cents to 5 cents !! At $121,000/penny assessement the levy would be reduced by $605,000, if I have my numbers right. Thank you, Nancy! Mr. Resha changed his mind and agreed with Robinson, Allen (the leader), Vache, and Marchione.

OPINION Part Two: Thoughts on Council's Land Use Appeal Policy

UDATED OPINION, 6/13, Opinion: Councilmembers Kimberly Allen and Hank Margeson recently proposed taking the legal land use appeal component out of council's hands and into King County Superior Court. As Mr. Margeson stated, it's the Council's job to write policy, not to interpret it. Citizens would still maintain their right to appeal the Hearing Examiner's decision. In addition, Council could hold a secondary, legislative appeal to address code issues brought up by citizens. 

Most area cities choose to take the lawyering out of their Council's job description and give it to the county superior court i.e.  Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Woodinville, Edmonds, Seattle, Everett, and Mercer Island.  We should, too.  Only Redmond and Bothell land use appeals remain "judged" by city councils. 

After trying to participate in the review of three deforestation projects by CAMWEST, the Shauhanessy deforestation project, and Tent City review process, I agree it's time for a change. In fact, Council President Nancy McCormick described her frustration, if not agony, while presiding over the TC-4 and 172nd Ave extension appeals. The 42-lot Shauhanessy Plat/PRD drew a similar response from Nancy when an appeal to Council was remanded by Council back to the Hearing Examiner for a second Public Hearing. Shauhanassy is the longest land use review in the history of Redmond and the project still isn't built.

After thanking Ms. Allen for articulating the Shauhanessy case so well, Council President Nancy McCormick movingly stated:

"The public process may not have been violated but it was twisted. I can't keep from thinking about that couple who appeared at the Tent City public meeting and signed up to the Party of Record only to be denied on appeal to be heard.

The public needs accurate information and timeliness of an appeal, otherwise we make a mockery out of Public Hearings and caring about public involvement."

It is clear recent land use cases have demonstrated that our present public process needs fixing. The public has not been getting accurate information because their elected representatives are not allowed to represent or inform them. Conversely, staff gives full support and guidance to developers who already know the system and what questions to ask.

Councilmember Pat Vache' (and Cole, Carson, Myers) openly support the present quasi-judicial appeal process. They prefer not to give up their lawyering power in judging land-use policy. Rather, Mr. Vache' (and Mr. Myers) look at the present process as a "learning experience to get the feel for the impact of how code impacts the stakeholders". What Mr. Vache' doesn't learn about are his constituents' feelings and their understanding the project during the Review. Thus, mistakes get made (that could have been fixed in legislative appeal to council). Mr. Vache' says the Q-J process is more efficient. Shauhanssey PRD lasted years. Tent City-4 was a breath away from the State Supreme Appellate Court. Perrigo Heights,  The 172nd extension, Pearce, and Tyler Creek land use actions all took valuable time from Council policy-making duties while stressing the neighborhoods and landowners on code issues. No wonder Council work has become a full-time job.

Interestingly, Mr. Vache’ voted for the CAMWEST Perrigo Heights Plat Steep Slope Exception concluding "where else are we going to put the homes"?  Mr. Vache’ lives right off of NE 116th Street behind what later became Mosaic Meadows plat and sown 116th from CAMWEST'S huge Pearce PRD. 

Over time,  part of the issue is Council gets too close to the stakeholders and their judgment becomes affected, despite the appearance of distance and objectivity.
Part One: "Moving Redmond forward on Land Use Appeals"

Mental Health Court and Emergency Preparedness are 'studied' by Council

City Council Study Session with City Directors present

Updated:  The City Council and staff are pictured above in their September 29th  "Study Session."   Council President Nancy McCormick chairs the sessions twice a month on Tuesdays.

The Directors and Council were in session to get emergency preparedness "training" on how they fit into the  "Incident Command System" (ICS) program.  ICS is a nationally mandated standard cities must follow to qualify for federal funding disaster relief.  Pictured with backs to us, giving the training are (l-r) Mayor John Marchione, Emergency Specialist Tom Osborn, and Deputy Fire Chief Tom Norton.

Stephanie D. Mapelli, President of Leadership Eastside, was a first presenter at the Study Session. Leadership Eastside is a three-year teaching program that promotes connections, develops and enriches emerging  leaders, and provides a catalyst for communities.  John Marchione, Jeni Craswell, Hank Margeson, and Tom Flynn are a few who have graduated from the program.  Arts Commission Chair, John Stilin and Deputy Fire Chief Norton are "on deck".  The student mix is:  60% profit, 20% government, and 20% non government non profit.

Ms. Mapelli brought up the issue of Mental Health.  She stated that pretty much everyone knows someone afflicted with a brain disorder.  She commended Mayor Marchione and Councilmember Hank Margeson on their work through Eastside Leadership, to push for a suburban  Mental Health Court.  (The hard work has been done by our leaders, yet, the suburban mental health court is delayed by lagging taxes of the poor economy).

Council President Nancy McCormick usually holds a "council talk time" at the end of the session.   Hank Myers said that 70 citizens showed up at a weed-pulling work party at a city park.   Mr. Myers is known for biking to these programs with his large clippers.

Would you like to see how LWSD "sessions" compare to the city's sessions?   They are strikingly different.  Come back and see? 

story and photo by Bob Yoder

updated to correct "Mental Health Court" link. 

OPINION: Progress at Council Meetings!

OPINION: Progress is one word that summarizes last night's Council meeting led by Mr. Mayor Marchione and Council President McCormick.

What stands out the most? Mr. Mayor is conducting more efficient, shorter council meetings. It also appears he is not pitting one councilmember against another. Mr. Mayor appears to be transferring the time saved at council meetings to engaging citizens and staff in five departmental-focused Council Committees (members & meeting times are at this link).

Each council committee is chaired by a councilmember. The most active right now are: Hank Margeson chairing "Planning and Public Works" and Hank Myers chairing "Parks and Human Services."

• Councilman Margeson took a long day touring the new Cascade Water Alliance infrastructure of Lake Tapps. He made note of the aging dam and concurred with it's need for repair or replacement. Mr. Margeson was pleased with the Alliance.
• Councilman Myers held an informal focus group with a few Grasslawn Park citizens concerned about on-site public works construction, lighting, and noise. The meeting was held at HopeLink and I think citizens attending off-site felt less intimidated than meeting at City Hall. Mr. Myers also conducted a 20 minute "poverty simulation". Councilmen Vache and Myers learned so much from it that they want to participate in a 3 hour meeting at a later date. I think the public might be invited if they have it.
• Council President McCormick is Chair of all Council Committees. Nancy McCormick is to be thanked for including citizens in the process as never has been done before. Of note, Nancy said council decided at their "Retreat" to link the Minutes of each meeting into the weekly "online agenda" (posted under Timely Topics of this site).
• Hank Myers' next Parks and Human Services meeting will be held at the "Parks Maintenance and Operations" building. He didn't explain the agenda. There is plenty of space for citizen participation. Do you think you'll go?

Planning and Development Executive Rob Odle was looking sharp in a new suit and was entertaining and happy. What happened to that mohair jacket?! Did Mr. Mayor award Mr. Odle with a promotion or raise? Or is he just happier in his job? I've noticed a spark from some other department Directors, too.

Many staff are citizens of Redmond or Greater Redmond. Mr. Odle, Mr. Spangler, Mr. Hitch, Ms. Stiteler, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Cairns are just a few I know. I've seen more public participation from them lately and...staff of Greater Redmond. It's good to see engagement & inclusivity of ALL our citizens in city government. Whatever Marchione is doing, it appears it's paying off.

What do you think about the city's progress? Are we making progress? Do you think citizens and our neighbors will go to Council Committee meetings if they are held off-site?

Growth management issues were also discussed in length. But, I'll save that for a future report!

Bob Yoder, co-author, Education Hill neighborhood

Redmond City Council President Nancy McCormick endorses Kim Allen

"I have known Kim Allen since she joined Redmond’s Planning Commission in 2002 and we have served together on the Redmond City Council for the last 4 years. I have watched Kim quickly learn her way around the issues in the areas of transportation, planning, growth management and environmental stewardship and we have gone together to carry Redmond’s needs and concerns to our state legislators, many of whom have endorsed Kim’s reelection—as have I.

Kim and I represent Redmond’s interests in transportation as voting members of Eastside Transportation Partnership where we have worked to secure more buses and transit for Redmond. She has promoted Council’s presence in the community and I look forward to working with her as Council lead as we rewrite Redmond’s zoning code. Her background and connections to the Redmond community give her an understanding of our city’s interests and have made her an effective Councilmember for Redmond. That’s why I am supporting her campaign for the chance to serve another 4 years."

Nancy McCormick
nmccormi@halcyon.com
by email, 10/22

Kim Allen
Redmond City Councilmember, #4
kim@kimonthecouncil.com
http://www.kimonthecouncil.com/
425-894-8237

8/6/07 - Ives campaign endorsement - Where is HER record?

Dear Neighbors -

Yesterday, my neighbor showed me a campaign post card Mayor Ives mailed to selected citizens. (I was not one).

Rosemarie promotes her candidate - Mr. Robinson - as "backed by a proven voting record, not just rhetoric". It appears as if Mayor Ives is insinuating that John Marchione and Holly Plackett have don't have a proven voting record?! I don't think Ms. Ives statement is fair.

Is this an instance of Mayor Ives withholding information to her advantage? Probably...but, why? The truth is neither Robinson, Plackett or Marchione have identifiable voting records on file throughout their term in office.

Several weeks ago I asked the Administration for a tabulation of each councilmember's ongoing voting record during their term. According to the City Clerk. no such records are kept. (see below). Mayor Ives -- in standing behind Mr. Robinison -- hasn't proven a wit about her candidate's ongoing voting record or his word. What counts to voters is what the broader community thinks. For answers, try: 1) the Muni League of King County ratings and 2) recent TIMES editorial recommendations. Both pieces are posted here. Your vote counts on August 21! And, it will be tabulated!

Best regards, Bob Yoder, 8/8-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CITY CLERK:

Mr. Yoder,Thank you for your suggestion regarding the voting record spreadsheet. Currently, I am in the process of reviewing meeting management systems that will allow votes to be tallied electronically and be posted to the Redmond website in the context of the subject that they refer to. However, given constraints in the City's budget, it is unclear when such a system could be implemented.In the mean time, as you are aware, all votes are recorded in the meeting minutes for each Council meeting.

*These minutes are posted on the web for the public to view at http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/minutes.asp.

Regards,

Malisa Files
City Clerk
City of Redmond
425.556.2190 phone
425.556.2198 fax

* archived monthy to 2005 - "hunt and peck for each vote".

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EXTRA! FOLLOW THE CANDIDATES' CONTRIBUTION MONEY HERE: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/Public/Campaign/Default.aspx

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FROM BARB THOMPSEN, Education Hill neighbor & community volunteer - "I saw some deer while out walking my dogs on Education Hill this morning. I can’t help but feel sad for them—they have nowhere to go. Which of the candidates is going to do something about saving our green spaces and stop catering to the big builders like Cam West? I am so glad that Rosemarie Ives is leaving; I’ve been saying for a long time that being in office as long as she has, results in building relationships and being influenced by them regardless of good intentions." - Barb Thompsen, Education Hill neighbor. 8/5/07

Thursday August 9, 2007 -
RICHARD MORRIS: When I attended the recent Community Meeting held July 31, Mayor Ives indicated the budget she proposed was not adopted by the Council. She said she preferred her budget, and was unhappy with the budget approved by the Council. At one point in the Community Meeting, Councilwoman Kim Allen jumped up to explain that there was a minority position on the budget. She indicated she was part of the minority. The nature of the minority position was not made clear in the Community Meeting. Council President Nancy McCormick said more than once that the Community Meeting was not about "Budget 101", however the nature of the disagreement between the Mayor and the Council is all about the budget. The disagreement is so wide, that the seeks more millions in tax revenues from property owners by means of increasing levy lids, named Proposition #1 and Proposition #2. This budget fight has brewing for a few years, as the Mayor has consistently increased city employees. On the other hand, Council members have consistently promised to hold the line on increasing taxes, staying within the State tax rates. When asked why the City spent so much money on the City Hall building, Nancy McCormick mentioned that the number of increased city employees demanded a larger building. Certainly Redmond has experienced huge growth over the past 15-20 years, yet total tax revenues for city operations would also increase. In my household budget, I must live within my earned income. Why can't the City operate within its tax revenues?

Thursday August 9, 2007 -

YODER: Many claims are vs. Marchione for his 5-2 voting "gang". Here's one that's not - Marchione voted to save Anderson Park 4-3. Jim Robinson voted against it. I hope we will start thinking of 5-2 voting or 6-1 voting as "consensus" rather than a "gang up".

Tuesday September 4, 2007 -

OPINION: PROCLAIM THE GREAT BLUE HERON OUR CITY'S SPECIES OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE!!

OPINION:  Updated: 2/9/2011  The Great Blue Heron is the City of Redmond's Species of Local Importance.  This designation does not "protect" the species from the Critical Areas Ordinance.  Development regulations still apply.  The SOLI designation raises awareness of the cultural and natural value
of the species to Redmond residents and city government. B.Y.

Letter to Council President Nancy McCormick

Hi Nancy - I agree with the lady who complained at the last Council meeting that the Great Blue Heron (GBH) is indeed important to the city....for many reasons. Personally, though common across the country, I like the bird a lot and even did my senior Biology project on it in college.

My only request is the city issue a formal proclamation the heron is our "Species of Local Importance." AND, to amend the Critical Area Ordinance designation regulating the Species as law. In the three years since inception of the heron law, the ordinance has proven to have no "teeth"; yet it causes a bottleneck in land use progress on projects like the Bear Creek Pkwy Extension. If anyone watched your tortured deliberations about the Parkway extension they'd have seen the how the heron law created havoc and total confusion in your final vote. Everyone appeared to be stepping around the "heron law" - even Kim Allen and Hank Margeson.

Richard Cole told me he loves the heron and couldn't believe we no longer have active rookeries in Redmond, including the Leary Rookery across from the Saturday Market. But, without a rookery, our heron have no nest where they can "come home" and have chicks. When our city consultant from Berger Associates, Guy Michealson, told us that the Leary Rookery had no active nests, I was shocked too. I asked Cathy Beam, our environmental planner and she concurred with Guy. She said it wasn't the higher densities but the crows and eagles from Lake Sammamish that drove heron away. Sad. But, what law can stop that? I asked about the Safeway "rookery" and the one east of Avondale. Richard Cole asked about Keller Farm. No active nests there either, according to Cathy. In disbelief, I visited all the sites. They looked "dead" with no white excrement, no heron visible in the trees and few if any inactive nests. If anyone doubts me contact cbeam@redmond.gov. "Our" heron migrates to Redmond waterways and forests from rookeries outside the city limits to forage for food. They come to forage for fish sand small mammals, not to nest. Please ask Mr. McGruder of the the Audubon Society, too.

Guy, our consultant from Berger Associates sees the Leary "rookery" absent of heron colonies and as a uniform forest remnant. I see it as having potential for a trail tying the Burlington Northern Corridor trails to the Haida House Park. Wouldn't that be nice to walk through a forest to a city park in downtown Redmond after shopping at the Saturday Market? This city feature is out with the heron law.

Finally, I think we are fooling ourselves to ask developers to trace a heron sighting on a plat back to a "nest" in a Redmond rookery that doesn't exist e.g. Pearce PRD. Everytime council discusses any property or project near a heron siting they have to do a political tap dance. Let's take our officials off the hook and be honest with ourselves!

The bottom line is we can still honor our beautiful, graceful "Great Blue" and symbol of our city without having to be burdened by agency regulations and law. Nancy, I ask you to proclaim our Great Blue Heron as a Species of Local Importance and amend the ordinance.

Beside our heron, I hope you will honor the green riparian habitat bordering our creeks and Sammamish waterways in which our Great Blue Heron (and salmon)forage for food. The city spends millions of dollars restoring our riparian habitat. Millions. Our urban forest habitat is being decimated. Nancy, proclaim Riparian habitat as Locally Important, too!

OPINION by Bob Yoder
Internet photo

OPINION: 7/19/07 Shaughnessy Heights PRD - longest land-use plat review in Redmond history

OPINION

/17/07 - Last night's citizen appeal to council of the Shaughnessy Heights, 15.1 acre 42-lot development adjacent Redmond El. will go down in the history books. It was the longest running plat review in city history - much owing to our PRD (Planned Residential Use) policy allowing for clear-cuts and greater densities.
The proposed development of approximately 42 lots (including duplexes) is serviced by one road in&out adjacent Redmond Elementary School. Deforestation and loss of habitat would occur almost in size of Perrigo Heights.

Though traffic safety and habitat issues came up, the two main legal issues were about tree buffering and adequate water service to the nearby neighborhoods. After much discourse the Council decided 7-0 to deny the permit and uphold the appeal of six citizens; and remand the appeal back to the Hearing Examiner to allow a second, open Public Hearing.
Six citizens appealed, led persuasively by S. Howard and J. Richardson. Public Notification deficiencies were again, a major source of dissent. The Hearing Examiner did not allow scores of citizens to appeal in writing owing to a technicality. Alert citizens purchased audio tapes of the Hearing Examiner's appeal hearing to have proof for their case. Councilwoman Kim Allen asked that a comprehensive letter be written to the Hearing Examiner advising changes in his Party of Record policy.
Problems with the City's Planned Residential Development (PRD) permit resurfaced. Citizens were very upset that a line of trees buffering their neighborhood from the development would be stripped. The trees would provide a valuable buffer from seven proposed towering new homes. Councilman Vache empathized since Mosaic Meadows project impacts his property in a similar fashion.
The developer claimed he was technically meeting city requirements for significant tree count and pervious soils by accounting for it though the parcel's "native growth easement". ("Native growth easements" is land that can't be developed because of steep slopes, ravines, streams, etc.) Thus, the developer claimed he should be allowed to strip out the neighboring buffer trees claiming them unsafe.
The neighborhood citizens countered saying their trees would not be safe with concerns for quality of life.Allen, Marchione, and Vache, offered impressive analysis and decision-making. But, Council President McCormick's hallmark statement warrants quotation.
After thanking Ms. Allen for articulating the case so well, Council President Ms. Nancy McCormick movingly stated:

"The public process may not have been violated but it was twisted. I can't keep from thinking about that couple who appeared at the Tent City public meeting and signed up to be Party of Record only to be denied on appeal to be heard.

The public needs accurate information and timeliness of an appeal, otherwise we make a mockery out of Public Hearings and caring about public involvement."
Ms. McCormick's motion to deny and uphold the appeal passed unanimously. The public is invited to review the project once again.
10/8/07 SUMMARY COMMENTS FROM TWO APPELLANTS NEIGHBORING THE PROJECT; The neighborhood appealants 'lost' to the landowner.
NEIGHBOR Ian -
The disappointing thing in my mind is that we had to put forth a very large amount of effort to secure the condition that adds this new buffer, when I feel that the city should have been the one putting that requirement into place from the beginning. Somehow the city didn’t even know that the right of way had no trees in it, even though there’s a sewer line running down it, which means they would have cleared it at some point of trees to put in that line.
Codes such as what Kirkland has in place are really the only good way to go about preserving mature trees. Even if we could have gotten the developer to leave the strip of trees along the border, I don’t think I would want them to do so, given that they’d be clearing out all the trees behind them, exposing that strip to new wind forces that could bring them down on my house. Kirkland’s codes on the other hand would have prevented the clearing of significant trees behind the strip as well, preserving the wind break and forcing developers to build around existing trees. Now, for all I know, Kirkland may also have similar development programs like the PLAT which allow developers to use different rules as long as they meet some criteria, but I know that at least the starting point for Kirkland development projects is more tree friendly than what we have here in Redmond.
However, given that we can’t protect the large trees along that strip, and that we can’t really stop the development outright, I think we’ve managed to secure the next best thing: a new buffer of trees to be planted along that boundary which meets our requirements for screening, in exchange for our support of the project going forward (no more appeals basically, and an email voicing that support to the city now that the new condition is in place).
-Ian. 10/8/07
From Steve Howard: We could never stop the developer from taking the big trees, since the city allows the tree numbers to be measured over the entire site. Or in other words it gives the developer a license to clear cut the land where they plan on putting the new houses. I would love to see a way to require that 35% of the trees must remain across the site. including the building area. The present codes and how they are read allows the developers to play a math game with our mature trees receiving no protection. This is wrong. 10/8/07

Councilmember nicknames & the new dynamic

Left-to-Right: 'Caring' Carson, 'Marvelous' Margeson ("most likely to succeed"), 'Adaptable' Allen, 'Venerable' Vache', 'Her Majesty' McCormick, 'Wiser' Myers, 'The Statesman' Cole, and 'The Magnificent' Mayor Marchione

Opinion: It just dawned on me how many Readers may not know what our council members look like or even our Mayor. In attempt to match a name and personality with a face I came up with some nicknames. I'm just throwing these out for fun. Do you have any other nickname ideas? They've got to be better than mine!

Council dynamics is picking up lately. With 'Venerable' Pat Vache' (right) and 'Adaptable' Kim Allen (left) both running for re-election later this year it's starting to get fun watching Council on TV. Alliances appear to be forming. 'Adaptable' Allen has been eagerly backing 'Statesman' Cole, especially when 'Wiser' Myers says something irritating to the Statesman. 'Her Majesty' eagerly throws support to the 'Venerable' Vache'. So far, no one has filed to run against Vache' or Allen. Does anyone have a candidate suggestion or idea?

'Her Majesty' Nancy McCormick has decided not to run after 26 years (I think) of continuous service. John Stilin, Arts Commissioner, has stepped up for the City to run for Nancy's seat #6. I saw John getting aquainted with Planning & Development Director Odle in the audiance seats and soaking up his words at the last Council meeting. Hank Margeson is Most-Likely-to-Succeed for many reasons. But, for now, let's just give him the "Most Improved Award". I may be wrong, but it looks like 'Marvelous' Margeson is being groomed for Council President or Council V.P.

You should tune-into RC TV21 on Tuesday's, 7:30p.m. and check the new (ever changing) dyanamic. You can probably come up with a better nickname or "read them" differently. The more nicknames and fun the better! Any suggestions?

8/2/07 - Safety & Parks Tax Levy Propositions -Primary election

DID YOU KNOW?

Proposition #1 (Safety) & Proposition #2 (Parks)
Get ready! your absentee ballots should be in your mailbox by now! The PRIMARY is 8/21.
HOW WILL YOU VOTE?

PROPOSITION 1 - LEVY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNDING:

My wife and I know how we will vote ....with only one BIG BEEF.

Nine (9) firefighters are needed for the Overlake area mostly because of poor "response times". Did you know that "response times" have increased dramatically?

Nine (9) firefighters and an aid car are needed for NORTH REDMOND. Again, response times are up to 9 minutes!

Seventeen (17) police officers are needed for school security,traffic , cybercrime patrol, computer forensics, patrol and support. According to the mayor, only 4 officers patrol the city at night.

Officer Wilson informs me two (2) "School Resource Officers" (deployed for schools) will likely be returned in the 2008-2009 school year, with passage. One fulltime SRO for the High School and one SRO split between the two Junior Highs. The limiting factors for SRO's is staffing resources and deployment of staffing. But, SRO's are "guaranteed" for the immediate future if we pass the levy.

Chief Harris states that police today is much more than traffic and patrolling. Cyberspace crime is rapidly growing and needed technology is expensive. ID theft may now be replacing car vandalism & theft as Redmond's most common crime. Methamphetamine labs and related crimes are an ongoing problem.

PROPOSITION 1 safety services will cost the average homeowner & business about $145 per year. Our levy money will be dedicated to public safety and no public official can mess with it.

PROPOSITION 2 - LEVY FOR PARKS AND RECREATION FUNDING:

Parks Director Larsen suggested at the public meeting that Redmond Parks Department is no small business. The Department maintains and develops 40 parks -- totaling 1300 acres.
Parks also runs a Recreation program with over 200,000 citizens enrolled. Registration has been up 20% over last year. 16,000 citizens attended music events in the Teen Center last year.
Despite all our "showcase parks" the department has had to turn away 100 teams last year! Cricket, lacrosse,swimming, remote planes, Frisbee golf and other sports are competing for facilities used by established and expanding baseball, soccer, tennis, and high school swimming teams.

As witnessed from the loss of Perrigo Heights Woodlands to development, Open Natural Space doesn't come cheap and our children won't have the legacy of these Woods. The department needs to preserve what natural space we have left. They've acquired over 100 acres of natural open space parkland & 4 miles of trails recently.

Juel Park, Conrad Olson Park, Arthur Johnson Park and Slough Park are historic and natural. Funds are needed to develop & maintain these parks.

Director Larsen and our commissioners need funds to manage city lands, corridors, parks, creeks, rivers and other natural systems, including removal of invasive plants.
Levy money will go towards after-school programs, stewardship of our natural areas, a new staff member and greater availability to the Teen Center.

PROPOSITION 2 will cost the average homeowner and business $21.00/year.

YOUR VOTE COUNTS! PLEASE CAST YOUR BALLOTT BY AUGUST 21 ! THANK YOU!

Here's my BEEF and KUDOS to councilwoman Kim Allen for her leadership with Council!

I, and others, ask the next Council and next Mayor to please fund our critical SAFETY needs out of the General Operating Fund as the FIRST line item.

Annually 5% of our General Funds go to the Capital Fund (CIP). KIM'S TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: Only after funding necessary SAFETY services should we move ongoing revenue into the Capital Fund.

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FROM: BOB Chamberlin, Founder of the No. Redmond Neighborhood Email Group

You will recall that the last time they tried to raise our taxes they told us that if we didn’t give them more money there would not be enough funding to build and staff the additional fire/EMS facilities that we need (specifically for North Redmond). Most of us had to wonder three things about that.

1) How is it that they had sufficient funds to build themselves a huge and very expensive new city hall,

2) where did the money come from to give city officials (most notably the Mayor) a very substantial salary increase and

3) If the number of homes in North Redmond is increasing by a factor of four, and if those homes are paying far more taxes than the previously existing homes were paying why doesn’t the city have sufficient funds to provide the basic services for those homes that are normally expected?

Our response was that we resoundingly voted down their tax increase since most of us have the attitude that they need to better manage the over-abundance of money that has already been provided.This time the Mayor is suggesting that if we don’t vote to let them raise our taxes more than the current law allows there will not be enough funds to maintain the existing level of basic services. (Note that they have the legal right to raise our taxes every year anyway and they do not need our permission to do it. They just want a lot more than that.) In my opinion, this is what local governments do when they want more money. They cut funding for what the voters want rather than the funding for what the local officials want.There are ways that costs could be reduced rather substantially but the people who manage the money prefer not to even think about those methods. Here is an example. In my opinion, the City of Redmond Planning Dept. causes more problems than it cures. If you think about it, Planners tend to Plan whether that planning is actually needed or not and many of us feel that it is not. Each member of the Planning Dept. should be required to write a justification for his/her own job. After reviewing these justifications, cut about 80% of those jobs. Personally, I plan to vote, “NO” on Proposition 1.I wish I could say something like, “throw the bums out”, but Rosemary will not be running for Mayor so she is leaving anyway. As I recall, many years ago when Rosemary first ran for Mayor it was on a “No growth or very slow growth” platform and on that basis I voted for her. We have seen what that meant. I don’t like any of the current choices very much but some are better than others and in my opinion, the best of these is Marchione. Holly Plackett is for lots of growth. Her election web site calls for bringing in a lot more businesses and a satellite campus of the UW. This would, of course come with all of the attendant traffic and additional need for infrastructure (and of course, government). Also, I can’t say that I’m very fond of some of the organizations that are endorsing her. Robinson is supported by many of the folks who are currently a big part of what I feel to be the problem so I don’t feel at all good about him either.There are people on this mailing list who previously expressed an interest in running for Mayor but I have yet to see their campaign signs. - Bob Chamberlin, 7/31
Friday August 3, 2007 - 07:42pm (PDT)

COUNCILMEMBER KIM ALLEN:
Thanks, Bob!I want to take this opportunity to remind your readers that there are very stark differences between the mayoral candidates on public safety funding. When this budget was up for a vote, Jim Robinson wanted to pay for these fire and police needs out of our existing and ongoing revenues. As mayor, he will advance that policy. John Marchione wrote the budget that sent our fire and police needs out for a property tax levy increase, which was adopted on 12/19/06 by John Marchione, Richard Cole, Pat Vache, Nancy McCormick and John Resha. John Marchione made a policy choice to reserve those ongoing funds for capital projects like City Hall instead.Jim Robinson and I are supporting Proposition 1 because the public safety need is critical and because the majority of the Council decided that this was the only funding they would agree to. It was not our first choice.Vote on August 21!Kim Allen
Saturday August 4, 2007 - 02:22pm (PDT)

RICHRD MORRIS:

Hey Bob, I attended the community meeting at the City of Redmond on Tuesday, July 31st. The meeting was not well attended. I would guess the meeting notice did not arrive in mail boxes with much advance notice. I received my post-card invitatin on Monday, July 30th. Here are a few observations:1. There was not agreement among the City Council nor the Mayor for the budget. In my opinion, this struggle has spilled over into a repackaged levy proposition. Council chair Nancy McCormick described the budget process and the input from neighborhoods. However, the budget process did not result in consensus. This point was driven home by the Mayor and minority representative Councilwoman Kim Allen.2. The levy proposition has been re-tooled, but there was little enthusiasm from the staff presentations. The mayor continues to complain in public about the past year budget cuts for her administration staff. The allocation of funding the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was a source of disagreement.3. The Chief of Police offered no guarantees for a committed School Resource Officer. This contradicts what Bob states (above): "Officer Wilson informs me two (2) "School Resource Officers" (deployed for schools) will likely be returned in the 2008-2009 school year, with passage. One fulltime SRO for the High School and one SRO split between the two Junior Highs. The limiting factors for SRO's is staffing resources and deployment of staffing. But, SRO's are "guaranteed" for now if we pass the levy". Apparently, the wording on the ballot measure for the School Resource Officer was debated at length among City Council, the Mayor, the Superintendant of Lake Washington Schools, and PTA representatives. PTA representatives asked for quarantee for a committed SRO,however the Chief made clear that he needed flexibility in assigning resources as needed for effective operations.4. The Chief of Police described a hiring and training pipeline for new police officers. The Chief said Redmond competes with 500 other cities for hiring officers. The hiring and training pipeline can be up to 12 months. Thus, there is no quick fix to hiring and training new police officers. Naturally, the Chief needs flexibility in deploying resources for optimal effectiveness. The Chief distributed a summary of resource needs and the nature of crime fighting. 5. There were very few questions for our Parks Commissioner. However, a few comments were made about the choices for funding parks vs. funding public safety. Overall, the voters attending the meeting expressed some disbelief for the levy.6. There were a few questions about the tax bill for businesses. Councilman Pat Vache assured voters that businesses pay property taxes just like home owners. Mayor Ives explained that businesses pay a form of Business and Occupation Tax, in the form of an employee head tax. She stated the head tax is low compared to Bellevue. She also stated the head tax will be increased, as approved by City Council. My impression was that City Council was very timid for taxing businesses. However, in my opinion this approach increases the burden on city infrastructure (roads, water, sewer, stormwater, etc) without sharing the cost of maintenance. Given that the day-time population of Redmond is much greater than the night-time population, it is painfully clear that many people drive to work in Redmond. This trend is evidenced by the many extensions of Hwy 520 into Redmond over the past 30 years.Overall, the mood and tone of the community meeting was depressing to me. City Council appeared very cautious in selling this levy proposal. Mayor Ives was determined to see it through, but very dismissive of the council's budget choices. Professional staff seemed confident, but remained low key in their pitch. Mostly I had the impression that the Mayor wanted to pass the levy. Voters expressed some disbelief in the need for the levy, pointing to the new City Hall and the growth in our city tax base.
Monday August 6, 2007 - 11:52am (PDT)

YODER:

I was happy to learn the Proposition 1, Priority 1 Saftey campaign sign is recyclable. And, the Parks Proposition 2 campagin sign is recyclable. Both are made of milk carton materials and cost about $1.00 per sign, not counting labor which I think was donated by citizens or the fire/police unions.
Monday August 6, 2007