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Photo on Redmond City TV (RCTV - Comcast 21) Is the Mayor screening or barricading Council from the public? Council members' email addresses aren't hyperlinked, as well. 😖 |
News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
UPDATED: Media Transparency
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Lake Washington School District Budget Earns Award
Eight is great! Lake Washington School District Budget Earns Meritorious Budget Award
Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility
Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2024-25 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA). This award promotes and recognizes excellence in budget development, communication, and presentation in school districts. LWSD has received this award eight years in a row. LWSD is the only district in the state of Washington to receive this award.
Friday, September 6, 2024
Opinion: Redmond's King County's Homeless Project Is Failing
"Haven Heights" homeless building lobby Credit Bob Yoder |
Bob Yoder's Testimony to City Council and Mayor Birney, City Hall, September 3, 2004:
"Council and Mayor Birney, the success of the Silver Cloud Homeless project in Overlake is a litmus test for the future downtown Plymouth Housing project. Though with good intentions, it's failing miserably I've visited the facility twice.
- The Silver Cloud hotel was purchased two years ago by King County for ~$28 million for their "Health Through Housing" (HTH) homeless program and so far only 10 homeless reside there. The operator says 15 total homeless will be housed there no sooner than October.
- The facility is defined as "emergency housing" until all 100 studios are phased in for completion sometime in 2027, 28, or who knows. The incompetent KCRHA County homeless agency that triages the homeless for Coordinated Entry blames the supply-chain, permitting and scarcity of contractors on their extreme delay. There was no evidence of construction.
- Mayor Birney and other electeds on the KCRHA Governance Board are given new authority to manage and expedite the coordinated Entry process. Transparency should improve, as well. I asked Mayor Birney to please act expeditiously to fill "Haven Height's" with permanent supported housing as it was intended.
- When I dropped in last Tuesday three staff were idling in the lobby and we had a good chat. They have college degrees (business, computers.) and said they were case managers, too. Nice people but with not much to do. Staff said each resident has a phone. There's no curfew but if they're out more than three days they must call in. Right now there at 8 staff managing their 10 homeless residents. King County taxpayers are paying 14 cents/$1000 to support operations.
- Orca cards are issued. A van takes them shopping. So far Trader Joes and the Dollar Store are popular.
- The operator's Safety & Security Plan, Community Relations Plan, and Code of Conduct wasn't available. The building located behind Goodwill and is named "Haven Heights." The six story building is fenced looks formidable but it's plush inside. 16725-152 Avenue NE"
Sunday, August 4, 2024
NOTES (Part 2); Silver Cloud Homeless Housing Community Meeting
- HTH care facilities are modeled after "Don's Place" in Auburn.
- Ms. Cook, administrator of "King County Regional Homeless Authority" said twice the Silver Cloud building is "low barrier" meaning there will be no discrimination against homeless residents taking street drugs, excessive alcohol, and/or with serious mental illness.
- Currently, the residents are housed in rooms, with rights of tenancy under emergency conditions. Once the studios are fully occupied (with 100 residents) they will be permanently supported with: 24/7 wrap-around services including 11 support staff, 4-5 case managers, three meals a day and more. Until full occupancy the HTH building called "Haven" will operate under emergency conditions.
- It appears nonprofit support services like "4 Tomorrow," and "Nourishing Networks," will volunteer. Currently "life skills" are on the weekly calendar. Yoga was mentioned. No A.A.
- Behavioral health was a key topic since ~ 70% of homeless have a mental health condition and often treat their sickness with street drugs. "Harm reduction" service will be minimal until the building is fully staffed.
- City of Redmond Fire mobile behavioral health is available for crisis response. A psychiatrist was mentioned. Ms. Cook said funding is not a problem for services, however Matt said money "will have to be carved out" for mental health care owing to poor Medicaid reimbursement.
- Primary care will be available, but no details.
- Matt said there would be transparency on "Code of Conduct." A man dressed in old "Security Officer" clothes was standing in the parking lot. He could have been a resident-in-training.
Monday, July 1, 2024
UPDATED: King County Property Tax Transparency Tool
"Localscape" - King County Assessor Transparency Tool |
King County Assessor John Wilson developed the invaluable Localscape "transparency assessor tool" to calculate individual 2024 taxes and levy rates based on your home's appraised value. Current and past taxes, area median household income, area sales, and copious other useful data is resourced.
In 1981, I bought my 1,800 sf home on Education Hill for $92,000. According to the calculator, the 2023 average sales price in my area is $1.2M.
My total property taxes in 2023 were $8961.80 (up $1,630 from 2022.) The calculator showed 2023 King County levy rates and dollar amounts on my property were, as follows:
- Local School 29.30% - $2475.48
- City 11.04% - $849.3
- County 10.9% - $1311.16
- Library 3.57% - $282.98
- EMS 2.85% - $222.24
- Hospital 2.57% - $151.47
- Transit 2.12% - $160.53
- Port 1.03% - $102.61
- Flood .92% - $69.26
- STATE Taxes $2467.16 (schools, fire, roads, parks & recreation)
To check out the tax data on your home:
King County Assessor Mailing Property Value Notices
King County Assessor John Wilson |
Residential Values Rise, While Values of Large Office Buildings Fall in a Mixed Real Estate Market
The King County Assessor’s office has begun the annual process of mailing property valuation notices to taxpayers. Notices will be arriving soon. Preliminary indications show most residential areas will increase a little over 10% on average. Commercial properties are more mixed depending on property type.
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Circle of Life - Moving On
Our roundabout way of getting to places in Gibraltar. 😊 |
It is nice to be back home and with a fresh perspective after touring Europe for 16 days. I've decided, even more so, that Redmond needs not just news reporting but a "trouble-maker" (like me) to opine, to bring balance, accountability and government transparency to our community. We deserve more than what the Mayor is delivering right now, especially with regard to King County's push for promised "harm reduction" of homeless housed in our two urban centers.
In the Ives' Administration, Redmond Reporter editor John Huether gave me a monthly column, "City Watch." My first column was published February 14th, 2007: "Tent City moves in at St. Jude." Yes, the homeless problem in Redmond reaches back 17 years, even with affordable housing. Some homeless were being bused in from Texas. If I were to have a column today it would focus on mental health, especially on EvergreenHealth's progress in furthering community behavioral health care and improving the governance process.
My daughter Lexie (LWSD K-12) born at EvergreenHealth is having a baby boy this summer. I'll be writing and "watching" less often and some day leave Redmond altogether to be with my extended family. I'm writing with a sense of urgency in this circle of my life.
-- Bob Yoder, 6/27/2024
Friday, June 9, 2023
UPDATED OPINION: Council Members Weren't Given Opportunity To Comment At Salary Commission Meetings
OPINION: After listening to testimonies of three former councilmembers at last night's regular Council meeting I'm saddened the Mayor didn't clip the miss-managed council Salary Commission work in the bud, rather then let it drag on for weeks on end.
Thursday, March 30, 2023
King County Assessor Lanches "Taxparency Tool" for April Ballot Measures
King County Tax Assessor John Wilson |
King County Assessor John Wilson today released his April 2023 general election Taxpayer Transparency Tool, a website which provides each King County taxpayer an individualized accounting of where their property tax dollars go, and the estimated cost of any proposed property tax measure to be voted on.
All voters in King County will be asked to vote on a new levy to fund mental health and substance use disorder services.
“Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going, and what each proposed property tax levy will cost them,” said Wilson. “Property taxes keep going up. We need to make sure the public understands why.”
Property Tax Measures on the April Ballot:
COUNTYWIDE: King County Prop 1: Crisis Care Centers Levy; mental health and substance use disorder services.
Contact: Assessor John Wilson 206-369-7677
Al Dams, Chief Deputy Assessor 206-263-2255
Thursday, February 23, 2023
UPDATED 3/3/2023: The Story Of EvergreenHealth's Attitude Toward Mental Health
EvergreenHealth - King County Public Hospital District #2
Saturday, October 22, 2022
UPDATED: The Painful Facts
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Updated: The Redmond Blog
Map of 11 Redmond Neighborhoods |
Bob Yoder has authored the "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" AKA the Redmond Blog for 16 years. He's a 42-year resident of Redmond, WA and lives in the wilds of the Education Hill neighborhood.
Monday, August 15, 2022
UPDATED: Citizens Can Have The Last Word Designing Our Buildings And Villages
The developer's rendering of his twin-tower commercial / residential project. |
Opinion: For years now, residents have complained about the dull earth tones, "box-like" construction, and absence of brick and wood materials in our new Downtown 6-story buildings. Council often joked of their fatigue with the "browns and mustards" - Councilmembers Hank Myers and Kim Allen in particular. But nothing was done.
In June of 2017. I went to the Design Review Board (DRB) meeting where "Color Options" were being reviewed for the 9-story twin tower building proposed at the old post office site...in the Town Square District. The Town Square District is envisioned as high density, 6-8 story buildings, including office, entertainment, retail and residential use. The towers are a signature building setting the stage for the design of future development in the District. Thus, what comes out from this Design Review will impact "look and feel" of the entire Town Square District for years to come.
I was the only citizen that showed up for the twin-tower meeting and was given a wonderful opportunity to comment on color before the Board and applicant made their decision. After looking at color schemes presented by the developer's architect, Board and DRB manager Steve Fischer, I recommended teal (blue) over red. During our nine months of grey weather the blue will remind us of our sunny blue sky days of summer. The red scheme was eclectic and rich with too much pop.
The Board and applicant decided to go with blue and a small amount of green at the street level. Oscar, the diminutive,.likable project manager said blue was more sophisticated and red shouts. DRB Chair David Scott Mead -- very influential -- jokingly said he'd see the red from his house, summarizing the review with a blue-green "Go Seahawks!" cheer. Yay! Watch the video. Next step: Oscar will meet with city staff to fine tune the color scheme. He made it known he doesn't like "Northwest Moss" green wanting color with little more punch. Yay again!
The Board proceedings were very interesting. Unfortunately, participation by the Board was weak. One member was absent and the other barely said a thing. I'm grateful to the developer's architect for reaching out to me and genuinely thanking me for my input. She made me feel I made a difference. I admire this developer and his commitment to form and aesthetics.
I'm very unhappy with the city's severe lack of transparency with this body. Though several times Councilmember Stilin advised the public to look into the DRB, it was only by luck that I learned the public can comment. Without public comment the "look and feel" of our Downtown buildings are left up to just 7 citizens and powerful staff - many not living in our city. "Design damage" has already done to the downtown core, though opportunity remains to get it right -- with public input -- during the Town Square District build-out and development of Marymoor Village.
The Board meets on the first and third Thursday's of the month at 7PM, City Hall. Their approval is the last action required before the land use permit is issued so your comments can significantly influence project outcomes. To learn what's on the DRB agenda click this link and go to "Agendas Summaries" for 2017. They don't make it easy!
Bob Yoder, June, 2017
No women are members of the DRB.
https://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2017/06/design-review-board-brings-welcome.html
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Mayor Birney Requires Roll Calls To Squelch Absenteeism
Internet |
By Yoder: All across the State of Washington and world it's a no-brainer the pandemic has striked hell in our lives: death, hospitalization, declining mental health, social and family isolation, low worker productivity, absenteeism in schools and workplaces, and the list goes on. My battle was (and is) declining mental health, and social isolation. The forever masking and lengthened bombardment of variants kindled fear, the root of anxiety. Had I not taken walks in the woods and pumped iron at the gym I'd probably be on medication today.
I'm retired and absenteeism isn't a problem for me. I cried when children couldn't be out with their friends at school and teacher absenteeism spiked. Especially for children, mental health declined precipitously; anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation were more common.
I feel no pain for employees working in a hybrid environment. Many actually benefit. However, absentee accountability can be a problem in a virtual - in person setting.
I report on City Council meetings weekly for government transparency and to shed light. Unfortunately, the Council, the public, even democracy aches when a public servant is chronically absent from the peoples' work. Last week, the Mayor, City attorney and City Clerk finally confronted their problem.
The fix was easy. Identify and define "regular meetings" and take roll call at the top of each regular meeting. Yes, accountability! The State of Washington gives Council authority to remove Members if they have three consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings. The Council ultimately decides what constitutes an unexcused absence.
Requiring roll calls at regular City meetings could be historically significant. We can "thank" the pandemic for that.
-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 2/12/2022
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
King County Aims To Mandate 30-Day Notice Before Re-purposing Hotels For Homeless Shelters
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SafeEastside.com |
County Councilmember Dunn aims to mandate public comment, 30-day notice before King County can re-purpose hotels into homeless shelters.
King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would require King County to notify the public before purchasing a hotel for use as a homeless shelter, supported housing, or similar housing option.
“It is not good government for King County to make hugely impactful land use decisions by siting large homeless shelters without first providing full transparency to the public. The impacted communities, including residents and the municipal governments that represent them must all have a chance to provide public comment in advance of the decision being unilaterally made by King County,” Dunn said. “My legislation provides a simple fix to that problem by putting it in King County code that the government must notify the public before siting a shelter in their community.”
Dunn’s legislation would provide the opportunity for public comment in advance of all such purchases by requiring a public notice to be circulated in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the purchase takes place in order to inform the impacted community of the location of the property; the purpose for which King County intends to use it; the funding source proposed the purchase it; information on how the public may provide comment; and the name and phone number of the King County person of contact.
Since May of this year, King County has purchased nine hotels across King County to use as housing for the chronically homeless, including sites in Auburn, Federal Way, Seattle, Redmond, and Renton, and plans to purchase three more hotels by the end of the year.
According to King County’s 2020 Point in Time Count, 64% of the chronically homeless reported that they are battling a substance use disorder and 73% reported battling a mental illness. Past placement of people with untreated addiction and mental illness has impacted the safety of the surrounding communities and businesses.
The ordinance will be referred to the Committee of the Whole.
-- King County Press Release, 11/9/2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
City Council Approves 5% COLA
Redmond City Council approved a 5% Cost of Living salary increase for union employees Effective January 1, 2022, (Staff quoted 6.5% as the true rate of inflation.) Many thanks to Mayor Birney and Council for their transparency on this topic! The Council took time to ask some very good questions. In the past, union salary plans were buried in the Consent Agenda and never pulled for discussion.
Per employee visibility, the following are a few maximum salaries:
- Planner, $104,232
- Principal Planner, $131,076
- Senior Planner, $118,614
- Communications & Marketing Project Administrator, $109,164
- Senior Engineer, $141,660
- Administrative Assistant, $71,360
- Communications & Marketing Specialist, $97,824
- Environmental Sustainability Program Manager, $101,736
- Senior Building Inspector, $107,376
- Senior Accountant, $99,636
- Senior Purchasing Agent, $109,044
- Recreation Program Administrator, $104,408
Monday, October 18, 2021
"Safe Eastside" - Activists Fighting Off The Homeless.
"Safe Eastside's" relentless attacks on Mayor Birney are unconscionable. Kudos to CM David Carson for his efforts to defend the Mayor and the City. Anderson, Fields, Forsythe, Kahn and Kritzer should defend the Mayor and City, as well. They have the same voice as the Mayor in representation of the public. Councilmembers, please actively stand up and defend the Mayor and City tomorrow. B. Yoder, 10/18/2021
KAN QIU'S MESSAGE TO "SAFE EASTSIDE" VOLUNTEERS:
Please come to public comment Tuesday 10/19 to demand amendment of Ordinance No. 3059 at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th Street, Redmond, Washington, 6:30 PM, the last public comment opportunity before the council's study session 10/26 on this matter. We have all witnessed, in the public hearing nearly two weeks ago, Mayor shamefully staged her out of area supporters to call in before many of us who showed up physically since as early as 6:30. But we are more determined than what she could ever have imagined. We need to pack the room again, speakers make sure you sign up in advance on the sheet outside the chamber room. To help us track attendee numbers, please register at https://www.eventbrite.
What's even more outrageous after the shameful display of public hearing is that Mayor Birney's puppet in the council David Carson had to go the extra mile and filed a frivolous PDC complaint on October 14 against us in an apparent attempt to suppress public voices. Sadly as an elected official, puppet CM David Carson obviously forgot that this is America and people's rights express themselves are fully protected by the constitution, particularly on matters that are lack of government transparency. Since when citizens setting up and running a website to inform the public becomes an issue ? It's appalling that such despicable scare tactics have being used against average citizens who simply fill in the vacuum due to the very lack of information from the government!
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Monthly Financial Report / Annual Impact Fee Report
Key highlights from the Monthly Financial Report through August 2021 include: General Fund
· Total revenues are 28.5%, or $17.1 million, above target.
· Sales tax is 80.2%, or $12.9 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity, which has generated $10.5 million in one-time construction sales tax through August 2021. · Utility taxes are 0.3%, or $23,000, below target.
· License & permit fees are 28.3%, or $2.3 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity.
· Intergovernmental revenues are 25.0%, or $2.6 million, above target primarily due to the American Rescue Act.
· Total expenditures are 16.3%, or $16.9 million, below target primarily due to position vacancies, the timing of one-time expenditures, and the budget adjustments adopted by ordinance on August 17, 2021 that impact 2022 or beyond (e.g., $5.0 million in ARPA funding won’t be spent until 2022, and most of the Police body-worn camera program funding is reserved for 2023-2025).
Other Funds
Thursday, September 16, 2021
22-Acre Urban Village Planned In The "Redmond Center" Area
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For design review and more legible maps, click here and scroll down |
"Project One" (Charles) is the first new building in the Nelson Master Plan. The Master Plan is 22 contiguous acres in the northwest corner of the downtown in the City of Redmond. This property has been the quintessential center for goods and services to the city for the last 30 years. Looking towards the future, the goal is the redevelopment of the 22 acres around a cohesive master plan that significantly increases density and adds a mix of residential, office and retail uses, that offer a dense work, live and play environment. This new Northwest district developed over time seeks to include northwest architecture that expresses natural materials, structures, indoor/outdoor spaces, transparency, respect and support of the environment, and great people spaces and facilitate a broad inclusionary community."
--- Design Review Board memo, including legible maps, 12/03/2020 (According to the legible map, the urban village vision includes development of the Redmond Center. Perhaps a linear park along the Sammamish River is in the plan.)
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"The master plan is a vision rather than a specific, detailed plan. The 22 acres encompass the properties owned by the Nelson Legacy Group businesses stretching from the Aqua Quip Building on the corner of 161st to the open field behind Ben Franklin which touches the Sammamish River Trail. The timing of the redevelopment will be gradual and evolutionary. You will not see sudden, rapid, dramatic changes. Our vision is to gradually create an urban village and the central place in the downtown where the community can shop and gather, and also a place where people can live and work. The timing of each project in the redevelopment will be determined by many factors, including the leases of our current tenants and the needs and opportunities presented by the marketplace. Since retail is an important component of the vision, we will strive to retain our current tenants. As for the timing of the connection of 158th to Redmond Way, this is a city street and the city has discretion over the planning, timing and priority of street projects."
Regards,
Tom
Thomas L. Markl
CEO
09/03/2021
16508 NE 79th Street
Redmond, WA 98052