Large Bobcat seen prowling the neighborhoods

FEEL FREE TO POST THE BOBCAT PICTURE. It is not my house.... one block away.

click on the large photo to zoom in for a better look!

It was seen off 184th and headed up 102nd. (not far from the Puget Power Energy corridor) VERY confident and the neighbor said he seemed afraid of nothing! She did contact someone re: removing it to safety.... and for our safety. But EVERYONE on the hill should know....
 
Facebook report, 12/5
Redmond, WA.

UPDATED: Evergreen Hospital is the only Eastside hospital with a robot-assisted system for surgery. Who paid for it?

UPDATED:  Evergreen Hospital and Medical Center today added the latest generation  of the da Vinci Surgical System, a robot-assisted surgery platform. At this time Evergreen is the only Eastside hospital equipped for da Vinci surgery.  The technology costs ~$1,750,000.

According to Sherry Grindeland, Evergreen Communications and Media official:

"using the robot-assisted system, surgeons can perform more precise surgeries in shorter time with less pain and blood loss. The minimally invasive incision (about the size of a penny or a dime) means patients recover faster and have reduced risk of complications. The experienced surgeons at Evergreen plan to use this important technology to treat prostate and gynecological cancers and to perform urology, gynecology and general surgery."  (Watch manufacturer videos here).

Opinion:  How much does the equipment cost?   A da Vinci Surgical System costs approximately $1,750,000 for the new da Vinci SI released in April 2009.
Annual maintenance and ~ $200,000 initial training are extra.  Does the technology save resources?  $9,000/ valve replacement.  Find out more here.    Advantages & Disadvantages?

How do we pay for this technology?  According to an Evergreen Hospital executive, sick people and insurance companies pay for most of the growth of the hospital.  Taxpayers pay a rate of  $.24/thousand of assessed property in 2009.  An average home of $500,000 in 2009 was taxed $120.

Watch Da Vinci hospital ribbon cutting ceremony video. 

by Bob Yoder

The City of Redmond admits some of the 2009 jobs they eliminated were funded by Microsoft.

It is not a surprise to anyone that most government revenues have fallen in 2009 and it is no different for the City of Redmond.

This past summer, Redmond eliminated several temporary positions funded by the Microsoft Corporation when Microsoft discontinued its Redmond construction projects and exercised its option to terminate the funding agreement with the City. This fall, the City has made the difficult decision to eliminate several  more  positions in the Development Review division, due to a marked slowdown in development activity.

"Just as we did this past summer, the City continues to right-size its operations for the current economic conditions," states Mayor John Marchione. "While reducing positions is always done with very deliberate thought, we committed to this balanced approach to our finances during our 2008 budget deliberations."

"Through specific budget reductions, holding the line on expenditures and the one percent property tax increase provided for in the 2009/2010 budget, we are confident we can continue to honor our service and program commitments to the City's residents and businesses," states Redmond Council President Nancy McCormick.

The City of Redmond will begin planning for the 2011/2012 budget biennium early next year. As in 2008, residents and businesses will continue to play a role in confirming the City's budget and service priorities. For information about these next steps, contact the Mayor's office at 425-556-2101 or mayor@redmond.gov .

-- City Web Site, 12/5

20 closures on SR 520 this month

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 12/3

REDMOND, Wash. -- The Washington Department of Transportation is warning that State Route 520 between Lake Washington and Redmond will be closed 20 times in December for construction.

The department says the closures on the heavily traveled highway in Seattle's eastern suburbs will all be at night. But it says that still can mean delays or detours for nighttime holiday shoppers.

Three major projects are under way on the route, including a freeway overpass being built in Redmond.

On the Net: 
SR 520 construction information: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr520 .

OPINION: J.P. implores the Mayor to reign in the spending.

OPINION, by J.P.Panesko

"... it really bothers me that when private businesses and citizens are hurting and are cutting back expenses, the city declares "full steam ahead, pay raises for everybody, and let's build a new park!" Now I'm certainly not against parks by any means. But gee whiz, we already have plenty of excellent parks here. If we can manage to just keep those existing ones open and well-maintained during this downturn, then we're doing really well. But to be talking about (and spending on) expanding parks and building new ones right now, that's just plain crazy. When good times return, then sure, do those kinds of things. But right now, let's focus on the basics, the need-to-haves.

And don't you wonder how many of the laid-off employees could have been saved if they had only frozen salaries a year or two ago?  That's what a lot of companies (like my former one) did, in order to save as many jobs as possible.

I watched the council meeting on TV a few weeks ago (you blogged about it) when hundreds of people were down at city hall from those two churches. That was impressive, and certainly the most people I have seen in council chambers. Too bad that more of them didn't speak up (I think many immigrants are fearful to challenge authority, as it probably wasn't done in their home countries, not to mention the language difference). So I guess there are a few others out there suffering due to lack of city sewer on their street.
 
You know, I don't think anybody ever challenges him (mayor), and he is so used to getting his way that it causes major cognitive dissonance when somebody actually says "NO". Not that I think he's a bad person or anything, quite the contrary."
 
J.P. Panesko
Redmond, WA.

Your opinions and letters are welcome!  Please send them to me at:  redmondblog@gmail.com, 
--Bob Yoder

High school graduates remember Redmond before Microsoft

High%2Dschool%20graduates%20remember%20Redmond%20before%20Microsoft

Carlson, 99, grew up in what was then a rugged timber and fishing outpost with little more than a butcher, a hotel and a few bars. Her four-mile daily walk to then-Avondale Elementary was via a muddy, unpaved Northeast 116th Street.

Anatomy of the LW School Board's parliamentary process

Below, is a record of how the LW School Board voted on three funding resolutions for the 2/9/2009
election.   I recorded their decision-making process from the archive video-tape of the meeting, as follows:

After about 25 minutes of general discussion by the Board and Superindendent the voting process started, as follows".  (Nancy, Chris, Jackie, and Doug are School Board Directors). 

Nancy:  Did Doug move?  Do you want to get it on the table?

Jackie:  Yeh, we can have a motion to approve, if you'd like.

Doug:  I'll move adoption of .... do we want to have these as a package?

Nancy:  I'm fine with a package.   (is this supposed to be the second to the motion?)

Jackie:  I'm fine with all three.  (the three resolutions?  which ones?  they weren't read).

Doug:  All right, I'll move we adopt all three, but I want to amend that so that we give staff the authority to:  1) deal with the issue that Chris raised, that if there's any flexibility of formatting the ballot we give that, and 2) we give flexibility to insert the appropriate name of the entity that's actually going to be conducting the election.

Jackie:  So we have a motion and a Second. 
(We do?  Was the Second named?  Did the motion identify the resolutions for the public and record?)

No vote was taken.  Discussion ensued.

Twelve minutes passed before a second motion, by Pres. Pendergrass, was put on the table: 

Jackie:  "I'll entertain, aahh... we have a motion and a second  (Doug questions the second)...
Jackie:  Yes, Nancy seconded. 
The motion is to:

allow changes in language that need to be appropriate for the......whatever the elections are called these days....and then to check on the ballot measures to make sure that they look as consistent with one another that is possible.

Jackie:  With that, all those in favor say Aye (four Ayes) - any opposed? (*silence).  Our work is cut out for us over the next few months".

Again, the measures were not read prior to the vote.  My point, is how can the viewing public be expected to know what's going on in this vote?  And, if the resolutions were never read by a Director, then how can they be voted on?   

*Director Ravi Shahani did not attend the meeting.  His district is in the Education Hill area.

Part One:  The public is left scratching their heads after the School Board funding vote.

Updated EDITORIAL: I'm taxed out.

Updated, 12/4:  As the holiday season comes upon us, so does the tax season.  Unfortunately, all of our local governments but Evergreen Hospital District  (presently $.24/ 1000) will have their hands out to the taxpayers, at a terrible economic time when we can least afford it.  For perspective, one in four children and one in eight adults are living on food stamps in America.

Watch Redmond citizen J.P. Panesko's forceful 4 minute challenge to the council and mayor requesting spending cuts. The Mayor was noticeably shaken. (advance the video to minute 5:50).

The Lake Washington School District levies and bond measure would raise taxes on an average assessed home by $294 over four years (2010 - 2014); the remainder of the bond ($234 million) is paid down like a mortgage.  The King County Redmond Library would lift the lid on taxes about $40/year for the average home in the school district ($505,000).  If this isn't enough, the Redmond City Council last night approved an ordinance levying a 1% property tax increase commencing January 1, 2010!   My cup has overflowed.  (Though the Evergreen Hospital levy is not a measure this year, taxpayers  currently pay $121.20 for a  home  per year within the LW school district.)

Councilmember Cole claimed the levy funds ($13.25/year/house) were "necessary to keep the city running, especially public safety."  OMG.  The Mayor claimed the city's "long range slow and steady position is Redmond's salvation".  Like a squirrel stuffing his cheeks for a winter?   Councilmember Myers even joined the herd, claiming the ~ $360,000 levy was a very small increase but it can be used to "attract the best and brightest" employees. (In THIS economy?)  Thousands of of qualified workers in Redmond are hungry for work, myself included. 

Councilmember McCormick claimed the $359,198 levy is "tiny", then went on to strike every nerve in my body.   Ms. McCormick  implied the city uses the money to cover rising costs of employee health insurance (!), buy $200,000 traffic signals, and pay employee salaries.  My Oh My!  Many citizens don't have even  basic health insurance.  Some none.  Others, pay $1000/month just for premiums.  Enough said.

Madam President. Mr. Mayor. Have you ever considered implementing salary freezes where you can or cutting COLA's til the worst is over?   It happens all the time. Here's a kinder choice than salary cuts:  One percent of all public works projects goes to pay for art installation on city construction sites -- whether it's a new manhole cover or under a bridge! 

Yes, you now have cap measures on Executive performance bonuses. But, are they implemented?  Yes, the Mayor's salary is substantially below market compared to LWSD Superintendent Kimball and CEO Brown of Evergreen Hospital.  But, does the Mayor's "salary freeze" justify uninterrupted, slow and steady annual salary increases for your employees?   Yes, you've cut 19 jobs, four of them yesterday.  But weren't over nine of them contracted Microsoft workers?  

Praise to the three councilmembers voting against the levy ordinance -- Pat Vache', Kim Allen, and David Carson.  Councilmember Pat Vache' is truly attuned to the business and neighborhood communities.  Vache' commended the Mayor on achieving $2.6M in 'innovative' cuts.  Yet, he claimed the dire state of the economy changed everything and "what is nice to do is not really necessary" under the circumstances.  He wisely noted procedures were in place to tap money in response to an "event".

(NOTE, 1/2/11 - Vache voted FOR the 1% property tax this 2011-12 budget cycle and Myers voted against it). 

While I am not against most of these measures,  I'm taxed out.  How about you?

by Bob Yoder

High School Sports Blog | Redmond football coach Mike Pluschke resigns | Seattle Times Newspaper

High School Sports Blog Redmond football coach Mike Pluschke resigns Seattle Times Newspaper

Passionate comments from my FaceBook friends on Sen. Lieberman's role in health care.

Joe Lieberman must go.   What do you think?

Sen. Lieberman has indicated he plans to join with Republicans to filibuster any health care bill that contains a public option. Alone, the Republicans don't have the votes for a filibuster. So by joining with them, Lieberman would be tipping the balance of power in order to sink health care reform. - Facebook

Hank:  For those of us who believe in choice, Joe is more than just a traitor.

Dan:  I don't get it. He doesn't agree with you, so.... HE'S A TRAITOR! Was there some espionage going on? Did he aid the Taliban? How is he a traitor? How about a little tolerance here.

Kim:  Time to use our majority to change the numbers needed to filibuster. If not this,then what? If not now, then when? Real health care reform cannot wait any longer.

Dan:  Arguments in favor of ANY legislation that will increase spending are moot in light of the fact that we have a deficit. If you really want to push for some legislation that spends more money, first cut an equalent amount from the budget. Anyone can spend when they have control of the printing presses, it takes a little more intellectual honesty to prioritize and make the hard decisions when operating WITHIN budget limits.

Bob Yoder:  Dan, I'm sorry but you are sounding a little like an accountant. Bean counters aren't going to solve this generational health care problem. It's simply too big of a problem for both parties to deny. Tax dollars will be spent by the Right or the Left to either patch it or fix it. I'd favor a healing transfusion over a slow bleed anyday.

Dan:   Bob, I will assume that you are willing to increase the budget deficit in order to fund additional spending on heath care. That's very generous of you to pass along the cost + interest to the following generations of citizens. Why not just pay as we go along? Then we will feel the immediate impact of our financial obligations without pushing them off onto our children. BTW the only way to avoid sounding like an accountant when discussing buget issues is to ignor the facts and just focus on the emotions.

Dave:  Joe Libermann is a traitor because he agreed to become part of the Democratic caucus after his failed campaigning for John McCain. In turn for his allegience to the party, the Democrats awarded him with a committee chairmanship and other perks reserved only for Democrats which is of course the majority party.

Now when the Democrats need him most the sides with the stonewalling Republicans and doesn't even leave open the possibility of compromise. If that's not a traitor, I don't know what is.

Could it be that his decision is influenced by the fact that he has taken more money than most politicians from the health insurance industry, many of which are headquartered in Connecticut? Nah, that couldn't be it!

Dan:  Well then, take away his chairmanship. Maybe the Democrats can sell it to another senator in exchange for his/her vote.

Readers:  (Feel free to chime in.)

Last names have been withheld for the privacy of the participants. 

NOTICE, 12/19/2010:   RNB has a new Privacy Policy, effective 12/19/2010. (see "About Us). This is the only old post I will update with this announcement.  The new Privacy Policy is implied on all other posts in RNB published after 12/19/2010.  by Bob Yoder 

Sonic Forest, Grand Opening!

Christopher Janney’s Sonic Forest will be at Redmond Town Center December 4-12. We’ll have an opening at 7:30 pm on December 4 at the center plaza at Redmond Town Center. It is free and everyone is invited. Drummers are welcome to bring their drums!

Sonic Forest runs from December 4-12, 9am-10pm.

Updated, 12/8: The public is left scratching their heads trying to figure the School Board's funding vote.

The School Board in a semi-monthly Public Work Study Session with the Administration

OPINION:  Updated 12/8:   I spent over 3 hours this weekend  watching the video of the LWSD School Board's, 11/23 Regular Meeting.  They were voting to approve the Superintendent's levy/bond funding measures

In review, I noticed what appears to be several errors and omissions in the voting process.  I brought this to the attention of the Administration and the School Board.

My observations:   The Board's Motion, Second and Vote to approve Resolutions 2044 (levy),  2045 (levy), and 2046 (bond) was incomplete.  At minute 26 of the video, Director Eglington made a motion to approve "the package of three measures." He didn't read the measures aloud or hand them to the Chair.  Director Bernard's Second was question.

The only Board vote was 12 minutes later (38 min) after Pendergrass motioned to allowed for changes and consistency in language.  Bernard's "Second" was questioned. (for the second time)

If you want to see the 11/23 meeting video for yourself?  GO HERE .  Advance the video to 26-27min. and to 37min to see watch the motions.  The one vote taken had the shape of an  'amendment' allowing for changes in language. (37min.) 

I am not a lawyer, but in my brief research of  Robert's Rules of Order (RRO) I noticed the following  shaky parliamentary procedures.

1) A Director never "read the resolution(s) and handed it over to the Chair." (RRO)  Nor did a Director or the Chair read the resolutions or resolution numbers.  How does the public know what was voted on?

2) "The agenda and all committee reports are merely recommendations" (RRO), as is the Superintendent's report and so they can't substitute for reading the resolution.

3)  The final Motion (by the Chair) and seconded by (Bernard?) was "to allow changes" (amendments).  The Chair never read the resolutions or referred to them other than as "ballot measures".

4)  The Chair didn't declare, "The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted" (PPO). The resolutions were never identified or read.

This voting appeared  loosey-goosey, disorganized and lacking common sense parliamentary process. Yet, the District's attorney says it's legal.  Of course.   Scrutiny of the tapes show the LWSD School Board parliamentary process is problematic.

Why do I care so much?  I honor and respect the Board's service. But, the Board's current voting process leaves anyone viewing the vote (especially, without the resolutions) confused about "what was going on."  Voting on $300M measures is serious business and the public should expect it's done right, so it's understandable and appropriately recorded for the record.
 
What do you think?  Wendy, you too. What's right about the School Board's process?  Will you listen to the tapes?   Dr. Kimball's comments and the District legal counsel's argument are beyond capacity of this blog platform.  

11/23/09 meeting video tape.

by Bob Yoder

PS. No need to download "Silverlite" to view the video.  I don't recommend it.