Mayor to hold informational meeting on Downtown Construction Projects

Redmond, WA —Members of the Community are invited to join City Staff and the Mayor on Wednesday, September 26th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm in the Council Chambers to hear about the next phase of plans and development for Downtown Redmond. “I encourage everyone who works, lives and plays in Redmond to come learn about the next phase of the exciting plans for the Downtown core,” states Mayor Marchione.

The Mayor kicks off the Open House with remarks and viewing of a short informational video in the Council Chambers at 6:00pm. Immediately following, residents and citizens will have a chance to meet key staff to learn about the many public and private projects underway in Downtown Redmond. Public comments are sought on interim development plans for Downtown Park. Other projects and programs that will be highlighted in Downtown include Cleveland Streetscape Improvements, the 164th Ave NE Extension, Redmond Central Connector, Redmond Way Water Quality Facility development, and upcoming projects with art and historic preservation.

City Press Release, 9/19/12

Hope to see you there!  BY

LETTER: Resident points out innacuracies from LWSD Communications Department

Nancy Shen said...

LETTER:  I feel that I must point out some inaccuracies in LWSD Communications Director Kathryn Reith's letter in response to my posting about the overcrowding at Rosa Parks.

The article I was referring to was published on September 22, 2010 in the Redmond Reporter. Ms. Reith's letter in response stated that the Redmond reporter article was written when the district was seeking public input into the bond measure to be put on the ballot in February of 2010.

This response is incorrect because the Redmond reporter article was written more than 6 months after the bond levy was struck down by voters.

Therefore it is clear that the school district has not taken enough action in the last 2 years to address the overcrowding at Rosa Parks. The grade reconfiguration only delayed the population at rosa parks from reaching over 900 students this year. This move certainly helped many other schools in the district, but hardly helped Rosa Parks.

The only action the school district has taken in the last 2 years is to add additional portable classrooms and staff.

September 17, 2012 11:15 AM 

Nancy Shen is responding to LWSD Communications Director Reith's Letter:  "Setting the record straight on the overcrowding input sessions." 

The Gift of Conservation Futures

The Gift of Conservation Futures

By Terry Lavender

Conservation Futures is a small portion of your property
 tax specifically dedicated to acquisition of land in King
County and its cities for conservation and open space. It was first introduced
in the State Legislaturein 1971 by Kirkland Republican Alan Bleuchel as
part of a larger package of environmental legislation that also established the
State Department of Ecology. The legislation stated that it is a ‘fundamental
and inalienable right’ of citizens to have a healthy and pleasant environment.
Governor Dan Evans signed the legislation into law. Every county was granted
the right to collect funds to purchase Open Space.

The interesting fact is that no county used this authority until 1982
when King County used it to jump-start the Farmlands Preservation Pro-
gram and purchase a large portion of Cougar Mountain. King County has
collected the funds ever since.

This region is shaped by conservation—it is our soul and our legacy. In
the past three decades, Conservation Futures has been the largest single
financial contributor to this effort. In Bear Creek, these funds have con-
tributed to nearly every piece of property protected—from the Upper,
Middle, and Lower Bear Creek Conservation areas; Cold Creek and Mary
Cash Farm; the wetlands along Evans Creek; the newly purchased proper-
ties south of the Tolt Pipeline Trail; the confluence of Mackey Creek, and
others in the works. Snohomish County used this authority for half of the
funds to purchase the Paradise Valley Conservation Area. You can multiply
this success across King County in every river and creek system, city open
space parks like Bellevue’s Mercer Slough or Seattle’s Thorton Creek, over
100,000 acres of forest development rights purchased and protected farm-
land.

This year marks the 30th Anniversary of King County using this fund.  At a
celebration of some of the founders and longtime advocates, King
County Executive Dow Constantine, a strong supporter of this funding gave
a speech on the measure. 

Read Terry's entire article and Dow's speech in the Water Tenders Fall Newletter  

Digital Art Festival in Redmond September 21 - 29

DIGITAL ART FESTIVAL
9/21/12 – 9/29/11

The Digital Art Festival: the yearly techy art event that brings together illustrators, animators, dancers, programmers, game designers (and more, including knitters… yes.. knitters), for an amalgamation of inspirational lectures, art shows, art booths, art competitions, performances, interactive displays, and lots of other fun stuff, finally returns to Redmond for its fourth run. (www.digitalartfestival.com).

The festival was founded in 2008 by the Redmond Arts Commission. Now for the first time it is no longer associated with the City and is being put on entirely through a grassroots volunteer effort led by former Arts Commissioner Kamal Siegel. But with this baby bird leaving its nest, will it be able to fly on its own? I guess we’ll have to wait and see…

The event kickoff is coming up on Friday the 21st of September. READ MORE >>

LETTER: What happens when the elementary students burst into Evergreen Middle and Redmond High?

LETTER:  Regarding the suggestion to use the Redmond Ridge East parcel [intended for a new elementary school if a bond passes] for a new 6-12 campus, I agree!

With the addition of 9th grade, Redmond High School has now reached an enrollment of 1900 students. There are not enough lockers for the students, assemblies must be held in "shifts" and the hallways are almost impassable between classes. I know of no plan to address the overcrowding issue at the 6-12 level when the HUGE population of today's elementary kids enter middle/high school.

Adjusting the attendance boundaries to move kids to Wilder is the obvious short-term solution to address the overcrowding issue at Rosa Parks. But what happens when these kids leave elementary and spill into Evergreen Middle and Redmond High School?

By Julie
 ..in response to a comment listed listed below this post...

LETTER: Setting the record straight on the overcrowding public input sessions

LETTER:  Let me set the record straight on the Redmond Reporter article from two years go. That article was written when the district was seeking public input into the bond measure to be put on the ballot in February 2010. As a result of that public input, funding for a new school for Redmond Ridge East was part of the measure. The measure failed: had it been passed by voters, we might have been celebrating the opening of a new Redmond Ridge East Elementary School.

My comments concerning possible solutions “to ease overcrowding at elementary schools” was a general list of possible solutions for overcrowding at any elementary school.  It was not a list of solutions under consideration for Rosa Parks Elementary School: a second elementary school on Redmond Ridge was under consideration for Rosa Parks.

The actions the district has taken over the last two years regarding Rosa Parks Elementary School are:
·        Ran a bond measure that would have built a new school in Redmond Ridge East. Voters did not approve the measure.
·        Completed a grade reconfiguration program that moved an entire grade out of all elementary schools, including Rosa Parks. That move also opened up space at Wilder Elementary that was not available last year.
·        Added portable classrooms to meet increasing need.
·        Added staff and budget to handle the increasing numbers.

There have been significantly more children per household enrolled in the school than the average development in our district. That factored into an enrollment this year about 80 students higher than projected. That higher than expected growth has outstripped the district’s efforts. As a result, we have committed to working with the community to develop a plan for the fall of 2013-14.

Kathryn Reith
Communications Director, Lake Washington School District

In Response to Nancy Shen's LETTER: http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2012/09/letter-lwsd-administration-sought.html

LETTER: LWSD Administration sought public input on overcrowding two years ago - the problems still persist

LETTER: 

Nancy Shen said...

2 years ago the LWSD sought public input into ways to fix overcrowding problems.

Here is the article from the Redmond Reporter on September 22, 2010

http://www.redmond-reporter.com/news/103545154.html

Short term strategies were already considered back then including eliminating full-day Kindergarten programs or setting new boundaries to balance enrollments.

Directly from the article "The district could also bus students from overcrowded schools to others that are less crowded and/or add more portables, up to the state limits."

So 2 years later the only action the district has taken was to add additional portable classrooms.

These actions certainly did nothing to ease overcrowding at Rosa Parks

LETTER: President Pendergrass appreciates Dr. Pierce's efforts to ensure all voices are heard at Rosa Parks

LETTER:  As president of the Lake Washington School District Board of Directors, let me state that I do not agree, nor do I believe my fellow school board members agree, with this characterization of our reaction to the district administration's efforts concerning Rosa Parks Elementary School.  I believe the message Chris Carlson was trying to get across is that issues like this are complex , involve many different views and families and therefore take time to get to a resolution that is best for all students.

In fact, I appreciate Dr. Pierce's efforts to ensure that all voices are heard in this situation. I also appreciate that it takes a little time to gather all the information and the public input that is needed to get to the right decision . That is what I expect of Dr. Pierce and I am confident that she will deliver.

Jackie Pendergrass
jpende47@gmail.com

In response to:   http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2012/09/rosa-park-parents-and-school-board.html

Rosa Parks Parents and School Board Frustrated by "glacial slowness" of LWSD Administration

Rosa Parks Elementary on Redmond Ridge is severely overcrowded and the LWSD School Board and Administration know it.   More than 20 parents and students have presenting twice during Board meetings for over an hour about the unacceptable conditions and Superintendent Pierce visited the school in August.   Pierce's short term solution so far is to add more administrative help and limit recess to two grades at a time.   The school's ten portables cut out 50% from the play areas not leaving much room for fun or a solution to the overcrowding.   The school structure and grounds have a capacity of 483 students yet according to parent Heather Rosenburg "it's almost approaching 800 students." 

Another parent, Karen Swenson says "enrollment could reach 900 students if development keeps increasing at Redmond Ridge East.  Sending only Kindigardners to Wilder does not achieve right size.  We need a decision by the end of January before Kindigarden registration - including forcasted enrollment - to decide if we should stay, move, varience, home school, and go to private schools." 

Dr. Pierce will hold a meeting with the Rosa Parks community September 27, 6:45-8:15PM, at the school to seek feedback on short term solutions and discuss long term plans. According to parent Beth Zimmerman, Katheryn Reith of the Administration identifies short term solutions as: 1) eliminate full day kindergarten, 2) convert specialized classrooms to regular classrooms, 3) set new boundaries, 4) bus students, 5) add two more portables.  Zimmerman called the overcrowding an emergency situation. 

Julie Ann, parent of a second grader and past community liaison to the Seattle Public Schools understood the Superintendent Pierce's goal not to reboundary twice for students in Redmond East.  She recommended temporary relocation saying North Shore District has accommodated schools similarly in the past where she once lived and the boundaries are not complex. 

A parent with a second grader recommended moving Kindergartners and 1st Graders to Wilder (which is 75% of capacity with declining enrollment).  Or, to move Redmond Ridge East except Chandler to Wilder. 

Boardmember Chris Carlson said:

"I wanted to hear from somebody from Redmond Ridge East.  I have yet to hear from such people.  It still feels we have a community that's asking to move the other half of your school but I haven't heard that yet.  People clamouring to "Please bus us to Wilder" would be fantastic but I haven't heard that yet." 

Boardmember Chris Carlson from the Kirkland district concluded for the Board saying,

"We do feel your pain and the solution is going to be frustratingly slow - glacial.  It won't happen before the next meeting.  The community must work with Superintendent Pierce.  We as a Board are not writing a check to move all those kids [to Wilder Elementary].  It's unacceptable not being able to solve it [the overcrowding] this year but it's slow.  Tracie will work with you as a community.  It's something we are hoping you can work with her." 

Redmond's new school board member Siri Bliesner said "it's been a long term problem and it's important to be addressed now."   Redmond Ridge school board member Doug Eglington said "it's not fun.  It's frustratingly slow and will take some time." 

President Pendergrass from Kirkland and Juanita area said "there will be a solution" before Kindergarten registration in January so parents can decide where to send their kids.  "Superintendent Pierce is trying to involve the entire Redmond Ridge East and West communities and it takes time."

Reported by Bob Yoder

"The job of the Board is to represent the citizens and to lead the organization by asking critical questions and by determining and demanding appropriate and excellent organizational performance." (LWSD By-Laws)
 

Learn "Hands On CPR" in this one minute video - or sign up for an Evergreen Health program

      AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Official 2012 Hands Only CPR Video Guide (1min)

Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation has come a long way with the new AHA approved compression method called "Hands Only CPR".  View the one minute clip to see how simple and effective it is.  Or watch this engaging two minute interactive AHA clip here. 

Evergreen Health Hospital teaches the program to adults and children from various locations, but I haven't seen their program in Redmond yet, have you?   Of 400,000 citizens in the hospital district, "1,986 residents took the Hands Only CPR program last year, according to Kay Taylor, Director of Marketing, Evergreen Health.   About 1/5 of the participants are adults and were charged $40 each for materials. 

Under commissioner oversight, it's free for the rest thanks to levy funding.  They are considering expanding the program since so few in our community know about this simple and easy life-saving CPR technique and some have asked for it.   If you want to sign up for the hospital program or see Evergreen run it in your city try 425-899-3000 or visit the Evergreen Health website.   The commissioners and administration may decide to expand the program in some way with your input (and your tax dollars).  Do you think they should?   The City of Redmond teaches the technique in their C.E.R.T. program and new RedmondReady program (redmondready.org).  

King County Public Hospital District No. 2, registered with the State and Seattle Times for public noticing as "Evergreen Healthcare," was established in 1972 to serve citizens in north King and south Snohomish counties. Registered voters (155,154) elect 5 Commissioners to oversee the 2012, $15,285,968 annual levy and $9,242,180 capital bond.   Serving more than 400,000 citizens every year, the District operates a 290-bed hospital and a network of primary and urgent care centers. Evergreen Healthcare district boundaries include Bothell, Duvall, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, part of Sammamish and parts of unincorporated northeast King County.
 

Mayor Marchione and staff participate in new city Wellness Program

From left, Erin Saunderson, Emma Calvert, Jessica Tramp, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, Andrew Sundene, Julie Tramp and Christoph Myer visit with the mayor Tuesday afternoon. Marchione signed a proclamation to make November to be National Diabetes Month in Redmond. All of the teens were diagnosed with diabetes — most since before they turned 7. In addition, Marchione, 45, was diagnosed at age 38
Bill Christianson, Redmond Reporter, (Republished from 2010)

 In their August 21, 2012 meeting City Council approved the Mayor's new Health and Wellness Program with Additional Benefits.  Start-up costs will be $78,625 in 2012 and $71,625/year (based on 60% participation.)  The program will provide individual coaching, and other educational resources and tools to assist managing health risk factors of staff. 

Marchione expects to get full return on investment through good participation by staff.  Participation is the key to the program.  In house events and marketing literature will be introduced to city staff to encourage participation.  The program will address risk factors like nutrition, stress management and obesity.  City staff will be given incentives (undisclosed) to participate and improve. 

Mayor Marchione (age 47) was diagnosed with Diabetes Type II at age 38 and is in a good position to lead staff as a role model of participation.   Could we see the Mayor walking our sidewalks or swimming in Hartman Pool?  Will he declare November as "National Diabetes Month" as he did in 2010. 

The City of Redmond remains one of the best employers to work for in our area with 2009 wages and benefits averaging $108,000/employee and turnover very low.  Average pay per household in Redmond over the last three years is $92,164 according to recent City finance "Dashboard" data.

Reported by Bob Yoder
Photo by Redmond Reporter

REPUBLISHED: Redmond teens and Mayor Marchione spreading awareness about diabetes

From left, Erin Saunderson, Emma Calvert, Jessica Tramp, Redmond Mayor John Marchione, Andrew Sundene, Julie Tramp and Christoph Myer visit with the mayor Tuesday afternoon. Marchione signed a proclamation to make November to be National Diabetes Month in Redmond. All of the teens were diagnosed with diabetes — most since before they turned 7. In addition, Marchione, 45, was diagnosed at age 38
Bill Christianson, Redmond Reporter

Redmond teens spreading awareness about diabetes - Redmond Reporter:

REPUBLISHED FROM 2010:  "Marchione, 45, who was diagnosed with diabetes at 38, readily agreed. On Tuesday, the mayor met with the six teens to sign a proclamation declaring next month National Diabetes Month. In addition to being diabetic, Marchione had one more thing in common with the youths. He is a Ben Rush alum as well.

“I was in the first kindergarten class when the school opened,” he told the teens during the proclamation signing. “So getting an e-mail from some Ben Rush kids was cool.”"

Read More >>

Thai family in Redmond hunts crayfish

Hi All,

On a Saturday afternoon in August, I spotted a Thai family hunting
for crayfish down below the promontory in front of the Opportunity Building on the Sammamish River.  Yes, Redmond!

In the first photo, you can see the mother bent over, searching for crayfish under the rocks.  In the second photo, a young boy holds up a small "signal crayfish" that his mother caught with her bare hands. 

They had caught 10 or 11 crayfish at the time I took these photos.
In addition there were two asian clams in their bucket.  These clams are eaten in SE Asian where they originate. 

I asked the mother if she boils the crayfish.  She said no, she fries them. 

Photos and Report by John  Reinke

How livable will Redmond be in five years?

EDITORIAL:  When City councilmembers visited neighborhoods during "National Night Out" in August, one of the most common questions neighbors asked was about downtown construction and downtown parking. I've spent hours searching the city website and emailing city officials trying to get a straight answer - even a simple list of construction projects and the most Mayor Marchione's Administration can come up with is "Major Projects Under Construction, dated Sept. 30, 2011." Why is it so difficult to get a straight answer when "customer service" is at such a premium by the Mayor?  I believe the Mayor is in a defensive mode with the election only two years away and he wants to minimize the severe traffic congestion issues we will be plagued with once the thousands of "sleep and eat" apartments with inadequate underground parking are installed. Redmond is destined to be one grid-locked, "drive through" boring community unless the downtown business community can be revitalized. But delaying the two-way lane conversions at Redmond Way and Cleveland St. until after the election only limits predictability and business migration to our downtown. Some Councilmembers appear to be looking the other way with interests outside of Redmond, and anywhere but here. One result: we now have over 20 "H" wayfinding Hospital signs in Redmond where no hospitals exist. Council did clarify in their last meeting "we DO have a Downtown Park." It's that green patch of grass used by dog walkers, awaiting the Mayor's "Master Plan."  Another patch will be added in a year after Marchione demolishes the Brown Building and  quasi-historic Redmond Cycle.  How about a water fountain for the downtown technology workers and their pets?   In the meantime, neighborhood housing projects continue to develop and scar our hills.  Will Redmond be drivable in five years? Livable?    Bob Yoder, 8-30-12

Since publishing this opinion under the "City of Redmond, WA." header page, the City Communications Administrator wrote the city would be updating their website over the next several weeks.  We'll see.  BY. 

LETTER: Hartman Park is out of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

LETTER:   Before the city spends $278,000 on new turf for the baseball field, they should figure out how much it will cost to update Hartman Park so that it is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Maybe it would be a better idea to use the funds earmarked for the new turf to instead make Hartman Park ADA-compatible.

Most of Hartman Park is very difficult if not impossible for visitors/athletes in wheelchairs to access. There is only one handicapped parking space for the entire park and it's located in the lot next to the play set – far from the upper Little League fields. The main restroom building has a handicapped stall but the door is not automatic and is too stiff for most wheelchair users to open. Getting to fields 5 & 6 is next to impossible because the hills are too steep and there are fences in the way.

The Parks Department staff might want to review the US Dept of Justice agreement with the City of Milton, Washington (http://www.ada.gov/milton/milton.htm) to determine just how much work the park needs and then they should make a plan and start the upgrades before someone files a complaint with the DOJ.

 - Anonymous reader






 

Hartman's Babe Ruth Field to get new synthetic turf

According to report by Marchione's staff:  the large, regular-sized baseball infield - Babe Ruth Field - at Hartman Park is in need of repair with patches sewn on top of patches.  "The existing turf fibers are excessively worn and require a replacement in order to assure safe and consistent playing surface." wrote a parks staffer.  Stop by and take a look for yourself to see how worn this 12 year-old infield is.  Last week, the council took Mayor Marchione's word and approved $278,206.58 to convert the infield (including the dirt home plate area) with new synthetic turf.  The funds are baked into the "Parks and Recreation Turf Replacement Fund" and were itching to be used. 

Read the city proposal here:   http://www.redmond.gov/common/pages/UserFile.aspx?fileId=81861

Report by Yoder

 

 

 

 

"Redmond Wild" promotes backyard habitat for wildlife

Nithi Thillai promotes "Redmond Wild" at the Saturday Market - an organization encouraging
low maintenance wildlife habitat outside Redmond homes, businesses and schoolyards.

Readers have contributed many fish and wildlife photos here:   a wintering coyote with squirrel, a crow preying on a snake, pond ducks, wintering geese, pileated woodpeckers, beavers, river otters, salmon, stickleback minnow, bobcat cubs playing in a backyard, deer, Marymoor bird hikes, raccoons, bald eagles, fresh water mussels, crayfish, heron, black bear...

Wildlife is abundant in Redmond neighborhood backyards, easements, parks, and roadsides but the City still isn't recognized nationally for our rich habitat which serves these "critters."   Kirkland, Sammamish, Tuckwilla and Bellevue are all certified as "Community Wildlife Habitat" by the National Wildlife Federation.  According to Nithi Thillai of Redmond Wildlife,  "the Federation needs to certify 90 more homes (condos and apartments, too) for "wildlife habitat" in Redmond before our city is certified.  Nithi rents an apartment and composts food. 

There's no reason why Redmond isn't on this list other than the campaign is new. Certification is a simple one page questionnaire about the food, water, and shelter sources in your backyard, the places to raise young, and use of sustainable practices like native plants, compost, etc.  It gets you thinking a little more about the birds that travel through. 

Getting certified is all about awareness of how we can create resources and corridors of viable habitat for wildlife travel throughout Redmond - one backyard at a time.  Once the questionnaire is mailed you  will get a fee year membership to the  National Wildlife Federation, a certificate, and a coupon from the Woodland Park Zoo.  Apply here:  http://www.redmondwild.org/certify-your-space

Redmond Wild website:  www.redmondwild.org   Phone:  206-819-4217

Report and Photo by Bob Yoder

More LWSD students than ever meet ACT College Readiness Benchmarks

More Lake Washington Students Than Ever Meet ACT College Readiness Benchmarks

Some scores dip slightly after last year’s large gains but trend is up.

Redmond, Wash. – More Lake Washington School District (LWSD) students than ever scored high enough on each of the four ACT tests to meet the college readiness benchmark for all four subjects – English, math, reading and science. While nationally only 25 percent of students met this standard and 38 percent met it statewide, 57 percent of the students in LWSD who took the ACT qualified. That is up from 55 percent last year and continues a rising trend over the last five years, from 50 percent of students in 2008.

This achievement was accomplished despite slightly lower average scores in three of the four subject categories.   Read More >>