Shops in downtown "B&B" strip mall to get "the boot"

161st Street will punch straight through Redmond Way and B&B Auto to connect with Bear Creek Parkway. This red roofed, unsightly strip mall will be leveled. Redmond's first skyscraper (Cleveland building ) is in the background. (Taken from 161st / Redmond Way intersection.)

Small businesses are just beginning to exit the older downtown strip malls of Redmond and more will follow. Downtown real estate is expensive so these shops are being forced out of their digs by "higher and better uses."

The historic and now unsightly "Redmond Shopping Square" (pictured above) is scheduled for demolition by 2009, according to tenants. The 58-year old 8-store strip mall is anchored by B&B Auto Parts, Frederick's Appliance Center and Parker Paint. It's at the intersection of Redmond Way and 161st St. According to tenants & historical society, "Sol" has owned the property since about 1955. Before that, I think it was a grocery store run by a Filipino farming family - but the Historical Society or Sol would know best.

I visited almost every store in the Square including having a savory lunch buffet at Kanishka Cuisine of India. Great food and I discovered taste buds never known! Sol wasn't happy when the city asked him to demolish his Square for the road. At last resort, the city had to "take" Sol's (with compensation) property because improving traffic circulation downtown is now critical. Luke at Frederick's Appliance said they were happy with the city's relocation support and terms.

The 161sth Street extension will move B&B, Frederick's, Parker Paint and Kanishka Cuisine of India out of the immediate downtown but I don't know what will happen to the smaller eastern shops. Rumor has it a "modern" retail and or parking may go in. Will our fair city convert 161st Street to an attractive, pedestrian friendly "promenade" with outdoor shops, book stands, dining, bicycle racks, and...? Is this an opportunity!

Where will the small businesses flee? It appears most prefer to be associated with Redmond, but downtown real estate is expensive ....up to 5 times more expensive than their strip mall digs, according to a tenant. The Bell-Red and Rose Hill areas were mentioned a lot. Parker Paint is planning to merge with their Bellevue Store when they move and focus more on retail business. I hoped for Kanishka Cuisine, they would move to the evolving Overlake urban"international district".

When my neighbors watch Black-tailed deer wander down 116th St. looking for a new forest home taken by redevelopment, I'm saddened. Fortunately, these small businesses aren't on the "endangered list" - in fact, I'm counting they will thrive. We WILL miss our "old friends" at the Redmond Shopping Square and look forward to rediscovering them when they find their new homes next year. In the meantime, this historic mall and their tenants will be in business all this year so stop by, and say hi!

A native of Redmond owner of the EASTSIDE GYM ( 95st St. & Willows Rd.) first told me about the proposed extension of 161st St. The Gym is friendly & affordable & I can bike to it from my home on Ed. Hill. It was dis-located last year from a strip mall demolished to build a new Group Health clinic and multi-family housing. (near the construction cranes.)

View Larger Map

Outdoor Art funding to be decided for the Public Safety Building during Council meeting of 1/15

Approved outdoor art for Police Building (right)

"Redmond Arts Commission (and baby)" picture posted on the Arts Commission Website

A city proposal to approve an "Art tax" to fund a $30,000 Outdoor Art project for the remodeled Public Safety Building is linked HERE. A photo of the artwork was provided courtesy of councilman David Carson.

Council will "vote" on this proposal during their meeting on Tuesday, 1/15. This item is on the "Consent Agenda" so council automatically authorizes use of existing funds & conversation will avoided unless a councilmember "pulls Item #4".

The Arts Commission has been recently rejuvinated and reorganized with nine capable, creative, enthusiastic citizen volunteers and outstanding staff. Some of them are my friends. The commission holds public meetings advertised on their website. Comments from citizens are welcome and appreciated by the commissioners by email RAC@REDMOND.GOV or during meetings.

Comments? Opinions? Thoughts?

Mustang Boys & Girls Varsity basketball post wins vs. Lake Washington!

01/11/08 Mustang Girls Basketball Flash: Redmond (11-2) over Lake Washington 62-55.

The Lake Washington Kangs held a 34-24 lead early in the third quarter before the Stangs rallied to take a 59-50 advantage with 1:46 left in the game. LW made things interesting at the end, going on a 5-0 run to trail 59-55 before Redmond pulled away for the win. Courtney Martin led all scorers with 23, Mary Petrie added 12. Next up: at home Wed Jan 16th -vs- Garfield, JV 5:45PM Varsity 7:30.

- photos courtesy of Jerry Smith, Redmond team photographer - (click photos to enlarge)

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The Redmond Mustang Boys Basketball team traveled to Lake Washington and entered a hostile environment. But, they pulled it out! 47-40. The Lake Washington Kangs looking to break their losing streak were stifled by the Redmond defense. Senior Andrew Linquist led the Mustangs with 17 points and Justin Alexander added 12 as the Mustangs improved to 8-3 on the season. Junior post man Dominique Redeau provided a huge spark with some important rebounds and clutch free throws. The game will be televised today, January 12 on channel 21 @7:00PM. For more details visit the www.redmond.gov web site.

Reference: Redmond High School Basketball website

Lake Washington School Kangs website (The westside of Redmond goes from 148th Ave. west to LWS. I think Mayor Marchione was a Kang.)

Our "Western Gateway view corridor" is harmed by a new project

Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor and "wooded hillside" assets are blocked off by the new "ElementRedmond" townhouse project. 15-20 foot setbacks don't help the look.

"Gateway View Corridors" are a similar yet different issue from "Shoreline View Corridors." Have you seen the "ElementRedmond Townhome" project just west of Willows Road on Redmond Way? For affluent Redmond, WA. they look "affordable" but at $400,000 and up? Though not near a "shore", this project seriously harms Redmond's Western Gateway view corridor. I gag every time I drive down Rose Hill and see this massive cluster of "mega-town homes". We need new housing and ElementRedmond has nice amenities, but at this 'price'? Click on the link above to learn more about them.

These tall, angular structures, seem to jut out at you. Worse, they completely block the views we once had of the green wooded hillsides of Education Hill and North Redmond. Thin setbacks leave virtually no room for vegetative buffering. These structures, "3-deep" with garaged parking, appear to be set-back only 15 feet from Redmond Way sidewalk! Prepare for increased traffic congestion on Rose Hill a year from now.

The above pictures tell the story...or take a drive down Rose Hill. How on God's Green Earth could we allow this "WALL" of structures blocking public the scenic views of our wooded hillside city asset? (ref: Guy Michaelson, Berger Partners, Seattle)

Is it time for the city to amend zoning and design standards to protect our public view Gateway and Shoreline corridors from mega-projects and mega-homes?

Or would you prefer just to leave public view corridors unregulated, with the market deciding how far property owners will go with obstructive, intrusive buildings?

What are your thoughts? Any comments?

Mayor Marchione and council confront "costs of government"

Oh, what a difference a year makes! In the first council meeting of the year, Mayor John Marchione and council began establishing a game plan for prioritizing & measuring the cost of government. They are working together like a well-oiled machine, egos aside, and trusting their competent leader, Mayor Marchione. I'm expecting a lot of productive work from this government. Did you know you can watch them on Tuesday nights on Channel 21, 7:30pm?

"Budgeting by Priorities" as Councilman Richard Cole and Mayor Marchione call it, is a efficient *bottom-up approach being introduced by Mayor Marchione to an eager Council. One and a half years ago Councilman Richard Cole recommended a consultant to educate the Ives Administation and council on "budgeting by outcomes". Mayor Ives never gave the concept support. I remember Rosemarie Ives telling me she simply didn't like the "budgeting for outcomes" idea.

The Ives Administration's preferred budget strategy was a more free-wheeling, top-down, line item method with public input given after the fact - towards the end of the process. The Ives administration's approach was to spend lesser-prioritized money on ancillary services -- leaving neighborhoods & businesses pressured to pass new taxes for critical fire and police services. Citizens were wrongly placed in "the hot seat". Thus the 60% no vote on the first, expensive levy proposal. Priority, basic services should be budgeted & funded FIRST and foremost -- not at the tail end of the process. Councilwoman Kimberly Allen first mentioned how 'urgent safety needs' are used to motivate citizens to approve new property taxes (and indirectly fund non-prioritized items). Where were our priorities?!
The huge difference this year is our new Mayor Marchione has "the tools", experience, and team to move our city to a *bottom-up budget AND Council really wants to roll up their sleeves on this one. The Mayor calls "Budgeting by Priorities" a cultural shift that will take a couple years to fully enact. (Budgeting by Priorities used to be coined Budgeting by Outcomes).

In the meeting, Councilmembers Hank Margeson and Allen voiced strong advocacy for public participation and transparency. A consultant, Beverley Stein, highly recommended Focus Groups for citizen identification of priorities. Surveys, open houses, and Internet were also mentioned. All will be offerred in some way "up front" to the public prior to government vetting.

The Mayor will form a "Guidance Team" of 3-4 citizens to meet 3-4 times/year to advise and assure the integrity of the process. Are you interested? Additional inputs will come from the "community indicator work" done last year by staff (Churchill), planning commission, and council. Of key importance, public input will be up front during "budgeting for priorities". No mention was made of using the public feedback generated from Ives "Budget Summit" forum. I don't know why.

Councilman Dave Carson asked the Mayor how flexible he is about shifting a worker from one department to another department. (In his campaign, Dave promoted cutting staff as a significant control for cost of government). The Mayor skillfully supported his staff saying his excellent departmenatal Directors are flexible and versed in re-training. Interestingly, City Clerk Malissa Files has been re-asigned (promoted) to Budget Manager. That's a positive.

Councilman Hank Myers probably asked the most pointed, strategic questions for the evening. He fills Robinson's seat more than adequately. Mr. Myers indicated the change in the form of the budget would be dramatic and he wanted the average person to be able to read it with the goals readily identified.

Mayor Marchione indicated the budget document would be 1/2 to 1/4 the size of the old Ives document!! To me that speaks volumes (no pun intended) for pruning excess from our bureaucracy with efficiencies. After a very long dry spell, happy days are here again! Could anyone not smile??
* the "bottom-up", budgeting by priorities process will be further explained in future blogs.

Tom Hitzroth, New President for the Redmond Historical Society

"History is Happening in Redmond!"

Excerpts from President Judy Lang's (on right) remarks in the "Redmond Recorder", January 2008 newsletter:

"It is with great pleasure I pass the gavel to our new president, Tom Hitzroth.

Tom (on left) is not a newcomer to the Redmond Historical Society or the preservation of
history. He has served on our board since 2002, and leads walking tours through old
downtown. Tom is currently serving on the City of Redmond Landmarks and Heritage
Commission, and the Kirkland Heritage Society. He is also researching the murder of James Colman in 1890.

Tom’s involvement in Eastside history began in 1992 as president of Marymoor Museum. Later he served on the board at Issaquah Historical Society. Some of his past historical research includes the Tosh homestead, Redmond Meat Market, and the murder of Letitia Whitehall. We are fortunate for all the folks like Tom who are interested and willing to spend their time keeping our history alive. Thank you Tom!"

This Saturday's society event was a tribute to Larry Nelson, "Captain Radio" (October 1937 -November 2007) and native of Redmond. Larry passed away on November 29, 2007 after a battle with lung cancer. Larry excelled in tennis a loved golf and polishing his 'ole luxury car. Larry loved music and sang a few years with his band, the "Shades". He attended "Everett Community College".
Larry moved from Kirkland to Redmond as a baby when the population was less than 500; and left our world the "radio legend" from KOMO 1000. He is fondly remembered during Husky games talking it up on KOMO at football tailgate parties. He took his show around the world - to Australia, Paris, Calgary, Berlin, Spain and yes, Redmond "Derby Days"! Larry is survived by his wife, five sons, and daughter-in-law Maggie.

Redmond celebrated Larry's contributions at the January 12th Redmond Historical Society meeting with stories from friends, relatives, and a slide show from Miguel Llanos.

A Special Guest that day was In-coming MAYOR John Marchione
...................................................
2008 Executive Board
Tom Hitzroth President
Chris Himes Vice-President
Miguel Llanos Vice-President
Joanne Westlund Treasurer
Margaret Wiese Corresponding Secretary
Beryl Standley Recording Secretary
www.redmondhistory.com

RHS website

OPINION: 520 widening: "No place for water to go!" - Susan Wilkins

Photo is taken of Bear Creek behind Safeway during the December '07 storm; not a good day to sit on the park bench!

OPINION about how the proposed state 520 widening project will impact our safety & welfare.

"It appears that the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) never updated their flood maps and calculations to reflect the build-out of Redmond Town Center! The maps do show the Redmond Town Center (RTC) buildings and Bear Creek Parkway, but the flood maps are not updated to reflect that most of the 100-year floodplain that used to cover the RTC site is now filled in.

Bear Creek is now confined to the small channel area between the Bear Creek Parkway and 520 and of course it floods during a major storm event -- there is almost no place left for the water to go. And the WDOT wants to reduce this channel by another 30 feet! (Oddly, their document shows the new flyover bridge in a 100-year floodplain that doesn't appear in the 1998 map. Did anyone even look at this document before signing off on it?!)

It seems to me that the WDOT is using hopelessly outdated maps and data to justify their claim that the 520 widening will have no adverse effects on the stream, flooding and salmon habitat. "

Susan Wilkins, Redmond citizen geologist

How do you feel? Any thoughts?

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Should bicyclists be licensed to ride in Redmond?

Should bicyclists be licensed to ride?
The City of Seattle recently gave the green light for a $240 million plan for new bike lanes and street upgrades. Redmond may someday invest heavily in street upgrades for bikes. And that has some people wondering if bicyclists, like motorists, should share some of the costs of the road. Like a licensing fee. The Seattle PI looks at the options out there, but what do you think?

Top events for Redmond in 2007

Take a look to the right for the survey on top stories for 2007. Do you see it?

Defeat of the first -and expensive - levy lid-lift was up there for me as one of the biggest events in Redmond 2007. Why does the city give a "property tax increase" the wonkish label of "lid lift"? No one really knows what a lid lift is. (Oh! there's the reason!) This mysterious terminology is just as nebulous as that 4-page "marketing" piece staff mailed -- crammed with vagaries. No wonder citizens clamoured for "transparency". My Letter to the R. Reporter griped about the $50M plus City Hall albatross. I voted for the levy only to support council. It wasn't easy. 60% voted NO vs. safety and park funding.

The election of Marchione was #1 for me. It was historic, with the start of a "Marchione dynasty" and the end of Rosemarie's 16 year reign. It was the first time I ever campaigned and it was exciting. The long process brings out the best and worst in candidates (and their supporters). My blog stories gave me some voice. It was fun! And, the best man for leading the City of Redmond won!

The size and cost of our new City Hall was my #2 story because of it's harm to our budget & city services and especially for it's symbolism of government waste & excess. Why no citizen input on this "project"? The first lid lift lost mostly because of the City Hall. The size and expense of the building demonstrated Rosemarie's power, control and charismatic personality. The Silver Thaw art flood lights outside of the Hall never worked from the start. Bureaucracy at it's finest.

The removal (clear-cutting) of Perrigo Heights hill-top woodlands was a nightmare for the neighborhood. 8 acres of mixed conifer/hardwood urban forest and trails gone. Hartman bog wetlands lost it's shelter from the sun and wind and is drying up. I wrote three columns in the Reporter hoping an angel would step forward. Mayor Ives "partnered" for a cheap deal. The new $70 million City Hall made council feel "cash poor". As Redmond urbanizes, the next generations of Redmonites will pay dearly for our short-sightedness.

The Redmond High School basketball's District tournament wins was refreshing and happy news for this usually gripey blog! "You gotta believe!" ....and our young men and their coaches DID! Did you see any games?

Rosemarie Ives , Mayor of Redmond, 1991 - 2007

Rosemarie Ives, Mayor of Redmond, 1991-2007

Very nice of Rosemarie in front of City Hall "Ice Thaw" sculpture

published by The Seattle Times, 12/19/2007


"The Many Faces & Places of Rosemarie" - a video tribute
produced by Kim Van Eckstrom, City of Redmond

Four-term Redmond Mayor tried to "Lead from the Heart"
SEATTLE TIMES, 12/19/07

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

video clip of flooding onto SR520 floodplain

Click HERE to view a video clip of flooding along the north bank of Bear Creek -- only 20 feet from the SR520 freeway in Redmond, WA.  - Video contributed by Gary Smith, past Trails commissioner. The clip was videoed from Gary's car driving west on SR520 towards West Lake Sammamish Blvd. About a minute long. 

12/13/2007

WSDOT's flawed SR 520 freeway widening design

Washington Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) flawed environmental plan for widening SR520.

The NW Regional Administrator for WSDOT states "WSDOT is accountable during 520 widening to several local, State and Federal agencies for permits...to ensure the project can be completed with practical environmental impact.

FACT: WSDOT is not complying to the City of Redmond Critical Area Ordinance on sustaining 150 foot Creek buffers.

FACT: WSDOT is not accountable to the Washington State Dept. Ecology for "no net loss" during wetland mitigation sequencing.

FACT: WSDOT is not accountable to the Federal/State Endangered Species Act for Bear Creek Listed Chinook salmon.

The WSDOT design does not ensure environmental measures are practical to anyone but themselves.

Read the next blog for a solution.

Click HERE for a short video clip of Bear Creek flooding its southern banks during a car ride to within 20 feet of SR 520.

Staff report on proposed 520 widening project unveils serious environmental shortcomings by WSDOT

Click HERE for aerial photo of Bear Creek & 520 widening site:

Mayor Ives asked staff to give a report to council on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) SR 520 road widening plan. It won't be long before WSDOT files a city application to reduce our Bear Creek buffer protections from 150 feet to 60 feet!

WSDOT failed to file a complete Environmental Impact Statement on the widening project leaving the public out of the process. It is now clear WSDOT has shown complete disregard on three key environmental issues.

• Issue #1) environmental impacts to Bear Creek endangered Chinook & habitat were never addressed or acknowledged by WSDOT.

• Issue #2) Critical Area Ordinance wetland mitigation sequencing was ignored. Instead, WSDOT is mitigating the myriad of project wetlands off-site and not addressing required "no net loss" wetland management practices.

• Issue #3) WSDOT is not compensating for loss of flood plain storage.

City of Redmond stormwater engineers estimate it would take $10 million to fix the environmental (and flood hazard) component of the WSDOT widening plan. The city could probably find grant money to pay for restoration of the northern bank of Bear Creek. Estimated city cost is $2.5 million. WSDOT's 8 lanes of traffic only 60 feet from Bear Creek has a huge impact on the environmental and flood hazard components. Thus, it is expected WSDOT would be responsible for the majority of the restoration work.

Managing Bear Creek/520 flood hazards, natural resources, and preserving our endangered species and heritage can't be accomplished without the support and encouragement of our state representatives. THE BOTTOM LINE is we need to write our state legislators and request their effort to fund the Bear Creek/520 restoration.

We have some good news already! State Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy have already responded to citizen input and are requesting additional information! Two influential and powerful Redmond council members are traveling to Olympia next month (Allen & Cole). Mayor Ives and Mayor-elect Marchione both appear enthusiastic and optimistic. But, we have a lot of letters to write!

Mayor Ives has even suggested writing Ron Sims in King County about shifting half of the widening to the South. Below are quick links to our representatives. Please take 3 minutes to sent them a note!

STAFF VIDEO REPORT at December 11 council meeting: http://www.redmond.gov/aboutredmond/rctv/ondemandcouncil.asp
(scroll 1/3 into the tape)

Contact Senator Rodney Tom, Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy HERE:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?city=Redmond&street=10019%20169th%20AVe%20ne&zip=98052 Citizens outside of Redmond can locate their Representative's contact information at this link, too.

Representative Deborah Eddy is a crucial contact for us since she is Vice-Chair of the "Local Government Committee". Her committee deals with land use and local permitting issues. Ms. Eddy's website is HERE: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/eddy

Representative Campbell: House Select Environmental Committee http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/campbell

Senate members or Natural Resources and Recreation Committee http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/NROR/members.htm

King County Executive Ron Sims: exec.sims@kingcounty.gov

James Pater, Permit Review, WA. Department of Ecology mailto:dapa461@ecy.wa.gov

FYI, Washington State Environmental Hearings Office Website is: http://www.eho.wa.gov/. This office hears appeals to the Shoreline Management Act. The City of Redmond hears appeals to the Buffer Variance.

PROPOSED SR 520 WIDENING - Redmond Historical Society position statement

Submitted by: The Redmond Historical Society, Board of Directors

The Redmond Historical Society’s mission includes preserving the historic character of Redmond, and our natural and cultural history is part of that character. We are concerned that WSDOT’s proposed widening of SR 520 might have at least three negative heritage impacts:

1) Salmon populations. Redmond’s Shoreline Management Act establishes a 150-foot buffer, in part to protect the Salmonid populations that navigate Bear Creek and the Sammamish River. It appears part of the proposed widening would violate that buffer.

2) Bear Creek. We support the city’s recent efforts to put meanders back into the Sammamish River, and the same should be done with the last half-mile of Bear Creek. We would like to see it meander through native growth areas and natural wetlands just as the upstream section does, and we understand that city officials have a perfectly good plan for such restoration work. In fact, that plan was just updated last year from a long-standing idea that was recognized in WSDoT’s proposal for widening SR-520. The executive summary of its Wetlands Biology Report states that this project is the final phase of work begun in the 1990s and lists a previous phase as “restoration and relocation of Bear Creek (completed in 2000).” The obvious problem is that, despite an agreement to do this when the whole project started 10 years ago, they did not complete that work on Bear Creek down to the Sammamish River. Why don’t we accomplish this now in conjunction with the widening of SR-520?

3) Native American culture. Mussel shells and arrowheads found along the Sammamish River and near Bear Creek by UW archaeologists have established that indigenous tribes camped along the shorelines as long ago as 8,000 years ago. The proposed widening includes the stretch where Bear Creek and the Sammamish River meet, and it is likely this confluence itself was an indigenous campsite. The widening proposal does not appear to provide any safeguards to ensure that such heritage sites are not damaged. Should the widening take place, WSDoT should be required to stop work if anything of Native American origin is found so that the state archaeologist has inspected the site and preserved anything of significance.

The Redmond Historical Society calls on the city to refuse any variance to its shoreline protection regulations and to resist the permit application unless and until WSDoT provides safeguards to the Sammamish River and restoration of Bear Creek to a meandering waterway with a reasonable buffer and healthy wetlands. If the battle moves to a higher level, we call on city officials to rally allies to fight for proper mitigation as part of the freeway widening.

Bear Creek floods 20 feet from SR520 into the WSDOT widening project.

Recent quotes on Central Washington flooding from "The Seattle Times"

Andy McMillan, long-time wetlands manager for the state Department of Ecology: “It’s kind of sad, we keep repeating the same mistakes even when we know better.”

David Montgomery, UW scientist and author of the salmon book and more recently, Dirt: “The more stuff you put in a floodplain, the higher the water will rise.”

--contributed by citizen G. Smith

This photo shows Bear Creek flooding only 20 feet from SR 520 highway. The new road widening will pave over all the land and floodwaters you see in the picture.

SR 520 is planned for widening by WSDOT to within 50 -60 feet of Bear Creek where Listed Chinook salmon live and rear their offspring. This picture was taken by Steve Hitch, Stormwater Public Works engineer for the City of Redmond. His comments to the Citizen Advisory Committee on flood hazard management plans are, as follows:

The WSDOT SR 520 project map website is HERE: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR520/WLakeSamPk_SR202/Map.htm.

The information on the graphic posted on the WSDOT website: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/NR/rdonlyres/10092E37-16F0-4A50-8BE9-C4B9016552B1/0/

"520 Section map shows that the widening will be exactly where this picture was taken, and will extend 64 feet towards Bear Creek. (All the widening is towards Bear Creek, none of it is toward Marymoor Park.) That means that in the future, there will be cars driving on a road where the water was flowing today. That means reduced flood capacity, not to mention loss of buffer habitat for the creek.

You will recall that the City and its Citizen Advisory Committee have been working on a Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan of which you are a part.(http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/publicworks/stormwater/floodplan/default.asp). We are finalizing the final draft, planned for adoption in 2008, and it will likely address the needs Bear Creek has related to the SR520 widening."

- Steve Hitch, Public Works, C.O.R.

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Send your comments to city planner Cathy Beam cbeam@redmond.gov as soon as possible to influence the outcome of this neglectful WSDOT plan. Your input (and from your friends) is critical. Originally, WSDOT planned to re-locate Bear Creek to the north and away from 520. It appears they don't want to spend the money to do the job right. As is, Redmond's Shoreline Ordinance will be violated and our required 150 foot Bear Creek buffer will be reduced to 50 feet in places. Bear Creek habitat will be destroyed by this project. It is important to write Redmond city council and mayor with your comments to: mayorcouncil@redmond.gov

Photos/video of Redmond storm of 12/3/07

Flooding Bear Creek is only 20 feet from SR 520; road widening is planned for here. Email Cathy Beam, city planning with your comments to re-route Bear Creek away from 520. cbeam@redmond.gov . Broken grass is high water mark of flood. (below)





Bear Creek flooding 20 feet from SR 520 (above right & left)


Bear Creek behind Safeway

Picture on right is of Willows Golf Course. Lots of waterfowl here. Three above pics are of Bear Creek behind Safeway along the paved trail (at Bear Creek shopping center). Not a good day to sit on the park bench! Two pictures at top are of Bear Creek by SR 520.



The two video clips above are of Bear Creek on 116th St. bridge by Juel Park -one clip is upstream & other is downstream (click on play > button)

Video clips of flooding & stormwater treatment facilities, 12/4

Bear Creek by Safeway

Bear Creek at Juel Park near NE 116th St. & Avondale Rd.

Keller Farm - project site for Aegis Living Corp.

Bio-swale at NE 104th and Avondale - stormwater treatment - reoxygenation/filtration

detention pond turned into a wetland by city by PCC on 116th St.

Bear Creek behind Redmond Town Ctr. near proposed SR 520 widening

A rebuttal to the Ives Administration on my final "Redmond Reporter" column on water supply

In February, 2007 I was asked by John Huether, Editor of the "Redmond Reporter," to write a column about Redmond events connected in some way to Council and Administration's work. I wrote 11 "Citizen Watch" columns. I will periodically post my columns on the Neighborhood Blog for those who missed them or to make a point. In this case, I am highlighting parts of my "water supply" column that Kim Van Eckstrom, Redmond's Chief Communications Officer objected to as "inaccurate." This was my last column accepted by the Redmond Reporter since Van Eckstrom's complaints to the new Editor, Bill Christianson. Some have asked me to rebut the Administration...which I do at the end of the column.

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OPINION / "We face a water supply challenge" by Bob Yoder, 'Redmond Reporter', 7/11/07

Walking Perrigo Woods trail last week, I noticed construction materials dumped next to the “Perrigo Springs memorial willow and historic marker”. The city is looking for the contractor responsible for this oversight. (1) As if enough wasn’t enough for Redmond’s historic spring, CAMWEST DEVELOPMENT is building a steep-slope sewer pipe to service the 24-home Perrigo Heights project. The pipe will run within yards of the spring.

Perrigo Springs was Redmond’s only water supply until 1927 and it served as a major source of supply until 1962 – hard to believe. To visit Perrigo Springs from Avondale, drive to the end of 180th Ave. NE. Or, hike down the trail from NE 100th St.

Redmond’s two present sources of drinking water are: 1) the ground and 2) from the Reed Mountain watershed (5,331 ft), east of Carnation. About 40% of our drinking water is stored in an underground “aquifer” and drawn from five city wells. Redmond’s aquifer is only 5-20 feet below the surface so keeping hazardous waste off the ground is critical. After citizens reported a waste site on the Evans Creek bank aquifer last year, the city initiated a “ground water monitoring program” and “online” hazardous waste reporting. (2)

The remaining 60% of our water supply is piped from the Tolt River reservoir, fed by the Reed Mountain watershed. Recently, the city has recently combined Tolt Reservoir water with well water for projects, like Perrigo Heights.

The Avondale well (#4) (3) has been challenged, in part, by a loss of pervious land paved over by multiple, housing developments. Pervious land is required for recharging our aquifer with rain water. The city is working with AegisLiving to preserve historic Keller Farm wetlands vital to aquifer recharge. Aegis is proposing to set aside 119 acres of wetlands they bought from historic Keller Farm (pumpkins!) adjacent Avondale Road, Aegis plans to build a retirement community on the parcel’s remaining 6 acres.

According to the Redmond website, city water customers have doubled in the last 10 years. (4)More alarming, King County population is expected to increase 300,000 by 2025 –the equivalent of Tacoma and Bellevue combined! By 2020 existing water supplies will not be enough to reach forecasted demands (2001 Pug. Sd. Reg. Outlook).

With 12,000-plus moving into Redmond within 10 years, what is the city doing to keep up with demand? Redmond has partnered with the regional Cascade Water Alliance to build a new $55M supply system. Councilman John Marchione is on the Board.

The Alliance plan: Lake Tapps in Tacoma will store mountain water originating from eastern Mt. Ranier’s Emmons glacier and the White River. Emmons glacier is huge but started retreating in 2003. University of Washington scientists forecast a 59% loss of snow pack by 2050 due to global warming. Much is at stake! Conservation is critical.

Bellevue saved 20% by implementing a “water conservation program”. Visit http:// savingwater.org for excellent conservation tips, rebates, and free devices. Tell city officials to initiate a “water conservation program”. (5) The Alliance alone won’t solve our next generation’s water needs.
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Rebuttal

(1) Bill Campbell, Acting Director of Public Works told me they were trying to get in touch with the contractor.
(2) My statement is correct is found on Redmond's website link under "Activities" 2007: http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/publicworks/environment/grhistory.asp
(3) Edit. At the time I wrote this article, the city had taken off the No. ID's from their Wellhead Protection Zone map. The city is numbering their Wellheads on site but still not on the Wellhead Protection Zone Map. Wells no longer appear to be named after streets ie. "Avondale well" but that could change. I learned tonight that #5 (by Target) is the most productive and important well and most subject to stormwater run-off and infiltration from SE Redmond industrial area. Council has allowed these industrial businesses to continue to discharge stormwater by infiltration. (7/08). DNR will be installing a 300 acre regional stormwater system in the area, soon! This has been promulgated by the new Costco warehouse. 6/17/08
(4) My statement is correct and used to be referenced on Redmond's website link under "Wellhead Protection Ordinance Updates". http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/publicworks/environment/grhistory.asp
*Van Eckstrom DELETED from the site: "The City of Redmond has grown and doubled the number of its customers in the past 10 years - making care of its precious and limited water supplies all that much more important". I have a hard copy of the original web page.
(5) Mayor Ives told me after a council meeting they've had a conservation program for 16 years. My answer is: 1) my column is an OPINION column and I didn't think we had much of a program. 2) as it turns out we didn't have a program plan in writing. ..rather a rebate offering and occasional Public Service Announcements on RCTV and FOCUS magazine.
October, 2007 the city initiated a Water Conservation Efficiency Program, linked below: http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/20071016pdfs/IIIA1.pdf Case closed!

The Administration's claims were enough to 'frighten' the new Editor into cancelling my column. The fact the Primary election was around the corner had everything to do with it.

Some new Public Notice improvements!

"Citizen participation in the planning process --a horrifying
prospect to some administrators -- has proved to be the most effective way to avoid mistakes (and unintended consequences)." - SUBURBAN NATION by Duany, Zyberk & Speck

Just prior to Councilman Resha's departure from council, his Planning and Public Works Committee with citizen input recommended public notice improvements to council and staff. Below are improvements staff made in response to citizen effort. Special thanks for staff's addition of Notice into our city website; and appreciation to councilmen Cole and Marchione for this information! Noteworthy items are highlighted in green. Do you have have any comments?

THE NEW PUBLIC NOTICE IMPROVEMENTS:

A. Sending Notice of Application to residents (renters) as well as owners
B. Re-send Notice of Application when process type changes
C. Create a process flow chart to include in Notice of Application
D. Improve legibility of vicinity maps
E. Encourage (not require) neighborhood meetings for Short Plats (until RCDG can be updated to require)
F. Improve legibility of site plans
G. Provide the tree preservation plan with the Notice of Application
H. Place tree preservation plans, site plans, vicinity maps and flow charts on Internet together with Notice of Application
I. Provide web links on mailed/posted notices to direct readers to the legal notices web page
J. Clarify comments due date to reflect acceptance of comments until decision or hearing date
K. Clarify in notices that e-mail is an acceptable form of comment
L. Increase comment period for Notice of Application to 21 days

Department of Planning and
Community Development
Ph: 425-556-2438
Fx: 425-556-2400

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Examples of PAST Public Notice deficiencies: 1) Perrigo Heights: White and Yellow Notice signs not placed on northern boundary 150 feet, vicinity/site maps unclear, Party of Record list absent for community meetings, mailing list incomplete. 2) Shaughnessey Heights: tree preservation map confusion, incomplete notice to all parties of record. 3) Tyler Creek: Citizens appealed the wrong permit owing to incoherent and confusing legalize on notice, tree preservation map not readily available, incomplete commenting owing to short comment period, not all citizens received notice. 4) Tent City 4: Citizens misunderstood commenting protocol so could not participate in the process.

Deterrents to a fully informed public and project review still exist. For example: 1) more reliable accounting of Parties of Record by staff. 2) when you see the large, white sign on a proposed project it usually means you are "too late" to appeal the plat. This sign needs to go up earlier...and on.

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LINKS:

Current listing of new land use notices:

http://www.ci.redmond.wa.us/cityservices/legalnotices.asp Citywide Legal notices

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Overview of Land use classifications

Overview of Review (permit)Classifications, Public Notice requirements, Decision-maker, Appeal body, Quasi-Judicial (q-j) restrictions... http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/redmond.html
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Public Notice requirements for each Review:

Detailed breakdown of each of the seven reviews, with examples of permits; and identification of Quasi-judicial (q-j) whereby the public input to city council is restricted.

Type 1 Reviews (permits) "plumbing" (eg. hot water heater), "tree removal", "temporary use" (Tent City), "clearing and grading", signs, street use, "electrical & building permits" (retaining walls) http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3030.html

Type II Reviews: "short plat" subdivision http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3035.html

Type III Reviews: q-j (public input restricted) "preliminary plat" subdivision (>9 lots); "shoreline variance" http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3040.html

Type IV Reviews q-j (public input restricted) "planned residential development" (PRD) - usually combined with subdivision. http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3045.html

Type V Reviews q j (public input restricted) "sensitive area exception" (e.g. steep slope sewer); annexation http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3050.html

Type VI Reviews "development guide" amendment; http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3055.html

Type VII Reviews "historic landmark" http://mrsc.org/mc/redmondcdg/cdg20F3060.html
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Public notice signage and Critical area reporting requirements:

http://www.ci.redmond.wa.us/insidecityhall/permitting/devapps.asp#CriticalArea

The above Land Use link describes the yellow public notice sign and the large, white notice sign w/PRD information seen on proposed developments. SCROLL DOWN. Critical Area Ordinance reporting requirements are also listed. If you were to pull a project file that had wetlands and streams you should be able to find 5 documents required of developers to account for buffer averaging and other buffer mitigation calculations. If not, contact Cathy Beam, planner.