UPDATED: Ramiro Valderrama brings growth and traffic into perspective

City of Sammamish councilmember Ramiro Valderramo is interviewed and touches on concerns with the growth management act, pace of growth, impact fees, 3 new high schools within a mile of each other, lose of tree canopy....

Our Redmond council candidates, electeds and voters need to listen to Ramiro's interview..  He is a wise man with a good sense of humor; they could learn a lot from him.  Though Duvall may have wiggle room it's almost too late for Redmond to adjust to our growth cycle. This is a must listen for Redmond City Council and Mayor Marchione. I'm sure the council candidates are listening.

B. Yoder

"King County Assessor Wilson says tonight at a [Sammamish] city council meeting we should expect average Home in Sammamish will pay $1,400 more for McCleary Tax alone -add ST3 property tax, car tabs and sales tax and he says “we are precariously close to pricing people out of homes” and encouraging having a CA proposition 13."

-- Quote from Ramiro Valderrama, City of Sammamish councilmember.

Eugene Zakhareyev, Council Candidate Position 4

Eugene Zakharevev

POSITIONS:

Balance Urban Growth

The Eastside is growing, and Redmond must accept its share of growth. Yet, this growth does not have to change our city into Seattle. In the last few years, we have seen family businesses in Downtown Redmond give way to rental apartment buildings; the majority of capital investment projects are also located it this area. The cost of Downtown two-way conversion project is over $20 million, total cost for the two-acre park in Downtown Redmond is over $40 million - but all the while, the needs of our city are not limited to Downtown and Overlake neighborhoods.

It is time to review current policies to balance development in designated urban centers with the needs of other neighborhoods, as we all are affected by growth in Downtown and Overlake. We need a proactive approach to address traffic congestion and population growth across the city, with solutions implemented before the approval process of development projects and not afterwards.

Empower Community in Land Use Development

Tanyika Padhya, Council Candidate Position 4

Tanika Padyha

POSITIONS:  

Ensuring balanced growth

I believe that while our city is growing, Redmond has the heart of a small town.  Its unique neighborhoods, parks and trails and thriving economy, have made it the number one city to live in Washington. 

However, our city is on the cusp of change with record growth in the region that requires smart planning that preserves our residential neighborhoods, protect rural areas, and safeguards our natural resources.  This growth poses many challenges and opportunities.  I am committed to continuing my work on:  

• Low impact development that preserves our natural resources
• Supporting both small and large businesses so they can thrive
• Revitalizing our aging community centers
• Maintaining our parks and trails
• Complying with the Growth Management Act to ensure transportation and infrastructure funding for Redmond
• Promoting multi-modal transportation options such biking, carpooling, increased bus service and light rail
• Monitoring transportation projects in order to ease traffic congestion

Safeguarding Affordable housing

SCHOOLS: Candidate Forum for 45th Legislative District and LWSD.

Candidate Forum for the 45^th Legislative District and LWSD School Board

Wednesday, October 11, 7:00-8:30pm, Redmond High School Performing Arts Center

Co-sponsored by the Lake Washington PTSA Council and the Redmond High School PTSA

As a voter in the 45th Legislative District the future of the Washington State Senate rests in your hands, as the political party (Democrat or Republican) that wins the election in November will hold the majority in the State Senate. What that really means is that you hold the power, and there is no better time to learn about the candidates and how their positions will impact our schools and our community.

Lake Washington School District is the third largest school district in Washington, serving nearly 30,000 students. That number is growing every year. Do you know your candidates? Do you know their goals for our students and our schools? Lake Washington PTSA Council and Redmond High School PTSA are sponsoring a candidate forum so we can all get to know our candidates better before the voting deadline. This is a neutral, nonpartisan event to which all candidates have been invited.

Candidate Forum Participants

45^th Legislative District:
Manka Dhingra
Jinyoung Lee Englund

LWSD School Board:

District 3
Anita Damjanovic
Cassandra Sage

UPDATED: Redmond Candidate Forum

Steve Fields, Position 2: 

Byon Shutz, Position 2

Jeralee Anderson, Position 6

Jason Antonelli, Position 6 

Tanika Padhye, Position 4 

Eugene Zakhareev, Position 4

A Candidate Forum was held at the First Baptist Chruch on Education Hill last week.  The first up were school board candidates.  Besides the Voter's Pamphlet, this forum probably gives you the best information on the candidates you can find.  

Paige Norman, the founder of "Educatiion Hill Neighborhood Association" (EdNHA) organized and moderated the forum.  Miki Mullor, a City of Sammamish resident and entrepreneur will speak about their moratorium at the EdNHA meeting on November 2nd, 7 pm. 

Thank you Paige!

UPDATED: Redmond's vanishing forested views

Three stories up, and three to go (click to enlarge)

A view from 166th showing Redmond's somewhat dwindling hill of evergreens. It's worse as you drive down the hill, though you sure can't complain Redmond's lush natural surroundings.  Notice the cranes?  I counted 4 from the top floor of the Evergreen medical building yesterday.

Have a nice weekend.

B. Yoder

/photo

The Planning Commission openly deliberates on key issues, the Comprehensive Plan

(l-r)  Stephanie Rodriquez, Vidyonana Rajpatkak, Chair Scott Beithan, Vice-Chair Roy Captain, Phil Miller, Sherri Nichols.
 Planning Director Karen Haluza and  two Senior Planners are sitting with backs turned.  

Every year the City offers citizens, developers, property owners and other entities an opportunity to amend (update) the Comprehensive Plan. This amending process is a Planning Commission duty of high significance and importance.

The Planning Commission has been meeting for months to take input and review five re-zoning proposals for consideration of being "calendared" or docketed for further review and approval by the Commission and Council.     

This LINK provides every topic currently under review by the Planning Commission.   It includes docketing proposals, memos, staff recommendations, public/developer comments, exhibits and project approvals. Below are a few topics under review:    

1)  The City is currently proposing to update to their Capital Facilities Element titled   "Future Vision for Redmond - Capital Facilities Element."  The proposal is already docketed and contains a lot of interesting information about the City's future plans. Find it HERE. 

2)  It's my understanding a proposed "Quadrant Homes" rezone from "Business Park" to "Mixed-Use Development" will be re-docketed.   Quadrant is considering constructing 165 town homes, 300 apartments, and 10,000 s.f. of retail/commercial space on 15.57 acres -- on the SW corner of NE 124th & Willows Road. Installing a stoplight on the corner is in the proposal.  

The N.Y,C. developer

3)  A controversial, long-winded proposal by an aggressive N.Y.C developer, Capital Partners is under consideration by the commission.  The developer wants to rezone 4.21 acres on the corner of Avondale and NE 104th from R-4 to R-30. Staff members (the "TC") are not recommending approval though a rezone to R-12 for senior housing is a possibility.  (It seems the commission usually goes along with many or most of the TC's recommendations.)  

4)   A while back, the owners of Redmond Town Center (RTC) proposed a modification of their "Open Space Designation" agreement with the city.  They have since withdrawn this proposal.  

Interesting background:  A 1997 agreement between the City and RTC conveyed a perpetual, non-inclusive easement to allow "among other things, the right to operate a farmers market"  Presently, the "Saturday Market" is located on this 2-acre easement.  Termination of the Open Space Designation requires a mutual agreement between the City and RTC.  

5)  Susan Wilkins, a Redmond citizen, asked the commission to docket an amendment to the zoning code to "adequately plan school facilities" so students residing inside the City of Redmond are not required to travel outside the Urban Growth Boundary in order to attend school. The Planning Commission voted against the proposal.  Ms. Wilkins put in a ton of work, without pay, to formulate this proposal.  Planning commissioners don't get paid either.  

The commissioners are citizen volunteers living in Redmond, appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council.  They don't make land-use decisions; they conduct Hearings and serve only as an advisory body to Council.  

B.Yoder
photos/by

Disclosure:  Trying to understand the Planning Commission's reviews of complex topics is very challenging.  Expect errors, omissions and mis-representations. 

Highlights of a City Council Meeting

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OCTOBER 3RD CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Brian Baker approached the podium in a wheelchair and complained:  1)  the City claims 360 ADA parking spaces are available but few of them are accessible by van.  2) the "sandwich board" signs on the sidewalks create an obstacle course.  Mr Stilin  said the city should not allow signs on sidewalks and Mr. Carson reminded him current regulations require signage be located in streets, not sidewalks.  

City Council reluctantly approved Burnstead's "Hawthorn Park" Final Plat.  In this, and a prior meeting a total of ~8 neighbors including Pat Vache' a retired councilmember **vehemently complained about the disruption and degradation to their private road by an off-site sewer line Burntsead is installing.  ** Mr. Vache' focused on the facts and only mildly complained.   Burnstead insisted they will fully inspect the project when completed for "performance, restoration and maintenance" to ensure all parties are satisfied; and assured that bonds were on file. Pres. Hank Margeson gave an eloquent summery of council's sentiments before the vote.

UPDATED: LETTER: Fields is focused on solutions that benefit everybody

After hearing (repeatedly!) from my neighbor that Steve Fields is the guy for Redmond City Council Position 2, I decided I wanted to find out more for myself. I met Steve at his Thursday Community Coffee Time, heard his insights about issues affecting Redmond – and then he listened.

When Steve talks about his vision for Redmond, “Build Community not Just Buildings,” it actually means something. He believes that the best civic leadership is based first on trust, then making sure residents are well-informed, then engaging the community in a dialogue before important decisions are made. His process is to bring stakeholders together and figure out a solution that benefits everybody. I like that he’s a “project guy”.

LETTER: Actions we can take towards sustainable living

Shutterstock

U.S. cities, states, companies, and organizations have banded together in the face of federal withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, pledging to move to 100 percent clean energy and adopting the climate agreement themselves. Now more than ever, it seems individual actions can make a difference.

Here are twelve ideas you can implement on an individual level:

Don’t buy a new home; renovate an old one. The greenest home is one that’s already built. But older housing stock is often less energy efficient. The true green home is an old house brought up to speed with 21st-century sustainability solutions. Harvard’s "Center for Green Buildings and Cities" seeks to transform old homes into affordable models for energy efficiency. Inefficient existing buildings are one of the world’s biggest energy problems; the best place to start making a difference is at home.

Xeriscape your yard. Huge lawns use a lot of water to maintain, so consider adding drought-tolerant plants in order to reduce your water consumption by 50 to 75 percent.

The development of North Redmond -- Before and After

BEFORE

"The Curry's use to own most of that side of the street back in the day. I use to buy hay from Mr Curry in the early 90's, and graduated from Redmond High, with one of his son's in 1970. 116th from Redmond Woodinville Road to Avondale was a pleasure to drive on admiring the farms". - Constance

AFTER

"Hawk"s Glen" a Quadrant development on 116hth -- 27 lots --  Million dollar homes are likely here.  At least 4 large residential developments are currently under construction along 116th / No. Redmond.  No significant developable land remains.   (Click to enlarge the photo.) 

B. Yoder
photos/ by

OPINION: Our perceptions of homelessness, living on the fringe

Jamie is sitting on the left with his friend (click to enlarge)

A blog reader emailed  me about a little known, highly littered bike trail just west of the Redmond Target parking lot.  (See a map below.)  She thought cleaning it out and recycling the cans would be a good community project. Out of curiosity I took a look. 

On the trail I saw these two Mexican men sitting next to each other with a grocery cart and an opened rack of beer. They waved.  Hidden behind trees and bushes my first thought was they were homeless so I continued on, avoiding eye contact. 

On the way back to my car I decided to engage with them. Jamie was very open, friendly and warm-hearted. He was clean, well-groomed, with two missing front teeth.  Proudly pointing at the dirt on his knees he said he finds temporary day-labor work at the nearby Home Depot.  Jamie insisted he was resting with only one beer after building a cement ramp on Redmond Ridge.  He was waiting for a bus to take him to his apartment in Bellevue. I couldn't believe he could afford to live here, but he manages to get by -- sharing an apartment with three others paying $1200/mo rent. I asked if he or his friend would like to know about the City's human services but he wasn't interested.  Jamie said he has lived in America over 20 years and has 5 children in Mexico.  He mentioned Obama and the Recession.  

Jamie's friend had nothing to say -- I don't think he could speak English.  He was wearing good working boots. He didn't appear drunk.  This man reminded me of an Italian immigrant I worked with on a golf course when I was a teenager.

After Jamie distanced himself from his friend and the grocery cart he reluctantly allowed me to take this picture.

"Read More" for a map of the bike trail 

LETTER: Vote for Cassandra Sage, School district Position 3

Cassandra Sage for Position 3 on the Lake Washington School Board is the right choice.

I know Cassandra through the PTSA, an organization dedicated to student’s success and welfare.  Volunteers serving the PTSA are the most hardworking, dedicated and organized people I know. The PTSA awards volunteers for their work and the Golden Acorn award is their highest honor. Cassandra has earned FOUR, Golden Acorn awards, over her 22 years of service to the PTSA from four different schools. Being awarded once is no small matter, but four awards tells you something about Cassandra. This is an amazing achievement and few are in her elite class of volunteers. The award criteria language states: “awarded to an individual who has given outstanding volunteer service to ALL children and demonstrated commitment to helping them achieve their potential, beyond what is recognized as part of their responsibilities, duties of office or job in the PTSA”.

Not only has Cassandra dedicated herself to the PTSA, as a parent with special needs children, she has years of experience with the issues of Special Needs students throughout the district. She is a thoughtful listener, speaker and writer and would serve the district well as it continues to grow as one of the highest rated school districts in the state. I have no doubt in my mind that Cassandra will dedicate herself to this position. She should be your number one choice as well.

Lile Ellefsen

Kirkland

UPDATED: School district recaps Boundary review meeting

BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS UPDATE, 10/25/2017
Boundary Review Process Update!

The District held a Community Boundary meeting at Redmond Middle School this Tuesday to review their four scenarios.  Pam and I attended; we met several of the district executives and neighbors.       Bethany Pendergrass, Director of Communications and Community Engagement just published an EXCELLENT RECAP of the meeting which includes these videos. (Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen is narrating.)  The recap offers a good opportunity to give feedback.  The comment period ends in October.





"Read More" to see 2 more scenarios

Thirty-eight LWSD students named National Merit Semifinalists

Thirty-Eight Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists on September 13. 

Sixteen thousand high school seniors nationwide qualified. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. More than half will win a National Merit Scholarship. These students will be able to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $32 million

Students qualified for these awards by completing the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists include the highest scoring students in each state. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. 

LETTER: Vote for Cassandra Sage, the right choice for our students and communities

There is probably no elected position that has a greater direct impact on our families and communities than that of Director for our school districts.  These individuals have a profound impact on the lives of all of our children, helping to build knowledge, skills and abilities that will help our students achieve their full potential in life.

This year, we are especially fortunate to have the opportunity to elect Cassandra Sage as our Lake Washington School District Director for District 3. Cassandra has been an outstanding leader and advocate for education for more than 20 years.  With a degree in early childhood education, experience owning and operating a pre-school, and active service to the LWSD that resulted in her receiving four Golden Acorn awards, she is the clear choice for District 3.

Cassandra is a strong advocate for ensuring the needs of ALL students are met. She will work for more inclusion of special education students, expanded vocational education opportunities, and greater assistance with college preparation for those going on to university studies.  Endorsed by retiring LWSD Board Director Nancy Bernard, who has served as LWSD Director for District 3 for the past 20 years and is not seeking re-election this year, Cassandra has also been endorsed by former LWSD Directors Jackie Pendergrass, Doug Eglington, and Johanna Palmer, and is endorsed by the Lake Washington Education Association, the labor union that represents educators in the LWSD.

Cassandra Sage is the right choice for our students and communities!

Sherie Valderrama
Sammamish, WA 98074

Sammamish River salmon / J. Reinke

Family-fun Fire Prevention events in Redmond

Meet your local firefighters and make your own emergency escape plan.

Kid adventures:

• Hang out with your firefighters
• Meet Sparky the Fire Dog
• Explore firefighters' vehicles
• Try on firefighters' fire gear
• Tour your neighborhood fire station

Redmond fire photo

Fire Station Open Houses:

6–8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)

Monday, October 9 - Station 13
8701 208th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 13: Bing, Google

Monday, October 9 - Station 14
5021 264th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 14: Bing, Google

Tuesday, October 10 - Station 16
6502 185th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 16: Bing, Google

Wednesday, October 11- Station 17
16917 NE 116th, Redmond
Maps to Station 17: Bing, Google

A regional approach to affordable housing

Affordable Housing – A Regional Approach to a complex Problem

Posted on September 20, 2017 by claudia balducci

Over the last year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, listening and thinking about the problem of crushingly high housing costs in our region.  With the support of my colleagues at the County Council and the County Executive, last year I sponsored a motion creating a regional task force of elected officials from around King County to study the regional parameters of this challenge and come up with regional approaches to address it.  We kicked this work off this summer, and it will continue for about the next year.  

In the process of pulling this affordable housing task force together, I have heard the following type of comment several times:  “We don’t need a task force.  We know what the problem is and we know how to fix it.  We just need X.” In these discussions, “X” is the one approach – or at least the predominant approach – that will solve the problem.  For some people, “X” is increased investment in government-subsidized affordable housing.  For some, it is regulatory reform around growth management rules that prevent suburban sprawl.  For others, it is the political will to change land use rules to allow significantly more infill development.  For still others, increased mandatory inclusionary zoning — requiring higher levels of affordable housing units in every new development or payments.  Accessory dwelling units.  Tiny houses.  Transit oriented development.  Condominium liability reform.  “We’ve just got to put a stop to all this growth.”  The list goes on.

I believe that if any one approach, or even any one type of approach, to this kind of a complex problem would more or less “solve” it, we’d be on our way to a solution by now.  Yet costs to own and rent a home in our county continue to spike.  As H.L. Mencken famously said:  “For every complex problem, there is a solution that is concise, clear, simple and wrong.”

UPDATED 9/24: It's "salmon seeson!"

Looking for Sammamish River salmon from the "Rrusty bridge"  

Today is the second day of Fall and it's salmon seeson!  Have you seen them yet?   Polarized sunglasses help but all of us were able to see a sluggish salmon hanging out below the "Rusty bridge" -- located north of the Powerline Trail in the vicinity of the Overlake Christian Church.

Further upstream, on the Trestle Bridge John Reinke "saw a number of large Chinook salmon migrating south towards Lake Sammamish."  First he spotted "5 or 6, then maybe 8 minutes later counted 24....then 5 minutes another 9 or 10."  To find the Trestle bridge walk west on the downtown Connector Trail for about a half mile.

You should be able to see salmon now through mid-October.

-- B. Yoder

9/24:  We saw a dead salmon this afternoon and heard a few splashes  but that was it.  A kayaker yelled up that he saw LOTS of salmon in Woodinville....so more to come!

LETTER: The importance and value of trees

Tree Art in Anderson Park / Credit B.Yoder

Urban tree canopy cover is the percent of a city covered by the leaves, branches, and stems of trees as seen in an aerial view. Trees have a positive impact on the physical health and well-being of those living in urban communities. We should try to maintain and increase the many benefits trees provide to current and future generations. There are many important benefits of trees.

Trees have public health and social benefits:

.

Trees clean the air. They produce oxygen, intercept airborne particulates, and reduce smog, enhancing a community’s respiratory health. The urban tree canopy directly contributes to meeting a city’s regulatory clean air requirements.

Access to trees, green spaces, and parks promotes greater physical activity, and reduces stress, while improving our quality of life. Urban landscaping, including trees, helps lower crime rates. Studies show that urban vegetation slows heartbeats, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes brain wave patterns. People with a view of nature and trees score higher on tests of self-discipline.