Willows Run Golf Sold to Sasada Sports International

Willows Run "Heron Links"  (Internet)

The full-service golfing facility was acquired for $11.3 million from Vulcan affiliate, Access Golf LLC

SEATTLE – March 12, 2019 – Access Golf LLC, a Vulcan Inc. affiliate, announced today that the Willows Run Golf Course, located in Redmond, WA, was sold to Sasada Sports International in a transaction that closed late last week. The extensive, 300-acre golf facility features two 18-hole championship courses, a nine-hole executive course, and an 18-hole putting course as well as two clubhouses totaling over 13,500 square feet, and several practice facilities.

Originally acquired by Access Golf LLC in 1993, Willows Run was designed by Lisa Maki and Ted Locke. The facility is regionally recognized for its environmental stewardship and responsible land management practices, including wildlife habitat preservation efforts. Willows Run is also the largest single user of reclaimed water from King County’s Brightwater treatment plant.

Under new ownership, the golf complex will remain open to the public and staff has been retained through the transition. 

“My family shares a passion for golf,” says Yuki Sasada of Sasada Sports International. “We’re looking forward to sharing the sport with generations to come at Willows Run.”

2019 State of the City address by Mayor Marchione

February 28th, 2019

The Mayor received three standing ovations.  The presentation was held at the Marriot and sponsored by OneRedmond.  At the end of his presentation he was asked about what it takes to be Mayor.

Redmond, WA snow scene

Flicker

City Hall Customer Service improvements

Credit / "Redmond Reporter" 

I highly recommend e-mailing info@redmond.gov  to get answers and information from city staff. The customer service department is very helpful in assisting you here.  

Last night, Council was briefed by the Customer Service Center Manager during their Parks Council committee meeting.  The relatively new Customer Service Center desk is assisting city hall visitors with processing financial transactions, obtaining business licenses, being directly connected to the appropriate staff for permitting and other needs or receiving information regarding city matters. Most importantly, citizens and residents can get information and report issues here.


During the meeting, there was a lot of discussion about the center's mobile "Your Redmond" app.  Councilmember Carson spoke very highly of it.  Here, you can report non-emergency issues, make service requests, and find answers to common questions on your mobile phone. I haven't downloaded it and use info@redmond.gov.  

Few know that several conference rooms near to the customer service desk are available for developers, city staff, and other in-house meetings. Council Chair of the "Parks and Human Services Committee" Hank Myers asked when/if the rooms will be available for community meetings.  Owing to legal concerns and other problems customer service is still trying to find a way for the community to access the rooms...this has been going on for months.  

I am surprised the Customer Service Center is assigned to the "Parks and Human Services Council Committee" rather than the  "Administration, Finance, and Communications Committee." It seems customer service has more to do with communications than parks. Case in point, I asked why (by info@redmond.gov) a replay of a council regular meeting (in which I spoke) wasn't being played on City TV, only to learn from the city clerk all the replays were scrubbed due to technical difficulties. It's important customer service communicates with the Council Ombuds on these serious issues.  

-- Bob Yoder

Redmond is becoming drab and needs art

According to the Project Viewer, this "LMC-Marymoor" master-plan project is still under review.  It's 5-6 stories, with 433 residential units, 41,500 commercial space and 524 parking stalls, completion 2022.  It sits in a 4.9 acre parcel with room for additional projects.  LMC-Marymoor is master-planned and should integrate public art into this development.  I certainly hope so. 

"The Mayor and Council has requested clarification of the Arts and Culture policies and procedures to more effectively encourage the integration of public art into private development. That directive has become time-sensitive as master planned developments are beginning to provide public art through the public benefit provision of their agreements and as Marymoor Village."

Councilmember Hank Myers was disturbed to find 29 pages of design regulations.

-- Source: 3/5/19 Parks Council Committee meeting & memo (edited)

The Design Review Board stated "As a primary goal for this Marymoor Village is that it become a cool/eclectic place, the architecture, and/or some of the primary elements of the development, should exude eclecticism. On the contrary, the goal of the neighborhood is that it be different from the Downtown neighborhood in that it should be funkier, cooler, eclectic, and different looking than Downtown. The Redmond Zoning Code is silent on how these goals/elements are to be achieved. Therefore, much of this will fall to the Design Review Board to establish. Thus, these ideas need a great deal of attention from the Design Review Board."  (Yes, their recommendations appear quirky.)

-- Design Review Board, 9/20/18

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A great deal of attention is needed by more than just the Design Review Board!  For a project of this magnitude, the City hasn't sufficiently engaged the community in art selection and  other "cool and eclectic" elements for Marymoor Village. The Arts Commission and Park Planning & Cultural Arts Manager should hold 1-2 community meetings in City Hall to present their plan and ask residents for their ideas.  Councilmember Hank Margeson agrees. We need  splashes of art in the development not just buildings. 

-- Bob Yoder

Updates of school projects funded by the 2016 bond

Click on a link below to jump to updates for other projects funded by the 2016 bond:  Timberline Middle School Juanita High School Margaret Mead Elementary School Peter Kirk Elementary School Old Redmond Schoolhouse Ella Baker Elementary School Clara Barton Elementary School Explorer Community School

Timberline Middle School   The gymnasium floor is complete. Kitchen equipment is installed. Painting and flooring are nearly complete. Shelves are being installed in the library. Landscaping has begun.

Juanita High School Geothermal well installation is complete. Watch a video with students from Juanita High School’s Earth Corps club to learn more about geothermal technology. The principal toured the building with project staff.  Casework installation in science labs is complete.  Ceiling grid installation is nearly complete. Sheetrock and painting are complete. Installation of stage rigging is beginning in the Performing Arts Center.  Installation of light fixtures has begun.

Idylwood Park Restoration Planting

Idylwood Park Restoration Planting – A Community Event

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY March 4, 2019

CONTACT Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager
lmaher@redmond.gov 
425-556-2427

Redmond, WA – The community is invited to participate in the planting of over 60 trees and 400 shrubs and groundcovers at Idylwood Park, located at 3650 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, on Saturday, March 16 from 9 a.m. – noon. The plantings will mitigate and restore areas where Cottonwood trees were previously removed.

Volunteers will help plant and mulch the restoration areas. The event is being coordinated through the Green Redmond Partnership. Please sign up at www.greenredmond.org so we can be certain to have adequate tools and supplies.

For questions and more information contact Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager, at lmaher@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov.

On March 4th, GreenRedmond published the event as "full."

Mayor gives report of snow storm clean-up

Correction:  The March 9th event has been cancelled

Storm Debris Collection Events

The City of Redmond and Waste Management are opening an optional drop off location for storm debris at Redmond City Hall on Saturday, March 2 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Redmond residents may bring storm debris ONLY to this special drop-off event – garbage, lumber and recycling will not be accepted. There is no charge for this service. Participants will be required to provide proof of Redmond residency by showing their garbage bill or driver’s license with a 98052 zip code.

NOTE: March 9th event has been cancelled.

Kritzer announces candidacy for Redmond council

Redmond planning commissioner Vanessa Kritzer announced she will be running for Redmond  City Council, 
Pos. 5.  Kritzer is a first-time candidate for office. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Kritzer Facebook.

Kritzer announces candidacy for Redmond council

She will run for Pos. 5 in the election.

• "Redmond Reporter"  Wednesday, February 20, 2019 8:30am
• NEWS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Redmond planning commissioner Vanessa Kritzer has announced that she will be running for Redmond City Council, Pos. 5.

“I’m running for City Council because I want to ensure that as Redmond grows it can continue to be a thriving, accessible, and inclusive place for our children and future generations,” she said in a press release. “I will work to bring people together to make progress on building affordable housing, providing transportation options that meet all our needs, and protecting our environment. In my career, I have worked to drive innovation that empowers citizens and public sector organizations to take action for meaningful impact. On the City Council, I hope to continue that work and promise to ask tough questions, engage Redmond’s residents, and use a data-driven approach to policy making that helps Redmond become a truly smart city.”

Kritzer lives in downtown Redmond with her husband and young daughter, according to the release. She has worked for environmental and human rights nonprofit organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters. She currently works at Microsoft, where she has focused on public sector technology that helps make cities and communities healthier, safer and more sustainable, the release states.

Kritzer holds master of business administration and master of public administration degrees from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, according to the release. During graduate school, she was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as the student member of the University of Washington board of regents.

Kritzer is a first-time candidate for office. In addition to her position as a Redmond planning commissioner, she currently serves on the board of directors for the Anti-Defamation League – Pacific Northwest and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington.

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Vanessa Kritzer's campaign website.

Vanessa Kritzer's campaign Facebook page

Letter to the Editor of the "Redmond Reporter"

Looming taxes continue to burden property owners | Letter

• "Redmond Reporter" Friday, November 2, 2018 11:30am 
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOROPINION

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Looming taxes continue to burden property owners

In the City Council’s committee meeting on Oct. 23 Melisa Files, director of finance, reported:

1) Revenues were up by 5 percent of target and

2) Expenditures were 4 percent below target

So “we are in a nice place to be” says Ms. Files.

Yes we are, many thanks to the “surge in permitting fees” from development and a “one-time construction tax,” according to Files.

Historically, the city has assessed property owners the state’s maximum allowable 1 percent property tax. But times have changed and the city is swimming in revenue like never before from the massive development of our downtown and Overlake urban centers.

Owing to this unprecedented growth the city of Redmond should change their practices and forgo the 1 percent property tax this year. Residents are already burdened by looming school district taxes and an April King County Public Hospital District 2 tax initiative, among other taxes.

It’s time the city tightens their belt.

Bob Yoder

[The City went ahead and implemented the 1% tax. A $125M school district "Capital Projects Levy" measure will be on the April ballot.  King County Public Hospital District 2 is EvergreenHealth.  Evergreen's April $325M bond measure is for seismic retrofits.]