UPDATED OPINION, 1/30: School Levy Committee Information Is Misleading

OPINION:  Contrary to the two Levy Committee mailers you received, the claim of "no new taxes" is incorrect.  According to the District's unaltered website FAQ,  Proposition No. 3, "Construction Levy" is a new tax (part of which replaces expiring debt.)  

If  Proposition No. 3 (Construction Levy) passes, we will be taxed $0.42 / $1,000 Assessed Value. Assuming a home is conservatively assessed at $900,000,000 the tax would be $378.00 for year 2023.  Prop. No. 3 is a 6-year levy and by 2028 will have increased to $0.53/$1,000 Assessed Value.

In my opinion, the Prop. No. 3 Construction Levy is inexpensive for what we get. Please vote "yes!"  

The two other levies (Prop. No. 1 and Prop. No. 2) are "replacement levies" with no new taxes.

The organization disseminating the mailers of "no new taxes" is the LW Citizens Levy Committee, a non profit known publicly as "vote4lwsdkids.org."  I was taken in by their disinformation and I'm very disappointed.  The District and Levy Committee seem too cozy and in this election the Levy Committee appears tainted. *Note their top donors.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, updated 1/30/2022

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*Top 5 donors to the Levy Committee build schools:  1) Cornerstone General Contractors, 2) BNB Builders, 3) Integurs Architecture, 4) Bassetti Architects, and 5) McGranahan Architects...all with interest in passing Proposition No. 3 any which way they can. 

Cornerstone Contractors built Juanita High.

BNB built Clara Barton Elementary School

Integrus Architecture designed:  Telsa STEM, Juanita, Benjamin Rush, Rachel Carson.

Construction Revenue Puts City Finances Over The Top

Monthly Finance Report through October 2021 

City councilmembers are usually stone-faced right after the financial report.

General Fund 

· Total revenues are 24.0%, or $17.9 million, above target.

· Sales tax is 89.0%, or $18.3 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity. Ongoing sales tax is 37.6%, or $6.7 million, above target. One-time sales tax, which primarily relates to construction, is $13.7 million through October 2021. 

· Utility taxes are 0.23%, or $22,000, below target. 

· License & permit fees are 29.2%, or $2.7 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity. 

· Intergovernmental revenues are 20.9%, or $2.4 million, above target primarily due to the American Rescue Act Plan (ARPA) allocation to the City. 

TOTAL REVENUE INCLUDING SALES TAXES:  $64,000,000 above target.  The City exceeds revenue and tax targets month-after-month from construction.  Do we really need Parks and Safety levies?

[Monthly revenues and sales tax have exceeded their target almost every month for the past year.]00,000/

Total expenditures are 14.5%, or $17.5 million, below target due to position vacancies, the timing of one-time expenditures, and the budget adjustments adopted by ordinance on August 17, 2021 that impact 2022 and beyond. Regarding the budget adjustments, staff will fix the planned spend rate in 2021-2022 for the November 2021 financial report. Other Funds 

UPDATED OPINION, 1/24: LWSD Restructures And Grows During The Pandemic

                                                           Vote "Yes" for LWSD Levies!

LWSD Board of Directors / Internet

The LWSD Administration has restructured (organizational chart) and grown significantly since the pandemic. Human Resources has its own Superintendent, an Executive, and four  Directors to do the job. Thirty Directors (~$185,220) and three new Executive Directors (*$192,610.) appear the workhorses. Two of seven superintendents are new. Is LWSD leadership getting too big for it's britches?  When I report on their Operating Budget you'll have an idea.

As you see below, the new "Director of Business Services," department has a big responsibility with four Managers and 32 reports. The Communications Director appears to have a less challenging job but is paid the same as the Director of Business Services. The School Board should adjust salaries on these types of imbalances.  In addition, the administration is top-heavy and could be streamlined.  

CHRIS BRENEGEN  Salary excluding benefits: $185,220

DIRECTOR BUSINESS SERVICES (4 Managers, 32 reports)

Budget & Fiscal Manager (5 reports) incl. Supervisors (2)

Accounting Manager (9 reports) incl. Technicians (13)

Purchasing Manager (2 reports) incl. Senior Buyer

Payroll & Benefits Manager (4 reports) 

Sodexo Nutrition Services

SHANNON PARTHEMER  Salary excluding benefits: $185,220 

DIRECTOR COMMUNICATIONS (1 Manager, 12 reports)

Mailroom secretary

Print Center supervisor

Volunteer supervisor 

LINKS coordinator

Support services coordinator 

Bindery specialist

Web specialist 

Social media specialist

Video/media specialist

Receptionist/Front Desk

Communications Manager

Graphic artist

"READ MORE" for a comparison of District and City of Redmond salaries.

Forest Steward Gary Smith Leads Work Party At Smith Woods Park

Green Redmond organized a work party at Smith Woods Park today to mulch a trail from it's eastside towards the park's western wetland.  Gary Smith, a long-time Forest Steward & Chair of the Parks and Trails Commission managed the project.  Sharon from City Parks worked hard and kept a close eye on the pitchforks, iron rakes and awesome ergonomic wheelbarrows.  About twenty-five neighborhood volunteers literally "pitched" in, laying 15 yards of mulch to build the trail.  Mulching six inches deep was necessary. We completed the project in only 2.5 hours.

The trail is an east-west connector with a destination to a donated park bench honoring the Smith family.  A ceremony to dedicate the bench is planned for next month. 

Forest Steward Gary Smith is in the foreground catching his breath.  The trail heads west from here towards the wetland and future honorary bench.  Double click to enlarge.

Gary is standing left side of the mulch pile, Sharon is second from the right. So sorry the photo is blurred. Click pic to enlarge.

Internet

 Gary's been the Forest Steward at Idlewood Park for years. Here he's educating a child on restoration.  Learn more about Gary HERE (scroll)

Bob Yoder, Photos and Report, 1/15/2022

The Origins of Pickleball: How It All Began / And Where To Play!

 

 

Many thanks to Shelly Bowman, Redmond Parks Commissioner, for sharing this amazing video on the origins of Pickleball.  The City is offering two outdoor courts at the Senior & Community Center.  Last summer two Perrigo Park tennis courts were temporarily converted to Pickleball on a rotating, trial basis.  Shelly says there's a court at Nike Park, Westside Park, Spiritbrook Park and two Grasslawn Park tennis courts with partial pickleball lines. Shelly says "apparently the ORSH (Old Redmond School House) is offering 4 indoor opportunities starting March 1 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings."  Two Redmond gyms each offer two portable courts at 24 Fitness and 425 Fitness 

Register with the City for ORSH pickleball here!

-- Reported by Yoder

The First Levy Results Are In - It's Looking VERY Good For The District

Superintendent Holmen announced all Levies are ahead by 54%.  It's a win!

New Levy for Critical Construction Needs:   

Total cost for all the projects is $295 million, allowing for construction costs, construction inflation, sales tax, and other fees.  

The Construction Levy will provide classroom space for 2,350 students by: 

• Adding a new elementary school on underdeveloped land on Redmond Elementary Campus, with up to 24 classrooms = 550 students
• Additions at Finn Hill, Kirkland and Redmond Middle Schools = 600 students
• Additional high school capacity for about 1,200 students
• Acquiring property for future schools.

This Levy authorizes an average of $49.2 million per year over six years. The levy rate is estimated to be an average of $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed value. This rate combined with previously approved construction measures will total $1.32 per thousand assessed value. The tax rate for construction levies will decrease over time as past bonds are paid off and prior construction levies expire.

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Renewal Educational Programs & Operations Levy: The average annual amount per year is $92.3 million. The measure replaces an expiring levy and the levy rate is estimated at $1.03 per $1,000 of assessed value.

 Renewal School Technology & Capital Projects Levy: The average annual amount per year is $44.3 million. The measure replaces an expiring levy and the levy rate is estimated at $0.49 per $1,000 of assessed value.

FAQ  (election is February 8th)

Source:  District website

LWSD High Schools Transition To Remote Learning

Three Lake Washington School District schools transitioned to temporary remote learning earlier this week.

Lake Washington, Redmond, and Juanita High Schools moved on Monday to temporary remote classes.  Eastlake High School move to remote learning on Wednesday.

Per the district website, shortages are the result of COVID-related quarantines, general illness and other absences.

-- Seattle Times, 1/12/2022

Mayor Angela Birney Reviews 2021 Accomplishments

Bear Creek Floods Behind Safeway Closing The Trail

The photo below shows Bear Creek spilling onto it's floodplain after an "atmospheric river" deluge the first week of January, 2022.  The photo was taken behind Safeway on the "Bear Creek Trail and Greenway." The creek crested ~ Friday. This photo was taken on Sunday. You're looking at floodplain not the creek. The creek is in the distance.  Nearby Avondale Way bridge is a great place to see salmon in September and October when spawning.

(click to enlarge)

(click to enlarge)

The City did a great job posting interpretive signs along the trail. This one explains flooding.  I saw evidence of a deer in the creek riparian. It's amazing urban downtown Redmond is home to these critters!  (Of note: A family was having lunch on the Creekside picnic table.)

(The rains and snow were so bad last week that all five passes were closed; Leavenworth declared a state of emergency calling in the National Guard. Another atmospheric river is expected the week of 1/10/2022.  I'll take another picture on Thursday when I think the creek will crest.) 

UPDATED: Councilmembers Jessica Forsythe and Vanessa Kritzer Elected Council Officers

The election was held during the January, 4th Regular Council meeting.  A video of the meeting is here.

Councilmember Jessica Forsythe was elected Council President, (5-2)  Carson, Fields, Kahn, Kritzer, Forsythe.  (Stewart nominated Anderson.)

Councilmember Kritzer was elected Vice President, (4-3) Anderson, Stewart, Carson, Kritzer.  (Forsythe nominated Anderson, Anderson declined the nomination, Anderson and Kritzer nominated Stewart for Vice President. Carson and Fields advised against it.)

Councilmember Kahn nominated Councilmember Fields for President. Mr. Fields declined.  Fields nominated Ms. Kahn for V.P.  Ms. Anderson voted "no."  Ms. Kahn nominated Mr. Fields for V.P.  Councilmember Anderson voted "no."  Councilmember Malissa Stewart was nominated for V.P.  Councilmember David Carson discouraged her owing to lack of experience. (This is her first year as a representative.)

Council President Jessica Forsythe

Jessica Forsythe

Position #3
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Jessica Forsythe
Phone: 425-305-7206
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Parks and Human Services Committee of the Whole, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, Eastside Human Services Forum (EHSF)

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio which works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Ms. Forsythe is a thoughtful, creative thinker who takes a holistic approach to every project. She believes strongly in being involved at the local level and knows first-hand the impact one person can have on their community.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Jessica graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Environmental Design. She has worked in environmental design, architecture, branding, and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She has volunteered with numerous community and charity organizations, most notably her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Jessica has also served on various non-profit boards including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

She enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Council Vice President Vanessa Kritzer

Vanessa Kritzer

Position #5
Council Term Expires 12/31/23
Email Vanessa Kritzer
Phone: 425-305-9892
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City’s Finance, Administration, and Communications Committee of the Whole, Community Facilities District (CFD) Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP), Sound Cities Association (SCA), WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council, Lake Sammamish Kokanee ILA Management Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Committee.

School District Levies, Town Hall Q&A Session

This page will be updated with Levy specifics.

VIDEO UPDATE: Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream

"Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved A Salmon Stream, 1980 - 2020,"

Redmond Historical Society.

Redmond Historical Society: "Bear Creek a small stream east of Seattle – some Redmond residents don’t even know it runs through town ending at the Sammamish River between Marymoor Park and Redmond Town Center -- but Bear Creek is notable for its historically strong runs of wild salmon. In the past half-century those runs have declined, especially that of the threatened Puget Sound Chinook. That trend is sadly common in Northwest waterways, but in this case the decline has been slowed by local efforts to support the fish."

GARY SMITH, a standout Redmond volunteer, Parks Commission Chair, Water Tender Board member and WRIA 8 appointee compiled a research project and supporting materials interviewing the following stewards of Bear Creek, most of them Water Tenders:

Interview with Shirley Doolittle-Egerdahl  -- Water Tender President & Board member with long family history of life at  Paradise Lake, the headwaters of Bear Creek.  

Interview with Terry Lavender, *Founder of Water Tenders and Board Chair. Terry describes her long experience on Bear Creek working with citizen groups and county officials to preserve and rehabilitate property on and around the creek.

Interview with Mayor John Marchione.

Interview with Dick Schaetzel, past President of Water Tenders (1991.)  Very active. Dick's home is 30 feet from Bear Creek. 

Interview with Tom Murdock, Executive Director of "Adopt A Stream."  

Ray Heller, King County Basin Steward for Bear Creek, 91-93

Written Q&A with Roger Dane C.O.R. Public Works.

Many thanks to the Redmond Historical Society for initiating and publishing "Bear Creek and the Stewards Who Saved a Salmon Stream," 1980 - 2020  (7/13/2021)

-- Bob Yoder, 1/7/2022

Redmond Parks and Recreation To Reopen January 4th

December 28, 2021

Redmond, WA – After an extended closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Redmond’s Parks and Recreation Department will have a phased reopening of indoor programs, facilities, and services starting Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. With increases in COVID-19 vaccination rates, expansion of boosters, eligibility of vaccinations for children five and older, and additional safety protocols, city staff are eager to welcome back participants to a safe environment for indoor recreation.

The Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, Old Firehouse Teen Center, Old Redmond Schoolhouse, and Bytes Café within Redmond City Hall will reopen to the public while adhering to all city, state, and county guidelines including, but not limited to the following:

• Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test administered within the last 72 hours to a staff member upon entering the building, per the King County Public Health Order.
• Participants ages two and older will be required to wear a mask at all times inside city facilities.
• In accordance with Governor Inslee’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Proclamation, all recreation staff were required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 18.

Indoor facility rentals, for groups of five to 85 people, will be available starting Jan. 4 at the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village.

To find hours of operation, register for activities, and learn more about recreation and rental services, the community can visit www.redmond.gov/PlaySafe.

For questions and more information, contact Jill Smith, Communications Manager, at jesmith@redmond.gov or 425-556-2448. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov/PressReleases.

 Prancing puppy Zoey wishing you a Happy New Year!

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Development of Esterra Park Leveled A Forest To Provide Needed Microsoft Housing

SHORT VIDEO OF ESTERRA PARK, THE ESTERRA APARTMENTS. AND OFFICE SPACE -- Worth every minute

Many posts on the controversial deforestation of the land are here!

2600 apartment units / 6 communities 

285 rooms/ 2 hotels

Project Overview

Lincoln Properties (PARKSIDE) is designing three multifamily buildings on blocks 5, 6A and 9 of Esterra Park. Building “6A” on block 6A is proposed at six stories with 215 homes. Building “A” is proposed as an eight-story building with 212 homes that straddles blocks 5 and 9. Building “B” is also on blocks 5 and 9. It is proposed as two buildings connected by enclosed walkways, with heights of five and six stories and 231 homes. The north portion of Building “B” faces the Park at Esterra Park.

Project Overview

The project (white structure on right) incorporates a 7-story office building with 3-levels of underground parking featuring a new access road with fire truck and utility access. (The white structure on the left is lodging.)

Project Number:  LAND-2018-00817

Project Overview

Avalon Bay Communities is designing a six-story, 330-home building on block 8 of Esterra Park. Block 8 is across NE Turing Street from the Park at Esterra Park site. The design for the building includes a ground-level courtyard that opens to the side facing the park.

Project Overview

As part of the Esterra Park Master Plan, Capstone Partners is designing a 2.67-acre publicly-accessible park. After completing design of the park, Capstone will construct, own and maintain the park. Early in 2014, Capstone solicited input on park design and presented a design to the Parks and Trails Commission in June and August 2014. Capstone presented a park design to the City Council in August 2014. Elements in the current design include: 

• Hill climb
• Meadow
• An open green
• Overlook
• Plazas
• Terraced garden
• Tree groves

-- Esterra websites, 12/20/2021

UPDATED, 12/21: Art Is Back In Redmond!

Laura Lee Bennett (correct spelling,) is Executive V.P. of the Redmond Historical Society and a VALA Board member. She gave me a tour of VALA, highlighting community Penny farthing art. 

Laura Lee is standing next to Dawn Laurant's "In Place" oil painting.  Dawn is a past VALA Board member and art appraiser.  (double click to see Dawn's artwork.) 

Crystal Edwards is President of VALA Eastside ("Venues for Artists in the Local Area.")  The Penny farthing is her creation. VALA's Mission is "Connecting artists to artists, artists to the community, and the community to art." Years ago VALA had an art center at Redmond Town Center, then moved to Kirkland.  This is their new space back in Redmond, and the first exhibit is called "We Are Here!" Many past VALA Board members, volunteers, and other contributors are in the show.  

VALA is an official blinker stop for "Redmond Lights 2021." Stop by and pick up a holiday blinker!  Their art center is at 8020-161 Av. Ne. #104, just a hop across the street from NW  Downtown Park.  Find hours of operation at their website! 

-- Bob Yoder, 12/18/2021

   Photos, Yoder

Redmond's "Verde Esterra Park" Is 644 Units With A Bicycle Shop

 

Overlake's Verde Esterra Park to open January, 2022 / Yoder, 12/17/2021

The vision
Capstone designed the park and ran it past Council and Parks & Trails Commission.  The City won't maintain it. 

The last phase of Esterra Park, the 28-acre mixed-use redevelopment of an old hospital property (Group Health) in Redmond, will be carbon neutral. This phase includes an office building leased to Microsoft, which has a stated goal of operating as a carbon negative company by 2030, more than 600 apartments and the overall project's centerpiece, a 3-acre park.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Verde at Esterra Park is a 634-unit residential development located in the Overlake community of Redmond, WA. The property abuts a 2.6-acre park and offers easy access to the region’s largest employer and to public transit. Verde at Esterra Park features 34,000 SF of outdoor amenity space, including two courtyards, two rooftop decks, and a central mews. Interior amenities include a collaborative working space and an on-premise bike shop. Bike-friendly facilities and easy access to public transit help reduce residents’ dependence on vehicles.

Verde at Esterra Park takes the site’s challenging grade and transforms it into a celebrated feature, with unique stepping of the building masses mimicking the natural landforms and patterns of the Sammamish Valley. The development’s folded planes maximize solar exposure for units and frame memorable vignettes of the park and surrounding context. Amenity spaces and exterior courtyards are located adjacent to the park to enable interaction with nature.

-- Runberg Architecture Group

Website information:  "If you could design your own park, (Esterra Park) what would you include? Exercise, music, food trucks, restaurant pop-ups, gathering spots, a comfortable work area, green space? We agree with you. When completed in 2022, The Park will have all that and more."

Yoder, 12/17/2021

8-story Modera Overlake's Plaza Is A "Crown Jewel"

Modera Overlake / Apartments.com

The site is approximately 1.41 acres in size and is located on the southwest corner of Bel-Red Road and NE 21 Street, in Overlake. Currently, this would be the first Redmond redevelopment along Bel-Red road, in Overlake Village. (15260 & 15248 Bell Red.)

The proposal is to construct an 8-story mixed-use apartment building with approximately 288 residential units and approximately 3,500 square feet of ground floor commercial space.

The development is proposed to have four levels of parking; two & half below grade and one and a half above grade. 

The applicant is proposing an 8-story building, which is possible in this zone with the use of various incentive techniques, including the plaza dedication, subterranean parking, and provide housing above the minimum required. Why doesn't the Planning Department incent with a "green roof?"

Modera Overlake will set the design direction and tone for this neighborhood for years to come. Staff believes that this project has done a good job in breaking up the massing of the overall building by creating two unique facades on NE 21st and Bel-Red Road. Staff believes that the bold design and brick façade will create a building that differentiates itself from other mid-rises in the area. The corner (above) creates a simple gateway that helps highlight the commercial space and provides ample pedestrian zone next the busy road. The plaza design will be a jewel in the crown of the overall project and will be a great example of what other pocket parks throughout the community can be. 

-- Design Review Board pre-application meeting memo, 8/15/2019

Abridged by Yoder, 12/17/2021

Photo, City of Redmond

King County Directs Public to Prepare Now for a Rapid Surge in Local COVID-19 Omicron Cases

The highly infectious Omicron variant is moving at an astonishing speed, according to the latest projections. We project the number of King County cases by next week to be three-times higher than the highest peak we've seen previously in the pandemic. We expect case numbers to continue to rise in January.

A similar pattern is expected to emerge in other parts of the United States.

The severity of Omicron cases is not clear at this time. Most fully vaccinated people should be protected from severe infection, but we expect to see many more serious cases in unvaccinated people, as well as many milder breakthrough infections among the vaccinated.

The rapid rise in cases has the potential to be more disruptive than previous waves, endangering the health care system's ability to care for people, as well as being a major disruptor to businesses, schools and key infrastructure, as employees become ill.

King County residents and workplaces are urged to take steps now to reduce the risk to themselves, their families, and others in order to lower the impact of the expected surge on the health care system and the community.

The latest projections are based on the rapid rate of spread of the Omicron variant in other countries, along with the latest local sequencing data.

"If we do a very simple 10-day projection of this rate of growth, we should expect 2,100 daily Omicron cases in King County on December 22, 2021. This is approximately 3 times the number of cases seen at the highest point in the pandemic for King County (December 2020)," said Trevor Bedford, computational biologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

"SFT Commercial" Building Under Review

This was the site of the popular "Brown Bag" restaurant and now SFT

The SFT Commercial proposal is in downtown Redmond adjacent to 164th Ave NE and south of the proposed Redmond Sunset Apartments. (8405-164th Ave. NE.) The proposal is a two-story 10,000 sf commercial building with 20 surface parking stalls. The parcel is a vacant lot (above) The site is flat and includes trees, shrubs and various grasses. An animal emergency clinic is across the street. "Herfy's mall" is on the right.  The surrounding neighborhood has a mix of mixed-use multifamily housing, professional services and retail.

The project is to encourage pedestrian activity,including informal gatherings,through public and privateinvestment in improvements alongthe streetscape  (Architect's presentation - I like it!)

According to the DRB the project is to promote the urban centers as locations for a variety of businesses, including retail, office, services, and entertainment uses that are compatible with a mixed-use urban environment. 

And, to encourage a variety of economic activities, ranging from daily goods and services to small and locally owned boutiques and other specialty stores, as well as restaurants, residences and offices that promote the urban centers as appealing places to live, work and shop and provide for active uses during the day and evening hours.  (Under review by the DRB.)

The project is proposing a commercial use. However, the type of commercial use is not defined so staff  and the Design Review Board will hold a second DRB meeting.  

Staff is seeking feedback regarding the project and initial thoughts on their proposed design. I'll get the staff contacts and post them here if you want to comment.

-- Design Review Board Pre-Application memo, 12/6/2021