OPINION: Can the Marymoor Village and Commercial District be Salvaged?

Spectra project with "planters" 
(click to enlarge)

 Oxford dictionary:  *ECLECTIC: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

OPINION:  I and about eight other residents went to the Long Range Planning exhibit at Marymoor Community Center a few weeks ago.  Apparently, the mayor and planning director will be sending these planners to the library every week to "reach out."   This is token planning.  

According to a Principle planner, the "Big Decisions requiring input from managers and above."  are still outstanding.  (And, then there's "Medium Decisions" and "Small Decisions!")

A few "Big Decision" items the planners have asked the public, Mayor and Council for input are: 

• "The Vision for the Marymoor Design District."  Staff states design impacts are "unclear and potentially unrealistic."  This late in the game. 
• Planners ask: "Are families going to move into an industrial area?  Should the commercial area be re-zoned residential."  Apparently, owners there can profit significantly with residential; light rail could increase the "need" for residential, as well.  A planner states " why not have standards that are more realistic for townhomes."  Mayor Birney and Council:  Yes or no?  
• Planners ask: "Rather than a trail around the entire perimeter - require/encourage other community amenities."  What amenities?  Mayor/Council: Yes or no? Don't we need trails for mobility?  Bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, pedestrian users.  
• Planners state: "Inconsistent shared street implementation - provide more direction for desired quality."  
• Planners question the Design Concept:  "Building façade materials / color - "no guidance in zoning code for the Marymoor Design District."
• Plantings / Landscape - Mayor: "establish "unique" identity for Marymoor Village.  
• etc. etc.  

Council, Arts Commission and Design Review Board were intimately involved in ensuring Marymoor Village would be *eclectic, according to Mayor Birney's wishes.  So far, Spectra is what we have.  Pinwheels in empty garden containers? (Or, is that a dog walk area adjacent to the dog friendly Sammamish Trail?)

The Design Review Board (DRB) has the "teeth" of one planner  The rest are volunteers. (State initiated changes may be in the offing.) I recommend Mayor Birney assign Long Range Planners to the Board to give substance to it. Get them out of the library and in front of the developers.  

DRB planners push for and conduct all presentations remotely.  Mayor Birney should join other organizations and wean off remote meetings.  One critical function of a DRB  is collaboration....sharing pictures, color designs, blueprints, etc. 

Mayor Birney should give Overlake Urban Center equal, if not more attention to design.  Let's be honest, ~70% of Redmond Vision 2050 appears already baked into our city.  What's left is Design.  Anything else?  Council Leadership should schedule an Open House and one Study session for input on the Big and Medium decisions.    

Our Village and the commercial district need to be salvaged before it's too late.  The Spark project design looks very promising, but will the final product hold it's own?     

-- Bob Yoder, 5/8/2023

Pair of Nesting Eagles On the Sammamish River

A friend of mine told me 4 or 5 days ago that she had been monitoring the nest daily for 35 days.  According to the excellent website https://www.eagles.org/, that is the incubation period for hatching eaglets.  Presumably the egg(s) will have hatched by now, if that is true.  - John Reinke, 4/24/2023

Photos by John Reinke

John's  photos were taken from up on the Central Connector bridge over the Sammamish River.  The nest is on the west bank of the river across from the Opportunity building.  As of 7/14, the chicks have fledged (left the nest.)

The Legacy of Rosemarie Ives

Mayor Rosemarie Ives - Redmond's unprecedented 4-term mayor

I have the strong opinion that the mayor should make the City a priority...in the beginning learning as much as possible about the organization, its responsibilities AND keeping in touch with the people in an authentic way on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, Mayor Angela Birney is president of Suburban Cities which I think shows poor judgement and she's not paying attention to what's going on at home. 

When I ran for Mayor the first time, I had four priorities and I believe they served the people of Redmond very well--they were real simple:  open and responsive government, environment, prudent financial management and a teen agenda...."Together, we create a community of neighbors" was my "theme."   I always said that if I was doing the right things, the right way at the right time  for our youth today and for the future, we adults would be fine too!

 

Some people make a thing of "legacy."  The ones who talk the most about it, do the least. Upon reflection I would like to believe my "legacy" was that the people of Redmond had an advocate at City Hall--someone who was always considering what was best for the people who call Redmond "home."  

 

There were so many accomplishments as a result of so many people willing to work with me to do our collective best...Yes, I am proud of the four environmental Riverwalk projects along the Sammamish River, that we went from 16 to 36 parks during my tenure, Youth Leadership Day, Old Firehouse teen center, the tagging wall, the skate park, Redmond Youth Partnership, so many environmental initiatives that were recognized at the national and regional levels,  Redmond Lights, flower pots on every corner downtown, rather than an enclosed mall that was proposed in 1988, when I was elected the Town Center owners came forward with a new, open air mixed use design , a senior center that flourished with great programming and high participation, the 40 year lease that I negotiated with the Lake Washington School District for the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center for a total of $80,000 (that John Marchione broke after 20 years)...televising city meetings and producing very informative programming, ...those are a few of the things that come to mind.

Posted by B. Yoder, 4/24/2033

Mayor Rosemarie M. Ives Biography

 Mayor Rosemarie M. Ives Biography 

First elected as Mayor of Redmond, Washington in 1991, Rosemarie M. Ives served an unprecedented four terms of this economically vibrant and naturally beautiful Northwest city, 16 miles east of Seattle.  The community of 51,000 residents serves as home to corporate headquarters for Nintendo of America and Microsoft as well as several thousand small businesses where over 90,000 people are employed.  Mayor Ives served as the full-time CEO, responsible for seven departments with over 500 employees and a biennial $368 million budget.  In addition to the oversight for day-to-day operations, Mayor Ives was a founding member of consortia on regional emergency communications, housing, and water and represented both Redmond and 39 suburban cities on regional committees on multi-modal transportation, emergency preparedness, youth, regional justice, environmental protection, and growth management. 

While Mayor Ives presided over a period of significant economic development in Redmond, she devoted much of her efforts to preserving residential neighborhoods, open space and other elements of Redmond’s unique quality of life.  Her vision statement for the City was and still is “Together, We Create a Community of Good Neighbors,” which reflects her approach to building civic partnerships that draw on the strengths of neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, and businesses.  Her priority issues included enhancing communications especially with the increasing culturally diverse residents, stewardship of the environment, commitment to youth, and improving mobility. 

Help Inform New City Guidelines for Leaf Blowers

Gasoline-powered leaf blowers produce emissions and ambient noise pollution. The City of Redmond would like to hear from you as we evaluate actions regarding their use. Complete the following questionnaire by May 31 to help inform the next steps.  It's very short!

 https://www.letsconnectredmond.com/green/survey_tools/electric-leaf-blower-questionnaire

Posted by Bob Yoder, 4/24/2023

Dog Park Opens at Luke McRedmond Park

Council member Jessica Forsythe took these pictures of the new downtown dog park.  She said the Parks Department re-purposed surplus fencing for the park and picnic tables are planned.  The park is partitioned for small dogs, common in downtown apartments.  The pop-up dog park will remain open through September, allowing the City to test different potential locations and needs for a more permanent off-leash dog area in Redmond.

• • 

    The the city labels it as a "POP UP" Dog Park; by construction it looks permanent.

    
    Posted by Bob Yoder, 4/24/2033, Community volunteer

An Enhanced Historic District linked to RTC Will Mutually Stimulate Business

 An enhanced Historic District linked to RTC will stimulate business to both. The Downtown Park would be more lively. 

The Historic District is bisected by Leary Way, just to the west is the downtown park (DTP,) Redmond Town Center Retail (TWNC) is circled in red. Two 12-story buildings are planned.  It's possible BJ's may be demolished to further densify. 

Connecting the Downtown Park with the Historic District and RTC could create a valuable alternative pedestrian route for Redmond Lights, seasonal festivals and mobility in general. Food trucks (?) music and other entertainment at the Downtown Park would would attract pedestrian shoppers.  Strolling into the Historic District, the paradors could rest and stay warm at the eateries and shops.  At 164th, a crosswalk would link the district to RTC.  Artwork and wayfinding signage would draw people into RTC and the Historic District to shop, eat and be entertained.  We'd have a more dynamic downtown.

To make it all work, the Historic District needs to be enhanced.  Leary Way, bisecting the Historic District, should be a "Safe Street" for pedestrians and bicycles; limited cars.  Alleys might be restored. Some of the buildings would be restored or enhanced.  Others remodeled or rebuilt.  One Redmond has a deep interest in the vitality of small business. 

To date, Mayor Birney hasn't considered enhancing the district with the help on One Redmond.   An enhanced Historic District linked to RTC will stimulate business to both; the downtown park will be more lively.  

If you like this route and /or think the Mayor Birney should start improving the Historic District will you email her at Mayor@redmond.gov?  

-- Bob Yoder, 4/24/2023

   Community volunteer

City Planning Is Posting QR Codes for Proposed Land Use projects

It's great the city is finally posting QR codes for Proposed Land Use Action projects.  Better late than never.  The AMLI project decision has already been made, but with conditions.  According to the QR, the State Environmental Policy Act was revised and the project may now be appealed by 5/15/2023.  The project sits about 100 yards downhill from city well water and it's possible the aquifer may be disturbed.  It's also possible the aquifer will liquify during an earthquake.  A final act of the decision are inspections from city engineers.   

Council Notes: 4th Quarter Finance Report

Video of 4/8/2022 Council Business Meeting:

Interim Finance Director's 4th Quarter Finance Report, minute 19.35

Council comments:  CM Vanessa Kritzer and CM Melissa Stuart minute 29.26

OMBUDS REPORT:  minute 32.

The key financial highlights from January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2022 include the following:

General Fund 

· Total revenues totaling $250 million are 26.8%, or $52.8 million, above target. 

· Property tax is 0.4%, or $186,000, above target. 

· Sales & use taxes are 75.7%, or $97.3 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity. This includes retail sales tax, criminal justice sales tax, and use tax. 

Ongoing retail sales tax is 27.3%, or $13.0 million, above target. One-time retail sales tax, which primarily relates to construction, is $34.7 million through December 31, 2022. 

· Utility & other taxes are 10.3%, or $2.2 million, above target primarily due to an electric and gas utility tax spike. 

· License & permit fees are 38.2%, or $8.4 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity. 

· Total expenditures are 2.5%, or $6.1 million. In year 2022, the personnel cost is over the target due COLA at 5%, overtime cost increase for Fire due to vacancies because of vaccination mandate, retirement payouts, rate increases after unions contract negotiations. 

Other Funds · Recreation Activity Fund: Total revenues are 51.1%, or $1.1 million, above target primarily due to increase in both indoor and outdoor recreation programs, field rentals, and donations. · Water/Wastewater M&O Fund: Total revenues are 5.0%, or $3.8 million, more than total expenditures. Commercial water consumption is 2.9% below target. 

· Capital Investment Program: Total expenditures are 71.3% of budget at the 100% point of the 2021-2022 biennium.

-- Source:  Business Meeting memo of 4/18/2022

OPINION: Marymoor Village Is Anything But Eclectic

 Oxford dictionary:  ECLECTIC: deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.

SPECTRA, 1,2,3 unit apartments
(click picture to enlarge)

Mayor Birney once announced Marymoor Village would be "eclectic" and unique from the hum drum of downtown buildings.  Looking at this gargantuan project, Spectra, it's just that, a project.  Where's the art, the color?  Rather, each empty planter box has a tiny pinwheel twirling in the wind.  

Well, we know now what happens when the city and Design Review Board throw in the towel to accommodate the developers and the city's insatiable need for housing.  SE Redmond is zoned industrial too, permitting us to just look the other way.  

-- Bob Yoder, 4/20/2023, Opinion

"The Redmond Recorder Newsletter," New and Improved.

 Brought to you by the Redmond Historical Society

"The Redmond Recorder" 

Every Town Has it's History, Discover Ours.

The Redmond Recorder News was once the name of Redmond's local newspaper. It was replaced by the Sammamish Valley News, which later folded. We've since adopted The Redmond Recorder as the name for our newsletter, published 9 times a year since 1999.

Read Our Recorder Newsletter!  New and Improved!  The Redmond Recorder is going quarterly—and bigger.

Download the latest Recorder Newsletter! 

John Oftebro, President, Redmond Historical Society

Featured this month!

"The Four R's - River. Redmond, Resource, Rockets"

By John Oftebro

 Author's Note:  This is the first of a series about Redmond's development beginning with it's lifeblood - the Sammamish River.  

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 4/15/2023

OPINION: We Need a Community Newspaper

"The Woodinville Weekly" just released their first real online paper! Check it out!  I'm a subscriber. Before it was more of a newsletter with their Mayor writing the major pieces on growth and development. Now it's in color and fully formed:

https://www.nwnews.com/editions/32/view/330/woodinville_wa_2023-04-14_330.pdf

The Publisher  is "EASTSIDE MEDIA CORPORATION," out of Lakewood, WA. The subscription is $45/year and supported by local businesses. 2 reporters (count me in) I called them and left an enthusiastic message of our genuine interest. Wouldn't it be great if we could express ourselves with Letters To The Editor?!

We all know Redmond sorely needs a community newspaper, weekly or newsletter. We have so many good things here to be grateful of and talk about.  Redmond is so much more than cranes and orange barrels. News of school and sports activities, cultural events, neighborhood food drives and fundraisers, city events and outreach, new projects, our community centers, parks and small businesses, non profits, are all just a few things we can be proud of and share. Affordable housing, light rail, elections and parking needs to be addressed, too. 

The One Redmond CEO Hudson, Mayor Birney and Council member Carson have been notified of this breakthrough. Please encourage them to act on it.

-- Bob Yoder, 4/14/2023

 

Two School Board Directors To Leave District, Learn How To Run, April 19th Informational Session

Siri Bliesner, President of the School Board will not run for office November, 2023. She lives in Redmond within District #5.  Will she run for a City of Redmond Council member seat?  It's anyone's guess. 

Eric Laliberte, District #1 is running for re-election, though the seat is open to challengers.  Mr. Laliberte performed invaluable service while directing the Board during the pandemic.  District #1 encompasses Juanita and parts of Kirkland. 

Chris Carlson, a longtime board member will not run for office in November, 2023 as well. He represents District #2 which encompasses the Bridle Trails and Lake Sammamish areas. 

The School Board is holding an informational session on April 19th, 6-7 PM at LWSD Resource Center "to share information on what it means to be a Board Member." Board members must live in the District they would be representing. This "session" will be a good opportunity for prospective candidates to learn if they live in District #2, or #5.

District Map

Questions?  boardmembers@lwsd.org

Bob Yoder, opinion, 4/14/2023

Mayor Angela Birney's 2023 State Of The City Address

UPDATED: City Council Meeting Notes, 04 April 2023

 

CM Melissa Stuart
Featured
City Council group picture not available

CLICK THIS LINK FOR VIDEO NOTES OF COUNCIL'S REGULAR MEETING 

OF 04 APRIL 2023:   

https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRedmond/videos/1005053090870596

 (short pause at start of tape)

ADVANCE TO 3:00 for poet Laureate Laura Da's description of her poetry inspired "Nature & City History Walk" around our lakefronts.     

ADVANCE TO 4:52 for Dr. David Morton's "Item From The Audience" suggesting solutions to various city challenges.  

ADVANCE TO 11:53 - Mayor  Angela Birney kicks off Council's OMBUDS report where resident inquiries (positive and negative) are addressed.  As follows: 

CM Varisha Kahn passes the baton to Council VP Vanessa Kritzer. Kritzer mentions a resident's concern about the mayor's salary; resident complaint about "State of the City" recording glitches. Domestic violence. CM David Carson brings attention to businesses coping with simultaneous road construction on 76th and Cleveland Street.  CM Melissa Stuart gives an excellent report of the city's C.E.R.T. program dealing with first responder preparations for an earthquake.  Council President Jessica Forsythe directed the OMBUDS report and city process. Traffic. FBI. CM Jeralee Anderson, QR Codes for park users, "Show and Tell" by Anderson on recycled materials used to build "green roads."  Stuart summarizes Public Works committee report. CM Steve Fields had nothing to say.  

Angela Birney, Carson, Forseythe, Kahn, and Kritzer's terms end 31 December 2023. 

Reported by Bob Yoder, Community volunteer, 04 April 2023

Redmond Town Center's Heron Art

click pictures to enlarge

 

It's all a matter of perspective and taste. By night Fairbourne's RTC art installation draws you towards an amenity of the Center; its proximity to Bear Creek.  But in daylight, what's it trying to convey?  

(After dinner, our waitress at BJ's took our picture!) 

UPDATED, 12/14/2023: Jeff Cashman Wins Race for EvergreenHealth Commissioner #6

Jeff Cashman

Mr. Cashman was appointed interim commissioner after Commissioner Minerva Butler resigned.  He was elected November, 2023 with over 58% of the vote.  

Commissioner Cashman's Voter pamphlet statement. 

Endorsed by Board Chair Virgil Snyder:  

 "Jeff is a trusted, experienced community leader with an impressive financial background," said EvergreenHealth Board Chair Virgil Snyder. "His experience in financial strategy as well as in leading various nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in our region will be a tremendous asset. I look forward to collaborating with him and the other commissioners as we continue to evolve to meet our community's growing and changing needs."

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About EvergreenHealth

Redmond Space District, More Satellites Than Any In The World

Mayor Birney (in blue) with Redmond Space District Leaders show proclamations officially launching the Space District

Redmond, WA – Mayor of Redmond Angela Birney announced the launch of the Redmond Space District today in partnership with OneRedmond at the annual State of the City. This brand was developed to showcase the dramatic growth of Redmond’s Space Cluster. 

According to research by Alliance Velocity, Redmond-based companies produced almost half of the satellites in earth’s orbit, and are projected to manufacture more than 75% of the world’s satellites in the near future based on current and future FCC approved satellites.

“Redmond has a long history in the space industry dating back to 1967 when Aerojet Rocketdyne, broke ground on their first site in Redmond,” said Kristina Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of OneRedmond. “Today, Redmond is home to an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem alongside two of the largest satellite manufacturers in the world: SpaceX, and Project Kuiper.” 

Redmond’s innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem leverages the region’s major strengths in information technology, manufacturing, and aerospace. Along with the two satellite manufacturing giants, Redmond’s robust and growing commercial space sector also includes Honeywell Aerospace, Kymeta, Microsoft’s Azure Orbital, RBC Signals, Spectralux, and Triumph providing a rich environment for small businesses like Xplore to locate in Redmond to grow and prosper.

 "Positioning Xplore in this hub for space activity and innovation was strategic,” said Lisa Rich, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Xplore. “We are surrounded by a community of customers and colleagues including SpaceX, Microsoft's Azure Orbital and Amazon Project Kuiper, and we have fantastic vendors and suppliers." 

Washington State is positioned well to become a global leader in the space industry, with Redmond as one if its shining stars. 

Mayor Angela Birney's 2022 State of the City Address (Video)

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OneRedmond is a public-private partnership for economic and community development. Supported by local private sector businesses in close partnership with the City of Redmond. OneRedmond strives to be the difference maker in connecting our local companies and educational community with resources to keep our local economy stable and growing.

Source:  Kristina Hudson CEO, OneRedmond kristinah@oneredmond.org 

Nature Beckons With a Double Rainbow and Hail Shower

 

This double rainbow photograph was taken by a friend on Sunday at Cottage Lake and confirmed by my next door neighbor.  On the same day we experienced ~ 20 minute hail shower.  It came out of the blue!

Photographs by Jonathan Morrison, 3/30/2023 

Past Water Tender Volunteer

SEATTLE TIMES: Strangers Sent Redmond Man 100's of Cards for His 90th Birthday

 

By 

Paige Cornwell 

Seattle Times staff reporter

In January, Lynn Colwell posted a request in a Redmond community Facebook group: “My dear husband’s 90th birthday is coming up and I am trying to gift him with as many cards as possible from around the world.”

She didn’t post much more, just that his name is Steve, he’s a musician and loves pickleball, accompanied by a photo of him smiling next to a sunflower. She included a mailing address and the message that whether residents knew him or not, if someone would like to send a card, she would really appreciate it.

The cards came in. Dozens and dozens and dozens, to the point the couple lost count. Steve Colwell’s 90th birthday was Feb. 15 and he’s still opening envelopes.

“They came to a delivery post box and the lady at that place said ‘I don’t know who Steve Colwell is but I want to be him on my birthday,’” Lynn Colwell said. “I had no idea we would get this many.”

Unbeknown to Steve Colwell, Redmond residents were hatching plans to send cards under Lynn’s Facebook posts. One commented that she would send a card because he reminded her of her grandpa. Another wrote she sent the request to her relatives in the United Kingdom so he could get international cards. Lynn had also requested cards from their friends and others who know Steve through his work as one of the founders of Up with People, an international performing group.

Lynn Colwell hoped to give the cards to her husband on his birthday. But then they both contracted COVID, and he had to be hospitalized for five days for other health issues. They canceled his birthday party and the plans for the card reveal.

When he was discharged and returned home, Lynn told Steve there was a big box waiting for him.

“It was wrapped and it was like a Costco cardboard box,” Steve said. “I couldn’t imagine what kind of gift I would need at this point in my life.”

--Paige Conwell, Seattle Times, March 30, 2023

(Steve helped me untangle my disjointed pickleball serve. He's pictured playing at 24 Fitness here.)

LWSD Proposes Repurposing Levy Funds To Enlarge Rockwell Elementary

Re-directing construction levy funds, will be placed on the Monday, April 3, 2023 agenda for board action at 7PM.  Email your comments to Boardmembers@LWSD.org

LWSD Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen

 

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has proposed repurposing levy funds from the 2022 Building Excellence Construction Levy. These funds would be used to rebuild (partially tear down) and enlarge Rockwell Elementary School. The funds were originally planned to be used to build a new elementary school on the Redmond Elementary campus.

 

“Lake Washington School District values its partnership with our community,” said Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent. “To that end, our commitment to fiscal responsibility includes using our public resources in the most efficient and effective ways to accomplish our goals of excellence in education for each student.”  

The 2022 Building Excellence Construction Levy was finalized in 2021. Since then enrollment in the Redmond-area elementary schools is lower than projected. The overall enrollment forecast is reduced. The current need for a new elementary school for 550 students has changed.

Watch this video from Dr. Holmen for additional information (4:16):

Direct link: https://youtu.be/BDpGZnSv0VI  [excellent video]

This proposal adds space for 252 additional students in permanent capacity, in an area that is still expected to grow. Permanent capacity at Rockwell Elementary would increase from 438 students to 690 students. This will also allow the district to address an aging facility now, at a lower cost, rather than waiting for a future measure to meet this need.

While the original resolutions allow funds to be used on any capital project, given the elimination of one project, and replacing it with another, this is being brought for board action.  Your comments can be emailed to the School Board at:  BoardMembers@lwsd.org