New "Woodinville Weekly" newspaper -- Everything you need to know!

Last Council meeting, Roger Trepanier, a past Redmond City councilmember, spoke of our serious need for a city newspaper.  The "Woodinville Weekly" has made great strides since I last brought it to their attention.  Small businesses are flocking to advertise with them. The PRIDE Month was highlighted with a colorful front page story.  A  focus article on Molbaks' redevelopment project was of great interest.  The Council and Mayor Birney have the publisher's contact information; he is interested in us! 

My simple ask of Mayor Birney is: 1) *buy a subscription and 2) augment her popular "Focus" newsletter to broaden our community news with a paper of Woodinville's  format.    

*The Woodinville Weekly Volume 47 Issue 35 (PE 23150) is published weekly for $45 per year by Eastside Media Corp, PO Box 98005, Lakewood, WA 98496. Periodicals postage paid at Woodinville, Wash. Post Office. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Woodinville Weekly, PO Box 98005, Lakewood, WA 98496 MAIL: PO Box 98005, Lakewood, WA 98496 Phone: 425-483-0606 www.woodinville.com  

And, I suggest anyone interested in knowing what's going on in Woodinville subscribe!  Both print and on-line publications are available!  

-- Bob Yoder, 6/19/2023

Council Notes: Bicycle, Pedestrian, Vehicular Crashes

Notes from the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Council / staff discussion:  

1. Video tape of discussion starts at 1:55 
2. Planners are updating the "Bicycle Design Guide Manual" to include "The Level of Traffic Stress" felt by bicyclists.  Few bicyclist ride through Avondale, Redmond Way, and Cleveland Street and other downtown roads.  The "comfort level" is poor in our downtown core; thus few bikes are seen.  Is there any road space for adding bike lane facilities?  
3. Council member David Carson brought attention to the Redmond Way/Eastlake Sammamish intersection as being challenging.  President Forsythe said she very rarely passes through there owing to her high level of stress.  
4. Bear Creek Parkway Trail will be an excellent gateway for bikers commuting to Redmond Town Center. 
5. President Forsythe asked for data on bike crashes in bike lanes, at intersections and with pedestrians. Staff didn't have the data.  Mayor Birney was present and had nothing to say.  
6. Councilmember Steve Fields was once a strong advocate for better bicycle facilities in Redmond; he had nothing to add, other than thanking the planners for the great job they are doing.  
7. Redmond is the "Bicycle Capital of the Northwest" during Derby Days only?  Population: 75,200.  

- Bob Yoder, opinion, 6/15/2023

Mayor Birney's Stories - Things To Do In Redmond This Summer

UPDATED: King County Sewer Pipe Replacement Will Disrupt West Lake Sammamish, 2024-2027

An example of open-cut trenching

A trunkline of NW Lake Sammamish sewer pipe has been serving Redmond and Bellevue for 50 years, carrying wastewater to Brightwater Treatment Plant in Woodinville for treatment. King County will soon start working on a project to upgrade 4.5 miles of this sewer pipe to meet the growing needs of the community. King County will build the new pipe in trails, roads, and parks in along West Lake Sammamish Blvd. in Redmond. Completion is expected by 2027. Once complete, the new pipe will provide sewer service for 50 years or more.

Impact to the West Redmond community will be severe during open-cut trenching, though the County is taking every measure to protect the environment. Special attention will be given to tree replacement.

Open-cut trenching will begin at City Hall in 2024.  From there, it will cross the Sammamish River at Leary Way, impinge on Marymoor Park and West Lake Sammamish River apartments and condos, trench around Audubon Elementary and Idylwood Park, with completion at Bellevue's NE 24th Street.  

King County needs to locate a portion of the line on City property on the east side of the Sammamish River within the Sammamish River Trail between Redmond Way and the Redmond Central Connector and has offered to pay the City $10,358.00 for a 2,734 sq. ft. utility easement.  Council must approve.  

Sources:  Council Committee of the Whole, 6/12/2023; RNB post, 12/31, 2019, Opinion /Yoder

The City Owns KFC Lot, Considers Extending Lease Five Years

NW Restaurants, Inc. operates the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant located at 15802 Bear Creek Parkway on City of Redmond property under a lease that will expire on June 30, 2023. NW Restaurants wishes to continue leasing the property and has negotiated with staff for a proposed lease amendment extending the lease up to five years to June 30, 2028.  Council must approve the lease extension.

NW Restaurants, Inc. has operated the KFC restaurant under a lease with the previous property owners since 1971. In 2016 the City bought the property with the intent to facilitate the preservation of land needed to build a new street link connecting Redmond Way and 158th Ave. NE, and a new four-way intersection at Redmond Way and Bear Creek Parkway. These planned improvements are identified in the Redmond Transportation Master Plan, an element of the Redmond Comprehensive Plan.

Summary of the proposed lease amendment terms. The lease can be terminated by either party with 12 month notice.  Rent increases to $8,251/year in '23 - '24 from $6,559/year. 

Source:  Council Committee of the Whole memo, 6/12/2023

Affordable Housing Progress In Redmond

A multifamily property tax exemption (MFTE) program is authorized in chapter 84.14 RCW. in Redmond for the purpose of encouraging the production of affordable housing. 

Redmond offers an 8- year and 12-year property tax exemption program to developers to encourage affordable housing.  The 8-year program has been very successful. As of the first quarter of 2023, there are 5 constructed and occupied market-rate projects in the 8-year MFTE program, which contain 134 affordable units. 

To date, no market-rate developer has used the 12-year exemption. For the 12-year exemption, state statute requires that 20% of homes be affordable. Redmond requires this housing to be affordable between 60% and 85% of area median income. A pilot program would adjust those limits to between 80% and 115% as allowed by state statute to increase uptake of the 12-year exemption and thereby increase the supply of affordable homes.

-- Source:  Council Committee of the Whole memo, 6/12/2023

County Funds Behavioral Health Crisis Center For Five North King County Cities

King County Executive Dow Constantine

"King County invested $11.5 million of state and local dollars toward a crisis center located in Kirkland.  It will service five North King County cities.  It's the start of what we can achieve together when it comes to community behavioral health." -- King County Executive Dow Constantine.

 PHOENIX, March 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Connections Health Solutions, the leading innovator of immediate access behavioral health crisis care, is proud to announce it has secured a location in the 405 Kirkland Corporate Center in Kirkland, WA, for the county's first person-focused, multi-service behavioral health crisis response center.  Within a safe, dedicated space for high-quality care, the center will provide a spectrum of care services, from walk-in behavioral health urgent care to continued stabilization, to individuals experiencing all types of behavioral health or substance use crises.

UPDATED: Odds and Ends

The Good With the Bad  

GOOD:  The City of Redmond's fleet is 30% EV.  Redmond's Fire Department will have the first EV Fire Engine in the State.  So cool for show at festive city events like Derby Days!  The electric engine even comes with a diesel back-up.  Wow!  

BAD:  Electric Vehicle batteries are very heavy.  They can add 1,000 -2,000 pounds to the weight of a passenger vehicle putting wear and tear on our roads, bridges and crosswalk lines.   Imagine how much the EV/diesel fire engine will weight.  Re-striping faded crosswalks is more important than ever.  Just look at them now. 

-- Bob Yoder, 6/9/2023

UPDATED OPINION: Council Members Weren't Given Opportunity To Comment At Salary Commission Meetings

OPINION:  After listening to testimonies of three former councilmembers at last night's regular Council meeting I'm saddened the Mayor didn't clip the miss-managed council Salary Commission work in the bud, rather then let it drag on for weeks on end.  

The lack of transparency throughout the process was delivered home last night in President Forsythe's  statement that "council could have commented at the commission meetings."  City attorney Haney didn't inform Council of this until after commission was dis-banded.  The Mayor, who oversees all city employees was mum.

A flaw in the process is HR / CEO / Mayor -- through the commission -- didn't ask for input, advice and guidance from previous salary commissioners. Siri Bliesner, present LWSD Board President, was on the previous salary commission; she resides in Redmond, as well.  Ms. Bliesner, previous other commissioners and Mayor Marchione could have brought valuable perspective and experience to the decision-making process.

Madame Birney has handled other major issues with alacrity.  Unfortunately, she dropped the ball on this one. This management faux pas makes one seriously wonder how other critical decisions are filtered by the CEO and  overlooked by the Mayor at our expense.  

What are Mayor Birney's next steps?  Hopefully, she will encourage commentary from Council in the process. 

-- Bob Yoder, 6/7/2023, opinion

Council's present salary is $18,648.  Benefits are $28,000.  The Commission proposed a $115,294 salary not counting benefits.  The "Salary Commission" should be re-named "Compensation Commission" to shed light on the total package!  by

"Adaptive Signal Control" Optimizes Traffic Flow, Reduces Congestion

Adaptive Signal Control system

Council proposed adaptive traffic signal control system project coined "Adaptive Signal Control" for the Public Works budget. It will measure real-time traffic fluctuations and automatically adjust signal timings more efficiently than our current system. Other agencies have demonstrated substantial delay reduction, especially when conditions change unexpectedly due to weather, lane closures, or surges in demand.  The system costs about $1M; an $865,000 Puget Sound Region Council will be applied. 

The system will be capable of adjusting signal timings, and operations in real-time. This will reduce travel times through downtown and reduce wait times for pedestrians. With the arrival of light-rail in Downtown Redmond, this updated signal system will be key in responding to the change in traffic conditions expected through downtown.

Adaptive Signal Control is especially effective for roads that experience variable and unpredictable traffic demand, where conventional signal systems cannot keep up with the changing conditions. Adaptive signal control can also benefit pedestrians and active transportation modes by reducing delays and improving service. Adaptive signal control can also respond to changes in traffic patterns caused by new work commute options and the opening of transit stations, which can affect the demand for different directions and movements at intersections.

-- Council Committee Of The Whole, abridged Public works memo, 6/5/2023

Mayor Birney Disbands Salary Commission

Mayor Angela Birney

A letter from Mayor Birney

"As Mayor, my job is to manage the City and the financial resources entrusted to me by the community and to ensure that your tax dollars are spent responsibly on services that best serve the priorities of Redmond. To maintain the City’s finances, I have no choice but to take action. As of today, Friday, May 26, 2023, I have notified and officially disbanded the Salary Commission, per my authority outlined in Ordinance No. 2111 and Revised Code of Washington 35.21.015(2)(c).

My decision is based on the Salary Commission members demonstrating their inability to follow the required guidelines and processes. The Salary Commission members have attempted to proceed via special meetings with short notice to staff and the community and without considering the following:

• Complete analysis of Council salaries in comparable cities
• Information concerning the fiscal impact of the proposed salary increases on the City’s adopted budget
• Information concerning whether and how many staff would be required to be laid off to pay for the extraordinary 600% increase in Councilmember compensation
• Allowing sufficient time to notify the community and receive your input

In March of this year, per Ordinance No. 2111, I appointed an independent Salary Commission to review the City Council’s annual salary. At a special meeting held on Thursday, May 18, 2023, the Salary Commission proposed to raise Councilmember’s annual salaries from $18,648 to $115,294 ($142,965 including benefits). The figure they proposed stemmed from individual commissioners' suggestions and was based on the average number of hours that some current members of the Council stated they work on a weekly basis.

 The commission had planned to vote on their recommendation at their next meeting, previously scheduled for next week. Per state law, with a majority vote, the Salary Commission decision would be final and go into effect 30 days from receipt by the City Clerk’s Office if no referendum is filed by the community.  

State statutes creating City Councils in cities like Redmond do not make Council positions full-time, and members can devote as many or few hours as they deem appropriate. Raising Council salaries to a full-time wage of $115,294, plus benefits, will require revenue increases or expenditure reductions of $870,216 annually.

To put this in perspective, the City of Redmond’s biennial budget totals approximately $1 billion for 2023-2024, of which 23% or $233 million consists of General Fund discretionary dollars (excluding reserves and fund balances). Annually the General Fund budget equals approximately $116 million. All other funds that comprise the City’s budget are earmarked by state statute or Council policy for specific uses. The General Fund, however, can be used for general city purposes.

The 2023-2024 budget creation relied on one-time money to restore a small portion of the 17.63 full-time equivalent employees laid off, and programs and services sharply reduced during the pandemic years. City revenues are slowly recovering, but are not up to pre-pandemic levels. In addition, all economic indicators point to a recession on the horizon.

Thank you to the community members who have shared their thoughts on this topic with me, Councilmembers, and the now-disbanded Salary Commission. Your feedback directly informed my decision, and your continued input will be equally important as I determine the next steps, of which I will keep you informed."

Sincerely,

Mayor Angela Birney
MayorCouncil@redmond.gov

Opinion:  The City rakes in millions of dollars from construction and development taxes.  B.Y.

UPDATED OPINION: Salary Commission Volunteers Give Input On Council Salaries

Mayor Birney disbanded salary commission.  5/28

Salary Commission volunteers are presently reviewing city council member salaries and benefits.  The Human Resource department thinks they may be due for a raise.  Presently, each council member makes $18,000 per year.  

What Council members do now:  

They have two formal meetings every week.  They occasionally hold Special meetings and Hearings.  Most meetings end within 1-1.5 hours. Council members also attend outside meetings and with give "committee reports" on them.  Each month, a different Council member is assigned ombudsman duties to report citizen complaints and appreciation.  At festivals like Derby Days they work a booth.

An important weekly Council Committee of the Whole (COW.) increased their duties and responsibilities significantly, but this is already baked into their $18,000 salary.  All seven members are expected to attend (though not required) whereas, in years past only 2 council members met on a rotating basis. COW meetings are  where the real work gets done.  A 2- 3% salary increase may be justified based on COW activities.  

Redmond is rapidly evolving from a suburb to a city.  Council's budgetary and policy oversite is not primarily to our downtown, but also Marymoor Village and Overlake Urban Center.  A few councilmembers are getting involved with One Redmond.  The Comprehensive Plan and budget is more complicated and demanding of Council.  Light rail brings a continuing challenge never before encountered by a Council.  Council members should be compensated for these increased responsibilities. (3%.)  Of course, a COLA is justified. (6%)

Remote, virtual attendance is a new benefit and should be factored into the salary discussion.  

1. Council transportation costs and traveling times are reduced.
2. More time can be spent at their real jobs and other obligations.
3. Attendance at 4:30 PM COW meetings becomes more convenient. 

The health benefit is significant and should not be overlooked.  Council members running their own business benefit.  

With all of the above considered, a 12% salary increase from $18,000 to $20,106 is justified.  Council members are privileged public servants and not in it for the money.  Human Resources should hold a community meeting for citizens so they can learn what councilmembers do, just as LWSD does from their community.    

Bob Yoder, 5/22/2023 , updated 5/28, opinion

Maintenance & Operations Center Plan Costs $969,416

Click to enlarge the image and you'll see a lot of the Center is for storage.

The Miller Hull Partnership's Master Plan for the a new Maintenance & Operations Center (M&O) costs $969,416.  The Master Plan is expected to be delivered in early 2024 with construction scheduled to begin in 2027.  It's location is NE 76th Street in SE Redmond.

"The current Maintenance & Operations building is well past its useful life, no longer fits the needs of a growing City and is inefficient for current staff workflow. The multi-year project will deliver a redeveloped operations site and office building with open and flexible crew, office, meeting, and emergency response spaces that will accommodate Parks Operations and most, if not all of Public Works staff. The improved site layout will provide better equipment protection, modernized shops, as well as central storage, and a combined Fleet facility. In addition, parking spaces will be provided for approximately 300 vehicles (staff and fleet)."

-- Source COW memo, 5/23/2023

Projected cost ~ $ 1 million  NE 76th Street

Opinion:  One-time money from development revenue will be used to build the M&O Center.  B. Yoder

5/23 Crime Report, Redmond / King County

Chief Lowe

Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe gave a quarterly 5-year crime overview report to Council during their 5/16 Committee Safety Meeting, as follows:  Watch Chief Lowe's presentation here.   20.14 m.  

All crimes:  

• up 18.8%  2019-23 ; up 17.7% 2022-23

Auto thefts: 

• up 237.5%  2019-23 ; up 30.6% 2022-23

Property crimes:

• up 54.5% 2019-23; down 13.8% 2022-23

Misdemeanors:

• down 10.3% 2019-2022 ; up 24.4% 2022-23  (big box retail thefts)

Felonies:

• down 37.5% 2019-2022 ; down 47.9% 2022-23

King County residents were charged with promoting prostitution and operating almost a dozen message businesses as fronts.  --  Redmond Reporter.

Reported by B. Yoder, 5/19/23

"Civic Genius," working to overcome polarization and strengthen civic culture

Hi Bob (and community-at-large);

I’m the executive director of Civic Genius, a national nonpartisan organization working to overcome political polarization and strengthen civic culture. I live just outside of Redmond (unincorporated King County) and am an appreciative reader of your blog.

I wanted to reach out because Civic Genius runs a grassroots deliberative democracy program which we are planning to bring to the East Side in July. The program brings Americans from across the political spectrum together to develop solutions and take action on pressing issues. We also offer a bunch of nuts-and-bolts civic education content and online events, as well as long-term skill-building and support for people who want to ramp up their engagement.

I would love to find some time to tell you more about this initiative and get your thoughts on how it can be most valuable to the community. Let me know if you're ever free for a coffee or a Zoom!

Best,

Jillian Youngblood

Civic Genius is an exciting opportunity to strengthen our democracy. I will be calling Jillian next week. If any of you are interested in a coffee with her please email me at redmondblog@gmail.com. Bob

UPDATED: Nonprofits Are Moving Into the Together Center, Mountain Building

 

Together Center (TC) announced today that phase one of construction is complete! Last week the first nonprofits moved into the first of the two buildings on the new Together Center campus and today the new TC campus officially opened its new doors!  Phase two will be completed later this Summer.  

TC Board views corner unit apartments. 280 units of affordable housing managed by Horizon Housing and Polaris Housing are on the 5 upper levels.

Posted, 5/18/2022

School Board Acknowledges and Commits to Native Students

 

Land acknowledgement and commitment to native students and families:

"The board of directors of Lake Washington School District acknowledges that our district is on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish Peoples, who have reserved treaty rights on this land, including the Duwamish (dxʷdəwʔabš) and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe (sdukʷalbixʷ). We thank these caretakers of this land who have lived here since time immemorial. We commit to continue collaborating with our native community, to teach the indigenous history of this land and these local tribes to all children of the district. We also commit to provide the best possible education for all children of native descent who attend our schools."

- Read by Board member Eric Laliberte at recent School Board meeting

  

 Posted 5/16/2023

UPDATED: Watch Out For Exorbitant Emergency Department Expenses / Mental Health Awareness Month

EvergreenHealth Medical Center - supported by District taxpayers

A month ago I was transferred from Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital to EvergreenHealth Emergency Department (ED) for a concussion evaluation and incidental mental health care.  For ED services I was charged. 

$2,024 for a Level 4 Visit, $515.00 for intravenous hydration, $1,687 for a CT scan, $270 for an acetaminophen blood level, $270 for a urine toxicology screen, $379.00 for an ECG, $270.00 for an alcohol blood level, $309 for a lactic acid blood level, among other charges, totaling $7,079.  (Not counting the radiologist fee.)  

My insurance company had a contract with EvergreenHealth which helped.  I read somewhere on Evergreen's website tax-payer funds (via the levy) sometimes kick-in when insurance companies can't.  Our Emergency Department charges at Overlake were high, as well.  It seems ED physicians always need to take a CT; at least for us. We've had four CT's at four visits.  Stay out of ED's at all costs (no pun intended.)  Go first to Urgent Care or your Primary Care physician, if possible.  

As we all know, the cost of healthcare has sky-rocketed everywhere.  It's come to the point that people have had to resort  "medical credit cards."  Yahoo Business has an excellent article on these cards.

-- Bob Yoder, 5/16/2023

May is "Mental Health Awareness Month."  Under "comment" (below in blue,) I wrote in detail my recent experience of treatment and recovery at Fairfax Behavioral Health Hospital.  I hope you read it. Bob

EvergreenHealth Commissioners Confronted by Nurse and Service Unions

EvergreenHealth, Supported by District Taxpayers

Twenty-one staff from the Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare 1199 NW spoke to the Board and expressed concerns and complaints regarding:

1. wages, 
2. working conditions, 
3. patient and staff safety, 
4. recruitment and retention, 
5. excessive patient wait times, 
6. cost of living in the area, 
7. the reputation of EvergreenHealth, 
8. medical benefits coverage, 
9. and safety and support for home health nurses. 
10. A patient expressed concerns about the current direction of EvergreenHealth and shared that she and other patients are looking for other healthcare providers. 
11. Several speakers expressed their pleasure in working for EvergreenHealth and their desire to partner with EvergreenHealth to resolve the issues, but all indicated that changes are needed. 

The guests provided the Board with a stack of letters and notes from union members expressing their concerns and desires.  Comm. McLaughlin thanked the guests for attending and providing the Board with their perspectives and assured them that the Board takes their concerns seriously.

Source: EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioner Regular Meeting Minutes, March/April, 2023 

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 5/7/2023

Sammamish River Eaglets

 

credit / John Reinke

Three week old eaglets nesting on the Sammamish River.  

One is quite a bit larger than than the other.

-- by John Rinke, Redmond, WA.  

EvergreenHealth Holds May 10th Meeting to Discuss Potential Bond Measure

The large, proposed bond measure would significantly expand the EvergreenHealth campus:

Seismic upgrades, parking lot expansion, Cath lab, new building, and surgical services in the top two vacant stories of the Silver Tower.  

Evergreenhealth

"Interested in learning about our community's future health care needs and EvergreenHealth's plans to meet them? The Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in Red Auditorium for the purpose of hearing public comment regarding King County Public Hospital District No. 2 growth plans and a related potential levy measure." 

View our Visitor Guide for maps, information on where to park and location information (zones and floors).  Enter the Red Zone from the Emergency OB and Emergency entrance.  

- posted by B. Yoder