UPDATED: "Together Center" Grand Opening Celebration, Part One

Janet Richards
Together Center Board Member - Equity Advocate

"Another friend said, “every city needs a Together Center”. I could not agree more. I’m very proud that my city has made it happen first for other cities to follow.

Huge congratulations to:

the Together Center staff (can you believe a small but mighty team of Four people!)

the TC board who played such an active role in leadership and action

the Redmond city human services staff, Council and Mayor Birney

the corporate sponsors like Microsoft and Amazon (who invested millions)

the many donors

government leaders who put in place funding policies for innovative development (this is what systemic change looks like!! To give other forms of development a chance to compete in creating housing)

the non-profit community who work tirelessly for our communities

This is a dream fulfilled in so many ways, in others it far exceeds my wildest dreams."

-- Janet Richards, Sources: Facebook, TC Website

9/9/2023

Special thanks to Janet for sharing this Kiro 7 News clip on the Grand Opening!

Downtown Park Art

 

Rainbow asphalt art by Jing Jing Wang

This art is a crosswalk too.  

"Friends Who Like Redmond Neighborhood Blog" - A Private Group For Community Engagement

 "FRIENDS WHO LIKE REDMOND NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG"

I've been writing the Redmond Neighborhood Blog for over 16 years; and administer a Facebook Group for commenting on the blog's most popular posts. It's a community gathering place.  The Group is called  "Friends Who Like Redmond Neighborhood Blog."  The Group is Private so can see the content before you are a member but you can't see it's members until your request to join is approved.  Check it out HERE!

Your participation and engagement in our community is invaluable!  I hope you'll become a member and join in on the conversation. 

Best wishes, 

Bob Yoder

redmondblog@gmail.com

UPDATED: Kirkland's "Urban Plaza" Glass Buildings

Kirkland's Urban Plaza - a similar 6-story building is across from a "living street" / Credit Bob Yoder

                                                          

I had an eye examination today in Kirkland.  My wonderful optometrist moved from Redmond Town Center to Kirkland's Urban Plaza and wow! ...that retail - apartment - commercial center is a beauty! 

Check out this 6-story mixed-use building and it's architecture. See the use of glass for the façade?  I'm sending this photo to the new Redmond Town Center owner asking him to seriously consider glass materials.  The owner, Fairbourne, is building two 12-story buildings; I hope he will build with innovative materials and architecture.  Residents crave a creative, sparkling downtown building that will make us proud to live here.  

I've been told Google owns all the Urban Plaza land.  A local office is on-site.  Of course, they have deep pockets and can afford architecture that looks great.  It makes me wonder why the city couldn't broker a deal between Microsoft and the previous RTC owner. What a huge opportunity. Well, we have Fairbourne instead.  They're supposed to be a premier retail developer.  Let's hope they know how to design outstanding buildings as well.    

 -- opinion/photo, Bob Yoder, 9/4/2023 

Salmon Migrating towards Lake Sammamish

Drone photo (1 of 3) by Jason Sperling (Sept. 2022)

 "Migrating salmon navigating from Lake Washington, into the Sammamish River, heading to Lake Sammamish...west to east at this time of year."

-- William C. Leak, Kenmore Facebook Group 

Could some of these be Chinook migrating to Bear Creek?  

Posted by Yoder, 9/4/2023

Light Rail Service Between Redmond and Bellevue Begins in the Spring

Service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology Station begins Spring of 2024.  Service to the Marymoor and Downtown stations are planned for 2025.

The 2 Line segment opening next spring will mean easy, traffic-free connections
to where you live, work and play!

By Brooke Belman, Deputy CEO Sound Transit

Publish Date

August 24, 2023

Today the Sound Transit Board of Directors voted for a phased approach to opening the East Link Extension, beginning with service between South Bellevue and Redmond Technology stations in spring 2024.  

As we’ve shared over the past year, delays caused by construction quality issues along the I-90 portion of the East Link Extension, which includes two more stations in Judkins Park and on Mercer Island, prompted Sound Transit’s staff and Board to reimagine our plans for beginning passenger service. We now expect to open this remaining section of the 2 Line, creating rail connections across Lake Washington, in 2025. 

After greenlighting the phased approach today, the Sound Transit Board will finalize initial 2 Line service levels later this fall, when they consider the 2024 Service Plan. The plan will also set service levels for the Lynnwood Link opening, slated for next fall.  

With the Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension opening next month and new Eastside and Snohomish County service launching next year, your light rail destinations are expanding in a big way in the near future. Here’s what we expect Sound Transit’s regional service will look like by the end of next year.

-- Sound Transit

Redmond Rainbow Crosswalk

Beautiful art!  But don't stare down at it when you're in the crosswalk.  
Drivers may get distracted and not recognize it's a crosswalk. 

The Public Works Director was there.  He said they bought a thermo-applicator machine to paint this crosswalk and will use it for painting other asphalt art.  NAMI Eastside mental health art near the Together Center would be another good candidate!  Don't you think? 

Eastside LBGTQIA artists"

- photo and comment by Yoder, 9/2/2023

UPDATED: 9/17: EvergreenHealth Commissioners Considering $789,500,000 Bond, 8-story Tower

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital

 

The proposed North Tower will have 12 floors:  2 underground parking, 1 underground mixed-use, 2 above ground facility and ancillary, 7 inpatient care floors (3 will be left vacant.) 

At the EvergreenHealth Commission's May retreat, the V.P. of Operations reviewed the proposed Master Facility Plan projects, including a 12-story North Tower expansion with 255,000 square feet and adding another level of parking to the Central Parking Garage.  He also reviewed the bed capacity status and current shortage.

The proposed North Tower would have: 

• two underground parking floors
• 1 mixed-use underground floor 
• 2 above ground support and ancillary care floors 
• 7 floors of inpatient care
•  expanding capacity and modernizing surgical services, 
• address community health needs for behavioral health services  (how?)
• increasing seismic resilience 
• improving Emergency Department capacity,
• and improving energy efficiency and environmental stewardship 

The V.P. of Operations noted that they are in one of the better places in the greater Seattle area to serve the public in the event of a large seismic event and we may be one of few facilities operational. 

He stated, " the anticipated UTGO Bond amount is approx. $798,500,000, and would include a new North Tower. We would plan to buildout 6 of the 9 floors in the new North Tower to start and keep the remaining 3 floors for future expansion as needs arise or change.  The levers used to achieve break-even Net Income over the 10-year proforma period were labor and overhead." 

It was noted the UTGO BOND would equate to a tax rate of $.13 per $1,000 of assessed value (or $156.24 incremental tax increase per year for a $1.2M home in Kirkland, which is the 2023 median assessed home value).  (However, 2024 King County appraisals for homes are reduced by ~ 20% from 2023. Thus, the hospital commissioners will probably launch the bond measure in 2024.)

Additionally, it was noted that the public hospital district taxes are 2.1% of the entire King County levy.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  Paul Hess, Kenmore resident, asked if EvergreenHealth has implemented lean organizational strategies, noting that it will help close the gap. Additionally, he spoke about the Foundation, how their staff report to EvergreenHealth, and hopes that no Foundation funding will be used for a UTGO Bond.  He also spoke critically about how he and other District residents pay taxes to fund the hospital but don’t use the services, while others who don’t pay taxes to fund the hospital use the services.

SOURCES:

-- Minutes: May 16th, 2023, Regular Board Meeting - 2 comments

-- Minutes: May 11th 2023, Special Session Commission Retreat

-- Minutes: May 2 2023, Special Session Leadership Educational Session  1 comment

-- May 10  Special Session Leadership Educational Session  - 8 comments

posted by Bob Yoder, 9/2/2023

Anderson Park Vagrant

I saw this poor vagrant sleeping in Anderson Park landscaping about 1 p.m. this morning.  I've seen homeless sleeping on Anderson Park benches before.  I've notified the city council ombudsman and hopefully the city can find a way to help this man.  Dial 991.

-- Bob Yoder, 9/1/2023 

Downtown Monotony

Beijing based public company financed this $31 million project.  The yellow building is under
construction and part of the project.  The remaining orange vapor barrier film is being covered with more drab materials.  See the small cranes at work?

 

The mixed use "Grand" building will house 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartment units and first floor retail.  It's right in the center of town at the Redmond Way / 166th Avenue and replaces Redmond Square retail mall.  Trees were once visible here.  

Last month, the planning department distributed a questionnaire with pictures of different building designs. Believe it or not, there are still many large projects in the pipeline. Please take the survey!  

Who was our mayor in 2008?  Mayor Ives / Mayor Marchione?  Building design surveys, open houses, and workshops should have been done ~ fifteen years ago.  As is, we will have to live with this and other high profile ugly buildings with no art for over ~ 50 years.  😮 

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 8/30/2023

The AI revolution - Microsoft vs. Google

Google CEO interview:  This video shows how amazing AI (artificial intelligence) is and why it needs to be regulated.  

So far, Google has 92.07% market share vs. 2.99% market share of Microsoft's BING search engine. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says AI is shaking up the competition for search. He argues that AI's new wave of technology is as big as the web browser or the iPhone.

-- posted by Yoder

Mayor Birney's Story | Police & Fire Canines - August 2023

Redmond Council Position #7 Primary Race a Virtual Tie

King County Redmond Primary Election Certified Results: 

Sadly, only 29.31% of Redmond's 33,853 registered voters voted....that's 9,923.

The Council Position #7 race was razor-thin:  

• David M. Carson, 3,745 votes, 39.40%
• Angie Nuevacamin, 3795 votes, 39.93%
• Amit Gupta, 1939 votes, 20.40%

I offered to videotape and post interviews of Mr. Carson and Ms. Nuevacamin.

-- Bob Yoder, 8/27/2023

UPDATED: EvergreenHealth "Community" Hospital Lacks Behavioral Health Specialty Care

EvergreenHealth "Community Hospital, owned by the community," lacks Behavioral Health Specialty Care.

When you need care from a specialist, the EvergreenHealth Medical Group provides physicians in more than 40 specialties. Behavioral health is not one of them. 

Their specialty care clinics are listed below:

Breast Health Center
Booth Gardner Parkinson's Care Center
Cancer Care
Colon and Rectal Care
Diabetes and Endocrinology Care
Diabetes Education & Nutrition Services
Ear, Nose & Throat Care
Eye Care

EvergreenHealth Selects Nancy Stewart as Newest Commissioner, Term Expires 2025

 EvergreenHealth Board Selects Nancy Stewart as Newest Commissioner

She has been selected to replace Al DeYoung in Position #1 after he retired in June 2023

 

KIRKLAND, Wash. –  The EvergreenHealth Board of Commissioners recently appointed Nancy Stewart to fill a vacant position on the board, serving in Position #1, which represents the communities of Bothell, Duvall and Woodinville. Stewart joins the board effective Aug. 15, 2023, and replaces Al DeYoung, who previously served in Position #1 for over 40 years before retiring in June.

 

Stewart is a longtime resident of EvergreenHealth’s public hospital district and is a former employee of EvergreenHealth, having joined the organization in 2012. Over her tenure, she served in varying progressive leadership roles, most recently as executive director of hospital and *specialty medicine. She left the role in 2023 to spend time with her family but is eager to be back at EvergreenHealth as a commissioner to help serve her surrounding community.

 

“Nancy is a successful health care professional with a broad skill set that supports our shared work as we embark on our second 50 years as providers of exceptional care and service for our community,” said EvergreenHealth Board Chair Virgil Snyder. “Her experience as an EvergreenHealth leader and her expertise in emergency and health services management make her a valuable addition to our community-owned hospital system’s Board of Commissioners. I look forward to working with her and our fellow commissioners as we continue to ensure EvergreenHealth meets our community’s critical, changing needs.”

 

Stewart holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Servant Leadership from Gonzaga University, along with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Services Management & Communications from Eastern Washington University. She also holds several certifications, including FEMA’s certification for Emergency Management (Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents); a professional coach certification in wellness, relationships, bereavement and addiction recovery; and a certification of business development from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

 

“My time at EvergreenHealth, along with being a patient myself and advocate for others seeking care, provided incredible insight into the needs of our patients and families and fuels my desire to join the Board of Commissioners to help develop solutions to ensure everyone in our growing community has access to our quality care and service,” Stewart said.

 

Stewart joins six other board members – Virgil Snyder, board chair; Tim McLaughlin, board secretary; Rebecca Hirt, Charles Pilcher, M.D., David Edwards and Jeff Cashman. The elected Board of Commissioners governs EvergreenHealth, providing oversight, counsel and accountability to EvergreenHealth’s leadership team, ensuring the public hospital district fulfills its mission and values and provides high-quality care for everyone in the community.

 

Stewart’s appointment completes the seven-member Board of Commissioners. She will serve the remainder of the current term through Dec. 31, 2025.

 

###

About EvergreenHealth  

 

EvergreenHealth is a community-owned hospital system serving more than one million residents in King and Snohomish counties. Since 1972, EvergreenHealth has evolved alongside the Eastside community into a two-hospital health system with a network of primary care practices, urgent care centers, specialty clinics, extensive home care and hospice services and 24/7 emergency care in Kirkland, Monroe and Redmond. As a public hospital district, EvergreenHealth actively provides equal access to high-quality, high-value care, partnering with local organizations to perform outreach and offer health education to address our community’s needs now and for generations to come. The hospital system is named one of Healthgrades America’s 50 Best™ Hospitals in clinical excellence and holds a 5-Star Overall Rating from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS). Learn more at www.evergreenhealth.com.

* EvergreenHealth has over 20 Specialty Clinics.  Behavioral Health is not one of them.

 

Balcony Art

The "SPECTRA of Marymoor" apartment mixed-used building in Marymoor Village has interesting architecture in the shape of metallic balconies.  Also, note the use of brick and wood materials.  

-- Photo B. Yoder, 8/7/2023

Light Rail Graffiti

 

The light rail graffiti is adjacent Red Robin.  It's disturbing.  I've notified Mayor Birney and the code enforcement officer.  

-- Bob Yoder, 8/7/2023

No Criminal Charges Filed Against Officers In Churna Case

Dear Redmond Community,

Last week the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office’s Public Integrity Team released their filing determination regarding Andrea Churna, who was shot and killed by a Redmond police officer on Sept. 20, 2020.

The Public Integrity Team issued a Decline Memorandum, recommending that no criminal charges be filed against any officers present during this incident. 

When the shooting occurred, the policy in place at that time does not allow me to specifically elaborate on the internal findings until the conclusion of the inquest process (that policy has since been revised).

Per policy, Officer Mendoza, who fired the fatal shots, was put on paid administrative leave following the incident. As of October 2022, Officer Mendoza is no longer an employee of the Redmond Police Department.   

I have acknowledged that mistakes occurred that night. As a result of the multiple investigations, we have refined our policies and procedures to align with industry best practices. These include access to additional less-lethal options, implementing a body-worn and in-car camera program, and increasing mental health resources.

While nothing can bring Ms. Churna back, we are continuously striving to improve the quality of service our first responders provide our Redmond community in order to prevent another tragic loss of life. 

We will continue communicating throughout this process with our community.

Sincerely,

Chief Darrell Lowe

90th Street Pond Restoration Underway, Fish Protected

Green Heron spears a frog on the 90th Street Bridge stormwater pond

The City of Redmond budgeted a little over a million dollars to remove sediment and restore the functionality of the 90th Street stormwater runoff pond.  The pond is located at the intersection of the 90^th Street Bridge and the Sammamish River.  The project is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of October.

For over twelve years, I have been observing and photographing the abundant wildlife that often appears in this pond. Great blue herons frequently catch fish and frogs here.  Above, is a rare Green Heron spearing a frog!  Different species of waterfowl often appear during the spring and fall migratory seasons.  I once photographed six adult male wood ducks together in the pond at the same time!

In addition to the varied birdlife, I have photographed:  a beaver on two different occasions, a raccoon, river otters frolicking in the pond twice, and a coyote, which really surprised me.

I don't know what will become of this wildlife once the project is complete.  A worker said they netted all of the fish at the east end of the enclosure, and relocated them to the west end, nearest to the river.  This was to protect the fish. The worker said that when entering the pond the accumulated sediment was so deep where they were netting the fish, that it came up to their shoulders!

--Photos and Story by John Reinke, 8/7/2023

City removing rich, organic soil from the pond

"The existing NE 90th St stormwater pond treats the runoff from the 90th St stormwater basin before it drains into the Sammamish River. It was constructed in 2000 and currently provides about two thirds of the water quality treatment required by today’s regulations. The pond works by allowing sediment to settle out of the stormwater before it enters the Sammamish River. Over the last 20 years, significant sediment has accumulated, filling up a portion of the pond. The City will be removing the accumulated sediment from the pond during the summer of 2023. "

(Source:  NE 90th Street Stormwater Pond Retrofit | Redmond, WA )

UPDATED 9/30: Position #7 Council Primary Update, Neck 'n Neck

Angie vs. David, a virtual tie.                                                               

Incumbent, David M. Carson

As of August 4, Angie Nuevancamina, Redmond Planning Commissioner leads incumbent David M. Carson in the Primary with 40.02% of the vote.  Carson's share is 39.34%; right now, a photo finish.  Amit Gupta has 20.35%.  

David Carson is a seasoned councilmember of 12 years and leans to the right.  He doesn't make a big thing out of political endorsements since council members are nonpartisan.  He actively supports small businesses and the community.  Angie Nuevancamina is a Redmond Planning Commissioners; she leans left like most of the present councilmembers and is openly supported by democratic representatives and organizations. She's a supporter of small businesses, as well.

-- Posted by Yoder, 8/4/2023, updated: 9/29/2023

Redmond's Downtown Building Designs

Redmond 2100 ??

The city wants to talk about Downtown architectural and building designs for new development. Help them plan the buildings of 2050.  The 23-acre Nelson downtown village stands out. Townhouses and triplexes are planned for the residential neighborhoods.  Overlake-south will have two new villages.  

Tell the city what you like and don’t like in architectural and building designs.  23 building designs are displayed for your opinion and comment.  Add your own ideas for Downtown buildings and comment on the designs.

The city will use your feedback to develop Downtown’s design standards for new development.  Give your feedback here.  

Questions?  Principal Planner, Kimberly Dietz, kdietz@redmond.gov, 425-556-2415

Posted by Yoder