City of Redmond's Button Truck

I was walking my dog and saw this monster of a truck on 166th across from the middle school.  It's installing the small yellow reflector "buttons" that mark the lanes of our roads.  Zoey jerked on the leash and it was over!

-- Bob Yoder, 9/21/2023 

NAMI Eastside Annual Fundraiser

 

NAMI Eastside is holding their Annual Fundraiser Luncheon on October 5th at the Marriot, Redmond.

SUPPORT NAMI Eastside AND Register for the Luncheon HERE! 

UPDATED: OneRedmond 2023 Mayoral Forum

This clip captures the introductory remarks of Mayor Angela Birney and Councilmember Jeralee Anderson at the "OneRedmond Mayoral Forum," sponsored by NELSON Legacy, Meta, and Microsoft.  The forum was held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 9/15.  

Series of forum pictures courtesy of OneRedmond.

Jeralee Anderson website

Angela Birney website

-- Video and post by Yoder, 9/16/2023

Redmond Police Arrest Man Preying Online For Children

City of Redmond, WA.

Redmond detectives arrested a man on Tuesday, Sept. 12, as part of an online undercover operation targeting the sexual abuse of minors.

Christopher Remsing, 30, of Kent, is charged with two counts of Attempted Rape of a Child in the First Degree.  

Detectives posted an online advertisement seeking a babysitter directed at adults wanting unsupervised access to minor children.  

Remsing responded to the ad and made numerous statements indicating he was sexually interested in children and would trade access to them for babysitting services.

The detective provided an address in Redmond.

When Remsing arrived at the address, he was contacted by Redmond police and arrested. He was carrying a backpack containing condoms, toys, and children’s movies.

Search warrants were executed on his vehicle and apartment. Detectives located several hundred pairs of children’s underwear and articles of clothing, along with multiple electronic devices that are currently being forensically examined. The investigation is ongoing.

Remsing was booked into the King County Jail on $750,000 bail.

“We are committed to catching and holding accountable anyone who engages in the sexual exploitation of a child,” said Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe. “These crimes can happen anywhere. We are dedicated to identifying and catching predators before they can victimize a child.”

UPADATED, 9/21: "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" Candidate Endorsement Policy

                                                                                     

Please know, "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" is NOT endorsing candidates this election cycle, rather presenting the facts without bias, to the best of it's ability.  

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital District No. 2

Position 6 Candidate Websites

Jeffrey Cashman, At Large (currently appointed, not elected)

Amber Wise, At Large

Redmond Council Candidate Websites: 

                                              Position #1                                                 

David M. Carson

Angie Nuevacamina

Position #7

Nate Niederhausern

Osman Salahuddin

Position #5

Vanessa Kritzer

Position #3

Jessica Forsythe

City of Redmond Mayor Websites:

Jerrale Anderson

Angela Birney

LWSD School Board Director Websites:

Director District No. 1

Eric Laliberte

Andy Markert

Director District No. 2

Lisa Guthrie

Director District No. 5

Janel Schermerhorn

Lindsey Yocum

-- Bob Yoder, Editor, Reporter of Redmond Blog

Hood River, Oregon Getaway, Only 3.5 Hours from Redmond

 

"Winging" and "Kite boarding" on the Columbia River, image Yoder

The fun and relaxing times of  Hood River, Oregon, on the Columbia River, are less than 4 hours from Redmond. Our visit last week was a needed escape from Redmond's frenetic downtown.  Constant winds on the Columbia River gorge make for excellent water sports. Hood River is the "kite board capital of the Nation." Chinook fishing is popular this time of year.  Many a State Park for hiking. The 30-mile farmstead "fruit loop" has inviting fruit stands and wineries. We love the pears. The downtown "hood" is populated with breweries, cafes' and outdoor eateries!  It's historic buildings generate interest. Hood River is a perfect getaway!

-- Bob and Pam Yoder 9/13/2023

Mayor Birney's Story: "Bike Days in Redmond"

This story is a little dated but it's interesting and fun.  The pixilated pedestrian 

and bike bridge is shown with the Mayor highlighting it's art. Cool....

Mayor Birney Running for Re-Election in November, City Website BIO

 

Mayor Angela Birney
political website

Mayor Angela Birney's City BIO

Mayor’s Biography

Term: 2020-2023

Elected as Mayor in 2019, Angela Birney is now in her first term as Mayor of Redmond. The community of over 72,000 is home to a variety of several large industries such as aerospace, high tech, video game production, and biotech, as well as thousands of small businesses where over 85,000 people are employed.

As Mayor, she is the executive leader who develops the vision and implements the strategies for Redmond. She oversees eight departments and over 700 employees. The Mayor collaborates with Council to set policies for the City of Redmond.

The Mayor serves on the Sound Cities Association Board as Past President, National League of Cities/American Planning Association Housing Supply Accelerator Steering Committee, King County Council Regional Policy Committee, Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board, Cascade Water Alliance Board as Vice Chair, King County Regional Homelessness Authority Governing Committee, OneRedmond Board, Hopelink Board of Directors, King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C), I-405/SR 167 Executive Advisory Committee, AWC Large City Advisory Committee and Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee as an alternate. She also served on the Association of Washington Cities Housing Solutions Group in 2022. 

Councilmember Jeralee Anderson Runs for Mayor, City Website BIO

Councilmember Jeralee Anderson is running for Mayor in the November General Election. 
Political website.

Redmond City Council website:

Jeralee Anderson

Position #6
Council Term Expires 12/31/25
Email Jeralee Anderson
Phone: 425-588-1619
Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City's Public Safety and Human Services Committee, Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), WA Public Works Board, Alternate King County Board of Health, Alternate Healthier Here Governing Board and she serves as an Association of Washington Cities (AWC) representative on the State Public Works Board. 

Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and Co-Founder of Greenroads Foundation, a Redmond nonprofit organization focused on sustainability education, performance management, and strategic programming for transportation capital projects. 

She received her doctorate in sustainability and civil engineering from the University of Washington in 2012 and is a licensed professional engineer. 

Ms. Anderson worked in a variety of structural, geotechnical, green building, and construction engineering positions after receiving her undergraduate engineering degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a minor in music performance. 

She was recognized in 2013 by the Obama Administration as a Transportation Champion of Change for the 21st Century for her domestic and international work with Greenroads. 

Ms. Anderson has been a resident of Redmond since 2010 and is an active volunteer for Seattle Beagle Rescue. She enjoys reading, health and nutrition, crochet, weightlifting, cycling, teaching, and walking her dogs.She crrently represents the City as an alternate on the Cascade Water Alliance.  

"Together Center" Grand Opening, Part Three

The Together Center, Redmond, WA. 
(photo courtesy of Inland Group)

Kiro 7 News Grand Opening clip
Seattle Times coverage

500 people were in attendance at the "Together Center" September 9th to celebrate the completion of its two-year, $106 million campus transformation project that includes:

> A 49,000 sq ft ground floor hub with 20 nonprofits providing critical services

> Five floors with 280 units of urgently needed *low-income and workforce housing

> Coworking spaces for nonprofits to collaborate on client care

> A nonprofit conference and event center

> A community kitchen

> A public art gallery

-- posted by Yoder, 9/10/2023

Together Center press release

* 30% Average Median Income (AMI) units are sold out. 60% AMI units are still available:

Studios: $400-1410, 1x1: $500-1509, 2x1: $600-1806, 2x2: $600-1806, 3x2: $700-2079.

"Together Center" Grand Opening, Part Two

Together Center Grand Opening - Mayor Birney was present (dressed in green.)  Credit:  Bob Yoder

Kiro 7 News Grand Opening clip


CAMPUS MAP -- NONPROFIT & HOUSING INFORMATION

20-Human Service nonprofits...and counting.
Horizon Housing for Redmond residents is sold out (30-60% of Average Median Income)
Polaris Work Force Housing has vacancies (60% of Average Median Income)

-- Together Center Website, 9/9/2023

 

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