The Planning Commission openly deliberates on key issues, the Comprehensive Plan

(l-r)  Stephanie Rodriquez, Vidyonana Rajpatkak, Chair Scott Beithan, Vice-Chair Roy Captain, Phil Miller, Sherri Nichols.
 Planning Director Karen Haluza and  two Senior Planners are sitting with backs turned.  

Every year the City offers citizens, developers, property owners and other entities an opportunity to amend (update) the Comprehensive Plan. This amending process is a Planning Commission duty of high significance and importance.

The Planning Commission has been meeting for months to take input and review five re-zoning proposals for consideration of being "calendared" or docketed for further review and approval by the Commission and Council.     

This LINK provides every topic currently under review by the Planning Commission.   It includes docketing proposals, memos, staff recommendations, public/developer comments, exhibits and project approvals. Below are a few topics under review:    

1)  The City is currently proposing to update to their Capital Facilities Element titled   "Future Vision for Redmond - Capital Facilities Element."  The proposal is already docketed and contains a lot of interesting information about the City's future plans. Find it HERE. 

2)  It's my understanding a proposed "Quadrant Homes" rezone from "Business Park" to "Mixed-Use Development" will be re-docketed.   Quadrant is considering constructing 165 town homes, 300 apartments, and 10,000 s.f. of retail/commercial space on 15.57 acres -- on the SW corner of NE 124th & Willows Road. Installing a stoplight on the corner is in the proposal.  

The N.Y,C. developer

3)  A controversial, long-winded proposal by an aggressive N.Y.C developer, Capital Partners is under consideration by the commission.  The developer wants to rezone 4.21 acres on the corner of Avondale and NE 104th from R-4 to R-30. Staff members (the "TC") are not recommending approval though a rezone to R-12 for senior housing is a possibility.  (It seems the commission usually goes along with many or most of the TC's recommendations.)  

4)   A while back, the owners of Redmond Town Center (RTC) proposed a modification of their "Open Space Designation" agreement with the city.  They have since withdrawn this proposal.  

Interesting background:  A 1997 agreement between the City and RTC conveyed a perpetual, non-inclusive easement to allow "among other things, the right to operate a farmers market"  Presently, the "Saturday Market" is located on this 2-acre easement.  Termination of the Open Space Designation requires a mutual agreement between the City and RTC.  

5)  Susan Wilkins, a Redmond citizen, asked the commission to docket an amendment to the zoning code to "adequately plan school facilities" so students residing inside the City of Redmond are not required to travel outside the Urban Growth Boundary in order to attend school. The Planning Commission voted against the proposal.  Ms. Wilkins put in a ton of work, without pay, to formulate this proposal.  Planning commissioners don't get paid either.  

The commissioners are citizen volunteers living in Redmond, appointed by the Mayor and approved by Council.  They don't make land-use decisions; they conduct Hearings and serve only as an advisory body to Council.  

B.Yoder
photos/by

Disclosure:  Trying to understand the Planning Commission's reviews of complex topics is very challenging.  Expect errors, omissions and mis-representations. 

Highlights of a City Council Meeting

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE OCTOBER 3RD CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Brian Baker approached the podium in a wheelchair and complained:  1)  the City claims 360 ADA parking spaces are available but few of them are accessible by van.  2) the "sandwich board" signs on the sidewalks create an obstacle course.  Mr Stilin  said the city should not allow signs on sidewalks and Mr. Carson reminded him current regulations require signage be located in streets, not sidewalks.  

City Council reluctantly approved Burnstead's "Hawthorn Park" Final Plat.  In this, and a prior meeting a total of ~8 neighbors including Pat Vache' a retired councilmember **vehemently complained about the disruption and degradation to their private road by an off-site sewer line Burntsead is installing.  ** Mr. Vache' focused on the facts and only mildly complained.   Burnstead insisted they will fully inspect the project when completed for "performance, restoration and maintenance" to ensure all parties are satisfied; and assured that bonds were on file. Pres. Hank Margeson gave an eloquent summery of council's sentiments before the vote.

UPDATED: LETTER: Fields is focused on solutions that benefit everybody

After hearing (repeatedly!) from my neighbor that Steve Fields is the guy for Redmond City Council Position 2, I decided I wanted to find out more for myself. I met Steve at his Thursday Community Coffee Time, heard his insights about issues affecting Redmond – and then he listened.

When Steve talks about his vision for Redmond, “Build Community not Just Buildings,” it actually means something. He believes that the best civic leadership is based first on trust, then making sure residents are well-informed, then engaging the community in a dialogue before important decisions are made. His process is to bring stakeholders together and figure out a solution that benefits everybody. I like that he’s a “project guy”.

LETTER: Actions we can take towards sustainable living

Shutterstock

U.S. cities, states, companies, and organizations have banded together in the face of federal withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, pledging to move to 100 percent clean energy and adopting the climate agreement themselves. Now more than ever, it seems individual actions can make a difference.

Here are twelve ideas you can implement on an individual level:

Don’t buy a new home; renovate an old one. The greenest home is one that’s already built. But older housing stock is often less energy efficient. The true green home is an old house brought up to speed with 21st-century sustainability solutions. Harvard’s "Center for Green Buildings and Cities" seeks to transform old homes into affordable models for energy efficiency. Inefficient existing buildings are one of the world’s biggest energy problems; the best place to start making a difference is at home.

Xeriscape your yard. Huge lawns use a lot of water to maintain, so consider adding drought-tolerant plants in order to reduce your water consumption by 50 to 75 percent.

The development of North Redmond -- Before and After

BEFORE

"The Curry's use to own most of that side of the street back in the day. I use to buy hay from Mr Curry in the early 90's, and graduated from Redmond High, with one of his son's in 1970. 116th from Redmond Woodinville Road to Avondale was a pleasure to drive on admiring the farms". - Constance

AFTER

"Hawk"s Glen" a Quadrant development on 116hth -- 27 lots --  Million dollar homes are likely here.  At least 4 large residential developments are currently under construction along 116th / No. Redmond.  No significant developable land remains.   (Click to enlarge the photo.) 

B. Yoder
photos/ by

OPINION: Our perceptions of homelessness, living on the fringe

Jamie is sitting on the left with his friend (click to enlarge)

A blog reader emailed  me about a little known, highly littered bike trail just west of the Redmond Target parking lot.  (See a map below.)  She thought cleaning it out and recycling the cans would be a good community project. Out of curiosity I took a look. 

On the trail I saw these two Mexican men sitting next to each other with a grocery cart and an opened rack of beer. They waved.  Hidden behind trees and bushes my first thought was they were homeless so I continued on, avoiding eye contact. 

On the way back to my car I decided to engage with them. Jamie was very open, friendly and warm-hearted. He was clean, well-groomed, with two missing front teeth.  Proudly pointing at the dirt on his knees he said he finds temporary day-labor work at the nearby Home Depot.  Jamie insisted he was resting with only one beer after building a cement ramp on Redmond Ridge.  He was waiting for a bus to take him to his apartment in Bellevue. I couldn't believe he could afford to live here, but he manages to get by -- sharing an apartment with three others paying $1200/mo rent. I asked if he or his friend would like to know about the City's human services but he wasn't interested.  Jamie said he has lived in America over 20 years and has 5 children in Mexico.  He mentioned Obama and the Recession.  

Jamie's friend had nothing to say -- I don't think he could speak English.  He was wearing good working boots. He didn't appear drunk.  This man reminded me of an Italian immigrant I worked with on a golf course when I was a teenager.

After Jamie distanced himself from his friend and the grocery cart he reluctantly allowed me to take this picture.

"Read More" for a map of the bike trail 

LETTER: Vote for Cassandra Sage, School district Position 3

Cassandra Sage for Position 3 on the Lake Washington School Board is the right choice.

I know Cassandra through the PTSA, an organization dedicated to student’s success and welfare.  Volunteers serving the PTSA are the most hardworking, dedicated and organized people I know. The PTSA awards volunteers for their work and the Golden Acorn award is their highest honor. Cassandra has earned FOUR, Golden Acorn awards, over her 22 years of service to the PTSA from four different schools. Being awarded once is no small matter, but four awards tells you something about Cassandra. This is an amazing achievement and few are in her elite class of volunteers. The award criteria language states: “awarded to an individual who has given outstanding volunteer service to ALL children and demonstrated commitment to helping them achieve their potential, beyond what is recognized as part of their responsibilities, duties of office or job in the PTSA”.

Not only has Cassandra dedicated herself to the PTSA, as a parent with special needs children, she has years of experience with the issues of Special Needs students throughout the district. She is a thoughtful listener, speaker and writer and would serve the district well as it continues to grow as one of the highest rated school districts in the state. I have no doubt in my mind that Cassandra will dedicate herself to this position. She should be your number one choice as well.

Lile Ellefsen

Kirkland

UPDATED: School district recaps Boundary review meeting

BOUNDARY REVIEW PROCESS UPDATE, 10/25/2017
Boundary Review Process Update!

The District held a Community Boundary meeting at Redmond Middle School this Tuesday to review their four scenarios.  Pam and I attended; we met several of the district executives and neighbors.       Bethany Pendergrass, Director of Communications and Community Engagement just published an EXCELLENT RECAP of the meeting which includes these videos. (Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen is narrating.)  The recap offers a good opportunity to give feedback.  The comment period ends in October.





"Read More" to see 2 more scenarios

Thirty-eight LWSD students named National Merit Semifinalists

Thirty-Eight Lake Washington School District (LWSD) high school seniors have been named semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists on September 13. 

Sixteen thousand high school seniors nationwide qualified. About 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level. More than half will win a National Merit Scholarship. These students will be able to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $32 million

Students qualified for these awards by completing the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The semifinalists include the highest scoring students in each state. The semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. 

LETTER: Vote for Cassandra Sage, the right choice for our students and communities

There is probably no elected position that has a greater direct impact on our families and communities than that of Director for our school districts.  These individuals have a profound impact on the lives of all of our children, helping to build knowledge, skills and abilities that will help our students achieve their full potential in life.

This year, we are especially fortunate to have the opportunity to elect Cassandra Sage as our Lake Washington School District Director for District 3. Cassandra has been an outstanding leader and advocate for education for more than 20 years.  With a degree in early childhood education, experience owning and operating a pre-school, and active service to the LWSD that resulted in her receiving four Golden Acorn awards, she is the clear choice for District 3.

Cassandra is a strong advocate for ensuring the needs of ALL students are met. She will work for more inclusion of special education students, expanded vocational education opportunities, and greater assistance with college preparation for those going on to university studies.  Endorsed by retiring LWSD Board Director Nancy Bernard, who has served as LWSD Director for District 3 for the past 20 years and is not seeking re-election this year, Cassandra has also been endorsed by former LWSD Directors Jackie Pendergrass, Doug Eglington, and Johanna Palmer, and is endorsed by the Lake Washington Education Association, the labor union that represents educators in the LWSD.

Cassandra Sage is the right choice for our students and communities!

Sherie Valderrama
Sammamish, WA 98074

Sammamish River salmon / J. Reinke

Family-fun Fire Prevention events in Redmond

Meet your local firefighters and make your own emergency escape plan.

Kid adventures:

• Hang out with your firefighters
• Meet Sparky the Fire Dog
• Explore firefighters' vehicles
• Try on firefighters' fire gear
• Tour your neighborhood fire station

Redmond fire photo

Fire Station Open Houses:

6–8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)

Monday, October 9 - Station 13
8701 208th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 13: Bing, Google

Monday, October 9 - Station 14
5021 264th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 14: Bing, Google

Tuesday, October 10 - Station 16
6502 185th Ave. NE, Redmond
Maps to Station 16: Bing, Google

Wednesday, October 11- Station 17
16917 NE 116th, Redmond
Maps to Station 17: Bing, Google

A regional approach to affordable housing

Affordable Housing – A Regional Approach to a complex Problem

Posted on September 20, 2017 by claudia balducci

Over the last year, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, listening and thinking about the problem of crushingly high housing costs in our region.  With the support of my colleagues at the County Council and the County Executive, last year I sponsored a motion creating a regional task force of elected officials from around King County to study the regional parameters of this challenge and come up with regional approaches to address it.  We kicked this work off this summer, and it will continue for about the next year.  

In the process of pulling this affordable housing task force together, I have heard the following type of comment several times:  “We don’t need a task force.  We know what the problem is and we know how to fix it.  We just need X.” In these discussions, “X” is the one approach – or at least the predominant approach – that will solve the problem.  For some people, “X” is increased investment in government-subsidized affordable housing.  For some, it is regulatory reform around growth management rules that prevent suburban sprawl.  For others, it is the political will to change land use rules to allow significantly more infill development.  For still others, increased mandatory inclusionary zoning — requiring higher levels of affordable housing units in every new development or payments.  Accessory dwelling units.  Tiny houses.  Transit oriented development.  Condominium liability reform.  “We’ve just got to put a stop to all this growth.”  The list goes on.

I believe that if any one approach, or even any one type of approach, to this kind of a complex problem would more or less “solve” it, we’d be on our way to a solution by now.  Yet costs to own and rent a home in our county continue to spike.  As H.L. Mencken famously said:  “For every complex problem, there is a solution that is concise, clear, simple and wrong.”

UPDATED 9/24: It's "salmon seeson!"

Looking for Sammamish River salmon from the "Rrusty bridge"  

Today is the second day of Fall and it's salmon seeson!  Have you seen them yet?   Polarized sunglasses help but all of us were able to see a sluggish salmon hanging out below the "Rusty bridge" -- located north of the Powerline Trail in the vicinity of the Overlake Christian Church.

Further upstream, on the Trestle Bridge John Reinke "saw a number of large Chinook salmon migrating south towards Lake Sammamish."  First he spotted "5 or 6, then maybe 8 minutes later counted 24....then 5 minutes another 9 or 10."  To find the Trestle bridge walk west on the downtown Connector Trail for about a half mile.

You should be able to see salmon now through mid-October.

-- B. Yoder

9/24:  We saw a dead salmon this afternoon and heard a few splashes  but that was it.  A kayaker yelled up that he saw LOTS of salmon in Woodinville....so more to come!

LETTER: The importance and value of trees

Tree Art in Anderson Park / Credit B.Yoder

Urban tree canopy cover is the percent of a city covered by the leaves, branches, and stems of trees as seen in an aerial view. Trees have a positive impact on the physical health and well-being of those living in urban communities. We should try to maintain and increase the many benefits trees provide to current and future generations. There are many important benefits of trees.

Trees have public health and social benefits:

.

Trees clean the air. They produce oxygen, intercept airborne particulates, and reduce smog, enhancing a community’s respiratory health. The urban tree canopy directly contributes to meeting a city’s regulatory clean air requirements.

Access to trees, green spaces, and parks promotes greater physical activity, and reduces stress, while improving our quality of life. Urban landscaping, including trees, helps lower crime rates. Studies show that urban vegetation slows heartbeats, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes brain wave patterns. People with a view of nature and trees score higher on tests of self-discipline.

Steve Fields' and Byron Shutz's "Vision Statements"

Mr. Shutz's and Mr. Fields' "Vision Statements" were harvested from their Candidate Websites and City Candidate videos.

Byron Shutz's Vision:  "Redmond's Mayor and City Council continue to lay the ground work for Redmond's next 100 years, and beyond. My email byline reads:   

Redmond -- a great place to live, work, and play for over 10,000 years -- all true, and keeping the long view in mind --the archaeological site on Bear Creek dates to over 10,000 years ago."  

As your Council member, I'll continue to work City aims to:  

• Serve each resident and visitor with respect, dignity, and trust.

• Collaborate regionally on all municipal issues, and continue my focus on strengthening ongoing human service infrastructures for every resident.

• Improve connections to area transportation and transit infrastructures - lightrail arrives in Overlake 2023 and Downtown in 2024.

• Connect our residents and businesses with regional aspirations and expectations.

• Facilitate transparency and continual improvement in collaboration among city, county and state services.

-- Byron Shutz's Candidate Website


Steve Fields' Vision:  "Build Community, not Just Buildings." 

Promote a Smart and Sharing City

Our quality of life is good, but as we’ve grown, we’ve been steadily losing ground. We can choose to be smarter and do a better job of managing our growth. This begins with reevaluating how we make our decisions and improve our current approaches and methods to be more inclusive and more comprehensive. Our best city planning resources are the people who live and work in Redmond. If elected, I will be an advocate for community involvement in determining what our city will look like and what amenities we will insist on.

Plan Growth with Innovative Ideas

Our buildings, streets, public gathering places should be placed to enhance our everyday lives and the beauty of our built and natural environment. We should not be stuck in traffic congestion every time we want to get somewhere. Our city government should be innovative, creative and thoughtful. We need to take the time to plan and understand what is best not just do what is quick and easy. I will ensure that Redmond uses the most advanced analytical tools and information to plan our growth with innovative ideas.

School District builds gigantic vaults on North Redmond Elementary project site.

Construction continues at the New Elementary School in North Redmond. Steel construction is expected to begin in the next 30 days. Two newly installed underground vaults will keep storm water clean at the school. The north vault has 138 panels with a capacity of 920,000 gallons of water (that’s the size of 1.4 Olympic-sized swimming pools). Watch a time-lapse of the construction on YouTube. This vault was built between August 14-22, 2017. Because the vault was built out of pre-fabricated panels, the installation time was shortened by four months.

Principal Barker is in the process of interviewing and hiring 12 general education staff members, and one of each specialist (counselor, PE teacher, music teacher, librarian and Special Education teacher).

-- LWSD

Green Redmond forest restoration is coming to our neighborhoods.

High school students also attended -- great workers!  (click to enlarge)

Last Saturday we clipped and shoveled out  the blackberry bushes invading the neighborhood forest patch off of 104rth St. near Avondale in the "East Valley Heights Natural Area."  Besides this important habitat restorative work it was a great opportunity to hang out with Sue Stewart, Susan Cripps, Rachel Molloy and Jake --  all very active community volunteers living in the neighborhood.

King Conservation District, Forterra, and Green Redmond are partnering together to launch a new pilot Neighborhood Steward program If you’re interested in volunteering or would like more information, please email Nicole Marcotte at nmarcotte@forterra.org or call 206-905-6924!

This link gives information on the Monticello work party planned for this Saturday, 9/15. 9-12 AM  https://forterra.org/event/kickoff-work-party-redmonds-monticello-estates-natural-area

If you want to be a forest steward go here for information:  http://forterra.org/subpage/neighborhood-stewards

--B. Yoder

Osama Hamdan endorses Steve Fields for Redmond City Council

Osama Hamdan

The theme for my race for Redmond City Council was #ConnectingRedmond. I believe we need to prioritize better planning and more community parks in order to better connect our communities. Even though I am no longer a candidate, my priorities have not changed and I am actively looking to continue the efforts of #ConnectingRedmond.

While the results of the race did not get me into the general election, the results did make it very clear that voters are looking for change. Redmond is at a crossroads and the City Council needs to ensure it is making the right decisions for the residents it serves.

I have had the opportunity to meet with both Byron Shutz and Steve Fields to better understand their positions and how they align with my own vision. While I believe both candidates have the best intentions for our city, Steve Field’s vision is more aligned with my own and can help us be more focused on building the city we need.  Steve wants to “Build Community, not Just Buildings” and he aims to have the city be more engaged with the residents of the community.  These positions reflect the spirit of #ConnectingRedmond and have therefore led me to endorse Steve Fields for Redmond City Council Position 2. 

This November, I plan to vote for Steve Fields. I encourage supporters to do the same and help get Steve elected to the Redmond City Council. 

-- Osama Hamdan

Steve Fields candidate website

UPDATED: The importance and methods of communicating with LWSD

Are you a school district taxpayer and supporter of our schools and would like to be more informed about upcoming bond measures?   (Remember the capital bond measure didn't pass twice until after a community Task Force was formed?)  Did your child graduate from the district and now wants to know what's going on with their school?  Are you interested in updates and information of community gatherings like Boundary Review Community meetings?  If so, then you definitely want to sign up for the "Connections e-Newsletter."  Click HERE to subscribe.

Public School Board meetings are an excellent venue to comment about bond measures, describe any problem your student is having in the classroom,  propose improvements, and yes, even thank the Board and Dr. Pierce for the work they do!  The school board volunteers  many hours to represent us (while working at their day jobs.)

If you want to attend a public Board Meeting to comment on an issue this link gives a convenient notice and reminder of upcoming Board Meetings. The meetings start at 7 pm and are held in the District Resource Center.  Go here.for a timely and convenient notice of upcoming Board meetings. 

You may e-mail the Board. at BoardMembers@lwsd.org  

Bethany Pendergrass is an excellent person to talk to about any school issue you have.. She's the  "Director of Communications and Public Engagement".  Her e-mail is bpendergrass@lwsd.org. or call 425-936-1342

--B.Yoder

City of Redmond achieves favorable State audit

Redmond, WA – For nine consecutive years the City of Redmond has achieved a favorable audit and in 2015 was awarded the State Auditor’s Stewardship Award in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in the stewardship of public resources. 

Important Redmond area boundary community meetings

To Sign-up for information and updates on boundary review meetings click here.

Dear Redmond Parents, Families, [and Community], 

Please join us at one of the following meetings to provide feedback on new scenarios for the Redmond area boundary review process.

Community Feedback Meetings:
• September 26: 6:30-8 p.m., Redmond Middle School
• September 28: 6:30-8 p.m., Evergreen Middle School 

In January 2017, LWSD started the work to redraw attendance boundaries for Redmond area schools. Two new elementary schools are on schedule to open September 2018 and a new middle school is scheduled to open September 2019. With the opening of new schools, new attendance boundaries must be drawn. Additionally, many schools in the Redmond area are currently over or are projected to be over capacity.

LWSD Statement on DACA

Lake Washington School District Statement on DACA

Sep 8 2017

All Lake Washington School District students have the right to public education. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Plyler vs. Doe (457 U.S. 202 (1982)) that undocumented children and young adults have the same right to attend public primary and secondary schools as do U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Lake Washington does not ask for or collect immigration status information.

Lake Washington remains committed to serving all students and providing educational opportunities for all. We will continue to uphold the U.S. Supreme Court ruling and serve all students, regardless of their status.

"Walking School Buses" have many benefits, Apps make them easy

Walking Bus App

A Walking Bus is a form of student transport for schoolchildren who, chaperoned by two adults (a "Driver" leads and a "conductor" follows),walk to school along a set route, in much the same way a school bus would drive them to school.  Like a traditional bus, walking buses have a fixed route and designated "bus stops" and "pick up times" in which they pick up children.  

Walking contributes to overall good health and fitness and students who walk to school arrive at school alert and ready to learn.  A walking school bus adds in a fun and social aspect to walking as well as flexibility for the parents by sharing the walking duties. It takes cars off the roads and reduces carbon footprint.

The School Board and Traci are holding a public meeting tonight, September 11th, 7 pm at the School Resource Center in Redmond Town Center.  I hope some of you will turn-out to encourage Walking Buses at LWSD  There's a 3-minute "comment period" on the agenda where you're invited to talk to the Board and Traci about anything you want.  I hope to see you there!

 -- B. Yoder