Kritzer announces candidacy for Redmond council

Redmond planning commissioner Vanessa Kritzer announced she will be running for Redmond  City Council, 
Pos. 5.  Kritzer is a first-time candidate for office. Photo courtesy of Vanessa Kritzer Facebook.

Kritzer announces candidacy for Redmond council

She will run for Pos. 5 in the election.

• "Redmond Reporter"  Wednesday, February 20, 2019 8:30am
• NEWS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Redmond planning commissioner Vanessa Kritzer has announced that she will be running for Redmond City Council, Pos. 5.

“I’m running for City Council because I want to ensure that as Redmond grows it can continue to be a thriving, accessible, and inclusive place for our children and future generations,” she said in a press release. “I will work to bring people together to make progress on building affordable housing, providing transportation options that meet all our needs, and protecting our environment. In my career, I have worked to drive innovation that empowers citizens and public sector organizations to take action for meaningful impact. On the City Council, I hope to continue that work and promise to ask tough questions, engage Redmond’s residents, and use a data-driven approach to policy making that helps Redmond become a truly smart city.”

Kritzer lives in downtown Redmond with her husband and young daughter, according to the release. She has worked for environmental and human rights nonprofit organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters. She currently works at Microsoft, where she has focused on public sector technology that helps make cities and communities healthier, safer and more sustainable, the release states.

Kritzer holds master of business administration and master of public administration degrees from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, according to the release. During graduate school, she was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as the student member of the University of Washington board of regents.

Kritzer is a first-time candidate for office. In addition to her position as a Redmond planning commissioner, she currently serves on the board of directors for the Anti-Defamation League – Pacific Northwest and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington.

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Vanessa Kritzer's campaign website.

Vanessa Kritzer's campaign Facebook page

Letter to the Editor of the "Redmond Reporter"

Looming taxes continue to burden property owners | Letter

• "Redmond Reporter" Friday, November 2, 2018 11:30am 
• LETTERS TO THE EDITOROPINION

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Looming taxes continue to burden property owners

In the City Council’s committee meeting on Oct. 23 Melisa Files, director of finance, reported:

1) Revenues were up by 5 percent of target and

2) Expenditures were 4 percent below target

So “we are in a nice place to be” says Ms. Files.

Yes we are, many thanks to the “surge in permitting fees” from development and a “one-time construction tax,” according to Files.

Historically, the city has assessed property owners the state’s maximum allowable 1 percent property tax. But times have changed and the city is swimming in revenue like never before from the massive development of our downtown and Overlake urban centers.

Owing to this unprecedented growth the city of Redmond should change their practices and forgo the 1 percent property tax this year. Residents are already burdened by looming school district taxes and an April King County Public Hospital District 2 tax initiative, among other taxes.

It’s time the city tightens their belt.

Bob Yoder

[The City went ahead and implemented the 1% tax. A $125M school district "Capital Projects Levy" measure will be on the April ballot.  King County Public Hospital District 2 is EvergreenHealth.  Evergreen's April $325M bond measure is for seismic retrofits.]

OneRedmond's housing initiative will help middle-income residents

Internet

"Middle-income residents are increasingly being priced out of communities in the greater Puget Sound area.

According to a recent report by "Challenge Seattle," home prices have risen nearly 60 percent in the past decade, three times the national growth rate. Housing prices are seven times the median income in King County, and nearly 40 percent of middle income households find themselves cost burdened by housing. The result is that a middle income household can no longer afford to rent, let alone buy, a home in most of the county’s zip codes. This, in turn, has implications for a community’s quality of life, workforce retention and attraction and overall vitality.

OneRedmond has responded to these challenges by launching a "Workforce Housing" initiative that has a goal of securing 1,000 units of workforce housing in Redmond in five years.

“Workforce housing” is housing that middle-income households could typically afford when earning 60–120 percent of the region’s median household income of $89,700 (i.e., $53,800 – $107,600). This initiative emphasizes taking intentional action to preserve existing workforce housing and increase the availability of new workforce housing by increasing opportunities for land for housing construction; streamlining regulatory and other requirements that impact housing construction costs, and supporting creation of financing mechanisms to support workforce housing options."

Source: Redmond Council Study Session memo, 2/26/19

The qualities, schools and employers of Redmond, WA.

Qualities

"Known for its natural beauty, the city is unique in that residents have access to 34 parks and over 25 miles of trails, but can also reach downtown Seattle in 20 minutes. Redmond also hosts live music, film, theater and a variety of other arts for every taste. Outdoor sculpture can be seen throughout the city. 

The Redmond Arts and Culture Program includes over 100 artworks around the City of Redmond.  Explore the City of Redmond's art collection in a new way. The program currently maintains a public art mobile app for the City's permanently-installed outdoor art collection. The app is called STQRY (pronounced "story") and is available for free on iOS, Android and Windows 8 operating systems."

 -- City website excerpt

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Various video errors and omissions:  Starbucks isn't headquartered here but their barista's are-a-plenty. Of course, Microsoft is headquartered here. Nintendo, Rocket Research, Digipen and Striker/Physio-Control are headquartered here.  A division of Facebook is planning a move to Willows Road.  Amazon, Expedia and Google in Redmond?  

Schools:  Along with Rockwell El and Einstein El. other Education Hill elementary schools include:  Clara Barton, Redmond Elementary, and Horace Mann.

The City communications department is re-designing their website and some of the text may be out of date, particularly the STQRK app and the number or artworks.  This real estate video is dated.  It's the best one I could find for our community and I hope the City will make one of their own. We are due.

-- Bob Yoder

Video:  Murray Franklin 

Council President Angela Birney is running for Mayor

Council President Angela Birney began serving her first term on Council in 2016.  Prior to Council she chaired the Parks and Trails Committee.  Among many other activities, she represents the City of Redmond on the Cascade Water Alliance, the King County Board of Health, and King County Regional Policy Committee and Redmond's Disability board.  She also serves as an alternate representative on the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee and the Eastside Transportation Partnership. Find her candidate website and Facebook page here.

Source:  redmond.gov

Small business owner Andrew Koeppen is running for Mayor

Mr. Koeppen has lived in Redmond 19 years and has been a U.S. citizen for one year.  Andrew was the first to announce he's running for Mayor of Redmond.  He's attentive to community safety, publishing a popular Facebook disaster preparedness site called "Eastside Ready."  He organizes community "disaster preparedness" events held at the library.  He's actively involved with police and fire safety.  He's especially upset by the city wasting electricity by leaving the lights on at City Hall.  Here is his website and facebook page

-- Bob Yoder

UPDATED OPINION: The next Mayor we elect needs to plan for "us," not just "them."

All these "Redmond Center" small businesses will be demolished

Why, oh why were we fated to live in Redmond during this messy urbanization process? There seems no end to the detours, disruptive demolition and ceaseless  construction. I hear (no transparency) even more Giants are cued up. The City needs to take pause to the planned "twin 9-story towers" by the old post office, and other monoliths -- not just for infrastructure catch-up but for presence of mind. When the City's Director of Planning finishes "our" 10-year plan many will be dead; or have left, leaving "technology" to enjoy the fruits of our endurance. The Mayor we elect in November will need a serious plan for "us" -- not just "them." (city staff and developers.) Yes,I pity the small businesses expected to move into the first floor of these expensive Goliath's. Our downtown core is evolving into a small business wasteland.  

Construction of this roughly 600-unit, multi-family apartment project is set to start in the summer 2020. Several other massive projects are planned for the downtown in the near future.  Which mayoral candidate do you want to manage the city during this turbulent time?

-- Bob Yoder, opinion
   

Note: A friend stated: "the 6-story ground-level places intended for small businesses to move into are nearly quadruple the current rental / lease prices. Some of the businesses say it would  be $9K/month + just to lease a space.  That doesn't include renovating the space to fit their business, or any of the other moving expenses."

Downtown "Redmond Square" small businesses may be demolished

"Redmond Square"

Almost every small business you see here could be demolished for a mammoth mixed-use development.  I'm not sure when demolition and construction will begin. 

Development description:

Mixed-use development consisting of approx. 580 residential units in 5-stories of type VA construction over one level of above grade Type IA structure with retail, restaurants, lobby and amenity spaces. 2 below grade levels of Type IA parking structure. The project is to be bisected by a new mid-block pedestrian street. 

-- Amy Tarce, City planner / Project Viewer

The project is bound by Redmond Way, 166th Ave NE, Cleveland Street and Key Bank to the West. The "Anderson Hotel"  (Hilton) (under construction) is visible on the left as we drive down Redmond Way.  Parcel Numbers: 1225059133, 1225059030, 1225059142, 1225059031, 1225059055,1225059263, 1225059157,1225059156, 1225059080, 1225059090,1225059221, 1225059075.  

UPDATED: LWSD plans $20,750,000 land sale

SALE OF DISTRICT PROPERTY – REAL ESTATE ROSE HILL PROPERTY (SITE 27) RESOLUTION NO. 2262 February 11, 2019 (edited)

Rose Hill Property was acquired many years ago to use for a potential school site. After the property was acquired, the City of Redmond approved an ordinance requiring that the location of a school have a significant setback from the gas pipeline (500 feet) on the eastern side of the property. Using the 500-foot set back from the property line results in City of Redmond code not permitting a school to be constructed within about 70% of the property. The District would be left with usable area of approximately 3.21 acres which is about 30% of the property. The remaining buildable area would not support the construction of a school.

In accordance with law, the district obtained an appraisal that concluded the fair market value of the property was $11,925,000. The District, with the assistance of a real estate broker, marketed the sale of the property which continued into early 2019. Many local and national developers expressed interest in purchasing the property.

The District entered into a Vacant Land Purchase and Sale Agreement with DR Horton, subject to seller and buyer contingencies, to sell the property for $20,750,000.

It is expected it will take approximately 15 months for the buyer to obtain plat approval from the City of Redmond with a closing to occur in the summer of 2020. The funds from the sale of the property will be reserved for future property acquisition.

Source:  2/19/19 Board Packet 

Of note:  The gas trunk-line is "a stone's throw" east of Rose Hill Middle School.

EDITED" Redmond Blog "About Us" is updated for 2019

Redmond neighborhoods

I've updated Redmond Neighborhood Blog "About Us" for 2019.  

Find it here

-- Bob Yoder

Construction of Redmond Technology Station parking garage underway

Credit/ Ryan Bianchi 

A December photo of construction for the future parking garage at the Redmond Technology transit station.  

-- Ryan Bianchi, Community Outreach Specialist for Sound Transit 
   Source:  East Link Light Rail

EvergreenHealth Named Among America's 100 Best Hospitals

EvergreenHealth Named Among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Three Years

Kirkland, Wash. – For the third year in a row, EvergreenHealth has been named as one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades for consistent, year-over-year superior clinical performance across a broad spectrum of care. [Comprehensive psychiatric care is not available, BY] The distinction places EvergreenHealth in the top two percent of more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide. 

Record Redmond snow storm hits the neighborhoods

Pam in front of our house on Education Hill

The three storms ended after four days and left 23 inches of snow on our deck railing.  So much fun for making snowmen and sledding.....but so dangerous to be on the back neighborhood roads.  Besides slipping and sliding you have to look-out for falling tree limbs.  We are praying for continued mild winds and power. 

-- Bob Yoder  2/12/2019, 11:51 AM, light mixed-rain/snow

City snow storm update #3

Tuesday, February 12, 9:42 a.m.

Road conditions are unsafe. We continue to ask the community not to drive unless absolutely necessary. Do not abandon your car – It will be towed.

City Hall is open Tuesday, February 12 with limited service

UPDATED: Cubed 6-story apartments are offering significant move-in incentives

A planned Redmond rental. This is
not Station House

"Station House" sent me this unsolicited offer 6-weeks after I inquired about pricing  and when I told them, no thanks, that I' decided to stay in my house.  (Downsizing to their small apartments would be almost impossible after living in our house for 32 years.)  There appears to be a vacancy problem?  Anyone know pricing and offers for the "Triangle?"  Are developers ahead of themselves and light rail?    BY

Here's their e-mail:

"Thank you for your recent interest in Station House Apartments! We wanted to reach out and update you on our newest leasing specials:

• For the next 3 applicants we are offering 6 weeks free if you move in February on select floor plans. These floor plans include our large open one bedroom, our traditional 1 bedroom, and all our 1 bedroom plus dens.
• If you are looking for a move in date further out, we are offering one month free on move ins up to 90 days away!
• If you tour and lease within 24 hours you can receive 3 months of free parking.
• If you rent a one bedroom with loft you can receive a $500 visa gift card.

All these specials can be applied together if applicable. 

Please feel free to give our leasing office a call for more information or to schedule your tour today! We hope to see you soon!"

Sincerely,

Station House Leasing Team

StationHouse.Reply.Thrive@aptleasing.info

(425) 242-1208

Storm update from the Mayor, 2/11

Redmond Mayor Declares State of Emergency

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY February 9, 2019

CONTACT Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager
lmaher@redmond.gov 
425-556-2427

Redmond, WA – Mayor John Marchione has declared a state of emergency for Redmond, Washington due to the major snow event overnight and the continued winter storm warning in effect through 4:00 p.m. today. Redmond received over six inches of snow in the last twenty-four hours and is expecting continued accumulation today. Heavy snow is weighing down tree limbs and the National Weather Service is predicting increased wind over the next few hours. Tree limbs and power lines may be affected.

“This proclamation will allow the City to take additional actions to keep the Redmond community safe”, said Mayor Marchione. “We are requesting that you stay indoors and off the roads unless it’s an emergency”, said Marchione. “If you have to go out, please take it very slow and don’t abandon your vehicles in the roadways.”

In preparation for what may be a windy afternoon and evening, we recommended that you:

• Remember not to touch downed power lines and stay back a minimum 35 feet
• Charge cell phones and mobile devices in case of a power outage
• Download the PSE mobile outage app to track and report outages, check status and get estimated restoration times, or visit https://www.pse.com/outage/outage-map
• Do not bring generators or grills indoors

You can view the signed Proclamation of Emergency on the City website. The City will continue to keep residents informed with updates to the City website, www.redmond.gov as well as Facebook (@CityofRedmond) and Twitter (@CityOfRedmond) as information becomes available. To view the City of Redmond snow and ice response routes, visit www.redmond.gov/snowice. To learn more about the latest weather conditions and predictions, visit the National Weather Service website at https://www.weather.gov/sew/.

Residents can view live traffic cameras on the City’s website at http://gis.redmond.gov/traffic/. For questions and more information contact Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager, at lmaher@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427. This press release is available on www.redmond.gov.

"Icicle art"

Education Hill frozen rain-chain

Redmond Council member Hank Margeson named Treasurer of Sound Cities Association

Redmond Councilmember Hank Margeson has been selected to serve as the 2019 Treasurer of the Sound Cities Association (SCA), which represents 38 King County cities and provides a regional voice for more than one million people. He will be one of five individuals to serve on the SCA Executive Committee.

“Councilmember Margeson will help SCA continue to be an important regional catalyst in addressing the challenges and opportunities that face King County communities,” said Deanna Dawson, SCA Executive Director. “He has a tremendous track record in creating innovative partnership and initiatives that create solutions to local and regional issues. We look forward to his leadership in the coming year.”

“Councilmember Margeson has a long history of leading on regional issues and I am pleased that he has been elected Treasurer of the SCA Board,” Councilmember Claudia Balducci, King County Council. “In my experience, he shows up, he pays attention, and he asks hard questions. All of which make him a great choice to help lead SCA. I look forward to working with him in his new role and wish him great success.”