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

"Washington Bike Law" Represents Injured Bicyclists

 Ten Bicyclists Injured on the Burke-Gilman Trail's “Missing Link"

About Washington Bike Law:

 

Washington Bike Law (WBL) represents injured bicyclists statewide and helps make our streets safer for everyone. WBL was the first law office in the nation to be honored by the League of American Bicyclists as a Bike Friendly Business. Find more at www.washingtonbikelaw.com.

Bike accidents are probable in Redmond:  1) no protected bike lanes, 2) the intersection of Redmond Way and East Lake Sammamish Blvd. is hazardous and potentially deadly.  The City of Redmond could be liable.  (B. Yoder.) 

 

SEATTLE – Ten people injured in bicycle crashes on the "Missing Link" of the Burke-Gilman Trail recently filed claims against the City of Seattle for its failure to make the existing roadway reasonably safe for ordinary travel, according to attorneys representing the individuals. The ten riders suffered varying degrees of injury ranging from contusions to broken bones to traumatic brain injury.

 

Washington Bike Law (WBL) and Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB) are Seattle law firms cooperatively representing the bicyclists. “The aim of the claim notices filed today is not simply to achieve compensation for our clients’ injuries, but to prompt action by the City to prevent more people from being seriously injured by this known danger,” said SGB attorney Adam Berger.

 

The Missing Link is a 1.4-mile stretch in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood where the Burke-Gilman Trail abruptly ends, sending bicyclists onto streets that are still not reasonably safe for travel by bicycle. The ten bicyclists were all injured where many others have crashed before them: the Missing Link’s “Crash Zone,” a dangerous railroad crossing under the Ballard Bridge.

 

WBL’s Bob Anderton has represented multiple bicyclists injured in this same Crash Zone dating as far back as 2001. 

Great Night and Band for Rock 'in on the River

 

Photo by Rick Zucker, posted on Café Chat Facebook group.  
Band is singing and playing "Chicago" songs.
Lots of dancing, too!

Line Up

Two more free performances.  August 9th and 16th.  Redmond City Hall lawns.  6-8 p.m. 

Dr. David Morton Accepts the Climate Action Challenge

Replacing dying cottonwoods with new trees at Idylwood Park.  Dr. David Morton is digging

 (far right) in the background.  Councilmember Hank Myers is in the foreground.

The Redmond Climate Action Challenge makes it easy and fun to reduce your environmental impact. By taking the Redmond Climate Action Challenge on October 4, 2021, my wife Gail and I have reduced our annual greenhouse gas emissions by 4.8 metric tons. We selected the actions specific to our journey, tracked our progress, and watched our carbon footprint decline as we made changes at home.  Here are some actions we’ve taken:

1.      Reducing air travel by 9,000 miles per year saves us 7,200 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. We mostly stay local, but in 2021, Gail made a round trip to Portland in her 2018 Hyundai Ioniq hybrid, and I made two round trips to Renton in my 1990 Geo Metro XFi. Zoom and Microsoft Teams make it unnecessary to do a lot of flying and driving.
2.      Nature has replaced 3,000 square feet of our lawn with drought-tolerant plants like buttercups, dandelions, clover, and blackberry. Although they are non-native and invasive, they require zero watering, minimal mowing with a manual reel mower, and provide nectar and pollen for bees. This saves 42,600 gallons of water a year and earns 4,260 “Sustainability points.” The 40,000 sq. feet of forest that we have been allowing to grow on our property since 1994 has removed more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than our cars have released into it.
3.      By adopting smart driving habits, we save 110 gallons of gas and 2,960 pounds of CO₂ equivalents a year. Avoiding heavy acceleration, coasting when possible, light braking, and driving the speed limit help a lot. I turn off my car when stopped at traffic lights; Gail’s hybrid does that automatically. My car has no gas-guzzling air conditioner. And I regularly service our cars and keep their tires properly inflated.

EvergreenHealth Medical Center Provides Addiction Recovery Services

 

EvergreenHealth Medical Center in Kirkland partners with EvergreenHealth - Monroe to provide addiction recovery services.  Commissioner Mclaughlin says mental health beds in Monroe are not far away.

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 8/2/2023

Apartment Building Art

SPECTRA apartment building art, SE Redmond

 

Marymoor Village Apartment Complex Offers Public Community Gardens

The city wants to see Marymoor Village of SE Redmond develop into an eclectic neighborhood, different from the downtown.   For the summer months and with a splash of art, Spectra Apartments in Marymoor Village is going in the right direction!

Partnering with the City of Redmond, Spectra apartments offers two community Gardens as an amenity for their tenants.  The Gardens are also open to the public. The Spectra front desk manages the Gardens, not the city.  We signed up and are 3rd on the wait list for an $80/year box.  

3 rows of carrots have sprouted!  

Spectra Apartment Community Gardens

(click images to enlarge)

-- Bob Yoder, photos, 7/29/2023

Council Notes: Scooters & Salaries

Council Meeting Notes:  

E-scooters and e-bikes pilot project discussed.  Seattle and Everett are the only cities in Puget Sound that have e-scooters.  Parking spaces will not be marked with paint owing to maintenance.  Several councilmembers complained about e-scooters as difficult to ride, blocking sidewalks and ADA intersections. At least 9 accidents were reported by the Fire Dept.  Most didn't want more than one vendor owing to multiple phone applications.  Lime is the present vendor; they will present to council in their next meeting.  September may be the month council decides on a permanent contract.  Email feedback to council at council@redmond.gov.

Council Salaries:  Councilmember Anderson started a 29 minute discussion about council salaries, recommending Ordinance 3116 be repealed or amended to allow council to set their own salaries for new members. They decided to have a private Executive Session to discuss the matter.  Councilmember Varisha Kahn made a rare comment agreeing to an Executive Session. For the most part, Ms. Kahn very rarely participates in any conversation at council meetings.  

The city pays each councilmember over $18,600/year, plus generous benefits. 

Watch council discuss council salaries at this video meeting:  1:01:38 - 1:30:19

-- posted by Bob Yoder, 7/27/2023,  Source:  RCTV and mayor memo

School Resource Officers Renamed "School Liaison Officers"

Internet 

At City Council's July 25, 2023 study session meeting, LWSD Safety Services Director, Scott Emory explained the district's re-naming of "School Resource Officer" to "School Liaison Officer."  He indicated the State of Washington Superintendent was behind the change.

In response to a question from CM Steve Fields, Emory explained the change was to mitigate police involvement with student discipline and miss behaviors; rather leave discipline up to district staff and administration.  

One Police Liaison Officer would still be assigned to each high school (and it's community of schools) but their only duty is law enforcement.  Police involvement in mental health would be only secondary to the administration and staff.  (Police Chief Lowe said one mental health officer is "embedded" in the department.) 

Councilmember David Carson agreed with the program but couldn't see why the title had to be re-named.  

-- Reported by Bob Yoder, 7/26/2023

Source:  RCTV, 7/25/2023

[North Shore SRO position:  https://www.nsd.org/get-involved/task-forces-committees/sro-task-force]

2023 Redmond Derby Days Drone Show Highlights

Pickleball

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS  (click) 

Sammamish Eagle Nest Gone, Eaglets Fledged

A week ago on Wednesday July 12, I arrived at the Redmond Central Connector bridge at about 1 pm.  At that time, the eagle nest was still intact.  

I left and returned to the same location at about 5 pm.  The partial collapse of the nest had somehow occurred during that interval.  The above photo was taken at that time.  In it, you can see that evidently one of the eaglets had flown out of the nest and landed on the branch of a nearby tree.  The other eaglet had remained on top of the partially collapsed nest, as you can see.  I departed from the scene shortly thereafter.

I returned again on Friday, July 14.  The eaglets were nowhere to be seen, and most of the rest of the nest had fallen away, as you can see below:  

A day or two later, I learned that a friend had subsequently seen both eaglets and parents in or near the nest tree, and that they took off for parts unknown.  So far as I know, they have not been seen again.

It's a mystery to me as to why the nest partially collapsed in the afternoon of July 12, 2023.

-- Story and photos by John Reinke, 7/19/23

Overlake: A Three Building Project Totaling 22 Stories

 

Overlake East - three building project - Videos HERE.

The combined site for MGP XII Overlake East is approximately 6.1 acres in size and is fronted by NE 24th Street to the south, 152nd Ave NE — a linear neighborhood core with main street character to the west.  Directly to the north/northeast of the site, King County Housing Authority operates the Village at Overlake Station, which is co-located with the Overlake Transit Center and Metro Park & Ride. 

Overlake Center shopping mall, Macy’s mattress store, Mayuri Foods, TruDental of Redmond, and a variety of retail and restaurant businesses will be torn down. 

The application proposes a Master Plan for a four-building development to be constructed in three phases: 

• Phase 1 includes Building A, located on the north parcel, to consist of an eight-story mixed use building. 

• Phase 2 includes Buildings B and C, located on the corner parcel, to consist of a seven story mixed use building (Building B) and a seven story multifamily building (Building C).

Mental Health Triage Kits Carried By Police

 Mental Health Triage Kits Contain Items to Help Police Comfort Those with Autism and Small Children

Redmond police officers now carry Mental Health Triage Kits in their patrol vehicles to better connect with small children, autistic individuals, and members of the intellectual and developmental disability community. The kits contain sensory care items. 

Redmond Police Explorers assembled the kits during their monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 18, at the Redmond Police Department (RPD).

Rock'in On The River - Line-up

 

Wednesday, Aug 2: Rockfish and Friends An 11-piece band consisting of some of Seattle’s most talented and experienced musicians, Rockfish And Friends focus on an eclectic mix of “Classic Rock That Kicks Brass” from the 60’s, 70’s and 80's. You’ll be hard pressed to find another group in the area so accurately recreating the very best from artists like Chicago, Steely Dan, Heart, Lighthouse, Doobie Brothers, Toto, Wings, Blood, Sweat & Tears and many more.
Wednesday, Aug 9: Catch a Wave This Beach Boys tribute band comes direct from California. Established in 2001 Catch A Wave is the original striped shirt true-to-form Beach Boys show. Others just don't quite measure up. The idea for this incredible show was to recreate the look and sound of a live Beach Boys concert circa 1964 to 1969.
Wednesday, Aug 16: Laurel Canyon Legacy Laurel Canyon Legacy celebrates the explosion of popular music that came out of LA’s Laurel Canyon in the mid-60s as folk music blended with rock and went electric.  Come take a musical journey through the 60’s and 70’s as they perform your favorite songs by groups like The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, The Byrds, Beach Boys, Carole King, America, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, and more.

Free Summer Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on the great lawn next to Redmond City Hall. 

UPDATED: Public Servants: City Councilmember and School Board Director Salaries

The Mayor of Redmond faced controversary over consideration of salary increases for Council members.  Currently, *seven council members each receive $18,648 per year and over $28,000 in benefits.  They have about twice as many formal meetings as school board directors.  Directors receive $4,000/year much of which is typically directed to their annual retreat. No benefits. I will report EvergreehHealth commissioner compensation at a later date.  Operating budgets will be quoted.  

RCW 28A.343.400 Compensation—Waiver. Each member of the board

of directors of a school district may receive compensation of fifty

dollars per day or portion thereof for attending board meetings and

for performing other services on behalf of the school district, not to

exceed four thousand eight hundred dollars per year.  

Any director may waive all or any portion of his or her

compensation under this section as to any month or months during his

or her term of office.

The compensation provided in this section shall be in addition to

any reimbursement for expenses paid to such directors by the school

district.

-- Source:  Public Record Request, 7/19/2023

The School Board holds a Study Session and Business Meeting every other week.  They hold Executive Sessions and Special Meetings.  They get no benefits, health care insurance, etc.  There are 5 Board members.  

* With the exception of Councilmember Varisha Kahn, all the Redmond councilmembers and LWSD directors attended their meetings on a regular basis.  

cc: COR Council

Mayor Birney's Water Quality Report, July 2023

Good description and graphics of the aquifer here.

Bring Protected Bike Lanes to Redmond

Two Redmond council members are in this short video.

City Design Review Board Is Taking Applications

 

Help Shape the Design of the City

The City is accepting applications for the Design Review Board. Two vacancies are open to Redmond residents within the city limits who are passionate about the quality of architecture and landscaping in the City. Volunteers review and make recommendations to the Technical Committee, as well as approve site plans, landscape and architectural design, colors, and materials for commercial, industrial, and multifamily projects. Interested residents are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. on Monday, July 31.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes

Meetings 7:00 p.m.

1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month

City Council Chambers

These are volunteer positions.  To apply:  1) contact staff (David Lee) for an application, 

dlee@redmond.gov, 2) attach your resume, 3)  staff screens applications, 

4) Mayor recommends the candidate, 5)  Council interviews candidate, 6) Mayor appoints.

-- Posted by Yoder, 7/17/2023

Homelessness and Panhandling in Redmond

City MONSTER Truck

 

Pam is sitting in the truck very close to the street surface

On our way to Derby Days we saw this shiny new Redmond Public Works truck blocking and re-directing traffic on 95th.  Cool!  It's a monster truck!!

Just what does this truck do?   Do you see the yellow "buttons?"  

-- Bob Yoder, picture, 7/16/23

Councilmember David Carson Running for Re-election

Councilmember David Carson is running for re-election of Council Position 7 in the Primary.  Here, David is serving up flapjacks at the annual Derby Day Pancake breakfast. 

David M. Carson

16318 NE 50TH WAY

REDMOND, WA 98052

(206) 484-8480

carson4redmond@outlook.com

www.carson4redmond.com

Redmond Middle School Courts Resurfaced, Lined For Pickleball

Redmond Middle School Tennis Courts

You may have noticed?  The Redmond Middle School's six tennis courts are being resurfaced (with an acrylic coating.) Though unconfirmed, the workers said all six tennis courts will also be lined for pickleball.  Completion is expected by 7/31/2023.

Only 42-inch high standard tennis court nets will be installed.  30-inch pickleball nets will not be available.  I've played on both net sizes and find them equally fun.  

-- Bob Yoder, photo, 7/14/2023

 

Grocery Stores and Cafe's In Our Residential Neighborhoods?

Will the City increase and encourage densification in our single family home neighborhoods by zoning for townhomes, triplexes, and fourplexes?  Is this acceptable to you?  Are cafe's, food trucks and grocery stores wanted in our neighborhoods?  Participate in one of these workshops to get informed and tell the city what you'd like to see.

• Monday, July 24 | Virtual Workshop on Complete Neighborhoods - What changes we would like to see in our residential neighborhoods to bring services closer to homes
• Tuesday, August 1 | Complete Neighborhoods Workshop @ Redmond Library (co hosted by Eastside For All and other local community organizations)

-- Posted by Bob Yoder, 7/14/2023

DERBY DAYS! A Smashing Success!

 

                                                          

DERBY DAYS INFO!