Invasive black-topped service roads form the backbone for our city park trail system. Is there an alternative?

The city plans to install a back-topped asphalt trail through the Leary heron rookery forest

12 foot black-topped road is planned for this new trail by the Leary Avenue heron rookery. Less invasive soft surface trails, as in the small picture on the right, would be more aesthetic and more forgiving of the trees -- especially trees remaining on the trail to control bicycle speeds. Water will be blocked off by impervious black-top, threatening these trees. The three small pictures are of ADA approved trails where narrow bicycle and wheelchair tires can be used. ADA crushed rock trails are pervious to rain, more eco-friendly and less envasive.

Less invasive, eco-friendly, ADA approved trails could be installed by this forest remnant but the city rejects this idea thinking: 1) bicycles, strollers, and wheelchairs need black-top surfaces and 2) grant money is not available. In the two Park's Commission meetings I've attended the Park's department never seriously evaluated the viability of eco-friendly crushed rock trails. Pervious, crushed rock trails will support wheels as narrow as a wheelchair. Several companies specialize in eco-friendly trails - a description of Enviroseal, Inc. trails is found on their Environseal website.

The Parks Dept. has an opportunity to install an ADA eco-friendly trail at Idlewood Park and this rookery, as beta sites. If we don't evaluate these trails soon all of our park trails under development and future park trails requiring a "backbone" will be paved over with asphalt. Is this what we want as Redmond pushes to Go Green?

Lisa Singer, city planner describes the trail route as:

"The trail through the woods will be a connection from the 520 bike trail and the Sammamish River trail northward to the transit center on NE 83rd St. The Northward extension of the bike lane will occur under the next phase of the project, which will build the 161st Ave NE connection. At the south end of 161st and the north end of this woods trail, we are constructing a plaza." Lisa Singer, Project Manager, Bear Creek Pkwy Extention

This trail is an excellent connector for circulating bicycle and pedestrian traffic away from busy downtown; though it is unfortunate 25 trees had to be removed. As you can see from the photo, Parks Dept. scattered a few trees on the trail to slow bicycle speeds and improve aesthetics. Nice touch.

(1) The heron rookery has been inactive with no colonies present for over 3 years. The heron you see in Redmond migrate from Issaquah rookeries to forage for food fish and small mammals. I hope the city will cooperate with Issaquah to protect our source of herons!

Send your comments to any of these city contacts:
Council@redmond.gov (city council)
ParksAndTrailsCommission@redmond.gov
PED-BIKE Citizen's Advisory Committee
Celarsen@redmond.gov (Craig Larsen, Parks & Arts Director)


cc: city council & parks & trails commission.

Dr. Kimball's Lake Washington School District VISION 2020 is framed with an exciting & scary video in his presentation to Council

Superintendent Dr. Chip Kimball l and School Board V.P. Mr. Ravi Shahani of Lake Washington School District LWSD presented VISION 2020 to city council last night asking for collaboration. I've known Ravi from working together on the Education Hill Citizen Advisory Committee.

Dr. Kimball (photo) started his presentation with the alarming **two-minute video clip titled "Do You Know?" . Please click this video link for exciting and sometimes scary reasons why LWSD must prepare our kids for the future.
The LWSD's Vision Statement is "Every Student Future Ready". You'll know why after watching the clip.

1. Not every student should go to college, but absolutely every student should be prepared for college. Dr. Kimball said, without some post secondary education, poverty or inability to live in our community is probable.
2. Preparation for the global workplace by learning skills in communication, technology, problem solving is envisioned.
3. Preparation for personal success is envisioned with passion, perseverance, work habits, community contribution, and environmental awareness.

Mr. Ravi Shahani represents students and parents at all schools on Education Hill, at Wilder, Rose Hill and a few others others.

The 2-minute clip "Did you know?" was replaced by this 6 minute clip:  http://youtu.be/pMcfrLYDm2U

A neighborly review of Redmond's Digital Arts Festival

The Digital Art Festival website is art itself. The site was designed by Kamal Siegel - a Redmond Arts Commissioner and owner of the 3-D studio, DigitalDouble . I think of Kamal (on right) as taking the roles of thought leader and Digital Arts Festival Program Director for this festival. The program was magnificent! Attendance was low considering the
offering.

I first thought digital art was all about abstract, electronic art or computer art. Yet, I learned it's mostly about "gaming" -- X-Box, Donkey Kong, Atari, War Games, etc. Redmond is the "capital" in the Northwest for gaming with Nintendo, Digipen, and Microsoft and a variety of boutique digital companies headquartered here. Despite industry presence, The Arts Commission had their work cut out for them. Ed Fries, a prominent speaker, said the "game world" and "real world" are quite different. So, to drive Festival attendance the Commissioners had the ominous marketing task of concurrently educating the public about the digital world of art while advertising & selling the event. On top of it all, government bureaucracies are not missioned to be marketeers.

The Digital Arts Festival Program was extraordinary. My daughter had 5 basketball games during the Festival so I was only able to stop by the Digital Lounge, digital painting studio, panel discussion, and animated short movies. My favorite event was the speaker panel. Kamel did a great job interviewing. The speakers were all experts and I think 4 of the 5 worked at Microsoft at some time or another.

My favorite speaker was a neighbor, Abbott Smith. I first met Abbott during the Avondale Crest land use appeal on 104th St. He is well known in his neighborhood as a past Arts Commissioner and community leader. I enjoyed getting to know Abbott better. His multi-faceted life experiences and engaging personality captivated me. Abbott earned a marine biology/chem degree, mixed with art in Ohio. He enlisted in the Army. Abbott is known as an artist and especially his love and teaching of the digital arts. He taught at Nintendo, worked at the Seattle Art Museum and taught and chaired and instructed at Digipen Institute of Technology for 5 years. Digipen is a school in Redmond for the digital arts. Abbott is responsible for accrediting the BFA Fine Arts degree in Production Animation at Digipen.

Of all the speakers, Abbott gave me the most "take home messages".

1. computers are needed for marketing digital art. DRAWING is the language of the field and the hand is the best tool. The computer is only a tool, an arrow in the quiver, not the artist.


2. DRAWING should to be in every K-12 art teacher's curriculum.


3. The more "Pencil mileage" a student gets, the better his digital art. With each new iteration of software, students with the most mileage will best adapt.


4. Artists and programmers have different "languages". Artists are "old school' so programmers tend to think they are better. Both must work together.


5. Just as DRAWING is the artist's foundation, "Z-Brush" language is the programmer's foundation.

Ed Fries of Fingerprints, Inc. has an amazing background. He will be exhibiting his 3-D printers at City Hall this Thursday at 7pm. (Open to the public). Yes, a paper image is literally "copied" into a 3-D object. After working on Atar 800, Ed joined the Microsoft team of seven to develop EXCELL. He then took 50 MSFT workers and built MSFT games - the beginnings of X-BOX. Ed's take home message: the need for artists in gaming is growing! Artists now outnumber programmers by about 8:1. It's difficult to outsource digital artists because of cultural barriers and the need for a "creative core".

If any of you know an Arts commissioner or city planner Mary Yelanjan make sure you thank them for their monumental effort in putting this class-act program together and tell them not to give up. My wife and I thought the high school venue detracted from the sophistication of the program. A modest ticket charge would seem appropriate and may further attendance. I pay $6 for every basketball game I watch my daughter play. The Redmond Digital Arts Festival is certainly worthy of more.

_________________________

Listen to Redmond Arts commissioner Eva Moon's "Bailout Man" U-Tube clip here (newly minted!)

City Parks & Rec. Dept. grows a pumpkin patch at Juel Park!

While walking the banks of Bear Creek looking for spawning salmon I stumbled upon this pumpkin patch at Juel Community Park. What a surprise! Parks & Rec workers were busy weeding the patch and raking it out. Awesome!

The green pumpkins are still transitioning into orange. The sunflowers are ready for picking....and I did! One of the workers gave me a pruning shear and I cut 3 flowers. They cut a pumpkin for me, too! I think Parks has a great idea in planting this "feature" into Juel Park. It's a rustic, historic farm with an old barn and hog pen. (Look at the photo. You can see the barn behind the city truck.) The patch compliments the farm theme.

Juel Park also hosts a golf frisbee course. I've seen neighbors playing frisbee golf after work at dusk. What a relaxing

way to de-stress after work and enjoy nature. One fellow said it doesn't take as long or cost as much for a "round" for disc golf. Did you know frisbee golfers actually carry a "bag of clubs" with them? Actually, it's a rectangular bag of different shaped frisbees for different distances from the "pin" (basket). Coool.

As I left the park carrying my pumpkin and three flowers, I asked a worker if I could tell my neighbors about the patch. "Yes, it's for the pickns!"

Bear Creek Parkway construction alters "look & feel" of Saturday Market

Trees are a integral part of Redmond's Saturday Market culture, as you can see by the sign

OPINION:  Invaluable improvements to traffic circulation around and through the downtown will be achieved once the Bear Creek Parkway Extension is completed. Unfortunately, the removal of significant trees near the Saturday Market is noticeable. According to city Project Planner Lisa Singer, 13 trees were removed from the Saturday Market gateway. As you enter Redmond on Leary Way the Saturday Market has lost it's park-like appearance. I haven't been to the Market recently to see how it feels. Please comment on this post if you have strong feelings about the changes.

Below, is a short clip of the parkway construction's impact to the Saturday Market, Heron Rookery, and Gateway. Councilman Vache' was noticably absent during the Council's 4-2 decision to go ahead with this unpopular roadway alignment. Councilman Cole was forced by Vache's absence to change his voting preference to keep the project moving forward. Councilmembers David Carson and Kimberly Allen voted against this alignment. Below is a 2 min. clip of the construction around the Saturday Market and heron rookery.  Opinion and photos/video By Yoder

Most trees in Redmond's oldest city park are saved - for a price

I just got home from the "Arts in the Park" event at Anderson Park and thought of this 2008 report when looking at an historical society exhibit. The photos are poorly displayed but it's better than nothing! Bob Yoder, 6/25/16

Anderson Park is Redmond's oldest park and also the home for two city drinking water wells. The wellheads are old and are being replaced. To save many of the park trees the city bought some expensive land a block north to house the treatment plant. 6 trees still had to be removed; 2 were unhealthy. The Board of Parks commissioners led by Chair Lori Snodgrass fought hard for this expensive proposal to preserve Anderson Park. Councilman Vache requested a "fiscal note" to recognize the high cost ($11.6M) of the project.

water treatment construction off-site..................................truck is drilling new well in park

View 1.5 minute video clip of Anderson Park under construction HERE

The photo on he right is looking south to one of Anderson Park's old pump houses. It was removed. Click the City of Redmond Notice sign to read the price tag for this project. In my narration I said two new wellheads were "drilled." This is not the case. After this video there's an interesting video on the construction of  Bear Creek Parkway.

City Description of Proposal: To comment or request information contact: city planner

Steve Fischer

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PUMP HOUSES TO REPLACE TWO AGING, OUTDATED WELL FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN ANDERSON PARK

(7802 168TH AVE NE). THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE APPROX. 520 FEET OF NEW 12 INCH WATERLINE BETWEEN THE WELL HOUSES AND THE TREATMENT BUILDING. THE NEW PUMP HOUSES WILL BE APPROX. 16' X 24' IN SIZE AND DESIGNED TO REFLECT THE HISTORIC LOG CABIN APPEARANCE OF THEIR STRUCTURES IN THE PARK. THE ASSOCIATED TREATMENT FACILITY WILL BE LOCATED ONE BLOCK NORTH ON PROPERTY AND WILL BE 44' X 58' IN SIZE. A PACKED TOWER APPROX. 30 FT IN HEIGHT WILL BE USED TO ALTER THE PH OF THE WELL WATER. THE PROJECT WILL IMPROVE AND OPEN THE ALLEY TO TRAFFIC ON THE WEST SIDE...

Bob Yoder

Leary Way Regional Stormwater Treatment "Wetland"

Leary Stormwater Run-Off Treatment Facility "Wetland" under construction

As you drive into Redmond on Leary Way you'll notice construction of a large earthen "lake" to the east. It's actually one of five new regional stormwater treatment facilities the city is building to service Redmond's downtown. This wetland facility will drain Leary Way, 198th, and Bear Creek Parkway. The 6 month floods will will drain into the Sammamish River. The city is calling it a "wetland". 75 trees will be planted around the facility. The Redmond Dept. of Natural Resources will plant native shrubs and aquatic plants in two feet of wetland mix soil throughout the pond. You can see the impermeable plastic liner under the soil -- to keep the water close to the plants. Some day it may look and function like a wetland. To get the straight scoop on this project, city planner Kelsey Larson may be able to help you.

Redmond's Senior Stormwater Engineer Steve Hitch designed this innovative project and had the following to say about it:

The City project at Leary Way & 159th Place NE is a future Stormwater Treatment Wetland. The pond was lined with a PVC geomembrane so it will not leak. Stormwater will flow through the pond to remove sediment and other pollutants, with help from biological contact with the wetland plants. The pond must be lined so that the water is treated before being released to the environment, and so that the wetland plants are kept wet. The pond will look a bit messy as they bring in the topsoil that will overlay the liner and until they plant the pond, but the contractor will be required to keep any muddy water from being released to the river. 10-08-08

View a 4 Min. video clip of the stormwater wetland pond under construction here .

For technical information on stormwater treatment wetland facilities visit: Stormwater Wetland Facts.

Councilmember Jane Hague hears public comment on our county's park jewel: 60 Acres South Park

Subject: Hearing tomorrow (9/23) at 9:30am on 60 Acres South
Mon, 22 Sep 2008 From: Jane Hague

Dear Neighbor:

Tomorrow is a key committee meeting for discussion on our regional park jewel, 60 Acres South. The following is an update for you on how public comment will be handled on the 60 Acres South agreement legislation.

I will start the public comment period in tomorrow's Utilities & Parks Committee with a panel presentation by three major stakeholder groups. The following people have been selected by their organizations. Each organization will have five to seven minutes to give their presentation.

1) Seattle Area Soaring Society
Seth Arlow

2) Valley Estates Homeowners Association
Chuck Quenneville
Michallea Schuelke

3) Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association
Curt Bateman
Andy Hill
Steven Hopp

It is my hope that the organizations listed above will answer questions that have been generally asked by the community. For those individuals who indicated that they want to speak tomorrow, the committee would greatly appreciate remarks being limited to those other than the ones addressed by the panel. Please note that each individual speaker will have a maximum of two minutes to speak.

The King County Courthouse is located at 516 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA, 98104. The Utilities & Parks Committee meeting will take place tomorrow at 9:30AM on the 10th floor of the Courthouse in Council Chambers. Thank you, in advance, for your willingness to come and testify on this important agreement.

Sincerely,

Jane Hague

Councilmember King County Council

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

comments welcome here:

Morning Report: 166th Avenue NE remains "haunted" by construction

City Letter of Apology for the traffic congestion on Education Hill.

7:25 am, Junior High students crossing 166th to school on the temporary crosswalk.

7:15 am. I walked up the sidewalk from NE 100th Street this morning at 7:15. The traffic was cued uphill again towards the intersection, similar to last night. Most cars had a student and were turning right on 104th on their way to school.

In the picture above you see the right lane is shut down by orange barrels for construction. Unfortunately, even when the right lane opens up on 166th most traffic will be turning right to school. (Thus, emphasis for walking and biking to school.) Fortunately the slow, long line to the intersection dissipated around 7:35 am. So, drivers were haunted by delays on 166th northbound for only about 20 minutes. Once more students start walking and biking things will get better. I was amazed to see a little HORACE MANN EL. kid biking to school on the 166th AVE. sidewalk. Just think when students start hiking the Ashford Trail (Perrigo Woods Trail) to school!

I ran into Jeff Palmer, City Traffic Calming Manager. He was friendly and helpful. Apparently, the road project is dynamic and it's "tweaked" regularly to keep the traffic and construction moving. Mr. Palmer pointed me to the traffic flow improvements at Redmond Junior High. Signage (see photo) was posted to encourage parent chauffeurs to pull forward; and drop-off lanes were marked off.

I met Principal Prato Barone 'standing watch' in front of the school. He said the new signage and marked lanes help move traffic during the busiest 5 minutes of the morning. Look at the bikes! Mr. Barone plans to eventually install a covering over the bike parking area. And, he plans to initiate a week long "bike to school" clinic, recruiting teachers, who bicycle, to give the clinic.

When asked, Prato told me he still hopes the District will approve connecting the two parking lots to improve traffic flow. I wonder, could the large flag-pole possibly be an obstacle towards this mobility & safety improvement? Only one egress and ingress to the school would be safer.

I didn't notice any students walking between the lots in the open space. This huge promenade, boulevard or whatever you want to call it was noticeably desolate & unused. The impervious concrete platform area appears much better suited for an eco-friendly "open green space" than a "corridor space" for students and their bikes. I hope LWSD will revisit this wasteland and approve the parking lot connection.
{click to enlarge photos}

Evening Report: 166th Avenue NE gets spooked by improvements

City Letter of Apology for the traffic congestion on Education Hill

Wednesday, 6:30 PM looking north to 104th & 166th Ave intersection

4:30 pm I knew it was bad when I got a phone call from my neighbor, Kay, about a near-miss car accident on 166th ave & NE 100th St. I met Kay during our Neighborood Block Watch potluck and she wanted to know who to talk to in the city. I gave her Councilwoman Kim Allen's email. Kay thought the city should keep cones up for a while longer.

5:00 pm My wife then told me a basketball mom, Lisa, phoned while driving up 166th Ave. "How do I get around this mess?" Lisa had been on 166th for a half hour.

6:15 pm I vacillated with my wife about taking some pictures of 166th. It was getting late and I figured most of the traffic would be dissipated, but I went anyway. My jaw dropped. Cars were moving about 5-6 mph on 166th from as far as I could see to the bottom of the hill (from 100th) to the intersection at 104th. Unreal.

A number of drivers were mad. Most just upset. One yelled, "make sure you send those pictures to the Mayor!" One driver said it was worse earlier. I asked her which way?

6:30 pm When I got to the intersection, I could see the problems: 1) NO TIMED TRAFFIC LIGHT YET and 2) the right turn lane is closed at the intersection for construction. As you approach the intersection: very few cars travel from the north on 166th or the east on 104th. A few more cars travel from the west; but mostly its a trickle. Thus, until construction is completed 9o% of the traffic at 6pm is stuck IN one lane as it enters the intersection. The sooner that light and extra lane goes in the better.

6:45 pm By the time I walked back to NE 100th Street intersection the line of cars driving up the hill to 100th St. had dissipated. Though, cars will still cued up to 104th.

Trouble spot: This is a shot of 100th & 166th looking South. You can see the cross-walk in the foreground.

Turning left out of 100th St. you have no left turn lane ("safety spot"). Those yellow dots do not delineate a turn lane. You have to drive across 3 lanes (!) to make a left turn. When traffic is heavy in the morning the left turn "option" will be out...unless you are willing to risk an accident and fellow travelers are really, really nice to you.

I hope most of the congestion can be cleared with the new traffic light. I encouraged my wife to hold off on her frustration until the city has a chance to put that light in and finish the intersection. I'll take pictures for Part Two tomorrow morning.

Hurricane IKE reminds us to PREPARE for Redmond's winter storms!

"East Firs Neighborhood Block Watch" National Night Out Against Crime Potluck

Hurricane IKE's blast into the Gulf states this month kindled my fears and memories of the severe wind storms our neighborhoods and city encountered last December 6. Some citizens had no electricity or heat for almost a week. Grocery refrigeration was shut down at some stores. Power lines draped the roads. Some seniors and families with small children sought shelters. Fallen trees took out roofs, cars and shut down roads. You couldn't even find a fix for your coffee habit. How soon we forget? A similar storm struck Redmond in 2006.

As far as my family is concerned we have two months to prepare for the next one. I've since bought a wind-up AM Radio. The city has a new Emergency Community Radio 1650 AM. We'll be tuned in for sure. I even bought a generator. Hope I know how to use it!

We've also added another layer of protection in our East Firs Neighborhood. We started our Neighborhood Block Watch Program this year. We will now have the comfort, support, and friendship of our neighbors in times of the next severe storm. We've shared our phone numbers, names and addresses and we met over a potluck in August during "National Night Out". We are ready!

I'm posting a few pictures from our National Night Out celebration. My next door neighbor and his nephew volunteer for King County's Search and Rescue. They came out in force! The "White Whale" - our city's Emergency Response Vehicle was visited by many of the of the neighborhood children and parents. A Certified Emergency Response Team volunteer gave tours. My favorite city vehicle was the sleek, unmarked police car used to chase down aggressive drivers. The officer was cool. Council President Nancy McCormick gave us a surprise visit. Most neighbors had no idea of the tremendous work she puts in for us to write local laws, set policy and fund our needs.

It's not too late to start a Block Watch network with your neighbors. Collect phone numbers. Map out your neighborhood. Share phone numbers and the map with your neighbors. If EVER in doubt, CALL 911.

The city is holding a 3 Block Watch Meetings

for neighborhoods interested in starting a Neighborhood Watch.

My "lunch buddy" standing next to the "White Whale". This sophisticated, retrofitted van is deployed for Presidential and other high profile visitors. Besides "police presence" it serves as a "Command and Control Center" during emergencies. Direct lines hook into Public Works (roads and lights), Police, Fire, the Mayor, FBI, King County, State Patrol, and more.... A C.E.R.T neighbor and police volunteer operated the Whale. Approximately 50 parents and children attended. The 35 dog and cats were left at home to protect their property!

According to Jim Bove Community Relations, Redmond: The city will hold three (3) "Introduction to Neighborhood Block Watch" meetings this winter:

*Wednesdays, October 8th, 2008 – December 3rd, 2008

Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Emerald Heights Retirement Center10901 -176th Circle NE, Redmond, WA 98052

Cost: $35.00

Contact: Janeen Olson at jro5@u.washington.edu for questions or register with Debbie at the Redmond Fire Department at (425) 556-2200.

Nine additional soccer fields are proposed for 60 Acres Park! -- SPEAK UP on September 15

Citizen: when you decide how you would "vote" on the LWYSA proposed 9 soccer field & parking complex think "why'? Why do we need 9 more soccer fields when the game is already saturated with 29% of all LWSD youth? (My daughter is one). LWSD enrollment is flat. Fewer youth now have more sports to play! Boys and girls lacrosse, cricket, skateboarding, BMX and mountain biking; and passive sports like Disc golf, gliding planes, model rockets, dog trials. And these are just some of the outdoor games. Kids play digital games, chess, the arts....

King County Executive Tim Hill said it well, in August 23, 1988:

"We do not believe it is King County's role as a public service provider to dedicate park land for the development of "premier" level facilities for one group while another interests of unserved, or served at disproportionately low levels. As its population grows, King County is coming under increasing pressure from taxpayers who have become more vocal in demanding an equitable share of facilities to accommodate their varied activities...These valuable resources must be shared by all County residents."

The City of Redmond will be holding "Neighborhood Meeting" on the "Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association" (LWYSA) proposal to develop 9 soccer fields on Sixty Acres South. Click HERE to see the site plan for the parking and 9 soccer fields.

This meeting will serve as an opportunity for interested parties and nearby property owners to review, comment, and ask questions of LWYSA soccer association regarding their aggressive proposal to build 9 premium grass soccer fields with parking on a county park.

This neighborhood meeting will be held prior to the City taking final action on this project.
Meeting Date: September 15, 2008
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: City Council Chambers, Redmond City Hall, (a short walk west of the library).

Make yourself heard as a "Party of Record" so you are allowed to participate in any appeal process. Contact city planner Kelsey Larson (425-556-2409) to make yourself a Party of Record. Her email is klarson@redmond.gov. Or, sign in at the meeting to be a Party.

CC: Kelsey Larson, C.O.R.

Teacher Jim Anderson organizes LWSD's first "Bike to School" Clinic.

Attn: Education Hill parents and students. When you read this article, think of the severe traffic congestion we will be experiencing during the 166th & 104th construction project!

When Chris Thomas of Sammamish Valley Cycle told me about a new "Bike-to-School" clinic at Rosa Parks Elementary I decided check it out. Much to my surprise, Teacher Jim Anderson an old friend from lacrosse was giving the clinic! Jim initiated the clinic and is pioneering his pilot program for LWSD .

I took lots of pictures and two short video clips of Jim's Bike to School Clinic. The
slide show is on the right sidebar. Jim had 5 clinic stations where students learned to look over their shoulder, stop, take tight turns, and follow other bikes. Safety! Safety! If a student passed the driver test and their bike was checked out by Sammamish Valley Cycle, Teacher Jim issued purple stickers upon parent approval. Scores of students (4th - 5th grade) have graduated and are biking to school this year! Jim has high goals to expand the program widely throughout LWSD schools.

The final clinic was given by Chris Thomas, owner of Sammamish Valley Cycle. The three types of bikes were demoed and discussed. Helmets and other safety equipment were described. I was amazed how Mr. Anderson could keep his students so attentive and involved! Jim didn't forget to instruct his students about the benefits to our environment from bicycling. And they listened!

Chris is holding up a "U-Lock" in the right photo. The City of Redmond recommends this lock for their green Street Art Bike racks. Personally, I find them expensive, heavy and bulky and prefer a cable. But, I did see a lot of them on a recent trip to Victoria, B.C. where biking is everywhere.

According to Jim and Chris, the City of Redmond and the RJH Principal Barone are solidly behind Jim's Bike to School program and want to bring it to Redmond Junior High and other bikable schools. If you'd like a program for your child contact Joel Pfundt, city planner in charge of the Pedestrian Bicycle Citizen Advisory Committee. Or call or email Chris Thomas. She is on the Advisory Committee.

HUGE KUDOS to Teacher Jim Anderson and Chris Thomas of Sammamish Valley Bicycle. Chris and her husband have a fabulous bicycle store and service center in Redmond (8451 - 164th Ave NE) at the base of Education Hill. Jim is a community jewel and has shaped literally thousands of Redmond youth with his teaching expertise, role modeling and passion for our children.

Come on students! Get out on your bikes, enjoy the fresh air, get to school faster, sleep in longer!

[Aside: Jim Anderson is known throughout Redmond as a pioneer for youth lacrosse on the Eastside. I coached briefly in his 6th grade program. Last year Jim started the Lake Washington High School Lacrosse Club. They made the championship tournament after only one year. But, that's another story!]

OPINION: PROCLAIM THE GREAT BLUE HERON OUR CITY'S SPECIES OF LOCAL IMPORTANCE!!

OPINION:  Updated: 2/9/2011  The Great Blue Heron is the City of Redmond's Species of Local Importance.  This designation does not "protect" the species from the Critical Areas Ordinance.  Development regulations still apply.  The SOLI designation raises awareness of the cultural and natural value
of the species to Redmond residents and city government. B.Y.

Letter to Council President Nancy McCormick

Hi Nancy - I agree with the lady who complained at the last Council meeting that the Great Blue Heron (GBH) is indeed important to the city....for many reasons. Personally, though common across the country, I like the bird a lot and even did my senior Biology project on it in college.

My only request is the city issue a formal proclamation the heron is our "Species of Local Importance." AND, to amend the Critical Area Ordinance designation regulating the Species as law. In the three years since inception of the heron law, the ordinance has proven to have no "teeth"; yet it causes a bottleneck in land use progress on projects like the Bear Creek Pkwy Extension. If anyone watched your tortured deliberations about the Parkway extension they'd have seen the how the heron law created havoc and total confusion in your final vote. Everyone appeared to be stepping around the "heron law" - even Kim Allen and Hank Margeson.

Richard Cole told me he loves the heron and couldn't believe we no longer have active rookeries in Redmond, including the Leary Rookery across from the Saturday Market. But, without a rookery, our heron have no nest where they can "come home" and have chicks. When our city consultant from Berger Associates, Guy Michealson, told us that the Leary Rookery had no active nests, I was shocked too. I asked Cathy Beam, our environmental planner and she concurred with Guy. She said it wasn't the higher densities but the crows and eagles from Lake Sammamish that drove heron away. Sad. But, what law can stop that? I asked about the Safeway "rookery" and the one east of Avondale. Richard Cole asked about Keller Farm. No active nests there either, according to Cathy. In disbelief, I visited all the sites. They looked "dead" with no white excrement, no heron visible in the trees and few if any inactive nests. If anyone doubts me contact cbeam@redmond.gov. "Our" heron migrates to Redmond waterways and forests from rookeries outside the city limits to forage for food. They come to forage for fish sand small mammals, not to nest. Please ask Mr. McGruder of the the Audubon Society, too.

Guy, our consultant from Berger Associates sees the Leary "rookery" absent of heron colonies and as a uniform forest remnant. I see it as having potential for a trail tying the Burlington Northern Corridor trails to the Haida House Park. Wouldn't that be nice to walk through a forest to a city park in downtown Redmond after shopping at the Saturday Market? This city feature is out with the heron law.

Finally, I think we are fooling ourselves to ask developers to trace a heron sighting on a plat back to a "nest" in a Redmond rookery that doesn't exist e.g. Pearce PRD. Everytime council discusses any property or project near a heron siting they have to do a political tap dance. Let's take our officials off the hook and be honest with ourselves!

The bottom line is we can still honor our beautiful, graceful "Great Blue" and symbol of our city without having to be burdened by agency regulations and law. Nancy, I ask you to proclaim our Great Blue Heron as a Species of Local Importance and amend the ordinance.

Beside our heron, I hope you will honor the green riparian habitat bordering our creeks and Sammamish waterways in which our Great Blue Heron (and salmon)forage for food. The city spends millions of dollars restoring our riparian habitat. Millions. Our urban forest habitat is being decimated. Nancy, proclaim Riparian habitat as Locally Important, too!

OPINION by Bob Yoder
Internet photo

Citizen Vicky sends her thanks to council and the Mayor Marchione Administration

I've worked with Vicky on several city projects. Vicky is an outspoken, articulate leader on the podium in City Hall. She does her homework and the city listens! Vicky agreed to my posting her letter about our city representatives and her name.

Mayor and Council,

I am so impressed with the progress that has been made in our City over the past 8 months. All of you deserve a big pat on the back from one of the City’s very outspoken critics.

I have joked over the past several years that my hobby has been “Fighting City Hall” and all of you are working very diligently to force me to find a new hobby! As of now, it has been accomplished. I am sure there will be things that get my attention from time to time, but for now, I don’t have a single issue that has not been addressed.

I am so pleased, but more so impressed. Very refreshing to see that so many things have come so far and we are getting better when so many others are faltering.

Kudos to you all, and thank you! I look forward to attending meetings again soon.

Vicky Methven

Vicky runs a successful identity theft business

Independent Associates - Prepaid Legal Services, Inc. - Identity Theft Services
Contact information:
www.vickyandtim.com/biz Small Business Plan 0-99 employees
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/group/vmethven Group Plans (Large or Small)

UPDATE: Neighbor posts a request for better security at Edge Park

Bob's UPDATE 9/2: Hi Carol - I'm happy Mr. Bove has helped you, as follows: "You may want to contact our Property/Evidence office, they keep all "found" items in case anyone decided to turn anything in(http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/police/records/property.asp).

As for the Redmond Reporter, [the Blotter information] is something they get from the Redmond Police--they print information on cases they [decide or find] as useful. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have further questions." -- Jim Bove, Redmond Police

I forwarded the following request for security at Edge Park to Jim Bove of the Redmond Police. Ms. Singleton gave me permission to post her name and message. I also recommended she post her alert on the new American Towns - Redmond website. (link is in the "Blog List" sidebar)

"Hi Bob - I have a 20-year old niece that often skateboards at the Redmond
Skate Park. Last night her cell phone and car keys were stolen. I had no idea
she does what "all the kids do" and left her things on the cement "bench" on the
edge of the pit. I went there last night around 9:00 PM when she called me. I
talked with a couple other kids who said, "Yah, everyone leaves their things
here." I couldn't believe my niece was so naive.

We need to get word out to the kids and the parents of these kids to tell them not to leave their things out like that. The police department wasn't interested in our
making a report.

How can I get mention of this in the Redmond Reporter? I've seen things in Police Blotter but the police department didn't know anything about that.

Can you put something on the blog?"

Thanks! Carol Singleton

What's for Dinner?

There you have it, the dreaded question you hear over and over every night if you're a mom. Okay, dads hear it too, but not nearly as much, I'd think.

So where are the hidden gems in Redmond that you can take a family with munchkins to without getting the evil eye from other dinner guests? Here are a few of our family favorites, some for the charm, some for the food and some for the discounts (an added plus with larger families):

Black Bear Diner in Overlake has really great food, even if you have to wait for awhile for it to show up. And with Kid's Eat Free on Monday nights, sometimes it's worth it to take a coloring book or play I Spy to keep the kiddos entertained while waiting.

Ruby's Diner, in Redmond Town Center, offers Kid's Eat Free on Tuesday nights. Our kids love the train that is overhead and the old style cartoons shown on the TV under the register. The menus are printed on vehicles that they can put together and then spend the rest of the meal decorating with stickers. Plus, if you are sweet to the waitress and say ‘please’ you can have a free kid cone of ice cream. The ‘please’ part if very important to remember.

For brunch on Sunday, we love Desert Fire , also at RTC, but if you go on Monday nights, they also have Kid's Eat Free. I know my own really like staring at the fire in the middle and will zone on it. It's all we need to get a glance at the menu to order some southwest favorites.

Celtic Bayou , the place with the closest thing to hush puppies that I so miss from Oklahoma, has Kid's Eat Free on Saturdays and Sundays. You need to go before the bar crowd, but it's so noisy in there usually that kid's can be kids without disturbing the other patrons. An added bonus? Their kid menus can be washed off and reused, and they have little books to help encourage our little readers.

If you're in the mood for good fast food, but don’t want to go through a drive through, Taco Del Mar offers Kid's Eat Free on Sundays. My kid's swear that the one in Redmond makes the best rice and beans EVER (that emphasis is from them).

While not totally free, Las Margaritas in Bear Creek, does offer Kid's Meal's on Sunday for $1.99. Getting to practice Spanish and counting the parrots hanging on the ceiling are a draw for my girls. Except that every time we are there, they expect them to start singing like the Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland.

Claim Jumper has a free child's plate that they give out to the under 2 crowd. But make sure you check your receipt, as last time they charged us for it. It’s not much by any means, but why claim (pun intended) something is free when it's not, that's what I wanna know.

While Red Robin doesn't have Kid's Eat Free, it's a nice distraction on Tuesdays/Thursdays at the RTC location and Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays at the Overlake location when Red Robin makes visits at each of the tables. Since my girls are still at the age where this is cool, we are frequent visitors. An added bonus? It’s another great place to play I Spy.

Ooba is another one of those places without meal deals for kids, but they have a great table next to the register that kids can pick up a game (video or otherwise) and be entertained while you read the hand written chalk board menu. I like that's it's a local business that started in Redmond because it's a nice alternative from the main restaurant chains.

So, here you go, places in Redmond to get a break from cooking at home. There are lots of other restaurants in the surrounding towns that also have kid's eat free or other deals, but with gas prices going up up up, it's nice to stick close to home, without eating at home.

Koloud 'Kay' Tarapolsi
Co-author, Overlake Neighborhood

"Hartman Park Trails" - a city gem unveiled

For years, a select group of Education Hill neighbors have walked their dogs and hiked the network of forested dirt trails surrounding Hartman Park wetlands. Quite a few residents tried to keep this informal park "gem" to themselves. It's a peaceful, quiet, cool, lush forested area and so convenient to the surrounding neighbors. Yes, the trails could get muddy. Other than that, it was a neighborhood paradise.

The Parks Department finally discovered these trails and "our secret". "Hartman Park Trails" are now cedar-chipped and are marked with about 8 trail signs. I don't know what took them so long. My guess is the new joint Parks & Trails Commission is working together better and so took action. It's even remotely possible the recent Black Bear sightings in these woods prompted action. (I feel a little safer hiking the trails now they are "developed" by the city.) The nearby BMX dirt bike course has brought additional traffic near these trails, too.

Anyway, have fun! The trails are easy to access from at least 6-7 trailheads. The trails' "backbone" is Ashford Trail, a.k.a. Perrigo Woods Trail. It's a pervious, crushed gravel trail which mountain bikers sometimes use to "cut across town". The trail starts from the terminus of NE 100 St. near the Mormon Church almost a mile down the hill to Avondale Road. A good scenic resting point is Perrigo Springs (Historical Marker) near the water tower.

Children living in Lookout Ridge and Perrigo Heights can easitly walk to school from Perrigo Woods Trail to RHS and RJH. Any number of the .25 - .50 mile Hartman Park Trails will get them to their classes and homes -- faster and more peacefully than by car! Might even see a Western Red Squirrel or Heron on the way....

The Harman Park Trails can be accessed from the Fields #5 & #6 adjacent the restrooms. They can also me accessed from the neighborhoods bordering 176th Ave. NE. and 172nd Ave. NE.

The Parks Department defines trail users with a "backpacker" and "bicyclist" ICON. Dog walkers are probably welcome. I'm guessing the X-country teams run through here, though I haven't seen any. I've never seen a bicyclist on these curvy, narrow trails. None of the trails are listed "A.D.A. approved.". The cedar chipped trails smell fresh are very nice and may control the mud issue. I don't know who installed the chips.

Comment: I hope the city will use cedar chipped trails for riparian pathways in the Eastern Corridor Parks. I'm glad the city is not black-topping Ashford Trail and pray they won't black-topped on the backbone trails of the planned Eastern Corridor Parks. Black-top "trails" are more like service roads. They are more invasive and unnatural and unbefitting of the rural, riparian parklands of the Eastern Corridor. (Anderson, Conrad Olsen, Perrigo, F-M, Juel parks)

Two ways to make your commuting more convenient

The John Marchione Administration continues to search for answers to traffic congestion, the carbon footprint, and making car-pooling easier and fun. Last night the Administration re-introduced the "RideShare"car-pooling website and launched an exciting, new Redmond "Go Green" Trip Reduction website. These websites :

• make it fun & easier to commute.
• offer 5 commuting options (car & van pooling, transit, bike, even walking)
• save money & time on your commute and have fun!
• earn a $50 Amazon gift card "green" incentive or donate your incentive.
• make your employer happy
• "go green"!

In 2008 Go-Green: 7100 commuters and 114 employers participated, 252,500 gallons of gas was saved, 4.8 M pounds of CO-2 reduced, and 185,0057 trips were taken off the road!

In 2007 Rideshare: 32% of all commuters used the "RideShare" program. It's kinda like a chat room.

Learn more about Redmond Go Green Trip Reduction Program here! It's easy to create an online account. Sign up today.

8/19 City Staff report by Erica Vandenbrande

Attention Redmond Taxpayers! The City of Redmond is a financial Titan!

Updated, 8/19
Attention Redmond taxpayers! The City's S&P credit rating just moved up two levels to AAA! That's money in OUR pockets. The city will now pay lower interest rates which saves them money so we taxpayers can expect to benefit, too!

According to the 8/17 Press Release, Mayor Marchione and the City Council paved the way for this rating increase by maintaining strong fiscal discipline during uncertain economic times. Microsoft is also credited for working closely with the City to provide the S&P analysts insights into their strategic relationship with the City.

There are only three other government jurisdictions in Washington State with this high a rating and they are all much larger than Redmond -- Bellevue, Seattle and King County. The U.S. government has a AAA rating!

Awesome work, Mayor John Marchione and staff! Thank you Council! We taxpayers love it!

Part II, 8/18 - City Council voted tonight to sell & issue $34 Million bonds to fund various downtown transportation projects, including Bear Creek Pkw. Extention. The average interest rate was 4.29% and no bond insurance was required. Allen and Vache stated capital costs will be capped and cost escalation can be controlled by borrowing. Margeson said borrowing will jump-start our critical goal goals for developing the downtown. President McCormick said it will save taxpayers money. Cole said the city has never borrowed before but it is necessary now.

OPINION: Much credit goes to Representative Ross Hunter for SR520 - Bear Creek relocation

Last December, the Pacific Northwest experienced a wind and rainstorm of major magnitude; Redmond didn't escape. 50-year plus floods hit our area. The flooding closed Interstate 5 for days. Freight transportation delays and highway repairs cost our State economy $50 Million. Redmond Stormwater Manager Steve Hitch, captured eleven dramatic pictures of the flooding around town . Gary Smith spearheaded the citizen effort with a 1-minute video clip of Bear Creek flooding to within 10 feet of SR 520. ( Click HERE ). Contributing to the problem was the *Washington State Dept. of Transportation (*WSDOT) plan to widen SR 520 by building 4 new lanes into the Bear Creek flood plain! Bear Creek flooding issues were so severe a contingent of city officials traveled to Olympia to ask Representative Ross Hunter, Finance Chair for relief. Councilman Richard Cole spearheaded talks with Representative Hunter. Councilwoman Allen assisted. CM McCormick thanked me copiously for my communications with Ross Hunter. She said CM Cole was shocked by how agreeable Hunter was.  Mayor John Marchione kept the conversations moving forward. Natural Resource Director Jon Spangler estimated $8 Million would be needed to relocate Bear Creek away from the highway. Representative Hunter (48th District) listened and responded!! Ross, a past Microsoft executive, connected with Microsoft to transfer funds from a culvert construction project to the restoration of Bear Creek! Representative Ross Hunter's action and the many who encouraged him, have secured our safety, welfare and quality of life for generations to come. Thank you, Ross! But, to most, much more than public safety & welfare has been preserved. One of the largest populations of Endangered wild Chinock salmon run Bear Creek. After Bear Creek is re-located and the riparian vegetation is restored salmon will have better habitat and protections from WSDOT's caustic highway stormwater run-off. In fact, with empetus from the WRIA-8 watershed council and administrator Jean White, the King Conservation District granted several hundred thousand additional dollars to salmon recovery for this project! Click this page title for the full watershed salmon conservation report. Thank you Representative Ross Hunter for making this all happen! Regardless of party affiliation, you have certainly earned my vote this election year! *I received a flyer in the mail today from the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announcing: "WSDOT is currently working on an agreement with the city of Redmond to contribute $8M towards the Bear Creek relocation project." Well, you now know where and how WSDOT got their funds! 8-16-08

Happy & safer days are here again! Our School Resource Officers are back!

8/14 - "I think that it's key that we are able to expand our value to Redmond taxpayers and sometimes this can mean using existing staff in new and innovative ways and that's exactly what I'd hope would happen here." - Councilman David Carson

Have you heard the great news?! The city has made preliminary plans for bringing School Resource Officers back to our schools this year at RHS and RJH! This wonderful news can't be found in the local Reporter or posted in City Hall! It's right "here" in the City of Redmond website!

The website Minutes (abridged) from The Council Public Safety Committee meeting on 6/19/08, Chaired by Councilman David Carson state:

"The City Council Safety Committee met on June 19, 2006 and
decided on a well thought out plan to reinstitute the popular School
Resource Officers (SRO) Program! It was decided
that Human Services would work closely with the School Resource
Officers. Weekly meetings between SRO's and Teen Center
staff will take place to discuss current issues, at-risk youth, and
HS programs. Chair David Carson thanked Ms. Kelly (Human
Services) for attending, and concluded that it is a wonderful
thing to have the SROs back in the schools after a year of absence."

THANK YOU, Mr. Carson and your committee (Allen & Vache) for your good works on bringing SRO's and greater safety back to our schools! Certainly, the John Marchione Administration has come a long way in a very short time to rebalance our priorities with our resources; and take the gaming out of budgeting.

Read my old post of 11/16/2006, to see how far we've come from the brash days of using our SRO's (student safety) as a bargaining chip for passing the budget!

To confirm this report, read Mr. Carson's full committee minutes or email Councilman David Carson. The exact number of officers and hours were not reported. As usual, your 'comments' are appreciated.

Council President Nancy McCormick and Councilwoman Kim Allen commented.

Video Clip: A "sweet spot" amidst construction madness in the North Redmond Neighborhood

Opinion: Below are two 1-minute video clips of a 14 unit, single family home "Mosaic Meadows" development on 116th Street about 1/2 mile west Einstein Elementary school. The project is under construction with about 4 homes built. Actually, what you'll see in the clips are several trails running through partially restored wetlands and stream areas. The "Mosaic Meadows" landowner 'donated' a wetland area to the city to build a community trail connector to Einstein El for use by students and pedestrians. The videos will show you some other possibilities for this land. I think you'll like what city and landowner are doing, especially for Einstein El.
According to the city website this Mosaic Meadows project, is still under permitting review and construction has not started; so I took a hike. Take a quick look at city's dated Development Review Project Report, . City "budgeting by priorities" is still under review but I've heard from several city staff that a new website is in the offing. Our existing site has a few holes in it and the present Administration knows it.

The Redmond Digital Arts Festival, the Arts budget, and more...

Have you heard yet!

The Redmond Digital Arts Festival is coming soon! Registration is already underway. Click here for a must-see, self-guided tour!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OPINION: On a side note, below are abridged excerpts from the Redmond Arts Commission (RAC) two most current Minutes posted on the RAC website. Both excerpts discuss expanding the art program with budget increases or sponsorships. (Microsoft gave a $10,000 donation this Spring and 4Culture donated $17,000). The complete Minutes are posted on their website. The commission has about a 3-month delay in the posting of their Minutes. I hope they are usually more current.

Redmond Arts Commission Minutes (abridged) of May 8, 2008

VII. DIGITAL ARTS AND GAMING FESTIVAL - Siegel

The committee has decided to make this a smaller, more focused event to
start with. Commissioner Siegel showed RAC a sample program and website, including suggested presenters, exhibits and activities. He had a budget of $32,000 that is $7,000
over budget. This excess amount could potentially be covered by sponsors.
Redmond Arts Commission (RAC) felt that Commissioner Siegel’s outline looked great. Vice Chair Stilin suggested that the Sunday events end closer to 5pm and start a bit later in
the morning. Commissioner Sambamurti suggested that restaurants be
approached about sponsoring this event. Commissioner McCune suggested
that this event take place later in the fall since September is so busy.
Motion to move ahead with the Digital Arts & Gaming Festival:
Commissioner McCune
Second by: Commissioner Sambamurti
Motion carried: 5-0 unanimous

Redmond Arts Commission Minutes (abridged) of 4/21/08.

V. OVERVIEW OF CURRENT BUDGET,

"Yelanjian (staff) reviewed the current budget and outlined areas where there could
be a possible change. RAC could come up with proposals for additional
programming to support an increase in the per capital funds. Another option
is to look at the Percent for Art ordinance to increase the projects that
qualify. It is currently based on 1% of the original (capital improvement) budget. There is a
possibility of changing that to make the percentage based on the final budget
instead, which is typically much larger than the original. This will be a
process of building a foundation for where RAC wants to go. The final piece
is that a portion of Yelanjian’s salary comes out of the parks budget, which
reduces the funding available for arts programs. This needs to be looked at
as well. The first offers go from the teams in June. The Mayor and Council
will look at what the projected funds are and will decide what percent goes to
which priority." 4-21-08

Bob's comment: Unfortunately, I can't find the RAC Minutes for the end of May, June, July, or early August which would give the results of Council's funding decisions, had they made them. 8-8-08

“Voice the views of the community to Mayor and City Council in reference to all cultural
endeavors" - RAC motto headlined on all Minutes.

Staff contact: Mary Yelanjian myelanjian@redmond.gov