Letter about traffic at Redmond Middle School - Updated with new comments

LETTER ABOUT TRAFFIC AT REDMOND MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Susan Wilkins

The Redmond Municipal Code states:

10.52.145 Fire lanes.

(a) Fire Lane Parking Prohibited.

(1) No person shall stop, stand or park a vehicle or maintain any obstruction within any fire lane.

The drop-off lanes in the two parking lots in front of Redmond Middle School are designated FIRE LANES so it is illegal for parents to pull into the lanes and drop off their students or to wait for them at the end of school.

The pick-up/drop-off lanes in the RMS parking lots were improperly designed when the school was rebuilt in 2002 but the Redmond Police and Fire Departments never made an issue of the defect or required the school district to fix it. I wrote a letter to the City of Redmond Police Department last fall 2012 asking them to address the Fire Lane violations at the front of Redmond Middle School. Greg Palmer who does Traffic Calming for the City phoned me to discuss the issue. Basically he said that the City wasn’t going to do anything about it because it had been that way for so long. He also said – and this is significant - that nobody had complained about it. I noted that I had just filed a complaint and that was why he was calling me! Apparently, one complaint isn’t enough. So everybody, call or email and COMPLAIN to the City of Redmond. Tell them to fix the traffic mess at Redmond Middle School !!!

SHORT TERM SOLUTION: The school already has a driveway that leads from the south parking lot and wraps around the back of the building where the busses drop off students. Parents could drive around the back and drop off students without obstructing the fire lanes. The school district should also hire certified traffic flaggers to direct traffic in and out of the parking lot driveways and onto the streets (like they do at Rosa Parks Elementary.) 

LONG TERM SOLUTION: The City of Redmond should require the school district to redesign their parking lot and entrance/exit configuration so that parents are not using the fire lanes for pick-up and drop off. The redesign should also accommodate the 400+ cars that pass through the school’s lot every morning so that back-ups don’t cause total obstruction and traffic chaos on 166^th Avenue NE and NE 104^th Street. Redmond Middle School is located on a 24-acre parcel with the school building squeezed onto the northeast corner of the lot. There is plenty of extra space on the property to relocate entrances/exits, driveways, drop-off zones and parking lots.

Two years ago I posted a video of the typical driving antics that occur at RMS/RJH every morning. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4a4aG05O44. We wouldn’t tolerate traffic like this from a WalMart, would we?

A more important question to ask is why are so many students being driven to school every morning? Where are all the Lake Washington School District buses? If the school district provided quality, efficient bus service to the outlying neighborhoods along NE 116^thStreet to the north, along NE 104^th Street to the east and along 166^thAvenue NE down the hill to the south, car traffic through the parking lots would be significantly reduced. It used to be that students had to live more than 1 radius-mile from the school to be eligible for school bus transportation, but in September 2011, the Legislature changed the bussing formula and any student who has to walk more than a mile along existing streets became eligible for bus transportation. The LWSD Transportation website still says that students must live outside a 1-mile radius in order to be eligible for bus transportation. The school district needs to wake up and read the RCW (28A.160.160) and start providing bus service to students who are eligible under the new 1-mile walk route guidelines and not under the old 1-mile radius rule!!!

Even if the school district adds more bus transportation to Redmond Middle School and reduces the traffic backups on 166^thAvenue and 104^th Street, the practice of using the fire lanes as drop-off and pick-up lanes is illegal and needs to stop. Someday there is going to be an emergency at RMS or at a nearby residence and the fire trucks and ambulances will not be able to get through in time.

Please take a moment and contact the City of Redmond and tell them to fix the Redmond Middle School traffic problems. Contacts are listed below.

Mayor John Marchione: mayor@redmond.gov

Redmond City Council Members: council@redmond.gov

Redmond Traffic: https://www.redmond.gov/PublicSafety/Police/traffic_concern_form/

 

By Susan Wilkins

 

A downtown art plan idea

Perhaps the Arts Commission can include this building into their "Downtown Art Plan."   It's located at the gateway of Cleveland St. just as you turn off of Leary.  The flat cinder block wall could be an excellent canvass for a themed mural to tie into the surrounding historic buildings.   What do you think? 

By Bob and Pam Yoder
Photo by Yoder 

Redmond Arts Commission Seeks Two New Members

REDMOND ARTS COMMISSION SEEKS MEMBERS

The City of Redmond is recruiting two new volunteer members of the Arts Commission to begin their service in April 2013. Redmond residents, unincorporated King County residents or people who work in Redmond are eligible to apply. Applications are rolling, but candidates are encouraged to apply by February 19^th.
 

For over 25 years, the Arts Commission has improved the quality life for the Redmond Community by advising the Mayor and City Council on arts and cultural affairs in the city. Past accomplishments include inaugurating the City’s Public Art Program, seeding the Ananda Mela Indian Cultural Festival and funding the Digital Arts Festival.
 

Now, the mission of the Arts Commission is to be a catalyst for Redmond’s diverse and inventive community. The focus of this work includes cultural planning to make the arts accessible, create a place for the arts and nurture the arts in Redmond. Current activities include developing an Art Plan for Downtown Redmond, investigating the economic impact of the arts in Redmond and the Eastside, and identifying the cultural needs of our changing community.   READ MORE>>

School Board discusses temporary boundary proposal for Rosa Parks and Wilder

School Board Highlights

At its January 28 meeting, the Board of Directors elected its officers for 2013. Jackie Pendergrass was reelected as president, Nancy Bernard was reelected as vice president and Doug Eglington was reelected as Legislative Representative.
 

In a follow-up to the January 14 board meeting, the board discussed Dr. Pierce's proposal for a temporary boundary change between Rosa Parks and Wilder Elementary Schools. This proposal will reduce the population at Rosa Parks to about 700 for the next three years and will keep it from growing to over 1000 students as projected. Deputy Superintendent Janene Fogard, sitting in for Superintendent Traci Pierce, read a statement prepared by Dr. Pierce. In her statement, Dr. Pierce described the process that had been followed to arrive at the recommendation. She noted that the temporary boundary committee reviewed the possibility of sending all of Redmond Ridge East to Wilder. The committee believes that option is not feasible. It would fill and potentially exceed Wilder's total capacity while only offering one all day kindergarten class. If more students come from the new development than anticipated, the district would have to move additional portable classrooms to Wilder, at a cost of $225,000 to move a portable.
 

During the board discussion, Board Member Siri Bliesner noted that the board needs to look at guiding principles for what is a reasonable capacity for a school - the enrollment range that makes sense. Board Vice President Nancy Bernard noted that the district has to guard against building too much space and leaving classrooms empty. Since populations fluctuate, the district ends up using portables to provide flexibility. Board member Bliesner thanked the community for their input in the process and noted that it is setting the stage for a bigger policy discussion in the future. The board voted unanimously to pass the proposal.
 

 

Source:  "Connections"  LWSD Community Newsletter

Brighten A Student's Day By Being a Lunch Buddy!

The Lake Washington School District LINKS Program has 20 unmet requests for Lunch Buddies. The program matches a caring adult with a student in an elementary school. The volunteer and student meet weekly during the child’s lunch period for about an hour. Buddies play games, share stories and do other fun activities together. It’s a great way to make a child’s school experience more positive and it just may be the best day of your week!

The Lunch Buddy program is a way for work associates and church groups to participate in. Schools throughout Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish have students waiting for a Buddy. Will you help make a students experience at school a positive one?

Contact Nanci Wehr at nwehr@lwsd.org or 425-936-1410 to learn more!

Nanci Wehr

LINKS Program Coordinator

425-936-1410

Police Seeking Assistance Locating Missing Redmond Man

Redmond, WA – The Redmond Police Department asks for the public’s assistance in locating a missing Redmond Man.

Ira Thomas Clodfelter was last heard from by a friend this past Sunday afternoon. Clodfelter failed to show up for work this week which led his employer to call the police. Clodfelter’s vehicle was located by park rangers last night in the trailhead parking lot of Rattlesnake Mountain in North Bend.

Clodfelter is a white male, 28 years old, 5’4”, 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He is last known to be wearing a blue zip-up hooded sweatshirt, blue jean pants, and hiking boots. Redmond Police investigators have learned that Clodfelter suffers from Cystic Fibrosis but is high functioning. There is also a concern that he suffers from depression. It is unknown whether he has any of his medications with him. 

King County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue personnel searched all day today for Clodfelter from where his vehicle was located at Rattlesnake Mountain. The search effort has ended for today and is set to resume tomorrow at 8:00 AM.

If you have information regarding Ira Clodfelter’s disappearance please contact the Redmond Police Department at (425) 556-2500.

Evergreen Health hosts ADHD seminar

NAMI Eastside’s February Educational Forum on ATTENTION DEFICIT/HYPER ACTIVITY DISORDER (ADD/ADHD)

Please join us on Tuesday evening, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 as we welcome Dr. Harlan Gephart, a well-known expert on ADHD. Dr. Gephart is an ADHD Consultant at Pediatric Associates in Redmond, Washington. He developed and directed the Center for Attention Deficit Disorders at Group Health in 1990 and for 12 years served as its Medical Director. He has been actively involved in medical education for medical students and physicians, and is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington. He is currently on the national faculty of the REACH Institute, www.thereachinstitute.org; an educational institute in New York which provides educational courses for physicians in Pediatric Psychopharmacology, along with other courses for health care professionals.

Dr. Gephart will provide us with an overview of current knowledge of ADHD and its evidence-based treatment.

We hope you can join us at Evergreen Health (formerly Evergreen Hospital), 12303 NE 130^th Lane in Kirkland in Suite Tan 100 which is downstairs in the Education Center. This FREE program begins at 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.   For more information contact the NAMI Eastside office at (425) 885-6264 or info@nami-eastside.org. You can also check out our website at www.nami-eastside.org.

By Barbara Thompsen
NAMI-Eastside Executive Director

Councilmembers Margeson and Allen and Mayor Marchione appointed to committees of influence

Councilmembers Hank Margeson and Kimberly Allen have been working diligently on regional committees to bring transit to Overlake and downtown Redmond.   Both attend the Sound Cities Association (SCA) to this end.  Allen recently announced she chairs the SCA for the Regional Transit Committee where they focus on developing the Metro Strategic Plans.    Margeson is newly appointed Caucus Chair for the SCA Growth Management Policy Board working closely with staff on growth issues. 

Mayor Marchione announced at last night's business meeting he was appointed to the US Conference of Mayors' Infrastructure Committee along with the Mayor from Philadelphia and Mayor from Chicago who chairs the the committee.  Marchione said "This is a real plum."   He quipped "My daughter had nothing to do with it. She was out of the country."  

"Redmond is by far the smallest city but what got us attention is we are a tech city," said Marchione, "Philadelphia has a school system of the future.  We're the government of the future so there's a Microsoft connection there..."

Reported by Bob Yoder

Overlake residence burglarized while owners were out of state: Police blotter report

[Unknown Description]	00:07:56 02/05/2013	13-002031
CITYCENTER	74xx block of 159 PL NE
Redmond Police arrested a Woodinville male for Domestic Violence assault.

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Burglary, Non-res, Att Forc En	21:07:50 02/04/2013	13-002023
OVERLAKE	21xx block of 152 AVE NE
Redmond Pd investigated an attempted burglary at a local hotel.

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Fraud-Credit Card ATM Fraud	15:52:33 02/04/2013	13-002000
EDUCATIONHILL	100xx block of 168 PL NE
Redmond Police responded to a report of fraudulent credit cards opened up in her name. No suspect information is known at this time.

 __________________________________________________________________________________

 

Burglary, Resid, Forcible Ent	13:11:33 02/04/2013	13-001985
OVERLAKE	28xx block of W LK SAMMAMISH PKWY
While out-of-state for a lengthy period residence was burglarized.

City moves forward with Evans Creek relocation plan

At tonight's regular business meeting, city council approved by consent agenda a $910,868 "Evans Creek Relocation Consultation Agreement."  The funds will pay for a preliminary design and to secure permits to relocate 3500 feet of Evans Creek channel out of SE Redmond Industrial area into adjacent open space to the north and east.

Evans Creek is a Class One salmon bearing stream but is impacted by adjacent industrial development with untreated run-off and untreed, paved buffers less than 50 feet wide in some places.  Class One stream buffers are supposed to be 200 feet wide but 50 foot buffers have been grandfathered in SE Industrial Redmond.   Evans Creek  Relocation is listed as a priority in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan owing to the wealth of habitat in the upper reaches of Evans Creek.  With the relocation Chinook and Coho will be able to swim from the confluence of Bear-Evans Creeks to the upper reaches of the watershed. 

Redevelopment of some aspects of SE Redmond Industrial will be more economically feasible with removal of the stream and buffer from it's present location.  In addition, passive recreation along the Bear-Evans Creek trail to Perrigo Park will be enhanced since the new channel will share the same open space with the trail.

Total cost for the relocation is $7.6 Million and is funded by City of Redmond Capital Improvement Projects fund.   The preliminary design will be completed before 2014; the first phase of construction is planned to start by summer, 2015. 

Reported By Bob Yoder   

Elizabeth Yoder Makes the President's List at Gonzaga University

February 05, 2013 
          

Elizabeth Yoder, a resident of Redmond has earned placement on the Gonzaga University President's List for fall semester 2012. Students must earn a 3.7 to 4.0 grade-point average to be listed.   Elizabeth in double majoring in Biology and Environmental Policy. 

Gonzaga University is a humanistic, private Catholic University providing a Jesuit education to more than 7,500 students. Situated along the Spokane River near downtown Spokane, Wash., Gonzaga is routinely recognized among the West's best comprehensive regional universities. Gonzaga offers 75 fields of study, 25 master's degrees, a doctorate in leadership studies, and a Juris Doctor degree through its School of Law.

Letter: A solution to the backup traffic at Redmond Junior High

Andy Raffman said...

With regard to the traffic backup at RJH, at least some of the traffic issues in the morning could be alleviated by appropriate signage in the Northern dropoff. There are two lanes: a pull through lane on the left, and a drop off lane on the right. Everyday I see cars sitting in the dropoff lane (after they've dropped off their kids) waiting to exit the school. This creates a backup all the way back to the entrance and onto the street. If people would just drop off their kids and then pull into the pull-through lane to exit, there would be plenty of space and no backup.

New partner AEG Live will be bringing you Marymoor Park Concerts

New partner AEG Live will be bringing you Marymoor Park Concerts

January 30, 2013 by parksmonkey
King County Blog

King County has selected nationally recognized AEG Live to manage the talent booking and operations of the Marymoor Park Concert Series beginning with the 2013 season.

“Forming this partnership with one of the largest concert promoters in the world will bring some of the best talent in the world to local audiences, while generating revenue that helps support public access to King County Parks,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

To read more click here.

Man runs down street with knife on Education Hill: Police Blotter for 1/30

Weapons Offense	19:42:22 01/30/2013	13-001733
EDUCATIONHILL	86xx block of 164 AVE NE
Redmond Police responded to a report of a man running down the street with a knife. There was no injuries upon contacting the man. He had run away from his family's apartment. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theft-From Mtr Vehicle 22:38:21 01/30/2013 13-001745 CITYCENTER 78xx block of LEARY WY Redmond Police took a car prowl report. No suspect info. Theft-From Mtr Vehicle 22:24:06 01/30/2013 13-001744 CITYCENTER 78xx block of LEARY WY Redmond Police took a car prowl report. No suspect info. Theft-From Mtr Vehicle 20:32:48 01/30/2013 13-001738 CITYCENTER 164 AVE NE & CLEVELAND ST Redmond Police responded to a report of a vehicle prowl. The suspect stole a large felt hat but left everything else in the vehicle. No suspect information. Read More >>

Tyler Daniel becomes 100th Eagle Scout in troop's 50 year history

Redmond Scout Earns Eagle Scout Rank
 

Redmond Boy Scout Troop 550 would like to congratulate Tyler Daniel on becoming the 100^th Eagle Scout in the troop’s almost 50 year history.

Tyler Daniel attained the rank of Eagle Scout on January 8^th, 2013. Achieving this rank demonstrates a strong commitment to community service, leadership, and scouting values.

 

Tyler joined Troop 550 in March of 2008. During his time as a Boy Scout, he earned 29 merit badges as part of his requirements to achieve Eagle rank.
 

Tyler led a landscaping and beautification project at Evergreen Middle School for his Eagle project (completed June 2012).
 

Troop 550 in Redmond was established in 1964 and is sponsored by the Redmond United Methodist Church. 
 

For more information about Scouting, please see the Chief Seattle Council website at www.seattlebsa.org.

City of Redmond hosts blood drive in Public Safety Building

Hi Everyone!

We are looking forward to returning to City of Redmond on February 11^th. We hope that you can all stop by and donate. The Puget Sound is currently experiencing a shortage of blood we are hoping you can help us fix the problem by following up your sleeves on the 11^th

Your single donation will help three patients in need. Will you donate?

Monday, February 11^th
City of Redmond Blood Drive in Public Safety Building
9:00am to 3:00pm(closed 11:00 to 12:00)

Reserve a time please contact Maggie Lovell at 425 556 2383 or mlovell@redmond.gov

If you donated at the last drive or prior to December 14th, you will be eligible to donate at this drive .

For questions about donating and eligibility, please contact PSBC at 800-398-7888

PLEASE ASK A FRIEND TO DONATE WITH YOU! ALL DONORS WELCOME

Thank you for your support!

Emily Hubbard
Donor Recruitment Representative

Lake Washington School District institutes new variance process

Historically, students in Lake Washington School district have been able to choose which high school they attend. The district provided this opportunity through a high school open enrollment policy that accepted all high school in-district variances, which allow students to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. However, the addition of ninth grade students to high schools increased the number of students in those schools. That reduced the space available for students on variances.

As a result, the district has developed a new process for awarding available variances where the school’s space available is less than the anticipated demand. Each year, the district will review each high school’s capacity and the projected enrollment without additional variances to determine how many in-district variances the school can accommodate. If more applications are submitted than space available, the new process, developed with input from a parent survey, will be followed.  Read more >>

NAMI Eastside sponsors "Youth in Crisis" conference

NAMI Eastside and its sponsors are pleased to announce our Youth in Crisis conference to be held on Saturday, March 9^th at the Northshore Baptist Church located at 10301 NE 145^th St. in Kirkland from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

The heartbreaking tragedies that occurred in recent weeks both in Connecticut and Oregon, highlight the serious mental health issues facing our local communities and the nation. NAMI’s conference goals are to educate families, mental health providers and educators; to help them identify the early warning signs of mental illness, especially as it relates to lethal violence and suicide in our youth; give hope to those facing a mental health crisis and to help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.

The conference will start with a Keynote Speech presented by Dan Reidenberg, PsyD , Director of SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education).  Read more >>

Police Blotter on January 24: Grasslawn residence burglarized from rear sliding glass door.

RPD Public Info for 24 Hours preceding 05:54:01 on Thursday, January 24 2013

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[Unknown Description]	23:43:50 01/23/2013	13-001303
CITYCENTER	81xx block of 161 AVE NE
Redmond Police responded to a male in the female restroom, who was subsequently arrested for drug paraphernalia.

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Redmond Stolen Veh Recovery	22:09:47 01/23/2013	13-001300
[Unknown District]	175xx block of NE 156 ST
Redmond Police recovered a stolen vehicle out of Redmond.

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Theft-Shoplifting	20:32:08 01/23/2013	13-001294
OVERLAKE	21xx block of 148 AVE NE
Redmond Police investigating a shoplifting at a local business.

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Burglary, Resident, Unlawf Ent	18:48:24 01/23/2013	13-001288
GRASSLAWN	84xx block of 139 AVE NE
Redmond residence was broken into sometime during the day. Entry was made through the unlocked rear sliding glass door.   Read More >>

Downtown Senior Housing project is under study by City Council

At last night's meeting, the City Council studied ARCH's proposal for a Senior Housing project in Downtown Redmond. 

The subject site - just north of Wells Fargo - is approximately 0.81 acres, located at 8550 160th Avenue NE across from the entrance to the municipal Public Safety campus.  The property is essentially flat and narrow and was acquired with non-utility funds a number of years ago for the purpose of City Hall campus expansion.  According to the administration: "the site is an attractive location for senior housing due to its proximity to transit, Sammamish River trail, Bella Bottega shopping,  medical services, the library, and the Redmond Senior Center. The project concept is for 50 to 70 units of senior housing, with a unit mix of mostly one-bedroom units with some studio and two-bedroom dwellings. Assuming Council adoption of the Planning Commission's recommendation for amendments to the Downtown zoning, the height limit in this location will be five stories. No street-level retail is expected. One constraint of the site is that there is no sewer main adjacent to the site, and therefore a new sewer main will need to be constructed, most likely to the south side of NE 85th Street."

 

Councilmembers Allen, Stilin, Margeson and Flynn all felt the structure should be five stories to hold as many units as can be designed with good architectural standards.  Allen said she lives right next to the site in a 3-4 story building and saw no problem with five stories.  Stilin thought the seniors lucky enough to get a top unit would enjoy nice views of the valley.  He asked for "good materials" for construction since it was so close to the city campus.  Margeson didn't want a tower right next to the sidewalk but hoped the architects could step the building back from the sidewalk to five stories.  Staff and council expected demands for parking would be less. 

Rent on a one bedroom apartment would be $1100-1250 for someone with an income ranging from $45,000-$52,000.  Rent would be $425-925 for a one bedroom at incomes between $19,000-39,000.  Funding sources are public, private, tax credit and tax-exempt.  ARCH was targeting their proposal for state funding this Fall or next.  The city would lease their land at no cost for 70 years.   The city council took no action to approve the plan.   

Report and photo by Bob Yoder