"Together Center" Will Be Demolished For Affordable Housing And Human Service Space

The "A Regional Coalition of Housing" (ARCH) agency recently discussed an affordable living project during Council's late February study session. The project is a two-phase $2.75 million redevelopment of the Together Center. The current center will be demolished.

Eighty homeless residential units and 200 work-place housing units will be located on the second floor. 14,000 square feet of human service office space will be on the ground floor. Half the units will be priced at 30% average median income.  The applicants are Horizon Housing Alliance and Inland Group.  Hopelink and the Together Center are partners.  Questions?  Try Info@Redmond.gov

 -- Bob Yoder
    3/4/2020

COVID-19 News -- CDC And All Washington State Public Health Sites - Donate Blood

COVID-19 LINKS:

City of Redmond

EvergreenHealth

Washington Post video on EvergreenHealth

Lake Washington School District

 Public Health - Seattle & King County 

 Washington State Department Of Health 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

There is no risk of contracting coronavirus from the blood donation process.

Bloodworks Northwest has more information on coronavirus, who is eligible to donate blood, and donation locations at www.bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus. You can make an appointment for donating at a center or drive to minimize wait time.

UPDATED: "10 Minute Communities" Are A Model For Smart Planning

The holistic development of Northgate is similar, in a few ways, to Redmond's hopes of developing and morphing Marymoor Village into a 10-Minute Community (on a much larger scale than  "Proctor." ..scroll.)   Both will have light rail and transit parking.  In the Village, I envision:  Well-designed  mid-rise residential towers built-up through incentive programs to capture affordable housing (60% AMI) and additional parking.  Diverse retail, medical, office, and commercial space with roof gardens, all within a 10 Minute walking distance. Marymoor Park amenities, regional trails and a regional aquatics center all a bike ride away.  Perhaps a downtown core with an arts studio, a Harvey Carter museum, a night club, a recreational business, wide sidewalks for outdoor restaurants, scooters, and rain gardens. Even a school. Though light rail is four years away, the city should come forth with a simple, rough graphic like Northgate's for the community. -     B.Yoder

For your information, below is a recent King County Press Release announcing plans for 232 affordable housing units near the Northgate Light Rail Station.

King County and City of Seattle, along with their partners BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) have come to a pre-development agreement to develop land owned by King County Metro into 232 affordable housing units near the future site of the Northgate Link light rail station. All units will be affordable to households earning 60 percent or less of the area median income – in 2019, that’s $66,420 for a family of four. The development will provide a mix of unit sizes including at least 52 two- or three-bedroom units, and 24 units will be reserved for system-connected households. Groundbreaking 2022 Anticipated development agreement and ground lease are expected to be transmitted to council by summer 2020, with ground-breaking to follow in 2022. “Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a home that’s affordable, and one that’s close to work and transit. This project adds hundreds of affordable units next to one of the most significant transit hubs in King County, connecting more people to the greenest way to get around,” said King County Executive Constantine. -- King County Press Release    11/17/2020

Our Tour Of The Keller Farm Mitigation Bank

Victor Woodward, Credit Habitat Bank LLC

The Keller Farm Wetland Mitigation Bank is directly east of Avondale Road, south of 180th Street in Redmond. It was completely flooded during the early February storm. The Keller's live nearby, and are protective of the land. The City of Redmond owns the Bank; it's approximately 75 acres of land located along Bear Creek. Find an excellent picture and description of the Bank here. Three Watertenders: Gary Smith, Dick Schaible, myself and a Redmond Parks Commissioner were toured by Victor Woodward, the Bank manager.

The Bank is devised to ensure that wetland and tree loss resulting from select developments  are compensated for by installation of native shrubs, trees and large woody debris on the Bank.  Compensation is calculated in the form of "credits" up to $100,000 or more.

Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT,) Sound Transit, large pipeline projects and various small residential developments are planned for Bank mitigation "servicing." Other project works will be forthcoming during a 12-year lease.

Victor Woodward, the manager, operator and sponsor of the Bank gave a fascinating 2.5 hour tour of the Bank on February 17th.  He's an impressive man, towering and outdoorsey.  We walked the whole perimeter, stumbling on the soaked clods of the 125 year-old has been dairy farm. Several farm ditches will be restored and maintained for aquatic and hydrology purposes. After the city permit for grading is approved Victor will level the land and kill off  various grasses and other invasives (with Roundup.) He was especially disturbed by the stubborn presence of Poison Hemlock.

We spent a lot of time hiking along Bear Creek.  Coyotes were seen in the distance, Canada Geese flew overhead, we walked by a Swan carcass; trees chewed by Beaver were everywhere. Victor chortled that his design plans for the creek area might be altered by Beavers, though they are welcome. Their feeding activity (at times dropping trees into the creek) provides excellent stream habitat and shelter for the salmon.

Towards the end of the tour we hiked along a wide ditch south of  the "Friendly Village" housing park. Ditch restoration and maintenance is required there for flood control. Victor's Habitat Bank LLC is fully insured and bonded. We lamented about the low populations of Chinook and coho this year. 

*The Bank's "service area" is far reaching. It includes all the streams that drain into the northern portion of Lake Washington, extending to development projects in south Everett, Lynnwood, Redmond, Woodinville, Kirkland, Bellevue, Sammamish and Issaquah.  This large service area will do much towards meeting Redmond's goal of a 40% tree canopy by 2050. It appears Willows are the tree of choice. 

Forterra oversees the City and Habitat Bank performance activities. Indian tribes have interest since the Bank accounts for 5% of the water entering into Bear Creek upstream. The water coming off the site is important for keeping Bear Creek cool especially in the summer.  This is critical for the salmon coming up the Sammamish River from Lake Washington and spawning in the many tributaries such as Bear and Evans Creeks.

After going through a 5-year permitting process, the Keller Wetland Mitigation Bank was approved for operation by the Army Corps of Engineers in late December, 2019 and was one of Mayor Marchione's last acts before retiring.

-- Bob Yoder
    2/21

Above, is my story of the tour.  Click READ MORE for Victor's additions and how to contact him. 

King County Property Taxes To Increase By 13.7% In 2020

Two changes in our state’s school funding formula will lead to a 13.7% increase in property tax collections in King County for the 2020 tax year. 

Overall property tax collections for the 2020 tax year are $6.3 billion, an increase of $767 million or 13.7% from the previous year of $5.7 billion.  Total County value increased by 5.92%, from $ 606.6 to $642.5 billion.

The increase in taxes is primarily due to two changes in education funding made by the Legislature; an increase in the statewide education levy, and increased authority for school districts to collect local levies:

Musings On Redmond And Ballard Suburbia

Downtown Ballard Starbucks / Credit Bob Yoder

Semi-retired and with time on our hands, Pam and I drove out to Ballard to look at its development and see Ballard Community Hospital, one of the hospitals I called on in 80's as a medical salesman. We were shocked and dumbfounded by the neighborhood's growth.

This cute little Scandinavian neighborhood had morphed into a suburban urban center, just like Redmond. According to Wikipedia, starting in early 2007, twenty, (flat-topped, cubed) major apartment and retail projects were constructed, many within a 5-block radius of the downtown. The hospital, now owned by Swedish, takes up a whole city block.  We visited the Nordic Museum (a must see.) A Ballard native volunteering there loathed its growth noting light rail is planned.  Difficult to decipher, the population of greater Ballard is 43,935 and not as diverse as Redmond. It's supposedly 83% white.

Needing some mojo, we found this Starbucks.  Located in a high crime district, we noticed four homeless people, several oddballs, a few sophisticates chatting, and some with computers. The Starbucks motto here was "to create a culture of warmth and belonging for all those who enter our door." Surprisingly, the clean transgender bathroom with entrance code had a sparkling mounted sharps container!  The barista said this Starbucks "respectfully required" no drugs, no sleeping, or other improper uses of their restrooms. They were looking out for their customers and the addicts.

In some ways, Ballard appears more innovative than Redmond in planning. In 2004: 1) future growth was evaluated by the community from a "Blueprint for every town in the USA."  2) Gore recognized Ballard for their work towards being the first carbon neutral community in the nation. 3) The community organized a "Sustainable Ballard" group.

Both communities have energetic historical societies.  They have parallel histories in many ways. The Salish (Ballard) and Snoqualmie (Redmond) indigenous Indians lived off of salmon. Logging and milling were early industries. Gambling rollicked.  Redmond raised crops; Ballard fished. Railroads played a vital role.

Our visit to this old neighborhood was really amazing!

-- Bob Yoder 

Community Input Of Downtown Senior Center Requested

City of Redmond Senior Center Web Page - packed with information.  

Senior Center Engagement FAQ.

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond invites community members to review the preferred options to envision the future of the Redmond Senior Center.

Please join us on February 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 15670 NE 85^th Street, Redmond, WA 98052. This meeting will begin with a formal presentation at 6:45 p.m., followed by conversations and activities. In addition to this meeting, there will be another meeting in the Council Chambers following the Senior Lunch on Thursday, February 13, at 1 p.m. covering the same topics.

The purpose of this outreach is to reveal and review the two options moving forward as we envision the future of the Senior Center. These options have emerged out of the first round of public outreach and community input. The Redmond Senior Center closed in September 2019 and needs to be renovated or demolished and rebuilt before it can reopen. During the community involvement process in January, the community was asked to evaluate options from renovating the Senior Center, to expanding it to include some new amenities. The second phase of engagement will allow the community to give input on the final two recommendations which will become a final recommendation to City Council in March.

“As we envision the future of the Senior Center, community involvement and collaboration is vital,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “Listening to the community to understand their needs and hopes for the future of Redmond will help ensure that our community spaces serve our residents for many years to come.”

Redmond's Downtown Aquifer

An excellent link describing the many facets of Redmond's environment. This video was filmed in 2016 and we still face the same challenges, if not more.https://www.redmond.gov/1068/Environment

King County Assessor Announces "Taxpayer Transparency Tool"

King County Assessor John Wilson today released his February 2020 Taxpayer Transparency Tool, a website which provides each King County taxpayer an individualized accounting of where their property tax dollars go, and the estimated cost of any proposed property tax measure to be voted on. 

“Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going, and what each proposed property tax levy will cost them,” said Wilson.  “Property taxes keep going up.  We need to make sure the public understands why.”

The tool can be found at http://localscape.spatialest.com/#kingcountyassessor/Tax. There is a link to the tool on left side menu of the Assessor’s web page https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor.aspx. The Transparency Tool only shows the impact of property tax measures.  Other ballot measures, including sales tax measures or benefit charges, are not included. The Tax Transparency Tool was introduced by Assessor Wilson and first used during the April special election in 2018.

Posted by Yoder
1/29/2020

UPDATED: I Won't Get Taxed Out Of The City I Love - This Year

OPINION:  Said the Seattle Times on January 28th,, "a group of Harborview County hospital stakeholders is likely to vote Wednesday to recommend that County Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council place a $1.7 billion bond measure on the November ballot to revamp Harborview."  The stakeholders voted yay.

Once passed, the Harborview Medical Center bond will cost about $90 / year on property assessed at $580,000.  There's a strong provision for expanded Behavioral Health facilities.  

We still await the LWSD Superintendent and Board's decisions on their planned 2022 and 2026 bond measures.  In the meantime, we continue to pay the school district a 6-year levy of $20M/year.

I recently learned King County property taxes will increase 13.7% in 2020.  Also, the King County Parks, Recreation, Trails and open space levy was approved for 2020 at a higher level. It's a 6-year property tax led lift priced at .1832/$1K property value.

Not to forget, Sound Transit 3 (ST3) taxes are approximately $1,000 per year for a family with an annual salary of $90K with vehicles worth $45K and a property valued at $450K.

At a council meeting last night our leaders said there may be a levy to pay for the regional aquatics center.

Will  EvergreenHealth propose a reasonable bond measure for funding seismic upgrades this year?  Will car tab prices remain as is? Will the city propose their safety levy this year?  Will the city raise their 1% property tax to 3% to account for inflation.  Any of these I can live with despite my fixed income, at least for this year. Then, I may be on my way.  

  -- Bob Yoder
     3/5/2020

Superintendent And School Board Planning Future Bond Measures

Future bonds are planned for 2022 and 2026. 

LWSD announcement: 

The year 2019 was one to remember: We celebrated the grand openings of Timberline Middle School and the newly rebuilt Peter Kirk and Margaret Mead elementary schools. Progress continued on the remaining 2016 bond projects: Juanita High School and Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Construction also began on the addition at Lake Washington High School, funded by the Capital Projects Levy passed by voters in April 2019.

Thank you to the communities of Lake Washington School District. With your ongoing support, we are providing students with great places to learn! Watch the video.

Facility Advisory Committee Update A new Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) began working in November 2019. This group will make recommendations for future facility planning, informed by enrollment trends, community expectations and district programs. The facility strategy will align with the District’s strategic plan and make recommendations to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide quality learning environments.

The Superintendent and School Board will consider these recommendations as it plans for future ballot measures to fund construction. The FAC will open its first community survey at the end of January. Watch for more information on the Facility Advisory Committee page of the LWSD website.

-- LWSD "Building on Success" publication

Questions?  Contact Shannon Parthemer at sparthemer@lwsd.org 

Mayor Birney To Represent North Caucus Of SCA

Redmond Mayor Angela Birney elected to represent the North Caucus on the Sound Cities Association Board of Directors

Redmond Mayor Angela Birney has been elected to represent the North Caucus on the Board of Directors of the Sound Cities Association (SCA), which represents 38 King County cities and provides a regional voice for more than one million people.

“Mayor Birney is known for her ability to connect people, communities, neighborhoods, and businesses to address local and regional issues,” said Deanna Dawson, SCA Executive Director. “She will be a tremendous voice for Redmond and residents throughout King County in helping to ensure SCA’s success in meeting the challenges facing our region.”

The SCA Board of Directors has thirteen directors, with four from the North Caucus. North Caucus cities include Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Woodinville, and Yarrow Point. SCA provides regional leadership in areas such as economic and community development, transportation, land use, health, government operations, the environment, education, public safety, social welfare and other public policy issues.

Bear Creek Enhancement Site

Updated: Last week Tom Hardy, the City of Redmond's stream and habitat planner, gave me a tour of the 95th Street Bear Creek Enhancement Site. It's an exciting place. (Find the project site here.) The project extends 600 feet south of the 95th Street bridge. Tom's plan is to improve as much of Bear Creek habitat as possible.

A few years ago he restored Mackey Creek, a tributary on the northern border of Ferrel-McWhirter Park; and years before that he was involved in the restoration of Lower Bear Creek. His next stop is to enhance Bear Creek adjacent to the Keller Farm Habitat Bank using woody debris.

The construction of this 95th Street enhancement project was very involved.  Six log jams and "alcoves" had to be anchored into the banks with large woody debris (logs.)  3,000 native plants, trees and willow cuttings were planted. Watch the video to learn more. The project was expensive but a $140,000 "Cooperative Watershed Management" grant from King County more than paid for the design.

Bear Creek has enormous environmental value to Redmond. One could say "it makes Redmond, Redmond."  Federally protected Chinook and other salmon spawn here. In fact, on the tour Tom pointed out a spawning area a Chinook used. The vegetation and trees boarding the creek (riparian habitat) provide excellent birding and wildlife opportunities. We saw a young Pileated Woodpecker actively foraging 15 feet away from us!

Bear Creek is part of our culture. Thousands of years ago Snohomish indians lived and fished on its banks. These days, residents view the natural wonder of Bear Creek salmon during "Salmon Seeson."

-- Bob Yoder
   2/24/2020

City Announces Redmond Art Grant Recipients

Art displayed on Luminary Trail
during 2019 Redmond Lights

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond is pleased to announce the 2020 Redmond Art Season Grant recipients: afrose ahmed, Centro Cultural Mexicano, Redmond High School’s Latinos Unidos Club, APex, Redmond Association of Spokenword, SecondStory Repertory, Semilla Flamenca, Tasveer, Tifa Tomb, Vedic Cultural Center, and Wolfberry Studio. The Redmond Art Season Grant, established in 2012, were created to support quality arts and culture programming that is accessible to Redmond residents and visitors throughout the year. This year’s recipients will help sustain the thriving art scene, promote inclusivity, and showcase the City of Redmond’s vibrant communities.  

“I look forward to the artwork, events and unique perspectives that will come from this year’s Redmond Art Season Grant recipients,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “Art provides an opportunity to share our stories and celebrate the diversity that makes Redmond such a wonderful place to live.”

The Redmond Art Season Grant aligns with the City’s commitment towards a culturally inclusive community. The City is partnering with local artists and organizations in bringing to our residents compelling programs from all arts disciplines. The program includes works from all arts disciplines that celebrate the variety of cultures, abilities and interests that make up our community including: theater, poetry, dance, independent film, an art gallery showcases, and cultural celebrations.

For more information on each project, go to www.redmond.gov/Arts.  

City In Excellent Financial Shape

The City of Redmond's Director of Finance, Ms. Files, gave a very encouraging monthly finance report to council on January 24th.

1.  All city departments are under budget.
2.  Revenues are up 13% owing to one-time revenue from taxes on construction projects.
3.  Expenditures are lower owing to:
        - $3M economic contingency fund adjustment.
        - $6M salary and benefit savings owing to turnover pay.
        - $2M adjustment of one-time project monies in the general fund.

-- Source:  Council Committee of the Whole meeting, 1/24.

Coronavirus In Snohomish

The infectious disease officer at EvergreenHealth updated  staff and our commissioners on the virus this Tuesday, January 21.  I attended; they are fully prepared. B. Yoder

Contact: Lisa Stromme Warren, Washington State Department of Health, 360-628-7883

Heather Thomas, Snohomish Health District, 425-508-4980

Update on response to 2019 novel coronavirus in Washington state

OLYMPIA – Since announcing a case of 2019 novel coronavirus in Snohomish County, Wash., the state Department of Health (DOH) and Snohomish Health District have been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on interviewing the patient and beginning a contact investigation. This includes establishing a detailed travel history with the patient and identifying close contacts who may have experienced some level of exposure.

Health officials are actively monitoring these contacts, which means a public health worker will call each person daily to check for symptoms like fever or respiratory issues. Should one of these close contacts develop symptoms, they will be instructed to immediately contact the public health worker, who will help arrange a medical evaluation.

EvergreenHealth Sets Sights On Behavioral Health Urgent Care

In 1998, Chairman Al DeYoung of EvergreenHealth wrote a letter to the community stating EvergreenHealth's Vision was to "be an inclusive health care system and the most trusted source for community health care solutions." I'm truly appreciative of their inclusion of mental health -- as they are now seriously evaluating a much needed Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic; and other services.

Quality psychiatric care, fewer visits to the ER's, lower patient costs, and countering stigma are major benefits of behavioral health urgent care.

Last week I attended a suicide prevention workshop at Redmond High School and ran into several EvergreenHealth social workers who assess students for suicide and other mental health issues. Erin, the social worker for RHS said she's done 80 assessments in her two years. Suicide is at crisis levels in our high schools! 8th graders struggle very much too.

In a big way, this suicide crisis sparked the "Mental Health First Aid program" for adults assisting young people. I took the class to prepare for LWSD's Lunch Buddy mentoring program; it's very helpful. EvergreenHealth in conjunction with the LW Foundation taught 4 classes last year with more to come. One of the LW Schools Foundation themes for this year is mental wellness. I hope some of EvergreenHealth commissioners and some staff will attend their annual spring luncheon....and you too!

I'm thankful for EvergreenHealth's "In-Home Mental Health Program." It's a great program for adult, seriously impaired medicaid patients who lack mobility, and it doesn't cost the hospital a dime. Evergreen is starting to do some really good things for mental health in our community. I hope they keep moving forward.

-- Bob Yoder

King Conservation District Elections - Vote For Our Environment

I'm endorsing Chris Porter, B. Yoder

A little-known election is now here in King county! Normally your ballot will arrive in the mailbox when it’s time to vote, but for Conservation District Elections you have to remember to request a ballot, show up in person to vote, or use a new online voting system that will allow you to cast your vote through your smartphone or computer.

Voting for the King Conservation District Elections begins online today, January 22, through February 11. 

Check out King Conservation District’s website for more information, updates on how to vote, and to learn about the candidates running this year. 

Districts offer a range of voluntary services including assistance with erosion control, habitat restoration, manure management, wildfire prevention and mitigation, stormwater management, forest plans, irrigation efficiency, noxious weed control, fish barrier removals, livestock stream crossings, and more.

Conservation districts also  offer a range of voluntary services including assistance with erosion control, habitat restoration, manure management, wildfire prevention and mitigation, stormwater management, forest plans, irrigation efficiency, noxious weed control, fish barrier removals, livestock stream crossings, and more.

Conservation Districts are locally-led. Each district is directed by a five-member board of supervisors. There are 45 Conservation Districts in the state of Washington. Check out the list of all Conservation District Elections in Washington.

-- Emily Krieger
   Political and Civic Engagement Manager

"EasTrail" Will Connect Four Light Rail Stations

July 19, 2019 video

"EasTrail," a forty-two mile multi-purpose trail connecting four eastside light rail stations is expected to open in 2023...an amazing amenity for our region! It follows the old rail corridor. One of the goals is to complete the trail from Renton to Redmond and Woodinville by 2025.  The trail will ultimately extend to Bothell, Mill Creek and Snohomish.  

This is so exciting! Especially for recreational bicyclists and commuters! 

-- Bob Yoder

Claudia Balducci Voted New Chair Of King County Council

As chair of the King County Council Claudia Balducci is the first woman since Councilmember Julia Patterson in 2008 to chair the King County Council and the first Eastsider serving as chair since Councilmember Louise Miller held the position in 1999. Recently re-elected to her second term on the Council, Balducci previously served on the Bellevue City Council, including as mayor, where she was a strong advocate for light rail and stewarded the contentious EastLink agreement with Sound Transit to fruition. In 2019 Balducci chaired the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee where she sponsored the 2020-25 King County Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Space Levy, which passed with 70% of King County voter approval. In addition to her role on the County Council, Balducci serves as vice president of the Puget Sound Regional Council, Chair of the Sound Transit System Expansion Committee and she convened and chairs the King County Affordable Housing Committee.

School District's Strategic Plan - "Elevate"

Superintendent Jane Stavem

The calendar has turned over to the new year, and I found it just a bit disconcerting to actually write down the number 2020. I can remember when that date seemed very far away and almost had a science fiction type ring to it. 

On the day before a break ends, I often think of children and adults and the range of emotions that can be part of returning to school and work. I see families making final trips to the store for lunch bag items and supplies for the week and I notice kids outside playing, using up some energy so everyone sleeps well that night. Undoubtedly, there is a mixture of excitement and anxiety about going to back to the regular schedule after being away from the routine. 

Our District Strategic Plan – Elevate includes initiatives that are specifically designed to support people and even create some excitement about returning to school after a break!

UPDATED: EvergreenHealth Moving Forward

According to EvergreenHealth's Communications Officer, the Emergency Department is considering a Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic.  The hospital is taking a look at Everett's Providence Hospital model.  The Urgent Care model would 1) lighten the load of EvergreenHealth's busy emergency department, 2) cut hospital costs, 3) improve care and 4) help make those seeking behavioral health as seamless as those seeking medical care.

On another note:  Three Redmond city councilmembers and I walked with an EvergreenHealth banner during the annual NAMI Mental Health Walk to raise awareness.  A vice President within the EvergreenHealth organization gave me the banner and promised the hospital would open an out-patient mental health clinic if their $325M bond passed. The bond failed and we have no clinic.

The failed $325M bond measure also included seismic upgrades, relocating their Critical Care Unit  (CCU) and renovating their Family Maternity Center (FMC.)  Though, the hospital won't build a modest mental health clinic, they're moving forward with their plans to relocate and enhance the CCU and FMC with a $70,000,000 loan.  As for seismic upgrades, still no word and it doesn't look good.

-- Bob Yoder

Source:  Board of Commision public meeting minutes, 12/3/19
              Kay Taylor, Marketing and Communications V.P.
              

UPDATED: Mayor Angela Birney: "Be Prepared. Stay Informed"

10-Day Weather Forecast

To update the City on road conditions and downed trees e-mail info@redmond.gov 

Updated: Lake Washington School District Bargaining Update

UPDATED: Lake Washington support professionals ratify new three-year contract with LWSD.  

Lake Washington School District has been actively engaged in bargaining with the Lake Washington Education Support Professionals (LWESP) since May 2019. To help support negotiations, the district requested mediation services from the Public Employees Relation Commission (PERC) in August. 

The district and LWESP have participated in eight mediated sessions since August and have continued to exchange proposals.

On January 6, 2020, the district proposal included an average salary increase of 12.8% over three years. The LWESP provided a counter proposal on January 6 that included an average salary increase of 28.1% over three years.

Despite current progress, LWESP notified the media on January 7 that their members voted to authorize a strike. However, RCW 41.56.120 states that classified employees, such as the LWESP, are not legally permitted to strike.

Under RCW 41.56.123, the current contract extends through August 31, 2020, or until a new contract is established.

The district continues to approach each bargaining session in good faith and will continue to consider all reasonable proposals.

-- Shannon Parthemer, LWSD

King County Property Tax Relief Program Threshold Increases

“As I begin my new term, I am pleased to let taxpayers know we'll be launching a county-wide effort starting in just a few weeks to enroll as many eligible taxpayers as possible into the property tax relief program,” said Wilson. “The old economic threshold of $40,000 will increase in King County by almost 50% -- to $58,423. This change should open the door to thousands more seniors, the disabled, and those injured former vets being eligible for help with their property taxes.”

-- King County Assessor John Wilson