Temporary pop up in a Kirkland park / B. Yoder |
Potential dog park area near Soul Food / B. Yoder |
News and Opinion on Neighborhoods, Schools and Local Governments of Redmond, WA.
Temporary pop up in a Kirkland park / B. Yoder |
Potential dog park area near Soul Food / B. Yoder |
1, Our councilmembers work exceptionally hard and they're smart. We, the electorate did well!
2. Even though Mr. Fields committed to keeping his zoom camera on when talking he rarely does. In the few meetings Ms. Kahn has attended, she seldom turns her camera on. Seeing faces and body language is an important part of communication. Otherwise, it's like listening to a radio.
3. Councilmembers Kritzer, Padhye, Anderson, and Forsythe always put their cameras on so you can watch them talking. Cameras help in public engagement. Ms. Kritzer and Padhye usually sit on the Dais as does Ms. Anderson & Mr. Carson. Seeing their faces and body language is extremely helpful. Yes, we are a broad, attentive viewing audience who wants to be informed and participate.
4. Ms. Kahn on three occasions talked endlessly. She may have made 1-2 points. "Be Brief, Be Bright, Be Gone" is something to think about.
5. V.P. Jeralee Anderson did a fabulous job running the "Environmental Sustainability Priority" conversations. [She's given an environmental TEDx talk on "green roads."] Jeralee made sure everyone had the opportunity to participate equatibly. Jeralee has good body language and engages well.
6. The Council Safety Committee was considered for "housing" an environmental sustainability standing committee. The Mayor (not in attendance) through President Padhye was concerned about staffing. Padhye said a Director's attendance was common practice. Five councilmembers said an environmental executive would be fitting. (as do I.) Council will take a vote next Business meeting.
7. Mr. Fields scolded President Padhye over a simple procedural question. It was uncivil and unbecoming of a councilmember. (His area of interest is policy.)
-- Bob Yoder, 8/26/2021
Behind that mask is a fatigued, anxious person, B. Yoder |
A typical downtown Spokane sidewalk. We saw one dude riding two scooters, one on each foot. |
Now, Redmond is another story. Land close to light rail is expensive and finite. Thus, 6-8 story buildings are crammed into our downtown, with razor thin set-backs, and narrow sidewalks. Even bike lanes are scant. Scooting is sketchy unless you move very slowly or take to the streets. Owing to their versatility and our needs, scooters could one day swarm our downtown streets and roads.
-- Bob Yoder, Photo, 8/25/2021
I just got home from a joyful family event in Spokane. It was tarnished by the presence of homeless people in the downtown next to the Davenport Hotel. I couldn't believe the multitude of mentally sick and druged homeless walking there. We didn't feel secure. It seemed there was one, or a group, of homeless on every sidewalk and intersection. So sad. When winter comes, perhaps the City buys them a bus ticket south? Some that don't catch the bus could die. Seriously. Spokane has a beautiful website dedicated to their homeless. My son-in-law says the plethora of City human services draws them in.
Redmond doesn't appear to have a serious problem with homelessness because most are unseen. We are known for our human service resources; our homeless people are well cared for. According to the City website only 337 were sheltered in East King County in 2019. I surmise once light rail is built-out (and taxes and rent explodes) the homeless will be more visible. I'm concerned the Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel could become a magnet for homeless tenting. I'm bothered the County/City haven't expressed their goals for homeless circulation through the hotel. For example, when do they "check out" of the hotel? Social workers will need to triage the applicants. What will happen to those beyond rehabilitation? Where will they go?
It's my understanding the City is studying how to cope with "crime" associated with light rail. What station will the homeless most use? My guess is the Overlake and Downtown urban centers, where most of the human services and safety resources are centered.
Update, 2/19/24: I took the 2-link from Redmond to Bellevue and felt very safe. They contract with a professional security company with an officer patrolling each side of the tracks. Safe patrols the train interior for service and security.
-- Bob Yoder, 8/25/2021
U.S Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District |
The U.S. Army Corps says: Mr. Yoder, please see the City responses to your comments:
The City’s Biological Assessment that was submitted with the Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) package describes current occurrence of Chinook in the project area. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) inventories document Chinook spawning occurring in Evans Creek in the project area. However, the City’s instream habitat surveys conducted for the project indicate that the creek lacks suitable gravel and cobble substrate, and pool/riffle habitat complexity required for spawning. Therefore, it is unlikely that Chinook still spawn in this reach. The project reach of Evans Creek does support migration of both adults and rearing juveniles. Juvenile rearing habitat is present, particularly in the most upstream portion of the project reach.
Once the project is completed, the project will enhance rearing habitat for Chinook Salmon, steelhead, and other salmonids, and augment fish passage to the upper watershed where Chinook spawning habitat occurs.
Temporary in this case is 3 months. All in-water work associated with Phase 2 construction will be restricted to occur within the proposed July 1 through September 30 in-water work window of a single season and would not coincide with major salmonid migrations (either upstream migrations of adults, or downstream migrations of juveniles). This in-water work window is regulated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the project will need to meet all WDFW permit conditions.
One of the project’s stated goals is to “Provide the type of habitat needed to support significantly enhanced juvenile salmon rearing.” The existing Evans Creek channel has just under one acre of instream habitat that will be relocated; a portion of that existing area is rearing habitat. The proposed Evans Creek channel will increase instream habitat to more than seven acres within the project area and improve the quality of that habitat. At this point in the design we don’t have a final number for constructed rearing acreage, but it will be an increase and enhanced from existing conditions.
Thank you for your time.
Colleen C. Anderson
Project Manager, Regulatory Branch
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District
Office: 206-764-3262
The City received only five (5) comments on this gargantuan Development and Master Plan. Tomorrow's Hearing 8/17/2021 is the last opportunity to make a comment.
Some details: 3.68-acre site • 284 dwelling units • At least 5% 3-bedroom units • 28 low-cost affordable units • Public plaza • Public Art walk and artist in residence • Connection to Marymoor Park
patch |
$3.96M from the 2021-2022 General Fund for the Police Department body-worn camera program is expected to be approved by Council in a day. The funding will provide for programmatic costs, equipment and the addition of 5.00 FTEs to oversee the program and manage records requests which will increase in complexity due to the technology involved. (This expense only touches the surface. B.Yoder)
-- Council Regular meeting, 8/16/2021
On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed a bill to provide additional relief for states, counties, cities and towns as well as public utilities, libraries and transit agencies affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The City of Redmond will receive a total of $9,928,999, in two increments, during the 2021-2022 biennium. The APRA funds will be held in the COVID Recovery Fund until a recommended spending plan is approved by Council. The funds must be obligated by December 2024 and spent on qualifying expenses by December 2026.
Staff is still gathering information on ARPA, but allowable uses of the funds include:
· COVID-19 emergency response;
· Assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits related to the negative economic impacts of COVID19;
· Aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;
· Hazard pay for eligible local government essential workers;
· Grants to eligible private employers to provide hazard pay to essential workers;
· Provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to COVID-19; and
· To make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.
-- Council Regular Meeting memo, 8/16/2021
Internet |
Phase 3 of the project will add the remaining 1.6 miles of hard-surface trail. Once Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V are completed, the trail will connect with over 60 miles of regional trails and will be the key regional link from Redmond to Sammamish and Kirkland.
Phase III
• 1.6-mile segment is in the planning phase.
• Will connect the Phase II trail near Overlake Christian Church to NE 124th Street at the Kirkland border.
• This phase is partially funded with an appropriation from the state and city capital funds. The City is currently seeking additional funds for the project.
• In the future, Sound Transit and regional utilities may construct facilities adjacent to the trail.
• Downtown and the Willows business district expect a combined increase of 10,000 residents and 20,000 jobs by 2020, and the Connector provides an alternative route to move between these areas.
--Council Regular Meeting notes, 8/16/2021
The Redmond Historical Society is pleased to announce the schedule for our 2021-2022 Saturday Speaker Series, held on the second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.
Given current restrictions, the Society will continue to host these programs virtually in the Zoom webinar format. These programs are free to members and the public.
Beginning in September, more information and registration details will be available in this newsletter and on our website under www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/events. Please stay tuned!
Saturday, September 11, 2021
The River That Made Seattle
(Duwamish)
BJ Cummings
Author, Speaking Courtesy of
Humanities Washington
Saturday, October 9, 2021
New Findings of the Bear Creek
Site
Steven Mullen-Moses
Director of Archaeology & Historic
Preservation, Snoqualmie Tribe
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Whiskey and Wiretaps: The
Northwest’s Rumrunning King
(Roy Olmstead)
Steve Edmiston
Author, Lawyer, Speaking
Courtesy of Humanities Washington
Saturday, February 12, 2022
Catching a Map Thief: The
Man Who Stole Rare Maps
from 100 Libraries — Including
Washington State
Robert Lopresti
Author, Government Information
Librarian
Saturday, March 12, 2022
Women’s Lives in the Issaquah
Valley, 1890–1930
Erica Maniez
Executive Director, Issaquah
History Museums
Saturday, April 9, 2022
History of the Panama Hotel in
Seattle
Jan Johnson
Owner, Historian
It was hilarious when Chair Carson called his "Council Committee Of The Whole" meeting to order. No one was there. 😏 Mr. Carson sat prominently alone on the Dais. Needless to say, the committee wasn't whole.
Vanasa Kritzer, Varisha Kahn and Mr. Fields were excused.
-- Bob Yoder, 8/10/2021
(All but David Carson were wearing masks at the Regular meeting. The Mayor wore a mask, as well.... probably in response to the Delta virus.)
The southerly Community Center includes a gym, weight room facilities, flexible workout room, locker rooms, and staff office space.
The Redmond Corner Market was a poorly lit convenience store. My daughter's coach bought his trophies from "Redmond Trophy." |
Herfy's is the cornerstone of the mall. |
Herfy's has the broadest selection of hamburgers at the lowest price. Great shakes too. Click to enlarge. Find the "mask required sign." Delta Covid variant is running wild. |
A warehouse will be built on this site, south of Sunrise. The popular Brown Bag restaurant was here. Click (double) to see a mall sign and Animal Emergency sign. |
The dotted blue line is the proposed, new channel. The relocation increases buffer width benefiting the fish and offers land-use development opportunities. King county lands are involved. |
Evans Creek is a Class I stream that has been impacted by adjacent industrial development. Narrow vegetated buffers expose the stream channel to sunlight, and untreated runoff may be entering the channel.
This project is listed in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan.The large upstream watershed supports good wild Coho runs, provides important Chinook habitat and contains quality riparian habitat and corridor connectivity for other wildlife. The open space proposed for the new channel also contains the well-used Bear-Evans trail, and the stream project will benefit passive recreation opportunities.
The proposed stream relocation solution involves the following:
Upper Evans Creek Photo/ Yoder |
EFH for Pacific salmon, including Chinook and Coho, is present in the project action area.During construction activities in phase 2 when the new channel is connected to the existing channel, the Project would result in a temporary and localized turbidity plume. Active construction within Coho and Chinook freshwater EFH, dewatering the existing channel, and loss of less than 1 acre of rearing habitat during phase 2 construction activities resulted in an EFH effect determination of “may adversely affect EFH for Coho and Chinook salmon” in the Biological Assessment. This adverse effect is temporary and will only occur during the construction phase, when the newly constructed channel would be connected to the existing creek.
(double click to enlarge) |
Sign still up during demolition, photo Yoder 8/15/2021 |
"I've heard some say "they're trying to turn Redmond into Bellevue." That wouldn't be much of a problem if we had all the space of Bellevue. (I think Bellevue is a lovely city--it's classy, clean, safe and I haven't noticed the aggressiveness of beggars there like in Redmond.) But trying to squeeze so many high rises into our little town on a bog is an eye sore. We're basically leveling our town and cramming everything in. When brand new, some high rises may look tidy and clean, but most of them look drab. Honestly, they remind me of Cabrini-Green projects in Chicago. :( As they age and get dirty/moldy they'll become an eyesore to many (to me they already are). And they obstruct Redmond's natural beauty and cast big shadows on an otherwise coveted sunny day. Perhaps this could alter downtown Redmond's microclimate as well. It all makes me sad."
--- Anonymous, 2/23/2019
The Redmond Pools was previously closed for a two-phase improvement project. Construction was completed at the end of April 2021, and the pool is open. The City's Operational partner, Wave Aquatics, has information on programs and activities. To plan your visit, please go to www.waveaquatics.org. Again, the pool is open. I saw few swimmers there today, Saturday. Go for it! It's an awesome renovation. The City did a great job!
-- Bob Yoder & redmond.gov, 7/31/2021
Photo, Yoder
Click this link for the artist's website. His background is amazing.
The two images on the left @ Overlake Village Station Three images on the right @ Redmond Technology Station |
-- redmond.gov
The commissioned art is paid by the City of Redmond. You are looking at five different images.