Firefighter Vaccine Resistance At City Hall

The Fire Chief said at last night's Business Meeting that his department is fully staffed.  He said he lost some well trained employees but was confident with the replacements.  10/20/2021

Redmond Fire, Facebook

To watch the firefighters, and homeless hotel protesters on City of Redmond video click HERE.  (Advance the tape to 2 hours: 17 minutes.) [Homeless Hotel protests start at 40 minutes.]

NOTE:  Firefighter family members visited last night's city council meeting to share their concern that up to 20 employees could lose their job if they do not seek a vaccine by October 18.  Many firefighters and their families addressed the Mayor and Council  emphasizing that in this pandemic none were ever infected. However, early on before the necessity of PPE was recognized four were sent home to quarantine and one quarantined at a fire station. Later the Fire Chief was let go. -- Bob Yoder, 9/212021

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 -- Steve Kiggins, Q-13, 9/21/2021

REDMOND, Wash. - "Controversy is building in Redmond on whether first responders will be granted a religious exemption from taking the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Family members and firefighters from the **Redmond Fire Department say they jumped through all the hoops to apply for the exemption, but now worry the city might not provide accommodations. 

"For us to even contemplate to fire any of these heroes, shame on us," said firefighter mother Sknge Alsin. "We should keep every job intact."

Alsin’s daughter Kayleight is married to a firefighter. Her husband joined the department after spending 10 years as a Redmond cop. 

The family joined a group of firefighters and other family members who expressed their concerns. 

The City of Redmond says it has 164 full time employees at the department. Firefighters say as many as 20 have applied for a religious exemption asking the city to allow them to continue mirroring the health protocols they have been using since the beginning of the pandemic. 

Last week, firefighters say they believed the city would accept their exemption, but now worry the accommodations may not be allowed.

A city spokesperson said the department is following Gov. Jay Inslee’s state mandate on the vaccine. 

-- Steve Kiggins, Q-13, 9/21/2021, edited

-- Bob Yoder, cc: Mayor / Council, 9/22/2021

2021 Private Development -- Low Affordablity, High Commercial

Rendering of Redmond Square (facing light rail) ckos.com

Recap of Redmond Council's 9/14 Study session:

PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT: Summary: 1) excessive commercial space (office space; industrial; multi-family rentals; and retail.) 2) lack of affordable housing units.  

• Of significance, Commercial Space grew 90% from last year.  7,500sf (2020) 77,912sf (2021)  The senior planner glazed over this; council didn't raise any questions. Redmond is becoming a retail desert.  Our planners should report retail statistics and be held accountable. 
• Staff reported 58 Pre-Applications on all projects under review.  😩
• Nelson "Project One,"  4,316 Sq ft Commercial proposed, 25 Affordable units,Woonerf and Open Space.
• Redmond Square:  623 New units, only 62 affordable units, 30,000 Commercial SqFt Retail is getting shoved out.
• Redmond Sunrise Apartments:  93 dwelling units. 2,000 SqFt Commercial (yes, more) Roof top activity deck and Car stackers. Innovative design! 
• LMC South Marymoor Village: 284 Units, 28 low-cost affordble units. Why is 10% affordable units the city standard for all these projects?  Why not an extra story to incent 25% affordable?
• The Spark, 217 Dwelling units, 12,800 Sqft proposed. Here we go again:  22 affordable units.
• Proctor Willows:  195 Dwelling Units, 20 affordable,  22,000 Sq ft. commercial (yep) Trails/Public Art. (Yay)
• NOTE:  President Padhye asked the Planning Director why 10% affordable units are so common in developments. The Director appeared to brush this aside saying the large projects have a higher percentage of affordable.  Why not an extra story to incent 25% affordable?

This clip was taken during Council's Private Development discussion in City Hall. CM Vanessa Kritzer is the first to speak.  She was concerned with the retail driven out of Redmond Square and other developments.  She thought shoppers may have to take light rail to get their things.  Council V.P. Jeralee Anderson asked Planning Director Carol Helland questions related to parking challenges.  Jaralee is up for re-election in November.  

Watch the video in full screen.  It makes a big difference.

 -- Bob Yoder, 9/20/2021 

Melissa Stuart Runs For Redmond City Council Position 4.

 

Melissa is a non-profit leader with deep experience breaking down barriers for youth and families. She

serves as the Director of Individual Giving at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. During the

 pandemic, she’s worked to keep students connected to school and parents/caregivers in the workforce.

 Prior to Boys & Girls Clubs, Melissa worked to create affordable access to behavioral healthcare for all

 East King County families at Youth Eastside Services. She’s also worked to ensure education success

 for youth in foster care at Treehouse, and more. She earned a Masters of Non-Profit Leadership from Seattle University.

Melissa served as a Community and Organizational Development Advisor in Moldova with the U.S. Peace Corps. During her service, she worked with community leaders to strengthen youth development programs and with international NGOs to increase the reach of human trafficking prevention programs to rural areas of the country.

On council, Melissa will be a leading voice for urgent action on climate change. She is a known environmental advocate in the city and has served as an Eastside Climate Justice Steward with the Alliance for Jobs & Clean Energy, board member at Zero Waste Washington, and volunteer member of a Sound Transit/Metro 520 Connections Sounding Board. Melissa is committed to working with other leaders so that Redmond can be a leader in climate mitigation and resilience across the region.

Melissa and her family have lived in Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood for 10 years. They love their neighborhood’s amenities such as Indian grocery stores, great transit lines, and good schools. They are very eager for the light rail stations to open, and to one day have a park in the neighborhood’s urban center.

WEBSITE

Redmond 2050 -Sharing What We Heard About Housing

· The community acknowledges the nexus between different housing types and housing affordability and was curious about the aesthetics of different typologies.  

· The community sentiment is to encourage flexibility in “missing middle” (middle class) housing types across the City. However, the community is almost evenly split on whether existing neighborhood-specific policies that restrict “missing middle” should be kept or removed.

 · Questionnaire Comments on Missing Middle:

 o “I do not want to see low income housing in my neighborhood. This would lower property values and impact my ability to resell the home that I've worked hard to own. Should my tax dollar go to help someone else buy a home? No.”

OR

 o “Allowing density is our local way to help fight climate change and increase housing affordability. Allowing the free market to develop duplexes and triplexes is one of the best ways to do this, with minimal negative impact to quality of life. I wonder how Kirkland has promoted subdividing properties and building new modern housing

What do you think?  Email: council@redmond.gov.

What wasn't discussed by the City is a free market plan to develop 22 downtown acres into an "Urban Village."

--Council memo, Redmond Neighborhood Blog report, 9/21/2021

Popular LWSD Board Director Cassandra Sage Runs For Re-election

Director Cassandra Sage

Cassandra Sage was elected to the board in 2017. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education, a certificate in Montessori studies and is a certified P.R.I.S.M (Promoting Resilience in Stress Management) coach at Seattle Children’s Hospital. 

Additionally, she is a Family Centered Care Specialist for SCH and has served on their Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit Advisory Board, their Pain Medicine Board and their Serious Event Review Team. Her work at Children’s involves strengthening the partnership between medical providers, patients, and families to achieve best possible outcomes for kids.

Cassandra serves on the Eastside Human Services Forum board to build stable and equitable services for residents of East King County. She is also a member of Eastside Pathways, a “community-wide partnership on the Eastside that works collectively to attain better outcomes for children from cradle to career”.

Experience

• Elected director of Lake Washington School District, district 3, since 2017
• Eastside Human Services Board of Directors, since 2018
• Eastside Pathways collective impact collaboration – since 2019
• Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) mentor 2018-2019
• 26-Year PTSA and Parent Volunteer, LWSD
• 19+ Year Family Advisor, Seattle Children’s Hospital
• 15 Year Cub Scout Den Leader
• 5 Year Director and Teacher of Montessori Preschool
• 3 Year Teacher of Montessori Kindergarten (all subjects)
• 3 Year Teacher Multi-age Montessori 1st-3rd Grade (Social Studies/Pro-Diversity Curriculum)

WEBSITE

School District V.P. Mark Stuart Running For Re-election

LWSD School Board V.P. Mark Stuart

I am proud to say that the following organizations and individuals are raising their voices in support of my candidacy:

King County Democrats
45th District Democrats

48th District Democrats

41st District Democrats

1st District Democrats

(4 for 4 in LWSD)

Labor Organizations

Lake Washington Education Association (LWEA)

Teamsters Local 763

LiUNA Laborers Local 242

Elected Leaders

State Senator Patty Kuderer, 48th LD

State Senator Derek Stanford, 1st LD

State Representative Vandana Slatter, 48th LD

State Representative Amy Walen, 48th LD

State Representative Roger Goodman, 45th LD

State Representative Larry Springer, 45th LD

State Representative MyLinh Thai, 41st LD

State Representative Shelley Kloba, 1st LD

Tanika Padhye, Redmond City Council President

Vanessa Kritzer, Redmond City Councilmember

Penny Sweet, Kirkland Mayor

Jay Arnold, Kirkland Deputy Mayor

Neal Black, Kirkland City Councilmember

Jon Pascal, Kirkland City Councilmember

Amy Steele Falcone, Kirkland City Councilmember

Joyce Bottenberg, Chair of Sammamish Human Services+

Eric Laliberte, LWSD President+

Ram Dutt, Snoqualmie Valley School Board Director

Roy Captain, Redmond Planning Commission &

Lake Washington School Foundation Chair

Community Leaders

Sarah Perry, Candidate for King County Council

Janet Richards, Candidate Redmond City Council and LWSD parent

Tara Van Niman, Candidate Redmond City Council and LWSD parent

Joan McBride, former 48th LD State Rep and Kirkland Mayor

Hank Margeson, former Redmond City Councilmember

Byron Shutz, former Redmond City Councilmember

Arnold Tomac, former Redmond City Councilmember

Pat Vache, former Redmond City Councilmember

Dave Asher, former Kirkland City Councilmember

Santos Contreras, former Kirkland City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor

Ramiro Valderama, former Sammamish City Councilmember and

Deputy Mayor

Jackie Pendergrass, former LWSD president

Sue Stewart, former chair of Redmond Human Services Commission

Larry Gilmore, Kiwanis immediate past president

Rabbi Burt Schuman

Anu Gopalam

Renay George

Cary Young

Reetu Gupta

CJ Kahler

Mardi Rhodes

Susan Weston

Tori Cannaday Jesse

Lisa Guthrie

If that's not enough. Read Mark's website.

Vishal Misri Running For School Board

 Voter's pamphlet:

Vishal Misri

"This last year has been challenging for everybody. 18 months ago, nobody could have visualized a world where kids were not in classrooms. While our educators have done a great job of adapting to unprecedented times, we have also seen the gaps in our system widen. And while we all hope for a return to “normalcy” we need to learn from this disruption to education and work together in an innovative fashion to move forward in an inclusive, equitable and a welcoming learning environment.

As parent to twins and a member of the PTA, my experience with the LWSD prompted me to join the race to ensure that our schools are ready to meet the challenges and help our children thrive.

I’m committed to draw on my background to bring fresh energy, responsible fiscal management, and innovations to the LWSD focusing on these four areas: equity and inclusion, mental wellness, school infrastructure, and teacher support.

I will be a voice for students, families and community members and will seek out the unheard students and parents. I know with the right leadership, the LWSD can build on our strengths to expand opportunities and deliver high-quality education for every student."

LWSD Position 4  https://www.facebook.com/electvishalmisri/

ATTENTION: The "Redmond Blog" Is Now User Friendly On Smart Phones!

 Redmond Neighborhood Blog is now much easier to read on smart phones!  

 Search "Redmond Blog." Special thanks to the reader who brought this feature to my attention!

-- Bob Yoder

Jeralee Anderson Up For Re-election

 

City Council Vice President Jeralee Anderson

Dr. Jeralee Anderson is serving her first term as Councilmember in the City of Redmond, Washington and is currently Vice President of Council.  Jeralee is running for re-election in November.

​

Professional

In her day job, Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and co-founder of Greenroads International, a globally recognized nonprofit organization leading the green and equitable transformation of the transportation industry through education and the independent third-party sustainability certification of transportation projects. Currently, she manages an infrastructure project portfolio of over $35 billion dollars in more than 11 states and 8 countries. She collaborates with public works professionals, departments of transportation, ecologists, planners and designers, general contractors, and multiple non-profit partners daily.

​

She earned her undergraduate degree in civil engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and her doctorate from the University of Washington in construction engineering and sustainability, including a certificate in business administration from the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

 

Dr. Anderson is a licensed civil engineer in Washington State and California and legacy LEED Accredited Professional. As the executive leader for the small nonprofit she founded in Redmond, she manages day to day operations and is responsible for governance, board development, program management, human resources, budget, strategic planning, and more. 

 

In 2013, President Obama recognized her and her team at Greenroads as White House Transportation Champions of Change for the 21st Century.  View her Greenroads YouTube presentation HERE.

She serves in a variety of Mayoral and Council appointments including as an alternate on the King County Regional Transit Committee as part of the Sound Cities Association (SCA).

 

Dr. Anderson also is an alternate to the Mayor on the Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors, and sits on its Finance & Management Committee.

 

Recently, in 2020, the Mayor appointed her to serve on the Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters (LEOFF I) Disability Board.

22-Acre Urban Village Planned In The "Redmond Center" Area

 

For design review and more legible maps, click here and scroll down

"Project One" (Charles) is the first new building in the Nelson Master Plan. The Master Plan is 22 contiguous acres in the northwest corner of the downtown in the City of Redmond. This property has been the quintessential center for goods and services to the city for the last 30 years. Looking towards the future, the goal is the redevelopment of the 22 acres around a cohesive master plan that significantly increases density and adds a mix of residential, office and retail uses, that offer a dense work, live and play environment. This new Northwest district developed over time seeks to include northwest architecture that expresses natural materials, structures, indoor/outdoor spaces, transparency, respect and support of the environment, and great people spaces and facilitate a broad inclusionary community."  

--- Design Review Board memo, including legible maps, 12/03/2020  (According to the legible map, the urban village vision includes development of the Redmond Center.  Perhaps a linear park along the Sammamish River is in the plan.)

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Tom Markl, CEO of Nelson Legacy Partners says..

"The master plan is a vision rather than a specific, detailed plan.  The 22 acres encompass the properties owned by the Nelson Legacy Group businesses stretching from the Aqua Quip Building on the corner of 161^st to the open field behind Ben Franklin which touches the Sammamish River Trail.  The timing of the redevelopment will be gradual and evolutionary. You will not see sudden, rapid, dramatic changes.  Our vision is to gradually create an urban village and the central place in the downtown where the community can shop and gather, and also a place where people can live and work.  The timing of each project in the redevelopment will be determined by many factors, including the leases of our current tenants and the needs and opportunities presented by the marketplace.  Since retail is an important component of the vision, we will strive to retain our current tenants.  As for the timing of the connection of 158^th to Redmond Way, this is a city street and the city has discretion over the planning, timing and priority of street projects."

 

Regards,

 

Tom

 

Thomas L. Markl

CEO

09/03/2021

 

16508 NE 79^th Street

Redmond, WA 98052

Senior & Community Center Taking Donations For Solar Power

 

Become a Solar Champion

Leave a green legacy! Help Redmond become carbon neutral and ensure the sustainability of our environment by purchasing a solar panel to power up the new Redmond Senior & Community Center.

Benefit to Champions:

• Solar Champion Sticker
• Name recognition as a Solar Champion on the website
• Your name/organization listed on a Solar Champions plaque in the lobby of the new Redmond Senior & Community Center
• Businesses: Recognition through social media (over 10,000 followers) and one feature on our Parks and Recreation eNewsletter sent to over 28,000 subscribers
• Your investment is tax deductible!

Become a Solar Champion

Redmond Historical Society "Duwamish River" Video Presentation

The Redmond Historical Society recorded Saturday's program about the Duwamish River. If you'd like to view it, the link is https://youtu.be/5xSrz_UNQEw. The recording is up now, and will be up for about a month.

In this video, the society quotes our City's ancient indigenous Indian dwellers.  Redmond City Council, led by Varisha Kahn, occaisionally  acknoweleges our ancient Indian enhabitants before their meetings start.    

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Redmond Historical Society

Virtual Saturday Speaker Series

Saturday, 10:30 AM, October 9, 2021

"The Snoqualmie Tribe: A Brief History of the Lake Sammamish Area"

Zoom Webinar

To register: https://tinyurl.com/4n5jvxfy

Speaker: Steven Moses
Director of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, Snoqualmie Tribe 

Steven Moses is the Director of Archaeology & Historic Preservation and a Tribal member of the Snoqualmie Tribe. Join him as he explains the Indigenous connection to the north Lake Sammamish area from 13,000 years ago to today. Steven will touch on the recent archaeological discoveries of Bear Creek and its significance as a fish habitat. He will also discuss ways in which our communities can work together to preserve our shared history of the Pacific Northwest. 

-- Redmond Historical Society

Environmentally Sensitive Light Rail Construction Underway

 

Construction of the Downtown Redmond Light Rail Extension will impact a swath of trees and riparian habitat along Bear Creek in the vicinity of the Overlake Urgent Care Center west to Creekside Crossing and Redmond Center Open Space.  Clearing and grading permits are required to remove 144 trees to accommodate the rail, Bear Creek "restoration," and construction access. Most of the trees will be planted off site because they won't survive in the wetland areas. For each significant tree removed, 6 saplings will be planted; for each landmark tree removed 18 saplings will be planted. A section of Bear Creek will have to be dredged to create a "back channel" for flood control and wetland habitat. Back channels are also valuable for salmon rearing.

Overall, approximately 500 linear feet of Bear Creek will be "restored or enhanced" when all is said and done.  The Design Builder is encouraged to reuse previously removed trees for onsite habitat features. In addition, Sound Transit plans to purchase off-site wetland mitigation credits at the Keller Farm site further upstream along Bear Creek for any restoration that cannot be accommodated on-site.

All the work near Bear Creek described above is subject to review as part of the City’s shoreline and clearing and grading permits, the Army Corps and the tribes.  Construction is over 3 years out.  

  -- City Council Study Session, 5/28
      Meeting memo (map)

* In 2020 I took a tour of the site with City staff.  They said the light rail will run five feet over Bear Creek.  B.Y.  

Leashed Dogs Are Enjoying The Downtown Park

"Buttons is ~maybe~ the first dog in Downtown Park."

"I like to think he was the first dog in Downtown Park- the fencing had just come down. It’s amazing to see in just three years how many people, families, and dogs are enjoying this space!"

-- Mayor Angela Birney and her dog "Buttons."

Facebook, 9/14/2021

Pat Vache' -- One Of Redmond's Finest

 

Honorable Pat Vache'

Long-time councilmember Pat Vache', a staunch community organizer and advocate for the people.  Pat founded the Redmond Kiwanis, sits on the One Redmond Foundation Board, was past President of Hopelink, co-founder of Lake Washington School Foundation, Chamber of Commerce trustee, among  other activities.  He served City Council 1982-90 and 2002-09.

Thanks to Arnie Tomac, past Councilmember (1980-1991) for submitting Pat's picture and Council tenure.

Redmond's Homeless Hotel - A Recovery Resource

 National Recovery Month 

In the September 7th Business council meeting Mayor Birney proclaimed September as National Recovery Month.   Immediately afterwards, during "Items From The Audience," over 15 individuals vehemently spoke against the Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel, some even challenging Mayor Birney. They were bothered by poor notice, poor information on how the hotel will operate, it's location near 12 schools, absence of long and short term goals, and other issues. Unfortunately, the hotel will be low barrier. 

Stigmatism of the mentally ill at the meeting was at an all time high. The importance of consistent medical pharmaceutical treatment was barely addressed.  Hotel shelter and socialization with case managers would provide a safe environment to reliably facilitate medical management.  

In each weekly report I will address one mental health and/or substance abuse topic relevant to the Homeless Hotel.  My first topic is the mentally ill and "acts of violence":

SUMMARY:

1. Most individuals with serious mental illness are not dangerous.
2. Most acts of violence are committed by individuals who are not mentally ill.
3. Individuals with serious mental illness are victimized by violent acts more often than they commit violent acts.
4. Being a young male or a substance abuser (alcohol or drugs) is a greater risk factor for violent behavior than being mentally ill.
5. No evidence suggests that people with serious mental illness receiving effective treatment are more dangerous than individuals in the general population.

That being said, a small number of individuals with serious mental illnesses commit acts of violence. Individuals who are not being treated commit almost all acts of violence; many of them also abusing alcohol or drugs.

Source: "Treatment Advocacy Center"

-- Bob Yoder, 9/13/2021