Is Kirkland the "sister city" to Redmond?

If you were to name a local "sister city" to Redmond, most would probably choose between Bellevue  and Kirkland.   I would like to know your choice.  I'll  explain why my pick is Kirkland.

The benchmark decision for me was Rosemarie Ive's last City Council meeting of December, 2007.  Kirkland Mayor James L. Lauinger was one of many giving tribute to Rosemarie.  Mayor Lauinger presented a stirring tribute and impressive honorary plaque to Mayor Ives.  This act of kindness triggered an emotional response from Rosemarie saying, she had oftened considered Kirkland  "Redmond's sister city".

I can barely scratch the surface guessing all the reasons why Rosemarie would coin Kirkland our local "sister city".  Perhaps, Rosemarie would comment to this post.  Allow me to list a few reasons, similarities, connections and "intersections' between our cities; and some differences.

 I've found many of the connections between Redmond and Kirkland  attributed to politicians.   For example: 

1) Doreen Marchione was a Redmond councilmember and Mayor of Redmond prior to Rosemarie Ives.  Doreen now lives in Kirkland and is running for a Kirkland Council seat.
2) Mary-Alyce Burleigh lived in Redmond for ~ 30 years before moving to Kirkland to become a respected, long-standing, influential Kirkland councilmember with terms as Mayor.
3) Warren Appleton, MD was a Redmond Councilmember during Rosemarie's term  and is now the Director of Emergency Preparedness and member of two Boards of Kirkland's Evergreen Healthcare.

A) Lake Washington High School provides an intersection for Kirkland and Redmond students.
B) A county annexation by Redmond is planned bordering Kirkland and Redmond on 132nd St. (I think)

Culture:  Little league Baseball and Softball park facilities are extensive and well maintained in both cities. Kirkland won the Little League World Series in 1982.  Redmond is the "Bicycle Capital of the NW" and has extensive trail systems.  Kirkland is a classy Lake Washington waterfront restaurant and boating community.  Both cities value art:  Kirkland boasts a variety of galleries; Redmond has an outdoor art collection of over 100 pieces.  Rob Butcher publishes the popular KirklandViews for profit blog.  I'm asking the community to fund the Redmond Neighborhood Blog as a nonprofit.  

Comparable *demographics:

• Residential population of Redmond is 49,427 : Kirkland is 47,325 
• Population density:  3,065 (R) : 4,365 (K)
• Median income:  $76,155 (R) : $69,711 (K)
• Median home value:  626,000 (R) : 675,000 (K)
• Median age:  37 (R) : 40 (K)
• Singles:  43% (R) : 50% (K)
• Families with kids:  22% (R) : 17% (K)
• LWSD ratio of pupils:students:  24:1 (R) : 19:1 (K)  $4350 expenditure/student for R/K.
• College BA degree:  36% (R) : 33% (K)
• Bellevue is twice the distance of Kirkland from Redmond.  Kirkland is 3.1 miles away.   

Employment differences are significant:  Redmond is "on the Edge" of Microsoft.   Google is "on the Edge" of Kirkland.  The largest employer in Redmond is Microsoft. (41,000 in Puget Sound).  Redmond population doubles during the work week.  Evergreen Healthcare  is Kirkland's largest employer with 3,229 employees.

Governments are dissimilar:   Redmond has a "strong mayor" who is an elected representative and the Administrator of city staff and operations.  Mayor John Marchione is the city CEO.   Kirkland has a "council form" where the Mayor is an elected councilmember but a business manager is hired to run the city and carry out Council policies.  Redmond has a super-sized City Hall.  In comparison, Kirkland's Hall is a donut hole. 

Do you have any opinions or points of fact you want express in a Letter?  Please comment here.  If you think Bellevue or Woodinville is a more appropriate sister city please say why, and I'll post your comments as a Letter.

* Yahoo Real Estate, Neighborhoods

10/15/07, Redmond's new hybrid bike - street ornament or bike rack?

Have you noticed this green metal "bike" mounted to the Redmond library sidewalk? Click lower right corner of photo to magnify. Could this be another addition to "The Mayor Ives outdoor-art collection?" At first, I was just kidding.

But, now I read in the 10/13/07 "Redmond Reporter" Rosemarie Ives is serious! The Reporter article says: "The new bike rack on NE 85th St. looks just like a bike. It's eye-catching, yet functional piece of street art, said Joel Pfundt, principal planner of the City or Redmond's transportation services division".

I asked three arts commissioners about this "street art rack". None knew about it. Two commissioners told me this "bike bike rack" is not outdoor art. In fact, it could raise the bar and muddy the water even more for what is outdoor art.

Should Rosemarie have included and informed the *Redmond Art Commission in her Administration's transportation staff "street art" trial? You may send comments to the arts commissioners at RAC@redmond.gov.

To know it's a bike rack (besides being told) you have to stoop down and read the manufacturer's label on the bike. It's stamped: bike rack made by Dero! Eventually riders may discover the utility of this attractive piece of metal and start using it. Won't they? Actually, my wife once noticed a bike hooked to it. She thought it was attractive.

The City website is conducting a website SURVEY on this new "artform" to raise awareness. The Administration wants to install this "functional art" all over the city. It is hoped citizens will start tying their bikes to it. My hope is the bikes won't block the sidewalks when they are racked.

Dero Bike Rack, Co. has a whole line of off-the-wall bike rack ideas. Look for yourself. Browsing through the catalogue is like opening a box of Christmas ornaments. There are so many different colors and styles to choose from.

* For those following the election, Redmond Arts Commission Chair Tom Flynn , Vice-Chair John Stilin, and past Chair Roy Leban all endorse John Marchione for Mayor. Peter McDonald, Trails Chair endorses Marchione for Mayor. Mayor Ives endorses Jim Robinson.

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Mayor Ives calls it "street art".

EX ARTS COMMISSION CHAIR:

I don't consider this bike rack to be art either, but it's not completely hideous. The biggest problem is that nobody knows its a bike rack and it looks like it's supposed to be art instead. And, it's in a bad location for a bike rack. You're supposed to be able to put two bikes on each side. To lock/unlock a bike on the street side, you have to stand perilously close to the street, or in the street. - citizen volunteer leader
Monday October 15, 2007

FROM: CADRA
Redmond is the bicycle capital of the northwest are we not? You want to talk about something then let’s talk about the bike lanes on 85 after the 4 to 3 lane conversion. What a joke, that is a sad day for the Redmond to show they are bicycle capital of the northwest and can’t even make a bike lane complete.
Saturday November 3, 2007

Rosemarie Ives , Mayor of Redmond, 1991 - 2007

Rosemarie Ives, Mayor of Redmond, 1991-2007

Very nice of Rosemarie in front of City Hall "Ice Thaw" sculpture

published by The Seattle Times, 12/19/2007


"The Many Faces & Places of Rosemarie" - a video tribute
produced by Kim Van Eckstrom, City of Redmond

Four-term Redmond Mayor tried to "Lead from the Heart"
SEATTLE TIMES, 12/19/07

4/26/07, Breakfast with Mayor Ives & the arts commission

scoll down for updates.

This breakfast was announced to the public in the Wednesday Redmond Reporter. Two staff members were present plus the Mayor and about 6 arts commissioners. My wife and I and possibly another citizen were the only general public in attendance. This "breakfast" had the attributes of a "public meeting". "

The Mayor did most of the talking. Lots of reminiscing about her accomplishments, travels, challenges, success, and then some talk about her retirement, legacy gifts, among other things. (Hint: Rosemary likes water fountains. hint-hint: especially at the city hall "Civic Park".) Of course, art was the focal point.

Utility box artwork by schoolchildren seemed the topic of interest. Note the above photo of Redmond's "trial box" -- near the public library & Wells Fargo bank. (the boxes were painted by adults, not schoolchildren). Last year, when I surveyed our city outdoor art scattered around Redmond (tag "art" to find earlier blog). I, too, felt a strong attraction to the utility box artwork. So does Pam.

I do have a few concerns, though. At breakfast, the Mayor told the table, in so many words, that the city would be moving ahead with painting 93 utility boxes with art and we one last chance to comment on it. I was surprised the city could move so fast. I raised my hand with three concerns:

1) not to create a Fremontish look by randomly painting all 93 boxes

2) paint with a theme and

3) pick utility boxes with safety in mind - for the children and drivers.

I didn't know how much conversation the arts commissioners had with the Mayor and staff on this venue, but it sounded like the mayor considered it a done deal. A few commissioners suggested painting on "skins". A staff member recommended a process of culling the art at schools to select it (as they had done for the Mayor's office art).

Rosemarie referred to Santa Fe and other proven utility box art. Rosemarie's already been in touch with Bill Campbell, new Public Works Director, for moving the project forward. I love the art concept. My only concern is the lack of public involvement on how it's rolled out and that the arts commissioners aparently not entirely vetting the project.

Citizen-commissioner "focus groups" including a relavent Council committee chair member (in this case, Robinson) and limited staff would be a positive step towards reaching decisions of related to city culture -- and public notice.

The city heron LOGO we now have was launched unbeknownst to the public. I think neighborhoods deserve a better chance to engage on long-standing decisions of cultural impact.
I never had a chance to ask all of the commissioners for their thoughts.
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UPDATE, 4/28/07 A citizen close to the commissioners confided there was no vetting (in-depth appraisal or review) by the arts commisioners of utility box art prior to the mayor's "proclaimed" breakfast decision.

UPDATE, 4/30/07 - FROM Parks Director, Craig Larsen: "let's not get ahead of ourselves... re: the utility boxes. We are not moving ahead on anything at this point. The first one was a test. So far the response is negligible and mostly positive. I think it is a worthy effort to try to make the boxes that festoon the city a little better looking. I am not sure of the best way to do that."

Update, 5/2/07 - The ex-arts commissioner got up at Items from the audience and explained how they are still working on utility box art and that it's still in the testing phase; false alarm from Ives.

Comment to: celarsen@redmond.gov 425-556-2311
Comment to: mayor@redmond.gov (Mayor Rosemarie Ives)
Comment to: jrobinson@redmond.gov (Jim Robinson - Council Park (& Art) Chair)
RAC@redmond.gov (Redmond Arts Commission)

Former Mayor Ives Challenges Staff On Puget Sound Energy Plan

Rosemarie Ives

Good evening Mayor and Council Members,

Rosemarie Ives, former mayor 1992-2007

I am speaking again against the Sammamish Juanita Transmission Line.  Though much information was provided,  I have one question:  why did City staff support Puget Sound Energy’s business interests over the environmental interests of the people of Redmond AND the Puget Sound region who have committed to preserve the Sammamish Valley farmlands and open spaces for decades? 

After becoming mayor in 1992, the  Comprehensive Plan  identified  the east-west Transmission line at NE 95th Street as the northern boundary for manufacturing and industrial uses and with everything north  remaining  rural.  The owners of the land north of that transmission line  approached the City with a proposal for a golf course that is Willows Run today.  After  extensive  negotiations, the City agreed to zone the property “urban recreation” with the understanding that this land would remain “open space,”  with the owners required to uphold a long list of environmental regulations and responsibilities, and that in perpetuity, the golf course would remain open to the public.  I believed strongly that zoning for a golf course was the best way to preserve the historically rural Valley, protecting it from any kind of business, manufacturing or industrial intrusion.

The Legacy of Rosemarie Ives

Mayor Rosemarie Ives - Redmond's unprecedented 4-term mayor

I have the strong opinion that the mayor should make the City a priority...in the beginning learning as much as possible about the organization, its responsibilities AND keeping in touch with the people in an authentic way on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, Mayor Angela Birney is president of Suburban Cities which I think shows poor judgement and she's not paying attention to what's going on at home. 

When I ran for Mayor the first time, I had four priorities and I believe they served the people of Redmond very well--they were real simple:  open and responsive government, environment, prudent financial management and a teen agenda...."Together, we create a community of neighbors" was my "theme."   I always said that if I was doing the right things, the right way at the right time  for our youth today and for the future, we adults would be fine too!

 

Some people make a thing of "legacy."  The ones who talk the most about it, do the least. Upon reflection I would like to believe my "legacy" was that the people of Redmond had an advocate at City Hall--someone who was always considering what was best for the people who call Redmond "home."  

 

There were so many accomplishments as a result of so many people willing to work with me to do our collective best...Yes, I am proud of the four environmental Riverwalk projects along the Sammamish River, that we went from 16 to 36 parks during my tenure, Youth Leadership Day, Old Firehouse teen center, the tagging wall, the skate park, Redmond Youth Partnership, so many environmental initiatives that were recognized at the national and regional levels,  Redmond Lights, flower pots on every corner downtown, rather than an enclosed mall that was proposed in 1988, when I was elected the Town Center owners came forward with a new, open air mixed use design , a senior center that flourished with great programming and high participation, the 40 year lease that I negotiated with the Lake Washington School District for the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center for a total of $80,000 (that John Marchione broke after 20 years)...televising city meetings and producing very informative programming, ...those are a few of the things that come to mind.

Posted by B. Yoder, 4/24/2033

OPINION: Four Mayors and a Clerk - The duties of our City Clerk

City Clerk Doris Schaible's retirement party on 3/22/1995: Selwyn "Bud" Young ('68-'79; d '99), Christine Himes ('80-'83), Doreen Marchione, ('84-'91), City Clerk Doris Schaible, Rosemarie Ives ('92-'07)

That's quite a picture of retired City Clerk Doris Schaible (in green) with Redmond's four most recently retired Mayors. Doris Schaible was our City Clerk for 25 1/2 years and she worked with everyone of these Mayors.  

Did you know that the City Clerk is the oldest of public servants in local government, along with tax collectors?  A case in point is our first mayor, Frederick A. Reil, 1913 -1918. He was Redmond's first postmaster and town clerk before running for mayor, unopposed. (1)

My personal experience with the Office of City Clerk began about four years ago. A large group of Education Hill neighbors were trying to appeal the Camwest, Inc. Perrigo Heights plat Steep Slope and Landmark Tree Exception. We needed ordinances and code information and we discovered the Clerk's office was a big help.  Today, I like to copy the Clerk on important emails to help my correspondence get circulated to the right people and "for the record".  When I want a public record for some information on, say, SE Redmond septic tanks and our aquifer - I submit my written request to the City Clerk.  cityclerk@redmond.gov.    

Our city clerk is the "hub of government" and direct link between "us" and city government. Probably no one knows more about what's going on in the city then the City Clerk. At a 2008 council meeting, Mayor John Marchione likened the Office of City Clerk as "a rock to stand on".  (I'm not sure what this means).  Since then, public records request service has improved dramatically.  Over time the Clerk's knowledge of the city's recorded history builds. The Clerk is highly respected and a certain amount a power comes with that knowledge.

According to various sources, (3) a City Clerk needs to be highly diplomatic, apolitical, unflappable, patient, versatile, and alert. I might add careful and assertive. One understands why a city clerk has these traits when reading their job description, as found on the city website, as follows:

1. supports the Mayor and City Council, oversees the Hearing Examiner function,
2. coordinates City elections and monitors state legislative actions.
3. responsible for coordinating and distributing agendas and information in support of City Council meetings.
4. is the official Public Records Officer of the City and maintains official City records including minutes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, deeds and titles.
5. In conjunction with the Police Department, the Clerk's Office oversees and responds to public records requests.

This old website description barely describes the duties of the Office of the City Clerk. In  2010, Mayor John Marchione added additional work load to the City Clerk's job.  The Office of the Clerk (3 FTE's) is now responsible for updating the Council portion of the City Web site.  The Clerk is also Program Manager for the new City Hall  Volunteer Front Desk Program.  As the Administration has grown, so have the number of meetings needing a Record by the Clerk.  The record at meetings is taken by notes, recordings, email, and video.

When City Clerk Malissa Files was promoted by Mr. Mayor to Finance Manager, Michelle McGehee was promoted to City Clerk.  I think Michelle was hired by Mayor Rosemarie Ives.  

Our new City Clerk, Michelle McGehee, is a "Certified Municipal Clerk". She is extremely well qualified, friendly, and committed. Michelle moved from Alaska to take the job.  Michelle, or her deputy clerk Liz, can be reached at 425-556-2190 and by EMAIL: CityClerk@redmond.gov.

Michelle's job has definitely grown from the clerking days of Doris Schaible! (2) In 1969, the population of Redmond was 9,213. There were 60 employees. 1 Parks employee. 5 firefighters. 10 police. 1 traffic light (Redmond Way & 164 Ave. NE).  Today, the population is over 50,000 by night and 90,000 by day. 

References:

(1) "Redmond Reflections...from settlers to software", Naomi Hardy, 2006; (2) Doris Schaible, Community Relations, Redmond Historical Society. Photo courtesy of Doris Schaible; (3) Wikipedia - (click title page).

Posted:  June, 2008.  Updated:  5/28/2010

By Bob Yoder
Photo donated by Doris Schaible

7/25/07 - My last Redmond Reporter column - never published

Below is my last "Citizen Watch" column --unpublished by the Redmond Reporter after the Ives Administration sent an Advisory to discontinue my column.

ABREVIATED HISTORY OF OUR CITY OF REDMOND MAYORS

After 16 years in office Mayor Rosemarie Ives has called it quits. Voters now have a huge opportunity to shape Redmond's future in our vote for either Marchione, Plackett or Robinson on August 21. To understand the challenges facing our next mayor we must look to our past.

Since 1912, Redmond has had nine mayors. All were "strong" or "executive" mayors – meaning they managed the city's business, carried out council policy, performed ceremonial duties and were elected representatives.