Council Review Of "The Homeless Hotel" And Plymouth Housing

Video of Council's Safety & Human Services Committee Meeting, 8/16/2024

Notable viewing stops:  

Min 18:15 - Police Chief's Quarterly Activity Update (text)

Min 40:00 - Start of the Permanent Supportive Housing Update (text)

Min 45:35 - Emergency role of the Health Through Housing homeless hotel. 

Min 47:50 - Community Advisory Group

Min 56:55 - Council Policy 

Min 1:07:10 - Councilmember Steve Fields' Dialogue with Director Helland

Presently, there are no kitchenettes in the homeless hotel.  

Councilmember Melissa Stuart says the public's robust conversations with Council years ago put policy in place to allow permanent supportive homeless housing. Director Helland says she is administering this policy deciding not to require a public Hearing.  The video will speak for itself.  

You can also find Council's April 16th Business Meeting here.  A record 70 citizens spoke at the podium. The meeting was intense, many protesters, but well orchestrated.

-- Bob Yoder, 4/18/2024

EvergreenHealth Named "Top 50 Best Hospitals" In America

EvergreenHealth Medical Center 
"Community-owned" 

KIRKLAND, Wash. – EvergreenHealth has been named among America's 50 Best Hospitals™ by Healthgrades for 2024. This is the fourth straight year the community-owned hospital system has earned the distinction and puts EvergreenHealth in the top 1% of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance.

UPDATED 4/16/2024: Plymouth Homeless Housing FAQ

  

Plymouth Homeless Housing in Redmond FAQ

The building will contain 100 units for homless residents with ground floor office space, commercial space, and amenity areas. 

History and Background

In alignment with Redmond’s Housing Action Plan, the transfer of publicly owned property to Plymouth Housing for development of a 100-unit Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) housing project in Downtown was approved by the Redmond City Council on Feb. 13, 2024. The City is committed to increasing the overall supply, variety, and affordability of housing to achieve desired livability and equity outcomes in Redmond.     

The building will be located at 16725 Cleveland Street. It will not be a safe injection site and will not be an overnight shelter, but will serve as Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH). It will provide homes to extremely low-income adults who are exiting homelessness and are eligible for PSH.

The building will contain 100 units total with ground floor office space, commercial space, and outdoor amenity areas. 

Redmond code requires a robust community engagement process for Permanent Supportive Housing projects. During the special meeting on Feb. 13, 2024, Plymouth representatives underscored that they are willing and able to comply with code requirements. 

View a video of the special meeting.

Plymouth Housing in Redmond FAQ

BUILDING INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND  

Where will the housing be located?
16725 Cleveland Street. This housing will be in Downtown Redmond, close to the light rail stop. 

Who will live there? 
Single adults exiting homelessness and living on extremely low incomes would be eligible for the proposed Plymouth PSH project. Many of these individuals are seniors, veterans, and/or people living with disabilities. The income criteria is set at 30% or below Area Median Income (AMI), which means an individual is earning less than $28,800/year. Lifetime registered sex offenders and individuals with certain past drug-related convictions will not be eligible for this housing. 

What services will be on-site?  
Permanent Supportive Housing means in addition to housing, residents have access to a range of onsite services designed to help them achieve stability in their new home, including personalized housing case management services, veterans counseling, health care, 24/7 staffing, and other critical services. The PSH model is unique because the 0 - 30% AMI housing is paired with services designed to support people living with complex and disabling health conditions. Proximity to the Downtown Redmond light rail station will also help residents with their transportation needs.

Is this a homeless shelter?  
No, this is Permanent Supportive Housing for single adults. There is an application process for prospective residents, which includes determination of eligibility for the project. After individuals are approved and move in, they will no longer be considered homeless. Residents are responsible for abiding by their lease agreement and building rules, while also having access to onsite support services.  

How big is the building?  
The building will contain 100 units total for residents with ground floor office space, commercial space, and amenity areas. 

What about parking?  
Parking is limited at this site. Most Plymouth residents do not own a vehicle. Proximity of this site to the Downtown Redmond light rail station will offer robust transit options to future residents and help the City achieve its Environmental Sustainability Action Plan goals for reduced vehicle emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

Who will operate the building? 
Plymouth Housing will provide property management and wraparound supportive services at the building. 

How many people will be housed at this location?  
Plymouth Housing projects primarily serve single adults. However, as a landlord, Plymouth is required to abide by occupancy standards and fair housing law, which in rare cases requires them to house couples if both individuals qualify for the building. The design in the current Plymouth proposal contains 85 studios and 15 one bedrooms. We expect that the new design will reflect a similar unit mix.

Will the building have 24/7 staffing? 
Yes, Plymouth Housing will provide 24/7 staffing and support for residents. 

When will the building open for occupancy? 
There is not a specific timeline for construction yet. However, the goal is to break ground in 2025. Typically, it takes about two years of construction prior to opening for operations. 

What is the City of Redmond's role in the building? 
The City of Redmond is the host city for the Plymouth PSH project. Plymouth will be required to apply for and obtain permits necessary to construct the project. In addition, the City will be coordinating with Plymouth to ensure that the necessary agreements and terms set forth in Redmond Zoning Code requirements applicable to PSH are met. Among other things, an operational agreement, program rules and/or code of conduct, safety and security plan, community relations plan, and parking management plan will all be required. The City will partner with Plymouth to develop necessary policies, procedures, and plans.

When did the City Council first learn about this project? 
The City Council first learned about this project in February 2023 when the funding recommendation from A Regional Coalition for Housing (ARCH) was presented to them for approval. The Council unanimously approved the Redmond ARCH Housing Trust Fund contribution on March 21, 2023, for its original location in Kenmore.  Applications for Redmond Housing Trust Fund dollars are submitted to ARCH where they are vetted by a Community Advisory Board (CAB) that makes a recommendation to the ARCH Executive Board.  The ARCH Executive Board concurred in the CAB recommendation and transmitted the recommendation to ARCH member jurisdictions for City Council approval. 

In 2020, the City also completed a Housing Needs Assessment, which informed the Housing Action Plan, both of which were approved in early 2021. Different scenarios were considered, and at the time Council directed staff to pursue the “Housing Equity Scenario,” outlined on page 20 of the Housing Action Plan.

Why is this being built in Redmond?  
Washington state is experiencing a housing crisis. Cities across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties are diversifying their housing inventory in accordance with Washington State Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1220. Redmond leaders, including the Mayor and City Council, have declared affordable housing a top priority and specifically included a prioritization for the development of affordable housing close to transit. King County Countywide Planning Policies have established housing targets for cities to accommodate anticipated future growth in the next 20 years. The housing needed for Redmond has been estimated across all income levels and includes anticipated demand for PSH. Every unit of added PSH helps to address the identified need and improve the lives of people who currently do not have access to safe and dignified places to live.

The City Council recognizes that Redmond lacks sufficient affordable housing, especially where the need is greatest in the 0-50% AMI range. 

New projections estimate by 2044, the City of Redmond needs nearly 24,000 units of affordable housing. Redmond is a high-cost area with an AMI of $137,000 per year.

UPDATED 1/29/24: Pearce PRD Deforestation Rivals the Devastation of Group Health's Tree Habitat

A Bobcat's "last stand" in Sigmund and Werner's backyard / credit Sigmund

In 2007, I made two trips to Sigmund and Werner's house to commiserate with them about their severe loss of a forest bordering their property.   Losing a neighborhood forest and it's wildlife is close to losing and mourning the loss of a dear friend. It hurts and it takes time. I know this from the Education Hill Perrigo Heights clear-cut. Sigmonde showed their pictures and I listened. She took me on hurried walk through the forest before the clear-cut. It was all over in just a few days.

The photograph of this urban Bobcat was taken by Werner & Sigmund. Their home borders on a North Redmond 18-acre forest.  Over 300 mature trees were cleared for 76 single-family homes with lot sizes ***4000 - 22,000 SF, according city documents. The project (178th Ct. NE & NE 116th St.) is known as "Pearce PRD" and is one of many environmentally sensitive projects in Redmond developed by Eric Campbell's Camwest Development, Inc. of Kirkland, WA.

According to a "Wildlife Study Report" filed by wetland , wildlife, and forest consultant Chad Armour, LLC on January 20, 2007 "the site may have the potential to support as many as 68 different species of wildlife". Sigmund has also observed coyotes and deer in her backyard and there have been neighborhood reports of *black bear. Where will they go?

Camwest paid an arborist for a tree preservation plan required by city permit. The arborist reported that 294 significant trees were clear-cut. That's 54% of the 489 significant trees on the project. 39 Landmark trees were presumed removed.  Landmark trees are supposed to get special protections. (see Councilwoman Kim Allen's statement, below).

Chad Armour made two brief site visits. Among Mr. Armour's qualifications, he is a "certified wetland delineator" and has a certificate in commercial real estate. He was hired by Camwest to write environmental reports for the city land use permit. 

Mr. Armour reported: nine wetlands and 20 State Priority habitat tree snags, ideal for Pileated Woodpecker nesting. He identified a foraging P. Woodpecker, and a Great Blue Heron "in the vicinity". The Great Blue Heron is valued by the State and Redmond as a Priority Species of Local Importance. Nesting P. Woodpeckers are potentially endangered and have protections when nests are present. I was told by a resident Armour spent only several hours during each of his two visits to the site.

Mr. Armour stated a heron rookery is located about one mile SE of the site. City planner Cathy Beam indicated months ago these eastern rookery nests were vacated. Mr. Armour also noted a stream map indicating coho salmon migrate to within a few hundred feet of the project site. A tributary to Bear Creek and two ponds are present.   

Obviously, significant and devastating deforestation of  "urban open space" has occurred. Habitat destruction was far more extensive than Camwest's Tyler's Creek and Perrigo Heights developments. Fortunately, Camwest does a good job restoring and enhancing their streams, wetlands, and forest buffers. However, according to the neighbors, the development will be setback only 20 feet from their properties and exposed neighborhood trees will be endangered by resultant high winds.

Councilwoman Kim Allen is to be commended for speaking up for the neighborhood during Werner's Landmark Tree Exception appeal. Councilman Richard Cole appeared insensitive during reconsideration of the Landmark Tree appeal stating Werner was slowing down the project. Ms. Allen is a qualified lawyer and is a strong council advocate for "green" protections and standards. ** Ms. Allen's statement urging amendments to city tree preservation standards are below. The city is holding a Community Meeting on Thursday, 7/28 to ask for ideas on how to improve Residential Development permitting. Contact Jeff Churchill for more information by emailing: jchurchill@redmond.gov.

*** The City Neighborhood Map and Notice of Application quote different lot size ranges.

**'Councilmember Allen read a written request to the staff as follows, 'Tree retention is an expressed value of the citizens of Redmond articulated in the Comprehensive Plan, Neighborhood Plans, and community meetings. Redmond’s tree retention law reflects that a detailed and thoughtful analysis by the Administrator of what should be a detailed and written account of extraordinary circumstances is required to justify the felling of any landmark tree or drastically reducing our declining canopy. In this case there is no record of that detailed analysis by staff which does both the staff and the citizens a disservice. Our Code Administrators should begin to provide a written and detailed analysis of their reasoning on all of these exceptions to our Tree Retention Ordinance and that the code should be amended to provide notice to adjacent property owners when such a request is made.' - contributed by Werner

###

QUESTIONS:  Was off-site mitigation required?  It not, how where were they replaced? PRD' appeals are Quasi-Judicial. Was there adequate notice?  Tom Hinman, a respected planning commissioner, influenced the city years later to map significant and landmark trees on the Notice of Application. Why did it take so long?   In 2022, Tree Regulations were updated to protect/preserve Redmond's remaining trees on private properties.  It's 2024 and the updated tree regulations still haven't been implemented owing to legal issues Kirkland is facing. No comment.   

Opinion and report by Bob Yoder, ~ 2007, updated 1/29/2024  

Additional "land use" articles are found using the blog search engine.

Homeless Hotel Will House 35-65% Adults With Local Community Ties

Redmond Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel
 credit Kirkland Reporter

King County is partnered with Redmond to provide emergency and permanent housing for up to 100 individuals experiencing, or at risk of chronic homelessness. Redmond's "Homeless Hotel" will open in early Winter 2024 after ramping down its temporary use for the refugee resettlement project. 

The Salvation Army was selected as operator in September 2023.  They will develop a gradual, phased approach for housing up to 100 individuals at this site. 

Q: Who will be considered to live in the building? 

A: The target population is adults whose income is at or below 30% of the area median and who are experiencing or at risk of chronic homelessness. 35-65% of units are prioritized for individuals with local community ties. 

Q: Will the building have 24/7 staffing? 

A: All Health Through Housing buildings have 24/7 on-site support staff and comprehensive, wraparound services, including: • Employment navigators • Behavioral health services available on-site • Connection to physical and behavioral health care • Assistance in enrolling in Apple Health and other public benefits 

Q: Will The Salvation Army provide these services? 

A: The Salvation Army will provide property management and 24/7 support staffing services in-house. The Salvation Army will also partner with King County’s Department of Community and Human Services and local service providers to provide the wraparound services. 

Q: Will there be security? 

A: The Redmond Homeless Hotel will have experienced, 24/7 on-site staff who are trained in trauma-informed care, crisis support, and de-escalation techniques. As an evidence-based model, permanent supportive housing does not feature security guard services, but it does call for clinically trained staff to be on-site and on-duty around the clock. Further, The Salvation Army will be responsible for developing a Safety and Security Plan as required by Redmond Zoning Code 

UPDATED: EvergreenHealth "Community" Hospital Lacks Behavioral Health Specialty Care

EvergreenHealth "Community Hospital, owned by the community," lacks Behavioral Health Specialty Care.

When you need care from a specialist, the EvergreenHealth Medical Group provides physicians in more than 40 specialties. Behavioral health is not one of them. 

Their specialty care clinics are listed below:

Breast Health Center
Booth Gardner Parkinson's Care Center
Cancer Care
Colon and Rectal Care
Diabetes and Endocrinology Care
Diabetes Education & Nutrition Services
Ear, Nose & Throat Care
Eye Care

SEATTLE TIMES: Strangers Sent Redmond Man 100's of Cards for His 90th Birthday

 

By 

Paige Cornwell 

Seattle Times staff reporter

In January, Lynn Colwell posted a request in a Redmond community Facebook group: “My dear husband’s 90th birthday is coming up and I am trying to gift him with as many cards as possible from around the world.”

She didn’t post much more, just that his name is Steve, he’s a musician and loves pickleball, accompanied by a photo of him smiling next to a sunflower. She included a mailing address and the message that whether residents knew him or not, if someone would like to send a card, she would really appreciate it.

The cards came in. Dozens and dozens and dozens, to the point the couple lost count. Steve Colwell’s 90th birthday was Feb. 15 and he’s still opening envelopes.

“They came to a delivery post box and the lady at that place said ‘I don’t know who Steve Colwell is but I want to be him on my birthday,’” Lynn Colwell said. “I had no idea we would get this many.”

Unbeknown to Steve Colwell, Redmond residents were hatching plans to send cards under Lynn’s Facebook posts. One commented that she would send a card because he reminded her of her grandpa. Another wrote she sent the request to her relatives in the United Kingdom so he could get international cards. Lynn had also requested cards from their friends and others who know Steve through his work as one of the founders of Up with People, an international performing group.

Lynn Colwell hoped to give the cards to her husband on his birthday. But then they both contracted COVID, and he had to be hospitalized for five days for other health issues. They canceled his birthday party and the plans for the card reveal.

When he was discharged and returned home, Lynn told Steve there was a big box waiting for him.

“It was wrapped and it was like a Costco cardboard box,” Steve said. “I couldn’t imagine what kind of gift I would need at this point in my life.”

--Paige Conwell, Seattle Times, March 30, 2023

(Steve helped me untangle my disjointed pickleball serve. He's pictured playing at 24 Fitness here.)

Redmond's "Addiction" To Pickle Ball, Nation's Fastest Growing Sport

24 Hour Fitness.Players from all walks of life. Rocket scientist, housekeeper, choral singer, anthropologist, retired fitness instructor and author, mortgage broker, stay-at-home dad, software engineer, passers through, Redmond historian... See the 89 year-old playing with his son?!
 (click picture to enlarge)

                                                        Exercise -  -  Socialize - - Learn

Pickle Ball Basics video.  All ages, body types, and fitness levels. Players willing to share advice. Games are short, lasting about 10 minutes.  Doubles is most common.  Mind  the "kitchen" while "dinking!"  Founded on Bainbridge Island. 

Court Locations and Times:

Old Redmond School House for seniors.  Fun and welcoming group. 3 inside courts.  M,W,Th  9:30 - Noon.  (practice before 9.) Nominal fee.  

Redmond Perrigo Park.  4 outside courts (the way it was made to play.)  "Bangers," Intermediates, Novices, and Families. No fees. Share with 2 tennis courts.  Arrive early to play and practice.  After playing we like to hike the adjacent farmland trail with our dog.  

Redmond Meadows Community Park.  3 outside courts.  Good for families. Courts are rooty.  

Nike Neighborhood Park, 1 outside court, little used.

Senior & Community Center.  Under construction.  2 outside courts.  2-3 inside courts on occasion.  

24 Hour Fitness. One inside court.  9 - 3pm.  7 days a week.  Great for practice!  Membership fee OR health insurance pass. 

Fort Edwards State Park.  Juanta.  6 indoor courts. Medium to high level of play. Adjacent monastery converted to 86-room boutique hotel, fine art, and fancy restaurant. A must! Walk the dog. 

-- Bob Yoder, 2/9/2023

   I've played for 6 months with Pam. Was a very slow learner on the serve and challenged by complicated scoring! 

OPINION: Community Comments On EvergreenHealth's Behavioral Health Practices

EvergreenHealth Public Hospital should initiate a bare bones plan to medically treat community members struggling with behavioral health conditions. This video (140 seconds) explains the value of "Behavioral Health Urgent Care."  Below, are five people making exceptional social media comments gleaned from the article:  King County needs "Behavioral Health Urgent Care."  

 Molly Schroeder

"I am a mental health therapist and have seen first-hand how frightening a mental health emergency can be when there are no resources readily available! And how many clients have I treated over the years for the trauma they endured by resorting to a local ER?! If the ER is all that is available, I support that route, but Urgent Care for behavioral health would be an amazing option!"

Jennifer Z D Baldwin

"In my experience, including multiple mental health trips to Seattle Children’s ER, is that our current mental health system, at least in King County, is solely crisis focused. Meaning we do have systems in place for someone who’s immediate safety is in danger. But there is very little, adequate, on-going, accessible and meaningful/effective treatment for actually helping people heal. 

Imagine what it would be like if we treated mental health like we do physical health. Imagine if our minds were part of our bodies and that anything that impacted one impacted the other. Imagine if we dropped the shame around mental illness and had annuals, well visits, sick appointments, and talked openly with friends about what we were struggling with, trying, working on, and freely shared provider recommendations. That when we knew a family was struggling with mental health we organized meal trains, picked up groceries, or offered to take the kids. Like we do with physical health. Imagine if we had enough providers and treatment options and that they took insurance because dealing with insurance wasn’t a nightmare for everyone.

My rant is done (for now.) I know this is bigger than just King County. But the solutions to these problems start with awareness, social investment, public conversation, and specific needs assessments which can lead to increased funding and infrastructure. Thank you Bob Yoder for sharing this and providing a public space for (what I hope is thoughtful and civil) conversation."

Maggie Quintus

As someone with a person with mental health issues in my family I can assure you that having more resources for mental health would be invaluable. There is nothing worse than being sent home with someone in crisis and no help available

Matthew Dekker

This is timely. I brought a family member having a psychiatric emergency to Evergreen ER recently, and she was treated abhorrently. I kept saying to my wife throughout the process that there has to be another option

Ansley Heinsohn

My husband is a Program Director for a Mental Health Group & they are at capacity w/100’s more needing service & no where to get it. It is desperately needed.

###

Attn:  School Boards

Seattle Children's Hospital Behavioral Health Crisis Clinic . To avoid the ER.  Six Psychology PhD's.  One mental health nurse.  

Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care, an innovative model of care for children and adolescents.

Opinion: King County Needs "Behavioral Health Urgent Care"

Providence-Everett Behavioral Health Urgent Care waiting room

A letter to the EvergreenHealth CEO Tomlin and the Commissioners:

Thank you Executive Secretary Candace for your and Commissioners/CEO Tomlin's interpretation of the "Seattle Times" April 11th article on behavioral health. 

The article flatly states: "The county has no walk-in urgent care center for people experiencing a mental health crisis, youths and adults wait hours or days in emergency departments before landing an inpatient bed."  Seattle Times, 8/11/2022. 

EvergreenHealth's two emergency departments are not the only option for community members requiring "same day intervention."  Providence/Everett has proven that.  CEO Tomlin can do more than advocating for greater resources.  He can provide medical treatment.  Your rooms given for NAMI Eastside forums and other "soft" resources are appreciated but by no means enough. 

Thank you CEO Tomlin for as you say, "evaluating and evolving your services to remain in close contact with the county and other community organizations" however, the Eastside population is exploding and Overlake can't carry your burden.  You must be willing to give a little to get a lot. (goodwill, bond passage assurance, positive media exposure, county support and resources, grants,) The commissioners owe it to their "constituents" and community members to provide medical treatment rather than whitewash a remedy with advocacy. 

Of note:  "The Providence Medical Group Behavioral Health Urgent Care provides timely access to behavioral health services for adults 18 and over presenting in a mental health crisis. The program is designed as an alternative treatment setting for those who need urgent (same day) intervention, but do not necessarily require the services of the Emergency Room."  -- Providence BHUC website

Before the pandemic, Kay Taylor, the Director of Nursing, et all were days away from a site visit to Providence Medical Group Behavioral Health Urgent Care.  At that time it was a pilot program for Providence.  They passed the test under severe Covid conditions with flying colors and operate today.  The community was running to their door.  CEO Tomlin, when you have staff resources, I encourage you to visit Providence/Everett, listen, learn and act. Thank you. 

My regards to commissioner Pilcher.

Best, 

Bob Yoder

Redmond, WA.

425-802-2523

redmondblog.org 

file

Tom Hinman, Redmond Activist And Commissioner Passes

Tom Hinman
June 6th, 1945 - July, 24th 2022

Share a memory, expressions of sympathy, or give flowers on Tom's Neptune Society Page.

My sympathies will be shared on Tom's Neptune page.  BY

Dear Friends and Family,

This morning, Sunday, July 24th at 7:00 am, Tom went home to God.  I am deeply grateful for the 42 1/2 years of marriage that we shared. He asked that his memorial service and interment be held at the military cemetery at Mira Mar, near San Diego. All who knew Tom know what a wonderful, loving man he was.  His passing is a deep loss to our family and extended family.

Sincerely,

Monica Hinman

Tom Hinman, was a long-standing Redmond planning commissioner and environmental & community activist. 

He founded "Imagine Overlake" to organize and facilitate resident participation in the redevelopment of Overlake. Tom co-founded "Sustainable Redmond." and was nominated for a "Leadership Eastside" award. Tom's annual meetings were attended by council members, environmentalists and citizens at large. 

Tom loved urban trees and their contribution to our ecology and well-being.  After the Group Health clear-cut he led volunteers in salvaging and transplanting understory shrubs to the Audubon Bird Loop.  Tom activated urban tree conversations at Council meetings.  He pushed for and accomplished a city requirement to map trees on land use notices. 

Tom cited the Overlake Corridor expansion, Group Health clear-cut, and the Nokomis Building dispute as examples of the City’s long-standing disregard for resident and community input on issues of growth; and wrote abundant of emails to change that.

Former Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives' tribute: 

I am so very sad!!! Thought Redmond was blessed to have an outstanding candidate for the Planning Commission when I appointed him!   His participation there in addition to chairing the commission was exemplary! However, no one in recent times could match Tom’s public participation and diplomacy as a citizen activist from the time he left the Planning Commission up to last year. ..a span of 11 years. He was well researched, thorough, providing live testimony with written copies punctuated and substantiated by citations from City of Redmond documents.  From his Sustainable Redmond commitment to unsuccessfully saving 1200 significant and landmark trees at Group Health in Overlake, to updates of the Comprehensive Plan and related planning issues, he was most strident about the City’s less than authentic participation opportunities for the public…it was about a year ago when the “update of the tree protection regulations” was edited to “tree regulations” omitting the word “protection” that he conceded to me that preparation for and providing input to the City was a waste of his time and mine! Never would he or I know what his fate would be just one year later!

Tom and his wife, Monica, and Jon and I discovered that we had sons living in San Diego. There were years where we saw more of each other there than in Redmond! For several years we worked out at KOKO Fit on Cleveland Street too! He was a “go to” guy to discuss some really important city issues… he now joins Richard Grubb…I miss both of them!!! 

-- Former Mayor Ives

More on Tom Hinman

$1,308,150 Overtime Costs From Nine Firefighters Refusing Vaccination.

 

Quarterly Overtime Report January 1, 2021 Through March 31, 2022 

Citywide overtime costs are 130.3% of budget versus a 62.5% target for the biennium largely due to unanticipated overtime related to the Fire and Police response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding unbudgeted costs that are fully reimbursable (i.e., related to the pandemic and development agreements), citywide overtime costs are 117.6% of budget. 

Fire Department Overtime costs are 145.1% of budget versus a 62.5% target for the biennium primarily due to the following: 

 Extraordinary or Unanticipated Events: 

o COVID-19 Pandemic: $561,903 in unbudgeted overtime costs related to the staffing of vaccination programs and testing sites. These costs are fully reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Washington State Patrol, King County Public Health, and Microsoft. 

o February 2021 Snow Event: $12,809 in unbudgeted overtime costs. 

o December 2021 Snow Event: $37,860 in unbudgeted overtime costs.

 o Vaccination Mandate: An estimated $1,308,150 in unbudgeted overtime costs to backfill for 9 positions that opted to not get vaccinated. 

Kirkland Residents Suing City of Kirkland and King County Over Plans for "Homeless Hotel"

A group is suing the City of Kirkland and King County over the county’s plan to convert a Kirkland hotel to a permanent supportive housing site for people who are chronically homeless.

"Keep Kids Safe," a group of Kirkland residents and parents whose children attend schools near La Quinta Inn & Suites, allege in the lawsuit that city and county officials didn't hold public meetings that were required before King County bought the site in March.

King County paid $28.1 million for the 121-room building, according to the Department of community and Human Services, with money from Health Through Housing program financed by a 0.1-cent sales tax to buy hotels, motels and other sites with single rooms for emergency and permanent housing.

-- Paige Cornwell, reporter for the "Seattle Times," 4/4/2022

   The article is truncated and excerpted by Bob Yoder. 

   The entire article and a photo is here.

Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives Recounts Her Accomplishments

I asked Rosemarie if she would describe her three greatest accomplishments as Mayor of Redmond. She kindly offered the following:  BY

Rosemarie Ives with John Couch standing behind the memorial bench honoring 
 Don and Elaine Smith, donors of the land developed into Smith Woods Park. 
John Couch was Redmond Parks and Recreation Director for ~ 30 years.
Photo Credit / Kerry Smith

Mayor Emeritus Rosemarie Ives says...  Elected in 1991, served unprecedented four terms as the full-time Redmond mayor for  16 years --1992-2007

Greatest accomplishment? Wow?  2 others? When I think back to my initial campaign, there were four parts to my platform:  environmental stewardship, youth agenda, fiscal responsibility, and outreach to the public especially the residents.And with each re-election, those priorities never changed and probably I was more passionate about them with each re-election.

 

Environmental stewardship:  three? examples

Since we just walked Smith Woods, one that I would mention is that the City went from 16 parks when I started  to 36 when I chose to retire.

 

Then there's Riverwalk, the stretch of Sammamish Trail from NE 90th Street Bridge down to Leary Way Bridge. Four projects  re-channeled  the river making the river environment better for salmon, its flora and fauna as well as creating more water capacity within the new sculpted banks of the river that would protect downtown from flooding. 

 

In 1997 when pressure was great to allow development to proceed at a pace where the city could not handle many aspects such as building inspections, the costs of the city's part of the infrastructure and couldn't guarantee adopted  levels of service, I proposed a focused moratorium  on some new construction that lasted for 18 months. 

 

Youth agenda:

Old Firehouse Teen center, Skateboard park, youth members appointed to city parks board and arts commission,

Youth in Government Day

 

Outreach:

In every major decision making, I would always ask how it would impact the residents of Redmond in the near term and in the future. We introduced many different ways, both formal and informal for our growing diverse public to provide input in a timely manner far in advance of decisions being made.  I personally was "present" all around town a little less than 24/7.  

 

The month long Redmond Lights,, a celebration of Redmond's diversity, was an idea that I came up within 1999 for luminarias along Riverwalk.   At intervals there would be performers representing cultures, customs and faith representations from around the world.    

With regard to the Smiths...Don and Elaine Smith sold the first five acres in early 2000. From when I first met them, they were very clear that they wanted their property to remain as open space, perfect for a park. It was a beautiful piece of land with a creek and small pond, wonderful sequoia and fir trees and an extensive collection of dahlias. After Don died in 2009 they sold the remaining five acres to the city and Elaine moved to Emerald Heights where she resides now. I am in communication with their daughter Kathy.

-- Rosemarie Ives, February 25th, 2022

I would add Rosemarie is still very active in politics. She's been the pillar of Steve Fields' two campaigns for Mayor and two campaigns for Council. Fields says "she knows a lot of people." BY. 

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Rosemary's retirement story.

Mayor Emeritus Rosemary Ives Protests Group Health's 28 acre clear-cut