EDITED OPINION: High LW School District Salaries Burden Our Community

In my opinion, the Lake Washington District Central Leadership Team and some administrators  salaries are *too high; the end result our students and educators are impacted by miss-use of  public funds.

The new LWSD Communications and Community Engagement Director of less then two years, is paid a flat $169,285 per year  In my opinion, this is excessive. The Mayor of Redmond's is paid less than $138,000 and he doesn't get summer off. 

From the district's Central Leadership Team Organizational Chart I learned 16 Directors earned $169,285 and 9 Associate Directors earned $153,330...all on a **flat salaries with no low or high ranges.  The director & some administrators' salaries should be on a sliding scale based on performance and experience.  Keep in mind, school business slows or ceases in many departments when school is out ... for example "Communications and Community Engagement"...not much engagement then.

Besides the Mayor's salary, another benchmark:  Redmond's Deputy Administrator, Chief of Police and Chief of Fire are paid the upper range of $165,372 per year with a bonus. Both governments have similar budgets of approximately $600,000,000.

Barbara Postumous, the CFO & Deputy Superintendent is very underpaid. Dr. Jon Holmen, the district's Deputy Superintendent who oversees five Directors should be paid more. Mr. Holman's Directors are  invaluable. They bridge the schools with the Central Central Leadership Team and oversee all the principals. According to School Board member Cassandra Sage Dr. Holmen's Directors are required to be in the schools 2.5 days per week.

Director Matt Gillingham runs "Student and School Support Services."  I first met Matt during Truancy Board training.  Mr. Gillingham is responsible for student safety, social-emotional well-being, mental health recovery, bullying issues and also oversees the athletic department. He should be paid more than a Director.

In sum, the district has too many overpaid chiefs and not enough indians.  Our superintendent is the CEO of the third largest school district in the State and should be very well paid to streamline the Administration and bring efficiencies. In addition, a good superintendent will know the capabilities of his/her workers, their roles and responsibilities to rank to pay them accordingly. School Board member Cassandra Sage indicated today Superintendent Jane Stavem is working towards these ends. 

Paying flat salaries doesn't encourage innovation and reward those who produce.  Low-median-high salary ranges would keep turn-over low to retain valuable workers. 

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 3/20/19

Sources:  * December 14th, 2018 School Board meeting packet / public record request
                City of Redmond public record request
                Redmond City Television, Comcast 21
                Barbara Posthumous, Assoc. Superintendent

OPINION: Customer Service is inadequate at City Hall.

UPDATED, 3/14

http://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2009/07/what-does-derby-days-and-city-hall.html      

OPINION:  I was one of the few non-staff citizens, who attended the first "Budget By Priorities" community meeting on March 1.   At the meeting, Mayor Marchione announced an emphasis on improving customer service; it was directed mostly to the staff-side of the chamber.  Hopefully, customer service is one of his priorities again this year. 

UPDATED OPINION, 1/30: School Levy Committee Information Is Misleading

OPINION:  Contrary to the two Levy Committee mailers you received, the claim of "no new taxes" is incorrect.  According to the District's unaltered website FAQ,  Proposition No. 3, "Construction Levy" is a new tax (part of which replaces expiring debt.)  

If  Proposition No. 3 (Construction Levy) passes, we will be taxed $0.42 / $1,000 Assessed Value. Assuming a home is conservatively assessed at $900,000,000 the tax would be $378.00 for year 2023.  Prop. No. 3 is a 6-year levy and by 2028 will have increased to $0.53/$1,000 Assessed Value.

In my opinion, the Prop. No. 3 Construction Levy is inexpensive for what we get. Please vote "yes!"  

The two other levies (Prop. No. 1 and Prop. No. 2) are "replacement levies" with no new taxes.

The organization disseminating the mailers of "no new taxes" is the LW Citizens Levy Committee, a non profit known publicly as "vote4lwsdkids.org."  I was taken in by their disinformation and I'm very disappointed.  The District and Levy Committee seem too cozy and in this election the Levy Committee appears tainted. *Note their top donors.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, updated 1/30/2022

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*Top 5 donors to the Levy Committee build schools:  1) Cornerstone General Contractors, 2) BNB Builders, 3) Integurs Architecture, 4) Bassetti Architects, and 5) McGranahan Architects...all with interest in passing Proposition No. 3 any which way they can. 

Cornerstone Contractors built Juanita High.

BNB built Clara Barton Elementary School

Integrus Architecture designed:  Telsa STEM, Juanita, Benjamin Rush, Rachel Carson.

OPINION: Swedish/ER advertising is misleading and unfair

UPDATED OPINION:   I woke up this morning, 3/21, to yet another Swedish ER television commercial touting "SWEDISH ER ... the only 24/7 ER in Redmond just popped up".   They show a blue circle "popping up" on a Redmond "neighborhood" map.  (1) (2)

This Swedish television promotion is unfair and misleading.

So how is Swedish untruthfull and misleading the public? 

• First, Swedish is not the only 24/7 ER open for business in Redmond right now.  Evergreen Medical Center/Redmond ER is open for business on March 21, too.  Evergreen had their ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday (3/19) and their doors are open to ER patients today, March 21.   In fact, Evergreen/Redmond's Urgent Care, Primary Care and Speciality Care are open, as well.  I  confirmed this with Sherry Grindeland,  the Evergreen Communications specialist.
• Swedish promotes themselves as a "Neighborhood ER" and outpatient service.   The ED structure is located right across from UPS on a 'highway', not far from Cadman Gravel and right next to a veterinarian business that according to an employee, doesn't want them as neighbors. (egress/ingress issues). 
• No schools, residential sidewalks, pedestrians or plethora of small businesses are to be found, or expected.  Do you call this a neighborhood? 
• During the Swedish/ER opening ceremony this winter Swedish top brass proclaimed (to an audience of mostly Swedish/Seattle employees) that their massive medical complex ("big box") will stimulate the local economy. It will.  Even the Mayor spoke to the "vibrancy" and growth Swedish would bring to Redmond.  
• Truth be said and observed by the vet business and current commuter traffic - Swedish/Redmond ER plugs up traffic flows on Union Rd.    Local small business considering moving to Union Hill Road are deterred owing to blockage of ingress and egress.  
• Yes, Swedish/ER will bring in the big bucks to Redmond from highly paid Swedish workers.  But, the immediate "neighborhood" and businesses around Swedish will remain stale and lack healthy diversity.  

About Evergreen  
According to the Evergreen website:  "Evergreen Medical Center/Redmond will bring a whole new level of care to downtown Redmond, where primary care, urgent care, lab and imaging services will be conveniently together under one roof...along with a 24/7 emergency department.  The four-story, 48,000-square-foot facility is located at the Bella Bottega shopping center in the heart of downtown Redmond."

No question, Evergreen will bring traffic and parking congestion to the area and the ambulances will be a pain.   But every Bella Bottega business I've talked to in my survey said they were happy with the new business Evergreen will bring.  More residents will take to the sidewalks; new businesses will emerge nearby, happy to be close to Evergreen and our downtown.  Our nearby residential neighborhoods, including the downtown neighborhood, will truly be more vibrant.    In addition, the Urgent Care resources Evergreen/Redmond offers provide valuable service to the prudent consumer.

Swedish is obviously aggressive in self-promotion.  They are clearly stretching the truth by claiming a Redmond neighborhood location and saying they are the only ER game in town today.  The question of future trust arises.   At least for me.   Please share your opinion below this post or by Letter with your name to remondblog@gmail.com  

(1)  On 3/23, two days after this post, Swedish made a change and corrected their ad. 
(2)  On 3/25, Swedish advertised on CNBC they had the only 24/7 ER in Redmond.  I think the point is made. 

Opinion By Bob Yoder

OPINION: Freedom of Speech and the "doll & cross" Halloween display



This is the original display before it was vandalized.   This display was replaced with brown crosses, Barbie dolls and a sign that says "It's only Halloween!"  Photo By Katie Jones

 OPINION:  Long live freedom of speech. That some find this offensive and scary - too bad. I find it more disturbing that we need to involve our government in complaints like this for a holiday display. Also, the display, on private property, was vandalized this week. Vandalism is a crime. This is no different than art or messages or TV shows we find offensive. It's no wonder schools call it "Harvest Festival" now instead of Halloween. Political correctness and hypersensitivity abounds. If this display is found offensive, there are hundreds of others that the government should ban simply because someone found them scary or offensive or stupid or the wrong color. I will take a display like this over so-called 'haunted houses' put on by radical churches who show displays of abortion. I give full support to this property owner's RIGHT to display this display and the government can stay out of it.

Opinion by Brian Hansford
Education Hill neighbor

This opinion was posted from a comment made by Brian Hansford under the post "What kind of Halloween decorations are these?"

Opinion: Advocates for mental health - please vote for McBride, Kuderer, Valderrama, and Bryant.

A few of you may know, I'm advocating for the mentally ill.  Mental health conditions are generational in my family.

Last Thursday, I went to the NAMI Eastside Mental Health Legislative Candidate Forum. (Roger Goodman didn't show.)  Candidate Ramiro Valderrama was upset that 1 in 5 Americans (20%) have a mental condition, yet the State spends only 3% of their budget on mental health. In addition, Washington State ranks 48th in access to community hospital psychiatric beds. Mr. Valderrama called for systemic change. Please vote for Ramiro.

Johnathan Martin, a columnist for the Seattle Times participated in the forum.  He was very sensitive to those telling their story, as were Joan McBride and Patricia Kuderer.  Please vote for Joan McBride and Patty Kuderer.  Recently, Mr. Martin wrote an Opinion, "The Man who stands-up for mentally-ill patients on Western State Hospital's waitlist."  He concluded, "If anyone should go to jail for Western State Hospital's continued dysfunction, it's Gov. Jay Inslee."  Johnathan's Opinion is here:

http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-man-who-stands-up-for-mentally-ill-patients-on-western-state-hospitals-waitlist/

According to.NAMI.org 30% of the homeless have a mental health condition.  Below, is a KING 5 story and video on gubernatorial challenger Bill Bryant speaking on homelessness and the mentally ill.  If you've never seen or listened to Bill, this is a good one (if the video works.)

http://www.king5.com/news/politics/bryant-blasts-inslee-over-problems-at-mental-hospital/323222084

See you at the polls!  :)

Bob Yoder

OPINION: An appalling experience at City Hall

I'm not sure if you know, or even care, but on the day after the Mayor's Annual "State of the City" address Councilmember John Stilin withdrew from the election by not filing for Position 6. Mr. Stilin had recently been promoted to Vice President of city council and everyone in the political community was shocked. Soon after, a brief Redmond Reporter article was published indicating Mr. Stilin felt it was time to move on and open the field to the rising stars in our community.

I've known Mr. Stilin for about ten years, beginning when he was an arts commissioner.  I've met John at community  meetings, watched him in scores of council meetings, and attended his publicized coffee chat sessions. I know him well, more than most citizens.  He's dedicated to the city and community and contributes significantly to how we "live, work, play and invest." in Redmond.  John's smart, ambitious, and politically savvy. He tends to have a "controlling" social style, and values power.

Now, finally my motivation for writing this opinion:

On August 8th I witnessed an appalling event in council chambers.  I  was attending a public Study Session in City Hall to hear council talk about their experiences at "National Night Out." Right after the meeting, Hank Myers, a friendly, tenured councilmember walked up to chat with me. Mr. Stilin closely followed, interrupted our conversation and without restraint, assailed, belittled and humiliated Mr. Myers right in front of me. As a member of the viewing public, I was shocked.. His attack had something to do with an opinion piece I'd written where Hank was footnoted as "inspirational." The incident opened Mr. Stilin's authentic political soul. I'm relieved he's not running for office.

Bob Yoder
, 
Hank Myers, Chair of the Planning and Public Works Committee. soon followed-up with this clarifying piece

OPINION: Proposed SR 520 widening threatens Bear Creek

Editor's Update, 2/9/2011

Opinion:  $8M funds were approved by the state legislature to alter the creek away from the highway widening.  Finance Chair Ross Hunter had a lot to do with funding approval along with impetus from the city, the regional watershed coalition and engaged citizens.  The City approved $2M for the project.  No work has been done on the project after more thant two years.  Engaged citizens think it's because of an archaeological site and lack of flooding onto the new highway. The new highway was elevated during construction and severe flooding hasn't encroached the highway.  The comments below this post may be of interest to you.  B.Y.

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OPINION:  The Department of Transportation "flyway" construction on SR 520 & Redmond Way is just the beginning of more to come.

If the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) gets it's way SR 520 will be widened to within 50 feet of Bear Creek. Yes, that's right! However, WE may be able to improve the project if WE speak up and write to the City of Redmond by December 9.

Many citizens consider Bear Creek a vital part of our city culture and heritage. Thousands of years ago Sqwak indians lived off the salmon and mussels of Bear Creek. Today, families walk behind Redmond Town Center to observe and enjoy the scenic creek, salmon habitat, and riparian foliage. Teachers take their students to the creek in the Fall to release salmon fry. In 1999 the Chinook salmon were declared a federal threatened species. WSDOT will have to remove many of the trees that provide shade and cool water needed for survival of Chinook. Treated, roadside stormwater with drain into the creek. And, the creek would remain a straight-line ditch without off-channel salmon rearing opportunities.

See an aerial photo of Bear Creek & 520 widening site: http://tinyurl.com/2ks8t2

Concerned citizens can't stop this project but we can write the following city planner and state representatives to request WDOT not build on top of Shoreline buffers -- within 50 feet of Bear Creek Chinook habitat.

The most important person to write right now is Cathy Beam, Principle Planner, City of Redmond. Comments are due to Ms. Beam by December 9. You can email Cathy at: cbeam@redmond.gov . Or fax: 425-556-2400. Questions? Call Cathy at 425-556-2429.

In your email to Ms. Beam: reference to File # L070501 or just mention the SR 520 widening project. Mention your concerns about the salmon habitat, noise buffering and anything else important to you and ask to re-route Bear Creek away from the WSDOT 520 widening project. Be sure to leave your name and address.

Your letter to Ms. Cathy Beam is very important because it also registers you to participate in the Shoreline Permit and Buffer Variance Permit proceedings should you so choose. This site will be updated on a regular basis for your convenience.

Five years ago the Shorelines Management Citizens Advisory Committee spent months carefully crafting a Shorelines Management Policy for Redmond. 150 foot buffers were approved by the City Council --which WSDOT is now requesting to ignore in their Buffer Variance Permit application. Is this fair? Is it right? Will you write your representatives?


Contact Senator Rodney Tom, Representatives Ross Hunter and Deborah Eddy HERE:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Results.aspx?city=Redmond&street=10019%20169th%20AVe%20ne&zip=98052 Citizens outside of Redmond can locate their Representative's contact information at this link, too.


Representative Deborah Eddy is a crucial contact for us since she is Vice-Chair of the "Local Government Committee". Her committee deals with land use and local permitting issues. Ms. Eddy's website is HERE: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/eddy

Representative Campbell: House Select Environmental Committee http://www1.leg.wa.gov/house/campbell

Senate members or Natural Resources and Recreation Committee http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/NROR/members.htm

James Peter, Permit Review, WA. Department of Ecology mailto:dapa461@ecy.wa.gov
FYI, Washington State Environmental Hearings Office Website is: http://www.eho.wa.gov/. This office hears appeals to the Shoreline Management Act. The City of Redmond hears appeals to the Buffer Variance.

Feel free to post personal comments here.

By Bob Yoder
Opinion updated on 2/9/2011

BREAKING: Lake Washington School District improves and updates pet policy. Posting new signs on all district schools.

Outdated  LWSD
Pet Policy Notice

BREAKING: 10/4/2011, 7:51 AM   The District improves and updates their pet policy!  New signs are on order and will be posted at all district schools.  Click this link to read the entire policy and administrative action!

http://www.lwsd.org/About/Policies-Regulations/Admin-Policies/school-community-relations/Pages/Dogs-on-District-Property.aspx .

###

BACKGROUND:  Last year I wrote the opinion below, asking the District to update and improve their pet policy and install new signs.
The recent "A Tree Gets Nailed" story prompted me to edit and republish the opinion today.  I copied  the LWPTSA Council and Administration.  Serendipity!   B.Y.  10/4

REPUBLISHED OPINION, 6/18/2010.  In 2010 my daughter and a friend were walking their small dog on-leash, near the sidewalk on Horace Mann property.  The principal at the time saw the kids and told them to remove the dog.  She cited school policy that leashed dogs aren't allowed on school property when children are present even if school is out.  The kids were surprised because they had their dog leashed with poop bags - just like the school sign warns.  Clearly, the district's Pet Policy signage mis-informs and confuses our youth.

When my daughter was going to Horace Mann in 1997-2004, the principal allowed leashed dogs inside the school. I asked Deputy Superintendent Janene Fogard for a copy of the district Pet Policy.  Instead, she gave me an updated Mann policy.  She didn't quote the enforceable King County law or informal school policy.  Two years  later, after multiple requests, Fogard gave me the current, legal policy, as follows:     

#1- King County code numbers are stamped on the Pet Signs.  County code "legally and enforce ably prohibits dogs from being allowed to run unleashed on school grounds."

 #2- The District adds language: "dogs are also not allowed on school grounds during the hours when school children are present - leashed or unleashed."  This language isn't posted on the Pet signs; it's unenforceable by the city and county.  This is a problem.

Many signs are old &
damaged.
 

City of Redmond and Kirkland Code stamped on the signs has since been repealed.  It can be removed, leaving space for "dogs forbidden when students present".   New signs could be phased into modernized schools and replace damaged ones to save money. This is a solution.

Unfortunately, parents, children and the public don't understand what the school policy is from these signs.  Students can be reprimanded and not know why.  School modernizations and remodels will need new signage.  Now is an excellent  time to phase in fair, accurate and clear pet policy signs.     

To see the entire pet policy read on.  Read More >>

OPINION Part Two: Thoughts on Council's Land Use Appeal Policy

UDATED OPINION, 6/13, Opinion: Councilmembers Kimberly Allen and Hank Margeson recently proposed taking the legal land use appeal component out of council's hands and into King County Superior Court. As Mr. Margeson stated, it's the Council's job to write policy, not to interpret it. Citizens would still maintain their right to appeal the Hearing Examiner's decision. In addition, Council could hold a secondary, legislative appeal to address code issues brought up by citizens. 

Most area cities choose to take the lawyering out of their Council's job description and give it to the county superior court i.e.  Kirkland, Bellevue, Issaquah, Sammamish, Woodinville, Edmonds, Seattle, Everett, and Mercer Island.  We should, too.  Only Redmond and Bothell land use appeals remain "judged" by city councils. 

After trying to participate in the review of three deforestation projects by CAMWEST, the Shauhanessy deforestation project, and Tent City review process, I agree it's time for a change. In fact, Council President Nancy McCormick described her frustration, if not agony, while presiding over the TC-4 and 172nd Ave extension appeals. The 42-lot Shauhanessy Plat/PRD drew a similar response from Nancy when an appeal to Council was remanded by Council back to the Hearing Examiner for a second Public Hearing. Shauhanassy is the longest land use review in the history of Redmond and the project still isn't built.

After thanking Ms. Allen for articulating the Shauhanessy case so well, Council President Nancy McCormick movingly stated:

"The public process may not have been violated but it was twisted. I can't keep from thinking about that couple who appeared at the Tent City public meeting and signed up to the Party of Record only to be denied on appeal to be heard.

The public needs accurate information and timeliness of an appeal, otherwise we make a mockery out of Public Hearings and caring about public involvement."

It is clear recent land use cases have demonstrated that our present public process needs fixing. The public has not been getting accurate information because their elected representatives are not allowed to represent or inform them. Conversely, staff gives full support and guidance to developers who already know the system and what questions to ask.

Councilmember Pat Vache' (and Cole, Carson, Myers) openly support the present quasi-judicial appeal process. They prefer not to give up their lawyering power in judging land-use policy. Rather, Mr. Vache' (and Mr. Myers) look at the present process as a "learning experience to get the feel for the impact of how code impacts the stakeholders". What Mr. Vache' doesn't learn about are his constituents' feelings and their understanding the project during the Review. Thus, mistakes get made (that could have been fixed in legislative appeal to council). Mr. Vache' says the Q-J process is more efficient. Shauhanssey PRD lasted years. Tent City-4 was a breath away from the State Supreme Appellate Court. Perrigo Heights,  The 172nd extension, Pearce, and Tyler Creek land use actions all took valuable time from Council policy-making duties while stressing the neighborhoods and landowners on code issues. No wonder Council work has become a full-time job.

Interestingly, Mr. Vache’ voted for the CAMWEST Perrigo Heights Plat Steep Slope Exception concluding "where else are we going to put the homes"?  Mr. Vache’ lives right off of NE 116th Street behind what later became Mosaic Meadows plat and sown 116th from CAMWEST'S huge Pearce PRD. 

Over time,  part of the issue is Council gets too close to the stakeholders and their judgment becomes affected, despite the appearance of distance and objectivity.
Part One: "Moving Redmond forward on Land Use Appeals"

OPINION: Thirty Education Hill neighbors attend the city Ed. Hill Network Meeting, By Bob Yoder

OPINION:  I spent two hours at the Education Hill Neighborhood Meeting last night.  I met up with some neighbors I hadn't seen in a while. Unfortunately, less than 30 neighbors showed up. CERT training, traffic on 166th and 104th, were big topics of discussion brought up by the neighbors (who sat around in three groups with staff). None of the staff running the small groups were from Education Hill. One was from Woodinville. Another from a rural city. Another from Idylwood. About four planning commissioners were present. Councilmembers Vache, Cole, Margeson, and Stilin attended, but Allen who lives on Ed. Hill didn't make it. The Mayor showed up for the intro and then left. Staff's big push was the $5000 beautification project available to the micro-neighborhoods (cul de sacs, etc.).  They were also excited about an attractive Ed. Hill web page and Facebook page coming out.  It's too bad city couldn't take us to the next level of engagement - Neighborhood Associations. With the exception of the Redmond Foundation, formation of public-private partnerships with the City appear to move slowly. The networking meeting would be so much more effective if the ratio of staff/elected (12) to neighbors (28)was less top-heavy. When all is said and done, this effort by the city was better than none and we should be thankful that they care so much about those few that attended.  

Opinion By Bob Yoder

Musings on the city's Community/Aquatics Center plan

I've lived here 36 years and  love Redmond, but I'm not a proponent of the city's proposed $80M - $100M Recreation/Aquatics Center.  I'm concerned I and some of my neighbors will get taxed out of Redmond or even lose our homes. The schools are by far my family's budget priority and now with ST-3 passing I'm not 100% sure I can even pay for them.  In my opinion, the proposed Center is "Downtown Park v.2"  Too expensive, primarily for urban dwellers, a burden on the neighborhoods, hard to get to, and subject to cost over-runs.

When the Hartman Pool is demolished, it should be replaced with a Neighborhood Community Center.  The footprint is large and there's plenty of space.  A recent Education Hill Neighborhood Association poll indicated only 5 of 478 members wanted a new pool. Many asked for child services and a cafe with sandwiches and pastries. Meeting rooms, an organic produce market, music classes, teen life-skills classes, and revitalizing the beautiful treed land south of pool were some other requests.  

A downtown community/aquatics center is primarily an amenity for the urban dwellers.  Other than the city, who's to say our existing community center won't  have the capacity for Historical Society Meetings and recreational programs?  The Lake Washington School District would know.  We should start going to their business meetings and requesting transparency.

As for the aquatics center the train has left the station.  Our elected majority should have partnered with Kirkland and Lake Washington School District a long time ago to build an aquatics center when development costs were cheaper. I've heard Bellevue is considering aquatics near Bellevue College. Couldn't that be a viable alternative?

The incredibly rapid pace of city growth has put the Administration behind the eight-ball and panicking to "catch up."  Mine is one opinion.  I encourage you to visit the city's Redmond Community Center website and give them yours.

Bob Yoder, opinion 

UPDATED: Superintendent Traci Pierce quotes funding schedule for building more schools -- my opinion

Superintendent Traci Pierce laid out the funding schedule for building, more schools at last night's city council study session.

$398,000,000 Bond measure will be put on the ballot on April 26, 2016.  

$288,000,000 proposed Bond measure in 2018
$278,000,000 proposed Bond measure in 2022.

$207,000,000 proposed Bond measure in 2026. 

EP&O (Educational Program and Operations) Levy/Capital Project Levy measure on 2018. 

EP&O Levy/Capital Project Levy on 2022.

EP&O Levy/Capital Project Levy on 2026.

It's obviously going to take a lot of community backing to"catch up" from the previous bond failures. The good news is all the above bond measures will maintain the present 2015 tax rate. Board Director Chris Carlson said the tax rate can be maintained because "the l998 bond will be ending and the 2016 bond will replace it."  Pierce went on to say that "growth" and "assessed valuations" will maintain the present tax rate over time. Councilmembers Carson and Myers had good follow-up questions on the matter.

In my opinion, these Bonds are needed or the serious over-crowding that exists today will be severe tomorrow and our children with suffer. Accordin/g to Pierce, the District has grown an average of 625 students/yr for the past five years -- that's equivalent of one elementary school per year.  In five years the District anticipates it will move up from the 4th largest District in the State to the 2nd largest.  The District grew 1,114 students last year -- equivalent to 34 classrooms.  By the beginning of next year 168 portables will have been installed -- the equivalent of 7 elementary schools.  This year and next the State will be funding "all day kindergarten" putting even more pressure on space. (Presently 70% of the students go to kindergarten all day)
.   

According to Pierce, six schools are scheduled to be "remodeled OR replaced and enlarged" between 2016 and 2026.  (Juanita HS, Kirkland El, Mead El, Kamiakin MS, Evergreen MS, Alcott El). Pierce didn't identify which of them would be remodeled and which would be replaced and enlarged. Why didn't she?  Of note, Pierce never once used the term "modernization" which in the past had been a confusing catch phrase for "tearing down, replacing and enlarging." Transparency is slowly improving.

Pierce said her Task Force made "recommendations around well built, cost effective building designs that don't compromise quality."  What are these cost effective, practical and functional designs?  She gave no details and in my opinion many voters want to know before opening their wallets.

Bob Yoder

  

OPINION PART ONE: "Moving Redmond Forward" on Land Use Appeal Decisions

KING COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT

Kirkland, Bellevue, Sammamish, Issaquah, Woodinville, Mercer Island, Seattle, Edmonds, Everett all use the King County Superior Court land use appeals. Redmond still uses City Council for land use appeals.

According to Rob Odle, Redmond Planning and Development Director, in the mid-90's, most cities abandoned the council Q-J land use appeal process for appeals by the King County Superior Court.

OPINION UPDATED, 5/17, Opinion: "Moving Redmond Forward" was Mayor John Marchione's #1 campaign slogan when he was running for office two years ago. John has been living up to his promise, unfortunately not the Council majority. The Council "majority" just moved Redmond two steps back during a conversation on Land Use Appeal Decision process in their last council meeting.

The council majority of David Carson, Richard Cole, Pat Vache' and Hank Myers took a straw vote, tallied by Carson, to keep their dated "quasi-judicial role" for preliminary plats. The quasi-judicial (q-j) role gives Council powerful legal and legislative appeal authority over a city-designated land use attorney's decision. (Hearing Examiner.)

After hours of deliberation in two Committee meetings last year, Councilmembers Hank Margeson and Kimberly Allen offered reasons to move our city forward in utilizing the King County Superior Court rather than keeping Council for land use appeals. Only Redmond and Bothell rely on Council for initial appeal decisions in our area. Below are reasons for moving forward:

• Redmond's present appeal process requires Council by law to thoroughly review every page, document, and blueprint in the Hearing Examiner's file for accuracy beyond reasonable doubt.
• Council is not legally qualified, nor has the time, to thoroughly review the Examiner's file for inaccuracies.
• Society is more litigious and will challenge Council's ability to craft a correct Record. The City is liable and vulnerable to expensive, drawn-out lawsuits by appellants and landowners.
• During land use decisions, which can take over a year, citizens are not allowed to communicate with their councilmembers about the project. When legislative mistakes of interpreting Land Use Code are made, Council cannot fix the problem up-front, by mediation, or in a pre-hearing meeting. Participation, citizen/landowner engagement, and transparency are severely limited by a WALL between the People and their Representatives.

The land use decisions subject to council's Q-J appeal process are called "Preliminary Plats". Some examples of Preliminary Plat appeals in Redmond gone a muck are: CAMWEST'S Perrigo Heights, CAMWEST'S Pearce, Shauhanessy, and CAMWEST'S Tyler Creek - all of which were strung out by Council's legal and legislative interpretations of a poorly crafted Examiner Record.

PART TWO, 5/20/09, "Thoughts on Redmond's Land Use Appeal Policy"
PART THREE: on "Moving Redmond Forward on Land Use Appeal Decisions" will focus on significant Preliminary Plat mistakes and unintended consequences from Redmond's Q-J process.
Chair Margeson's Planning and Public Works Committee meeting, 11/08
Chair Margeson's Planning and Public Works Committee meeting, 07/08

Trump's shenanigans

Credit, Atlantic 

                      It's time to speak up and say NO to Mr. Trump's shenanigans.

In the early '70's I piled into a U-Haul truck with my Denison University classmates to participate in the candlelight march for peace. What's going on today, in my opinion, palls to the Vietnam war era.

If you need one, this Atlantic opinion-piece  is a good summary of what's happened in the first five day's of the Trump presidency.  (The piece leaves out his efforts for job creation.)

Next time there's a regional or D.C.march count me in.

Bob, opinion

P.S.  I'm proud to say, I didn't vote for him.

UPDATED OPINION, 5/28/2021 Should We Spend $1,450,000 For Police Cameras Next Year?

Internet photo

UPDATED OPINION:  "Redmond Police Chief Darrell Lowe is exploring equipping Redmond officers with both body-worn and in-car cameras and will present a proposal to City Council in June. The cost for equipment and staffing is anticipated to be approximately $815,000 to initiate the program and about $635,000 annually to maintain." The annual camera maintenance expense for each police officer is $7,299.  Total expenses for the first year will be $1,450,000.  

PATCH:  Regarding the deadly 2020 Redmond police shooting of Andrea Churna:

"The Police chief said he had no reason to believe criminal charges would be filed in the shooting."  -- Patch

The chief concludes:

"It is the Prosecutor's Office who will determine if any criminal charges will be filed against any of the officers involved. Based on what limited information I know now, I have no reason to believe this will happen. Therefore, the officers involved were returned to duty after a period of administrative leave which is protocol in these types of incidents. My heart is with Ms. Churna's family and loved ones, as well as my officers and dispatchers involved in this incident. It is a tragedy this incident had to end with a loss of life. I will continue to share updates with our community as more details become available." 

According to Police Chief Darrell Lowe, a poll on the issue is one of the most successful community polls the city has had with more than 1,400 people having taken it so far. A total of 94% of respondents voted "no" to fund cameras.  "One of the most successful community polls?"  Hardly.  The population of Redmond is ~ 65,000.  1378 votes is not statistically significant in our city.  In the final poll the worm turned and ~ 87% of the respondents voted "yes" to not fund cameras.

Council should weigh the cost and define the necessity of body cameras vs. the city budget and community benefits derived without cameras. A few benefits our community could garner without the $635,000 annual expense of  cameras are:   Enhanced mental health training and patrols, enhanced bias training, social workers, community education forums, improved homeless care, meaningful mental health care on the street; drug intervention, sheltering outreach; upgraded SRO resources, fewer levies. As the city grows, council will have the funds to add safety FTEs. Mitigated overtime costs.  I'm sure our Council could identify other benefits.

Redmond is a mostly sleepy town, compared to most other cities. Our police should feel blessed to have a beat here; Chief Lowe has the funds to hire the finest.  Apparently, the  most common crime in Redmond is "smash and dash" vehicular break-ins. Package and mail theft and vandalism are also common.  "The Police chief said he had no reason to believe criminal charges would be filed in the Churna shooting."  I hope Council has the strength to rise above politics and shepherd our city safety funds objectively.

-- Bob Yoder, opinion, 5/20/2021

OPINION: Seattle Times article a "must read" on tolling Initiative 1125 controversy

520 bridge

OPINION:   At the Oct. 4 council meeting Redmond Mayor Marchione  OPPOSED Initiative 1125, as he addressed council before their vote on a Resolution on the initiative:   

"520 is an economic lifeline to the city of Redmond. It's in the direct interests of the City of Redmond and our economic development and our community; and the Resolution be opposed and take the leadership required."

The Redmond City Council majority followed the Mayor and voted AGAINST an endorsement Initiative 1125 (5-2).  Incumbents David Carson and Hank Myers made a political vote FOR the Resolution to endorse Initiative 1125. 

David Carson is challenged by Sue Stewart for Redmond City Council Pos. 7.

According to the TIMES, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce is AGAINST Initiative 1125 (which is significant in that "one of Bellevue's most prominent businessmen, Kemper Freeman, is the biggest backer of I-1125, contributing more than $1 million to the campaign.).  

SEATTLE TIMES REPORT:  Local News Eyman challenges state's route on tolls Seattle Times Newspaper

By Andrew Garber, 10/1/2011
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

OLYMPIA — Tim Eyman and state officials agree on one thing: His tolling initiative on the November ballot would upend state plans for reducing traffic congestion and financing costly highway construction, including the Highway 520 floating-bridge project.

Eyman says Initiative 1125 would make lawmakers more accountable for raising and spending billions of dollars in tolls, and would make tolling fairer by banning variable-rate tolls that he says hit the state's poorest residents the hardest.

But it also would undermine long-term efforts, state transportation officials say, to find an alternative to gas taxes to help finance highway construction.  READ MORE >> 

Opinion By Bob Yoder
Internet photo - Cascadia

OPINION: Redmond High School Expansion costs $18,600,000 - Adds Only 14 Classrooms

RHS Expansion:  14 classrooms, 4 portables, small gym, staff parking

$18,600,000 REDMOND HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION - Each Classroom costs one million dollars,  By Susan Wilkins

OPINION:  Everybody remember the dire warnings last January before the Lake Washington School District special election? If we didn’t approve the $65 million levy for additional classroom space then our schools will be so overcrowded that there would be double shifting at the high schools and portable classrooms!

The levy was approved in the February 8, 2011 election and the school district started plans to build the new schools right away. The election mailings sent out by the district projected that enrollment would increase from 24,500 to 27,000 in just a few years.

After the predictions of exploding student population growth and overcrowding, the Redmond High School Expansion will add only a small gym and 14 classrooms to the school: 11 classrooms, 2 science labs and 1 art room. At maximum capacity, that’s enough additional space for 448 students.  READ MORE >>

Evergreen Hospital has 8 Awards, but how do they Rate?

OPINION:  It seems everywhere you turn these days advertisements and banners for hospital "Awards" are popping up:  on buses, in shopping centers, TV and of course hospitals. -- especially in Redmond, with the new Urgent Care's and ER's scrambling for patients.  (Did you know Overlake is opening up a 10-room Urgent Care Center by Bear Creek Shopping Center.)  But, we rarely hear the "ratings".

Below, are Evergreen Hospital's ratings and awards from HealthGrades, the leading independent rating source for hospitals, doctors, and nursing homes in the country.  I'll be reporting on Overlake, Group Health and Virginia Mason in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.  To see their Ratings and Awards READ MORE >>

UPDATED OPINION: Lake Washington School District Making Big Strides Forward

OPINION (UPDATED):    The Lake Washington School Board significantly improved their governance process from the last year and the Administration is playing a large role toward that end. 

From the 18+ board meetings I've observed in recent years, there's no comparison in their quality of work this year from past.  This year, the Sup. functions more often as resource; and Board members are participating, communicating, sharing and brainstorming during meetings.  They appear more engaged and more articulate and thoughtful with each other and staff.

In last year's "work sessions" the Board's work was dominated by the Administration; conversation was infrequent and directed by staff.  A Director of Curriculum was the most frequent speaker and would drone on with his data.  Click the blue link to "Read More" >>