UPDATED OPINION: Council Members Weren't Given Opportunity To Comment At Salary Commission Meetings

OPINION:  After listening to testimonies of three former councilmembers at last night's regular Council meeting I'm saddened the Mayor didn't clip the miss-managed council Salary Commission work in the bud, rather then let it drag on for weeks on end.  

The lack of transparency throughout the process was delivered home last night in President Forsythe's  statement that "council could have commented at the commission meetings."  City attorney Haney didn't inform Council of this until after commission was dis-banded.  The Mayor, who oversees all city employees was mum.

A flaw in the process is HR / CEO / Mayor -- through the commission -- didn't ask for input, advice and guidance from previous salary commissioners. Siri Bliesner, present LWSD Board President, was on the previous salary commission; she resides in Redmond, as well.  Ms. Bliesner, previous other commissioners and Mayor Marchione could have brought valuable perspective and experience to the decision-making process.

Madame Birney has handled other major issues with alacrity.  Unfortunately, she dropped the ball on this one. This management faux pas makes one seriously wonder how other critical decisions are filtered by the CEO and  overlooked by the Mayor at our expense.  

What are Mayor Birney's next steps?  Hopefully, she will encourage commentary from Council in the process. 

-- Bob Yoder, 6/7/2023, opinion

Council's present salary is $18,648.  Benefits are $28,000.  The Commission proposed a $115,294 salary not counting benefits.  The "Salary Commission" should be re-named "Compensation Commission" to shed light on the total package!  by

King County Assessor Lanches "Taxparency Tool" for April Ballot Measures

  

King County Tax Assessor  John Wilson

 

King County Assessor John Wilson today released his April 2023 general election Taxpayer Transparency Tool, a website which provides each King County taxpayer an individualized accounting of where their property tax dollars go, and the estimated cost of any proposed property tax measure to be voted on.   

All voters in King County will be asked to vote on a new levy to fund mental health and substance use disorder services. 

“Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going, and what each proposed property tax levy will cost them,” said Wilson.  “Property taxes keep going up.  We need to make sure the public understands why.”

 

Property Tax Measures on the April Ballot: 

COUNTYWIDE: King County Prop 1:  Crisis Care Centers Levy; mental health and substance use disorder services. 

Contact:  Assessor John Wilson 206-369-7677 

Al Dams, Chief Deputy Assessor 206-263-2255  

UPDATED 3/3/2023: The Story Of EvergreenHealth's Attitude Toward Mental Health

 EvergreenHealth - King County Public Hospital District #2

This "Silver Tower" and a 2nd Emergency Department were funded by the district
taxpayers of Redmond, Sammamish, Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell, Mill Creek,
Kenmore, Shoreline, Duval, Carnation, and Snohomish County.

EvergreenHealth serves it's community well.  An exception is their almost complete non- performance in treating mental illness.  COVID removed stigma, raised awareness; uncovering the high incidence of those struggling. They should do better and they're not.

Overall though, we are blessed to have EvergreenHealth in our community and region.  They led the Nation through the pandemic onslaught and are deserving of every award earned,  For a hospital with their pandemic experience, they should have no problem finding bandwidth for Mental Health hybrid programming.  

 

Below, is decade's long news and my accounting of EvergreenHealth's lack of progress towards the implementation of mental health treatment and care:

EvergreenHealth history - then & now.

Executive & Medical Leadership Team

Mission, Vision, Values

The Monitor newsletter 

The Status Of Mental Health Care At EvergreenHealth (2022)

King County Asks EvergreenHealth For Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic 

 EvergreenHealth:  Serve your community with "Behavioral Health Urgent Care!"

King County Councilmember Actively Engaged In Behavioral Health

EvergreenHealth Aledgedly Misused C.A.R.E Money

The History of EvergreenHealth CEOs

EvergreenHealth CEO Jeff Tomlin - The pandemic CEO.

EvergreenHealth Hospital Governance is not "Open" and Lacks Transparency

 --News and Opinion, Bob Yoder, 3/1/2023

Public Board meeting information is here. Only thing missing are times of the meetings! The public comment period starts at 6:30 p.m.

Brain disorders are generalational in my family.  It's been quite a tortuous ride. BY

UPDATED: The Painful Facts

NO STORYTELLING, JUST THE PAINFUL FACTS

My 8500 s.f. house (1977) surrounded by 3 schools and 3 parks  

Appraised value:  $1,221,000

2022 appraised $855,000  x 8.58 (rate)  = $7,358/year

2023 appraised $1,221,000 x 8.58 (assumed rate) = $10,476/year

Approximate 30% or $3118/ annual increase. 😓

DON'T FORGET THE LWSD CAPITAL LEVY

Building with Excellence Construction Levy

This $295 million, 6-year levy was approved early 2022 

with collections starting January, 2023.  

The levy rate is .5/$1,000 assessed value.

Based on my home's appraised value my new tax is $610/year.  

Good news:  It's paying off the old bonds so the construction rate will decrease over time.

SOUND TRANSIT (ST-3)

Just a reminder we pay about $1,000/year any which way you look at it.

A few charges:

Based on .25/$1000 my net increase over 2022 is $92.00/year

Car tabs:  $110/vehicle valued at $10,000; thus a $60000 Tesla tab is $660/year

Used cars are appreciating so $15,000 Camry could be valued at $20,000, a $220 tab.

Don't forget we're also paying $330/yr for ST-2. 

OTHER PROPERTY TAX AGENCIES 

State School Part One

State School Two

Local school support

City of Redmond

County

Port

Hospital

Library

EMS

 CITY OF REDMOND SAFETY LEVY, if passed

 $10,400,000, 6-year levy

.34/$1000 assessed value

If passed, my annual property taxes with increase $415.14 per year

On the ballot

CRISIS CARE CENTERS LEVY

Planning Ahead

5 new regional crisis care facilities, one for serving youth.

14.5 cents per $1,000 assessed value or $177/ year starting 2023.

The King County Property Tax rate of 8.58 may increase in 2023. 

Tax Transparency Tool: Estimate the impact of proposed taxes on your property

Assembled and posted by Bob Yoder, 10/22/2022

Updated: The Redmond Blog

 

Map of 11 Redmond Neighborhoods

 

Visit "Friends who like Redmond Neighborhood Blog" for a curated feed of popular stories, opinion and original photos.

Bob Yoder has authored the "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" AKA the Redmond Blog for 16 years.  He's a 42-year resident of Redmond, WA and lives in the wilds of the Education Hill neighborhood.

The Redmond Blog advocates, investigates and reports news and opinion on Greater Redmond, WA. neighborhoods, schools, local governments and organizations so our community can be more informed, responsive and connected with each other.  The goal with our local governments is to encourage them, foster transparency and occasionally catalyze change.

Redmond has 11 neighborhoods and is under the jurisdictions of the City of Redmond, Lake Washington School District, and EvergreenHealth Public Hospital.

Redmond was a 1-stoplight town when I first moved here in 1978. Today it's a suburban city to Seattle and growing astoundingly fast, especially in the last eight years. We are talking dozens of cranes.  The City has far too many jobs for too little housing. Housing affordability is a very big problem. Microsoft, Nintendo, and now Facebook and Amazon are economic engines that never quit.  In two-three years four light rail stations will service Redmond.  

Thank you for reading the blog, commenting, and sharing with your friends and family. 

Stay safe, stay healthy.  

Bob Yoder

UPDATED: Citizens Can Have The Last Word Designing Our Buildings And Villages

The developer's rendering of his twin-tower commercial / residential project.

This massive structure (two 9-story towers) will be built on the old post office site 

across the street from Hancock's Bakery and a block from the fire station.

Opinion:  For years now, residents have complained about the dull earth tones, "box-like" construction, and absence of brick and wood materials in our new Downtown 6-story buildings. Council often joked of their fatigue with the "browns and mustards" - Councilmembers Hank Myers and Kim Allen in particular. But nothing was done. 

In June of 2017. I went to the Design Review Board (DRB) meeting where "Color Options" were being reviewed for the 9-story twin tower building proposed at the old post office site...in the Town Square District.  The Town Square District is envisioned as high density, 6-8 story buildings, including office, entertainment, retail and residential use.  The towers are a signature building setting the stage for the design of future development in the District. Thus, what comes out from this Design Review will impact "look and feel" of the entire Town Square District for years to come.  

I was the only citizen that showed up for the twin-tower meeting and was given a wonderful opportunity to comment on color before the Board and applicant made their decision.  After looking at color schemes presented by the developer's architect, Board and DRB manager Steve Fischer, I recommended teal (blue) over red.  During our nine months of grey weather the blue will remind us of our sunny blue sky days of summer. The red scheme was eclectic and rich with too much pop.  

The Board and applicant decided to go with blue and a small amount of green at the street level. Oscar, the diminutive,.likable project manager said blue was more sophisticated and red shouts.  DRB Chair David Scott Mead -- very influential -- jokingly said he'd see the red from his house, summarizing the review with a blue-green "Go Seahawks!" cheer. Yay!  Watch the video.  Next step:  Oscar will meet with city staff to fine tune the color scheme.  He made it known he doesn't like "Northwest Moss" green wanting color with little more punch.  Yay again!  

The Board proceedings were very interesting. Unfortunately, participation by the Board was weak. One member was absent and the other barely said a thing.  I'm grateful to the developer's architect for reaching out to me and genuinely thanking me for my input. She made me feel I made a difference. I admire this developer and his commitment to form and aesthetics.  

I'm very unhappy with the city's severe lack of transparency with this body.  Though several times Councilmember Stilin advised the public to look into the DRB, it was only by luck that I learned the public can comment.  Without public comment the "look and feel" of our Downtown buildings are left up to just 7 citizens and  powerful staff - many not living in our city. "Design damage" has already done to the downtown core, though opportunity remains to get it right -- with public input -- during the Town Square District build-out and development of Marymoor Village.   

The Board meets on the first and third Thursday's of the month at 7PM, City Hall.  Their approval is the last action required before the land use permit is issued so your comments can significantly influence project outcomes.  To learn what's on the DRB agenda click this link and go to "Agendas Summaries" for 2017.  They don't make it easy! 

Bob Yoder, June, 2017

No women are members of the DRB.

https://redmondcity.blogspot.com/2017/06/design-review-board-brings-welcome.html

Mayor Birney Requires Roll Calls To Squelch Absenteeism

Internet

By Yoder:  All across the State of Washington and world it's a no-brainer the pandemic has striked hell in our lives:  death, hospitalization, declining mental health, social and family isolation, low worker productivity, absenteeism in schools and workplaces, and the list goes on. My battle was (and is) declining mental health, and social isolation. The forever masking and lengthened bombardment of variants kindled fear, the root of anxiety. Had I not taken walks in the woods and pumped iron at the gym I'd probably be on medication today.

I'm retired and absenteeism isn't a problem for me.  I cried when children couldn't be out with their friends at school and teacher absenteeism spiked. Especially for children, mental health declined precipitously; anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation were more common. 

I feel no pain for employees working in a hybrid environment. Many actually benefit. However, absentee accountability can be a problem in a virtual - in person setting. 

I report on City Council meetings weekly for government transparency and to shed light. Unfortunately, the Council, the public, even democracy aches when a public servant is chronically absent from the peoples' work. Last week, the Mayor, City attorney and City Clerk finally confronted their problem.

The fix was easy. Identify and define "regular meetings" and take roll call at the top of each regular meeting. Yes, accountability!  The State of Washington gives Council authority to remove Members if they have three consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings. The Council ultimately decides what constitutes an unexcused absence. 

Requiring roll calls at regular City meetings could be historically significant. We can "thank" the pandemic for that.

-- Bob Yoder, Opinion, 2/12/2022

King County Aims To Mandate 30-Day Notice Before Re-purposing Hotels For Homeless Shelters

SafeEastside.com

County Councilmember Dunn aims to mandate public comment, 30-day notice before King County can re-purpose hotels into homeless shelters. 

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Tuesday introduced an ordinance that would require King County to notify the public before purchasing a hotel for use as a homeless shelter, supported housing, or similar housing option.

“It is not good government for King County to make hugely impactful land use decisions by siting large homeless shelters without first providing full transparency to the public. The impacted communities, including residents and the municipal governments that represent them must all have a chance to provide public comment in advance of the decision being unilaterally made by King County,” Dunn said. “My legislation provides a simple fix to that problem by putting it in King County code that the government must notify the public before siting a shelter in their community.”

Dunn’s legislation would provide the opportunity for public comment in advance of all such purchases by requiring a public notice to be circulated in a local newspaper at least 30 days before the purchase takes place in order to inform the impacted community of the location of the property; the purpose for which King County intends to use it; the funding source proposed the purchase it; information on how the public may provide comment; and the name and phone number of the King County person of contact.

Since May of this year, King County has purchased nine hotels across King County to use as housing for the chronically homeless, including sites in Auburn, Federal Way, Seattle, Redmond, and Renton, and plans to purchase three more hotels by the end of the year.

According to King County’s 2020 Point in Time Count, 64% of the chronically homeless reported that they are battling a substance use disorder and 73% reported battling a mental illness. Past placement of people with untreated addiction and mental illness has impacted the safety of the surrounding communities and businesses.

The ordinance will be referred to the Committee of the Whole.

-- King County Press Release, 11/9/2021

City Council Approves 5% COLA

Redmond City Council approved a 5% Cost of Living salary increase for union employees Effective January 1, 2022,   (Staff quoted 6.5% as the true rate of inflation.)  Many thanks to Mayor Birney and Council for their transparency on this topic!  The Council took time to ask some very good questions. In the past, union salary plans were buried in the Consent Agenda and never pulled for discussion.  

Per employee visibility, the following are a few maximum salaries:  

• Planner, $104,232
• Principal Planner, $131,076
• Senior Planner, $118,614
• Communications & Marketing Project Administrator, $109,164
• Senior Engineer, $141,660
  
• Administrative Assistant, $71,360
• Communications & Marketing Specialist, $97,824
  
• Environmental Sustainability Program Manager, $101,736
  
• Senior Building Inspector, $107,376
• Senior Accountant, $99,636
• Senior Purchasing Agent, $109,044
• Recreation Program Administrator, $104,408

Several neighbors and LWSD employees informed me they are very unhappy with LWSD salaries and  benefits. So, I'm in the process of  looking into District salaries. The work is not easy because the only way to find District salary information is by Public Record Request.  Sadly, their Public Records site is lacking in transparency.  I've been working to change this for quite some time. 

-- Bob Yoder, 11/4/2021

"Safe Eastside" - Activists Fighting Off The Homeless.

 "Safe Eastside's"  relentless attacks on Mayor Birney are unconscionable. Kudos to CM David Carson for his efforts to defend the Mayor and the City.  Anderson, Fields, Forsythe, Kahn and Kritzer should defend the Mayor and City, as well.  They have the same voice as the Mayor in representation of the public. Councilmembers, please actively stand up and defend the Mayor and City tomorrow.  B. Yoder, 10/18/2021

KAN QIU'S MESSAGE TO "SAFE EASTSIDE" VOLUNTEERS:

Please come to public comment Tuesday 10/19 to demand amendment of Ordinance No. 3059 at City Hall, 15670 N.E. 85th Street, Redmond, Washington, 6:30 PM, the last public comment opportunity before the council's study session 10/26 on this matter. We have all witnessed, in the public hearing nearly two weeks ago, Mayor shamefully staged her out of area supporters to call in before many of us who showed up physically since as early as 6:30. But we are more determined than what she could ever have imagined. We need to pack the room again, speakers make sure you sign up in advance on the sheet outside the chamber room. To help us track attendee numbers, please register at  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keep-up-the-pressure-tuesday-october-19th-speak-up-at-redmond-city-hall-tickets-193136014017 .

What's even more outrageous after the shameful display of public hearing is that Mayor Birney's puppet in the council David Carson had to go the extra mile and filed a frivolous PDC complaint on October 14 against us in an apparent attempt to suppress public voices. Sadly as an elected official, puppet CM David Carson obviously forgot that this is America and people's rights express themselves are fully protected by the constitution, particularly on matters that are lack of government transparency. Since when citizens setting up and running a website to inform the public becomes an issue ? It's appalling that such despicable scare tactics have being used against average citizens who simply fill in the vacuum due to the very lack of information from the government!

Monthly Financial Report / Annual Impact Fee Report

 

Key highlights from the Monthly Financial Report through August 2021 include: General Fund

 · Total revenues are 28.5%, or $17.1 million, above target. 

· Sales tax is 80.2%, or $12.9 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity, which has generated $10.5 million in one-time construction sales tax through August 2021. · Utility taxes are 0.3%, or $23,000, below target. 

· License & permit fees are 28.3%, or $2.3 million, above target primarily due to the high level of development activity.

· Intergovernmental revenues are 25.0%, or $2.6 million, above target primarily due to the American Rescue Act. 

 · Total expenditures are 16.3%, or $16.9 million, below target primarily due to position vacancies, the timing of one-time expenditures, and the budget adjustments adopted by ordinance on August 17, 2021 that impact 2022 or beyond (e.g., $5.0 million in ARPA funding won’t be spent until 2022, and most of the Police body-worn camera program funding is reserved for 2023-2025). 

Other Funds

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

 

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

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

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

###

Tom Markl, CEO of Nelson Legacy Partners says..

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

 

Regards,

 

Tom

 

Thomas L. Markl

CEO

09/03/2021

 

16508 NE 79^th Street

Redmond, WA 98052

A Message From Mayor Birney - Coronavirus Update

The safety of the community and our employees is always at the forefront of all decisions being made by the City during this unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation. Recently the media has reported several inaccuracies related to the City’s response to employees that tested positive for COVID-19. To provide the Redmond community with continued transparency, I’d like to take this opportunity to provide you with the facts.

First COVID-19 Positive Case: (Employee 1)

The City was made aware of the first employee positive COVID-19 case on March 12. Employee 1, who tested positive, was off work starting on March 6 and did not show any symptoms until March 9. Prior to March 6, the employee was symptom-free. 

At no time did the City instruct the Fire Command staff to stay quiet. 

King County Assessor Announces "Taxpayer Transparency Tool"

King County Assessor John Wilson today released his February 2020 Taxpayer Transparency Tool, a website which provides each King County taxpayer an individualized accounting of where their property tax dollars go, and the estimated cost of any proposed property tax measure to be voted on. 

“Taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going, and what each proposed property tax levy will cost them,” said Wilson.  “Property taxes keep going up.  We need to make sure the public understands why.”

The tool can be found at http://localscape.spatialest.com/#kingcountyassessor/Tax. There is a link to the tool on left side menu of the Assessor’s web page https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/assessor.aspx. The Transparency Tool only shows the impact of property tax measures.  Other ballot measures, including sales tax measures or benefit charges, are not included. The Tax Transparency Tool was introduced by Assessor Wilson and first used during the April special election in 2018.

Posted by Yoder
1/29/2020

EvergreenHealth Receives "A" Grade For Patient Safety

EvergreenHealth Receives “A” Grade for Patient Safety Kirkland, Wash.

EvergreenHealth  announced that it has again received an “A” grade for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, a leading national nonprofit watchdog on hospital quality and safety. The EvergreenHealth is one of only 15 hospitals in Washington to achieve an A rating this fall, according to Leapfrog’s latest Hospital Safety Grades report.

 “Earning recognition from respected health care quality organizations, including The Leapfrog Group, is affirmation of the commitment and results achieved by our staff in providing safe, high quality care and service. We are grateful for the recognition, knowing that safety and quality are continuous journeys,” said Jeff Tomlin, MD, CEO of EvergreenHealth.

Earthquake Preparedness In LWSD

Lake Washington School District (LWSD) works with all its schools to ensure that earthquake response plans are in place. Our buildings are built to seismic codes, and older buildings have been retrofitted. All natural gas lines have seismic shut-off valves. The district has a Safety Advisory Committee that meets monthly to discuss emergency planning and safety. As part of those plans, the district follows guidance from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and currently recommends “drop, cover and hold” as the state-approved response to earthquakes. Students practice this method during earthquake drills. LWSD will also participate in the Great Washington ShakeOut on October 17 at 10:17 a.m. This is a state-wide earthquake drill. Source:  LWSD Connections What is EvergreenHealth doing to retrofit their buildings?.... many of them built to 1968 - 2010 standards.  The $345M August, 2019 bond was intended to provide seismic retrofits. It failed. To date, their leadership has lacked transparency - not providing solutions to how they will be earthquake ready.   On another note, the Redmond fire department is retrofitting their stations.

Laurene Burton, EvergreenHealth Executive Director, Governance & Community Affairs retires after 27 years

Laurene Burton has shared her plans to retire from her position as Executive Director, Governance & Community Affairs. After 27 years working on behalf of our patients and community, she looks forward to traveling, kayaking, spending more time with her family and reading a good book or two. For a while, she says she’ll enjoy “every day being Saturday.” Laurene’s last day with EvergreenHealth is July 5.

Since Laurene joined EvergreenHealth in 1992, she has been widely recognized for her commitment to building relationships in our community. Initially hired to write curriculum for Community Health Education, she quickly acquired additional skills and was selected to become Director of Community Health Education in 1998. In 2005, she joined our administrative team, where she developed an affinity for governance activities and enjoyed working closely with our Board of Commissioners, whose work she deeply admires. Laurene continued her practice of active community-building through oversight of EvergreenHealth’s art program, volunteer program, community service programs and levy-funded programs – and carried out our organization’s commitment to transparency in her role as EvergreenHealth's Public Disclosure Officer.

It was EvergreenHealth’s culture that first appealed to Laurene. “It’s what drew me and what kept me here,” she says. With our origins and history of sustaining strong community ties, Laurene could freely follow her own natural instincts: “When I saw areas where we needed to have a connection, I tried to make one; I looked for needs in the community that EvergreenHealth could fill and pursued partnerships. In my experience, good relationships are crucial to any achievement. I’ve had the privilege of working with so many wonderful people in my role here, and I value every single one of them.

Laurene’s proudest achievements, not surprisingly, involve partnerships and a sense of satisfaction in helping these relationships grow and thrive:

UPDATED OPINION: The next Mayor we elect needs to plan for "us," not just "them."

All these "Redmond Center" small businesses will be demolished

Why, oh why were we fated to live in Redmond during this messy urbanization process? There seems no end to the detours, disruptive demolition and ceaseless  construction. I hear (no transparency) even more Giants are cued up. The City needs to take pause to the planned "twin 9-story towers" by the old post office, and other monoliths -- not just for infrastructure catch-up but for presence of mind. When the City's Director of Planning finishes "our" 10-year plan many will be dead; or have left, leaving "technology" to enjoy the fruits of our endurance. The Mayor we elect in November will need a serious plan for "us" -- not just "them." (city staff and developers.) Yes,I pity the small businesses expected to move into the first floor of these expensive Goliath's. Our downtown core is evolving into a small business wasteland.  

Construction of this roughly 600-unit, multi-family apartment project is set to start in the summer 2020. Several other massive projects are planned for the downtown in the near future.  Which mayoral candidate do you want to manage the city during this turbulent time?

-- Bob Yoder, opinion
   

Note: A friend stated: "the 6-story ground-level places intended for small businesses to move into are nearly quadruple the current rental / lease prices. Some of the businesses say it would  be $9K/month + just to lease a space.  That doesn't include renovating the space to fit their business, or any of the other moving expenses."

EvergreenHealth offers resources for healthcare costs

What Will Your Care Cost?

Our commitment is to be your partner in health and to provide our community access to high quality health care at a great value. To help you make the best decisions about your health care, we embrace transparency. The resources offered here will provide you with a deeper understanding about your healthcare costs. You can even reach out to us to discuss your individual questions and obtain a personalized estimate for your out-of-pocket cost.

Call or email us for your personalized price estimate.

Robert H. Malte
CEO

We welcome your request for a price estimate related to your upcoming treatment at EvergreenHealth!  Call to speak to a member of our Patient Financial Services team, who will provide an estimate* based on your services and your health insurance provider, including the specifics of your coverage plan. 

Things to know about your request…

• It is helpful to know the CPT code of your procedure (your provider can give this to you). If your procedure is already scheduled, our staff may be able to help get this code for you.
• Please allow up to 24 hours for some estimates as it may take extra time to obtain certain information related to your request.

UPDATED: Redmond Neighborhood Blog "About Us" is revised and edited

Bob, Lexie and Pam

Here's the revision....

The "Redmond Neighborhood Blog" mission is to keep our community better informed, connected and responsive to each other, with attention to local governments and our neighborhoods. My vision is positive. progressive change in our community.       

I've lived in Redmond 38 years and started blogging about 10 years ago. When I first moved here from the mid-west to sell medical supplies, Redmond was a rural one-stoplight town.  My family loved visiting the downtown feed store to play with the chicks; golf the downtown course; drive through the horse farms; line up at for ice cream and fresh milk at Thenos and generally just enjoy a peaceful lifestyle away from the big city. Well, those days are over.  

I've been writing "Redmond Blog" under a known premise that governments fostering "transparency (openness) and participation" are good governments.  My open government reporting of the City includes reporting on the Lake Washington School District and EvergreenHealth District governments. Transparency is improving and our local governments are healthier.  

Several environmental issues in the mid-2000's tormented me so I started blogging to cope, "get the word out," and leverage voice. (A city planning commissioner Korby Parnel suggested I write a blog.) Environmental Issue 1:  A  housing project on Education Hill threatened the neighborhood forest and an important wetland frequented by science teachers. Public notice was pathetic so we got the word out. Mayor Ives negotiated a wider buffer. Notice was improved; two neighborhood meetings are now required. Issue 2:  Hiking along Evans Creek in the city's southwest industrial district we found and reported riparian buffers severely abused by a wood recycling company.  We were surprised the city "let this go" so leveraged voice. Soon, six state and local agencies were called in for remediation. Mayor Marchione later proclaimed "Riparian, as habitat of local importance."  Issue 3: Years later, Lower Bear Creek was threatened by a WSDOT SR520 widening project.  We worked with city and state officials to raise awareness and request funding. The creek was eventually re-aligned to preserve federally protected salmon habitat.  

Years ago, I found Evergreen Hospital's concealed public Board commission's chambers and started attending their meetings and reporting on them.  Public Record Requests revealed an executive/pediatrician's salary of $600,000 and other misfeasance.  In short time, CEO Brown abruptly resigned and the commissioners hired Bob Malte from Colorado Springs as CEO.  Mr. Malte reshuffled personnel and re-branded Evergreen to "EvergreenHealth."  The hospital currently is winning many regional and national awards under Malte's helm.