UPDATED, 8/31 Speak up on how school district tax dollars are spent -- Budget Hearing August 14th

Lake Washington School District is the now 3rd largest district in the State and has a $625,000,000 budget -- exceeding the City or Redmond's budget.  Some of you may have a burning desire to learn and speak your mind on how and where our tax-dollars are spent or learn about how our district runs.   Now's your chance:

Superintendent Dr. Pierce has scheduled a very important Monday, August 14th Board meeting and Public Hearing to help walk us through the budget and give you a chance to comment for or against any part of the budget. I'm personally concerned about the number of administrative FTE's in the Resource Center and the poor public notice of this budget.

The meeting start at 7 pm in the School District Resource Center (16250 NE 74th Street) located in Redmond Town Center..

THE HEARING IS OVER - HERE'S AN UPDATE

The District's user-friendly, readable, summary budget was released after 10AM on Friday, August 11th.  It's unfortunate we didn't t have more time to study it in preparation for the August 14th Hearing    http://www.lwsd.org/.../Draft-2017-18-Budget-Summary.pdf

The day after the Hearing I had coffee with the CFO and Director of Communications & Pubic Engagement.  They explained the intricacies of the budget and answered all my questions.

The front doors to the District Recourse Center were locked with no Hearing notice on the door. This action is unconscionable and the Administration said they'd never let it happen again.

If you didn't make it to the Hearing  you may still comment  at BoardMembers@lwsd.org

RESOURCES:

A video of the Finance Director presenting the budget during the June 26th Board meeting  HERE. 

The official F-195 budget draft is  HERE. 

***Before the Hearing, Traci and the Board met at 5:00 in the Hugh's Room next to district chambers, first floor to discuss the budget.  You're not aloud to speak but it's a pleasant opportunity  to learn see the Board and executives interact and discuss issuers.

E-mail addresses:
All members of the board: boardmembers@lwsd.org
Chris Carlson, President, ccarlson@lwsd.org
Siri Bliesner, Vice President sbliesner@lwsd.org
Nancy Bernard, nbernard@lwsd.org
Eric Laliberte, elaliberte@lwsd.org
Mark Stuart, mstuart@lwsd.org

Washington State governs budget noticing and delivery. 

Bob Yoder

CC:  Dr. Pierce. / Board members / Barbara Postumous, Chief Financial Officer

The Dudley Manlove Quartet to play at "Rockin' on the River" this Thursday night

Last week's, "The Blues Power Review"

This Thursday evening, August 10th, 6:00- 8:30 pm is the last of the "Rockin' on the River" concert series. Concerts are held at the Senior Center.

The Dudley Manlove Quartet will be performing.  You don't want to miss this one!

The Redmond Kiwanis will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. 

LETTER: New area code needed to keep up with Western Washington growth.

The State of Washington population is booming and state regulators will soon be adding area code 564 to keep up with our growth.  

Here is an article that describes the new requirement in Western Washington requiring that all ten numbers have to be used (including the area code) for all calls...even for local calls. This affected me personally because I had a few pre-set numbers on my home phone stored for local Redmond calls as only seven numbers.   

It's important to update all stored local phone numbers to include the area code (if not already stored that way).  

I was just thinking that in the rare case of someone having an emergency trying to dial a family member/friend/organization in the local 425/206 area code locations and having the number stored as 7 digits only.

The new requirement does not affect 911 calls.

David Spackman
Redmond, WA.  

EvergreenHealth Opens Neuroscience, Spine & Orthopedic Institute

Two new floors in the DeYoung Pavilion provide comprehensive musculoskeletal services

Kirkland, Wash. — EvergreenHealth is pleased to announce the grand opening of its Neuroscience, Spine & Orthopedic Institute on the health system’s Kirkland campus. The Institute spans four levels of EvergreenHealth’s DeYoung Pavilion and includes two newly constructed floors to house the system’s musculoskeletal and orthopedics practices, providing patients with the convenience of complementary services in one location.

The two new floors on levels four and five of the DeYoung Pavilion combine innovative design and technology to enhance patient care, while also accommodating the integration of EvergreenHealth’s musculoskeletal and orthopedics services. Now, from a single location, patients receive in-clinic evaluation and diagnostic care, imaging, minimally invasive procedures, surgical consultation and rehabilitation within orthopedics, spine surgery, physiatry, podiatry, neurosurgery and pain management.

UPDATED: Design Review standards: Point - Counterpoint

The opinion piece:"Vote for future-minded candidates" stoked this discussion with Planning Commissioner Sherri Nichols:

POINT:

I serve on the Planning Commission, and I've never met anybody from the Master Builders Association. Design review standards are not part of our purview; that's the Design Review Board. The designs for the buildings downtown were approved long ago, prior to appointments by our current mayor, so blaming anybody serving today for the "look and feel" of the buildings downtown is wrong.

Over half the Planning Commissioners currently serving have served less than two years. Next time, why not talk to one of us before calling us tools of developers.Our meetings are public, and we're always happy to talk to people.

-- Sherri Nichols, 
   Planning commissioner

COUNTERPOINT .

Thanks Sherri for your comment and you're volunteerism on the commission, I've watched Planning Commission meetings for years  Early in the Ives Administration I recommended adding an e-mail address to your website page to encourage participation. It was done, and I've used it a lot over the years. (planningcommission@redmond.gov.)  However, in this case it shouldn't take a formal e-mail or public presentation to know design standards are outdated... just look around: read the Redmond Reporter. 

You've twisted my words.  Never once did I accuse your commission as a tool for developers. In my opinion piece I called out the The Master Builder PAC not you. 

Even if, existing design standards were made years ago, as you say, this doesn't preclude standards can't be improved and updated now or  could have been updated at anytime during Marchione's terms.. It's disingenuous to blame the Ives Administraton for the design damage we have today.  

Many impactful projects are still  cueing up for land use and design approval -- the most immediate and significant being Marymoor Village, two 2-4 story Avondale projects, The Town Square District and who knows what  else.   The council-approved planning  commission  needs to adapt with the times to advise council on design improvements. In addition, the Design Review Board is atrociously non transparent and needs airing.

  - Bob Yoder

Steve Fields thanks community for high voter turnout

Credit:  down pour coffee bar

When I went to "down pour coffee bar" this morning I ran into Steve Fields, winner of the Primary for City Council Position 2. He asked me to thank everyone for the high voter turnout. The turnout  was over 35%!  Steve's wife, Roni, owns the cafe. I enjoyed an indescribable americano. The taste was something I've not found at "Charbucks" or any other cafe in Redmond. (Councilmember David Carson would love it.) Roni looked hard and wide to find the "Sleepy Monk" coffee roast from Cannon Beach, OR. It's a must sip!

Besides enjoying an awesome americano, down pour is a good place to meet Steve and tell him what's on your mind.  Steve's usually at the shop on Thursday's between 2 -4.  He can also be reached at 425-444-3188 or by e-mail at sjf13@comcast.net. His candidate website is www.ElectSteveFields.com.  He has an impressive site.

Byron Shutz is in the General Election as well. He's facing off to Steve for Position 2. According to the city website, Byron's e-mail is bschutz@rdmond.gov and phone number is 425-556-2143.  His website is: www.ShutzForCouncil.com. His vision for the city may catch your eye. Byron's very active with the Redmond Kiwanis; you can find him at most of their meetings and fundraisers.

Bob Yoder

UPDATED: "Ballotpedia"- Candidates Jinyoung Lee Englund and Manka Dhingra

Ballotpedia is an objective source of facts and news on the 45th District election and candidate

Jinyoung Lee Englund

https://ballotpedia.org/Jinyoung_Lee_Englund



Ballotpedia is also an objective source of facts and news for candidate
Manka Dhingra

 https://ballotpedia.org/Manka_Dhingra

UPDATED,6/19 Opinion: Vote for future-minded candidates

UPDATED:  Redmond City Council  is gripped by "The Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties."  50% of the spend in the City Council Primary thus far has been sourced by the Master Builders PAC...all of it spent on campaign mailers and services supporting two "City Hall" candidates. 

The "Master Builders PAC states "There are many timely issues that directly impact the homebuilding industry - critical areas regulations, design review guidelines, permitting processes....etc."  Of course these "timely issues" ultimately revolve around profit (that's okay) but sometimes at serious compromise to our city look and feel.

With the Master Builder's concerns for the "timely issue of design review standards" it's no wonder our downtown is built-out with inexpensively designed "row-house" apartment buildings fronting our signature Leary Way Gateway.  We'll be living with and seeing this wall of box buildings for the next 100 years.

We need to elect candidates who are independent of developer "timely issues" and to support those few sitting council members willing to sacrifice their standing with the development community to do the right thing.

Bob Yoder

I was inspired to write this post by Jason Antonelli Position 6 and Steve Fields Position 2.   Councilman Hank Myers wrote an excellent letter in the Redmond Reporter defining the candidates as "City Hall"  and "outsiders." which inspired me. 

Redmond Reporter: "Sounding off on last Issue's City Council Letter"

Redmond Reporter "Letter to the Editor"  July, 27, 2017

Phil Miller (Redmond Planning Commission) recently questioned why people without civic experience run for city council. His letter underscores key several issues facing Redmond voters.

First, why are we suddenly seeing so much interest in council races? The trend began three years ago with two levy increase proposals. The council was told victory was a lock. The council even reduced the cost by nearly half. Contrary to conventional political wisdom, Redmond voters soundly rejected both proposals. This year, for the first time in memory, all council positions on the ballot are contested. Each position has a “City Hall” candidate (Byron Schutz, Tanika Padhye and Roy Captain) and one or more “outside” candidates. Neither political party in the districts covering Redmond endorsed a City Hall candidate, another first. Anyone who thinks the levy elections and the current contests are flukes is missing the big picture.

Second, why do people without civic experience run? To get on a board or commission, you must be appointed by the mayor. With more than 30 years of government affairs and transportation experience, I applied four times and was rejected each time. If you represent an independent or contrary philosophy, it is unlikely you will be appointed to a board or commission. If I wanted to be involved in my community, I would have to get elected. David Carson, one of the most engaged and dedicated council members I know, was an outsider when he ran. John Marchione also ran for city council without having been appointed to a board or commission.

The most disappointing part of Mr. Miller’s letter was asserting reasons why all of Jason Antonelli’s ideas won’t work. The attitude is, “You have a new idea, I have complex reasons it won’t work.” In my experience, when the word “complex” is used as an explanation, it means, “you can’t possibly understand the issues, and even if you could, there isn’t much that can be done.” If you don’t like the current situation, accept it or move.

Why do people without experience run for office? Because they are told to stay out of the process. Told not to engage on boards if they aren’t an insider. Told to support tax increases and to trust that government will spend it well. As problems get more obvious and taxes increase, is it any wonder people have decided that the same old routine isn’t working for Redmond?

Hank Myers
Redmond City Council member