Vote "yes" on school measures

OPINION:  I've talked to activists on both sides of the levies/bond measure for hours on end.  I'm 67 years old, on a fixed income and the rising taxes are starting to really stress me out.  I'm not sure if I'll be able to pay for the pending 2022 and 2026 measures but after looking at my budget I've decided I can pay for this one.

The data the district gives us is confusing and quite frankly I'm burned out trying to figure it all out.  I found a July 1, 2017 article in PATCH that's helped me a lot and makes good sense.  The "tax rate" gibberish is removed so you can focus on the real thing, tax dollars.  Tax dollars directly affect our pocketbooks not rates.  It's important to remember rising school taxes aren't the district's fault.  If you need someone to blame, point to the State legislature.

The PATCH article centers on the House measure passed late last year that raises state taxes by $2.70/ $1000 assessed value to fund education.  (The good news is local levy dollars are reduced.)  If you're really interested in an estimate of how the state increase will affect your household budget I suggest you read the article.  Though I may be wrong, I figure if my wife and I have one less latte per day our state tax increase will be paid.

The bond measure is another story. It's too confusing for me to explain how the tax is derived despite hours of study.  I do know we are in a terrible hole for lack of classroom space and if the bond doesn't pass our district will be entering a dark age.  On a bright side, should the bond pass the benefits to our kids and teachers will be immeasurable.  OPEN THIS LINK.

In addition to this measure, we need to budget for two more bond measures -- one in 2022 and another in 2026.  And, we can expect other taxes over time; for example every biennium the city consistently raises taxes 1% and the water utility tax 2%.  We live in an affluent area under the "Amazon effect" and we have to accept high taxes or move out.  Fortunately tax discounts are available for seniors.

At Paige Norman's "Education Hill Neighborhood Association" EhHNA meeting Eric Campbell, a developer on the Bond Committee addressed cost efficiencies from new architectural and construction practices.  New schools will be larger with connections for new wings. The  Middle School on Redmond Ridge and Juanita High will have two stories with straight walls and fewer corners.  Eric says $44 million will be saved by these practices alone.  The district is doing the best they can do to educate our children.  Now it's our turn.

Please VOTE "Yes" on February 13th

BOB YODER
Redmond Community Member 

This opinion was published in the Redmond Reporter, 2/12/18  

Letter: Building thriving neighborhoods

I'm a Redmond resident and member in Leadership Eastside's two-year enrichment program. My final project focuses on building thriving neighborhoods on the Eastside, and my project team and I were hoping you could help us by posting our survey on your blog. It's about neighborhood engagement and takes no more than 2-3 minutes to fill out. It will provide us with invaluable data. Peoples answers will be completely anonymous unless they provide their email address at the end for the opportunity to join a focus group on this topic in the March-April timeframe. I'm happy to answer any questions about the project or Leadership Eastside [E-mail aaknopf@hotmail.com]  Thanks if you are able to post the survey, and I hope you and your readers take it, too: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NK5VZ62

-- Aaron Knopf
    Redmond

Mayor Marchione Responds to City of Everett's Initiative to Transfer Land for Mentally Ill Homeless

Below is an "Everett Herald" article announcing the transfer:

City votes to transfer land for homeless, mental ill housing

Everett Herald, Updated: Jan 4, 2018 - 11:34 AM 

EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett City Council voted to approve the plans for low-barrier housing and to transfer land to Catholic Housing Services.

The Everett Herald reports the Safe Streets housing project on Berkshire Drive is set to be a 65-unit complex with around-the-clock staffing primarily for the chronically homeless or those living with mental illness.

Tenants cannot have convictions for arson, sex crimes or producing methamphetamine.

About half the residents would be from Everett.

The construction budget is $10.5 million. Most of the costs are borne by Catholic Housing Services and funded by tax credits and grants, which the city helped secure.

Groundbreaking is planned for later this month.

Rendering of Everett's "Safe Street project"

Mayor Marchone's comment on the Everett Herald article:

"Thank you Bob. We are always interested in, and staff work to stay apprised of, what other jurisdictions are doing to address the challenge of homelessness.  That said, not every strategy is appropriate for every jurisdiction.  Everett is essentially the Seattle of Snohomish County, with both the largest population and greatest concentration of resources.

As one of many connected suburban cities, Redmond works closely with our Eastside neighbors to craft policies and strategies that will serve the sub-region as a whole.  In addition, Redmond has been very proactive in developing strategies focused on our local community. 

I appointed a Community Task Force on Homelessness in 2016 that developed a list of recommended action items.  A recent staff report to the City Council summarized the status of those action items which have been almost completely implemented.  

Two key strategies to emerge included the addition of a dedicated outreach specialist to work in partnership with the Redmond Police, and a new website to provide information about homelessness in general, and ways that individual community members can get involved.  I encourage you to check it out:  http://www.redmond.gov/Residents/homelessness

Our activities in 2018 will include an exploration of what we as a community should do to most effectively further this work.  We will make sure you are included when we reach out to the community on this topic.

Thanks again and Happy New Year."

John

John Marchione

Mayor │ City of Redmond

(: 425.556.2101 | *: mayor@redmond.gov | Redmond.gov

MS: 4NEX │ 15670 NE 85^th St │ Redmond, WA 98052

      

   NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This e-mail account is public domain. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account is a public

   record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of

   confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.

Artest's rendering of the project:  

The Mayor approved my posting of his letter.

-----Original Message-----

From: Bob Yoder [redmondblog@gmail.com]
Received: Thursday, 04 Jan 2018, 10:55PM
To: Mayor (Internet) [Mayor@redmond.gov]
Subject: Homeless housing

Hi Mr. Mayor, 

I thought you'd be interested in what Everett is doing for their mentally ill homeless.  

http://www.kiro7.com/news/north-sound-news/city-votes-to-transfer-land-for-homeless-mental-ill-housing/676269846

Redmond's First Parks Director to Talk About Early Years

John Couch, City Parks Director of 30 years with speak on Saturday, February 10th, 10:30 am at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center located on 16600 NE 80^th Street.  

Redmond, WA January 5, 2018 - Ask locals what they treasure about Redmond, and you’re likely to hear parks and trails.

But those recreational spaces didn’t just happen. Fifty years of planning have gone into them -- starting on Jan. 1, 1968, when the city created a Parks and Recreation Department. Within a decade, 16 parks and more than 200 acres had been acquired for public benefit. By 2000, Redmond had 34 city parks and 25 miles of trail.

John Couch, Redmond’s first and longest-serving parks director (1968-2000), will look back on the department’s first decade at the upcoming Redmond Historical Society Speaker Series program on February 10.

Become a FAN of Music Arts

It’s a bad idea to take your tuba on the bus. Consider the obvious problems: shoving it through the folding door, heaving it down the aisle, and jamming it onto a seat. Even if you can manage all that, nobody will fit next to you. Not good for your social interactions or your instrument, which suffers wear-and-tear when traveling. That’s one reason why our schools purchase instruments for orchestra and band students to use at school. This policy also helps ensure that anyone who wants to play gets to play, regardless of their ability to purchase or rent their own instrument. But these school-owned instruments are showing their age, and the need is only growing. The Lake Washington School District needs to purchase nearly $300,000 in instruments over the next five years. The state doesn’t provide funding for this, and while booster clubs perform an amazing service, this funding gap is too big for a booster. So we’re coming to you for help.

Click to learn which instruments are needed in each school and contribute to the school or learning community of your choice. - Larry Wright, PhD Executive Director of LW Schools Foundaiton

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.

Kirkland Town Hall: "Youth Mental Health"

EvergreenHealth and the Kirkland Chamber are sponsoring a community event on youth mental health next Tuesday, January 30th. 6-8:30pm at the Kirkland Performance Center.  

Specifics:   

"Kirkland Town Hall:  Youth Mental Health."  

Kirkland Performance Center

Tuesday, January 30th, 6-8:30 pm 

No charge, donation is welcome

Refreshments at 6pm

Panel discussion starts at 7pm.  

Key topics are:  1) facing the facts, 2) breaking stigma, and 3) Identifying the resources.  The panel will discuss and answer questions about the challenges youth are facing with their mental health.  

If you have any questions please e-mail Ms. Laurene Burton, EvergreenHealth, lburton@evergreenhealth.org.  

Teachers, students, physicians and community members will be attending.  I hope some of you can make it!

EvergreenHealth is Among Top 5% of Hospitals Nationwide for Clinical Performance

EvergreenHealth Medical Center, Kirkland, WA

Healthgrades names health system to its Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ list for the ninth time in 10 years

Kirkland, Wash. – Today, Healthgrades released its annual Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ list, with EvergreenHealth named one of just 250 hospitals nationwide to receive the prestigious award in 2018.

EvergreenHealth has earned the award from Healthgrades for the ninth time in 10 years. The distinction places the Kirkland-based health system among the top 5 percent of nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for its superior clinical performance.

Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals, announced the award along with data on clinical outcomes, risk-adjusted mortality and in-hospital complication rates to recognize the nation’s top-performing hospitals.

Over the last year, EvergreenHealth has earned several other Healthgrades recognitions, including its America’s 100 Best™ hospitals award for stroke care, pulmonary care, critical care, gastrointestinal care and general surgery, and in 2017 joined Healthgrades’ elite group of America’s 100 Best Hospitals™, which represent the top 2 percent of hospitals across the country for consistent quality care.

LETTER: Vote 'Yes' for LWSD Levies and Bond. A very good investment.

This February, you will be asked to vote on 3 measures for the Lake Washington School District (LWSD).  On behalf of the 29,572 students in LWSD, most of whom are not eligible to vote for their educational resources and opportunity, I humbly ask you to vote YES on all 3 measures.  It is a wise investment not just for our students and families, but for our community’s quality of life.  We are quite fortunate to have a strong public school system, and voting Yes this February can keep it that way.   I truly believe that a strong school system helps develop capable children who will be our helpers and leaders in the community for years to come. 

Proposition 1, the Educational Programs and Operations Levy (EP&O), replaces an expiring levy.  The EP&O Levy funds 19.2% of LWSD’s operating budget, including essential staff and programs in place such as substitute teachers, Special Education, Highly Capable programs, English Language learning, nurses, early learning, teacher training, and athletics.   As the state will be increasing its investment in education for all districts across the state, LWSD was able to reduce the amount requested locally and therefore will REDUCE its local tax rate for this levy.   By voting Yes on Prop 1, you are voting to maintain the strong schooling LWSD offers today.  The state’s approach is not meant to cover 100% of programs, that’s why local levies will continue to exist.  To be accountable to taxpayers, the state legislature set a limit for local school districts to collect on this levy, and LWSD has taken this even further to collect $41.6M LESS than the amount authorized by the state.  To maintain what LWSD offers today, we need to vote YES and pass this Levy.  [Read "MORE" to learn about the other levy and capital bond.]

Stehekin, WA.

UPDATED: Seattle Times Columnist's Testimony Of His Mental Illness

For over 40 years I've lived with mood swings wherein suicide ideation or completion is about 10 times greater then the general population.  I'm treated with 3 medications by an excellent doctor at Overlake  (EvergreenHealth is a public hospital though it's not yet announced they employ psychiatrists.)  The following is a "Seattle Times" article by Columnist Matt Calkins describing his personal experience and challenges of  poor brain health. He was interviewed by Q13 last week.  I met Matt last year at the NAMI Legislative Candidate Forum. He's a great guy!  Bob Yoder , 11/20/19

BY MATT CALKINS

My last appointment with a psychiatrist was two weeks ago, when we talked mostly about relationships. It was far more pleasant than previous sessions, in which topics ranged from depression to insomnia to suicidal thoughts.

My brain, you see, hasn’t always been good to me. It has been known to cripple me with anxiety or sink me with despair.  [Lord knows I’ve been there. When Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau killed himself in 2012, I penned a column describing my own suicidal fantasies.]

Fortunately, the people I’ve turned to for help have been great to me — talking me through hardships, offering coping strategies and, yes, prescribing medication.

Right now I’m on an antidepressant called Pristiq, which I pair with a more benign drug called Buspirone. And after experimenting with other medications such as Effexor, Lexapro and Remeron, I think I’ve found the combo that suits me best.

I feel good now, really, but I’ll likely have to treat my mental health for the rest of my life. So why am I telling ypu this?

Simple — because there shouldn’t be a stigma attached to admitting this stuff

Letter: "Pantry Packs" feed vulnerable LWSD students

We currently are sending out 855 packs of food each week to LWSD students that are food insecure so students always have available food and don’t go hungry over the weekend.  This program is run by three very dedicated volunteers (Karyn Matveyenko, Janice Vache’, and me) and as of July 1, 2017 we are now part of the Lake Washington School’s Foundation.

I invite you to go to our webpage to find out more about Pantry Packs.  The foundation also interviewed me if you would like to read more about the history/growth of Pantry Packs.

We welcome those to  sign up to one of our next packing parties on either February 7^th or March 7^th – this is where we pack around 3,000 packs with 50 volunteers at the Kirkland Hopelink. Sign up is required owing to limited space.  

I hope you will support Pantry Packs efforts in getting the word out to our community about this important program that serves so many LWSD students

Sincerely,

Marlene Vacknitz

Pantry Packs Volunteer Leadership Team

Weekend Food for Hungry LWSD Students
We’d love to connect with you on Facebook
Website: Pantry Packs

A class on Government Civics for Residents scheduled for January 31.

Learn with long-time community and Council member Valderrama, as he helps residents explore: Local Government political systems and processes How to interact with City Hall, Commissions and School Board Upcoming Local Tax issues and School Bonds and Levy How to effectively use your voice and participate (including the initiative process) How to become involved – a call to action to join commissions with vacancies, and volunteer Location:  Central Washington University, Sammamish, WA  120 228th Ave NE Room 201A  The first class is  January 31st, 7-9 pm.  Cost:  $35.00 and will include speakers who are elected School Board members and the Chair of the Planning Commission.  This class may be a good opportunity to discuss the upcoming LWSD bond.   REGISTER HERE

Redmond City Television

Redmond City Television (aka RCTV) was created in 1996 as a convenient way for residents to view city council and planning commission meetings and issues, services and events within Redmond. 

RCTV is available on Comcast channel 21 and Frontier Channel 34 cable systems.

City Council meetings  are held in City Hall every Tuesday night at 7:30 pm. Council Committee meetings with staff are held at 4:30 the same day. This is a very good meeting to watch for the "inside information."  The public is invited to speak (4 minutes each) during their Regular meetings.  Watch all the meetings live on RCTV.  The meetings are replayed on cable on: 

• 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesdays
• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays
• 3 p.m. Saturdays
• 9 p.m. Sundays
• 12 p.m. Mondays
• 8 a.m. Tuesdays

Council and Planning Commission meetings are video-taped and archived with OnDemand programming. (click 2019 - City Council)

Planning Commission meetings are held in City Hall most Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm. and  replayed on Comcast 21: 

10am & 3pm Thursdays
12pm Fridays
3pm Sundays

If want to know what's happening in the city, RCTV is a must stop!  For questions about RCTV  and other Redmond services e-mail info@redmond.gov

B. Yoder

Ordinance Prohibits Camping In Parks And Public Spaces, When Overnight Shelters Are Available

Internet photo (not in Redmond)

Consideration of Ordinance No. 2911: An Ordinance Amending Sections 9.33.010 Through 9.33.030 of the Redmond Municipal Code and Adding a New Section 9.33.035 in Order to:

Prohibit Camping and Storage of Personal Property in Parks and in Order to Prohibit Camping and Storage of Personal Property on Other Public Property When Overnight Shelter Space is Available; Authorizing the Police Chief to Adopt Rules and Regulations for Enforcement.

Below is a partial accounting of Council's Janurary 2nd decision-making process in approving the ordinance:

 1)  Mr. Haney, the city attorney advised Council to pass the ordinance to be in compliance with Federal law related to a Boise court case citing 8th Amendment rights.

2)  Council member Anderson moved to amend Ordinance No. 2911 to add the definition “Overnight Shelter” be defined as a public or private shelter, with an available overnight space for one or more individuals.

Anderson's motion was seconded by Council member Fields.  VOTE: Ms. Anderson's motion to amend failed with Council members Anderson and Fields in support (2 – 5).

3)  Mr. Fields asked if the City's municipal campus is an example of public shelter space and someone (staff, attorney, or the mayor) said yes.

4) Mr. Fields recommended a study session before voting on the ordinance.  His concerns were 1) that he and two other council members were new and left out of earlier conversations/decisions and 2)  the ordinance may have serious consequences.  Fields recommendation was denied.  The main motion passed with Council member Fields in opposition (6 – 1).

Activist Albert Rosenthal claims "public shelter space" includes the Mayor's office and City Hall business floors. To read a letter he wrote the Mayor and Council "READ MORE."  He will be addressing Council during Items from the Audience at their next regular meeting, 2/16/2017 7:30 pm. 

B. Yoder, opinion

Updated: Sears store in Overlake urban center proposed for major redevelopment

By Tom Hinman, Facilitator

Imagine Overlake

For those of you who wondered what was to become of the Sears site in Overlake, here's the answer.  The development company Seritage has proposed a project that covers a 14 acre parcel that includes a park (over the new storm water vault) in a master planned mixed use development. View the project design HERE.  It's amazing.  The project, known as Heritage Place, has been approved by the Design Review Board per information linked below and will be the subject of an initial Redmond City Council study session on January 23rd.  There will be another study session on March and a public hearing on this development a bit later on.

Why you should still go outside when the weather sucks

Green Redmond is a great program if you like to plant baby trees in our forests. 
The Downtown Park water splash features may be nature enough for some, 
and then there's our neighborhood parks and trails.  The Powerline trail is awesome. BY

"Right as Rain" by UW Medicine 

 By Mckenna Princing, January 5th, 2018 

Tandon and colleagues recently reviewed studies analyzing the many ways exposure to nature can affect health. Research shows that benefits of being in nature range from reduced anxiety and depression to better sleep, eyesight, immune function and better outcomes for people who have chronic conditions like congestive heart failure or ADHD.

jesse orrico on Unsplash

Nature vs. urban nature

But how much and what kind of nature activities should you partake in to reap the benefits? After all, definitions of getting out in nature can range from hiking in the Olympic National Forest to watching a forest scene via a virtual reality headset.

For Tandon and colleagues, nature includes a spectrum of different types of exposure to elements from the natural world, from an office with a view of green space to those Amazon spheres to backcountry wilderness. And what exactly you consider nature isn’t as important as how often you’re exposed to it, says Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D., a researcher in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington who is a co-author on the study with Tandon and conducts research on nearby nature and human health.

“Research doesn’t support the claim that you can only get health benefits from being in the wilderness. While wilderness experiences are beneficial, it’s just as important to have nature incorporated into your daily life,” she says.