City Of Redmond Hires New Police Chief And Human Resources Director

Redmond, WA – At last night’s meeting, Redmond City Council approved Mayor John Marchione’s appointment of Darrell Lowe as the City’s new Chief of Police and Cathryn Laird as the new Human Resources Director.

Darrell Lowe

“Both Darrell and Cathryn bring great knowledge, leadership skills and professional expertise to their new roles at the City of Redmond,” states Mayor John Marchione. “Darrell’s years of experience at the City of Santa Monica provide us a valuable asset as we manage a changing city. Cathryn has a proven track record at the City and I’m confident she will continue to be successful as the new Human Resources Director.”

Darrell is a 27-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department with experience as Division Commander, Executive Officer, and Captain. Darrell has a master’s degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University Long Beach, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from California State University Northridge. He has designed training courses that are now the state standard for California, he is a contributing author of Department of Justice guidebooks, and he is an adjunct professor at two California colleges.

“I am humbled and honored to join the fine women and men of the Redmond Police Department as their Chief,” said Darrell Lowe. “I am also excited to join the City’s collaborative executive team as we continue to provide exceptional service to the citizens of Redmond.”

Cathryn has over 20 years of Human Resources management experience. Her experience includes three and a half years with the City of Redmond, most recently as Deputy Human Resources Director, and Acting Human Resources Director since February 2019. Cathryn has a Communications degree from Western Washington University, with a minor in Business Administration. She has her Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Society of Human Resources Management.

“I am honored and excited to be appointed as the City of Redmond’s Human Resources Director,” said Cathryn Laird. “I look forward to supporting our dedicated HR team and continuing to invest in the City of Redmond staff.”

LWPTSA Welcoming Event For All New And International Families

According to the City of Redmond 61% of elementary students and middle school students are people of color; 40% of high school students are people of color.  

Lake Washington PTSA (LWPTSA) Council, in partnership with Lake Washington School District, welcomes all new and international families to our community. New and International Families are invited to a Welcome Event on Saturday, September 21 from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm at the Lake Washington Resource Center in Redmond Town Center.  Participants will learn about: navigating the LWSD school system, resources, and support available from the district, PTSA and how to get involved, the Pacific Northwest culture and activities, relocation challenges, as well as how to support students through transition.

This event is free however registration is requested. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-and-international-families-welcome-event-2019-tickets-64314545537

Translation or interpreting services are available on request. Please email FACE@lwptsa.net and indicate your name and choice of language.

What: LW PTSA New & International Family Welcome Event

When: Saturday, September 21 from 9:30am – 12:00pm

Where: Lake Washington Resource Center, 16250 NE 74th St, Redmond, WA 98052

RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-and-international-families-welcome-event-2019-tickets-64314545537

Questions? Contact Danit Erlich at FACE@lwptsa.net

Bike Share Parking Lot Dump In Seattle - Eastside Next?

Getting around and through Seattle’s transportation mess, you learn to give up asking questions about the darndest things. Empty Sound Transit-subsidized SDOT streetcars crawling through the International District. Utility workers digging up the busiest streets at the worst times. Speeding electric skateboards with oblivious ear-budded riders slaloming through pedestrians on thronged sidewalks. And perhaps most annoying, the scourge of bike-shares making obstacle courses out of our urban landscape.

But nothing quite prepared me Saturday when I stumbled into what appears to be the Ground Zero of Bike Share, a jammed junkyard-style parking lot outside a nondescript warehouse at 8thAve NW and 46th in Ballard.

King County Council Passes New Authority To Address Countywide Need Of 244,000 Affordable Housing Units

Today by a unanimous vote the King County Council passed legislation that allows King County to directly access approximately $100 million in funding for affordable housing (2019‑0354 and 2019‑0355) over the next 20 years. 

The legislation uses new authorization granted by the state legislature in 2019 to receive a portion of the state’s sales and use tax for construction, operations and maintenance of new affordable housing serving persons with income at or below 60% area median income (AMI). This funding that would otherwise have gone to the state general fund. There is no increase in the sales tax to consumers.

In addition to the County funding of $100 million, cities around the region are expected to take action to implement this new authority. Preliminary estimates indicate that combined the jurisdictions in King County will be able to invest over $200 million in affordable housing, permanent supportive housing, and rental assistance over the next 20 years. 

Investments authorized by this legislation will be used to help meet the immense need in King County for more affordable housing. In 2018, The Regional Affordable Housing Task Force, a collaborative effort between King County and cities which was co-chaired by Councilmember Claudia Balducci, concluded that 244,000 new units of housing are needed in King County by 2040 to address the affordable housing crisis.

Environmental and Adventure School's Yearly Campout

This sailing trip is part of the Environmental and Adventure School's yearly campout at Bowman Bay at Deception Pass State Park where students focus on teamwork, environmental studies, service learning through a stewardship project with park staff and outdoor skills development.

- LWSD site

Overlake 7-Story Office Building With Three Levels Of Underground Parking

"ESTERRA PARK BLOCK 3"

Project Overview

The project incorporates a 7-story office building with 3-levels of underground parking 

For more information on this project:  Notice of Application Project Details (PDF)

658 Homes In Esterra Overlake - 5, 6 And 8 Story Towers

Project Overview - Under Construction

Lincoln Properties is designing three multifamily buildings on blocks 5, 6A and 9 of Esterra Park. Building “6A” on block 6A is proposed at six stories with 215 homes. Building “A” is proposed as an eight-story building with 212 homes that straddles blocks 5 and 9. Building “B” is also on blocks 5 and 9. It is proposed as two buildings connected by enclosed walkways, with heights of five and six stories and 231 homes. The north portion of Building “B” faces the Park at Esterra Park.

6-Story 330-Home Esterra Building In Overlake

Project Overview - Under construction

Avalon Bay Communities is designing a six-story, 330-home building on block 8 of Esterra Park. Block 8 is across NE Turing Street from the Park at Esterra Park site. The design for the building includes a ground-level courtyard that opens to the side facing the park.

Council Considers Significant Stormwater Improvements Off Education Hill

The Council Committee is considering permitting "Pond C" to improve stormwater run-off from Education Hill.  The cost is estimated at $330,000.  Below, is the description of the project as found in the Council Committee memo of 8/13/2019:

"A NE 90th Street Stormwater basin is about 230 acres of predominantly residential and commercial land use. Much of the basin development was prior to modern stormwater standards. The basin originates in the uplands of Education Hill and extends southwest to discharge into the Sammamish River at NE 90th Street.

There is an existing stormwater wetpond located just upstream from the outfall. The existing pond is believed to infiltrate untreated stormwater into the aquifer, the project will stop untreated stormwater from infiltrating at this location. This project will also improve water quality in the Sammamish River through the retrofit design of a stormwater wetpond at NE 90th St in the City of Redmond. The design will focus on the removal of total suspended solids (TSS) to the Sammamish River by increasing stormwater runoff treatment."

This pond provides significant habitat for birds and fish. 

Reported by Bob Yoder

The Downtown Park Cost $41.2 Million To Develop

Project Costs to develop the Downtown Park:

Expenditures:

$0.6M Acquisition and relocation
$20.9M Demolition and restoration
$0.75M Design and construction
$18.9M Total $41.2M Revenues
General fund $6.3M Real estate excise tax
$7.7M Impact fees $15.2M
Business tax $7.5M
WA Dept of Commerce grant
$2.95M Miscellaneous (County levy, rent, etc.) $1.55M

Total Project Cost: $41.2 million

Source: Redmond Document Center

Reported by Bob Yoder

Mackey Creek Restoration And Enhancement

Project Overview - Project Completed

Mackey Creek is a spring-fed, perennial creek that is about 2.65 miles long. It passes east to west through the middle of Farrel-McWhirter Park, joining Bear Creek a half mile to the east. Multiple issues related to the health of the stream were identified, including barriers to fish migration, bank erosion from high stream flows, deposits of sediment causing the creek to flow out of its channel, the growth of invasive plants that have exacerbated flooding, and lack of in-stream woody debris.

Project Work

The project work, which restored and enhanced Mackey Creek within Farrel-McWhirter Park, was funded in part by King Conservation District (KCD). Work included:

• Stabilizing stream channel and improving stream habitat
• Removing fish barriers
• Reducing flooding and sediment problems
• Controlling invasive plants, and planting native plants

Get information about all projects.

Oregon!

The New "Esterra Neighborhood" Of Overlake Urban Center

And, we think the Downtown is sprouting 6-story multi-family mixed-use buildings ... Don't discount the 988 home "Esterra Neighborhood" of the Overlake Urban Center just up the hill.

• Two 6-story buildings are under construction totaling 545 apartments ("homes")
• An 8-story tower with 212 "homes" under construction; hotel
• 5 and 6-story buildings totaling 231 homes under construction
• 7-story Office building with 3-levels of underground parking.
• Park 
• And this is just the beginning - 13 buildings in all

I'll be posting a description of each building next week, including sketches.  If you can't wait, check out the city's "Project" page here.  

-- Bob Yoder

Rockin' On The River - Final Performance

The final  performance of city-sponsored "Rockin' on the River" was held at the Senior Center on Thursday, August 8th, 6-8 p.m.  Emerald Heights also sponsors the event.  The Kiwanians grilled hot dogs and hamburgers.  The "Eagle Eyes" band performed; the week before it was the Beatnicks. This is a very popular event and usually draws 400 - 500 residents. According to the City:

Eagle Eyes is a tribute band to the legendary music of the Eagles. They have taken great care and dedication in recreating and capturing the live true magic in the harmonies that make the eagles renowned. 

Hailing from Southern Vancouver Island, BC, the four members of Eagle Eyes have over 120 years of combined experience as professional touring musicians.  

Photos by Reinke

EvergreenHealth resorts to voter-shaming in Prop 1 mailers

MyNorthwest.com article on Prop. 1 shaming

King 5 - "Woodinville Foundation" Apologizes For Election Mailers Shaming Voters

According to the PDC, The EvergreenHealth Foundation spent over $547,000 for "get out the vote" ads. Besides copious mailers, they placed ads on Pandora and even CNBC.  $83,000 of the funds was dark money laundered though a non profit (Source:  Disclosure Act, Public Record Request)

The bond lost by 2%

B. Yoder, opinion

Rockin' On The River

On August 1st there was some great entertainment at the Senior Center - Rockin' on the River by the Beatnicks! Many thanks to the city, Emerald Heights and Kiwanis for sponsoring this event.  Another performance is scheduled for Thursday, August 8th.  They get better and better every year...great fun dancing and jiving outdoors with our neighbors!

-- Bob Yoder, video

Sound Transit Fares - Redmond Technology Center Update

Redmond Technology Center station in Overlake - East Link Light Rail Extension

Civil construction is expected to wrap up late next year. Civil construction will be followed by construction of the light rail operating systems (power, signals, etc.). The systems work takes about one year, and will be followed by pre-revenue service testing.

Fares are set at $2.25 + $.05 per mile, rounded to the nearest $0.25. Fares may change over time to achieve a minimum Board-required revenue target, but at current rates that would put the ~15-mile trip from Overlake to Westlake at around $3, or Overlake to Norhgate at ~$3.50.

Source:  Facebook: East Link light rail

Watching A Beaver Take A Slam Dunk

 John, thanks for the great story and better yet, the laughs! 😂

Credit/ John Reinke

Recently, I was out stretching my legs along the Sammamish River Trail here in Redmond.  Heading north, I was a couple hundred yards south of the "rusty pedestrian bridge" that crosses the river where NW 100th Street would be, if it existed.

Glancing out over the water, I noticed something plowing upstream against the current.  It was too far away to make out what it was, but I suspected it might be a muskrat, which I have occasionally seen in this area.

It was swimming steadily toward me when I suddenly hear a loud "thwack", and saw the creature's hind legs suddenly rise straight up into the air, before immediately sliding down beneath the roiling water.  (I guess we could call it a “slam dunk”…)

Former Mayor Rosemary Ives Endorses Steve Fields

Steve is also a very likable guy!

Former Redmond Mayor Doreen Marchione Passes Away

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond is saddened to report the passing of former Redmond Mayor Doreen Marchione. She passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 27, 2019, surrounded by her family. Doreen Marchione was first elected to the Redmond City Council in 1975 and then served as Mayor from 1984 – 1991.

“Doreen’s commitment to a lifetime of public service always impressed me,” said former Redmond Councilmember, Arnie Tomac, “She served on both the Redmond and Kirkland City Council and was the Mayor of Redmond. She was always striving to make Redmond and Kirkland better and a great place to call home. Her support of her family, friends and community was legendary.”

Born and raised in Seattle, Doreen Foster Marchione graduated from St. Edwards, Holy Names, and Seattle University. In her more than thirty years of public service, Marchione served eight years as a Kirkland City Councilmember including two years as Deputy Mayor. While serving for 15 years as CEO of Hopelink – the largest provider of social services in north and east King County, she oversaw a 150 percent increase in the number of residents Hopelink assisted. Her service on multiple regional boards and committees is highlighted by the 15 years she served on the Seattle University College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Council, as well as her time served on the State Transportation Improvement Board, as Commissioner of King County Housing Authority, as president of the Washington State Association of Community Action Agencies, and a Board member of the Kirkland Performance Center.

Electric scooters to debut in Redmond July 30th.

Lime, a private bike and scooter share company, is expected to debut electric scooters in Redmond on Tuesday, July 30, and may add bicycles in the future.

This pilot program allows residents and employees to use bikes and/or scooters until May 2020 and then bike and scooter share will be reconsidered.

Vision

Bicycle and scooter sharing support the City’s vision in the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to improve travel choices and mobility. The scooters will give Redmond travelers new options as the average trip in Redmond is 2.2 miles, which is about a 15-minute bike or scooter ride.

redmond.gov