Redmond City Hall Closed For Another Week

CONTACT
City of Redmond Public Information Officer
PIO@redmond.gov
425-556-2497

Redmond, WA – Out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with the King County Public Health guidelines to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Redmond City Hall will be closed for one week, Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 20. A confirmed presumptive positive case of COVID-19 prompted the closure.

The Emergency Operations Center will continue to monitor and work closely with the King County Emergency Operations Center. The remainder of City facilities including the Public Safety Building, Maintenance and Operations Center, Fire Stations, the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village, the Old Firehouse Teen Center, and the Farrel McWhirter Barn Yard will be closed to the public until further notice.

Redmond Police, Fire and other critical City services are fully operational at this time.

All City facilities will undergo a thorough cleaning during this time. Contacts for services: Development Services: 425-556-2473, Police Non-Emergency Dispatch: 206-556-2500

City of Redmond Coronavirus Update

After this video was taped, LWSD cancelled all classes for 14 days starting 3/12  lwsd.org 

Remodel Of The Old Redmond School Community Center

LWSD remodel of  ORSCC / Photo credit Yoder

Excerpts from Patsey Rosenback's story. Her mother graduated from "Redmond School" in 1937.

"I grew up on "Education Hill" before it was Education Hill.  I walked down 166th AV. NE. - back then it was 3rd Avenue and washed out annually.  I walked back and forth on that dirt road many times to Redmond School for grades 1-9. When my mother went to Redmond School it housed grades 1-12.  She  graduated in 1937. 

When I entered Lake Washington High School, I still had to walk to Redmond School to be transported by bus to Lake Washington where I graduated in 1958."  

###

The remodel will serve special needs and low-income families. It will include 10-preschool classrooms, a gym, and a commons area. The lease agreement between the City and the District ended effective June 2018 to allow time for renovations. The City and the District were working together. During the short-term transition time, recreation programs at ORSCC were relocated to the Redmond Senior Center, Teen Center, LWSD schools, and potential leased space at the Lake Washington Institute of Technology Redmond Campus (20,000 sq ft.)  The lease costs were estimated at approximately $500,000 per year with additional funds needed (approximately $100,000) for the decommissioning of the Old Redmond Schoolhouse and staff moving costs. Staff had recommended these costs be supported through Real Estate Excise Tax collections received in 2016 over forecasted amounts.

-- Bob Yoder
    3/9/2020

Superintendent Dr. Jane Stavem Resigns From The District - Deputy Superintendent Jon Holman Takes The Reins

Dr. Jane Stavem, the Superintendent of Lake Washington School District (LWSD), today announced her resignation from the District, effective June 30, 2020. She has accepted a position as Superintendent in Sioux Fall, South Dakota, effective July 1, 2020
.

“I have loved my time in Lake Washington School District and planned to stay much longer,” stated Dr. Stavem. “This return to the Midwest allows me to be in much closer proximity to my extended family and care for needs that have emerged for them over the last six months.”

The Board of Directors will meet to determine next steps for the selection process to name a new Superintendent.

-- Shannon Parthemer, Director of Communications, 425-936-1342
   3/6/2020

Eight Species Of Ducks Congregating In Local Pond

Photos Credit/ John Reinke

Northern Pintail ducks are lingering with other wildfowl in a large shallow pond close to the Sammamish River.

Up until a few days ago, I had never seen northern pintail here in Redmond – like the two males I very recently snapped in the photograph shown above.  Thanks to a tip from Bob Yoder, I learned that they could be found in a shallow narrow pond that lies parallel to the Sammamish River Trail, not far north of the “rusty footbridge” at the north end of town.

Heading over there as soon as I could, I discovered that several other types of waterfowl were also present.
In addition to the pintails, I also managed to photograph the following species:

Pintails dabbling for food

American widgeon, green winged teal, northern shovelers, bufflehead, and common goldeneye. In addition, some mallards and a few mergansers were also present. 

I had previously seen all of these species here in Redmond, with the exception of northern shovelers.  Male shovelers somewhat resemble male mallards, in that both have green heads.  However, whereas male mallards have yellow bills, male shovelers have wider enlarged black bills.

Bufflehead, common goldeneye and mergansers are all diving ducks.  Pintails, American widgeon, green winged teal, northern shovelers and mallards are all dabbling ducks.  Dabbling ducks primarily feed along the surface of the water or by tipping upside down and grazing on aquatic vegetation, larvae and insects.

It was exciting to see so many species in one place.  I am sure that most will soon migrate out of the area, since this pond dries up in the summer.

-- John Reinke
   3/3/2020

"Together Center" Will Be Demolished For Affordable Housing And Human Service Space

The "A Regional Coalition of Housing" (ARCH) agency recently discussed an affordable living project during Council's late February study session. The project is a two-phase $2.75 million redevelopment of the Together Center. The current center will be demolished.

Eighty homeless residential units and 200 work-place housing units will be located on the second floor. 14,000 square feet of human service office space will be on the ground floor. Half the units will be priced at 30% average median income.  The applicants are Horizon Housing Alliance and Inland Group.  Hopelink and the Together Center are partners.  Questions?  Try Info@Redmond.gov

 -- Bob Yoder
    3/4/2020

COVID-19 News -- CDC And All Washington State Public Health Sites - Donate Blood

COVID-19 LINKS:

City of Redmond

EvergreenHealth

Washington Post video on EvergreenHealth

Lake Washington School District

 Public Health - Seattle & King County 

 Washington State Department Of Health 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

There is no risk of contracting coronavirus from the blood donation process.

Bloodworks Northwest has more information on coronavirus, who is eligible to donate blood, and donation locations at www.bloodworksnw.org/coronavirus. You can make an appointment for donating at a center or drive to minimize wait time.

UPDATED: "10 Minute Communities" Are A Model For Smart Planning

The holistic development of Northgate is similar, in a few ways, to Redmond's hopes of developing and morphing Marymoor Village into a 10-Minute Community (on a much larger scale than  "Proctor." ..scroll.)   Both will have light rail and transit parking.  In the Village, I envision:  Well-designed  mid-rise residential towers built-up through incentive programs to capture affordable housing (60% AMI) and additional parking.  Diverse retail, medical, office, and commercial space with roof gardens, all within a 10 Minute walking distance. Marymoor Park amenities, regional trails and a regional aquatics center all a bike ride away.  Perhaps a downtown core with an arts studio, a Harvey Carter museum, a night club, a recreational business, wide sidewalks for outdoor restaurants, scooters, and rain gardens. Even a school. Though light rail is four years away, the city should come forth with a simple, rough graphic like Northgate's for the community. -     B.Yoder

For your information, below is a recent King County Press Release announcing plans for 232 affordable housing units near the Northgate Light Rail Station.

King County and City of Seattle, along with their partners BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Capitol Hill Housing (CHH) have come to a pre-development agreement to develop land owned by King County Metro into 232 affordable housing units near the future site of the Northgate Link light rail station. All units will be affordable to households earning 60 percent or less of the area median income – in 2019, that’s $66,420 for a family of four. The development will provide a mix of unit sizes including at least 52 two- or three-bedroom units, and 24 units will be reserved for system-connected households. Groundbreaking 2022 Anticipated development agreement and ground lease are expected to be transmitted to council by summer 2020, with ground-breaking to follow in 2022. “Renters shouldn’t have to choose between a home that’s affordable, and one that’s close to work and transit. This project adds hundreds of affordable units next to one of the most significant transit hubs in King County, connecting more people to the greenest way to get around,” said King County Executive Constantine. -- King County Press Release    11/17/2020

Our Tour Of The Keller Farm Mitigation Bank

Victor Woodward, Credit Habitat Bank LLC

The Keller Farm Wetland Mitigation Bank is directly east of Avondale Road, south of 180th Street in Redmond. It was completely flooded during the early February storm. The Keller's live nearby, and are protective of the land. The City of Redmond owns the Bank; it's approximately 75 acres of land located along Bear Creek. Find an excellent picture and description of the Bank here. Three Watertenders: Gary Smith, Dick Schaible, myself and a Redmond Parks Commissioner were toured by Victor Woodward, the Bank manager.

The Bank is devised to ensure that wetland and tree loss resulting from select developments  are compensated for by installation of native shrubs, trees and large woody debris on the Bank.  Compensation is calculated in the form of "credits" up to $100,000 or more.

Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT,) Sound Transit, large pipeline projects and various small residential developments are planned for Bank mitigation "servicing." Other project works will be forthcoming during a 12-year lease.

Victor Woodward, the manager, operator and sponsor of the Bank gave a fascinating 2.5 hour tour of the Bank on February 17th.  He's an impressive man, towering and outdoorsey.  We walked the whole perimeter, stumbling on the soaked clods of the 125 year-old has been dairy farm. Several farm ditches will be restored and maintained for aquatic and hydrology purposes. After the city permit for grading is approved Victor will level the land and kill off  various grasses and other invasives (with Roundup.) He was especially disturbed by the stubborn presence of Poison Hemlock.

We spent a lot of time hiking along Bear Creek.  Coyotes were seen in the distance, Canada Geese flew overhead, we walked by a Swan carcass; trees chewed by Beaver were everywhere. Victor chortled that his design plans for the creek area might be altered by Beavers, though they are welcome. Their feeding activity (at times dropping trees into the creek) provides excellent stream habitat and shelter for the salmon.

Towards the end of the tour we hiked along a wide ditch south of  the "Friendly Village" housing park. Ditch restoration and maintenance is required there for flood control. Victor's Habitat Bank LLC is fully insured and bonded. We lamented about the low populations of Chinook and coho this year. 

*The Bank's "service area" is far reaching. It includes all the streams that drain into the northern portion of Lake Washington, extending to development projects in south Everett, Lynnwood, Redmond, Woodinville, Kirkland, Bellevue, Sammamish and Issaquah.  This large service area will do much towards meeting Redmond's goal of a 40% tree canopy by 2050. It appears Willows are the tree of choice. 

Forterra oversees the City and Habitat Bank performance activities. Indian tribes have interest since the Bank accounts for 5% of the water entering into Bear Creek upstream. The water coming off the site is important for keeping Bear Creek cool especially in the summer.  This is critical for the salmon coming up the Sammamish River from Lake Washington and spawning in the many tributaries such as Bear and Evans Creeks.

After going through a 5-year permitting process, the Keller Wetland Mitigation Bank was approved for operation by the Army Corps of Engineers in late December, 2019 and was one of Mayor Marchione's last acts before retiring.

-- Bob Yoder
    2/21

Above, is my story of the tour.  Click READ MORE for Victor's additions and how to contact him. 

King County Property Taxes To Increase By 13.7% In 2020

Two changes in our state’s school funding formula will lead to a 13.7% increase in property tax collections in King County for the 2020 tax year. 

Overall property tax collections for the 2020 tax year are $6.3 billion, an increase of $767 million or 13.7% from the previous year of $5.7 billion.  Total County value increased by 5.92%, from $ 606.6 to $642.5 billion.

The increase in taxes is primarily due to two changes in education funding made by the Legislature; an increase in the statewide education levy, and increased authority for school districts to collect local levies:

Musings On Redmond And Ballard Suburbia

Downtown Ballard Starbucks / Credit Bob Yoder

Semi-retired and with time on our hands, Pam and I drove out to Ballard to look at its development and see Ballard Community Hospital, one of the hospitals I called on in 80's as a medical salesman. We were shocked and dumbfounded by the neighborhood's growth.

This cute little Scandinavian neighborhood had morphed into a suburban urban center, just like Redmond. According to Wikipedia, starting in early 2007, twenty, (flat-topped, cubed) major apartment and retail projects were constructed, many within a 5-block radius of the downtown. The hospital, now owned by Swedish, takes up a whole city block.  We visited the Nordic Museum (a must see.) A Ballard native volunteering there loathed its growth noting light rail is planned.  Difficult to decipher, the population of greater Ballard is 43,935 and not as diverse as Redmond. It's supposedly 83% white.

Needing some mojo, we found this Starbucks.  Located in a high crime district, we noticed four homeless people, several oddballs, a few sophisticates chatting, and some with computers. The Starbucks motto here was "to create a culture of warmth and belonging for all those who enter our door." Surprisingly, the clean transgender bathroom with entrance code had a sparkling mounted sharps container!  The barista said this Starbucks "respectfully required" no drugs, no sleeping, or other improper uses of their restrooms. They were looking out for their customers and the addicts.

In some ways, Ballard appears more innovative than Redmond in planning. In 2004: 1) future growth was evaluated by the community from a "Blueprint for every town in the USA."  2) Gore recognized Ballard for their work towards being the first carbon neutral community in the nation. 3) The community organized a "Sustainable Ballard" group.

Both communities have energetic historical societies.  They have parallel histories in many ways. The Salish (Ballard) and Snoqualmie (Redmond) indigenous Indians lived off of salmon. Logging and milling were early industries. Gambling rollicked.  Redmond raised crops; Ballard fished. Railroads played a vital role.

Our visit to this old neighborhood was really amazing!

-- Bob Yoder 

Community Input Of Downtown Senior Center Requested

City of Redmond Senior Center Web Page - packed with information.  

Senior Center Engagement FAQ.

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond invites community members to review the preferred options to envision the future of the Redmond Senior Center.

Please join us on February 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 15670 NE 85^th Street, Redmond, WA 98052. This meeting will begin with a formal presentation at 6:45 p.m., followed by conversations and activities. In addition to this meeting, there will be another meeting in the Council Chambers following the Senior Lunch on Thursday, February 13, at 1 p.m. covering the same topics.

The purpose of this outreach is to reveal and review the two options moving forward as we envision the future of the Senior Center. These options have emerged out of the first round of public outreach and community input. The Redmond Senior Center closed in September 2019 and needs to be renovated or demolished and rebuilt before it can reopen. During the community involvement process in January, the community was asked to evaluate options from renovating the Senior Center, to expanding it to include some new amenities. The second phase of engagement will allow the community to give input on the final two recommendations which will become a final recommendation to City Council in March.

“As we envision the future of the Senior Center, community involvement and collaboration is vital,” said Redmond Mayor Angela Birney. “Listening to the community to understand their needs and hopes for the future of Redmond will help ensure that our community spaces serve our residents for many years to come.”

Redmond's Downtown Aquifer

An excellent link describing the many facets of Redmond's environment. This video was filmed in 2016 and we still face the same challenges, if not more.https://www.redmond.gov/1068/Environment

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

UPDATED: I Won't Get Taxed Out Of The City I Love - This Year

OPINION:  Said the Seattle Times on January 28th,, "a group of Harborview County hospital stakeholders is likely to vote Wednesday to recommend that County Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council place a $1.7 billion bond measure on the November ballot to revamp Harborview."  The stakeholders voted yay.

Once passed, the Harborview Medical Center bond will cost about $90 / year on property assessed at $580,000.  There's a strong provision for expanded Behavioral Health facilities.  

We still await the LWSD Superintendent and Board's decisions on their planned 2022 and 2026 bond measures.  In the meantime, we continue to pay the school district a 6-year levy of $20M/year.

I recently learned King County property taxes will increase 13.7% in 2020.  Also, the King County Parks, Recreation, Trails and open space levy was approved for 2020 at a higher level. It's a 6-year property tax led lift priced at .1832/$1K property value.

Not to forget, Sound Transit 3 (ST3) taxes are approximately $1,000 per year for a family with an annual salary of $90K with vehicles worth $45K and a property valued at $450K.

At a council meeting last night our leaders said there may be a levy to pay for the regional aquatics center.

Will  EvergreenHealth propose a reasonable bond measure for funding seismic upgrades this year?  Will car tab prices remain as is? Will the city propose their safety levy this year?  Will the city raise their 1% property tax to 3% to account for inflation.  Any of these I can live with despite my fixed income, at least for this year. Then, I may be on my way.  

  -- Bob Yoder
     3/5/2020

Superintendent And School Board Planning Future Bond Measures

Future bonds are planned for 2022 and 2026. 

LWSD announcement: 

The year 2019 was one to remember: We celebrated the grand openings of Timberline Middle School and the newly rebuilt Peter Kirk and Margaret Mead elementary schools. Progress continued on the remaining 2016 bond projects: Juanita High School and Old Redmond Schoolhouse. Construction also began on the addition at Lake Washington High School, funded by the Capital Projects Levy passed by voters in April 2019.

Thank you to the communities of Lake Washington School District. With your ongoing support, we are providing students with great places to learn! Watch the video.

Facility Advisory Committee Update A new Facility Advisory Committee (FAC) began working in November 2019. This group will make recommendations for future facility planning, informed by enrollment trends, community expectations and district programs. The facility strategy will align with the District’s strategic plan and make recommendations to accommodate our rapid enrollment growth and continue to provide quality learning environments.

The Superintendent and School Board will consider these recommendations as it plans for future ballot measures to fund construction. The FAC will open its first community survey at the end of January. Watch for more information on the Facility Advisory Committee page of the LWSD website.

-- LWSD "Building on Success" publication

Questions?  Contact Shannon Parthemer at sparthemer@lwsd.org 

Mayor Birney To Represent North Caucus Of SCA

Redmond Mayor Angela Birney elected to represent the North Caucus on the Sound Cities Association Board of Directors

Redmond Mayor Angela Birney has been elected to represent the North Caucus on the Board of Directors of the Sound Cities Association (SCA), which represents 38 King County cities and provides a regional voice for more than one million people.

“Mayor Birney is known for her ability to connect people, communities, neighborhoods, and businesses to address local and regional issues,” said Deanna Dawson, SCA Executive Director. “She will be a tremendous voice for Redmond and residents throughout King County in helping to ensure SCA’s success in meeting the challenges facing our region.”

The SCA Board of Directors has thirteen directors, with four from the North Caucus. North Caucus cities include Beaux Arts Village, Bellevue, Bothell, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Medina, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Redmond, Sammamish, Shoreline, Woodinville, and Yarrow Point. SCA provides regional leadership in areas such as economic and community development, transportation, land use, health, government operations, the environment, education, public safety, social welfare and other public policy issues.

Bear Creek Enhancement Site

Updated: Last week Tom Hardy, the City of Redmond's stream and habitat planner, gave me a tour of the 95th Street Bear Creek Enhancement Site. It's an exciting place. (Find the project site here.) The project extends 600 feet south of the 95th Street bridge. Tom's plan is to improve as much of Bear Creek habitat as possible.

A few years ago he restored Mackey Creek, a tributary on the northern border of Ferrel-McWhirter Park; and years before that he was involved in the restoration of Lower Bear Creek. His next stop is to enhance Bear Creek adjacent to the Keller Farm Habitat Bank using woody debris.

The construction of this 95th Street enhancement project was very involved.  Six log jams and "alcoves" had to be anchored into the banks with large woody debris (logs.)  3,000 native plants, trees and willow cuttings were planted. Watch the video to learn more. The project was expensive but a $140,000 "Cooperative Watershed Management" grant from King County more than paid for the design.

Bear Creek has enormous environmental value to Redmond. One could say "it makes Redmond, Redmond."  Federally protected Chinook and other salmon spawn here. In fact, on the tour Tom pointed out a spawning area a Chinook used. The vegetation and trees boarding the creek (riparian habitat) provide excellent birding and wildlife opportunities. We saw a young Pileated Woodpecker actively foraging 15 feet away from us!

Bear Creek is part of our culture. Thousands of years ago Snohomish indians lived and fished on its banks. These days, residents view the natural wonder of Bear Creek salmon during "Salmon Seeson."

-- Bob Yoder
   2/24/2020

City Announces Redmond Art Grant Recipients

Art displayed on Luminary Trail
during 2019 Redmond Lights

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond is pleased to announce the 2020 Redmond Art Season Grant recipients: afrose ahmed, Centro Cultural Mexicano, Redmond High School’s Latinos Unidos Club, APex, Redmond Association of Spokenword, SecondStory Repertory, Semilla Flamenca, Tasveer, Tifa Tomb, Vedic Cultural Center, and Wolfberry Studio. The Redmond Art Season Grant, established in 2012, were created to support quality arts and culture programming that is accessible to Redmond residents and visitors throughout the year. This year’s recipients will help sustain the thriving art scene, promote inclusivity, and showcase the City of Redmond’s vibrant communities.  

“I look forward to the artwork, events and unique perspectives that will come from this year’s Redmond Art Season Grant recipients,” said Mayor Angela Birney. “Art provides an opportunity to share our stories and celebrate the diversity that makes Redmond such a wonderful place to live.”

The Redmond Art Season Grant aligns with the City’s commitment towards a culturally inclusive community. The City is partnering with local artists and organizations in bringing to our residents compelling programs from all arts disciplines. The program includes works from all arts disciplines that celebrate the variety of cultures, abilities and interests that make up our community including: theater, poetry, dance, independent film, an art gallery showcases, and cultural celebrations.

For more information on each project, go to www.redmond.gov/Arts.  

City In Excellent Financial Shape

The City of Redmond's Director of Finance, Ms. Files, gave a very encouraging monthly finance report to council on January 24th.

1.  All city departments are under budget.
2.  Revenues are up 13% owing to one-time revenue from taxes on construction projects.
3.  Expenditures are lower owing to:
        - $3M economic contingency fund adjustment.
        - $6M salary and benefit savings owing to turnover pay.
        - $2M adjustment of one-time project monies in the general fund.

-- Source:  Council Committee of the Whole meeting, 1/24.

Coronavirus In Snohomish

The infectious disease officer at EvergreenHealth updated  staff and our commissioners on the virus this Tuesday, January 21.  I attended; they are fully prepared. B. Yoder

Contact: Lisa Stromme Warren, Washington State Department of Health, 360-628-7883

Heather Thomas, Snohomish Health District, 425-508-4980

Update on response to 2019 novel coronavirus in Washington state

OLYMPIA – Since announcing a case of 2019 novel coronavirus in Snohomish County, Wash., the state Department of Health (DOH) and Snohomish Health District have been working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on interviewing the patient and beginning a contact investigation. This includes establishing a detailed travel history with the patient and identifying close contacts who may have experienced some level of exposure.

Health officials are actively monitoring these contacts, which means a public health worker will call each person daily to check for symptoms like fever or respiratory issues. Should one of these close contacts develop symptoms, they will be instructed to immediately contact the public health worker, who will help arrange a medical evaluation.