Senior Center - Going, Going, Gone

 Reinke, 11/24/2020

Senior Center is demolished

On the second day of the Senior Center demolition, this lady with baby carriage strolls past the Center towards the Sammamish River Trail. On the first day Mayor Birney showed up for a photo op with a golden sledgehammer.  

- Photo Reinke  11/20/2020

Redmond Police Cars Changing Colors

The City is changing the color of their police cars from the present silver & navy to black.  This was news to the Council.  Apparently, the Mayor and staff made this change without including Council in the decision.  Three councilmembers openly didn't like the change. CM Jessica Forsythe said black is an intimidating color associated with military and is not compatible with the Redmond's welcoming character.  CM David Carson didn't like it at all though understood the reasons for it (cost.)  CM Vanessa Kritzer agreed with Mr. Carson.  

-- Council Committee of the Whole, 11/17

Bob Yoder

Redmond's "Species Of Local Importance"

 

Do you know the Great Blue Heron is Redmond's "Species Of Local Importance?"  Do you why it's taking this pose?  Leave a comment below to register your response.

Photo by John Reinke

Sammamish River 90th Street Stormwater run-off Pond

Council Considers Hiring A Public Safety Levy Consultant

Well, it looks like Council is seriously considering a Public Safety Levy in 2021.  How do I know this?  Tonight in a Study Session the Finance Director recommended funding a  Public Safety Levy Consultant, $150,000 one-time.  The levy will pay for existing costs, not hiring additional officers and equipment. Overtime expenses must be significant.  

I  find it very hard to believe the City needs a highly paid consultant to assemble a levy.

Bob Yoder, opinion

-- 11/10/2020

Mayor Birney's 2020 State Of The City Address To OneRedmond

Mayor Birney has a terrific background with lots of experience.  Angela was Council President 2018-1019, Chair of the Parks and Trails Commission, and is: King County Regional Executive Board, Sound Cities Association Board, Cascade Regional Alliance Board, Hopelink Board, King County Regional Homeless Board, AND more!

11/10/2020

King County "First In Line" For Federally Approved COVID-19 Vaccine

Councilmember Reagan Dunn proposes budget amendment to put King County residents ‘first in line’ for federally approved COVID-19 vaccine.

 Acting on the national news today of the possibility of a promising COVID-19 vaccine, King County Council Vice Chair Reagan Dunn proposed a budget amendment to King County’s COVID Supplemental Budget that would add $5 million of Cares Act money to buttress state and federal efforts to distribute a vaccine as soon as it is federally approved. 

This funding would be in addition to promised state and federal dollars and it would be earmarked for the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health and local health care providers throughout King County. The money would help to get a vaccine, once approved, out to our citizens as soon as possible. 

“The budget amendment will help to put King County residents first in line for any vaccine that is ultimately developed, tested and approved for distribution by the Federal Government,” Dunn said. “King County must continue to strengthen our Public Health infrastructure to ensure that people who wish to be vaccinated can do so as soon as it is available. King County wants to be on our toes, not our heels when a vaccine is ultimately ready for manufacture and distribution to our citizens, and this is the vital first step.”   

In addition to supporting Public Health infrastructure, the money would also be used to make sure that our private health care systems throughout the region are in the best position possible to aid in the vaccination process.

“We know that inventing a vaccine is only half of the challenge,” Dunn said. “The other half is the manufacturing and distribution of it. We need to make sure King County has an efficient and aggressive plan for the widespread vaccinations for everyone who want one.”

The King County Council is expected to vote on the fifth COVID Supplemental budget this week.

11/10/2020

EvergreenHealth Supports COVID-19 Testing

 EvergreenHealth Opens New Molecular Laboratory to Support COVID-19 Testing

 

Kirkland, Wash. – EvergreenHealth held the grand opening of its new in-house molecular testing laboratory on October 15. The new lab will support EvergreenHealth’s non-urgent COVID-19 testing needs and will increase testing output for the health system by more than 270 tests per day, making COVID-19 testing more readily available to Kirkland and the surrounding Eastside community.

The new lab will use Applied Biosystems technology (ABI) in conjunction with its current testing platform, Cepheid GeneXpert. Together these two systems will be able to run more than 300 COVID-19 tests per day and deliver results to patients within approximately 24 hours. Prior to introducing the ABI technology, the lab was able to process between 20 and 30 tests per day.

 “I’m incredibly proud of our dedicated team, who in just 10 short weeks was able to open our new in-house COVID-19 testing site,” said Troy Harrell, Manager of Lab Technology Operations & Quality. “Expanding access to accurate, timely COVID-19 testing is critical to local and regional prevention efforts – and with this innovative technology, we will more efficiently and effectively serve our community, as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic together.”

Testing with ABI technology is performed in batches of up to 94 patient specimens at a time. Typically, a single testing batch takes a few hours to complete, which includes specimen prep, RNA extraction, PCR amplification and data analysis—all of which are essential to providing accurate and comprehensive test results. The ABI system can perform up to three batches per day.

 While the new molecular lab will solely be dedicated to COVID-19 testing needs for the time being, the technology will be instrumental in improving testing capabilities for a wide variety of infectious diseases, cancer markers, genetic abnormalities and much more for the Eastside community.

The day after Halloween near the Senior  Center - by John Reinke

OPINION: City Of Redmond Should Lighten Up

Dear Mayor and Council - 

Strongsville, Ohio is a vibrant suburban city of 45,000, a short distance from Cleveland.  https//www.strongsville.org. They've taken the following measures to firm up their finances in response to COVID pressures.  The following is an excerpt from the Strongsville, OH website:

"To help combat the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the City of Strongsville’s tax revenues, all full-time city employees not covered under a collective bargaining agreement – as well as the mayor, department heads, service department workers and building inspectors -- will be placed on a 32-hour work week starting ___, resulting in an eight-hour weekly furlough (a 20 percent pay reduction).

The furlough will not affect police, firefighters or dispatchers. All three operations will remain ready to respond. 

Service Department personnel will be scheduled so that workers are available to respond to any potential emergencies.

The furloughs will stay in effect until at least ___. when the city’s finances will be evaluated and a decision made about returning to normal hours. We apologize for any inconvenience."

City Council, this is budget season - please take similar actions to steady our tax revenues. 

--Thank you, Bob

   10/30/2020

City Reimagines Redmond Lights In Response to COVID

REDMOND, WA - This year's Redmond Lights will celebrate hope, joy, arts, and light while adhering to the State’s Safe Start Plan. With the inability to gather and hold events, the City of Redmond has reimagined Redmond Lights to be a month-long art and light installation at Downtown Park. Art and light installations are sponsored by Microsoft, BECU, and Evergreen Healthcare. 

With a generous sponsorship from Redmond Town Center, Cleveland Street and 164th Ave NE will be lit to lead visitors to Redmond Town Center, where the experience continues with visits with Santa and more. The installations will be in place from December 4, 2020, to January 3, 2021. 

Using a free smart phone app, visitors will take a self-guided tour through the experience. Traditional elements that included the tree lighting, performances, booths, and large gatherings will not occur this year. Instead, the City of Redmond invites visitors to #LetItGlowRedmond. 

Businesses surrounding Downtown Park and at Redmond Town Center are invited to decorate their windows, sponsored by Minuteman Press Redmond, and participate as “Blinker Stops,” where visitors can get their exclusive 2020 Redmond Lights blinker, sponsored by Experience Redmond. Residents will be invited to share their home light displays and vote on their favorite entries. 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our opportunities to gather, spreading light, hope, and joy in the community is even more important,” says Mayor Angela Birney. “This year will showcase art and light installations that will help connect our community, even when we are physically distanced.” 

Outdoor Spinning Classes At Redmond Town Center

These spinning clases are being held outside on a breezway at Redmond Town Center. Great exercise! Do you see any potential COVID isssues - masks? physical distancing? group cluster? Personally, I'm not concerned but it's something to consider by the participants. -- Bob Yoder

Happy Halloween!

Rest assured, you are not alone - the zombies are with you....The true intent of the sign is to give comfort to those suffering from the mental illness and suicide attributed COVID and other stressors. These signs are all over town, especially Ed. Hill. 

-- Bob Yoder, Ed Hill

Trick Or Treat!

Reinke, 10/22/2020

City Buildings Shuttered

Reinke, 10/22/2020

Redmond - A City In Transition

Redmond City Hall - By John Reinke, 10/24/2020

Downtown Redmond Light Rail Link Extension

NOTICE

Hello friends, My blog platform has changed and I'm having serious problems editing, posting pictures, links and videos. I'm not sure when I'll be back. Thanks for being a reader! Best wishes! Take care and Stay healthy, Bob

State Of Washington Voter Information

 What’s on the November 3 ballot?

General Election Voters' Pamphlet

Check out the variety of formats! Accessible PDFs, audio files, flat text, and videos. Teachers and students can participate in the 2020 Student Mock Election, too!

Online Voter Guide 

For best results, use a mobile device or Chrome/Firefox browser to load the guide. For a personalized guide, use the lookup tool at VoteWA.gov.

Voting in Washington?

Three Ways to Register

Check your registration at VoteWA.gov. After October 26, Washington citizens who still need to register (or update) must complete the process in person at a county elections office until November 3, 8:00 PM.    

Voting by Mail FAQ 

If you are registered to vote in Washington, there is no need to request a ballot. Your ballot packet is mailed out October 16 to the address where you're registered.

General Election Fact Sheet

Key dates, resources, and contacts. Election results are tabulated and posted after 8:00 PM on November 3. Each county certifies results November 24, and the Secretary of State certifies final results December 3.

Where do I vote?

At home! Your ballot is mailed out October 16. Use the state Voters' Pamphlet to learn about candidates and measures (look for the green cover) delivered to households Oct 3 - 12. You may also vote an accessible device in person at a local elections office or voting center until 8:00 p.m. on November 3.

• List of Drop Boxes and Voting Centers ( Excel | PDF | Map )
• There is a drive-through drop box at Redmond City Hall
• Bellevue. Bellevue Regional Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, 98004. Crossroads Shopping Center (south entrance),. 15600 NE 8th St, 98008. Newport Way Library 

Download this comprehensive list of official ballot drop locations, or, for a personalized list sign in to VoteWA.gov. The statewide list will be updated periodically as Election Day approaches. For more information contact your local elections office.

Who voted? 

Daily Ballot Return Statistics and Turnout

Updated at the end of each day, this report breaks down the number of ballots received and turnout percentage by county.

Daily Ballot Status Report

Also known as the matchback report, this daily report contains ballots received, accepted, or challenged. Matching it back to the voter registration database reveals who has yet to vote. All voter information in the report is public information.

Voter Registration Database | Request Form

Request a complete list of voters and publicly available information. The extract is large and may require particular expertise or tools to navigate.

Doing some research?

District Maps

Available in paper format, PDF, or GIS compatible precinct shapefiles.

Data & Statistics

This page contains links to publicly available election information for both current and historical data. Drilling down? Here’s contact info for each county elections office.

See "Who's Filed"

List of candidates who filed for office this year. Search by district, office, name, party preference and more.

Where can I find information about past elections?

Information on past elections, including results, voters' pamphlets, offices open for election, lists of candidates who filed, and other data can be found on our Election Results and Voters' Pamphlets page.

UPDATE: The City Of Redmond Budget

Mayor Angela Birney presented the proposed 2021-2022 biennial budget on Oct. 6. In a letter to the Redmond City Council and city community, she stated the recommendations in the budget were produced through Civics Result team of 30 Redmond volunteers, questionnaires, focus groups and **public hearings. 

The city forecasts that revenues from taxes and fees will decline by *$6.3 million in 2020, with expenses outpacing revenues starting in 2021, depleting the fund balance each year through 2026. In light of the economic hardships anticipated in the city, the budget cuts 26 full time positions from the 2020 staffing, including almost 10 Parks Department positions, eight capital investment, utilities and development services staff positions, and four vacant police or fire services staff positions. Some of those positions were also removed due this year as they were unnecessary during the shut downs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Excerpts from the Redmond Reporter. Halely Ausbun, 10/8/2020

Thank you Mayor for your courage and smarts to trim FTE's. Keep it up.

*CARES funding providing $2M this year will lighten the load.

** two public hearings remain

Old Redmond Schoolhouse Opens To Preschoolers

 Old Redmond Schoolhouse opens to preschoolers for their first day of school

Sep 22 2020

Building updated as part of 2016 bond passed by voters

Redmond, Wash. – Staff cheered Monday, September 14, as the first preschool student walked confidently into the Early Learning Center at Old Redmond Schoolhouse. It is the first time in more than 20 years that Lake Washington School District (LWSD) has held classes in the building. 

After a remodel, approved by voters in 2016, the 98-year-old building now serves as one of LWSD’s Early Learning Centers. Remodeled spaces include 10 preschool classrooms, therapy spaces, the Child Find office, a family resource library and family meeting space. Most special needs preschool students are attending class in-person, though some are starting the year remotely.