King County Supplemental COVID Funding

Eviction protections extended, added vaccination support in $92M budget approved by King County Council

 

The King County Council on Tuesday approved a sixth round of supplemental funding in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The $92 million budget includes funds for eviction protection and rental assistance, vaccination efforts, PPE, community-based organizations and more.

 

“The Council’s unanimous approval of the 6th Covid Budget marks the year’s first big step forward in addressing the health and financial needs of our community as we face the continuing challenges of Covid together,” said Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles. “This budget addresses critical needs in public health and provides a massive amount of assistance to residents struggling to pay rent.  We also apply the lessons learned over this last difficult year and created many improvements to our systems, adding a hub-and-spoke model to work with community-based organizations and an advisory committee to the rental assistance program and an accounting system that will allow small organizations without deep reserves to receive assistance when they cannot wait for reimbursement.”

 

While this budget largely represents efforts to maintain existing support and programs responding to COVID-19, it still makes large investments in several key areas:

 

• $45.2 million for rental assistance funded by Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, a $900 billion supplement to CARES Act
• $29 million for public health response and county operations funded by reappropriation of unspent Coronavirus Relief Funds
• $11.2 million for vaccination efforts for 60 days funded by state grants
• $5 million to establish a revolving fund to provide upfront payment for grants to community-based organizations that cannot wait for reimbursement$1.9 million to extend the JustCARE and Co-LEAD programs to end of March.

Light Rail Construction Reaches Downtown Redmond

 Westbound lane closures at NE 40th St. in Redmond

Beginning as early Monday, March 29 through August 2021, Sound Transit contractor crews will close the westbound lanes on Northeast 40th Street between 148th Avenue Northeast and 156th Avenue Northeast. This closure is needed to help the construction of the future Downtown Redmond Link Extension. 

Microsoft Opens Headquarters To Workers

 Microsoft to start bringing workers back to headquarters

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft will begin bringing workers back to its suburban Seattle global headquarters on March 29 as the tech giant starts to reopen more facilities it largely shuttered during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a post Monday on the company’s corporate blog, Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said Microsoft has been monitoring local health data and decided it can bring more employees back to its Redmond, Washington, campus.

DelBene said workers will have the choice to return to headquarters, continue working remotely or do a combination of both.

More than 50,000 people work at the company’s headquarters campus in Redmond, 15 miles (24 kilometers) east of Seattle.

On Monday, Washington state moved into Phase 3 of its COVID-19 reopening plan, meaning all of the state’s 39 counties will be allowed to relax coronavirus restrictions.

Under Phase 3, all indoor spaces — including indoor dining at restaurants, indoor fitness centers, and retail — can increase capacity from 25% to 50%. Larger events like concerts and graduation ceremonies will also be OK since up to 400 people will be allowed to gather for indoor and outdoor activities as long as physical distancing and masking are enforced.

-- 3/22/2021  Microsoft press release

Restoring A Place Where Salmon And People Can Live Together

 Dear WRIA 8 Salmon Recovery Council and interested parties,

 We’re excited to announce that the 2020 WRIA 8 Progress Report is now available online. 

 

Jason Mulvihill-Kuntz

Salmon Recovery Manager

Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed
206-477-4780 /jason.mulvihill-kuntz@kingcounty.gov

WRIA 8 website:https://www.govlink.org/watersheds/8/

 

Please click the above Progress Report.  It is an incredible site!  Bob

Senators Question CDC's Interpretation Of Data For Re-Opening Schools

 Source:  "Washington Alliance For Kids"  March 9th, 2021

To: Dr. Rochelle Walensky Director Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30329

From: Six U.S. Senators

Dear Director Walensky: 

We write with regard to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) school opening guidance. Numerous reports have documented how school closures continue to cause grave harm to our nation’s students’ educational outcomes and mental wellbeing. The overwhelming body of evidence indicates that it is safe for schools to offer in-person learning, and experts agree that the best thing we can do for students is to get them back in the classroom. 

Many of our states have been able to safely provide in-person learning for the majority of this year, and yet, the CDC and the Biden Administration have failed to provide our nation’s schools with a workable set of standards and a consistent science based message to help them reopen. To address those concerns, we demand a Tiger Team composed of public health experts to identify and address the source of this failure, align the guidance with science, and get our students back to school.

Last week, every Senate Democrat voted against our amendment to incentivize schools to reopen. Instead, they moved forward with $123 billion in funding that has no ties to any specific reopening timing. We are now left with an untenable crisis where it seems unlikely the unions will end their opposition to in-person learning, even after they receive billions in additional funding. 

The endless moving of goalposts by teachers’ unions make it hard to see a future in which our students will be able to pursue the in-person education they deserve. On February 12, 2021, the CDC admitted that listening sessions, with parents and teachers led to direct changes to their original draft guidance. By putting forth biased, unscientific guidance, the CDC made a clear decision to side with teachers unions over the well-being of students. 

School Board Expects District Will Exceed Governor's Requirements For Hybrid Learning

"The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) Board of Directors welcomes and supports Governor Inslee’s announced proclamation requiring all school districts to begin offering hybrid in-person instruction this spring. We believe that, although remote learning has worked for some, for many students the best model of instruction is in-person, in a classroom with their teacher. This Board also views the Governor’s proclamation as a minimum, not a goal. 

Accordingly, it is the Board’s expectation that LWSD will exceed the requirements of the Governor’s proclamation in implementing in-person learning this spring. It is also our expectation that all students who choose to remain in remote instruction will continue to receive high-quality instruction and services. Finally, it is our expectation that, if health and safety guidelines allow, all students in all grades will have the option for full-time in-person instruction next fall. As a Board, we commit to doing everything we can to ensure this happens...."

-- LWSD Board of Directors, release excerpt 3/15/2021

Three foot distancing policies can be adopted in school settings with masking mandates without negatively impacting student or staff safety. Clinical Infectious Diseases, March 10, 2021

WASHINGTON ALLIANCE FOR KIDS

A comprehensive, quality website packed with information focused on getting our kids back to school. 

Pandemic Pedaling - Bikes Everywhere!

 

Doing it right, on the Sammamish River Trail, Photography by John Reinke 

Green Rooftop And Vertical Garden Building Incentives

Overlake Medical Center Pavilion

Note the patio furniture and benches

Redmond is committed to initiatives that preserve our natural resources and enhance the long-term environmental sustainability of our community. The City’s environmental programs and initiatives are concentrated in four key areas to cultivate a thriving environment; two of which are: *stormwater runoff management  and preserving and enhancing green space, the tree canopy and *natural habitat.  

Despite being a biologist and knowing the benefits of green rooftops Mayor Birney states "staff are not presently advancing policy or code development work specifically related to green roofs. The staff are focused on updating the Comprehensive Plan in its entirety....)  2/17/2021  Why is the Mayor leaving green roof policy up to staff?  Doesn't the Council set policy?  With each passing year, projects are developed in Redmond yielding literally acres of rooftop that will never be green. For a City that prides itself in environmental sustainability, the Administration is leaving the citizens behind as it races to accommodate growth. 

Incentives:  Just as we use art, height, courtyard architecture, trees and other features for project incentives we can do the same for green rooftops and vertical gardens. In the Quadrant/Proctor 10-minute community site on Willows & 124th, the Administration offered four Green development incentives.  The four options offered:  1) electric vehicle charging, 2) green roofs, 3) solar panels on the townhomes, and 4) solar panels on the community buildings. Quadrant was required to use two of the four options. If green incentives can be used at this development why not others?

It's my hope our Mayor will support Green policy guidance from our representatives and not leave everything up to the Development and Engagement office.  

-- Bob Yoder, 3/4/2021

   Sources:  Note from Mayor Birney, 2/17/2021

   Blog piece on Proctor development

   redmond.gov 

   Photo, Bob Yoder

Cackling Geese Seen On Sammamish River

Just north of the 90th Street bridge I saw a fair number of folks walking and riding bikes up and down the trail, but these "Cackling geese" paid no attention to them as they munched away on the grass.  Some folks approached fairly closely to take photos, as I did also.  The geese didn't object or scuttle away.

I had come upon them as I headed north along along the Sammamish River.  After taking a number of photos, I turned around and walked back south.  As I did so, I kept an eye on the grass growing between the trail and the river, on which the geese had been feeding.  I discovered lots of goose poop spread along this area for at least 100 yards south from where I had first encountered them.  I would guess they must have already been on the scene for close to an hour to have chewed their way through this stretch of land.

Conclusion:  Free grass clipping and free fertilizer!  What more could we ask from our feathered friends?

FYI: Cackling geese are a separate species that closely resemble Canada Geese, but are smaller in size.

[ to learn about cackling geese, go to this link: https://www.audubon.org/news/learn-tell-cackling-goose-canada-goose ]  

-- Picture and story by John Reinke, 1/17/2001

Secondary Students To Maintain Remote Courses And Teachers For Remainder Of The Year

February 25, 2021

Lake Washington School District jointly with the Lake Washington Education Association are releasing pertinent information and details related to secondary educational offerings for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year.

The District and Association have a shared agreement that secondary students need to be offered access to in-person experiences. 

Dr. Holmen stated, “We need to ensure that any secondary student who wants an in-person experience is afforded that opportunity.” He went on to say, “Our adolescent youth are experiencing this pandemic in many different ways. We need to be responsive to those needs and be creative in how we address the varying needs across our district.”

Secondary students can expect to maintain their current remote courses and teachers for the remainder of the school year. After analyzing a number of factors, the District has determined that the shift to a hybrid model and disruptions to schedules would create more challenges and problems for secondary students than benefits. Superintendent Dr. Jon Holmen will release a live-recorded message for secondary families on Friday providing additional information about the decision to maintain the current remote instructional model.

Press release excerpt ,2/26/2001

LWSD Allows In-person Attendance To Their Public Meetings

Lake Washington School District is now allowing in-person attendance at their public meetings on a limited basis.  Below, is their announcement:  (B.Yoder, 2/24/2021)

"Effective March 1, LWSD board meetings and study sessions will be held in-person. 

 

If you would like to attend either a board meeting or study session, you must pre-register to Diane Jenkins, djenkins@lwsd.org by 1:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Due to the regulations in Phase 2, there can only be 16 audience members in attendance. Reservations will be on a first-come, first-served basis. A contact list will be retained for 28 days. Attendees can be staggered (move in/move-out) to reduce gatherings.

 

Board meetings and study sessions will continue to be livestreamed and viewable on the district website. 

Second Through Fifth Grades Transition To In-Person Or Continued Remote Learning

 February 22, 2021

Lake Washington School District jointly with Lake Washington Education Association are excited to release pertinent details for the second through fifth grades elementary learning model transition to in-person or continued remote learning services. 

UPDATED, 3/2/2021: My Covid Vaccination Experience

I never thought I'd admire this little town so much (photo P. Yoder) 

It's been about a year that we've been living under the cloud of the pandemic. Stress and sadness shows its ugly head. I'm fatigued having to wear a mask and socially distance all the time. One of my pet peeves is seeing noses uncovered. I can't stand it.  (I'm outside and distanced when unmasked.)

Like most, we were overjoyed when the vaccines were released!  At age 70 with underlying conditions, and my wife at 67, we persistently searched for an appointment; an horrific endeavour.  (Though some V.I.P. donors at Overlake Medical Center, Providence-Everett and EvergreenHealth silently moved up the line.)  My wife, Pam set the alarm clock for early morning calls to city, county and state vaccination sites.  

Breaking news! On 2/10, my wife and I won the vaccine lottery with a grand prize trip to Pateros for two Moderna shots! haha. Pateros is a town of 600, four hours east of Redmond, 20 minutes north of Chelan.  We have a rental in Chelan and had to do some business there so transportation wasn't a big problem.

The site was run by three county Fire Departments; they vaccinate about 40/day.  We were quickly vaccinated from our car, and ecstatic when given a card for the second shot!  According to the New York Times (2/20/21), only 13% of the U.S. population have their first shot and 5.4% have both shots. We feel blessed.  

-- Bob Yoder, 2/20/2021

I took the second Moderna shot 25 days later...moderate fatigue a day later.

What a Look

 

She looks quite ravishing, what with her 'flower power' eyes and festooned with a striking fuchsia scarf around her shoulders.  She is certainly a cheery addition to our otherwise drab winter scene.  -- John Reinke, 2/17/2021, Sammamish River.

COVID 19 Has Not Affected Home Values

 -- Mr. John Wilson, King County Assessor, 2/17/2021

King County Mails First Tax Bills Since the Beginning of the Pandemic: Some Areas Will See Increases Due to the Passage of Special Levies 

COVID 19 Pandemic Has Not Affected Home Values, but Some Commercial Businesses Have Taken a Major Hit 

Overview of 2021 Property Taxes 

Voter approval of special levies, in conjunction with a strong housing market, will generate a 4.03% general increase in King County property tax collections for 2021 – although some jurisdictions will see double digit increases. 

Overall, countywide property tax collections for the 2021 tax year are $6.6 billion, an increase of $256 million from the previous year of $6.3 billion.  Total County property value increased by 2.65%, from $ 642.5 billion to $659.5 billion between 2020 and 2021. 

“This year’s tax bills reflect the complexity of our property tax system,” said Assessor John Wilson.  “Taxes are going up for many county residents, but not all. And the pandemic which has affected all our lives has hit the economy hard but has not dramatically affected property values.” 

King County Treasury began sending out the annual property tax bills February 16. King County collects property taxes on behalf of the state, the county, cities, and taxing districts (such as school and fire districts) and distributes the revenue to these local governments. 

About 57 percent of 2021 King County property tax revenues pays for schools. Property taxes also fund voter-approved measures for veterans and seniors, fire protection, and parks. King County receives about 17 percent of your property tax payment for roads, police, criminal justice, public health, elections, and parks, among other services. 

Property Values Largely Unaffected By the COVID-19 For 2021 Taxes 

The King County Assessor has been monitoring the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  While residential housing values have remained steady, some commercial sectors are being heavily impacted. It is important to note, however, that, by state law, values are set as of January 1 each year. Taxes collected this year are based on the value of the property on January 1, 2020. Therefore, any changes in commercial values caused by COVID will be reflected in the 2021 assessed value for taxes payable in 2022. 

“The world today is radically different than it was on January 1, 2020 when state law has us set assessed values for this year’s taxes,” said Wilson. “While residential values have been steady, many businesses have been either temporarily closed or their operations dramatically constrained. And thousands of workers have been laid off or furloughed.” 

 Local Levies Lead to Property Tax Increases 

By state law, property taxes are calculated on values set January 1, 2020 – well before the economic impacts from COVID-19. During 2020, many local special levies, particularly for schools, were passed by voters. Taxes to fund those levies will be collected for the first time this year, leading to property tax increases in many parts of the county. 

For example, the four largest increases are in Pacific, up 13% over 2020, Enumclaw, up 11%, Maple Valley, up 15%, and Algona, up 18%.

Input is requested on the Senior and Community Centers

Redmond, WA – The City of Redmond invites community members to give their input on the program and design process for the future Redmond Senior and Community Center. The community is invited to join a virtual public meeting on February 24 from 1-3 p.m. for seniors and 6:30-8:30 p.m. for all ages. In addition to this meeting, an online questionnaire is available through March 10. To RSVP for this meeting or to complete the questionnaire, visit the project webpage at www.redmond.gov/RSCC.

Thousands of citizens have been polled on the Senior Center in recent years.  With the Centers not opening in a few years from now; I won't be participating in this survey.  I'll wait for the next one. -- B. Yoder, 2/16/2021

King County Representative Balducci Addresses Vaccine Shortage

I'm 70 with pre-existing conditions  - the vaccine shortage is really hitting me hard. This short survey and what Claudia does with it is very empowering.  You'll feel better after taking it. -- Bob Yoder

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Take my vaccine appointment survey On Tuesday, representatives from Public Health - Seattle & King County (Public Health) provided an update to the King County Council on the status of vaccine distribution and their plans to use more doses quickly when supply finally ramps up. During the update I remarked that getting a vaccine has been frustrating and, frankly, upsetting for far too many who must search around the internet hoping to get lucky by finding an appointment for a vaccine. It doesn’t have to be this way. We need a unified and easily accessible vaccine appointment system. I am working to voice these frustrations to leaders, including the Governor, and I need your help. Take my survey about securing a vaccine appointment >>> With your valuable feedback, I hope to convey your concerns and elevate the voices of District 6 constituents to make getting COVID-19 vaccines easier. The biggest part of the vaccine problem remains that not nearly enough doses are available to meet the demand. The following Public Health graphic illustrates the limited number of doses we have received since mid-December and that the number of vaccine doses has fluctuated wildly, which makes planning for appointments even more challenging.

Redmond Historical Society Moving Back To Old Redmond School House

Press Release. 2-3-2021 

John Oftebro, President Redmond Historical Society

Redmond Historical Society Returns to Old Redmond Schoolhouse The Redmond Historical Society is pleased to announce that the organization is finally moving back into the Old Redmond Schoolhouse.

Having resided there since its founding in 1999, the Society was asked to move out temporarily in March 2018 so that the Lake Washington School District could remodel the building for its preschool program in Redmond, which opened in September 2020. 

The Society is grateful to Robert Pantley of Natural & Built Environments, and Wayne Morse of Bellegrove Medical Supply, for generously providing temporary office space over the past three years.

During February and March 2021, Board members and staff will be organizing the Society’s office and collections, and then developing the new display and exhibit space for eventual opening of its office and museum sometime in 2021. “We are excited to be returning to the schoolhouse—our home for many years,” said John Oftebro, Society President. “We are also engaged in planning innovative museum space. We will open when we are ready, and public safety measures allow.” 

King County To Relax Some COVID Restrictions On Businesses

On Thursday, Gov. Jay Inslee announced King County will soon be able to relax some COVID-19 restrictions on businesses as it enters Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington plan.

Beginning Monday restaurants may reopen indoor service at 25% capacity through 11pm. Indoor entertainment venues — including museums, gyms, bowling alleys and concert halls — can also reopen to 25% capacity. Bars that don’t serve food, however, will remain closed for the time being.

While these changes are possible due to modest reductions in King County’s COVID-19 rates, the confirmed arrival of the new COVID-19 variant provides another reminder that our work is not done. We must continue to do everything we can to slow the spread of the disease by following these common-sense public health practices: wear masks, keep physical distance, implement good ventilation and stay home when possible.

Read the latest Public Health blog post on the steps we can take to respond to the new variant >>>

-- Claudia Balducci, King County Chair, Position 6

1/30/2021

COVID Puts The Squeeze On LWSD Schools

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District (LWSD) holds an open enrollment period once each year for parents who want their children to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. Parents may apply between February 1-26 for a change to their school assignment for the 2021-22 school year for their student in grades K-12. This option is also known as an In-District Variance.

This open enrollment option only applies to neighborhood schools that have space available (and are designated as “open” or “limited”). The list of schools that are open or limited to students outside their neighborhood will be available on the district website on February 1 at: http://www.lwsd.org/students-families/registration/transfer-options/in-district-variance-options. Schools are closed if current and projected enrollment shows that students who live within their attendance boundary will fill the school’s capacity. District enrollment has increased rapidly over the last 12 years and due to COVID impact on space requirements, it is likely that very few, if any, schools will be on the list of open or limited schools.

-- LWSD Press Release, Excerpt, 1/29/2021

Affordable "Micro Suite" Apartments?

UNDER REVIEW:

Pixel Apartments: Overlake Urban Center -  with three levels parking. Location: 15424 Bel-Red Road.  3360 SF rug warehouse torn down. 179 units; 374 SF per unit.Paid parking/107 stalls. Eight stories. Construction begins early 2022.  500 SF commercial space.

Harmony: Downtown Description:  The parcel is located on 164th Avenue NE and NE 87th Street and borders a mix of residential and commercial uses. An office building will be torn down. Affordable housing is not required.

If approved, the five-story project will be two blocks from the Redmond Transit Center and within 0.5 miles from Bella Bottega.  The developer proposes a mixed-use building with approximately 250 square feet of commercial, 584 office,*91 residential suites and eight apartment units.  The 91 residential micro-unit suites will be 200 square feet. The studio apartments will range from 400 to 700 square feet. The ground floor includes an open space open to the public which includes covered and uncovered seating areas and landscaping. Forty-four stalls of paid parking will be provided to commercial and residential users. Parking won't be subterranean.  The developer is aiming for LEED Platinum status.

* Harmony residential unit numbers may increase to 104 units. 

-- Bob Yoder, 1/19/2021

Sources: DRB memos/ City staff/redmond.gov, Internet

An apartment building in Downtown Redmond advertises their 186 SF units at $905- $1200.  Parking is an additional $45/month. The apartments have a prime location close to the transit center and restaurants. Affordable for Redmond?  You could say so.