UPDATED: 60 Evergreen Saplings Planted Along The Ashford Trail

Ashford Trail evergreen saplings

The Ashford Trail is not far from my Education Hill house; I walk it often...sometimes to Avondale Road.  The trailhead is at the Bike Park.

Last week, I was surprised and happy to see a planting of ~60 evergreen sapling trees on the south side of the trail. Most of them were hard to spot but the orange tape helped.  Can you see the three trees in this picture?  After much back-and-forth Customer Service confirmed they were planted by the Green Redmond Partnership three years ago.

Two City of Redmond water barrels were visible in the woods. City staff probably tied on the orange tape to mark for watering.  Despite severe heat this summer the trees looked healthy.  It's nice to know the City and Green Redmond forest steward (?) are looking after the saplings.

Additional Green Redmond Community tree planting programs are planned for the Fall of this year:

9/25, Smith Woods / 10/30, Smith Woods / 10/30, Ferrel-McWhirter

-- Bob Yoder, 9/5/2021

Salmon and Art On The Central Connector Trail

double click to enlarge

When walking across the Redmond Central Connector railroad trestle bridge we heard and saw salmon splashing in the Sammamish River below us. They were hard to see but persistence paid off. They migrate from August to November so there's plenty of time to see them. 

Eight panels of iron art are attached to the bridge. As you walk down the trail towards the Overlake Church these colored "boulders" welcome you for a rest. (Public Works Art?)  The entire trail is pervious and awesome for the environment but very expensive.  Low profile "street" lights line the trail.  

It was 4:15 and there was plenty of traffic.  An electric scooter zoomed by.  We saw three Limes.  Two were parked and one with a rider.  He told us he rides the Connector to Overlake then over the river and as far as the Burke-Gilman Trail.  He said it's fun!  We also saw about 3 bicyclists, a few joggers, some hikers and a couple dog walkers.  

Get out and watch those fish flip and flap!  We saw a 2 footer  jump completely out of the water!

-- Bob Yoder, 8/31/2021

UPDATED: Dog Parks In Redmond

As Redmond grows so does our need for dog parks.  The downtown park (?) and Marymoor park can't do it all. 🐕,  Off leash "Pop Up Dog Parks" are a solution many cities are employing.  Below, is an orange City of Kirkland pop up.  Kirkland has three of them and all has gone so well that one will be permanent. You can't see it in this picture but there's also a smaller park for the little guys.  

Temporary pop up in a Kirkland park / B. Yoder

Potential dog park area near Soul Food / B. Yoder

During "Redmond Lights" Gary Smith, Parks Commission Chair, pointed out this green patch of land.  He thought it had potential for a dog park. For orientation, the land is west of Discover Yoga; it's the structure you're looking at. And it's behind Soul Food.  There may not be enough acreage for large and small dogs, but small dogs could romp. Unfortunately, the owner is Mr. Nelson.  His attorney said the land won't be used for a dog park area.

Smith Woods Park in northern Redmond is a 10 acre, mostly grassy place.  It might be a perfect location for those that don't want to drive all the way to Marymoor Park and to serve Redmondites in general. Can you think of other locations?  

--Bob Yoder, 8/28/2021

Critique On A Redmond Council Meeting

I'm a local government nerd and try to watch City Council meetings on Facebook LIVE whenever I can.  A few actions really annoyed me at their last Study Session and I'm getting it off my chest here; other actions were commendable.  

1,  Our councilmembers work exceptionally hard and they're smart. We, the electorate did well!

2.  Even though Mr. Fields committed to keeping his zoom camera on when talking he rarely does. In the few meetings Ms. Kahn has attended, she seldom turns her camera on.  Seeing faces and body language is an important part of communication.  Otherwise, it's like listening to a radio.

3. Councilmembers Kritzer, Padhye, Anderson, and Forsythe always put their cameras on so you can watch them talking.  Cameras help in public engagement.  Ms. Kritzer and Padhye usually sit on the Dais as does Ms. Anderson & Mr. Carson.  Seeing their faces and body language is extremely helpful.  Yes, we are a broad, attentive viewing audience who wants to be informed and participate.   

4. Ms. Kahn on three occasions talked endlessly.  She may have made 1-2 points. "Be Brief, Be Bright, Be Gone" is something to think about. 

5. V.P. Jeralee Anderson did a fabulous job running the "Environmental Sustainability Priority" conversations. [She's given an environmental TEDx talk on "green roads."] Jeralee made sure everyone had the opportunity to participate equatibly.  Jeralee has good body language and engages well.  

6. The Council Safety Committee was considered for "housing" an environmental sustainability standing committee.  The Mayor (not in attendance) through President Padhye was concerned about staffing. Padhye said a Director's attendance was common practice. Five councilmembers said an environmental executive would be fitting. (as do I.)  Council will take a vote next Business meeting.  

7. Mr. Fields scolded President Padhye over a simple procedural question.  It was uncivil and unbecoming of a councilmember.  (His area of interest is policy.)  

-- Bob Yoder, 8/26/2021

UPDATED: Washington State Has One Of The Strictest Mask Mandates

Behind that mask is a fatigued, anxious person, B. Yoder

  

Care of Governor Inslee, by August 23th, almost every citizen must be masked when indoors even if  vacinnated.  Inslee's mask mandate is one of the strictest in the Nation.   I'm vacinnated and masking up but it doesn't feel fair; 2 steps forward, 1 step back.  At this time, only 72% of Washingtonians have one shot or more.  It appears we are paying the price for the iodiotic, ignorant, or listless behavior of the unvaccinated 28%.  

However, the deadly Delta variant is taking it's toll on even the vacinnated, though only a sliver are hospitalized.  "Breakthrough infections" are rare, but the government is looking out for us ... to the chagrin of some.  

-- Bob Yoder, 8/25/2021

    Photo, Pam Yoder, QFC Bear Creek

The above is a dated post; now breakthrough infections are commonplace, As of October 25 proof of vacinnation and full masking is required in King County in indoor places and outdoor events over 500.  Two of my relatives have had breakthough infections.  Booster shots will soon be available for seniors 65+.   9/18/2021  

UPDATED: Swarming e-Scooters In Redmond?

A typical downtown Spokane sidewalk. We saw one dude riding two scooters, one on each foot.

 LIME e-scooters are everywhere, everywhere in Spokane!  Most Spokane sidewalks are super-wide. You can ride them safely, very fast, and they rarely run the streets. There's plenty of space to park without obstruction to pedestrians and ADA folks.  Pam is standing in front of a restaurant with outdoor seating; we weren't bothered by one passing scooter.  Spokane's 10-12 foot sidewalks are all over the downtown...and beyond.  And, it's clear Spokane is not a bicycle city.

Now, Redmond is another story.  Land close to light rail is expensive and finite. Thus, 6-8 story buildings are crammed into our downtown, with razor thin set-backs, and narrow sidewalks.  Even bike lanes are scant.  Scooting is sketchy unless you move very slowly or take to the streets.  Owing to their versatility and our needs, scooters could one day swarm our downtown streets and roads.

-- Bob Yoder, Photo, 8/25/2021

Opinion: Light Rail And Homeless People In Redmond

I just got home from a joyful family event in Spokane.  It was tarnished by the presence of homeless people in the downtown next to the Davenport Hotel.  I couldn't believe the multitude of mentally sick and druged homeless walking there. We didn't feel secure. It seemed there was one, or a group, of homeless on every sidewalk and intersection.  So sad.  When winter comes, perhaps the City buys them a bus ticket south?  Some that don't catch the bus could die. Seriously.  Spokane has a beautiful website dedicated to their homeless.  My son-in-law says the plethora of City human services draws them in.  

Redmond doesn't appear to have a serious problem with homelessness because most are unseen.  We are known for our human service resources; our homeless people are well cared for.  According to the City website only 337 were sheltered in East King County in 2019.  I surmise once light rail is built-out (and taxes and rent explodes) the homeless will be more visible.  I'm concerned the Silver Cloud Homeless Hotel could become a magnet for homeless tenting.  I'm bothered the County/City haven't expressed their goals for homeless circulation through the hotel.  For example, when do they "check out" of the hotel? Social workers will need to triage the applicants. What will happen to those beyond rehabilitation? Where will they go?   

It's my understanding the City is studying how to cope with "crime" associated with light rail.  What station will the homeless most use? My guess is the Overlake and Downtown urban centers, where most of the human services and safety resources are centered.    

-- Bob Yoder, 8/25/2021

U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers' Relocation Of Evans Creek Temporarily Affects Salmon

 MAP

U.S Army Corps of Engineers - Seattle District

"...The Evans Creek Relocation project is such a priority that the WRIA 8 Council recently voted to allocate $450,000 towards it."  -- Redmond Councilmember Vanessa Kritzer, 8/16/2021

The U.S. Army Corps says:  Mr. Yoder, please see the City responses to your comments: 

 

• Are Chinook presently living and rearing in Evans Creek or one of its tributaries?  Or, will just Chinook habitat improve, setting the stage for Chinook migration? 
• Response:

The City’s Biological Assessment that was submitted with the Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) package describes current occurrence of Chinook in the project area.  Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) inventories document Chinook spawning occurring in Evans Creek in the project area.  However, the City’s instream habitat surveys conducted for the project indicate that the creek lacks suitable gravel and cobble substrate, and pool/riffle habitat complexity required for spawning.  Therefore, it is unlikely that Chinook still spawn in this reach.  The project reach of Evans Creek does support migration of both adults and rearing juveniles.  Juvenile rearing habitat is present, particularly in the most upstream portion of the project reach.

 

Once the project is completed, the project will enhance rearing habitat for Chinook Salmon, steelhead, and other salmonids, and augment fish passage to the upper watershed where Chinook spawning habitat occurs.

 

• You say there will be a temporary disturbance to fish and their habitat during Phase 2 construction.  How do you define "temporary."  (1 month? 1 year? 1 week?)  
• Response:  

Temporary in this case is 3 months.  All in-water work associated with Phase 2 construction will be restricted to occur within the proposed July 1 through September 30 in-water work window of a single season and would not coincide with major salmonid migrations (either upstream migrations of adults, or downstream migrations of juveniles).  This in-water work window is regulated by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and the project will need to meet all WDFW permit conditions.

 

• You say one acre of rearing will be replaced. Replaced with what?  How many acres of rearing are there now?
• Response:  

One of the project’s stated goals is to “Provide the type of habitat needed to support significantly enhanced juvenile salmon rearing.”  The existing Evans Creek channel has just under one acre of instream habitat that will be relocated; a portion of that existing area is rearing habitat.  The proposed Evans Creek channel will increase instream habitat to more than seven acres within the project area and improve the quality of that habitat.  At this point in the design we don’t have a final number for constructed rearing acreage, but it will be an increase and enhanced from existing conditions.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

Colleen C. Anderson

Project Manager, Regulatory Branch

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District

Office:  206-764-3262

colleen.c.anderson@usace.army.mil

HEARING On Huge "LMC" Marymoor Development

The City received only five (5) comments on this gargantuan Development and Master Plan. Tomorrow's Hearing 8/17/2021 is the last opportunity to make a comment.

Some details:  3.68-acre site • 284 dwelling units • At least 5% 3-bedroom units • 28 low-cost affordable units • Public plaza • Public Art walk and artist in residence • Connection to Marymoor Park

The applicant (LMC - South) is seeking a Master Plan and Development Agreement from the City Council. With respect to the Development Agreement, the City is receiving the following benefits: 

o Commitment to provide at least 5 percent of the units (14) as 3-bedroom units; [Good]

o 10 percent of live/work units reserved for occupancy by local commercial tenant(s); 

o Public Art walk; 

o Public Plaza; 

o Public Play Plaza with children’s play features and other entertainment features for all ages; 

o Public outdoor dog washing station; 

o Community Gardens; 

o Art Studio and artist in residence; and 

o Multi-modal trail connections to Marymoor Park with self-service bicycle repair station. [I'm very excited to see the art.] 

In return, the applicant is requesting: 

o A ten-year vesting period with a potential five-year extension; 

o Ground floor amenity space to be classified as commercial space; 

o Live/work units to be classified as commercial space; 

o Construction phasing is proposed in two phases: § Phase I will include a majority of the infrastructure improvements (includes the construction of 173rd Avenue NE and 174th Avenue NE), the development of the garage, west building, north and south public plazas; and § Phase II will include the east building and its residential amenities, children’s play plaza, community garden, and art walk.

Regular Council meeting memo, 8/16/2021

Council To Approve $3.96M For Body-Worn Cameras

 

patch

 

$3.96M from the 2021-2022 General Fund for the Police Department body-worn camera program is expected to be approved by Council in a day. The funding will provide for programmatic costs, equipment and the addition of 5.00 FTEs to oversee the program and manage records requests which will increase in complexity due to the technology involved.  (This expense only touches the surface. B.Yoder)

-- Council Regular meeting, 8/16/2021

City To Receive Over $9M In Covid Recovery Funds

Seems like a pretty tidy sum for a medium-sized city. Yoder

$9.6M of the $9.9M has been formally allocated to the City as part of the federally funded COVID American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA.)  

On March 11, 2021 President Biden signed a bill to provide additional relief for states, counties, cities and towns as well as public utilities, libraries and transit agencies affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The City of Redmond will receive a total of $9,928,999, in two increments, during the 2021-2022 biennium. The APRA funds will be held in the COVID Recovery Fund until a recommended spending plan is approved by Council. The funds must be obligated by December 2024 and spent on qualifying expenses by December 2026. 

Staff is still gathering information on ARPA, but allowable uses of the funds include: 

· COVID-19 emergency response; 

· Assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits related to the negative economic impacts of COVID19; 

· Aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality; 

· Hazard pay for eligible local government essential workers; 

· Grants to eligible private employers to provide hazard pay to essential workers; 

· Provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue due to COVID-19; and 

· To make necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure.

-- Council Regular Meeting memo, 8/16/2021

Council To Allocate $2.8 Million To Central Trail Connector Project

Internet

$2.8M of the 2021-2022 General Fund will be allocated to the Redmond Central Connector Phase III project. 

Phase 3 of the project will add the remaining 1.6 miles of hard-surface trail. Once Phase III, Phase IV and Phase V are completed, the trail will connect with over 60 miles of regional trails and will be the key regional link from Redmond to Sammamish and Kirkland.

Phase III 

• 1.6-mile segment is in the planning phase. 

• Will connect the Phase II trail near Overlake Christian Church to NE 124th Street at the Kirkland border. 

• This phase is partially funded with an appropriation from the state and city capital funds. The City is currently seeking additional funds for the project. 

• In the future, Sound Transit and regional utilities may construct facilities adjacent to the trail.

• Downtown and the Willows business district expect a combined increase of 10,000 residents and 20,000 jobs by 2020, and the Connector provides an alternative route to move between these areas.

--Council Regular Meeting notes, 8/16/2021

Downtown Redmond Walking Tour

2020

 

Virtual Redmond Historical Society Speaker Series Begins September

 

Virtual Saturday Speaker Series
Begins in September

The Redmond Historical Society is pleased to announce the schedule for our 2021-2022 Saturday Speaker Series, held on the second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.

 

Given current restrictions, the Society will continue to host these programs virtually in the Zoom webinar format. These programs are free to members and the public.

 

Beginning in September, more information and registration details will be available in this newsletter and on our website under www.redmondhistoricalsociety.org/events. Please stay tuned!

Saturday, September 11, 2021
The River That Made Seattle
(Duwamish)
BJ Cummings
Author, Speaking Courtesy of
Humanities Washington

Saturday, October 9, 2021
New Findings of the Bear Creek
Site
Steven Mullen-Moses
Director of Archaeology & Historic
Preservation, Snoqualmie Tribe

 

Saturday, November 13, 2021
Whiskey and Wiretaps: The
Northwest’s Rumrunning King
(Roy Olmstead)
Steve Edmiston
Author, Lawyer, Speaking
Courtesy of Humanities Washington

Saturday, February 12, 2022
Catching a Map Thief: The
Man Who Stole Rare Maps
from 100 Libraries — Including
Washington State
Robert Lopresti
Author, Government Information
Librarian

Saturday, March 12, 2022
Women’s Lives in the Issaquah
Valley, 1890–1930
Erica Maniez
Executive Director, Issaquah
History Museums

Saturday, April 9, 2022
History of the Panama Hotel in
Seattle
Jan Johnson
Owner, Historian

Oxymoron - Council Committee Of The Whole

It was hilarious when Chair Carson called his "Council Committee Of The Whole" meeting to order.  No one was there. 😏 Mr. Carson sat prominently alone on the Dais. Needless to say, the committee wasn't whole.  

Vanasa Kritzer, Varisha Kahn and Mr. Fields were excused.

-- Bob Yoder, 8/10/2021

(All but David Carson were wearing masks at the Regular meeting. The Mayor wore a mask, as well....  probably in response to the Delta virus.) 

Council Candidate Melissa Stuart Up By 59% In Primary

 

Hi friends,

As primary votes continue to be counted, I want to share my immense gratitude for your support during this campaign. Votes are still being counted, but so far we are earning 59% of the primary votes here in Redmond!

I am truly grateful and humbled by the outpouring of support for our campaign. During the primary, supporters and volunteers helped knock 1,500 doors, spoke to hundreds of voters, and filled Redmond with our colorful yard signs. Way to go team!

Stay tuned for an invitation to our general election kick-off event. In the meantime, here are two easy ways you can help launch our campaign into the general:

1) Make a donation at electmelissastuart.com so we can purchase new canvassing literature and get back out to the doors!

2) Invite your friends to like our Facebook page. Can we get to 100 likes by the end of the weekend?

Thanks so much for your support today.

See you on the campaign trail!

Melissa Stuart, Candidate

Redmond City Council Position 4

Senior Center / Community Center Challenged By "Critical Areas"

LAND-2021-00631, Redmond Senior and Community Center Description: The site is located within the Sammamish River stream buffer and Shoreline Environment. The Sammamish River requires a 150-foot stream buffer from the ordinary high-water mark, and the Shoreline Environment extends 200 feet from the ordinary high-water mark. These critical areas offer challenges in terms of site design, where the structure may not be located within 150-foot stream buffer. Structures located within the Shoreline Environment have a maximum height limit of 35 feet. The site design of RSCC navigates through these site constraints, where the western portion of the building is one story, and the eastern section of the building will stand at two stories.

The southerly Community Center includes a gym, weight room facilities, flexible workout room, locker rooms, and staff office space. 

Two pathways from the RSCC are proposed to provide access to the Sammamish River trail. A majority of the lawn will be retained and enhanced for events such as Rocking on the River to encourage residents to interact with more of their community. Additional open space is provided at the outdoor seating areas which act as outdoor extensions of the building. 

Design Review Board Report (not very exciting.)

excerpts and edits

Bob Yoder, 8/6/2021

Herfy's Hamburgers Scheduled For Tear Out - 6-Story Sunrise Apartments Construction Soon

The Redmond Corner Market was a poorly lit convenience store.  My daughter's coach bought his trophies from "Redmond Trophy."

.

Herfy's is the cornerstone of the mall.

Herfy's has the broadest selection of hamburgers at the lowest price.  Great shakes too.
Click to enlarge. Find the "mask required sign."  Delta Covid variant is running wild.

 

A warehouse will be built on this site, south of Sunrise.  The popular Brown Bag restaurant was here. Click (double) to see a mall sign and Animal Emergency sign.

 

Description of the Six-Story Sunrise Apartments

Story and photos by Bob Yoder

8/4/2021

"Evans Creek Relocation Project" Benefits Fish, Offers Land Use Opportunities (Part One)

 

The dotted blue line is the proposed, new channel.  The relocation increases buffer width benefiting
the fish and offers land-use development opportunities. King county lands are involved.

Project Overview

Evans Creek is a Class I stream that has been impacted by adjacent industrial development. Narrow vegetated buffers expose the stream channel to sunlight, and untreated runoff may be entering the channel. 

This project is listed in the WRIA 8 Chinook Conservation Plan.The large upstream watershed supports good wild Coho runs, provides important Chinook habitat and contains quality riparian habitat and corridor connectivity for other wildlife. The open space proposed for the new channel also contains the well-used Bear-Evans trail, and the stream project will benefit passive recreation opportunities. 

The proposed stream relocation solution involves the following:

• Reconstruct the channel to the north and east of industrial properties in open space where adequate buffers can be established.
• Reconnect the channel with floodplain wetlands and restore riparian buffer function by controlling invasive weeds and planting native riparian vegetation along the new channel.
• Install in-stream habitat structures, streambed sediment and bioengineering in the new channel to enhance hydraulics and fish habitat.
• Coordinate as needed with underlying private property owners, adjacent industrial development, and WSDOT. 
• Retain and improve the Bear Evans Trail, accommodating future expansions of the trail network to the west fostering passive recreation opportunities in the area.

-- redmond.gov

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Assesses Fish Impact From "Evans Creek Relocation Project" (Part Two)

Upper Evans Creek
Photo/ Yoder

MAP 

The Evans Creek Relocation Project is intended to improve overall riverine processes in the lower portion of Evans Creek, increase habitat complexity within the channel, increase riparian habitat functions, and separate the lower portion of Evans Creek from existing, incompatible land uses. The City addressed potential impacts to Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) due to the project in the November 2020 Biological Assessment that was submitted with the JARPA package:

EFH for Pacific salmon, including Chinook and Coho, is present in the project action area.During construction activities in phase 2 when the new channel is connected to the existing channel, the Project would result in a temporary and localized turbidity plume. Active construction within Coho and Chinook freshwater EFH, dewatering the existing channel, and loss of less than 1 acre of rearing habitat during phase 2 construction activities resulted in an EFH effect determination of “may adversely affect EFH for Coho and Chinook salmon” in the Biological Assessment. This adverse effect is temporary and will only occur during the construction phase, when the newly constructed channel would be connected to the existing creek.

Outdoor Art Mutes Apartment Construction

(double click to enlarge)

Outdoor butterfly art is resting on the Downtown Park.  Porch + Park apartment construction is in the background.  I saw this art while participating in Janet Richards' council campaign.

-- Bob Yoder, 8/1/2021

    Photo, Yoder