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Showing posts with the label council

OPINION: Planned development on corner of Willows & 124th brings challenges and opportunities

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Could something like this happen here? Maybe. Internet  Updated 1/29, 1:01 PM Quadrant is working with the City to develop "Business District" property at the intersection of NE 124th Street and Willows Road on the Southwest corner . Here goes.  The Applicant (Fred Proctor) is proposing a mixed-use development consisting of approximately 370 residential units with a variety of housing types that would include for-sale townhomes, triplex and traditional for-rent apartment style dwellings. The development would also include a minimum of 20,000 sq. ft. of ground-level or stand-alone retail or commercial space , to include neighborhood-scale commercial uses, office, and/or day care center uses. Transportation:   Willows Road is already congested and traffic is poor here but Council member Myers calls the development "a ten minute community" where many of the residents can work nearby, I assume keeping some cars off the road, and with shopping at Totem Lake.  A necessar...

UPDATED: Redmond Council to hold Annual Retreat

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Marymoor Village Community Center retreat location Council President Angela Birney announced in this week's Study Session the annual Council retreat will be Saturday, February 9th, 9-3 pm. The retreat location is Marymoor Village community center. Though it's open to the public only to watch , I for one will be joining others planting trees and shrubs in Idylwood Park.  Council member Hank Myers suggested the last 2-3 hours should be private so Council can discuss various City issues of concern without staff around.  Council goals:  Hank Myers wants to instill agility and creativity.   Steve Fields wants to enhance community involvement at every level.  He asked to "spend less time being taught and more time discussing."  Jeralee Anderson wants to understand roles and responsibilities (mayor/council/staff.)  Hank Margeson wants to provide a free form discussion. Police Chief Kristi Wilson said each City director will be next to a poster board fa...

UPDATED: Council Committee notes - City website / Neighborhood Conversations

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"Finance, Administration and Communication" Council meeting talking points: The City Website :   Phase One involved community outreach and is complete.  Phase Two is underway and involves building out the design.  90% of the design is done with 5,000 pages reduced to 1500 pages.  (This just gives you and idea how outdated this website is; many of us have been asking for a new website for almost a decade.)  In response to Council member Steve Fields' question about how many employees were involved in Phase Two, Communications Director Lisa Mayre said 50 staff representing all departments participated in the updates.  12- 15 "super users" from planning and land use played a major role.  Mr. Myers asked for Search engine improvements.  Apparently, we'll have them. (I get better luck on google.)  We can expect more photos and videos too. Launch month is February. Neighborhood Conversations :    Jill Smith is now a member of the Com...

UPDATED: Favorable City revenue / expense trend

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Melissa Files, Director of City Finance reported this Tuesday that similar to the prior month, "revenue spiked 6% over target while expenditures were 3% under target.  Ms. Files indicated the reasons for this favorable report were similar to earlier monthly reports, as follows: She stated: "Sales tax on construction took a big jump to $5 million in December. Usually it's in the $2.3 million range.  Everything that has to do with development review - taxes, licensing, and permits - contributed to the favorable outcome."  Council member Steve Fields said "It looked like there were 4 months similar to what you described.  Does this begin to present a trend?"  Files answered, "Yes," that she was anticipating this in her forecast for 2019 but didn't expect it this soon.  Mr. Fields said "I appreciate this vigilance because I think it's important to our decision-making to know where we're at on our revenue projections."  Files said...

Downtown Park Grand Opening inundated by rain

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Six council members with mayor speaking under the park pavilion The Ribbon Cutting was at 5:30 pm. Council member Steve Fields was absent. Plenty of parking at the Community Center.  Thirty minutes after the ceremony the park was twice hit with a downpour of rain.   At 7:10 pm right before the events a deluge of rain occurred. My wife and I retreated to our home. Bob Yoder, 10/1 Facebook comment:   M Harrison Gallagher --   A refurbished Redmond pool is estimated at $20 million; a new Olympic pool such as the King County Aquatic Center is about $35 to 40 million. $42 million bought us a tree-lined concrete slab. Redmond has many deserving communities that are neglected.

UPDATED OPINION: City loses opportunity to advance Zero Emissions and Green infrastructure

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Steve Fields (Internet} We all know that climate change is a huge issue in our country and our city.  In fact, during Council's retreat on Saturday, January 27, 2018 they voted "Green infrastructure  - Zero Emissions"  as their No. 2 priority, out of 7 priorities.   Sadly, in a Regular meeting on August 21 the council  rejected council member Steve Fields' request to represent the city in a global Green city-city conference.  All his traveling expenses will be paid by a  host city in China and a Canadian non-profit.  He was referred to the organizations by an acquaintance in the Chinese community. Regardless, Steve is going to the conference as a citizen or a public official if he is sanctioned by Council.  The conference is from 9/18 - 9/28.  After consulting with the city attorney and submitting a written report to council explaining conference benefits he requested the City sanction his participation so as not to be construed as a gif...

UPDATED: City council deserves higher pay

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Tom Hardy in a CCOW meeting asking Council to put his  Mackey Creek Project on the Consent Agenda OPINION:  Our city council works very, very hard and they should be paid more than their $1000/month salary.  They put in well over 14 hours per week not counting community events. Besides weekly "study sessions" and "regular meetings" where business is transacted, they participate in four "council committees" to meet with staff and keep current on city business. [Planning and Public Works, Parks and Human Services, Safety, and Finance, Administration and Communications.] Until April 7th and for the life of this city,  three  Council members, were assigned to  council standing committees to meet weekly for information and education by staff on existing city programs and issues in preparation for possible policy decisions.  Owing to a State Open Government revision and the city's tremendous growth --now 68,000 residents -- with much more to come, Council ch...