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Downtown Redmond

visit us on the web atredmond.gov/Community

Save the Date

ThursdayApril 18

Southeast Redmond Neighborhood Plan Update Open House. Details atredmond.gov/seredmond

Spring is the time of year when thoughts turn to longer days, warmer temperatures and the return of cherished outdoor events and activities (Go Mariners!). It’s also a time of renewal and growth, two words that aptly describe much of the activity taking place in our downtown. Construction cranes are assisting in the development of three new multi-dwelling and mixed use projects currently being built along NE 85th Street and Cleveland Street. These developments support the City’s vision of preserving our neighborhoods while establishing a vibrant urban center in our downtown core.

Meanwhile, work remains underway to improve transportation choices and connections throughout the downtown corridor. I’m happy to report the extension of NE 164th Street into Redmond Town Center is now complete. This extension provides the first direct street connection between the City’s traditional downtown and RTC, adding another vital link to the City’s evolving street grid. Later this year work will begin on the Cleveland Streetscape improvement project that will include exciting changes to walkways, along with enhanced lighting, pedestrian plazas, ornamental greenscape and public art. Preparatory road work will also take place as the City begins to transition from the current one-way couplet to accommodate two-way traffic along both Cleveland Street and Redmond Way in the near future.

Work continues on Phase I of the Redmond Central Connector project. Crews are busy grading and establishing bicycle and pedestrian trails along the approximately 1-mile section that spans much of downtown, providing additional transportation choices to support both recreational and commercial needs. We’re looking forward to opening this phase for public use sometime in late summer early fall.

On the transportation front, I encourage citizens who live or work in Redmond to provide feedback on the City’s draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP). The Planning Commission and City Council will soon be taking up this issue again as they gain input on strategies and suggestions gathered during public events held over the past two years. This work

provides a blueprint for future transportation projects and priorities over the next 20 years. To participate please visit www.redmond.gov/TMP

As part of its long standing environmental stewardship, the City continues to invest in several important projects. Throughout the winter crews have been hard at work removing invasive plants from the area historically known as the Heron Rookery located along Bear Creek Parkway just northwest of Redmond Town Center. I encourage you to learn more about this effort by reading the article featured in this edition and watching a short video available on YouTube and the City’s website.

On the customer service end of technology, Redmond offers a trio of cutting-edge tools for electronic planning, property and code research, and development review. In the second half of 2012, the City launched a new digital portal which allows the community and development applicants to easily access a full spectrum of planning, code, and property information from anywhere in the world. In January, the City launched E-Track, which significantly improves our permitting processes by automating permitting, inspections, code enforcement cases, land use planning, and project review. E-Track provides 24-hour access to Development Services information and provides a better connection between City departments and our customers.

I encourage you and your families to participate in some of the exciting events planned for this spring including Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 30th as well as the numerous offerings available in our Online Parks and Recreation Guide.

Sincerely,

John MarchioneMayor

Remember to check the recreation guide at www.RedmondRecreationGuide.com

InsideCouncil Notes P2

View From History P3

Downtown Update P3

Environews P4

Savvy Seniors P6

Events at Senior Center P8

Volume XXVII No 1 Spring 2013

From the Mayor

2

Council NotesWith Redmond’s centennial celebrations

now completed, the Council looks forward

to a busy 2013. We have our usual slate of

business —setting policy, approving budgets,

and fulfilling our ombudsman duties. At the

same time, there’s no shortage of opportunities

for Councilmembers to represent the City’s

leadership in the region.

Councilmembers, along with the Mayor,

participate in key positions in the following

organizations: Sound Cities Association (SCA),

Cascade Water Alliance, Eastside Human

Services Forum, Eastside Transportation

Partnership, and Water Resource Inventory Area

8 for Salmon Habitat Conservation. The SCA

represents 37 suburban cities in King County

and we have a seat on the influential SCA

Public Issues Committee. Your Councilmembers

also represent Redmond’s interests as SCA

representatives in other regional organizations

including Enterprise Seattle, King County

Growth Management Planning Council, King

County Regional Transit Committee, Puget Sound

Regional Council (PSRC) Economic Development

District Board, PSRC Growth Management

Policy Board, and the Regional Law, Safety and

Justice Committee. In early February of this

year, Councilmembers also spent two days

in Olympia meeting face to face with state

legislators representing the city of Redmond;

additional meetings are planned around

Redmond’s legislative agenda.

By participating in these regional and statewide

activities, Councilmembers promote the city’s

vision for a sustainable and livable community.

We also contribute the City’s perspectives on

regional transportation, law and justice, and

human services issues. We collaborate with

other jurisdictions and leaders in the region

to work on regional and statewide challenges

by leveraging resources and ideas. This

participation has helped Redmond to not only

identify and compete for regional and statewide

funding for various capital projects including

the Redmond Central Connector, the 36th Street

Bridge, the urban centers in Downtown and

Overlake, as well as to advocate for Eastlink

Light Rail to downtown Redmond, but it also

positions Redmond as a standout City with

unique ideas and perspectives.

We’ll continue to represent Redmond across the

region to lay the foundation for another great

100 years!

The 4.6 acre parcel is located between Bear Creek Parkway, Leary Way, and 159th Place NE.

It is one block from the Sammamish River and has a paved trail that runs along the western

edge. The property is edged with mature Douglas fir, and has a mixed understory of

deciduous trees. The center has very little vegetation. The property was transferred to the

City during the development process of Redmond Town Center.

During the 1990’s the property held an active heron rookery, though not formally named

as the Heron Rookery, it has been referred to by this name for decades. Herons nest in

large groups —rookeries— and this property’s close proximity to food sources in the

Sammamish River provided a good nesting site. Herons also randomly move their rookery

sites. Nearly 10 years ago, the Herons moved up river to other large trees in Marymoor Park,

still nearby to the resources of the Sammamish River and Lake Sammamish.

When the nesting site was active,

the City was hesitant to do anything

that might disturb the birds. But now

that they have relocated, there is an

opportunity to fully evaluate the forest

condition and move towards caring for

and preserving this little bit of forest in

downtown Redmond.

During three weeks in December, Redmond was fortunate to be granted from the

Washington State Department of Natural Resources three weeks labor of a 5-person

Washington Conservation Crew to initiate the removal of non-native, invasive plant materials

(Himalayan blackberry, English holly, and English ivy). The mass of plants removed, roots

and all, are being composted on site. You can see some of the huge piles if you walk along

the trail that connects Bear Creek Parkway with Leary Way.

This is only the first step in restoration. Through the Green Redmond Partnership (www.

greenredmond.org), Redmond has a program of bringing into active management the

forested areas under the responsibility of the Parks and Recreation Department. Like other

forested park properties, when this site has a trained, dedicated volunteer Forest Steward,

replanting efforts and continued removal of non-native, invasive plants will accelerate with

the help of volunteers.

Watch the video to see an up-close look of this project at www.redmond.gov

The Heron Rookery

If you are interested in being a part

of caring for this property as a Forest

Steward or as a volunteer, contact Teresa

Kluver, Park Operations Supervisor at

425-556-2355 or tkluver@redmond.gov.

A small forested piece of property exists in downtown Redmond. This is unusual for most urban areas. Where is it? What is its history? What is its future?

DOWNTOWN UPDATEDevelopment and construction activity, according to the urban vision set for the Downtown neighborhood in 1993, has been brisk during the past few years, and it looks like it will continue for the next several years if the economy holds steady. Private development of the 4 to 6 story buildings currently under construction includes the 154 unit Redmond Square Apartments on 170th Ave NE at NE 80th, the 130 unit Center Pointe development on Cleve-land St at 164th, the 150 unit Old Town development on Cleveland St and Brown St, the 150 unit 85th St Apartments on NE 85th St at 158th Ave NE, and the 96 mini-suites Vision 5 development near NE 85th St and 163rd Ave NE.

Future private development currently under review for anticipated construction during

2013 thorough 2016 includes a 180 unit apartment building on 160th Ave and NE 83rd St,

a 215 unit apartment building between 164th and 165th Avenues, on NE 83rd St, and a

14 unit townhome development on 167th Ave NE at NE 85th St. Interest in several other

downtown properties has been expressed and it is anticipated that additional develop-

ment applications will be submitted for construction during this time period.

City capital improvements

currently under construction

include phase one of the

Redmond Central Connector

(RCC) multi-use trail on the

former BNSF right-of-way and

final clean up of the 164th Ave

extension to Town Center. The

RCC improvements should be

completed the end of

this summer.

The next downtown capital improvements to begin work will be preparation for the

Cleveland Streetscape project and demolition of adjacent buildings near the Downtown

Park. This work should begin mid Summer.

3

Learn about Redmond’s history and landmarks with local historian, Tom Hitzroth.

SAVE THE DATE Downtown Historic Walking Tours

April 21May 19June 16 (Father’s Day)September 15 (Haunted Downtown History Tour and Native American Storytelling)

Also, check with us about special tours including the Redmond Pioneer Cemetery and opportunities for Boy and Girl Scout troops.

www.redmond.gov/Government/HistoricPreservation

View From HistoryBy Thomas Hitzroth, Redmond Historian

In 2012, the Redmond Grange Hall was

demolished. This building was one of the

original buildings at the foot of Gilman St in

Redmond’s historic Old Town core. While the

structure was not as distinctive as the Redmond

State Bank, the Stone House, or the Brown

Building, it was a witness to Redmond at a time

when it emerged from a village into a town and

then to a city. It was built around 1903 but early

history of the building is not known. By 1908,

it became the Redmond Saloon operated by

Cyrus Norman, and competed with Brown’s

Saloon (earlier wood, false-front version of the

Bill Brown Building). In 1918, the structure was

remodeled and became the Redmond Grange

at a time when active grange organizations

reached a peak in Washington State. The Grange

Hall witnessed the burning of the Hotel Walther

on March 13, 1910, the introduction of brick

buildings to Redmond, the long tenure of Bill

Brown as Mayor, the advent of Microsoft, and

100 years of Redmond’s continued emergence.

In Redmond today, two buildings remain

that have also seen this long-term history. The

Odd Fellows Hall (Redmond’s Bar and Grill

and a historic landmark) built about 1903 and

Skjarstad’s Shoe Shop (adjacent to Palmer’s

on Leary Way) built in 1904. The Odd Fellows

Hall has been the home to an Eagle’s Hall, a

dance hall, a theater that showed the best

silent pictures of its day, an Odd Fellows Hall,

Edwardian Antiques, and most recently is home

to a very popular restaurant. Skjarstad’s, similar

to the Redmond Grange Hall, is not a building

that stands out in its surroundings, though it

was a shoe and boot repair shop from 1904 to

2006 —102 years! It has the distinction of being

one of the longest-term, continually-operated

buildings for its original purpose in King County

and it has essentially remained structurally

unchanged since 1912, the year Redmond

incorporated. Though you may often walk by

this site and take no notice of the building, you

may enjoy noting how gracefully it has aged

and how it still has a well-earned position in

Redmond’s historic landscape.

Learn about more of Redmond’s hidden and

historic gems in next season’s View from History

and by referring to redmond.gov/Government/

HistoricPreservation/CityLandmarks.

4

“Trash Talk” Recycling Workshops

There are so many things that can be recycled and composted these days, it can be challenging to know what is left to throw away as garbage.

Waste Management recycling experts are available to present a fun and interactive 60-minute”Trash Talk” Recycling Workshop for your community, school or business group.

This presentation will include helpful information about recycling, and how to accomplish zero waste. Here is your chance to ask the experts and learn what happens to your stuff once it becomes garbage, recycling and compost.

Schedule a WM Trash Talk today by emailing recyclenw@wm.com or call 425-825-2010

New “Micro-Can” Available for Garbage ServiceWaste Management is now offering a “micro-can” for garbage service for Redmond

residents. The new micro-can holds 10 gallons and is the smallest size available. For those

who are interested in switching to a smaller garbage container sizes, please contact Waste

Management directly at 1-800-592-9995. Please note: Reducing the size of your garbage

container does not change the size of your recycling or yard waste containers, unless

otherwise requested. The 2013 garbage collection rates are listed below. As always,

collection rates are based on the size of your garbage container.

Garbage Bill CreditIn November 2012, the Redmond City Council approved a Settlement Agreement between

the City of Redmond and Waste Management regarding the driver labor strike that disrupted

garbage, recycling and yard waste service from July 25th- August 2nd, 2012. Per the

settlement, customers received

a one-time credit on the service

portion of their Waste Management

bill; $10 for single family residences,

and $50 for most commercial and

multi-family customers.

The credit was in recognition of

customers’ inconvenience and

frustration during the Waste Manage-

ment driver strike. Customer credits

appeared on quarterly invoices in

in December, January or February,

depending on customers’

billing cycle.

Environews

Service LevelWaste Manage

Fees/Month

Monthly Service:

One 35-Gallon Can $5.05

Weekly Service:

One 10-Gallon Can (New) $7.03

One 20-Gallon Can $8.99

One 35-Gallon Can $12.73

One 64-Gallon Cart $25.25

One 96-Gallon Cart $40.23

Recycling & Yard Debris Only $9.60

“The City is pleased to have reached this

agreement with Waste Management in a

manner that was fast and fair,” said Mayor

John Marchione.

Fix a Leak WeekDid you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks? Nationwide, more

than one trillion gallons of water leak from

homes each year. Fix a Leak Week reminds

us to check our home and office plumbing

fixtures and irrigation systems for leaks.

Visit www.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/

fix_a_leak.html for more information.

The 2013 Cascade Leak Detection Mailer is

coming to your home! The City of Redmond

and its Cascade Water Alliance partners will

send the annual toilet leak detection dye

strips to all single family residences in

mid-March. The leak detection dye will

allow you to easily check your toilets for

costly leaks.

Visit www.cascadewater.org/conservation.

php for more details.

5

Celebrate Earth Day with a Free Tour of the Cascade Recycling CenterWaste Management and the City of Redmond invite

Redmond residents to celebrate Earth Day with a

behind-the-scenes tour of Waste Management’s state-of-

the-art Cascade Recycling Center in Woodinville. Have

you ever wondered where your recyclables go? Now is

your chance to see where the recyclables are sorted and

get all your recycling questions answered. Come see the

impact you make by recycling every day. The tour is free,

but space is limited so RSVP today!

Where: Cascade Recycling Center

14020 NE 190th St

Woodinville, WA 98072

When: Earth Day, April 22nd at 6:30 pm

Sign Up: Email RSVPs and your recycling questions to:

recyclenw@wm.com, or call 425-647-1374.

Properly Recycle your Compact Fluorescent Light BulbsCompact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs and last up to 10

times longer. Puget Sound Energy provides instant rebates on CFL lighting at participating retailers to help you save

money, energy and the environment.

Please note that CFLs contain a very small amount of mercury and need to be kept out the household recycling and garbage bins. That way, they won’t accumulate in landfills where they can harm the environment.

King County Hazardous Waste Locker at the Factoria Transfer Station13800 S.E. 32nd St., Bellevue

206-296-4692

www.lhwmp.org/home/HHW/hhw.aspx

This location takes both CFL bulbs and tubes,

but drop off is limited to 10. (Not accepted

from businesses) Hours of operation are: Tue-Fri:

8 am – 4 pm; Sat & Sun: 9 am – 5 pm

Puget Sound Energy355 110th Ave NE in Bellevue

1-800-562-1482

www.PSE.com/CFLrecycle

If the bulb is unbroken, simply place your used

CFL bulbs in the labeled bins at Puget Sound

Energy during normal business hours.

Bartell Drug StoreRedmond

locations

425-483-4882

www.bartelldrugs.com

The Bartell Drugs stores in Redmond accept CFL

bulbs. They do not accept fluorescent tubes.

The City of Redmond and Cascade Water Alliance have again partnered to bring you

Savvy Gardener classes. Classes are held at the Redmond Senior Center located at

8703 160th Avenue NE, Redmond.

Sustainable Veggie Gardening Thursday, March 21st, 6:00 – 7:30 PMWith Ladd Smith, Co-owner of In Harmony

Growing your own organic food is a fun and delicious way to garden. Vegetables,

berries, and fruit trees need special care to thrive, but your time and energy will pay

off with great tasting, nutritious home-grown food. Best of all, food crops can be

incorporated into your existing landscape, large or small! This class will teach you

how to make your yard produce great food for you and your family

Wildlife-Friendly Gardening for Beauty & SustainabilityThursday, March 28th, 6:00 – 7:30 PMEmily Bishton, Landscape Designer and Environmental Educator

Welcome songbirds, butterflies, and beneficial insects into your yard while

conserving natural resources at the same time. Discover how urban wildlife can

provide you with year-round natural pest and weed control and better pollination.

Learn about design techniques and maintenance practices that can attract and

nurture beneficial wildlife in your garden for years to come.

Classes are free. Space is limited & registration is required. For more information or

to register visit: www.savingwater.org/savvygardener or call Brown Paper Tickets at

1-800-838-3006.

For more information, contact Redmond’s Recycling Coordinator at 425-556-2832.

Have you ever wondered where your recyclables go?

Savvy Gardener Classes are Back!

6

What Are You Doing After Work?Did you know that the Redmond Senior Center (RSC) offers programs in the evening for all adults age 18 years and older? If you are looking for something new to occupy your evenings come check us out.

If you want to “get physical” there is Zumba and lots of dancing – Tap, Ballroom and Swing, or on the more mellow side there is Yoga for Every Body and Yoga for Full Figures. If you are interested in a more creative outlet try our Knitting or Crocheting classes; Guitar or Piano lessons; or the Your Camera, Your Pictures Photography Class.

If you are interested in something less structured, the RSC still has something to offer. Many of our usual daytime amenities are also available in the evening. Feel free to drop by and relax in the comfortable lobby; play pool in the billiards room; take advantage of the courtesy computers or the honor system lending library; play a few games on the Wii; or watch a little television.

The RSC is a place for all adults in Redmond to enjoy, so we hope we’ll see you soon. More info: 425-556-2314 or www.redmond.gov/50plus

New Support Group for Caregivers & Families Affected by DementiaIn partnership with Aegis of Redmond and Aegis Lodge of Kirkland, the Redmond Senior Center (RSC) is providing a new support group for caregivers & families affected by dementia such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’ Disease. This group is open to everyone age 18 and older.

Geriatric social worker Karin Miller leads the support group. Karin has thirty-five years of experience working with older people and their families. She has worked as a social worker in an office with four geriatricians/physicians and served on the Boards of the Alzheimer’s Association of Puget Sound and the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation.More info: 425-556-2314

Savvy Seniors

Redmond SenioR CenteR: Phone: 425-556-2314 8703 160th Ave. NE Redmond, WA 98052Mon - Thu 8:30 am to 9:30 pm Fri 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Got Ideas?Have you got an idea for a class you’d like to teach? We are looking for people who would like to share their hobbies and skills with others during both the daytime and evening hours. Call Teri Burke at 425-556-2342 to request a program proposal form and to discuss the possibilities.

Available for RentLooking for a good place to hold a retirement party, wedding reception or business meeting? How about the RSC? Call our rental information line for more details, 425-556-2368.

Looking for a new experience?To find out about upcoming RSC trips, dances, special lunches and other events, call 425-556-2314!

The group is held on the second Tuesday of each month (April 9, May 14, June 11), 6-7pm at the RSC in room 107/108.

Free refreshments provided by Aegis of

Redmond and Aegis Lodge of Kirkland.

Don’t Miss The Funsubscribe to the

RSC News. Only $12

for a one-year

subscription.

Call 425-556-2314

and we’ll sign you

up now!

Get the scoop on all the happenings with the RSC News! Only $12 for a one-year subscription. Call 425-556-2314 and we’ll sign you up now!

In the coming months, flashing yellow left turn arrows will become a more familiar sight to Redmond drivers. Placed over the left turn lane at a signalized intersection, this relatively new signal configuration is an added safety measure for drivers making left turns. A study by the Federal Highway Administration suggests that flashing yellow left turn arrows are more effective at getting drivers to yield to oncoming traffic, are more efficient at moving left-turning traffic through busy intersections, and provide additional traffic management during signal maintenance.

How do they work? When at an intersection with a flashing yellow left turn arrow, remember that oncoming traffic has a green light. Turn left when given a safe gap in oncoming traffic to do so, and

after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. A steady red left turn arrow means you must stop and wait until given the green signal to go. A steady yellow arrow says the left-turn signal is about to turn red. Don’t enter the intersection if you can stop safely. If you are already in the intersection, complete your turn.

Do you have a question or concern about traffic

signals in Redmond? Email us at

sbyszeski@redmond.gov or call 425.556.2882.

Flashing Yellow Turn Arrows

7

City Summer Spray ProgramIt’s almost that time of year again, when the city starts right of way vegetation management. The purpose of our spraying is to clear our guardrails, signs, manholes and other obstructing structures for our mowing crew. When those areas are done, we spray sidewalk cracks for weed control.

We s p r a y a v e r y l o w formulated, non-selective herbicide on these locations, and come back later with a low formulated broadleaf killer for our steeper hillsides to promote growth of grasses and help prevent soil erosion.

In 2012, we s ta r ted to address Redmond’s growing Knotweed population; a non-native invasive weed. Our crews went out in the spring placing “do not mow” signs on problem areas. When you see these signs, please adhere to their message; Knotweed spreads rapidly when cut. Pulling out the weed isn’t an effective means of control either, because this plant has a deep and wide root system. Following King County’s proven method, we inject herbicide into the stalks in late summer when the plant starts to go dormant. This practice is both effective and allows for targeted application of herbicide.

Want to know how to control your own Knotweed problems? King County gives training on how to deal with this plant. To contact a member of the King County Noxious

Calling all Pet Lovers For the fifth year the RSC will host the Whiskers, Wings and Wagging Tails Pet Fair on Saturday, May 11, 10am – 3pm. Open to all ages, this very successful event is an opportunity to celebrate the joy that companion animals bring to our lives.

The event will feature several adoption groups with animals looking to find their “forever home;” as well as information tables from many pet oriented local services; demonstrations of dog sports such as fly ball races, agility and obedience; and stories and activities for children.

If you are interested in presenting your product or service at the event please contact Teri Burke at 425-556-2314.

Whiskers, Wings & Wagging Tails

Saturday, May 11, 201210am-3pm

Redmond Senior Center 8703 160th Ave NE, Redmond

A PET FAIR

The City of RedmondOffice of the Mayor - Communications15670 NE 85th StreetRedmond WA 98073-9710

E C R W S SPostal Customer

PRSRT STDUS Postage

PAIDJR Mailing

Services Inc.

A publication of the City of Redmond

Events at the Redmond Senior Center

For all community events visit: Redmond.gov

Classic Movie NightFridays:April 12 – Roman HolidayMay 17 – Singin’ in the RainJune 14 – Road to Singapore7-9:30 pm, Admission $5, free popcornMultipurpose Room

Follies 2013Friday, April 5, 7-8:30 pmSaturday, April 6, 1 -3:30 pmAdmission: $10 adults, $8 Seniors/children under age 12Multipurpose Room

Third Sunday Swing DanceApril 21, May 19, June 16

7–9:30 pm (admission includes a free swing dance lesson at 6:30 pm)Admission in advance: $20 for two, $12 individual; $15 at the door for everyoneMultipurpose Room

Older Americans’ Month - Outstanding Volunteers’ ReceptionFriday, May 3, 11 amLobby, FreeJoin us to help recognize these special volunteers.

Organ ConcertPresented by the Pedals & Pipes Organ group Wednesday, May 8, 2–3:30 pmMultipurpose Room, Free

Whiskers, Wings, & Wagging Tails - a Pet FairSaturday, May 11, 10 am – 3 pmEntire Building, Free

International Tap Day CelebrationSaturday, May 25Call 425-556-2314 for a full schedule of activities.Multipurpose Room

NW Senior Games Day of DanceFriday, June 21, Line Dance 10 am – 12 pm, Ballroom 1–3 pmMultipurpose RoomAdvance registration recommended.

8703 160th Avenue NE Info: 425-556-2314

www.redmond.gov/eggs

Saturday, March 30 • 9-11amCity Hall Campus 15670 NE 85th St Redmond

• 8:30amstart

• $30PreReg/$40DayOfFreeEggHunt10amSharp