Focus on Redmond - Spring 2019

Focus on Redmond - Spring 2019

Volume XXXIII No. 1 Spring 2019

Redmond

2019-2020 Budget Approved — My Final Budget as Mayor

Light Rail ExtensionWork Stays on Track in 2019

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On December 4, Council approved

Vibrant Economy Creating opportunities for choices in shopping, restaurants and services This budget reallocates resources to address priorities, including initiatives to improve our natural environment and to strengthen human services, affordable housing, and transportation efforts. Also, the budget enables the city to provide residents with more efficient services by updating and enhancing technology systems. Earlier this year, I announced that I would not seek re-election. This is my sixth and final budget as the mayor of Redmond, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together over the past decade. The last fifteen months, we have worked with the community to create a budget that will provide the foundation for how the city will be moving forward over the next six years. This budget and community outreach form the basis for Council’s strategic plan, that they are currently developing. I’d like to thank everyone for providing input through the Civic Results Team, public hearings, emails, phone, and online surveys, as well as attending our neighborhood meetings. I remain committed to delivering high-value

State of the City at a Glance

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the 2019-20 budget and six-year financial

plan. Redmond residents helped create an investment plan that align our resources to meet the community’s priorities. Clean and Green Advance our environmental stewardship through increasing tree canopy and ensuring high water quality Diverse & Connected Community Enhance our outreach and community inclusion programs through translation services and arts and events Infrastructure Preserve water and sewer pipes, and city facilities to ensure our quality of Improve customer service, invest in technology and preserve our AAA financial rating earned in fall of 2008 Safety Maintain our safe community through school and neighborhood resource officers and improving on fire response times Mayor John Marchione life now and in the future Responsible Government

Underground Wells Supply

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New CityWebsite Coming Soon

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Council Notes

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Parks & Recreation

services to the community now and in the future. We have accomplished this by working together, which is integral to our city’s continued success.

John Marchione Mayor, City of Redmond

MeetYour City Council Redmond has seven councilmembers who are elected by voters to adopt the City budget, establish law and policy, approve appropriations and contracts, levy taxes, and grant franchises.

Light Rail Extension Work Stays on Track into 2019 Written by Ryan Bianchi, Sound Transit Downtown Redmond Link Extension 2019 promises to bring big developments to the Downtown Redmond Link Extension project. When service opens in 2024, riders will have direct rail service from Downtown Redmond to Overlake, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Seattle. By the end of this summer, Sound Transit will select a design-build contractor and share their initial designs with the community. Work will begin once Sound Transit acquires the land and permits needed to build the project. East Link Extension When construction of the Downtown Redmond Link Extension starts, more of the East Link Extension will be taking shape through Seattle, Mercer Island, Bellevue, and Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood. In Overlake, construction crews have built the future Redmond Technology Station garage to its full height. This year, you can expect

Jeralee Anderson Position #6

Angela Birney Position #5 President

to see the final garage exterior. As soon as this summer, crews expect to have the Overlake Station pedestrian bridge installed across SR 520 to connect the station to the SR 520 trail. Visitors to the Overlake neighborhood will also see the elevated guideway take shape over 148th Avenue NE and on the side of SR 520.

David Carson Position #7 Vice-President

If your group or organization would like to know more about the project, you can find information and schedule a project briefing through the outreach team listed at: Downtown Redmond

Steve Fields Position #2

Link Extension: soundtransit.org/ RedmondLink East Link Extension: soundtransit.org/Eastlink

Hank Margeson Position #3

Hank Myers Position #1

Tanika Padhye Position #4

Redmond Technology Station - station platform to right and 350-stall parking garage to left

Learn more about your Redmond City Council at redmond.gov/council .

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State of the City a t a g l a n c e

2019

Designed with a Purpose

• A Place to Live Your Whole Life • Creating Choices for Housing, Transportation and Recreation • Welcoming and Diverse City • Connecting the Community • Managing Growth

Budgeting Priorities

Infrastructure • Transportation -Integrate Light Rail into Overlake, Marymoor Village, and Downtown Redmond • Evaluate and development additional North-South Transportation improvements

Vibrant Economy 5%

Safety 19%

Clean & Green 6%

Diverse & Connected Community 4%

Clean & Green • Advanced Environmental Stewardship

Responsible Government 15%

Diverse & Connected Community • $3m six-year capital investment for affordable housing

Responsible Government • Implement improved Public Records retention system • Maximize use of our GIS Systems • Update website to improve access to information

Infrastructure 51%

2050 Vision

To watch the Mayor share his State of the City presentation, visit youtube.com/ CityofRedmond .

Welcoming & Diverse Community

Managed Growth & High Quality Life

Connected Neighborhoods

Creating Choices

I ntergenerational City Services

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Underground Wells Supply 40% of Redmond's Drinking Water

As you walk around Downtown Redmond, it’s easy to overlook one of its best-kept secrets: underneath your feet is a water source that supplies 40% of the City’s drinking water. This underground water supply, or “aquifer,” is a vital community asset and will continue to be important as the City pursues environmentally sustainable growth. Located beneath City Center and extending east towards Novelty and Union Hill, Redmond’s aquifer starts only 5 to 15 feet below the surface. To access it, Redmond operates five shallow municipal wells that pump over 1 billion gallons of clean groundwater from it annually. This water is then treated and delivered to homes and businesses in Redmond and portions of King County. Our groundwater is a valuable resource that makes Redmond’s water rates among the lowest on the Eastside. At the same time that our aquifer makes the City unique, particular challenges exist to keeping it clean. This is because the aquifer is replenished partially by stormwater (rainwater that comes into contact with hard surfaces, such as pavement, and runs off). If the stormwater has picked up oil, grease, fertilizers, or other pollutants that are improperly stored or handled, it can transport some of these below ground as it seeps or “infiltrates” into the aquifer. A contaminated aquifer would mean years before Redmond’s groundwater could be useable again.

When it rains in Redmond...

water falls on the surface

some runs off into streams and lakes

some soaks into the ground

some is used by plants or evaporated

some is pumped back up for drinking

The City of Redmond, its residents, and businesses are already taking action to prevent pollution. Under the Wellhead Protection Ordinance, construction sites implement specific protection standards, and businesses are reducing the amount of chemicals they store, use, and handle onsite with assistance of City staff. Additionally, the City monitors the chemistry and movement of water in the aquifer through nearly 100 monitoring wells to look for early signs of potential contamination. Through these and many other actions, Redmond can maintain clean, reliable drinking water for years to come.

Downtown Redmond

dry sand and gravel

5’-15’

top of groundwater

Precipitation that seeps down through the soil, filling the spaces between grains of sand and gravel, is called groundwater. Groundwater is replenished by rain water that seeps through the soil.

> 50’

water stored in sand and gravel pores

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Kids Celebrate Earth Day! Here are ten fun ideas that can help kids protect the earth. See how many you can check off your list!

1 Turn off the lights when you leave a room 2 Take shorter showers 3 Turn off the water while brushing your teeth 4 Carry a reusable water bottle

Did you know April 22 is Earth Day?

5 Take a reusable lunch bag to school 6 Trade used books with your friends 7 Recycle paper, plastic bottles, and cans 8 Ask your parents to help you plant an organic garden 9 Draw a picture of YOU doing something that is helpful to the earth Visit earthday.org to learn more about Earth Day 10

Everything you put in your recycling cart should be: Keep Recycling Going Strong!

FREE Gardening Classes Saturday, April 6 Contain Yourself: Smart Ideas for Gardening in Pots Bellevue Nursery – 10–11:30 a.m. containers.BrownPaperTickets.com Sustainable Veggie Gardening Gray Barn Nursery – 10–11:30 a.m. veggiesgraybarn.BrownPaperTickets.com For more classes, visit cascadewater.org

Clean f Give containers a quick rinse f Scrape containers “spoon clean”

Dry f Don’t leave cardboard out in the rain f Keep cart lid closed

Empty f Pour out liquids f Scrape out food

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New City Website Coming Soon The City will soon be premiering a redesigned and more user-friendly website. The current website has served the community well for many years, but technological improvements have created new opportunities for an enhanced user experience. The website redesign project started in 2017 with stakeholder and focus groups weighing in on the desired look, feel, and functionality. Community stakeholders provided feedback on user experience improvements and ways to best display and search for information that is being used to develop, implement, and test the new website design.

“A lot has changed in recent years in technical capabilities of websites,” said Mayor John Marchione.

“The community is helping us create a new website design that is easy to use and meets their desired needs. We believe the new fresh and modern look will provide an elevated customer experience.”

Redmond Public Safety – 2018 by the Numbers

RPD’s community engagement team hosted 81 events & presentations for the community

On average 911 operators answered calls in under 5 seconds

Police responded to 19,844 calls

Firefighters responded to 11,187 calls

Cardiac Survival Rate of 53% *

4,484 ** Inspections Completed

*Cardiac survival rate is calculated as an average from the past five years. **In addition to the 4,484 inspections, every commercial building in the City is inspected at least once every three years .

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Council Notes

2019 Neighborhood Conversations Come visit and share what’s on your mind with your neighbors and elected officials. Thursday’s May 2 and June 20 For locations and details visit Redmond.gov/Conversations

This winter has posed some extreme challenges to our city and community. We found our region dealing with unprecedented snowfall over many days. We as a Council would like to thank the many people who took this challenging situation and created goodwill. Our community heeded the warning of the forecasters and stayed off the roads. This made it much easier for our snow plows to start clearing streets immediately and emergency responders to get to people in dire situations. There were so many stories of neighbors helping neighbors. People loaned snow shovels and other snow removal equipment to those in need , community members worked together to dig out stuck cars, and people who could get to the store offered to pick up items for those who couldn’t . Our online community directed each other to city information, updates on street situations, warming stations, and forecasts. Our community worked together to make the snowy situation a little easier. City staff worked tirelessly to make our community as safe as possible. The plow crews worked 24-hours a day on 12-hour shifts . After the heavy snow fell, which created even

more hazards with downed trees and large branches, the plow crews used their chain saws to clear the roads to work more efficiently and clear streets. Our human services staff worked with many individuals in need to ensure that they had warm, dry places to sleep. Our Office of Emergency Management coordinated with regional and state emergency agencies to keep our city as up-to- date and safe as possible. We also want to thank our partners and businesses that tried their best to keep Redmond functioning. Grocery stores restocked as quickly as possible even with reduced staff and hours. Restaurants opened to help feed people. Other businesses plowed their lots and shoveled sidewalks to make it easier for customers to get necessities. Our regional human services partners appointments and opened up the food banks when possible, Open Kitchen still fed people dinner on Wednesdays, and shelters such as Friends of Youth kept their doors open and expanded the number of beds. Our extended community partners made sure that people in need got help. Puget Sound Energy proactively checked power lines after the first major snowfall and then worked through the storms to get such as Hopelink continued to get people to their emergency

power back online as quickly as possible. Waste Management set up drop sites at two of our parks for families who had missed garbage pickup for two weeks. Tree service companies helped families remove dangerous trees from their homes. There are always areas for improvement, but a huge thank you to everyone in Redmond for making this such a special community. We are proud as a Council to serve so many caring, incredible people.

Contact Us Council email: [email protected] Council website: redmond.gov/council

Mayor and Council email: [email protected]

Stay Focused

Let's Get Social Don’t forget to connect with us!

Follow along with upcoming projects: • Lake Hills & NW Lake Sammamish Sewer Upgrade • Sound Transit Light Rail • Microsoft Campus Refresh Follow us on social media or subscribe to our weekly eNewsletter for the latest updates.

@CityofRedmond Comcast 21 & Frontier 34 City of Redmond | Office of Communications [email protected] www.redmond.gov

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2019 Redmond Arts Season Grant Awards Redmond Arts Season Grants support quality arts and cultural programs. These grants assist in producing a thriving arts scene by supporting local artists and arts and cultural organizations, in addition to cultivating a creative and inclusive environment. ARTS & CULTURE

Redmond Association of Spokenword

SecondStory Repertory Man of LaMancha: March 1 - 24 BoeingBoeing: April 19 - May 12

Tasveer South Asian Film Festival Tasveer South Asian Film Festival: October 3

secondstoryrep.org

tasveer.org

raspread

The Vedic Cultural Center — Awarded two grants for two annual events: Festival of Colors celebrates the Indian festival of Holi through colors, dance and color contests, live music, and Indian food. Ananda Mela showcases the depth of Indian arts and culture through food, performances, and participatory activities.

Los Pajaros Studio Gallery — Celebrates its first year in Redmond and will present an eight- week course of Mexican arts classes for youth grades 3-6. Student artwork will be displayed in Downtown Redmond as part of a new Cinco de Mayo celebration. Check out activities offered by El Centro Cultural Mexicano in partnership with City of Redmond on the next page! centroculturalmexicano.org

Festival of Colors: Saturday, March 23: 12 – 5 p.m.

Ananda Mela: Saturday and Sunday, July 27 & 28: 12 – 9 p.m. vedicculturalcenter.org

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE USES AI TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY Maja Petrić explores Artificial Intelligence as an artistic tool to engage emotions and facilitate poetic connections between one another. Redmond residents can participate in a new, Redmond specific AIEye artwork. Get involved by visiting: redmond.gov/ArtistResidence . Maja Petric’s Lost Skies AIEye exhibit is on display in her gallery located at 16528 Cleveland St. Redmond, WA 98052

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School’s Out? We’ve Got You Covered!

The Centro Cultural Mexicano’s vision is to build culture and community through the arts. Redmond is excited to partner with the Centro Cultural Mexicano and its professional artists to provide Mexican art classes this spring and summer for youth. All classes are $40 for residents, and $48 for non-residents. City of Redmond & the Centro Cultural Mexicano team up to build culture and community through Redmond Arts Studio classes Amate Bark & Huichol Yarn Painting Create a beautiful painting on Mulberry bark, an art tradition developed thousands of years ago by the Maya and Nahua peoples, and learn about the Huichol art of yarn painting. Papercrafts Explore the traditional paper arts of Mexico. Make giant festive flowers, colorful papel picado banners, and personal pinatas with fun embellishments and prizes inside. Oaxacan Black Pottery & Clay Make a black pottery sculpture or candy dish using traditional decorative patterns, and paint your own handmade bobble head turtle toy using a bright palette of colors. Lanterns Make beautiful hanging fabric lanterns inspired by Dia de Los Muertos, complete with traditional decorative elements, embellishments, and visual inspiration. Ages 15 and up. Tin Art & Maraca Making Create a colorful, one-of-a-kind creation that can be hung on a wall, and make and paint a traditional musical instrument using corn, beans, and squash. Spring classes include:

Clay Animation and Comic Books Create an online animated movie and a comic book using iPads. Ages 7 to 14. Mexican Art & Culture Adventure Explore Mexican tin art, Amate bark painting, papel picado, and Spanish songs. Ages 7 to 13. Registration is available for Spring Break Camps! Mariachi Music and Cultural Enrichment Play the guitarron, vihuela, violin, guitar, or trumpet, and sing in Spanish with a Mariachi instructor. 3rd grade to high school. Spring Break Science Camp Perform messy hands-on experiments and learn about the scientific process and chemistry. Ages 6 to 10. Amusement Park Engineering Camp Design your own amusement park using LEGO ® bricks, and explore the scientific method and engineering design process. Ages 8 to 12. Zumba Kids Camp Jam out to your favorite music, learn kid-friendly Zumba choreography, play games, and have fun! Ages 4 to 11.

View more details online at redmond.gov/RAS

THE REDMOND ARTS STUDIO

Complete class descriptions can be found online, or in our printed activity guide at our community centers. Register Online at Redmond.gov/Register Search using the keyword: #Spring

Offers year-round classes that promote high-quality instruction and local collaborations for all ages and interests. Additional classes include: clay workshops, soapstone carving, photography, and painting classes. A complete list of activities, including full descriptions, dates, times, and fees is available at redmond.gov/RAS .

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Spring Events

Redmond Pool Improvements Coming Soon

APRIL 10

Phase I will include replacement of the critical mechanical systems, including air handling, boilers, electrical, roof, windows, and pool circulation. Construction begins this summer and will conclude in the fall of this year. Phase II will make additional improvements, including better ADA access, enhancements to the locker room and lobby, and new pool decking. This past December, the City Council adopted the 2019-2020 budget, approving a $5M contribution from the City and a Capital request of $3M to improve essential and high-priority systems and make structural improvements that allow the pool to operate an additional 25 to 30 years. Pool system repairs and improvements will occur in two phases over two years with each phase requiring the pool to close during construction. Improvements to the Redmond Pool begin this summer. With 46 years in operation, essential capital improvements are required to preserve Redmond’s only public pool. After extensive outreach to the community in 2016 and 2017, aquatics was identified as the top priority for community center services. In response, the City conducted an energy audit of the Redmond Pool, and the consultant recommended improving the existing pool as the most cost-effective approach since the building was found to be structurally sound. The City contracts with WAVE Aquatics to offer swim lessons, classes, and open swim throughout the year. Over 95,000 people visit the pool each year, including local high school swim teams, cultural groups, seniors, and community organizations.

APRIL 13

Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village

APRIL 13

+ Free Kids Dash, 9:30 a.m. redmond.gov/CommunityCenter

MAY 11

To stay up-to-date on the Redmond Pool improvements, please like our Facebook page at City of Redmond Parks and Recreation, or visit redmond.gov/Pool.

Fishing Kids 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. For kids ages 5-14

For more details visit Redmond.gov/ParksRecreation

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Hear From Us

Find Us

Sign up for our Parks and Recreation newsletter! We’ll keep you informed twice a month about events, activities and classes! Sign up at redmond.gov/enews .

16510 NE 79th St Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-556-2370 Email: [email protected] redmond.gov/teens redmond.gov/ofh 6505 176th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-556-2300 Email: guestservices@ redmond.gov redmond.gov/ CommunityCenter

Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village

Old Fire House Teen Center

Join Us Volunteer Opportunities Visit redmond.gov/volunteer Now Hiring for Recreation Staff! Apply at redmond.gov/jobs , or call our job hotline at 425-556-2121 . Register for Activities Browse and register for activities by visiting redmond.gov/register . Rent From Us Rent out meeting rooms, cabins, park shelters and more by visiting redmond.gov/FacilityRentals . Be Social With Us facebook.com/RedmondParks

Redmond Senior Center (RSC)

8703 160th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-556-2314 Email: [email protected] redmond.gov/50plus

Farrel-McWhirter Farm Park

19545 NE Redmond Rd Redmond, WA 98053 Phone: 425-556-2309 redmond.gov/ FarrelMcWhirter

Everyone Plays

Redmond Arts Studio at Grass Lawn Park

7031 148th Ave NE Redmond, WA 98052 redmond.gov/arts

Inclusion Services We encourage and support the participation of individuals with disabilities in our activities. For more information about inclusive and adaptive activities, visit redmond.gov/AdaptiveRecreation. Fee Assistance Our desire is to make recreational opportunities available to all City of Redmond residents regardless of income. If you’re interested in learning more, please call 425-556-2300 .

Redmond Pool

17535 NE 104 St Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-883-4422 redmondaquatics.org

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PRSRT STD US Postage PAID JR Mailing Services Inc.

The City of Redmond Office of the Mayor - Communications 15670 NE 85th Street PO Box 97010 Redmond WA 98073-9710

E C R W S S Postal Customer

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Reserve Your Child’s Summer Camp Today! Give them the gift to play, create, explore, and seek adventure. They will meet new friends, play games, and create lifelong memories.

#

Besties

Two Nights of

#ChooseAdventure and reserve your summer camp today. REGISTRATION IS OPEN CAMPS STILL AVAILABLE

December 1 & 2

Celebrate Diverse Winter Traditions, Cultures, and Faiths.

RedmondLights.com The City of Redmond assures that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or gender, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity. For more information about Title VI, please visit redmond.gov/TitleVI.