Redmond City Council Business Meeting - October 21, 2025

This is the regular business meeting of the Redmond City Council held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85th St), with remote participation. Mayor Angela Birney presided. Councilmembers present included President Vanessa Kritzer, Vice President Jessica Forsythe, Jeralee Anderson, Steve Fields, Angie Nuevacamina, Osman Salahuddin, and Melissa Stuart. The council reordered the agenda to hear the consent agenda first, then held public hearings on the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program and the Redmond Town Center Master Planned Development/Development Agreement, received staff reports on the waste hauler transition and municipal code updates, heard extensive public comment, and ended with a closed executive session on labor negotiations. No unfinished or new business was considered.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved all consent calendar items. Councilmember Anderson pulled the 2026 Tourism Grant Funding item for separate consideration; the remaining consent items passed 6-0, and the tourism grant item passed 5-1 after Council President Kritzer thanked the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee for its work.
• Approved items included: minutes of the October 7 regular and October 14 special meetings; payroll/direct deposit and claims checks; 2026 Tourism Grant Funding based on LTAC recommendations; the WSDOT Regional Mobility Grant Microtransit Shuttle Consultant Agreement; a consultant agreement with David Evans & Associates for the NE 40th Street Shared Use Path in an amount not to exceed $1,115,400; the Jaymarc AV contract for the Fire Station Tones Update at Station 11 in the amount of $135,442; confirmation of new Human Services Commissioner Shrani Sagoncar and Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commissioner Kimberly Marcelino (both sworn in during the meeting); and the City of Redmond 2026 State Legislative Agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aaron Hamilton criticized Redmond Police Department participation in a Faith and Blue event with Assemblies of God, which he called an anti-trans organization. He described his own sexual assault case and an anti-trans death threat he reported, saying officers involved in his cases attended the event, and expressed strong anger and distrust toward the police department. The mayor briefly recessed the meeting during his comment.
• Wolf Adriatico criticized city leadership, accused the mayor and appointees of corruption and self-interest, and called on the council to take action.
• Chester Anderson said the Parks and Recreation focus-group process for the old firehouse was misleading, arguing that placing stickers in boxes did not tell stakeholders whether they wanted renovation or rebuild. He said the majority of attendees wanted renovation and that the city spun the data to support a rebuild.
• Connor Graham said the old firehouse was the safest venue in the state, described physical and mental health impacts from its closure, and said he no longer trusts the council.
• Faith 2386 said the process had been a disaster and that teens felt set up for failure, pledging to keep returning to comment until the old firehouse is reopened.
• Onyx said the old firehouse closure process was slow and that the stakeholder group had a disproportionate teen-to-adult ratio, with only eight teens in a 25-person group, and that teens were disrespected and badgered by adults.
• Corvus Denny, a 15-year-old stakeholder, said the stakeholder group was not listening to teens, the process lacked transparency, and no decision had been made for six months before a rushed recommendation timeline.
• Sally Adriatico, a parent, said teens on the east side have few options, that the firehouse filled that need, and that the city spent only about $17,000 on it over the last three years. She argued that a budget is a moral document and urged the council to show teens they matter.
• Sasha said teens had been composed at first but became angry because the city nodded and then ignored them. He criticized Parks Director Lorene Hamilton and said the council subcommittee created for transparency on the old firehouse was not performing that function. He also said his prior apology for calling Mayor Birney a fraud was not sincere.
• Angelina Corona asked for enforcement of noise ordinances around Lake Sammamish, citing amplified bullhorns from the rowing club with decibels up to 91. She requested code updates for condos and apartments, vehicle muffler and engine noise enforcement, and a gate at Idlewood Park because some websites list it as a 24-hour park.
• David Morton supported the 2026 State Legislative Agenda, praising its focus on vulnerable neighbors and housing, but suggested identifying a specific state funding target for the maintenance and operations center and strengthening data privacy language. He also supported preserving the Climate Commitment Act.
• TJ Horner opposed the Redmond Police Department's Flock automated license plate reader cameras, citing privacy risks, alleged data sharing with federal agencies, and incidents in other cities. He urged the council to drop the contract.
• Remote commenters also addressed the council: Max Rollman said the old firehouse closure reflects city priorities favoring corporate interests over constituents; Rosemary Ives, former mayor and founder of the Old Firehouse Teen Center, said the stakeholder meetings had a contrived agenda and the expedited timeline was telling, urging council to demand documents and analysis; a remote commenter said the city had failed teens and missed an opportunity to seek state funds for renovation; and Ralph Liu, an old firehouse alumni, said teen voices were not heard and that minors have little say because they do not vote.

Public Hearing: 2026-2031 Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program

• Planning Director Carol Helland introduced the state-mandated, financially unconstrained list of significant transportation projects. Public commenter David Morton supported the plan but noted the total program cost is $877 million, with only about $120 million (14%) currently secured, leaving over $756 million unfunded. Staff responded that the TIP is unconstrained, fully funded projects are in the Capital Investment Program, and next year's TIP will better prioritize projects.
• Councilmembers praised Vision Zero priorities, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, and separated bike lanes. Resolution No. 1611, adopting the 2026-2031 TIP, was approved 7-0.

Public Hearing: Redmond Town Center Master Planned Development and Development Agreement

• City Attorney Rebecca Mueller conducted appearance-of-fairness questions; no challenges were raised. Staff presented a 19-acre, five-phase master plan on four parcels in downtown Redmond. The development would produce 676 to 1,020 residential units, about 55,000 square feet of commercial retail, a minimum of 20% of new residential units affordable at 60% area median income, above-ground parking to protect the aquifer, and additional public amenities. The development agreement would run 10 to 15 years.
• Public commenters generally supported the project: Dora, on behalf of Lanie's Tailor and Atelier owner Andrea Kim, said the shop supports the plan; tenant Hassan Arikani spoke in support; Mark Chenevick of Second Story Repertory said the theater is now debt-free after retiring $107,000 of inherited debt and has a 10-year lease with Fairbourne Properties; David Morton voiced support; and Patrick Woodruff, representing the applicant Fairbourne Properties, thanked the city for the collaborative process.
• Council questions focused on the Lake Washington School District's parking concerns, the negotiated reduction in pedestrian-generating uses from about 268,000 square feet to a 170,000-square-foot floor, startup business support, the phase-two office/residential option, and vesting to 2025/Redmond 2050 standards. Staff and the applicant explained that the 170,000-square-foot floor is a minimum to allow leasing flexibility, the school district holds a recorded parking easement that must be honored, and choosing the office option would trigger an affordable-housing in-lieu fee.
• Councilmember Anderson announced she would vote no because of the unfinished negotiation on pedestrian-generating uses, the significant reduction in that area, the open office/residential option, and the fee-in-lieu provision. Other councilmembers expressed support, citing affordable housing, aquifer protection, and community benefits. Ordinance No. 3230 and Resolution No. 1612 were approved 6-1.

Staff Reports

• Waste Hauler Contract Transition: Public Works Director Aaron Burt, Solid Waste Management Coordinator Jesse Dunbar, and Recology Government Affairs Manager Alyssa Campbell presented the transition from Waste Management to Recology. They highlighted the new Recology store opening in December 2025, expanded call center hours, new collection vehicles, two Waste Zero specialists dedicated to Redmond, curbside pickup for hard-to-recycle items, annual cart cleaning, wildlife carts, and a senior/low-income discount. Council asked about recyclable definitions, account setup, and bin transitions; staff confirmed bins will not be swapped but labels will be updated, and customers should verify their service information.
• Redmond Municipal Code Update: City Engineer Rob Crittenden presented proposed changes to RMC Titles 13 (water and sewers) and 15 (buildings and construction). Changes include modernizing terminology, moving stormwater sections, removing outdated sections, and increasing certain fees using CPI adjustments, such as unauthorized connection fees from $500 to $1,200. Council commented on the use of the term police powers, water conservation measures, and gray water reuse. Staff will accept comments, conduct public review and SEPA, and return with an ordinance for approval, likely in the second quarter of 2026.

Ombudsperson Report and Committee Reports

• Councilmember Nuevacamina, ombudsperson for October, reported constituent concerns about a recent Faith in Blue event and related police chief social media posts, campaign signs in a city park, pedestrian and bike safety projects, senior center accessibility, and Flock cameras. She noted a robust committee discussion on Flock camera policies.
• Councilmembers shared additional ombuds items: Redmond High School involvement in Redmond Lights, resources for a resident with Alzheimer's and hoarding issues, school zone sign confusion along 140th Avenue, continued engagement with old firehouse stakeholders, an upcoming tour of an Issaquah teen garage, and Veterans Day ideas.
• Councilmember Stewart reported on the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee, including a regional rate summit on November 14 and the Four Culture arts and culture levy, noting that about 35% of grant dollars have gone outside Seattle. Councilmember Forsythe reported on the AWC Federal Advocacy Policy Committee, where the group streamlined proposals with fewer direct references to the Climate Commitment Act. President Kritzer noted she is leaving the Regional Policy Committee after seven years and encouraged members to seek regional appointments.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar was approved; the pulled 2026 Tourism Grant Funding item passed separately by a 5-1 vote.
• Resolution No. 1611, adopting the 2026-2031 Transportation Improvement Program, was adopted 7-0.
• Ordinance No. 3230 and Resolution No. 1612, approving the Redmond Town Center Master Planned Development and Development Agreement, were approved 6-1.
• The council received staff reports on the Recology transition and the RMC Title 13/15 update; the code update will proceed to public comment, SEPA review, and a future ordinance.
• The council held a 45-minute executive session on labor negotiations under RCW 42.30.140(4)(b). No action was taken following the executive session, and the meeting adjourned at approximately 10:45 p.m.