Redmond City Council Swears In New Members, Adopts 2025-2030 ESAP and Other Consent Items on December 2, 2025
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Redmond City Council Business Meeting – December 2, 2025
On Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the Redmond City Council held a regular business meeting at City Hall. The evening began with special orders recognizing outgoing Councilmember Jeralee Anderson and swearing in newly elected and re-elected council members. Following a 30-minute recess, the council heard extensive public testimony on topics including the Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP), the closure of the Old Firehouse Teen Center, transportation concerns, and housing affordability. The council then approved a large consent agenda that included adoption of the 2025-2030 ESAP, the Capital Facilities Plan 2050, the Fire Functional Plan, short-term rental regulations, impact fee updates, personnel manual changes, and collective bargaining agreements. The meeting concluded with ombudsperson and committee reports.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the November 18, 2025, regular meeting were approved.
- Payroll and Claims: The check approval register for December 2, 2025, was approved.
- Contract for Citywide Design Standards Update: A consulting services agreement with MAKERS in the amount of $149,978 was approved.
- Appointment to CFD 2016-01 Board of Supervisors: Councilmember Angie Nuevacamina was appointed to the Community Facilities District Board of Supervisors.
- 2025-2030 Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP): Resolution No. 1616 was adopted, approving the updated plan that shifts the city operations carbon neutrality target from 2030 to 2040.
- Capital Facilities Plan 2050 – General Government: Ordinance No. 3237 was adopted, amending the Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan.
- 2025-2050 Redmond Fire Department Functional Plan: Ordinance No. 3238 was adopted, updating the fire department's long-range plan.
- Short-Term Rental Code Update: Ordinance No. 3239 was adopted, amending Chapter 5.04 of the Redmond Municipal Code to align with state legislation and establish business licensing requirements.
- Development Impact Fees – 2026 Annual Indexing: Ordinance No. 3240 was adopted, updating park, school, and transportation impact fee schedules.
- Personnel Manual Benefit Changes: Resolutions No. 1617 and 1618 were adopted, making various amendments to the personnel manual and adopting a new section for the self-insured medical plan.
- 2026 Pay Plans: Ordinances No. 3241, 3242, and 3243 were adopted, setting salaries for AFSCME, elected officials, and Teamsters-represented law enforcement officers.
- 2026-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement (Fire Support): Ordinance No. 3244 was adopted, approving the new CBA with IAFF No. 2829 and amending the FS pay plan.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chong Chen (United Hub) expressed support for the ESAP, describing extensive community engagement efforts including focus groups, surveys, and events reaching first-generation immigrants, seniors, and non-English speakers. He praised staff for incorporating community input.
- Barnum Majumdar criticized the council's decision on the Old Firehouse Teen Center, stating the process has taken a toll on his health and that teen voices were ignored.
- Faith (2386) strongly opposed the closure of the Old Firehouse Teen Center, accusing the council of not listening to teens, disorienting them, and failing to provide a genuine alternative. She expressed lack of trust but challenged the council to prove her wrong.
- Aaron Hamilton raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement of public comment rules, alleging that a group was allowed to stack time while teens were cut off, and that a trans teenager was surrounded by police at the previous meeting. He recounted incidents of misgendering and inaction on anti-trans hate.
- Bolivar Choi (Chinese Information Service Center) spoke on behalf of seniors about transportation issues (bus route changes removing stops), desire for more English classes, park maintenance concerns (Anderson Park closure, exercise equipment removal), and requests for cultural programs at the community center.
- Wolf Adriatico criticized the city for applying rules inconsistently—allowing extra time for self-congratulatory items but strictly limiting critics—and pointed out misinformation in the parks director's presentation about the teen center stakeholder group dates.
- Linda Seltzer urged the council to incorporate corporate responsibility into the ESAP, noting that corporate practices (worker turnover, data collection) drive environmental problems and that individuals face micromanagement while corporations face few requirements.
- David Morton commended the ESAP's engagement and focus but expressed concern over the delayed carbon neutrality timeline from 2030 to 2040, calling it a credibility issue. He requested interim targets and contingency plans for PSE meeting CETA requirements.
- Eugenio Vidales congratulated new/returning council members and stressed the housing crisis, noting average home prices nearly doubled from $700,000 (2017) to $1.3 million (2025) while rents are $2,080/month. He urged bold action to bring prices down.
- Online speakers: Joe Kinzler (Creature Super Fan) praised Council President Kritzer's leadership and urged compliance with RCW 42.30 on public comment timing. Noah Radford thanked outgoing council members and criticized the teen center decision process. Sasha Glenn (attorney, parent) alleged the city predetermined the teen center's closure due to plans to sell the $5 million lot, and thanked Councilmembers Fields and Anderson for pushing for transparency.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda Approved (6-0): The council voted unanimously to approve all consent items. Councilmembers made brief comments: Vice President Forsythe noted the need to study ESAP topics in the new year; Council President Kritzer appreciated the engagement and affirmed the 2040 target with interim milestones; Councilmember Stewart thanked the fire team and noted the Community Facilities District appointment.
- Council Vacancy Process: The application for the vacant council seat is open until January 2, 2026. Interviews will be held January 13 (first round) and January 20 (second round and decision).
- Upcoming Meetings: The December 9 council meeting is canceled; a two-hour Committee of the Whole meeting will be held at 4:30 PM instead.
Meeting Transcript
I'm calling this meeting to order. This is a regular business meeting of the Redmond City Council held on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, commencing at 7 o'clock PM. I will call roll starting with Council President Kritzer. Here. Council Vice President Forsyth. Here. Councilmember Stewart. Here. Councilmember Nueva Comina. Here. And Councilmember Anderson. Is there a motion to excuse Council Member Fields from the meeting? So moved. Sir Second. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank you all for being here tonight. This is a very exciting evening. The first item on the agenda is a special orders of the day with a recognition of council members Geraldie Anderson and Steve Fields for their service to the Redmond community. But before I invite Councilmember Anderson up, I just want to say thank you to uh council member now Representative Salahuddin for serving with the City of Redmond for two years. We are very excited for you and your new role and uh look forward to continuing working with you as a 48th legislator. Thank congratulations on your new role. We miss you. I would love to invite Councilmember Anderson up to join me. Councilmember Anderson was elected in 2017 and has been on the city council for eight years. Um she's made definitely an impact on the city from Vision Zero to her advocacy for bike lanes and many other things. Thank you. Oh, okay. Thank you. And Councilmember Anderson would like to say a few words. Let me take this up here. Oh, sure. The yeah, thank you. Hello, everybody. I appreciate the opportunity to speak today. Um, as I reflect on the last few years on this council, I am humbled and filled with gratitude for the opportunities and privilege of meeting and working with so many people across our Redmond neighborhoods. Whether it was at the door or in chambers, I appreciated and enjoyed listening to all of the diverse perspectives across the city and from regional partners. For the council and staff leaders, it was a sincere honor and privilege to build policies for the community that we can all be proud of for future new generations, even if that included some disagreements sometimes. I am most proud of our environmental sustainability action plan and the outstanding public works capital improvements program and the um and very excited to see the outcomes of these commitments in the next decade. It was an honor to serve as council vice president and public safety committee chair to establish the vision zero program and support our fabulous firefighters and police force commitments to diversity and inclusion. This role has afforded great connections with region our regional partners and state leadership, and I'm grateful for these opportunities to volunteer and serve while representing Redmond on the public works board, King County Boards, Cascade Water Alliance, and Association of Washington Cities in public safety, health and emergency response, transportation and infrastructure. I was also um happy to be tapped by the mayor for the local disability board, making sure our safety retirees have health care and secure pension. Thank you for trusting me with this position, this enormous responsibility and purposeful, meaningful work as your council member.
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