Redmond Planning & Public Works Committee – June 2, 2026
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Redmond Planning & Public Works Committee of the Whole Meeting – June 2, 2026
The Committee of the Whole for Planning and Public Works met on June 2, 2026 at 4:30 PM to discuss several consent agenda items, staff reports, and informational updates. All recommendations were advanced to the June 16 business meeting or future sessions.
Consent Calendar
- Acceptance of $20,000 Port of Seattle Tourism Advertising Grant (CM 26-353): The city will receive $20,000 in grant funds with a required $10,000 city match from the lodging tax budget. Councilmembers asked about conditions, data collection (Placer AI/DataFi), and how the advertising will benefit residents. No objections; placed on June 16 consent agenda.
- Award Construction Contract to Earthworks Solutions for ADA Curb Ramp 2026 Project (CM 26-360): Contract award and budget increase to upgrade 45 ADA curb ramps in Grasslawn and Ed Hill neighborhoods, combined with nearby bike/pedestrian safety improvements to gain efficiencies. Council requested more details on specific intersection upgrades (median islands, painted bike buffers) and contract documents before voting. Placed on June 16 consent agenda.
- Authorization to Accept $970,000 Washington State Department of Commerce Grant for Asbestos Cement Pipe Replacement (CM 26-357): Grant funding from state capital budget to replace aging AC water mains along Avondale Road and NE Novelty Hill Road near Bear Creek. Council asked about pre-contract requirements and status of the 53-mile pipe replacement. Supported for consent; placed on June 16 agenda.
- Award Construction Contract to NPM Construction for NE 70th Shared Use Path Project (CM 26-361): Contract award of $602,756.50 plus $47,156 consultant supplement for redesigned intersection improvements after abandoning a federal grant due to easement issues. No questions; placed on June 16 consent agenda.
Discussion Items
- Progress of Waste Hauler Contract Transition (Waste Management to Recology) (CM 26-358): Staff presented a preview of the June 16 staff report covering Recology's performance, service delivery, customer service, commercial/multifamily growth, and communications. Council requested adding slides on rate comparisons with Waste Management, a detailed multifamily compost breakdown, an FAQ on pricing, and direct contact information for residents. Staff report scheduled for June 16.
- RZC Amendments: Temporary Non-Commercial Signs (CM 26-359): Proposed code changes to establish a content-neutral framework for political, campaign, and community event signs. The Planning Commission recommended allowing signs in roundabouts and not requiring a cost-free permit, differing from staff. Council asked for a study session on June 23 to discuss: the problem being solved (current code unenforceable), sign placement standards, enforcement capacity, comparisons with neighboring cities, treatment of streamers/pennants, and First Amendment implications. Study session confirmed for June 23.
Informational Items
- Safer Streets Redmond Annual Progress Report (CM 26-354): Transportation Planning Manager Michael Hence presented the first annual report since the Safer Streets Action Plan was adopted in April 2025. Key highlights: crash numbers increased in 2025 (raw data); 14 of 23 identified actions are underway or completed; city launched a safety task force and advanced additional initiatives (e.g., fire department CPR training). Priorities include a citywide speed study, speed education campaign, safe routes to school plans, and complete streets policy update. Council Vice President Nuevacamina requested crash rates per capita. The city applied for a new Safe Streets for All grant for pedestrian priority zones. Council noted the report as informational.
- Approval of Progressive Design-Build Contract Amendment No. 1 with Lease Crutcher Lewis for the Maintenance and Operations Center (MOC) – Campus Redevelopment Project (CM 26-370): Public Works Director Aaron Burt explained the amendment covers early procurement of long-lead items (elevators, structural steel, switchgear) and additional validation of the new Heidelberg property. The overall project budget is targeted at $175 million, with a next phase (Amendment 2) expected in 18-20 months for guaranteed maximum price. Councilmembers discussed cost control, trade-offs, and the validation process. No objections raised; item moved forward.
Key Outcomes
- All four consent items were placed on the June 16, 2026 consent agenda for formal approval.
- The waste hauler transition staff report will be presented on June 16, incorporating council feedback on rates and FAQs.
- A study session on temporary non-commercial sign code amendments is scheduled for June 23, 2026.
- The Safer Streets Annual Progress Report was received as informational; no action required.
- The MOC contract amendment discussion concluded with direction to proceed; quarterly briefings and a future phase two amendment will return to council.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. Calling to order this planning and public works committee over the whole for June 2nd at 4 30 p.m. We have several items tonight, and I will just go ahead and kick us off with the acceptance of a $20,000 port of Seattle Tourism and Advertising Grant. Good evening. Who doesn't like getting money? So Jackie is here to tell us about the details. Thank you. City of Redmond Tourism staff applied for this Port of Seattle grant to increase investment in advertising funds. This grant is specifically designated to drive overnight stays in Redmond by targeting out of state visitors traveling through the Seattle Tacoma International Airport. The grant is for an amount of $20,000 with an additional city spend of 10,000. The city match has already been budgeted for and approved in the 2026 lodging tax budget. The advertising campaign is planned to start in September or October of this year with your approval. And this item is currently planned for the June 16th consent agenda. Thank you. Great. Any questions from council? Councilmember Percy. Sorry, more a general question. I was wondering how we prioritize uh grants that benefit um tourism opportunities that bring value to also residents of Redmond and for example, say a um museum versus something that is social media um kind of expenditure that is a one-time and Redman residents don't necessarily reap the benefits of. Sure. The RCW that governs the lodging tax dollars actually requires that we target um visitors from more than 50 miles away. So to use those funds because it's a tax on hotels, it's a 1% tax on the hotel room stays as well as short-term rentals like um Airbnb or VRBO, we do have to target visitors from more than 50 miles away. Um I think I I understand the targeting, but I um I'm curious. Um, would targeting be inclusive for something that would also impact Redmond residents, or specifically this is something that I guess okay, it makes sense. Thank you. I'll follow up if I have more questions. Thank you. Councilmember Nueva Kamina. Thank you. Um thank you for bringing this forward. And of course, we we love to get money every once in a while. There can be some type of conditions that are applied. Um have you are there any conditions that we need to know about that are uh within this this grant? This grant has a scope of work that I attach and it does want us to target visitors through the Seattle Tacoma Airport. So we are going to be using geofencing technology to do that. They're fairly flexible though, as long as they know we're making a pretty good effort. Well, I'm looking forward to to seeing it. I know several of us are going to be traveling in the month of November, so by then it'll be it'll be up. So if we could get uh just a notification to where it might be so that we can keep an eye out. And I know that when those visitors come in, one of the ways that our residents, uh Redmond residents can benefit then is that the money that gets spent here in Redmond um, you know, goes towards a sales tax that our Redmond residents do reap the benefits of. So thank you. I'm really looking forward to seeing our ads over at the airport. Thank you. Councilmember Sony and then Councilmember Kritzer. Thank you. Thank you so much. Um I have a question. This is using $10,000 from the LTAC, and uh it requires to submit formal data uh, you know, and new for the for the money that we are receiving. Do we have a formal agreement for collecting this data from the different hotels? And uh I'm pretty sure that LTAC will definitely benefit from here because when people are applying for their grants and then they're putting up metrics for like number of people that are visiting.
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