Redmond Committee of the Whole – Parks & Environmental Sustainability Meeting – October 27, 2026

On Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 4:30 PM, the City of Redmond Committee of the Whole for Parks and Environmental Sustainability met at City Hall and remotely. Presiding Officer Menka Soni chaired the meeting; all council members were present. The agenda included two action items intended for future consent, three informational reports, and two pay-related items referred from other committees. The committee did not take final legislative votes, but gave direction on advancing several items.

Action Item: Park Impact Fee Schedule Update (CM 26-466)

• Parks staff presented the final update on park impact fees, noting the fees were last updated in 2017 and should have been updated with the 2023 park plan. The proposed standards-based 20-year methodology aligns with the park plan level-of-service metrics, using acres per resident and walkability.
• Staff recapped the project timeline: consultant FCS contract approved in November 2025, council updates and community engagement through spring and summer 2026, and draft Redmond Municipal Code language presented on September 22, 2026. The packet included a side-by-side comparison of current and proposed rates.
• Councilmember Stuart noted a scrivener error on the informal one-pager referencing a future 2028 contract date. Another council member confirmed that single-family residential would be the only fee category increasing and voiced support for the approach as consistent with density and middle-housing goals. One council member also asked for earlier council review of methodologies when approving future consultant fee studies.
• Staff warned that if the fee update is not approved now, updating it later would require reopening the consultant contract and likely delay the update to the next biennium.
• Outcome: The committee agreed to include the park impact fee ordinance in the impact fee omnibus being prepared by long-range planning staff. Although the agenda listed a November 2 consent date, staff clarified the item will return through the Committee of the Whole and then go to consent on November 17.

Action Item: Old Fire House Teen Center Demolition – Final Contract and Acceptance (CM 26-614)

• Eric Dawson presented the request to accept the completed demolition and finalize the contract with the contractor. The project finished about $50,000 under budget.
• Staff displayed a 1948 newspaper recovered from the building. Salvaged materials include newspapers, part of the hose-tower ladder, and original window hardware. The Redmond Historical Society visited before demolition and recommended salvaging the window hardware; items are being held for possible integration into the rebuilt teen center, with future handoff to preservation organizations for items not reused.
• Councilmembers asked about unexpected site conditions; staff reported no real surprises or hindrances to the next phase.
• Outcome: The committee agreed to forward the item to the November 2 consent agenda. The agenda names the contractor as Dickson Company, while the transcript refers to Dixon Contracting; that discrepancy is noted.

Informational Item: Teen Center Project Update (CM 26-652)

• Parks Director Lauren Hamilton reported that the city received nine statements of qualifications for the design-build team, shortlisted three, held informational interviews on September 16, received proposals on October 13, and selected Miller Hull with Lise Crutcher Lewis after staff evaluation. The evaluation emphasized community engagement, inclusive design, and an effective progressive design-build process.
• A two-day protest period applies before contract negotiations. Staff plan to bring a preliminary contract to the November 17 Committee of the Whole and, if supported, to the December 1 consent agenda.
• Community engagement to date includes two teen-only visioning sessions with 78 unduplicated teens and a broader community visioning session on October 8. The owner's representative is compiling feedback for the design-build team.
• Councilmembers requested clearer scoring transparency with the future contract, a timeline of when decisions will be known, and assurances that teen input will be carried through the process. One council member asked about maximizing building activation and utilization throughout the day and week.
• Outcome: Informational only; no action taken. Staff will return November 17 with a more detailed primer on the progressive design-build process.

Informational Item: Events and Derby Days Recap 2026 (CM 26-650)

• Special event permitting increased more than 20% year over year: 44 special event permits and 49 miscellaneous park use permits were issued or in process, representing approximately 168,000 attendees. New producers included Fullenco Sports, Seed Kite Foundation, Cascade Stride, Green Stage, and CMP Seattle; Redmond also hosted a large-scale Taiwanese musical festival and four Shakespeare in the Park performances.
• The Redmond Busker program returned with a QR-code credentialing system; 19 busker permits have been issued. A pilot busker location is planned at Astera Park during Redmond Lights.
• Derby Days 2026 drew about 35,000 people over two days. Because the carnival could not attend, the city offered Kids Cove inflatables at a flat $5 fee and sold over 2,400 tickets. Additional highlights included 130 staff, 100 volunteers, 72 craft marketers, 14 food vendors, 11 performers, 46 local businesses and community organizations, and more than 600 participants in the kids' bike parade. Environmental measures included reusable cups replacing 2,241 plastic cups and 108 pounds of waste diverted from landfill.
• In discussion, council members expressed interest in restoring a community bike element rather than the old criterium and asked staff to provide cost options during budget deliberations. Staff said the prior criterium was removed pre-pandemic due to ongoing budget shortfalls and lack of internal capacity, with about $40,000 in event savings and $15,000 in staff savings. Councilmember Kritzer noted that the council had allocated $10,000 through LTAC to the Washington State Bicycle Association, but the race still did not occur.
• Outcome: Informational only; staff will bring additional bike element options through the budget process.

Informational Item: Redmond Lights 2026 Program Plan (CM 26-647)

• Staff previewed Redmond Lights 2026: a kickoff event on Saturday, December 5, 2026, at Downtown Park, with light and art activations continuing at Downtown Park and Astera Park through January 4, 2027. Planned features include snowfall, performances, a kids' light fashion show, craft booths, a luminary trail, a Woodblock signature menu, and 10 selected artist installations. Astera Park will add weekly acoustic performances on Saturdays.
• Council feedback included increasing transparency about artist selection criteria and exploring reuse of art installations across the year. Council President Stuart praised local business participation and asked whether nearby and Astera businesses were invited; staff confirmed they are engaging businesses.
• Outcome: Informational only; no action taken.

Item from Other Committees: Mayor's Salary Pay Plan Update (CM 26-538)

• Staff presented the proposed elected official pay plan update for the mayor's salary. Council members raised concerns that the recommended market adjustment would place the mayor's pay at or above several statewide elected officials and would be a large increase while city payroll issues remain unresolved.
• Several council members stated they would not support an increase above the COLA at this time; Council President Stuart said she supports the COLA alternative. The committee did not consent to placing the item on the November 10 consent agenda. Staff will email the COLA options and ordinance language for council review, with a possible follow-up at the November 2 committee meeting.

Item from Other Committees: 2027 Pay Plan Updates (CM 26-545)

• Interim HR Director Lisa Meyer presented the 2027 pay plans. All 17 pay plans would receive a 4.1% cost-of-living adjustment based on the first-half 2026 CPI-W for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area, consistent with approved union contracts, the personnel manual, and the salary commission. The update also includes classification movements for executive analyst, chief operating officer, and city attorney, including a new EX33 band.
• Council discussion raised concerns about the size of percentage-based increases, top-heavy compensation, transparency in the elected official pay table, and the need for an equity and gender pay review. Several council members said they were not ready to move the item forward until broader budget discussions occur.
• Outcome: The item was not advanced to the November 10 special meeting consent agenda; staff will receive additional questions and continue budget-related discussions.

Key Outcomes

• Park impact fee update: advance as part of the November 17 omnibus and consent package, not November 2.
• Old Fire House Teen Center demolition: committee agreed to forward final contract acceptance for November 2 consent; contractor name discrepancy noted.
• Teen Center rebuild: Miller Hull and Lise Crutcher Lewis selected as design-build team; contract expected November 17 and December 1 consent.
• Derby Days bike element: staff to bring options through budget deliberation.
• Redmond Lights 2026: received as informational.
• Mayor's salary EO pay plan: not advanced; staff to email COLA options.
• 2027 pay plan updates: not advanced; further budget discussion and council questions needed.