[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6090760,"mediaKeyId","2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9","parentId",2865905,"title","Council approves consent agenda, accepts Microsoft donation for electric fire engine; dozens sworn into city boards","audioSeconds",67,"startMs",383000,"endMs",450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9&start=383&end=450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9/thumbnail_383000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090760/Redmond/King-County/Washington/Council-approves-consent-agenda-accepts-Microsoft-donation-for-electric-fire-engine-dozens-sworn-into-city-boards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090760-2df0962167a434fcdd0b4a144775b992/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156779&Signature=VnTp0ciDodzFU0UwMcx1RIvQtrSHQOiFIJxrjWeyjWvi46CR~Zt~DcV4YoCIBHCNumlq5Ueb-5tWGxpWR2d4vCRKOic-z5wZSGT3U6uR2jJGB7-dghJJEt~AyPkhr3Zlvvh8IBVRYnxMr9TnBv3OufzZo1f6-acyMvwu6MP-r-wI1qzUaRlJTBRxc3UHji-isTh5vGAvfXqmuJOuI0d11lY5t1VlRsrLZKwHiExyb4Akv~rCI53erKgp5OBneQCHGhSdhrZcFRj1pXpiq0KR5gj2~DwzP41rd0NhJVYtiUfxtXuAABlUOlUrULTu~w6~MFldJ51vqRVAF4tQZTpvzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Redmond City, WA","date","2025-04-02T16:48:21Z","article","The Redmond City Council approved its consent agenda by voice vote on April 1, 2025, carrying the motion 7‑0 and including an ordinance accepting a donation to the fire department and a simultaneous swearing‑in of multiple board and commission members.

The council read Ordinance item number 3210 into the record: it accepts a $16,000 donation from Microsoft Corporation to offset the cost of an electric fire engine and authorizes the mayor to carry out the terms of the donation. The ordinance was adopted by the voice vote described in the meeting: “Aye … motion carries 7 to 0.” The record noted one participant was remote.

Following adoption of the consent agenda, the mayor and council administered oaths of office to a group of appointees and reappointments to boards and commissions, including the Human Services Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission, and Redmond Arts and Culture Commission. Appointees sworn in or reappointed included David Poe, Micheline Fowler, Marilyn Lazaro, Naveen Yajiban, Jody Pena, Siri Blazner, Stuart Hargreaves, Victoria Liffman Frankel, Michael Hevner, Neelam Chaleelah, and Pamela Waters (names as recorded in the meeting). The mayor directed the new and reappointed members to sign oaths of office following the ceremony.

Why it matters: the Microsoft donation will be used to reduce the net cost of an electric fire engine purchase; the city routinely accepts donations and executes authorizing ordinances through the consent agenda. The swearing in adds volunteers to advisory panels that advise city policy and programs.

Ending: With the consent agenda passed and commissioners sworn in, the council moved to the items from the audience, where extended public comment followed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Redmond City Council, Business Meeting | April 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Redmond City Council approved its consent agenda by voice vote, including an ordinance accepting a $16,000 donation from Microsoft to offset part of an electric fire engine, and conducted an oaths‑of‑office swearing in multiple board and commission appointees.","taxTitle","Redmond, King County, Washington","taxId",2615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090765,"Redmond fire prevention falls short of inspection goals; city to study fee changes",640,6470000,7110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9&start=6470&end=7110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9/thumbnail_6470000.jpg","/articles/6090765/Redmond/King-County/Washington/Redmond-fire-prevention-falls-short-of-inspection-goals-city-to-study-fee-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090765-e4f7c8d0b9e2becb3c6be7efaa8d3665/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156779&Signature=LInahSqjV9Zdj7mUojoblZJrTX3SqerWd2PEOJhwB7PNTmgPHosPYjUdcmw49eVx9Gb6LnELHvTgu6LblerbvTrC0DiJWJEQZ5iQv0~c5PVU2vkvE0y00BHdTLDJy7ZIaiFXKmT~73imKKiWClpuvERlZTlIS1lVhrYhU5txjR0uFq2JPa~odpnD33dGOEvfEn3ZKdeu6TxUQFSU1vemeQzDHpnv-UkrTAvbIwsZVxrU8oIx~GDqaxEm-ShVbvqRS0jJmmnvqeri3LKAihcM0CKNkwtv-6d0~zusX~gfkEjoerD1h-VxFFI6Nd2CmnSJeOlTVSGyX1SW1dNqG0d5rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Redmond’s fire department told the City Council on April 1 that the fire prevention division did not meet several of its 2024 performance goals and that staffing and increasing building complexity are limiting inspection coverage.

Deputy Fire Chief Ami Quercone introduced the Fire Prevention 2024 performance report and said the staff report frames a forthcoming prevention fee study intended to examine cost recovery and resourcing options. Fire Marshal Rich Gieske and Assistant Fire Marshal Gary Smith presented data on plan reviews, inspections and system reliability.

Key findings presented to council:
- Development reviews: the fire prevention team completed 2,377 building and fire reviews and 1,630 construction inspections in 2024. The on‑time review rate for fire prevention was 67% versus the goal of 84%; 91% of reviews were completed within seven days of the identified due date.
- Life‑safety inspections: the division inspected roughly 42.6% of the city’s commercial and mixed‑use inventory in 2024, short of its 53% target. The department follows NFPA 1730 guidance to prioritize higher‑risk occupancies.
- Multifamily inspections: the city has approximately 1,600 multifamily residential buildings; historically those inspections were assigned to suppression crews, but higher call volumes and training demands have reduced inspection consistency.
- System reliability: staff track more than 3,200 fire protection systems (sprinklers, alarms, etc.). A substantial number of systems were past due for required testing or maintenance; the department assigned an assistant fire marshal specifically to drive compliance.
- Fire loss data: over the last six years the department recorded 781 fires (737 confined to the room or object of origin), 82 displaced units, about $13.9 million in structural loss against $1.2 billion in assessed structural value, and zero civilian fire deaths. In 2024 the department responded to 278 reported fires; cooking-related incidents remain a leading cause.

Why it matters: officials said the city’s building inventory is increasing in number and complexity, requiring more prevention resources to maintain inspection frequency and system testing. Failure to inspect and enforce maintenance can leave older, non‑sprinklered multifamily buildings—often housing vulnerable populations—at higher risk.

Council discussion and follow‑up: councilmembers asked for more operational detail in quarterly reports, including overtime usage and outreach spending, and for metrics that better reflect risk‑based inspection targets. Chief Quercone said the prevention fee study now underway will present options for balancing service levels and cost recovery; staff will return to the council with results and recommended metrics in the coming months.

Ending: The department said it will expand community risk reduction efforts and refine performance metrics in 2025 while continuing the prevention fee study to identify resourcing options.","Fire officials reported gaps in building inspection coverage and system testing in 2024, citing staffing limits and growing building complexity. The department plans a prevention fee study and stepped‑up outreach to address compliance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6090770,"Hundreds protest quick move of Old Firehouse teen programs; council schedules study session",2594,770000,3364000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9&start=770&end=3364","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2865905-69e7083999b9fc623fc3800da14cfdb9/thumbnail_770000.jpg","/articles/6090770/Redmond/King-County/Washington/Hundreds-protest-quick-move-of-Old-Firehouse-teen-programs-council-schedules-study-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090770-36480b6964d1990e3b2d817e13345eb5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156779&Signature=jDfcVPL6ueSROepyPw9TBhMJqgpH~L8WpDYHpIDY29scZhe4TQFf9XzevPaMCEyPz4lHUBeVs8Jz1PHV1NB7cNH~Mwla4y-FCjbwOnjJ9pAb-4~HX76iqLt14v6tXK-0oGmZfIhNzD0u~v4KOp96o2gVXyOaJpdlUrtCSVs4jzutDw8~6QFrMb4HALU0ky2LVb35QEeJA5WhjpaF2~gZeHF32NxWXjctjoL~aZPTaG3e7rPWFpjsB-X5M4Rzqs1OZ1xx125V7~1ySW8v99B4DmeFqdcLyvINP03Eq7~1z-p8dYGJXo7QnIamvLDRz646YpsxE0DU-fKEUEDq~r9jOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of teens, alumni and parents told the Redmond City Council on April 1 that the city’s decision to move programs out of the Old Firehouse Teen Center with less than three weeks’ notice has left many youth without an accessible, dedicated space.

Speakers said the city announced the relocation of teen programs from the Old Firehouse to the Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village and other facilities while emphasizing that the building remains safe for occupancy. Multiple speakers described the Firehouse as a culturally important, teen-run space that supports mental health, music and arts and offered “a place to belong.”

The public outcry began after the mayor’s staff read a statement explaining the move: city staff said comprehensive facility assessments identified hazardous building materials and long‑term maintenance needs that require extensive mitigation, and programs were being transitioned in March so services could continue while the city and community determine the building’s future. The city said no decision has been made about the building and that council will decide the future through a separate public process.

Why it matters: testimony emphasized that the Old Firehouse is more than the sum of its programs — speakers said the concentrated, teen‑only location, the recording studio, performance stage, and the informal “third place” fostered connections and supports that young people rely on. Several teens said the replacement sites lack comparable resources and are inaccessible by public transit for many users.

Key claims from speakers included:
- “This has been a devastating move to many of us,” said Sasha Glenn, a resident and teen center attendee, describing the short notice and lack of an equivalent recording studio or concert venue in the proposed replacements.
- “The firehouse was the only place I could feel safe anywhere,” Chester Anderson, a former regular, told the council, calling the site a life‑changing refuge.
- “Moving the teen center to Marymoor Village puts it in the middle of an industrial complex,” Jade Cook, a Redmond High senior, said, adding that public transit options to that site are limited and unsafe for many teens.

Several parents and longtime community members reinforced those points, saying the Firehouse’s downtown location is transit‑accessible and that piecemeal relocation of programs will erode the concentrated community and the venue’s historic role as a longtime all‑ages music space. One construction professional and former attendee, Seth Connell, noted that an earlier facilities assessment (posted in meeting minutes) cited hazardous materials and estimated retrofit costs above $2 million but suggested grant and fundraising options exist to address remediation if the city pursues preservation.

Council response and next steps: Mayor Angela Bernie and councilmembers repeatedly told speakers that the only action taken so far was to relocate programs to ensure safety and continuity of services and that no final decision on the building’s future has been made. The council scheduled a study session on April 22 to discuss the matter further; staff invited ongoing written comment and said additional community engagement will follow.

The meeting’s public comment period drew more than 27 in‑person speakers and one remote commenter; the petition referenced during testimony (saveofh.com) reported thousands of signatures. City staff pointed to a web page with FAQs and an engagement plan for teens and families. The council asked staff to bring the issue back for further public discussion and said it will take community input as part of that process.

Ending: For now, programs are operating at alternate locations and staff said they expect the transitions to be complete by late April 2025 while the council and community determine longer‑term decisions about the Old Firehouse building.","Dozens of teens and community members urged the Redmond City Council to reverse or pause a recently announced relocation of programs from the Old Firehouse Teen Center, saying the proposed moves to Marymoor Village and other sites are inaccessible and risk losing a unique youth space.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent agenda, accepts Microsoft donation for electric fire engine; dozens sworn into city boards

Redmond fire prevention falls short of inspection goals; city to study fee changes

Hundreds protest quick move of Old Firehouse teen programs; council schedules study session