Redmond Neighborhood Network and Budgeting By Priorities Collaborating for Upcoming Community Events

 

Please join City staff for the 2012 meeting of the Redmond Neighborhood Network.  As the City prepares for the next Budgeting by Priorities (BP) process, the BP team will join the Neighborhood Network to foster advanced consideration of the City's near- and mid-term programs and projects.

• March 1, 2012 - Bear Creek, Education Hill, North Redmond, and SE Redmond neighborhoods
• March 7, 2012 - Grass Lawn, Idylwood, Sammamish Valley, and Willows-Rose Hill neighborhoods

Each meeting will include an open house portion during the first hour.  During this time, participants will visit with City officials, ask questions of staff regarding Redmond's programs and projects, and learn about the Budgeting by Priorities process for the 2013-2014 budget term.  During the second hour, participants will work with staff in small neighborhood-based groups to share their perspective regarding the City and their neighborhood.

All meetings will take place at City Hall, 15670 NE 85th Street, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

Event details have been posted to each neighborhood webpage (www.redmond.gov/residents/neighborhoods), neighborhood Facebook pages, e-Alert subscribers, RCTV, and the King County library.

Energy Saving Tips for Lighting Use

• Use fluorescent instead of incandescent lights.  Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) are three to five times more efficient and last ten times longer than incandescent.  Today's CFLs produce a warm, natural glow.  And remember to recycle your old CLFs as they contain minute amounts of mercury.
• Use task lighting to focus light where you need it rather than brightly lighting an entire room.
• Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains to allow outside light in while preserving privacy.
• Turn off the lights in any room you're not using, or consider installing occupancy sensors to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.  For outdoor lighting, photo sensors ensure the lights are on only when it's dark outside.

Topic: Green Building Techniques
Speaker: Robert Pantley
Date: Monday February 27
Time: 3:30- 5:00 pm
Location: Council Conference Room,
Redmond City Hall

Speaker Bio:
Since 1974, Robert and his company, Natural and Built Environments LLC, have been creating GMA oriented residential housing in King County. Their development, Renaissance, won the Major Achievement for Market Excellence "MAME" award for best community land use in Puget Sound. Robert is passionate about green building and is in the process of LEED certification for some of his projects.

Thinking of Buying a New Car?

 

In May 2011, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized the biggest redesign ever of the fuel economy labels since they were introduced 35 years ago.  When the new "fuel economy and environment" labels start to appear in showrooms and online, car shoppers will have more information at their fingertips than ever before like:

• New ways to compare energy use and cost between new technology cars that use electricity and conventional cars that are gasoline-powered.
• Useful estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle.
• Easy-to-read ratings of how a model compares to all others for smog emissions and emissions of pollution that contribute to climate change.
• An estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles.
• Information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle.
• A QR Code that will allow users of smartphones to access online information about how various models compare on fuel economy and other environmental and energy factors.

The new lables will begin appearing in dealer showrooms in 2012 when the 2013 models begin to go on display.  To view these labels, go to http://www.epa.gov/carlabel/basicinformation.htm.

 

MEETING THE EASTSIDE GREEN BUSINESS CHALLENGE:
A Brownbag Workshop and Training Session on February 21, 2012

What: Green Business Panel + Overview/Scorecard Training for the Eastside Green Business Challenge.  Components include energy, waste, transportation, water, employees and community.

Who: Panel moderated by Dr Karl Ostrom, Co-Director of the Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability (NBIS), featuring local perspectives from several business sectors and a brief case study.  An Eastside Green Business Challenge overview and Scorecard training by program administrator Paul Andersson will follow.  Informational resource tables after the formal program.

When: Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from 11:30am to 1:30pm

Where: Lake Washington School District Resource Center, Sammamish Room, Redmond Town Center (16250 NE 74th Street, Redmond, WA  98052) http://www.lwsd.org/Schools/District-Map/Pages/Resource-Center-Driving-Directions.aspx

How Much:  No Cost Brown Bag.  RSVPs appreciated, walk-ins are welcome.

For More Information:  To register for this free event, email Paul Andersson, ESBA Program Administrator (PAndersson@BellevueWA.gov.  For other questions, contact Tom Hinman, ESBA’s Redmond Coordinator (tom@thinmanassoc.com).

Sponsored By:  The Greater Redmond Chamber of Commerce, the City of Redmond, Waste Management and the Eastside Sustainable Business Alliance.

About ESBA:  The Eastside Sustainable Business Alliance works to support the adoption of sustainable business practices among local businesses by offering training, resources and networking opportunities that increase environmental, economic and social prosperity on the Eastside.  Members of the Alliance include the cities of Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Sammamish, Issaquah, Mercer Island and Renton with staff support at the City of Bellevue.  One of only four such initiatives to be funded in a national competition, the Eastside Green Business Challenge is partially supported by a grant from Office Depot and ICLEI USA.

Love is in the air and Cupid's arrow is primed and ready for the Valentine season in Redmond. Nothing says love like buying local, so in preparation for February 14, we are providing you with a list of local options that will sweep your special one off their feet.  Whether it's flowers, chocolates, dinner, wine or other, keep your hard earned money here in Redmond. It's great for the local economy, comes back to you in the form of city services, reduces traffic and helps the environment.  Speaking of the environment, you can really show mother earth your love by walking or biking to your destination, or jump on a bus and let someone else do the driving while your shopping Redmond. 

Here is a list of Valentine's ideas you can find in Redmond:

1. Make your reservations now for one of Redmond's fantastic restaurants.
2. Take your sweetheart to a movie or play.  (Chicago is playing at Second Story Rep on weekends in February.)
3. Order your flowers early or pick up a great arrangement at a Redmond grocer.
4. Who doesn't love a gift card for a massage or salon visit?
5. Stay home and prepare a special dinner by candlelight.   Visit a variety of specialty shops in Redmond and put together your own Redmond themed meal. A steak from the Bill the Butcher, bottle of wine from Trader Joe's, salad dressing with olive oil and vinegar from Paradiso EVOO, and maybe a variety of root beers from The Root Beer Store - just to throw out a few ideas.
6. Enjoy a "staycation" in one of Redmond's five beautiful hotels.
7. And, don't forget the chocolates (or other sweet delights!)

Happy Valentine's, Redmond! We love you.