Environmental Sustainability Annual Report
2021
Environmental Sustainability
Action Plan Annual Report
About the Annual Report
The Environmental Sustainability Action Plan (ESAP) serves as the City’s roadmap to create an environmentally sustainable community, enhance our natural systems, and achieve net zero carbon emissions. Through the ESAP, we committed to pause each year and review our progress and course correct as needed to quickly advance towards our goals. This report captures the top implementation highlights of 2021.
In Redmond’s ongoing commitment to inclusion, this report has been designed to be easily translatable into other languages and accessible to those with differing visual abilities.
Contents
- Letter from Mayor Birney
- ESAP and Climate Declaration Goals
- Climate Emergency Declaration
- Climate and Energy
- Transportation and Land Use
- Materials Management and Waste
- Natural Systems
- Water
- What's Next: 2022 - 2023 Priorities
Letter from Mayor Birney
As I reflect on our first full year of ESAP implementation, I’m reminded of the growth, learning, and victories we experienced last year. From the adoption of our City Operations Zero Carbon Strategy to tree plantings in our parks and the launch of our innovative front porch pick-up recycling events, together, we made great strides towards our sustainability goals in 2021.
There’s so much happening in the City - in your neighborhoods, businesses, and schools - we could fill a book. I’m encouraged by the City’s progress, but most of all, I’m inspired by the leading work you all are doing to realize our vision of a healthy and thriving Redmond for generations to come. Together, our actions are making a big impact.
In 2021, you volunteered more than 1,723 hours to plant trees in our parks through the Green Redmond Partnership. You volunteered your expertise and perspective on the newly formed Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee to advise ESAP implementation efforts. We also launched multiple education and outreach campaigns like the Redmond Climate Action Challenge and Adopt-a-Drain programs, where you’re actively contributing to Redmond’s climate and sustainability goals – thank you!
Thank you for your ongoing commitment and support for preserving and protecting our environment.
Angela Birney
Mayor of Redmond
Goals and Declaration
City Operations Goals (by 2030) | Community Goals (by 2050) | ||
City Operations Goals (by 2030) |
Community Goals (by 2050) |
Greenhouse gas emissions are a key metric used to monitor our progress. Estimated emissions for calendar years 2020 and 2021 are largely viewed as anomalies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next emissions inventory for 2022 is scheduled to be completed in 2023.Redmond launched its first data dashboard to organize and share key sustainability metrics.
Climate Emergency Declaration
Redmond City Council adopted a Climate Emergency Declaration (Declaration) in October 2020, establishing a goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions for city operations by 2030. The Declaration highlights 13 key objectives to rapidly implement solutions and lead by example. Significant progress was made on foundational Declaration objectives, including developing and adopting a City Operations Zero Carbon Strategy and the Climate Vulnerability Assessment.
Look for this leaf icon throughout the report to learn which efforts support the Declaration.
2021 Focus Area
Highlights
Climate Vulnerability Assessment 
Council adopted Redmond’s first Climate Vulnerability Assessment in October 2021. The Strategy is the City’s approach to rapidly reduce emissions and shift city operations to a low carbon future. The Assessment maps a path to meet the objectives of the Climate Emergency Declaration, including a transition to 100% renewable electricity, decarbonizing city buildings, and transitioning to an electric and low carbon vehicle fleet. Since adopted, staff have been advancing key priorities around fleet electrification and building efficiency.
Redmond Climate Action Challenge
The Redmond Climate Action Challenge (Challenge) is a fun, interactive platform that allows community members to quantify their carbon footprint, identify specific actions and resources to reduce their impact, and track progress. More than 120 residents have joined the Challenge since its launch in December 2021.
Climate Vulnerability Assessment
The City initiated a Climate Vulnerability Assessment (Assessment), which was approved by Council in April 2022. Findings from the Assessment are being integrated into the City’s long term strategic planning efforts, including the Redmond 2050 Comprehensive Plan update, Transportation Master Plan, PARCC Plan update, and ESAP implementation. 2021 also brought a record shattering heat event, with temperatures exceeding 103 degrees in Redmond. Redmond opened City Hall as a community cooling center during the heat dome event; a timely reminder of the climate crisis.
Transportation and Land Use 
Urban Trails
In 2021 the City secured $2.13M in funding to complete the final phase of the Redmond Central Connector trail, scheduled to open in 2024. The last 1.6 miles of trail will integrate with the regional trail network and significantly improve pedestrian and bicycle access, including along the Willows Road corridor. Since 2013, the City has successfully constructed 2.3 miles of the Redmond Central Connector trail. Redmond staff maintains approximately 39 miles of trails that are a vital part of our regional recreation and transportation network.
Alternative Fuel Fleet
As the City works towards its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030, it has been actively transitioning the City’s fleet to clean alternatives like electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The City’s fleet of clean vehicles grew in 2021, with the addition of 12 medium and heavy-duty propane trucks and one hybrid SUV. Efforts to date have reduced fleet fuel consumption by 22% since 2011. The Fleet Division is ramping up the greening of Redmond’s fleet by installing chargers to accommodate 22 new electric vehicles.
Creating a Safe and Connected Transportation System
Redmond is constantly working to create a safe, accessible, efficient, and connected transportation system for the Redmond community. The City implemented numerous capital projects to support safer walking and biking opportunities. These included reducing the speed limit on Redmond-Woodinville Road, enhancing crosswalks with new signage and treatments to increase pedestrian visibility, and completing the engineering design for 29 ADA ramps, currently in construction. These efforts support walking and biking and foster a safer transportation system for all.
Materials Management and Waste
Working Towards a Zero Waste Future
The City developed and launched its Sustainable Living class series to empower and educate community members through topics like safer cleaning, food waste reduction, and waste-free giving. In total, the City hosted 26 virtual classes and in-person pop up events in 2021, with more than 700 attendees.
Complementing this work, Redmond partnered with Ridwell and launched a pilot front porch Styrofoam recycling program, collecting more than 1,131 bags or 1,895 pounds of foam. This free service makes it simple for those who previously had challenges accessing Redmond’s conventional recycling events, including those with mobility challenges or individuals with limited access to transportation.
Education and Outreach
In addition to the Sustainable Living classes, the City completed more than 24 technical assistance visits and trainings to multifamily and commercial properties. These visits help organizations better manage organics, recycle materials, and reduce contamination, which means more waste diverted from the landfill. In 2021, the City also translated its recycling and composting guides into Russian, Chinese, and Arabic and featured culturally relevant images to better serve community members.
Shredded Paper, Paint, and Used Cooking Oil
The City hosted a shredding event collecting and recycling 7,260 pounds of shredded paper from 158 participants. The Paint Care program, which makes it easy and free to dispose of old paint, properly recycled 4,183 gallons of paint. And finally, Redmond community members recycled more than 1,394 gallons of used cooking oil collected through the City’s free collection.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Natural Systems
Growing Redmond's Tree Canopy
424 Green Redmond Partnership volunteers planted 594 plants and 382 trees in 2021. Since 2009, the Green Redmond Partnership has dedicated over 34,580 hours planting 13,195 trees and 24,800 shrubs and small plants throughout 20 Redmond parks. The City also continued its partnership with the Washington Conservation Corps to clear and plant over 1,000 trees across two acres in the Monticello Creek watershed. Finally, efforts to update the City’s tree regulations continued with stakeholder engagement and draft language review. The updated draft language aligns with the Redmond’s Tree Canopy Strategic Plan and works to preserve existing trees and increase fines for tree removals.
Restoring Redmond's Streams
Redmond has over 60 completed stream restoration projects, covering about 100 acres. In 2021, the City completed three projects on Monticello, Willows, and Gun Club Creeks to enhance salmon habitat, remove fish barriers, and reduce flooding impacts. Work also continued on the Keller Farm Mitigation Bank, including planting 75 acres of native plants. Keller Farm is one of only two registered wetland mitigation banks in King County and a demonstration of the City’s commitment to preserving and protecting Redmond’s vital natural resources.
Adopt-a-Drain
Redmond launched the Adopt-a-Drain program in 2021 to educate and empower community members to keep neighborhood storm drains free and clear of debris. More than 90 community members signed up in 2021 to “adopt” their Redmond neighborhood storm drains. Redmond maintains more than 12,000 storm drains across the City.
Integrated Pest Management
For more than a decade, Redmond’s Parks Department has managed our parks using an approach called integrated pest management, an environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. While this approach is more labor and time intensive for staff, it results in a healthier space for community and wildlife. In 2021, the City expanded its policy citywide and added new technology that uses heat and non-toxic soap to manage weeds.
Water
Water Conservation and Education
Working with our partners at Cascade Water Alliance, 160 presentations at Redmond schools were given throughout 2021 reaching 3,458 Redmond students on water related topics, ranging from groundwater to water conservation.
The Cascade Gardener Series featured topics to help Redmond residents have beautiful, healthy landscapes while using water efficiently. A total of 1,957 residents from Cascade Water Alliance members attended these virtual workshops in 2021.
Protecting Redmond's Drinking Water
Redmond is a regional leader in its proactive management of Redmond’s vital groundwater, which provides about 40% of our community’s drinking water. The City completed its Temporary Construction Dewatering (TCD) triple bottom line policy analysis to inform the next steps that balance construction activities with the need to protect the City’s aquifer. As a result of the analysis, City Council directed staff to pursue bridge changes to the City’s code in 2022 and pursue subsequent updates in 2023 and 2024 to more holistically manage TCD practices in Redmond. The City also continued engagement in regulatory work around contaminants Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by commenting on state and federal rulemaking. State action levels came into effect for these emerging contaminants in 2022. The City has been sampling for PFAS since 2015.
In 2021, during high-risk pollution prevention technical assistance visits 627 gallons of hazardous materials were stored within secondary containment and 55 gallons of hazardous materials were removed from sites. One site installed a new concrete secondary containment berm to contain 560 gallons of various lube oils.
What's Next:
2022 - 2023 Priorities
Climate and Energy
Expansion of Energy Smart Eastside heat pump campaign
Adoption of Phase 2 Zoning Code update, including green building, parking, and waste and recycling provisions
Adoption of a City facilities electrification strategy
Opening of the Redmond Senior and Community Center – the City’s most sustainable building to date
City operations energy efficiency upgrade
Transportation
Continued development of Redmond 2050 and Transportation Master Plan
Adoption of PARCC Plan
Installation of ADA and traffic calming improvements
Fleet electrification roadmap
Addition of renewable diesel for City’s heavy duty vehicle fleet
Vision Zero
Installation of ADA and traffic calming improvements
Materials management and Waste
Construction and demolition debris recycling program launch
Eastside Waste Prevention Collaborative
Continuation of the Ridwell front porch pick-ups and Sustainable Living Classes
Zoning code updates to make it easier to recycle and compost at apartments and condos
Sustainable purchasing