Spring is the time we start to get back outside to plant our gardens, walk the trails and generally shed our winter cocoon. It’s also the time we reconnect with neighbors and our community.

This year I’m looking forward to connecting with many of you at the Neighborhood Network meetings we will hold throughout the city’s neighborhoods. Councilmembers, the Planning department and many other City staff will join me in a series of gatherings to discuss the state of your neighborhood. The City will provide information about projects and programs and ask for your feedback and ideas. Most of these events will be at a school near you. When that is not possible, we will hold them at City Hall.

This past December, the City adopted a financially responsible budget. The budget included cutting 50 positions and added a one percent increase in the property tax. For the first time, the City’s general fund is forecasted to be balanced for the next six years. While it was not an easy budget to deliver, I am confident the decisions we made will continue to move our City forward.

A major project we will continue in 2011 is the Redmond Central Connector – the linear trail, gathering space and transportation corridor we are developing along the old Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway right-of-way. In 2010, along with your help, we created draft plans for the Corridor. We now are strategizing the best means to put those plans into action.