Redmond Builds

Fire sprinkler Ordinance

The city of Redmond requires sprinklers be installed in the entire dwelling when... "An addition to an existing one or two family dwelling results in square footage greater than 3,600 square feet." (square footage includes garage, decks, porches, sheds and structures within 10ft)

Redmond is the only city in the metro that has adopted a lower limit than the King county limit of 4,500 sqft.

In practice this rule prevents homeowners who cannot afford a $10-20k sprinkler system from building even small additions. Due to the inclusion of outdoor attached structures such as decks, porches, and garages this rule starts to apply for homes in the 2,500 sqft range.

We would like to see the city adopt a community approach and work with the applicants on solutions that create mutual benefits.

What we know

• The city has never reviewed the impact of the law on minorities and low-income residents.
  (via public records request)
• Records is unable to produce a single record of a sprinkler system being installed in a home triggered by a shed being built on the property.
  (via public records request)
• During the last decade the city has never enforced sprinkler rule violations on existing violators, even if they are in plain view.
  (via public records request)
• Applicants at the building department and violators are subject to different treatment. One is denied, the other allowed.
  (via public records request)
• The fire department has no documents describing the state of residential fire sprinkler adoption in the city. They do not know what is going on.
  (via public records request)
• The city council ombudsman has refused to inform the city council on the matter.

What has happened

• In response to our efforts the city has removed the 10ft rule for sheds. A shed built closer than 10ft to another structure is no longer considered to be part of this structure for fire code purposes.
• The rule change will come into effect sometime in 20223. (exact date TBD)
• This rule change has legalized over 100 illegally built sheds in the city. (by redmondbuilds.org observations)
• The square footage criteria remains in place. It is the most restrictive in the metro.

Hints of misconduct along the way

• Ethics complaints have been filed with the city council (6/26) for the separate cases of fire chief Todd Short and Mayor Anglea Birney. Ombud (at the time) and city councilor Melissa Stuart is leading the submissions.

• Fire Marshall Todd Short ignores reports of fire code violations. We reported "fire code" violation instead of using "sprinkler code". Fire safety in Redmond?
• He refuses to answer how a resident can report such a violation.
• The city clerk has identified Fire Chief Adrian Sheppard as the contact in the fire department who will handle the investigation of Mr.Short's conduct. An email was sent on 7/18.
• A meeting has been schedule 7/24. Super fast. That's the way government should work!

• Mayor Anglea Birney does not return messages sent to her.
• Several email over the span of 3 months were ignored.
• On two occasions visits to city hall to set up a meeting were ignored.
• ScoopMayor Angela Birney is not only stonewalling us. From a document we got off her phone we know that she fired the salary commission after asking for a benefit package that exceeds twice what the entire council is earning. Now they are being frozen out, just like us. Unlawfully dismissal lawsuit may be coming Angela's way.
• City clerk Cheryl Xanthos is giving us the run-around with regards to the mayor. In an email received on 7/18 there is no mention on how to file a complaint about Angela Birney.
• On 7/19 Cheryl Xantos admits that the mayor is untouchable. "The city does not have a place to file an ethics complaint for the Mayor." She did not even ask what the complaint was about.
• On 7/20 City Risk Manager Irene Banschbach contacted us pushing the city claims process as the way to file an ethics complaint. If that sounds odd to you, you are not alone. We politely declined to limit our ability to sue.
• On 7/21 City Risk Manager Irene Banschbach demands that redmondbuilds.org submit to the legal constraints of the claims process in order to speak truth to power. She will not service a complaint, unless we give up our right to sue.
• We extended an olive branch to the mayor on 7/21. We suggested that she appoint a city council member as the arbiter in the case. That's the way most cities outside of the kingdom of Birney handle it. We'll see if the USA still has standing with Angela.

Acknowledgements

• To the supporters of redmondbuilds who have expressed their support and outrage at the city's behavior: We do it together. You make us stronger.
• Fire Marshall Todd Short and his team have made a change that legalizes what people are doing, rather than branding them non-compliant. While we would like to see better from Mr Short, he deserves to be lauded for this change.

What is coming

• We are reviewing city documents. Looks like someone has been asleep at the wheel...
• City employees may have violated the sprinkler rules themselves...
• What has the mayor been texting about... turns out she is getting sued.