Redmond councilors name ‘If I were Mayor’ student winners, OK $3.45 million FAA airport grant

(Update: Adding video, comments)

Also approve new mixed-use building near Ridgeview HS

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Redmond city councilors on Tuesday evening approved a $3.45 million COVID-19 relief grant to the Redmond Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration.

This grant is provided through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA).

The funds from the Airport Coronavirus Relief Grant Program are aimed to help airports hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions and the downturn in air travel with costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitation, janitorial services, combating the spread of pathogens and for debt service payments.

Airport Director Zachary Bass says that in the past, FAA grants helped fund numerous expansion and upgrade projects, but since the onset of the pandemic, it's been more funding for survival.

To date, the airport has received more than $12.3 million, including this grant, in federal funding through CARES/COVID funding sources.

Councilors also awarded three Redmond students as winners of the 2021 "If I Were Mayor, I Would…” student contest.

Winners

• Poster winner: Emily Stephens (Grades 4-5)
• Essay winner: Harrison Swift (Grades 6-8)
• Digital winner: Chaela Baker (Grades 9-12)

Fourth-grader Emily Stephens from M.A. Elementary promoted a clothing swap to take place each month at a church to help those in need.

And Redmond Proficiency Academy 12th grader Chaela Baker, who took home the digital presentation award, says she would like to renovate public parks by making them animal-friendly, in order for families to enjoy outdoor opportunities and to help the community.

RPA seventh-grader Harrison Swift was able to read his essay aloud to councilors.

Swift also said he would also build a designated homeless camp, somewhere along Maple Avenue. He said it would have bunkhouses, an area for tents, and a program to help people get jobs.

Councilors also unanimously approved the creation of a mixed-use neighborhood building that would be located northeast of Ridgeview High School, at the intersection of Southwest Canal Boulevard and Southwest Badge Avenue.

The planned four-story building will have retail on the first floor, office space on the second floor, and the top two levels would be residential units.

Councilor Krisanna Clark-Endicott expressed her excitement for the proposal during the meeting.

"I just wanted to put the word out to thank the citizen volunteers for their hard work," Clark-Endicott said. "I'm also very excited to see a project with a mixed use going forward. I think it will be very dynamic, to see how this works for the community, and I'm interested to see what happens." 

Mayor George Endicott also said he believes this is what the city of Redmond needs as it continues to grow.