Redmond council forms subcommittee to organize stakeholder group on Old Firehouse teen center after weeks of public outcry

Redmond City Council voted unanimously on July 1 to form a council subcommittee tasked with organizing a stakeholder group to address the future of the Redmond Old Firehouse (OFH) teen center, responding to sustained and emotional public testimony about the facility’s abrupt March closure.

The motion, made by Council Member Steve Fields, specified formation of the subcommittee and directed that the stakeholder group be organized within two weeks. The council vote was 7-0.

Nut graf: The decision came after more than a dozen public speakers — many teens and young adults — told the council they felt sidelined when the city closed the longtime teen space on short notice. Speakers urged a process that centers youth voice, examines alternatives to demolition or permanent closure, and identifies a replacement youth facility if the Old Firehouse cannot be preserved.

Public testimony was lengthy and pointed. Sasha Glenn told the council that public-record responses obtained under the Washington Public Records Act contained handwritten notes suggesting city staff had discussed options months earlier and that staff statements to the council and community had been misleading. “There is no reason, absolutely no justification to delay forming that subcommittee and forming a committee from the community to engage with council in a deep dive into what's going on with the firehouse,” Glenn said.

Several young performers described the Old Firehouse as the only accessible, all‑ages venue for shows and social activity. Chester Anderson, a past Battle of the Bands finalist, and others said sudden closure disrupted longstanding cultural programming; Connor Graham pointed out that online listings already show the space as “permanently closed,” which he said made it feel as if a decision had already been made. Onyx Griffiths, addressing youth mental-health concerns, said bluntly to the council, “You are breaking these kids,” and warned that losing safe teen space increases isolation and risk among vulnerable youth.

Council members debated timing and process. Council President Kritzer and others said they support a subcommittee and a teen‑led stakeholder group but noted staff will be issuing a fuller report at a July 22 study session and that city staff had planned a stakeholder process. Fields amended his motion to add a two‑week timeframe for establishing the council subcommittee; the amendment was seconded and incorporated. Council President Kritzer and council members emphasized that any stakeholder process should be teen‑centered and that the subcommittee should coordinate with the mayor’s office and staff to avoid duplication.

The council motion passed by roll call vote 7 to 0. Council leadership said the subcommittee would be limited in size (most council subcommittees have three members), and they urged members to be ready to discuss subcommittee membership and charter language at the next study session. City staff also confirmed a separate city-led stakeholder group will be formed as part of the manager’s planned July 22 materials; the council‑level subcommittee is intended to help ensure transparency, oversee outreach, and bring a council perspective to that process.

Ending: Council members and staff said they will follow up publicly on the subcommittee membership and the stakeholder‑group schedule. The council did not vote on any demolition or facility funding at the July 1 meeting.