Dozens of residents from the Redtail Ridge and nearby Southwest Redmond neighborhoods urged the Redmond City Council on June 10 to address what they described as inadequate evacuation options and blocked emergency access ahead of peak fire season.

Multiple speakers described a pattern of locked gates, large boulders and other obstructions that they said limit ingress and egress for hundreds of homes in the southwest quadrant of the city. Jill Lingle, who said she lives in Redtail Ridge, told the council she had gathered 96 signatures and asked the city to “unlock the fire gates, remove these huge boulders through our summer fire season” so residents would have clear emergency exits. Marty Sharp and other residents outlined four local access points they said could be cleared at low cost: removing combination paddles or cutting pads locks from iron gates at 40th/7th and related locations, and removing construction barriers and rock piles at 40th/3rd and 40th/6th to enable direct discharge to Badger and Canal roads.

Residents also called on the city to pause a proposed bike striping plan for Southwest 40th Street, saying it would eliminate on‑street parking in front of homes that rely on curbside parking because rear alley garages are too small; several speakers urged the council to delay the striping while staff consider parking and evacuation implications. Councilor Keith (staff clarified) said the striping plan will be put on hold for discussion at the next council meeting (June 24) and encouraged neighborhood input.

Councilors and staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would coordinate with Redmond Fire. Councilor noted that the city is working on wildfire preparedness and urged neighborhood planning and community coordination; staff said they would talk with the fire department about gate locks and that some gates are operated by Redmond Fire. Mayor Fitch and councilors thanked residents for bringing detailed maps and urged neighbor coordination through Deschutes Alerts and Firewise/FireWatch resources.

Outcome: council did not adopt an ordinance or formal mitigation that evening but staff committed to follow up with Redmond Fire and the relevant departments; the proposed bike‑striping work on Southwest 40th Street was placed on hold for review and further neighborhood outreach ahead of any implementation.

Why it matters: residents said evacuation routes, blocked gates, and on‑street parking changes present immediate risks during wildfire season. Council and staff signaled prompt follow‑up with the fire district and transportation staff to evaluate short‑term mitigations and longer‑term planning.