AKATALEPTOS FORENSICS "Eyes clenched tight, Truth sprawled out before him, He trips! — STUPID PLACE TO SIT!" | Case Ref: OFH-2025-001 | forensics@akataleptos.com
Case Reference: OFH-2025-001 — Supplemental Analysis

# Actions vs. Stated Intent

A systematic comparison of what the City of Redmond said
and what the documentary record shows they did
Prepared by: Akataleptos Forensics — forensics@akataleptos.com
Published: April 4, 2026 — Updated from 7,573 PRA documents, city records, and public meeting archives

This analysis steel-mans each City of Redmond claim — presenting it in its strongest possible form — then examines the documentary evidence. Every counter-point is sourced to PRA-produced emails, publicly available city documents, council meeting recordings, or third-party reporting. Where the evidence is ambiguous, we note it. Where it is not, we say so.

## I. The Cost Imbalance

Before examining individual claims, the financial picture tells its own story.

### What It Cost to Maintain the Building

Item | Amount | Period | Source
--- | --- | --- | ---
Average annual building maintenance | ~$36,500/yr | Ongoing | City budget records
LED stage lighting (safety: shorting) | $22,000 | 2017 — DENIED | Capital Equipment Request
Stage lighting (re-request, reduced) | $12,000 | 2019 — DENIED | Capital Equipment Request
ADA-compliant stage (federal requirement) | $40,000 | 2021 — DENIED | Capital Equipment Request
Awning frame (safety: detaching from building) | $15,345 | 2021 — DENIED | Capital Equipment Request
Amplifier replacement (2 of 3 dead) | $5,025 | 2023 — DENIED | Capital Equipment Request
Total denied capital requests (6 years, 5 of 5 denied) | $94,370 | 2017–2023 | PRA: Capital Equipment Requests

### What It Cost to Close the Building

Item | Amount | Period | Source
--- | --- | --- | ---
Stepherson & Associates PR firm | $4,468.75/mo | Dec 2024 — ongoing (~17 mo = ~$75,969) | S&A Contract #10631, Invoice #5387
Stakeholder facilitation (same S&A contract) | Included above | Sep–Oct 2025 (6 meetings + focus groups) | S&A Contract
Legacy Celebration event (Apr 4, 2026) | $10,500–$39,000+ | Single event | Estimate: 5 bands, sound/stage, VERA Project, videographer, 13-hr street closure
Equipment auction — revenue | Unknown | Feb 25, 2026 | GovDeals listing
Approved: demolition + rebuild | $12,100,000 | No timeline, no budget allocated | Council vote, Nov 18, 2025
Renovation option (rejected) | $9,300,000 | Rejected by 6-0 vote | Meng Analysis FCA, July 2025

$4,468.75 > $3,083
The PR firm hired to announce the closure costs 45% more per month than the building's average monthly maintenance.
Over the known contract period, PR costs alone (~$75,969) nearly equal the total denied maintenance ($94,370) over six years.
$94,370
What it would have cost to
keep the building maintained
(6 years of denied capital requests)
vs
$12.1M+
What they will spend to
demolish and rebuild
(no budget allocated, no timeline)

### The Senior Center Precedent

The same Parks Director (Loreen Hamilton) and Mayor (Angela Birney) previously oversaw the closure of the Redmond Senior Center in September 2019 (demolished November 2020). Same sequence: defer maintenance, building deteriorates, close citing condition, demolish. The Senior Center was rebuilt for $61.7 million. The OFH has a vote to "rebuild" for $12.1M — but no budget, no renderings, no timeline, and no public vote.

Factor | Senior Center | Old Fire House
--- | --- | ---
Building age at closure | 28 years | 73 years
Maintenance funding | $15M authorized but scheduled late | $94,370 denied outright (5 of 5)
Public vote before closure | No | No
Rebuilt? | Yes — $61.7M, 52,000 sq ft | Vote only — no budget, no renderings, no timeline
Parks Director | Loreen Hamilton | Loreen Hamilton
Mayor | Angela Birney | Angela Birney

## II. Thirteen Contradictions

1 "No decision has been made" vs. 24+ months of internal planning
What They Said

> "There has been no such decision made about the Old Firehouse Teen Center."

— Deputy City Administrator Loreen Hamilton to RYPAC member Freya Reiger, March 4, 2025 (7 days before public announcement)

What the Record Shows

At the time Hamilton wrote this:

- PR firm active for 6+ weeks (since Jan 21, 2025)
- 110-email coordination thread ongoing
- Engagement plan in version 2
- FCA DRAFT watermark removed 5 days prior
- Press release 3 business days away
- "Alternate Facilities Plan" on agendas since January 2023

#### Evidence Chain

Email thread 652c1dabfad4ad64, Email IDs 3750/3753 — Hamilton's denial
Freya's inquiry was escalated through 4 staff members (Hagen → Chua → Houvener → Hamilton) over ~4 hours before Hamilton crafted her response
S&A Contract #10631, recurring meetings established Jan 21, 2025
OFH Team Meeting agendas: "Alternate Facilities Plan" item appears January 2023
2 "The building is too expensive to repair" vs. six years of denied maintenance
What They Said (Steel-manned)

The 2024 Facility Condition Assessment identified deterioration including roof failure, asbestos, lead paint, seismic vulnerability, and outdated systems. Renovation would cost $9.3M. Any responsible government would evaluate whether continued investment in a 73-year-old building is wise.

What the Record Shows

The City denied every capital maintenance request for six years — $94,370 total, 5 of 5 requests. This includes safety items: stage lighting that was shorting, an awning detaching from the building, and a 26-year ADA violation ($40,000 request). They then cited the resulting deterioration as grounds for closure.

Revenue target was set at $106,271 when actual collection was $6,129 (5.8%) — a target designed to fail.

#### Evidence Chain

Capital Equipment Requests 2017-2023 (all 5 denied)
City FAQ states building is "currently safe for occupancy"
Safety audit found only minor issues: fire extinguisher tags, electrical signage, roof access, plugged sink — not structural crises
FCA scored building 3.4 out of 5 (moderate), not critical
No "targeted repair" option was ever presented — only full renovation ($9.3M) or full rebuild ($12.1M)
2024 Facility Condition Assessment (city document)
July 2025 Expanded Assessment (city document)
3 "Building unsafe" vs. still designated as emergency infrastructure
What They Said

The building has "substantial long-term structural challenges" including seismic concerns and a hose tower that poses "partial collapse risk in seismic event."

What the Record Shows

The COOP emergency plan (Continuity of Operations Plan, updated April 2025 — after closure) still lists OFH as an alternate emergency work location for all four Parks divisions with an active emergency binder on site.

If unsafe, why is it still designated as the place city employees go during an emergency?

#### Evidence Chain

COOP Plan update, April 2025 — post-closure, OFH still listed
Emergency binder maintained on-site
4 "Building unsafe" vs. sprinkler maintenance bid issued two weeks before closure
What They Said

Building conditions necessitated immediate closure to protect teen safety.

What the Record Shows

IFB 10861-25 — an Invitation for Bids for sprinkler maintenance at OFH — was issued February 24-25, 2025, two weeks before the closure announcement.

You don't bid sprinkler maintenance on a building you're about to condemn.

#### Evidence Chain

IFB 10861-25, issued Feb 24-25, 2025
Closure announced March 11, 2025
5 "We went through a public process" vs. hand-picked stakeholder group
What They Said (Steel-manned)

The City convened a 23-member Stakeholder Group that met 6 times (September-October 2025), conducted focus groups, and the group's recommendation informed the Council's 6-0 vote. Stepherson & Associates served as a "neutral third-party facilitator." This represents genuine community engagement.

What the Record Shows

73-80% of named adult members were city-connected — 11-12 of 15 named adults were sitting on city-appointed boards or were active city employees. Selection was entirely by city staff — the same people who planned the closure. No public application, no public criteria, no lottery.

The "neutral facilitator" (S&A) was under contract since December 2024 to manage the closure messaging — key messages, engagement plans, utility bill inserts, embargoed materials.

Scope was pre-constrained: "Renovate or rebuild." Not "should this building be closed."

#### Evidence Chain

Stakeholder Group Final Report (city document)
Stakeholder Group Roster (city document)
Pat Vache: OneRedmond Foundation Board Treasurer — same board as Mayor Birney and NLG developers
Kate Becker: pre-identified as "Key Stakeholder" in internal Project Charter, September 2024 — a year before the group convened
Facilitator's emails suppressed from PRA: Darcy Edmunds has 209 incoming, 178 reply-chain proofs, zero sent emails produced
The recommendation matched the pre-existing city plan. Internal planning began January 2023 — 2.5 years before the "stakeholder process"
6 "This was a difficult decision" vs. 2+ years of PR-managed execution
What They Said (Steel-manned)

Closing a beloved 30-year institution is genuinely painful for public servants. The 6-0 Council vote reflects broad consensus after careful deliberation.

What the Record Shows

- "Alternate Facilities Plan" on agendas since January 2023
- OFH designated a "satellite site" internally by July 31, 2024
- PR firm engaged by December 2024 (3 months before public knew)
- Recurring strategy meetings started January 21, 2025
- Press release went through 8 revision rounds in a single day
- Embargoed materials distributed the day before the announcement
- Staff reaction to first mention of facility assessment: "Facility Assessment — dun dun dun!"

#### Evidence Chain

Erica Chua email, July 31, 2024: "Let's start to think about what OFH might look like as a Satellite Site"
March 7, 2025: 32 emails, 8 revision rounds of press release in a single day. Mayor Birney personally reviewed FAQ, web content, and staff comms
March 19, 2024 team meeting agenda: "Facility Assessment — dun dun dun!"
S&A engagement plan finalized February 28, 2025 — 12 days before disclosure
7 "Community engagement" vs. surveillance and retaliation against advocates
What They Said

The city welcomed community feedback and conducted extensive outreach including focus groups and stakeholder meetings.

What the Record Shows

When a community advocate visited OFH on March 20, 2025, staff member Tory Watson filed a 5-point surveillance report that was escalated through 5 levels to the Mayor in 13.5 hours. The next day, a Code of Conduct reminder was distributed with an escalation framework: Verbal Warning → Suspension → Permanent Expulsion.

Teens making "save the teen center" signs were reported. Staff eavesdropped on teen conversations ("well we have a lawyer now"). A community member's contact info was physically confiscated from the front desk.

#### Evidence Chain

Watson surveillance report, March 20, 2025 (5 behavioral observations)
Code of Conduct escalation framework distributed March 21, 2025
Teens' sign-making and private conversations reported to supervisors
Contact information physically confiscated from public area
8 "Public transparency" vs. massive PRA suppression
What They Said

The city has been transparent about the process and responsive to public records requests.

What the Record Shows

Computational analysis of 7,573 PRA documents reveals:

- 911+ emails mathematically proven withheld (reply exists → original existed)
- 4,109 emails (54.3%) reference attachments — zero attachments produced
- 5,047 exact duplicates inflating production (79.7% padding)
- 5-month email blackout during critical decision period
- Mayor's outgoing emails: 8 unique vs. 1,838 mentions of her name
- Steve Fields (political opponent): 325 received, 114 proven outgoing, zero produced
- PR firm: 178 reply-chain proofs per consultant, zero outgoing produced
- 96% of raw .msg files corrupted in a pattern consistent with programmatic manipulation
- No privilege log provided

#### Evidence Chain

Full computational forensic analysis of all 4 PRA installments (7,573 documents)
Reply-chain mathematical proof: if Reply ID exists, original email existed and was withheld
RCW 42.56 requires production of all responsive, non-exempt public records within 5 business days or a reasonable estimate
Interactive evidence database — every email, thread, and connection visualized
9 "Honoring the legacy" vs. selling the building's contents at surplus auction
What They Said

The city is "committed to preserving meaningful artifacts" and organized a Legacy Celebration to honor the building's 30+ year history.

What the Record Shows

Equipment was listed on GovDeals (public surplus auction) starting February 25, 2026. No documented right of first refusal was offered to teens or families who used — and often donated — the equipment.

Former Mayor John Marchione and Mayor Ives testified that "priceless artifacts such as the city's first vault and local newspapers" remain inside the building. Community volunteers who built the building in 1952 stuffed local newspapers in the cinder block walls.

#### Evidence Chain

GovDeals listing opened Feb 25, 2026
Former Mayor Ives testimony, March 17, 2026
City FAQ: "no decisions have been made about these items" — but the auction launched anyway
No community notification of the auction beyond the GovDeals listing

### The Memorial Keyboard

Among the equipment auctioned: a keyboard valued at approximately $10,000, donated by the parents of a young person who attended OFH and who has since passed away. The instrument was a memorial donation — given in their child's memory to the place where that child found community and music.

The City sold it at public surplus auction. No documented attempt was made to contact the family, offer them the instrument back, or acknowledge the memorial nature of the donation.

We are actively working to identify the auction listing, buyer, and final sale price. If you have information about this item, please contact forensics@akataleptos.com.

10 "Independent assessment" vs. FCA weaponized as justification tool
What They Said

The Facility Condition Assessment was conducted by an independent firm (Meng Analysis) and presented objectively to Council.

What the Record Shows

The FCA was held in DRAFT for 10 months, presented to Council while still a draft, then finalized only when needed for the public narrative. The DRAFT watermark was removed February 27, 2025 — 11 days before the announcement.

> "We had left the summary report in draft form at the time of the presentation to council in case you guys had any edits, but I don't think you had any edits to implement. I just removed the DRAFT watermark." — Sarah Partap, Meng Analysis

Staff were explicitly forbidden from sharing assessment details. Staff Talking Points state staff CANNOT share "detailed information about the facility assessment findings."

#### Evidence Chain

Sarah Partap email re: DRAFT watermark removal
Staff Talking Points: "cannot share detailed information about the facility assessment findings"
2024 FCA (city document)
11 "Will rebuild on same site" vs. upzoned to maximum development density
What They Said

Council voted 6-0 to demolish and rebuild a new teen center on the same site.

What the Record Shows

New zoning adopted June 28, 2025 designates the OFH site as a Transit-Oriented Development Focus Area: 144 feet height / FAR 8.0, enabling 300-400 luxury residential units. The Downtown Redmond Link light rail station opened May 10, 2025. Both events occurred after the closure.

The "rebuild" vote has no budget, no renderings, no timeline. Former Mayor Ives: "The public has not seen renderings for the new 13 Million dollar building, nor heard about funding which appropriately should be part of council's budgetary decisions."

Nothing legally binding prevents a future decision to sell the cleared lot instead of rebuilding.

#### Evidence Chain

City of Redmond zoning update, June 28, 2025: TOD Focus Area, 144ft/FAR 8.0
Former Mayor Ives testimony, March 17, 2026
0.64-acre lot assessed at $1,624,400 (2013), estimated ~$5,000,000+ at current market
Adjacent developer (NLG) holds 22 contiguous acres under active redevelopment
12 "No developer connection" vs. Mayor sits on board with adjacent developer
What They Said

The closure decision was based solely on building conditions and responsible stewardship of public resources.

What the Record Shows

Mayor Birney sits on the OneRedmond board alongside:

- Tim Overland — NLG CEO, Board Secretary
- Amy Webber — NLG Agent
- Mary Morrow — NLG Managing Member, Past President

NLG is headquartered at 16508 NE 79th — literally next door to OFH at 16510 NE 79th. NLG donated $12,200+ to the Mayor's campaign — the single largest donor bloc. NLG controls 22 contiguous acres under active redevelopment adjacent to the OFH lot.

#### Evidence Chain

OneRedmond board roster: Mayor Birney, Tim Overland (NLG CEO), Amy Webber (NLG), Mary Morrow (NLG)
WA PDC filings: NLG donor bloc contributions to Birney campaign totaling $12,200+
King County property records: NLG at 16508, OFH at 16510 NE 79th St
NLG's 22-acre contiguous assemblage under active redevelopment
13 "Being careful with our language" — said the quiet part out loud
What They Said

> "I know we are being careful with our language."

— Brittany Pratt, discussing utility bill insert content

What This Means

This was not a public-facing statement. It was an internal acknowledgment that the entire communications operation was message control, not community engagement. Staff were managing language, not seeking input.

Combined with the suppression of staff communications ("far too direct and will create a lot o[f]..." — Hamilton censoring a planned email to teens), the record shows a coordinated information management operation running alongside the "public process."

#### Evidence Chain

Brittany Pratt email re: utility bill insert language
Hamilton censoring planned teen email as "far too direct"
Staff Talking Points restricting what information could be shared

## III. City of Redmond Official Sources

The following documents and recordings are all publicly available from the City of Redmond. We link them here so readers can verify every claim in this analysis directly.

### Council Meeting Recordings

Video — Facebook
Council Study Session: OFH Facility Discussion
April 22, 2025 — 2024 FCA findings presented
Video — Facebook
Council Study Session: July 2025 Assessment
July 22, 2025 — New expanded FCA presented
Video — Granicus
Council Study Session: Teen Services Engagement
September 9, 2025
Video — Facebook
Council Study Session: Stakeholder Recommendation
November 12, 2025 — Stakeholder group final report presented
Video — Granicus (Full Meeting)
Business Meeting: Final Vote (6-0)
November 18, 2025 — 2 hr 21 min — Demolish + rebuild approved
Full Archive
Granicus: All Council Meeting Archives
Complete archive of all recorded council meetings
Meeting Records
Legistar: Full Meeting Calendar
Agendas, minutes, and supporting documents for all meetings

### Official City Documents

Facility Assessment
2024 Facility Condition Assessment
March 2024 — Initial FCA by Meng Analysis
Facility Assessment
July 2025 Expanded Assessment
July 15, 2025 — Expanded structural assessment
Council Presentation
July 22 Assessment Presentation
July 22, 2025 — Slides shown to Council
Stakeholder Report
Stakeholder Group Final Report
November 2025 — Group recommendation
Stakeholder Data
Stakeholder Meeting 3 Summary
Contains cost estimates ($9.3M/$12.1M)
Stakeholder Data
Stakeholder Group Roster
Full list of members
Engagement Report
Teen Services Engagement Report
Community feedback and survey results
Capital Plan
Capital Facilities Plan 2025-2030
Community centers listed as planned facilities
Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Official minutes of the 6-0 demolish/rebuild vote
Project Page
City of Redmond: Teen Center Project
Official project page
FAQ
City FAQ: Future of the OFH
Includes the statement that the building is "currently safe for occupancy"
News Release
City Announcement: Transitioning Teen Programs
March 2025 — Official closure announcement

### News Coverage

NPR Affiliate
KUOW: Battle for the Teen Center
July 2025
NPR Affiliate
KUOW: One Last Concert Before It All Comes Down
April 2026
TV News
KIRO 7: Teens Fighting to Keep Teen Center
March 2025
TV News
KOMO: Redmond Seeks to Move Resources from OFH
April 2025
Regional Magazine
425 Magazine: OFH Teen Center Rebuild
November 2025 — Rebuild vote coverage
Music History
KEXP: Oral History of OFH (Parts 1 & 2)
September 2017 — Comprehensive oral history
Print
Yakima Herald/Seattle Times: OFH Demolished
Contains Steve Fields quotes and cost estimates
Local
Redmond Moments: Update on OFH
Local community reporting
Historical Society
Redmond Historical Society: Where Redmond Found Its Sound
Historical significance documentation
Community
Change.org Petition (~4,000 signatures)
Community opposition petition

### Steve Fields — The Lone Dissenter

Councilmember Steve Fields was the only council member who advocated for renovation over demolition. Per the Yakima Herald, he "tried to start a motion to renovate the building, but he was overruled." He called it "one of the saddest, most disappointing things that happened during my time on City Council."

The final vote was 6-0 — not 7-0 — consistent with one member being absent for the vote. Fields' 8-year council term ended in December 2025. His PRA record: 325 emails addressed to him, 0 sent emails produced, 114 reply-chain proofs of suppressed outgoing emails.

## IV. What the City Has Not Disclosed

Missing Item | Why It Matters | Status
--- | --- | ---
911+ withheld emails | Contains decision-making communications | Proven withheld via reply-chain analysis
All email attachments (4,109 referenced) | May contain reports, contracts, assessments | Zero produced
Mayor's outgoing emails | Decision-maker's own communications | 8 unique out of 1,838 mentions
Steve Fields' outgoing emails | Only dissenting councilmember's record | 0 produced, 114 proven to exist
PR firm outgoing emails | Closure messaging strategy | 0 produced, 178+ proven to exist
SEPA documentation | Required before demolition of historic structure | No filing found
Legacy Celebration budget | Public funds spent on event PR | Not disclosed
Auction revenue and buyer details | Disposition of public property | GovDeals platform blocks access to closed auctions
Geotechnical report | Required for accurate rebuild cost estimate | Not conducted
Privilege log | Required when withholding records under exemption | Not provided
5-month email blackout (Sep 2024–Jan 2025) | Covers critical pre-announcement decision period | Zero production for this period