March 6, 2020
Contact
Preeti Shridhar, Deputy Public Affairs Administrator, 425-430-6569
RENTON, WA – City of Renton Mayor Armondo Pavone has directed city staff to take several steps designed to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Friday, the mayor issued a Proclamation of Local Emergency in order to support measures that may be needed in order to protect public health, safety and welfare within the city.
Facilities
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The city has closed the Renton Community Center and the Renton History Museum for the remainder of March. All events scheduled at these locations have been canceled.
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Drop-in and rentals are closed at the Highlands Neighborhood Center. City staff are working on a revised schedule for the STREAM Team afterschool program for kids aged five to 14, which is also housed there.
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North Highlands Neighborhood Center is closed. The Sunrise Co-Op Preschool decided to cancel classes/program from March 9-March 20.
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Renton Senior Activity Center is closed except for the essential lunch program which will continue, but in the form of sack lunches. The lunches will be available for drive through pick-up only Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. City staff will hand out the lunches.
Events and Meetings
Following guidelines from Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC) to limit meetings to 10 or fewer attendees, the city has canceled all public meetings and events for the rest of March. This includes the following:
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SubUrban Farm & Garden Expo on March 7
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Renton City Council Meeting on March 9, previously canceled due to councilmember availability
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The Mother & Son Fortnight dance on March 13
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Renton City Concert Band performance on March 22
The city has asked civic organizations, individuals and businesses who have upcoming events in city facilities to follow our lead (and PHSKC’s recommendation regarding public gatherings) and reschedule their events.
A decision on the March 16 city council meeting will be made next week.
For those individuals or businesses that need to conduct business with the city, City Hall remains open, but if at all possible, the city asks that you conduct work online or via telephone. Permits, business licenses (new or renew) and fee payments can all be conducted via our website. City staff are disinfecting common spaces, counters and door handles every two hours during business hours.
The containment of coronavirus is an ever-evolving situation with all events happening in real time. Because of this, your best source for the most up-to-date information is Public Health - Seattle & King County and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We’ve established a coronavirus page on our website that mirrors a lot of their information and also has status updates on city facilities and events.
News Releases
About the City of Renton
The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 104,700 (2019), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace and favorable business climate have attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are providing employees and their families an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, the Seattle Seahawks, and the eternal resting place of Jimi Hendrix. More information can be found on our website, news releases, or Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.