Key Priorities
Quality of Life
Capital Budget Request of $2 million for Pavilion Building Public Square: For design and construction work to establish a public square and festival street that will surround the Pavilion Building, the future site of Logan Place Market—an events/food/retail vendor/ small business incubator facility in downtown Renton with emphasis on assisting minority- and women-owned businesses and historically disadvantaged business enterprises. This request complements a $1.5 million federal earmark Renton is seeking to renovate the interior of the Pavilion Building.
Repurposing of Prior-Year $206,000 allocation for assisting those in need: Repurpose existing allocation (2020 Capital Budget) for use toward demolition of the 300 Rainier Avenue building in the southwest corner of the Renton Airport property. A new modular facility is planned for year-round behavioral and mental health services, restroom and shower facilities, emergency hot-weather and cold-weather relief space and shelter, and feeding programs. (Funds were originally allocated for a feeding program and cold weather shelter at a St. Vincent de Paul site no longer under consideration.)
Support request being made by the Doug Baldwin Foundation for Family First Community Center: Foundation asking legislators for capital funding to close a $1.75 million construction funding gap for the center. Renton supports this request.
Support possible 988 Crisis Response System Capital Request: An area lawmaker may be seeking capital funds for a round-the-clock crisis center to be located in South King County. Renton supports such a request.
Public Safety
Fix for 2021 Blake legislation (ESB 5476): that ends up allowing a voluntary compliance approach toward getting users of illegal drugs the help and treatment they need. In partnership with other South King County and Snohomish County cities, as well as jurisdictions throughout the state, Renton supports a more accountable solution that starts with an arrest and a charge allowing officers to send offenders into therapeutic courts. Such courts, which will need more robust funding from the state, can prescribe treatment and/or services and expunge offenders’ records if they successfully complete their treatment program.
Funding for Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) and other public safety/criminal justice investments: Renton will support efforts to add Operating Budget funding and slots for the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) in Burien, establish regional training academies within other parts of the state (through a Governor Inslee initiative) and invest in public safety and criminal justice efforts, including Body Camera funding and police-hiring funding/incentives.
988 crisis response system legislation and funding: Renton will support legislation and funding requests to continue the work of building out and further defining the new 988 crisis response system.
Transportation Infrastructure
$2 million request for a solution at Interstate 405/State Route 167 junction for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Renton will partner with area legislators to include $2 million in the 2023-2025 Transportation Budget to address a major travel-time delay that will result from having the only off-line station between Bellevue and Burien when Bus Rapid Transit service begins in 2026. There is a major regional need to mitigate the delay that will occur when BRT buses must exit the Express Toll Lanes at 405/167 to access the South Renton Transit Center on Rainier Avenue/Grady Way. The funding will enable Renton, Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Sound Transit and other parties to use traffic data, modeling, public outreach, and a Type, Size and Location study to craft a mutually agreeable solution for saving BRT buses valuable time on/off this congested interchange.
Ensuring earliest possible construction of 2022 Move Ahead Washington transportation and transit projects in and near Renton: The landmark Move Ahead Washington package enacted by the 2022 Legislature will invest $16.9 billion over 16 years in our state’s transportation system. However, the 2023 Legislature has the work of formally appropriating and sequencing funds for active transportation and transit projects and programs. Renton will work to ensure that key projects within the Move Ahead package—such as Eastrail corridor investments that extend the multi-use trail to the South Coulon Park/Southport entrance in Renton—receive appropriations enabling them to start as soon as possible.
Racial Justice & Equity—seeking outside funding & tools
Continue to seek outside funding and tools to assist equity, housing and human services: Renton will continue to support legislative initiatives and funding proposals that assist our Equity, Housing, and Human Services (EHHS) Department in advancing racial justice and equity and deploying additional resources for affordable housing and human needs. In addition, Renton is ready to support legislative initiatives that enable the establishment of “Housing Benefit Districts,” enhance funding through the Housing Trust Fund, and amend state statutes to make surplus property available to those financing affordable homeownership projects.
Issues to Support/Oppose or Track/Monitor
Budget and Fiscal
Protect “state-shared” and other revenue streams for local governments.
Protect against initiatives that would undermine local B&O tax revenues and authority, including strong concerns over the redefining of B&O tax treatment of royalties.
Support the continuation of a $20 million funding allocation in the 2021–2023 Operating Budget that helps offset costs of new police reform and public safety bills enacted by the Legislature, which are still a major factor for local governments.
Support efforts to revise a 1 percent property tax cap that is arbitrary and unable to keep pace with inflationary cost increases. Renton supports legislation to institute a cap that can be based on inflationary indexes and population growth.
Criminal Justice/Public Safety/Fire/Courts/Behavioral Health
Support legislation to refine statutes on police vehicle pursuits.
Support enhanced funding for community-based behavioral health facilities.
Support legislation to take the next steps to crack down on catalytic converter thefts.
Support legislation brought forth by Municipal Court Administrators to continue authority (otherwise due to expire January 1, 2023) to retain minor over-payments of up to $10 made in connection with any litigation, traffic matters, and criminal and non-criminal matters.
Oppose efforts to place unnecessary limitations or remove current authority to utilize traffic safety cameras.
Support increased funding for courts, especially to offset a sharp spike in interpreter costs.
Support civil-remedy statutory protections for those victimized by malicious “doxing.”
Support a statewide request for funding to enable services for crime victims (including sexual assault and domestic violence), in light of decreasing and unstable federal funding through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
Economic Development/Infrastructure/Affordable Housing/Homelessness
Support measures, tools, and funding to address affordable housing and housing stability, including permanent shelter space and other fund sources for vulnerable residents and those experiencing homelessness.
Support initiatives to restore previously-diverted funds to the Public Works Assistance Account.
Support efforts to add new investments toward fish barrier and culvert removal projects.
Support continued COVID-relief grants and assistance for hard-hit small businesses.
Environmental Sustainability
Support initiatives to enhance recycling and safe packaging practices and bolster disposal of manufactured goods through the Product Stewardship Program.
Support efforts to advance the work of K4C (King County-Cities Climate Collaboration), of which Renton is a member.
Monitor legislation to incentivize the use of zero-emission equipment for maintenance needs such as mowing, weeding, etc. Renton prefers incentive-based solutions rather than hard mandates on future purchasing.
Land Use/GMA
Retain local discretion to achieve increased density in local communities and add to “middle housing” stock with a variety of housing types. Funding incentives—such as the Real Estate Excise Tax—are key to making progress, rather than prescriptive mandates that unnecessarily tie the hands of local officials.
Retain local authority for bringing more Accessory Dwelling Units online in cities throughout Washington State, utilizing incentive mandates rather than prescriptive mandates.
Support statutory changes to increase the number of new condominiums inside cities and incentivize the reuse of existing multi-story buildings for condo ownership.
Support changes to the state’s Energy Code to decrease costs for projects such as conversions.
Retain local authority over permitting small-cell development.
Support legislation that would make statutory changes to better enable redevelopment of WSDOT-owned park-and-ride facilities.
Local Government in General
Support Public Records Act statutory changes to decrease the severe burden being put on cities and to enhance cost recovery—especially with broad and time-consuming requests.
Support statutory changes that would limit the number of years e-mail records must be stored and retrieved.
Parks and Recreation, Arts & Culture
Support investments in the Capital Budget for outdoor recreation programs such as the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP), Youth Athletic Facilities (YAF), Aquatic Lands Enhancement Act (ALEA), Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), etc.
Support investment in capital budget programs that fund arts and culture and historic facilities, including Building for the Arts and Heritage grants.
Support using a one-time, $42 million allocation to the Recreation & Conservation Office (from a prior Stadium & Exhibition Center Account) for youth facilities, local parks maintenance needs, and advances in equitable access to outdoor spaces.
Support a Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) initiative to include $5 million in the 2023-2025 Operating Budget to help local parks agencies address maintenance backlogs.
Support an expected State Senate bill that would fund pilot “Parks Rx” programs to prescribe healthier lifestyles through active use of local parks, trails, and community centers.
Support continued COVID-relief grants and assistance for hard-hit arts-and-culture sector businesses, performing venues, etc.
Personnel, Pensions, Human Resources in General
Proceed with caution on initiatives that would increase employer/employee pension rates during this period when local governments are still trying to recover from the budget impacts of COVID-19.
Transportation
Support legislative and funding requests that would enhance local roadway maintenance and add funding for agencies such as the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).
Water-Wastewater-Stormwater-Utilities in General
Along with a broad array of local governments and local government associations, support a legislative review or study of the Department of Ecology “Puget Sound General Nutrient Permit” for concerns over cost impacts on utility rates, growth and density expectations, and more that took effect January 1, 2022.