Renton Mayor's Weekly Newsletter

Press release from the City of Renton:

September 5, 2020

It's easy to forget the 2020 Census is underway. If you've responded, thank you! If you have not, why wait? Click the image to start the process. The deadline is September 30. Make sure Renton Counts!

Mayor's Newsletter

In my weekly newsletter I cover all that is happening in Renton, including the most current COVID-19 updates and information from state and federal officials and agencies.

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COVID-19 Resources

The city has compiled resources from several city, county, state and federal entities into a comprehensive COVID-19 page.

• City COVID-19 information

Issue: 60 / Friday, September 4, 2020

Please don’t forget to patronize our small businesses as we celebrate Labor Day.

This Labor Day is so different

Monday is Labor Day, the traditional end of summer and start of fall.

This year's holiday has a deeper meaning because of the past six or so months. We've developed a much greater respect and appreciation for our healthcare workers and first responders during this time. You can add grocery store workers, farmers, truckers, barbers and salon owners, restaurant cooks and servers, and business owners to this group, to name just a few. They are our friends and neighbors performing what we used to think were routine, everyday jobs. This pandemic has forever changed our view of them.

We have all seen first-hand the challenges businesses are facing during this pandemic. The city has been working to support these businesses by loosening regulations, providing tax deferrals, waiving fees, and prioritizing federal recovery funds distribution.

I'm also proud of how city employees have adjusted to a new way of doing business while keeping their commitment to providing excellent customer service to our residents.

However you choose to spend this Monday, please join me in thanking all our workers and small business owners. Hopefully, your day will include patronizing one or more of these vendors. I think that’s an appropriate way to celebrate this very different Labor Day.

City’s financial health has improved slightly

Administrative Services Administrator Jan Hawn presented the city council with a financial update on Monday. The update is part of our work on cost containment for 2020 due to revenue losses related to COVID-19 and in developing city budgets for 2021 and 2022.

I am happy to report that since Jan’s last presentation in May, the city’s financial health has improved slightly. This is the result of better than expected revenue from property taxes and sales taxes. However, we are bringing in lower than expected revenues from Business & Occupation taxes. Fees associated with permits and recreation activities have also decreased due to COVID-19-enforced closures.

We are now projecting a $16.9 million revenue shortfall for 2020, down from $21.3 million in May. Measures we initiated early in the pandemic, including a hiring freeze, elimination of discretionary spending, shared work, and deferring or eliminating capital projects and equipment purchases, have been very effective. A one-time use of reserves has also helped.

As we look to our budgets for 2021 and 2022, we are projecting revenues to grow at a rate that is slower than expenses. Right now, we're looking at less than 1 percent growth for 2021. The primary reason stems from our limited ability to increase property taxes. These taxes are capped by state law at the rate of inflation or 1 percent, whichever is less.

I will present my proposed budgets for the next two years in an address to the council during their Committee of the Whole meeting on October 5. Individual departments will follow with their presentations over the next three weeks. Public hearings on the budget will be held during council meetings on October 5 and November 2. The public is also invited to give input during the public comment period during any council meetings or by emailing finance@rentonwa.gov.

Plans unveiled for former city hall property

The site of the former city hall is a prime area for development. It is located next to the King County Renton Library, the Cedar River and trail, and Liberty Park. It is perfect as a "front door" to downtown.

On Monday, the city council was briefed on the plans by Oscar Del Moro of Cosmos Development.

Cosmos’ proposal will bring 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (including restaurant spaces), 618 housing units, and 640 parking stalls. It envisions a slight reshaping of the Cedar River abutting a pedestrian-focused Riverfront Plaza featuring landscaping and artwork. There is also a planned pedestrian walkway across the river to Liberty Park.

The proposed development includes constructing two mixed-use buildings containing studio, one- and two-bedroom units in Phase 1. The buildings are not connected but have publicly-accessible pedestrian alleyways and three levels of parking. All pathways through the development would lead to the riverfront plaza. The second phase of construction will add a third building.

Parking will remain for the library.

We are still in the preliminary stages of working with Cosmos. Still, based on their presentation, they have displayed a great sense of the site's potential and our vision of how best to turn it into an area of the city that we can proud of for years to come.

Mayors Census Challenge

I have joined with my fellow South King County mayors in a 2020 Census Challenge.

Our friendly wager will bring more attention to the importance of the census and how it affects vital services in our cities and South King County.

The mayor of the city with the largest increase in census response during September will be the winner. In addition to Renton, the other cities are Auburn, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, SeaTac, and Tukwila.

I do not like to lose, but even more important is a complete count of residents. Please complete your 2020 Census Survey online or via the census takers who are currently working in Renton. The deadline for responding is September 30.

If you need help completing your form, the U.S. Census Bureau has scheduled two visits to Renton by the bureau’s Mobile Questionnaire Assistance Center. You will find them at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (575 Rainier Ave N, Renton, WA 98057) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, September 7, and Saturday, September 12.

Free COVID-19 Testing Site in Renton

Starting Saturday, appointments can be made at the new free COVID-19 testing site in Renton at 805 SW 10th Ave. Appointments begin on Tuesday, September 8. The site will open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

I am very grateful to King County for working with us to bring a free COVID-19 testing site to Renton. The site is critical for our residents and those in South King County. They need access to early-onset testing to protect them and their families.

If you need help making an appointment, call the King County COVID-19 Call Center (open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.), at 206-477-3977.

Public Health Seattle & King County has location information for their sites on their website.

Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program

The Pandemic EBT Emergency School Meals Program provides assistance to eligible families with children in remote learning.

Washington state families with K-12 students who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive help.

The deadline to apply is Friday, September 11 at 5 p.m.

New Information or items with deadlines

Statewide requirement to wear face coverings

Public Health - Seattle King County COVID-19 Dashboard

Volunteer Opportunities

The city has a variety of upcoming volunteer opportunities. Each session is limited to five volunteers to maintain proper social distancing. Face covering are required and available from city staff at the events.

Register for volunteer activities

• Storm Drain Marking, Sept. 9-11, multiple times
• Philip Arnold Park Clean Up (ages 10 and up), Sept. 24, 9-11:30 a.m.
• 2020 Wine Walk (September), Sept. 25, 4:30-10 p.m.
• Small Business Saturday & Annual Downtown Tree Lighting, Nov. 28, multiple times

Deadline Items

• City will waive late fees and penalties and will not shut off water service, in accordance with the governor's Proclamation 20-23.7, until the termination of the COVID-19 State of Emergency or after October 15, 2020, whichever comes first (July 31, 2020)
• PSE Foundation launches new competitive grants to aid in response and recovery of COVID-19 pandemic (deadline is October 1)

COVID-19 Resources

• COVID-19 information and resources from city, county, state, federal and private entities.

This press release was produced by the City of Renton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.