Renton Mayor Publishes Weekly Newsletter

Press release from the City of Renton:

December 17, 2020

My weekly newsletter covers all that is happening in Renton. If you have an idea, would like to share news, or want to comment, I’d like to hear from you.

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Issue: 74 / Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020

Mayor Armondo Pavone (with scissors) was joined by Community Service Administrator Kelly Beymer, Councilmember Valerie O’Halloran, Capital Projects Manager Alan Wyatt, Parks Planning and Natural Resources Director Leslie Betlach, and Councilmember Kim-Khánh Văn to "unofficially open" Sunset Neighborhood Park. It's anticipated the park will open in January 2021.

First of its kind in Washington climbing structure at Sunset Park.

Sunset Neighborhood Park Ribbon Cutting

We held a ceremonial ribbon cutting (since the park is not yet open to the public) for Phase II of Sunset Neighborhood Park this week.

Phase II adds exciting age-specific exercise areas for 2 to 5-year-olds and 5 to 12-year-olds, plus a fitness area for teens and adults. If you've driven by the park, you've probably noticed a climbing structure linked with dual helix towers, a first in Washington state. There are picnic areas, covered gazebos, a misting feature, and a large open lawn area. Combined with Phase I, this park will be a tremendous gathering place for Sunset neighborhood residents.

Remaining projects for the park should be completed by the end of December and we anticipate an opening in January.

Renton police officers and staff teamed up for their annual "Shop with a Cop" last Friday evening at Highlands Community Church.

Stephanie Cour’s entry, “Whoville,” won first place in the Patrol Vehicle Holiday Decorating Competition. Voting was by the families honored.

Shop with a Cop

One of the most fun experiences of the year is Renton Police Department's annual "Shop with a Cop." Recent events prevented personal shopping trips, so in true police spirit, they improvised and produced an excellent evening for families in our community.

In all, 14 families received a combination of gifts and food gift cards. As the families arrived at Highlands Community Church, they drove through a parking lot lined with police vehicles decorated to celebrate the season before receiving their gifts. The vehicles were decorated with everything holiday-related from "Whoville" to "Elf," and several played music. Each family voted for their favorite patrol car. At the end of the evening, “The Grinch” by Stephanie Cour was judged to be the winner, followed by "Winter Wonderland" by Sgt. R. Ryan and third place to “Buddy the Elf” by Det. C. Toliver.

I’d like to especially thank Stephanie Hynes, who coordinated the event for the police department. Despite the challenges presented, she worked with sponsors to create a memorable evening for these deserving families. A special mention also to the men and women of the department. They gave up their free time and showed true holiday spirit with their decorations and interactions with the families.

City Council passes emergency ordinance

On Monday night, the City Council adopted an Emergency Interim Ordinance to set a timeline on the homeless shelter currently at the Red Lion in Renton. They established a transition period that allows the city to revise and improve the ordinance and provides King County additional time to relocate the shelter. By adopting the ordinance, the City Council expressed its desire to work with the county and stakeholders to create a final ordinance that will ensure the needs of the homeless are being met while balancing other important needs of the city. The ordinance provides a clear, predictable path for service providers doing this critical work in our community. The real work of addressing the compelling needs of the homeless while balancing them with city resources during a pandemic is just beginning. It took almost seven months to get to this point, but with the council’s action and direction, we now have a framework for a plan to move forward.

I want to assure everyone in our city and the greater community that our intent is not to abandon the homeless community from the Red Lion—far from it. Renton accepts and embraces our responsibility for taking care of people in need. REACH, Catholic Community Services and Renton Housing Authority, are some of our established partnerships that we will continue to work with to help us address these challenges. We understand that the Red Lion is inadequate. Residents need more resources, such as a rehabilitation facility with medical staff. We believe we now have the opportunity to work together to find a regional solution. This temporary ordinance lays the groundwork for that assistance.

This is a sensitive and complex situation that will be not solved in a week or with interim legislation. The city is committed to a collaborative process with those closest to the challenges within our community that creates a legal, safe and sustainable ordinance that supports those who need it most.

King County donates $25,000; will go to human services

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn stopped by City Hall on Tuesday with a $25,000 donation from the council. The money will go to our Human Services division, supporting several projects around the city.

Enter to win a Renton “Winter Staycation”

Holiday shoppers in Renton can enter to win a Winter Staycation that includes a one-night stay for two at a Renton hotel, a $300 dining credit and a $200 shopping credit. It’s all part of our Make Yourself at Home for the Holidays promotion.

Simply patronize a store or restaurant in Renton that’s new to you. Post photos on your Facebook or Instagram account and tag them with #RentonHolidays. Each post gets you one entry, so the more you post, the more chances to win. The winner will build their own dream staycation.

Shopping downtown? Use this downtown parking map to find where you can park for free for up to two hours. Also look for our new 15 minute zone for picks ups.

Supporting Renton small businesses through Chip-In

We are excited to work with Renton Chamber of Commerce, One Eastside, and Chip-In to raise funds for Renton small businesses through tax-deductible contributions. Think of it like GoFundMe, but Chip-In does not take a cut. Each dollar donated will support local Renton businesses meet payroll, keep their lights on and doors open.

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