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 January 24, 2024
READ ONLINE AND TRANSLATE
Got a minute? Participate in the Comprehensive Plan update
The city is updating its Comprehensive Plan, which will set the goals and policies for its growth and development over the next ten years. This plan guides decision-making on various important topics - housing, land use, parks, economic development, and transportation.
To ensure Renton remains an excellent place to live, work, and visit, the Comprehensive Plan will incorporate policy directions to address critical priorities:
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Plan for and accommodate housing for residents and households of all income levels
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Encourage various housing options, such as ADUs and middle housing, to increase housing availability and affordability
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Identify strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency to impacts related to climate change
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Meet Renton’s equity objectives and ensure that all residents have equitable access to opportunity
The existing plan was adopted in 2015, and an updated Comprehensive Plan must be adopted by Renton in 2024. Input from the community regarding priorities, values, and the future vision of Renton is crucial in shaping the plan's policies and guiding the city's growth.
There are several ways to get involved:
Visit the project website to review materials, drafts, and other announcements. For questions about Renton’s Comprehensive Plan update, please visit the project website or email PlanUpdate@rentonwa.gov.
Renton receives tenth and eleventh Governor’s Smart Communities Awards
During Monday night's council meeting, Washington State Director of Commerce, Michael Fong presented Renton with two Governor's Smart Communities Awards. The awards recognize the city's leading achievements in community development project. Staff representatives from Renton's Community and Economic Development Department accepted the awards on behalf of the city and partners.
The awards, announced in November 2023, were officially presented during a celebration in the council chambers.
The Family First Community Center received the Judges' Merit Award. This award recognizes excellence across multiple categories. The Family First Community Center is a collaborative effort between the city, former Seahawk Doug Baldwin's Family First Community Center Foundation, Renton School District, community-based health provider HealthPoint, and regional and local legislators.
The center, located in the Cascade/Benson Hill community, provides a range of services, including education, recreation, and health services, in a one-story 21,000-square-foot facility. It is designed to be compatible with the surrounding residential area and is also pursuing LEED Silver certification.
With 58% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch at Cascade Elementary School, FFCC empowers individuals and families to lead healthy, prosperous, and fulfilling lives through access to education, recreation, and health services. The FFCC provides wrap-around services, including:
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Fitness center
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Studio spaces
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Gymnasium
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Makerspace for STEM curriculum
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Community gathering spaces
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HealthPoint medical, dental, and behavioral health services
The second project, the South Lake Washington Transformation, was awarded the Legacy Award. The Smart Planning Legacy Award recognizes long-term community visioning, planning, policies, and programs or actions that took 25 years or more to accomplish.
The major transformation of the South Lake Washington area is a successful display of what can be accomplished with innovative partnerships, a clear vison of land use planning and focused plans for redevelopment. In 2002, Boeing planned to consolidate operations in Renton, releasing over 50 acres of land. The city took this opportunity and partnered with Boeing to review and evaluate redevelopment opportunities.
This partnership created and adopted a new urban zoning designation and amendments to the city’s 1995 Comprehensive Plan and Comprehensive Plan Map. It also resulted in developing and adopting the Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider new developments and potential environmental impacts through a streamlined and expedited permit review process.
This segment of South Lake Washington has transformed from an airplane manufacturing site into a mixed-use lifestyle retail center.
In the past year, several projects were approved in the South Lake Washington area to continue the city’s long-term vision for the area. These projects include a new hotel and multi-tenant building adjacent to the existing TopGolf campus. Less than a quarter mile away, an upcoming project featuring mixed-use buildings will include over 1,100 multi-family housing units and approximately 50,000 sq. ft. of new commercial space and host the first standalone grocery store in the area.
The Governor’s Smart Communities Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of local communities and their partners throughout the state to create vibrant and livable communities. These efforts align with the goals of the state's Growth Management Act and other community development objectives.
These awards mark the tenth and eleventh Smart Communities Awards Renton has received from the Washington State Department of Commerce over the past twelve years.
Renton Responds: Achieving enhanced responsiveness and improved customer satisfaction
Over the past year, the Executive Services Department collaborated with other departments to proactively strategize how Renton can best fulfill its dedication to customer service outlined in the business plan. Renton Responds has been vital for residents and the city in addressing customer needs. In line with Renton's commitment to improving customer service, the Organizational Development and Performance Division has helped make significant strides throughout 2023. Here are some notable achievements:
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Enhanced Responsiveness: A major focus was promptly addressing and resolving requests involving other agencies' responsibilities, like PSE or KC Metro. The goal was to ensure that all reported issues were promptly addressed or connected to the appropriate parties for efficient resolution. These efforts resulted in an average time to close decrease of nearly one-third in the last year*.
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Increased Customer Satisfaction:We prioritized following up with different divisions and departments to ensure that concerns were addressed and resolved promptly.
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Overall Request Volume: We saw substantial increase of nearly 7% in the total requests received. This reflects the growing trust and reliance on Renton Responds as a platform for meeting community needs.
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Improved Closure Rate: We also saw approximate increase of 1/10 in closure rates for issues. This success emphasizes the effectiveness of coordination and collaboration across various divisions and departments in ensuring the successful resolution of customer requests.
The city remains committed to continuously improving customer service and providing the best possible experience for the community.
Renton Responds is the city's streamlined approach to supporting residents in reporting non-emergency service requests and quality-of-life issues. Through Renton Responds, requests will reach the department or division that can handle requested issues. Download the app or visit our website.
*Overdue requests or extended SLA’s can be based on the nature of the request. For example, potholes are weather and seasonal permeative and can only be addressed in the warmer months.
Calling all artists and creatives! Apply by February 2 for the Renton Arts & Culture Grant
The Renton Arts Commission announced earlier this month that the Arts & Culture Grants applications are now open. Add to Renton's vibrant art scene and apply for the grant by Friday, February 2. During the application process, the Renton Arts Commission held two informational sessions for the public to help navigate the grant application and understand the process. The Q&A’s were held at the Black River Cultural Arts Center, a newly launched art lounge located at 204 Logan Ave. S.
To apply, visit the Renton Arts Commission webpage.
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Around Renton
Free Museum Days – First Wednesday and third Saturday monthly, Renton History Museum (235 Mill Ave. S), 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
March 1 –Paint ‘n Pour, Renton Community Center (1715 Maple Valley Hwy), 6:30-8:30 p.m. 21+. Happy hour pricing: $45 (Increases to $55 on February 26).
In other news
A recap of the news posted on the city’s social media accounts. Find us (@cityofrenton) on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter. Renton residents can also find us on Nextdoor.
Recreation Guide (classes, activities, leagues & events for January through April)
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