Mayor's Progress Report
Happy Friday, Kent!
It's been another great year for the City of Kent!
I'm thrilled to highlight some achievements from the past year that demonstrate our commitment to the community, effective city leadership, and the dedication of over 700 employees.
I like to send this out at the beginning of each year—it's something we started calling the Mayor's Progress Report. You can see the text version on our website.
You should have already received one in your mailbox, but I've also included a video version here for you to check out!
We're committed to maintaining this momentum and ensuring that we keep achieving positive results. Hope you enjoy this week's update and have a great weekend.
Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor
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This morning I attended the Legislative Kickoff Breakfast hosted by the East King Chambers Coalition. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs opened the event and then we heard from several panels of legislators.
Public Safety and Housing will definitely be at the forefront of the 2024 Legislative Session. Know that the City of Kent's first and foremost priority this session is to address some of the glaring public safety issues than continue to affect the region.
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Earlier today I had the opportunity to speak with FOX13 about how the City of Kent is working hard to create a safer community.
The Kent City Council is committed to funding public safety, but there are limitations on what we can accomplish with existing resources.
That's why the City of Kent will be requesting legislation this session that will allow city councils the option to impost a .3% sales tax to fund public safety in counties and cities that have not yet imposed a public safety tax.
This would only amount to 3 cents on every $10 purchase, but would go a long way to boost local resources for funding improvements in public safety.
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It was a pleasure meeting the First Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta earlier this week.
We are incredibly excited for the coming months when the new Consulate will open and bring access to resources for those in our community! |
If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the city's Winter Weather Plan, which has tips and best practices for preparing for winter weather!
It's looking like we may get some colder weather next week so it's best to be informed and prepared.
The guide explains the city’s capabilities and strategies for maintaining roadways, communication and public safety during rain, snow and ice.
It also has our anti-icing and plowing routes as well as details on our roadway response priorities during weather events. Check it out at KentWA.gov/Winter.
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The KentWorks app lets you access information and improve your neighborhood and community by reporting non-emergency issues to the city.
You can request a service, report a problem and find information about the City of Kent all from your mobile device in just a few taps!
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Kent 101
Kent 101 is a free program that offers residents the opportunity to better understand how local government works through civics classes, interactive activities and tours. Participants will receive a certificate of completion.
It covers the roles and work of city leadership, staff and departments and more! This program is perfect for:
- High school students looking for career inspiration.
- College students who need more experience before joining the work force
- Working adults who want to have a stronger understanding about government work.
- Retirees looking to be more involved in their community.
The Spring 2023 Session will be February 8, 2024 - April 4, 2024, with classes every Thursday at Kent City Hall Chambers from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Learn more and apply on our website at KentWA.gov/Kent101!
Employee of the Month
Congratulations to Ida Matias, our December Employee of the Month! Ida started with Kent in 2006 as a Judicial Specialist and currently works as a Lead Judicial Specialist.
She assists in planning, organizing, and coordinating administrative functions of the Kent Municipal Court to support the Court Administrator, Court Supervisor, and Judges.
Ida provides training on all elements of Court Clerks duties and assures proper collection, receipting, and accounting of revenue and expenditures from court activities.
Ida was born in China and immigrated to the US in 1980 and spent most of her childhood growing up in Seattle. Shortly after graduating from the University of Washington, with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Sociology, she moved to South King County.
Prior to working for the City of Kent, Ida worked for Amazon in the customer service and fraud departments and at the King County District Court.
Ida likes working for the City of Kent because it's a fun place to work, and she says the city really seems to care about their employees, and are willing to listen to feedback.
Ida says she is self-taught in resolving court related technical issues. It was just something that was interesting to her, and she has learned a lot working with the IT department to troubleshoot problems.
She loves the people she works with. She says her coworkers are like family to her. Ida says she has had many life changes since she started working here and her court family has been there for her every step of the way. She says the support she receives from them is something that she will always be grateful for.
Ida was nominated because she consistently demonstrates exceptional qualities in innovation and teamwork, making her a standout asset to the court team and the city.
Ida’s innovative spirit is evident in her pivotal role in implementing OCourt and Laserfiche, two incredibly important internal systems.
Her foresight and initiative in introducing these systems has streamlined court operations, resulting in improved efficiency and accuracy. This has allowed the court to go paperless and provide electronic forms to all court participants.
Ida’s commitment to teamwork is commendable. She consistently offers her assistance and expertise to her co-workers whenever needed. She is the go-to person for resolving technical challenges and ensures that court systems run smoothly.
Ida’s vast knowledge of both court and technical procedures has been instrumental in resolving complex issues promptly. At the court, almost every IT related issue is urgent. Ida’s knowledge and ability to quickly resolve these matters is extremely valuable. Ida’s contributions have had a profound impact on our court operations.
She loves the outdoors, hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, and traveling to new places. She says she wasn’t an outdoor person until her late thirties, and she thanks her coworker Amber Slaughter for taking her on her first hike!
Ida's goal is to travel around the world as much as she can. She has already been to China, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, Jamaica, and will be going to Australia and New Zealand next year. She hopes to do the Camino de Santiago in Spain one day!
She has three amazing sons and a wonderful boyfriend that loves the same adventures as she does. Ida continuously embraces our values, and we celebrate her as December’s Employee of the Month!
Kent Police Department Promotions
Chief Padilla recently had the honor to promote two KPD Officers to the rank of Sergeant just before the holiday break.
Sergeant GoForth has been with KPD for 8 and a half years. After working for 3 years as a Patrol Officer, he became a K9 Handler and worked for 5 years with his partner K9 Kane. In 2022, he received the Washington State Medal of Honor for the courage and valor he demonstrated in July while responding with 3 of his crewmates to a shooting at the Central Ave pub.
He mentioned that his favorite part of the job has been working in a fast-paced environment with his co-workers who have become lifelong friends. He added how grateful he is to have worked with K9 Kane.
K9 Kane has retired from KPD and will be living comfortably with the GoForth family.
Sergeant Levi has been a Police Officer for 14 years. He worked for 7 years in Lander County, Nevada, and 7 years for Kent PD. His prior duties and experience include SWAT, Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Firearms Instructor, and Explorer Advisor. He said that his favorite part of the job so far has been mentoring and training, making him a perfect fit to manage and instruct a Patrol crew.
One interesting thing about him is that every year he sets a goal to read a certain number of books and has been reading 70+/year for several years.
Please help us congratulate them on their new positions!
Art in Centennial
New Year, new Centennial Center Gallery show! Artwork by Cathy Fields and Kelly Loney is now on display at the Centennial Center Gallery.
Come see this beautiful art through Tuesday, February 28. The gallery is open daily, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Do you want to be more involved in your city? Consider joining the Bicycle Advisory Board, which advises our City Council, Mayor and staff on projects, policies and programs that affect bicycling conditions. Learn more on how to get involved here! |
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The Kent Parks ShoWalk program is back!
This free, indoor walking program offers a warm and dry place to walk and stay active during the cold, wet months.
Check out the schedule here!
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Have you registered for a Winter class or program yet?
From preschool classes to offerings for Adults 50+ and everything in between, our Parks team offers something for everyone to enjoy. Registration is now open for all Winter programming.
Browse a digital copy or register online or register online or by phone, mail, or fax. Participants can also register by walking into the Kent Commons or Senior Center during regular operating hours.
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Spotlight Series
The 2023-2024 Spotlight Series has been such a hit so far, and the next performance in the line-up is one you will not want to miss!
The next show is Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles on Friday, January 26, 2024. Get tickets and see the line-up of performances for the 2024 season online!
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If you find yourself with needing a place to recycle your Christmas tree, bring yours to Service Club Ballfields (14608 SE 288th St) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow and recycle it for free!
Members of our Park Operations staff are teaming up with local Boy Scout Troop 406 to collect trees for those who do not have a Scout unit covering their neighborhood. Donations are accepted, but not required.
Flocked trees, trees with tinsel, or artificial trees cannot be accepted at this event.
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Exciting news for Kent's vibrant business community! The City of Kent, in partnership with Business Impact NW, is excited to announce a three-year initiative designed to empower our local entrepreneurs.
If you are a small business operating in Kent, you will benefit from a network of connections and resources that are not only extensive but also easy to navigate, ensuring that businesses can focus on growth and long-term sustainability. To learn more and sign up for services, visit Business Impact NW - City of Kent
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During an emergency, every minute counts. That’s why it's important to be ready to react as quickly as possible.
With a plan in place and supplies prepared ahead of time, all that’s left is to know when to use them. There are many emergency alert applications available.
Having access to local source and news alerts will connect you to a communication network which will give you more time to react to any local disaster. Read more about how to prepare for an emergency here!
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