HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole - 07 Nov 2022 - Agenda - Pdf
CITY OF RENTON
AGENDA - Committee of the Whole Meeting
5:00 PM - Monday, November 7, 2022
7th Floor Council Chambers/Videoconference
1. WSDOT I405/SR167 CORRIDOR PROGRAM UPDATE
a) Presentation
2. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
a) 2023 Legislative Agenda
If you would like to attend this week's meeting remotely, you can do so by going to
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I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program
City of Renton
November 7,2022
Rob Woeck WSDOT I-405/SR 167 Deputy Program Administrator
Sharif Shaklawun WSDOT Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll Lanes Project Director AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Agenda
2
•Program overview
•Current and upcoming projects
•Q&A
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
3
Program overview AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Local arterial improvements
50% complete
Bus Rapid Transit stations
91% complete or funded
Pedestrian/bicycle improvements
65% complete or funded
Direct Access and Direct Connectors
35% complete or funded (system-
system)
Park and Ride expansions
138% of planned spaces complete or funded
Transit service increase
62% complete or anticipated
Vanpool service increase
40% complete
Transit center expansions
70% complete
Add 2 lanes in each direction
55% complete or funded
Progress towards the I-405 Master Plan and SR 167 Corridor Plan
4AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program System Benefits
5
Delivering multimodal corridor vision built on partnership support.
•Reliable 50+ mile north/south alternative to I-5; STRAHNET –
Strategic Highway Network.
•Toll revenue reinvested back into the corridor to connect urban
centers, employment, and transportation nodes.
•Sound Transit BRT service connects to Regional Growth Centers
and runs on ETL system.
•Dual ETLs improve speed and reliability across all lanes and move
more people, more efficiently through the system.
•Opportunity to address critical fish barriers and environmental
enhancements and repair infrastructure through capital
improvements. AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
6
1999 2002 2003 2005 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2019 2022
I-405
Master
Plan
Process
Begins
I-405 Corridor
Program
Record of
Decision
Nickel
Funding
Package
$.5B
Complete
Eastside Corridor
Tolling Study and
Expert Review
Panel Study
EHB 1382
Authorizes
Tolling on I-405
and WSTC Toll
Study
WSTC
Study
Complete
WSDOT
Funding
and
Phasing
Complete
TPA
Funding
$1B
Connecting
Washington
Funding
Package
$1.3B
ESSB 5352
Authorizes
Eastside
Corridor
Tolling Study
SR 167
Corridor Plan
Renton to
Bellevue Toll
Authorization
EAG adopted
ETLs with 10-year
implementation
strategy
ST-3
$1B ESSB
5825
Funding
$1B
ST-3/East
Link
Move
Ahead
Washington
package
and HB
1990
A history of regional support
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
I-405 Corridor Partnership: Sound Transit BRT & WSDOT Express Toll Lane System
•I-405 Master Plan designated 37-mile high-capacity transit corridor.
•I-405 ETLs and Direct Access offer speed and reliability, critical to BRT system.
•Estimated 25,800 BRT riders daily by 2040 across 8 cities and 11 BRT stations.
7
Connecting communities, urban growth centers and commuters with
a multimodal choice –supportive of regional growth projections.AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Program funding before 2022 Legislative Session
2021 (SSB 5165)
1)I-405, SR 522 to SR 527 Express Toll Lanes
Improvement Project (design/construction) -$600M
2)I-405 Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express
Toll Lanes Project (completion) -$215M
3)SR 167 Master Plan Update -$3M
4)SR 167 Express Toll Lanes Extension to SR 410
and SR 512 (construction) -$100M
5)I-405/North 8th Street Direct Access Ramp
Project $20M (design) + $230 (design/construction)
6)NE 85th Street Inline Station -$10M (toll
infrastructure)
8
Total: $1.178B AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
2022 Legislative Session Outcomes
9
$380 million
in direct
funding
Move Ahead
Washington;
Supplemental
Trans. Budget
$70 million
sales tax
deferral
EHB1990
$450
million
funding
gap filled! AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Scenario assumptions for OST analysis
10
These scenarios are a snapshot in time based on the
following assumptions:
✓Project Cost
✓Toll Revenue Forecast
✓Investment Grade Traffic & Revenue
✓Project Delivery
✓Financial Terms
✓Toll Policy
Project DeliveryCashflow
Toll Policy
(to be set by WSTC)
Scenario IV*:
Higher Cap Adjusted Cashflow
Current Law:
2022 Enacted
Budget
Scenario II*:
Shift in Project
Delivery
3,3,3
Existing cap
SR 167 Toll Upgrade 2025
SR 522 to 527 2026
Renton to Bellevue 2024
SR 167 Toll Upgrade 2025
SR 522 to 527 2027
Renton to Bellevue 2025
SR 167 Toll Upgrade 2025
SR 522 to 527 2027
Renton to Bellevue 2025
3,3,3
Existing cap
3,3,3
Higher cap
Adjusted Cashflow
Current Law
*Scenarios are for discussion purposes only and will be used to inform future financial planning efforts. AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
11
Project updates AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
I-405 projects near Renton
12
•Renton to Bellevue Widening and Express Toll
Lanes Project
•Progress update
•Upcoming construction
•I-405/North 8th Street Direct Access Project
•SR 167 Corridor Improvements Project
AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Major multimodal project
elements:
•New capacity and interchange improvements
•Dual express toll lane system
•Direct access ramps
•Northeast 44th Street in Renton
•112th Avenue Southeast
•Main Street Bridge replacement
•Bus Rapid Transit infrastructure (with Sound
Transit)
•Eastrail segments (with King County)
•Coordination with Mountains to Sound Greenway
trail
13
I-405/Renton to Bellevue Widening
and ETLs Project overview
13 AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Lakehurst Creek Emergency Repair
Renton to Bellevue Corridor Progress Updates
14
Main Street Bridge Replacement King County Eastrail
Funded by:
Project supports Sound Transit’s I-405 BRT
Main Street Bridge Demolition video:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF78wx9NMeA&feature=
emb_title AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Northeast 44th Street Interchange
Early work has focused on the
Northeast 44th Street interchange:
•Shifting I-405 northbound lanes to
the east
•New northbound I-405 May Creek
Bridge
•New northbound on-ramp to open in
January 2023
15AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
I-405/North 8th Street Direct
Access Project
16
N 8th Street
Project overview
•Designs a direct access ramp at the I-405/North 8th Street
interchange in Renton
•Provides local connection to and from express toll lanes
on I-405
•Addresses fish barriers
Project schedule
Funded by:AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
SR 167 Corridor Improvements
Project
17
Project overview
•Upgrades SR 167 toll system for management consistency
•Adds strategic capacity by constructing a southbound
auxiliary lane including preservation
Project schedule
Funded by:AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
18AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
Thank You
19
Rob Woeck
I-405/SR 167 Deputy Program Administrator
woeckro@wsdot.wa.gov AGENDA ITEM #1. a)
CITY OF RENTON // KEY PRIORITIES2023 Legislative Agenda
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.
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
CITY OF RENTON // 2023 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
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.
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
Transportation/Transit
King County Metro: Push for continual enhancement of
service in Renton, ensure implementation of Rapid Ride
I line, and pursue Rapid Ride status for Sunset Area-to-
Bellevue segment.
Sound Transit: Actively ensure parking facilities are in place to
accommodate the opening of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service
between Bellevue and Burien in 2026. This includes interim
parking and the earliest possible construction of a permanent
parking structure at the South Renton Transit Center (Rainier
Avenue/Grady Way), and the construction of a park-and-ride
facility on city-owned property just east of I-405/44th.
PSRC: Continue to ensure Renton receives its fair share of
federal pass-through funding granted within the region.
Eastside Rail Corridor: Prioritize the extension of Eastrail to
at least the South Coulon Park/Southport entrance. Retain
an active role in the Eastrail coalition.
Affordable Housing/Homelessness
Sunset Area Revitalization: Continue to work with Renton
Housing Authority (RHA), South King Housing & Homeless
Partnership (SKHHP), Microsoft, Amazon, and others to build
quality affordable housing projects within the area.
South Renton Transit Center/TOD: Continue to
partner with Sound Communities, RHA, King County, Sound
Transit, and others to explore opportunities for mixed-
income TOD projects.
Homeless shelter space: Strive to secure outside funding—
through King County, the State Legislature, and others—to
help finance construction costs for a modular unit where
Renton can contract for behavioral health services, shelter
space, and a homeless feeding program on city-owned
property on the southwest end of the Renton Airport.
South King Housing & Homeless Partnership (SKHHP):
Continue to participate and support early initiatives within
SKHHP.
King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA):
Support initiatives within KCRHA to find permanent
supportive housing for those in need, but strongly oppose
calls to require Sound Cities jurisdictions to place new
funding into KCRHA.
Energy/Green Power
Ensure Renton residents and businesses are aware of the
benefits of the Green Power program through collaboration
with Puget Sound Energy.
Parks, Trails, Youth Services, Open Space
Family First Community Center: Continue to pursue
outside funding to address gaps in construction funding,
including a Best Starts for Kids application in the fourth
quarter of 2022.
Pursuit of funding under the King County Parks Levy:
Continue to request that King County apply funding toward
the extension of Soos Creek Trail approved under the
levy. Continue to pursue phased funding for Henry Moses
Aquatic Center (HMAC).
Flood Control
Project Needs/Investments: Ensure a fair share of funding
goes to Renton projects within the King County Flood
Control Zone District (KCFCZD), including a Cedar River
capital investment strategy, Renton Levee Certification,
Lower Cedar River feasibility study, and Lower Cedar River
Maintenance Dredging.
Racial Justice & Equity, including mental
health, human services
Seek out funding and tools at county and regional levels.
Seek ways to access funds for Renton projects and
organizations from within the Veterans, Seniors and Human
Services Levy (VSHSL).
Arts & Culture
Help city stay attuned to funding opportunities within
4Culture.
Solid Waste
Ensure work occurs to place the Operations and Support
Center on the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.
Water/Reclaimed Water
Retain active role in regional discussions regarding where
King County’s reclaimed water should be used, sold, and
marketed.
CITY OF RENTON // KEY PRIORITIES2023 Regional Affairs Agenda
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
“Community Project Funding” and “Congressionally
Directed Spending” opportunities: Work with Renton’s
U.S. Senators (Murray and Cantwell) and U.S. House
Member (Congressman Smith) to pursue these line-item
funding opportunities that are offered each spring. Renton
is working with Senator Murray/Congressman Smith on
a pending $1.5 million allocation for the Renton Pavilion
building/Logan Place Market renovation project.
ARPA funding for COVID-19 relief: Assist with ongoing
in-city implementation work to deploy all of Renton’s
available America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Maximize funding
opportunities through grant programs established under
the BIL.
Racial Justice & Equity, including mental health and
human services and affordable housing/homelessness
prevention: Seek out all available funding and tools.
Renton Airport: Continue to assist Airport staff with
pursuing federal funds for the buildout of taxiway
infrastructure and seismic upgrades to the air traffic
control tower.
Grant funding opportunities to support public safety,
parks and trails, Family First Community Center, Sunset
Area: Assist city with scouting out funding opportunities—
including Land and Water Conservation Fund, FEMA
grants, Bureau of Judicial Administration (BJA) and Justice
Assistance Grants (JAG), and more.
CITY OF RENTON // KEY PRIORITIES2023 Federal Affairs Agenda
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
Renton understands and appreciates that by enacting
Engrossed Senate Bill 5476 during the 2021 Session
legislators were responding to a State Supreme Court
decision. They were also searching for ways to address drug
offenses through alternative treatment solutions that avoid
incarceration.
Those are laudable goals, and city officials appreciate
lawmakers establishing a June 30, 2023, sunset date on
the new statute so that an evaluation can be done on its
effectiveness.
Unfortunately, Renton and many other cities are experi-
encing significant increases in criminal activity since the
enactment of ESB 5476. The statute is not working, either
in protecting public safety or in providing treatment and
services to those who need it.
Instead, cities such as Renton are seeing a significant spike
in public calls for a police response to open drug use and an
overwhelming increase in complaints from our community
members.
There is a critical need to retool and strengthen the ESB
5476 laws so the public and judicial system have a more
effective way of handling drug offenses. Renton shares
the goal of directing violators toward help and not toward
incarceration, but believes the key is through accountability
and the court system.
Renton sees the following flaws in the current ESB 5476
statute that make it ineffective:
Because ESB 5476 stipulates that (at a minimum) the first
two drug offenses be non-criminal in nature, it does not
mandate any treatment or services for the offender. Asking
an individual suffering from addiction to make this choice at
a time and place when they are often unable to make sound
decisions results in a refusal of treatment in nearly every
encounter, leaving both the offender and the public in the
same, often dangerous, environment.
Law enforcement is still being asked and expected to
maintain safety in our communities. However, officers are
unable to take the necessary steps to bring an individual
to treatment and thus not resolving the public’s original
request. This erodes public trust in law enforcement.
There is no program or process to track the number
of treatment referrals occurring across jurisdictions.
Additionally, due to the state of mind of an offender during
an encounter, it is not typical that identification is provided
willingly or accurately for tracking purposes, thus making the
process that relies on this information flawed from the start.
Community residents and business leaders feel less safe,
and violators are much less likely to get the help they need
to address addiction, mental health challenges, or other
underlying issues beneath the drug use that is occurring.
CITY OF RENTONUrging Reform of Blake Legislation (ESB 5476)
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
Renton urges that reforms be made to ESB 5476 to address
these issues with an approach of taking action that leads to
help, not incarceration. The city’s specific ideas include:
Restore accountability to the system and remove what
ends up being a voluntary approach with first- and second-
offense diversions.
Adopt an enforcement philosophy that enables law
enforcement to take enforcement actions including a
“custodial action” (arrest) when legally authorized and
appropriate. The preference of South King County cities
is to start with a gross misdemeanor.
Establish court-driven solutions to prescribe treatment/
services that:
Offer a deferred sentence on 1st and 2nd offenses,
with a willingness to have this extended to additional
offenses.
Defer any sentence for offenders who enter a court-
approved treatment program containing accountability
requirements similar to DUI courts.
Reward those who complete court requirements,
including a substance abuse assessment, with
expungement of any record of conviction for the
offense.
Emphasize and stress the role of court, ensuring there
are significant additional resources to go with an
enhanced court-services system.
Explore complementary funding through “988” and use of
the State’s portion of opioid settlement revenues. Opioid
settlement funding provided to cities and counties could
be used as a local match.
As a fallback, there should still be penalties for repeat
offenders or those who refuse help and/or do not complete
treatment/service programs.
Renton’s experience in the current
ESB 5476 climate
Renton Police are seeing the most noticeable failures of
the current ESB 5476 approach in the city’s downtown
core. Renton police began emphasis patrols last January,
following a significant increase in complaints of open drug
use, resident and visitors’ heightened concerns over safety,
and reports from businesses that the downtown core was
being avoided entirely due to these concerns.
One method that Renton Police used to address drug
complaints involved contact with homeless individuals in
the downtown area. During ongoing emphasis patrols to
address the complaints, police contacted 350 people and
offered drug and housing resources. Fewer than 10 agreed
to the referral and it is unknown how many met with
a provider.
Officers continued emphasis patrols in the area, enforcing
associated crimes such as theft, trespassing, and the
delivery of narcotics with minimal impact. Based on
the interaction between law enforcement and those
contacted for drug use/possession, those using drugs
feel emboldened knowing there is little in the way of
consequences for their activity. Residents and business
owners also witness this behavior and continually
experience their calls for help go unresolved.
URGING REFORM OF BLAKE LEGISLATION (ESB 5476)
POSSESSION
STATE V. BLAKE
ESB 5476
Referral #1 and
Referral #2
(Offender not
obligated to accept
treatment/help)
3rd Referral
May refer charges
to prosecution.
Prosecution
encouraged to
divert / refer
Court/
Custodial
intervention
(arrest)
Incarceration/
misdemeanor
crime
Custodial
intervention
(arrest)
Prosecutor/Court
PROPOSED
LEGISLATION
Offer
Deferred
Sentence/
Divert to
Treatment
Criminal record
expunged
if treatment
successfully
completed
Criminally
charged
(misdemeanor/
gross
misdemeanor)
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
A building sorely in need of being
modernized and becoming accessible
to the entire community
The City of Renton’s downtown revitalization project
is underway, involving the renovation of a nearly
two-decades old Pavilion Building into a vibrant and
accessible Logan Place Market. The city purchased the
Pavilion Building, a former automobile dealership, in 2004.
Since that purchase, the city has experienced explosive
growth, particularly among communities of color which
now comprise 58 percent of Renton’s population. The city
sees a dire need to refurbish the Pavilion Building to create
a new heartbeat in the center of downtown, and to bring
new opportunities and access to historically disadvantaged
communities.
While the Pavilion is used for some events in evening
hours, it is lacking in terms of day use, has no space to host
the city’s diverse communities, and does not provide any
access to minority- and women-owned and historically
disadvantaged businesses, which are in dire need of
incubator space to help start-up enterprises flourish.
Renton’s plan—a vibrant market on the inside,
a public square on the outside
The city’s plans for the Pavilion Building, first outlined in a
Civic Core planning document, call for the Pavilion to be
renovated into a more vibrant Logan Place Market that will
have retail space, rotating vendors, and business incubator
space on the inside, complemented by a welcoming public
square on the outside.
Renton is working with U.S. Senator Patty Murray and U.S.
Rep. Adam Smith to secure $1.5 million in congressionally
designated funding that will help to finance the Logan
Place Market space on the inside of the redeveloped
Pavilion Building. The city’s 2023–2025 Capital Budget
request to the Legislature is for funding to create the
public square on the outside of the building.
CITY OF RENTON // 2023–2025 CAPITAL BUDGET REQUESTFunding to Create a Community Public Square
OUTSIDE THE RENOVATED PAVILION BUILDING
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
The illustrated renderings show Renton’s vision for the
public square, which will become a central gathering
place in the downtown where community residents can
work, shop, relax, meet with friends, connect to trails, or
watch events.
The square will focus on community spaces to include
seating, play areas, gathering spots, and hosting events.
Public access to restrooms will be addressed to help
provide longer visitation access to the public square.
Overall design to incorporate the Logan Place Market
with this public square will be critical in the success of
placemaking and creating the inclusive space for residents,
visitors and our business community.
To fully design and construct this space, the city has a
preliminary estimate of $5 million. However, Renton’s
request of the 2023 Legislature is $2 million—half allocated
to pre-construction design and half allocated to building
out key portions of the initial space with necessary fixtures
for the public square to support the Logan Place Market.
What the public square will contain and Renton’s specific request
FUNDING TO CREATE A COMMUNITY PUBLIC SQUARE
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
Appreciation for Move Ahead—
but a major problem looming at 405/167
The Move Ahead Washington package enacted by the 2022
Legislature delivered critical funding for the Interstate 405
corridor through Renton and other communities. Renton
appreciated the package, especially a $450 million infusion
of funding and passage of a sales tax deferral bill for I-405.
That enables 405 funding to stay on track and establishes
a 2027–2029 construction schedule for an I-405/N 8th
Direct Access Ramp, which Renton officials have awaited
for decades.
However, the city has concerns over the lack of funding
for one particular 405 interchange, where significant
regional travel-time delays will occur if action is not taken.
Specifically, Renton urges that steps be taken to improve
the area between the I-405/SR 167 interchange and the
South Renton Transit Center at Rainier Avenue and Grady
Way. This is the lone remaining off-line station, where
future Bus Rapid Transit buses must depart the 405 Express
Toll Lanes to drop off and pick up passengers from a station
that isn’t on the ETL system.
Delays that will occur once
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service begins
I-405 BRT service known as STRIDE will begin in 2026 and
2027 in two segments, Burien to Bellevue (STRIDE 1) and
Bellevue to Lynnwood (STRIDE 2). Within the I-405 corridor,
STRIDE will operate mainly in the Express Toll Lanes that
connect with in-line stations or reach them via direct access
ramps.
The one exception is the new South Renton Transit Center.
Because this station is off the corridor and has no direct
access ramps, the buses will need to weave out of the
managed access lanes and use the existing Rainier Avenue
South on and off ramps. This will result in significant travel
time delays for BRT buses and all vehicles using this freeway
interchange, impeding travel to the new South Renton
Transit Center.
CITY OF RENTON // 2023–2025 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET REQUESTAccess into Transit Center
$2 Million Toward Improving I-405 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Access
into the South Renton Transit Center
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)
Possible options to fix problem
Renton has worked with Washington State Department
of Transportation (WSDOT) on several potential solutions
to this problem. Further, WSDOT did preliminary work to
cost out improvement options. One promising option is an
overcrossing of Grady Way at the intersection with Rainier
Avenue, which is estimated to reduce traffic delay and
queuing and save transit nearly 2 minutes of AM and PM
peak travel time (4 minutes total).
This project was a part of the I-405 Master Plan and needs
additional planning work to confirm travel time savings,
costs versus benefits, and overall feasibility.
The City of Renton’s request
The estimated funding needed to continue the planning
work to improve travel times to and from the new
transit center is $2 million. The city requests that the
2023 Legislature include the $2 million in the 2023–2025
Transportation Budget and direct it to either WSDOT or
the city.
That would fund a multi-agency, collaborative process to
update traffic data and modeling, further evaluate interim
alternatives, conduct public outreach, and perform cost/
benefit analyses of those alternatives.
Once an overcrossing of Grady Way at Rainier Avenue—
or another bridge or crossing option—is chosen as the
preferred alternative, the funding could further cover the
cost to complete an engineering type, size and location
(TS&L) study or some preliminary engineering for another
alternative. This TS&L study will be used to determine
acceptability of the basic design for WSDOT’s approval.
The intent of any additional study is to obtain concurrence
from appropriate parties prior to the preliminary design
of the agreed-upon option, thus expediting the process
and minimizing delay in project development. The hope
is that solutions can be identified and gain consensus
before the 2026 opening of STRIDE 1 and in time to plug
funding into the Legislature’s next major transportation
investment package.
ACCESS INTO TRANSIT CENTER
AGENDA ITEM #2. a)