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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 3989CITY OF RENTON,WASHINGTON RESOLUTION NO.3989 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON,WASHINGTON, RECOGNIZING HIGHLANDS PHASE II TASK FORCE MEMBERS FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE CITY,ACCEPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE,AND DISBANDING THE TASK FORCE. WHEREAS,the Renton City Council appointed the Highlands Phase II Task Force in July 2007,comprised of a diverse groups of individuals representing the stakeholders such as: property owners,renters,business owners,residents,and community institutions such as the Renton Housing Authority,Renton School District,Renton Planning Commission,neighborhood groups,and local churches;and WHEREAS,the purpose of the Highlands Phase II Task Force was to involve the public and community stakeholders in developing a set of recommendations for implementing the Comprehensive Plan vision for revitalization of the commercial area on Sunset and the housing surrounding it;and WHEREAS,the Highlands Phase II Task Force established a work program based on input from the general public and the ideas and opinions of the members of the Task Force;and WHEREAS,the Highlands Phase II Task Force worked diligently with more than 40 City of Renton staff people to complete its work program;and WHEREAS,in the 15 months that the Highlands Phase II Task Force met,each member contributed more than 100 hours of service to the City in preparation for,and during,scheduled Task Force meetings;and WHEREAS,the result of the work of the Highlands Phase II Task Force is the Report and Recommendations document (dated December I,2008),which presents 24 I RESOLUTION NO.3989 recommendations for revitalization of the Highlands study area for the consideration of the Renton City Council;and WHEREAS,the Highlands Phase II Task Force Report and Recommendations document was presented to the City Council Committee of the Whole on December 8,2008; NOW,THEREFORE,THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON,DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. SECTION II. The above findings are true and correct in all respects. The City Council does hereby thank the members of the Highlands Phase II Task Force for their service and contributions to the City of Renton:Scott Anderson, Steve Beck,Jerri Broeffle,Sandel DeMastus,Penny Eskenazi,Kim Howard,Roxanna Johnson, Marcie Maxwell,Howard McOmber,Evelyn Mitchell,Nancy Osborn,and Brock Weedman. SECTION III.The City Council does hereby accept the Report and Recommendations of the Highlands Phase II Task Force and asks that the Administration draw up a work program to begin implementing the recommendations in 2009. SECTION IV.The City Council does hereby authorize that the Highlands Phase II Task Force be disbanded,recognizing that they have accomplished their assigned purpose. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 5th day of_-,Jo<...>a.....n...."u..."a....,r,-*y ,2009. Bonnie I.Walton,City Clerk 2 RESOLUTION NO.3989 APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 5th day of __J::..ca=n:.=..;u=a=-=r'-'v ,2009. A£r Denis Law,Mayor Approved as to form: ~..-....r~G..'---' Lawrence 1.Warren,City Attorney RES:1389:12/29/08:scr 3 S Report and Recommendations Highlands Phase II Task Force L...., E..............\ss Lc............u. NE 23rd St I is, ri.......IMb,V I NE 20th 1 a 21st St ft m I"- NE 16th St y,`t, ix WE 2 i NE12thSY k lM No ¢c c g w q ISunset EM! r NE rah St NE 9th St NE 7th St NE Stir St NE.3th..Stv.......s...nvw..:11C.0 Oram Highlands Phase II Task Force Study Area Boundary N F,-a' C JO December 1, 2008 C1 I j �i�I,O• Mayor of Renton 1 Denis Law Renton City Council Marcie Palmer, Council President Randy Corman, President Pro-Tern Terri Briere King Parker Don Persson Greg Taylor Rich Zwicker Highlands Phase II Task Force Members Chair-Terri Briere, Renton City Council Vice Chair- Nancy Osborn, Renton Planning Commission Scott Anderson Steve Beck Jerri Broeffle Sandel DeMastus Penny Eskenazi Kim Howard Roxy Johnson Marcie Maxwell Howard McOmber Evelyn Mitchell Brock Weedman Staff- Erika Conkling,AICP i '. CSI. 0 E,1•f0` Staff Contributors Department of Administrative, Police Department Judicial, and Legal Services Kevin Milosevich, Chief Preeti Shridhar, Communications Paul Cline, Patrol Operations Kent Curry, Patrol Services Department of Community and Christine Matthews, Patrol Economic Development Operations Alex Pietsch,Administrator Cyndie Parks, Police Administration Paul Baker, Code Compliance Timothy Troxel, Police Erika Conkling, Planning Administration Suzanne Dale Estey, Economic Terri Vickers, Police Administration Development Clark Wilcox, Patrol Services Jennifer Henning, Planning Adriana Johnson, Planning Department of Public Works Donna Locher, Code Compliance Gregg Zimmerman,Administrator Angie Mathias, Planning David Christensen, Utilities Systems Norma McQuiller, Neighborhood Abdoul Gafour, Utilities Systems Program Peter Hahn, Transportation Mark Santos-Johnson, Economic John Hasty, Transportation Development Lys Hornsby, Utilities Systems Kris Sorensen, Planning Ronald Mar, Transportation Chip Vincent, Planning Richard Marshall, Maintenance Neil Watts, Development Services Services Jim Seitz, Transportation Department of Community Ray Sled, Maintenance Services Services Michael Stenhouse, Maintenance Terry Higashiyama,Administrator Services Bette Anderson, Library Services Ronald Straka, Utilities Systems Karen Bergsvik, Human Services William Wressel, Maintenance Leslie Betlach, Parks Services Peter Renner, Facilities Patrick Zellner, Maintenance Bonnie Rerecich, Community Services Services Gerald Rerecich, Community Puget Sound Energy Services Cody Olson, Municipal Liaison Manager Fire and Emergency Services Angela Wingate, Municipal Liaison Department Manager I.David Daniels, Chief Camille Walls, Fire Renton School District Dr. Susan Mather, Executive Director of Elementary Education `, i rrL N,O Table of Contents Introduction 1 Process 2 Task Force Vision 3 Role of the Commu ity 5 yi Task Force Endorsements 7 Recommendations 8 Comprehensive Plan Compliance i8 Next Steps 20 Appendix A- Glossary 21 Appendix B- Where to Go for Help �5 Appendix C- Detailed' Recommendation Table 27 J.�Y Ula Introduction In 1942, President Roosevelt allocated $4 million to the newly created Renton Housing Authority*to build houses for the defense workers needed at Boeing and PACCAR. 135 acres of land was secured for the construction of 500 permanent and 1000 demountable units. This area was soon named the "Renton Highlands" and before the end of World War II there were 3000 housing units and 864 dormitory beds housing 10,000 defense workers. Schools, a fire station, a recreation center, and significant infrastructure improvements were built to support this community as well. As the war ended, many defense workers returned to their hometowns. Returning service men and women, and II the families of those who had Ir.i • :rr _ ar r ' died in the war, were given =` ' preferential consideration to yr buy units. By 1951, about 650 . units had been sold. Soon • x ` "` after,the remaining units were Y` r - sold, some for as little as $1500. Some of the units were - ._- relocated and can be seen in Renton Highlands Neighborhood- NE 11th Street, 1958. North Renton and other areas (Courtesy of Renton Historical Society.) of the City. With an influx of families,the Renton Highlands was a thriving community in the decades after World War II. However,by the late 199os it was becoming clear that the neighborhood was struggling. Investment in the neighborhood was very low. There was a lot of business turnover in the commercial areas along Sunset Boulevard. Many residential properties suffered from delayed maintenance. In 1999,the City of Renton's Economic Development team launched a planning effort to revitalize the Renton Highlands. Much of this effort was focused on redevelopment of the commercial areas along Sunset Boulevard. Right as the plan was completed, market conditions slowed nationwide with the burst of the "dot-com"bubble in the stock market. Investment was further impaired after the events of September 11, 2001. Despite the economic downturn,the City brought forward several major redevelopment opportunities for the commercial area,but buyers and sellers were not able to consummate a deal. In 2005,the City hired a consultant to analyze the economics of revitalization of the Highlands neighborhood. The resulting report (which became known as the "Heartland Report" after the name of the consulting firm) suggested that improvements to the commercial area would not be viable without improvements in the surrounding neighborhood. As a result,the City began researching 1 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term •J®4' • alternatives to increase the number and range of options for housing in the Highlands. After a significant amount of public input and the development of several proposals,the Council adopted a package of land use and zoning* changes for the Renton Highlands in 2007. This package of land use and zoning changes was carefully crafted and reviewed by a task force of residents and property owners. The Highlands Task Force on Zoning recommended changes to City's land use policies and zoning codes that allow for the redevelopment of the Highlands as property owners sell or choose to redevelop their property. Given current economic conditions, especially in the housing market, it may be some time before significant new development appears in the Highlands. While the neighborhood waits for redevelopment to slowly occur, attention has shifted toward other concerns facing the community. In August 2007, the Renton City Council appointed the Highlands Phase II Task Force to study issues beyond the Comprehensive Plan* and zoning work done by the Highlands Task Force on Zoning. The purpose of the Phase II Task Force was to make recommendations on actions that the City and community could take to bring about revitalization of the Highlands neighborhood. Appointed members of the Task Force represent different stakeholders in the community: property owners, renters,business owners, community organizations,the Renton Housing Authority*, and the Renton School District. City Councilmember,Terri Briere, was appointed as Task Force chair, and a representative of the Planning Commission was appointed to serve as vice-chair. This report, and the recommendations contained within, is the work product of the Highlands Phase II Task Force. (For the rest of the document, the Task Force will refer to the Highlands Phase II Task Force.) Process Meetings of the Task Force began in September 2007. Early meetings were spent learning background information, establishing a study area boundary, and defining issues for review. This process culminated in a public meeting held in February 2008. 1 Al { • Olt Highlands Phase II Task Force Public Meeting- Highlands Elementary, February 28, 2008. 2 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term Y NTO Over 175 people participated in the Task Force's public meeting. People provided input orally and in writing to direct the Task Force's work program. Community issues and concerns were ranked by each person present at the public meeting. Based on this input, the Task Force developed a work program which included ten issues for study and discussion: o Neighborhood and City Roles o Crime and Safety o Planning and Zoning* o Walk-able Community o Economic Equality and Housing o Code Enforcement o Kids and Schools o Business Area Improvements o Parks and Recreation o Infrastructure For each of these topics,the Task Force developed a series of study questions based on comments from the public meeting. City staff from a variety of departments prepared answers to those questions in writing and attended Task Force meetings to further discuss issues and concerns. Both the study questions and the Task Force's The Task Force made recommendations have been made available on recommendations on each the City of Renton website. This website can topic to conclude its review. be accessed at: http://rentonwa.gov/business/default.asox?id= Once the Task Force 10946 completed review of all Or go to www.planning.rentonwa.gov and scroll topics, staff met to discuss down to the middle of the page and click on the recommendations. Staff the link Highlands Phase II Task Force. identified which recommendations were part of existing work programs and which items were new. (This information is included in the Detailed Recommendation Table in Appendix C). There was also discussion of the resources needed to implement the Task Force recommendations. Information from the Staffs review of the Task Force recommendations was used by the Task Force in assigning priorities, and creating the final set of recommendations contained in this report. Task Force Vision The Highlands Study area is a large, diverse area that encompasses people of many incomes and ethnicities, who live in many housing types, and includes several "neighborhoods" (some of which are formally recognized by the City's Neighborhood Program* and some not). As the Task Force studied the area and discussed issues that needed to be addressed, a vision of what the community could and should be emerged. The Task Force envisions a place where: 3 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term :Or). . o The Highlands is a destination for the rest of the city and beyond A major community facility provides recreational opportunity, meeting space, and an informal "third place*" in the Highlands. A vital business center provides goods and services to the Highlands and surrounding areas. o The neighbors and businesses here are x s R engaged and involved in the ' ° community Individuals in the community �" volunteer their time and 4..%,1 participate in community 4 -. organizations. Community1:1 , . { IV organizations reach out and ;; provide service to the Highlands - area in line with their missions. F . v 4 As a whole,the community embraces a"good neighbor" Volunteers at North Highlands Neighborhood Center, ethic. October 13, 2007. o Neighborhood places are interconnected and walkable Schools, parks, recreation centers, civic buildings, the commercial area, and neighborhoods are linked through an interconnected system of sidewalks and pathways. This interconnected system enhances and facilitates traffic flow, health, safety, and social connectedness in the Highlands. o The neighborhood feels safe and secure Neighbors and businesses work with each other and the Police Department to cultivate a feeling of safety and security in the neighborhood. Infrastructure improvements to build sidewalks, plant street trees, and put power lines underground are incorporated into City plans. o Neighborhood growth and development is managed in a way that preserves quality of life Parks, open space, recreational opportunities, quality design, and landscaping are integrated into planning and development for the Highlands. Planning efforts involve significant public input. o The neighborhood is an attractive place to live and conduct business Streets, commercial areas, parks, civic facilities, and residential properties are characterized by street trees, quality landscaping, and quality design. Sunset Boulevard is a comfortable place to walk,bike, and use transit. o The neighborhood is affordable*to many incomes A variety of housing types allow for people of all incomes to live in the neighborhood. 4 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term L�1 f�d o The neighborhood celebrates cultural and ethnic diversity Cultural and ethnic diversity is the strength of the Highlands. It is clearly reflected in the design of public spaces and community facilities, as well as in communications between the City and the community. Role of the Community At the public meeting in February, participants were asked: what would make the Highlands a great place for residents and businesses? Answers ranged widely and suggested a number of projects and programs. Some of the suggestions were outside the role of City government, such as school redistricting. Others, such as changing the mix of businesses in the area, can be influenced by the City, but not controlled by the City. Most of• the desired changes in the Highlands are only possible if • �= the whole community works Y�'� =, together. Overgrown kiet,W • landscaping at a residential .10 home could be a code ' +__ - compliance violation, but it can t sometimes take a long time to ;«rix, ' get properties cleaned up, even • y: 0;• - , when the process runs ;4 ,,k;31 f :. r- efficiently. Maybe the property Volunteers at a clean-up of Windsor Hill Park in the owner is elderly and not able to Highlands, April 27, 2008. maintain the yard. A caring neighbor, or group sponsored clean-up event, could really make an immediate difference for that property owner and for the neighborhood by pitching in. Community revitalization involves the whole community including government, groups, and even individuals. Each of these actors has a distinct role in serving the community to implement the programs necessary to make the Highlands a great place. Government agencies have a responsibility to provide services to the community. City government is only one service provider in the community. King County, the Renton Housing Authority*, and the Renton School District are all government agencies with specific responsibilities in the community. Some of the services government agencies provide include: public health, emergency response, police service, recreation, education, housing, utilities, planning, transportation systems, permitting, waste removal, and maintenance of public facilities. Governmental agencies provide services based upon established rules, regulations, policies, and contracts- a formal system that involves open public decision making. Financial support is provided by taxes, grants, and other revenues. Community groups can effectively provide services dependent upon social networks. Some examples of community groups include: scouting groups, 5 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term churches, Neighborhood Associations, homeowner's associations, non-profit organizations, recreational clubs, social clubs, or service clubs. Services provided by community groups will be related to the mission of the organizations themselves. Services provided by community groups could include: emergency shelter or housing, neighborhood picnics, clean-up events,block watch*, meal programs, recreation events, community"drives" (books, food, clothing, school supplies), newsletter circulation, emergency preparedness, and any number or variety of service projects. Support comes from a variety of sources: membership fees or dues, community fundraising or donations, and/or grants. Volunteer support is often very important to the success of community groups. Individuals may not have a formal responsibility to serve the community, but may choose to do so by engaging with individuals, community groups, or government agencies. Individuals are subject to personal responsibility as expressed through various laws, rights, and social conventions. A well- functioning society is built upon individuals engaging responsibly. Individuals also emerge as community leaders, either in a formal way, such as an elected official, or in an informal way, such as bringing a meal to a sick neighbor. Individuals can provide the most nimble, flexible, personal, and informal range of services,just by giving a little bit of their time to the community. The Renton City Council established the Task Force to provide recommendations for City actions,but there are many things that individuals and community groups can do to support neighborhood revitalization. When all parts of the community work in partnership, so much more can be accomplished. As a result, the Task Force compiled a list of recommendations for individuals and community groups to complement the recommendations made to the City Council. Recommendations for the Whole Community o Participate in public outreach, public meetings, and planning efforts -10 ._1 R .:' o Volunteer , o Buy from neighborhood :'' ` 4 '�'' i �` � IL. businesses ;+ ♦- o Participate in National Night • tet Out Against Crime and other �' frer,� �>. community events •' � � o Take an active part in Police department programs (such Over 175 people gave input on the Task Force as block watch*, or business work program, February 28, 2008. assistance programs) o Support bond issues for major community projects o Contact state and federal elected officials and ask for funding support on major community projects 6 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term TY •Cl• frx.ti'�Z o Mentor children in the community o Use the sidewalks, trails, open spaces, and other facilities in your neighborhood Recommendations for Individuals o Know your neighbors o Attend community meetings and bring information back for friends and neighbors that were unable to attend o Maintain landscaping, sidewalks, and pedestrian improvements adjacent to your house or business o Call 911* if you witness suspicious activity or crime o Start a neighborhood association or service club o Participate in local clubs, organizations, and neighborhood activities o Lend a hand to a neighbor who is going through hard times o Those next to open spaces can keep the spaces open by trimming vegetation, and keeping open spaces free of debris, yard waste, and household items o Take a leadership role in local block watch* (or other crime prevention program) Recommendations for •-- Community Groups 4,-1 o Host community meetings o Distribute community `Ak"`' information through newsletters ►.* o Neighborhood organizations g g . . can apply for City grants to • create or improve small ' community/park spaces ;. . . . o Adopt a street, open space, or other small area and help keep 2tt �; ., # free of litter,trim vegetation, Mayor Law at a Renton Rotary Club service project at and maintain existing sidewalks a Highlands home, February 23, 2008. and pedestrian improvements o Develop a program that supports kids or youth o Host a community clean-up day to help those in need o Contact the owners of derelict properties and ask them to partner with the community in being good neighbors o Host neighborhood activities so people get to know each other Task Force Endorsements As the Task Force studied each topic on the work program, it became clear that the City had already taken actions to support revitalization of the Highlands. Listed below are actions the City has taken that are fully supported and endorsed by the Highlands Task Force. Some of the efforts are necessarily citywide,but they all target key issues for the Highlands. A few of the programs, such as 7 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term v♦ ?F „o business outreach and extra police patrols, provide a higher level of service to the Highlands, than to other areas of the City. o Mayor's Task Force on Graffiti o Code enforcement emphasis citywide o Police Cadet Program for older youth o Funding for police extra-emphasis patrols in the Highlands o Design regulations that require wider sidewalks and pedestrian connections o Citywide sidewalk improvement program o Neighborhood Program grants o Business outreach in the Highlands o Support for Communities in Schools (and other) mentoring programs o Emergency preparedness efforts o Planning efforts to better link the Highlands and the Landing o Support of the 40 Assets*framework for valuing youth in the community o Recreational and community programming offered at the North Highlands and Highlands Neighborhood Centers fin Air T;SIFF lir The Tea Palace, restaurant and banquet rooms, brought new investment into the Highlands when it opened in 2008. Recommendations Based on careful study of the topics and issues prioritized at the February public meeting,the Highlands Task Force makes the following recommendations to Renton City Council. In the City Action column, each recommendation contains further information on the actions that the Task Force proposes that the City take to implement the recommendation. Definitions and explanations of the terms used in these recommendations can be found in Appendix A. After reviewing information from an interdepartmental team of City staff, the Task Force established a priority for each recommendation based on whether the item was part of a 2009 work program, if it could be integrated into an existing 2009 work program, or if it would require the initiation of a new work program item for the City. Further information on each recommendation is listed in Appendix C. 8 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term iJ`} O 2009 Work Program Items Staff indicated that these recommendations could easily be folded into an existing work program scheduled for 2009. Recommendation City Action Focus on parks Include the following considerations during the 2009 update of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, planning in the and Trails Plan: Highlands. • Redevelop playfields to a standard that would make them useable for many different types of users-and for extended hours • Utilize public-private partnerships in park development • Partner with Renton School District to jointly develop and maintain park facilities and play fields • tit-more active programming in existing Highlands parks - - --- ---- • Consider lighting trails,walkways, and parks • Consider the multi-cultural and multi-lingual needs of the Highlands community in facilities planning and recreational programming Provide for the Consider putting a satellite Senior Center in the Highlands to reach large senior population. recreation needs of Programming and activities for seniors could be integrated into existing parks and facilities now. seniors in the Consider the multi-cultural and multi-lingual needs of seniors in the Highlands when planning Highlands. facilities and establishing programming. When the library, a neighborhood center, or other City facility redevelops, consider creating facility space specifically for seniors. This recommendation will be included in the considerations for 2009 update of the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan. Support expansion Pair a new Highlands library with multi-use and multi-generational facilities that provide meeting of the Highlands spaces, a senior center, and a family center. This recommendation should be considered as an Library. option as decisions are made about the Library Master Plan. Develop a package of Create incentives for redevelopment, including,but not limited to: parking requirement redevelopment reductions, density bonuses, infrastructural improvements, reduced hook-ups and other fees,tax incentives*for the breaks, and construction of a sub-regional storm water drainage system. Include incentives Highlands. specifically for the provision of good sidewalks and pedestrian amenities and for the provision of new or rehabilitated, secured affordable housing*. Commission a study that analyzes barriers that may prevent redevelopment in the Highlands. It should also include a cost benefit analysis of possible incentives. Identify a Community Revitalization area in which incentives will be applied. 9 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term `fl iJ Items To Integrate Into Existing Work Programs This set of recommendations includes items in which one or more of the following situations apply: it may partially be included in a City work program, it may be closely related to an existing City work program, or it may be on a long-term City work program without a clear indication of funding or scheduling. These recommendations could be integrated into existing work programs with clear direction from the Council and Administration and/or the assignment of budget support. Recommendation City Action Task Force Priority Expand business Increase block watch* program participation. Start a safe house*program. Sponsor a High and neighborhood Porch Light Network*. Apply CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental safety and crime Design)to neighborhood problem areas. Provide technical expertise and training for awareness the community, staff support for programs, and program set up expenses. Sponsor programs. incentives or giveaways for program participants, such as: whistles, light timers,light bulbs, coupons, etc. Strengthen and Develop code to limit parking in yards to surfaced areas such as: concrete, asphalt, or High develop provisions framed gravel. for code Create an impervious surface standard in the R-8 and R-14 zones. enforcement. Develop code to limit parking in unimproved right-of-ways. Develop a minimum property maintenance code. Use streetscape Develop streetscape prototypes for residential, commercial, and mixed use areas and High prototypes in insert them into the Development Regulations. planning and permitting operations. Add"down light" Add standards for pedestrian-scale lighting to the Urban Design Regulations (RMC 4- High pedestrian-scale 3-100) districts `D' and 'E'. lighting standards to the Highlands design regulations. 10 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term _ _ Create a strategic Develop short and long-range economic development strategies for the improvement Low plan for business of the Highlands Business Areas in coordination with businesses, property owners, and district the Chamber of Commerce. Include all business areas in the Highlands in the analysis improvement. to get an accurate picture of market conditions and opportunities. Create and manage a City staff should partner with the Chamber of Commerce, Renton Community Low list of groups and Foundation, and REACH (Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches) to develop a organizations that list of organizations and groups that serve Renton residents and then contact these serve Renton organizations to see if they need volunteers. Information about groups that need residents,with the volunteers should be publicized in a variety of ways, including: print and television purpose of media, the City's website, and inserts within utility bills. publicizing information about - - -- ---------- -- - - -—---- -- - - - ----- - -- --- --- those groups and their need for volunteers and " community support. Develop programs Work in partnership with local schools or a non-profit agency to start a program that Low that utilize animals allows regular encounters between children and pets, such as the Read to a Dog to help kids build program. self confidence and self-esteem. 13 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term New Work Program Items These recommendations involve the initiation of a new work program and budget. Recommendation City Action Task Force Priority Create a community"third Economic Development Staff should work with commercial businesses,the # 1 place*." Renton Housing Authority*, and other property owners in the Highlands to investigate the possibility of creating a community"third place"within the commercial area or within a publicly owned space. The idea is to create a multi-functional community space that could be used for formal or informal gatherings and meetings. Develop a package of major Contract with a consultant to study the feasibility of an infrastructure #2 infrastructural improvements package that would underground power lines,build new sidewalks on both in the Highlands. sides of the street,plant street trees, and provide street lights in the Highlands. Include information on how such a project could be financed. Develop a sidewalk repair Use existing sidewalk repair inventory to prioritize projects in the Highlands. # 3 program in the Highlands. To the extent possible, coordinate repairs with new sidewalk installations. Advocate for Boulevard Work with Washington State Department of Transportation to create a # 4 (tie) Improvements for Sunset Boulevard Improvement Plan for Sunset Boulevard. This would include Boulevard. wider sidewalks, street trees and landscaping, and street and sidewalk . lighting at a minimum. Public art, pedestrian safety, and pedestrian amenities should also be considered. Ideally, boulevard improvements should be planned from the I-405 overpass east to City limits,with special emphasis between the overpass and Union Ave NE. The first phase of improvements should be installed between Edmonds Ave NE and NE 12th Street. Utilize the many public spaces Conduct an inventory of all open spaces and public spaces in the Highlands # 4 (tie) and walkways in the Highlands study area (including the ownership status of these spaces). Apply CPTED for a useable public purpose. principles to evaluate the safety of these sites as part of the inventory. Use the vision developed through a community planning effort to select spaces for further development as parks, trails, and open spaces. Sell the spaces not selected for future development to partially fund program implementation. 14 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term .00 0...:, Engage in a formal Set aside staff time and resources to engage in a community planning effort that High planning effort that includes the Highlands study area. Develop a public participation plan as one of the includes community first steps in the planning process to ensure early and continuous public involvement. visioning to Hold a series of"town meetings" on increasingly specific subjects with City Council determine the participation encouraged. direction of future Visioning should include the following topics: plans, policies, and • What should the Highlands be like in 20 years time? implementation. • What is the role of(social and economic) diversity in maintaining a unique, healthy, and vibrant neighborhood? • What character is desired for the Highlands? • What type of architecture or design is desired for this area? • Where and how should the Highlands fit into local and regional growth strategies? • What is the community's vision of a walkable community? • What can be done to cooperatively develop the property north of NE 16th Street (owned by the City,the Renton School District, and the Renton Housing Authority*) into a mixed-use project with affordable housing* and recreation? • How can business areas be improved and enhanced? • What is the neighborhood's vision for community space within the Highlands neighborhood? Conduct a visual preference survey to help determine the preferred style and design of improvements in the Highlands. Focus on business Work with the Chamber of Commerce to form a committee of businesses in the Medium retention and Highlands. enhancement in the Use Economic Development staff to assist the Highlands Business Committee in Highlands. organizing events to draw the community such as: sidewalk sales, open air markets, ethnic celebrations,business receptions,business fairs, group marketing and advertising, cooperative events (like Downtown's artwalk, holiday and seasonal celebrations, or themed events). Work with the Chamber of Commerce to put together a City of Renton business guide that is broken down by neighborhood. Talk with the US Postal Service about installing a drive through mail box in the Highlands shopping area on Sunset. 11 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term l7 'ink CL12 Start public outreach Develop an outreach program and materials to inform public about calling 911*, Medium campaign. parking enforcement, and about existing Police department programs. Develop outreach and educational materials about how government works, what taxes pay for, and how residents can make the most of City government. Educate residents and businesses about their responsibilities to the community, including topics such as the responsibility to maintain vegetation and sidewalks in front of their properties. Provide educational materials about how to care for vegetation, in coordination with Urban Forestry Planning efforts. Make information easily accessible via the internet on the City's website and in alternate formats for those who do not use the internet. Use Channel 21 to post information as well. Provide translated materials that are available in different languages and geared around cultural differences. Develop a City speaker's bureau to get information out to community groups. Use the Neighborhood Program to get information out to community groups and individuals. Emphasize "Good Distribute Code Compliance "Good Neighbor"brochures through utility bills or Medium Neighbor" practices. through events like neighborhood picnics. Consider printing them in different languages. Maintain a list of community groups that can offer service and assistance to property owners who are in need. Help groups establish more neighborhood associations in the Highlands. Evaluate location Investigate state and federal requirements for locating this facility. Look at how other Medium criteria for the jurisdictions regulate such uses. Develop a citywide plan for regulating such uses. methadone clinic. Find out what the existing methadone clinic needs from a location and see if there is an alternate location for it outside of the Highlands. Implement Low Adopt a Low Impact Development storm water standards ordinance for the City of Low Impact Renton. Development* storm water standards. 12 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term `ct li CJ Develop a first-time home Develop a program that supports first-time homebuyers in the City of # 6 buyer program for the City. Renton. Gear the program toward eligible buyers who have limited incomes or who work as civil servants. Set aside funding or land to assist non-profit organizations in providing affordable housing*in Renton. Set up cooperative agreements with banks to help support and fund this program. Program details and contact information should be available on the City's website. Investigate the possibility of a Contract with a consultant to study the feasibility of a sub-regional storm #7 sub-regional storm water water drainage facility that would serve the Highlands. Look specifically at drainage facility. how such facilities could be integrated into other public projects, private projects, and public open spaces (such as parks and schools). Evaluate the public benefits of such a facility, as well as its use as an incentive for future development. 15 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term �o� Example Implementation Thinking about implementation of a major project in the Highlands,the Task Force spent some time dreaming about a project that would implement a number of recommendations provided within this report. There are a number or large pieces of land within the study area that are currently underutilized, most of which is in public ownership. Such sites include the land near the North Highlands Neighborhood Center (which also includes property owned by the Renton Housing Authority* and the Renton School District); land near the Highlands Neighborhood Center and Community Park(located next to Highlands Elementary); large tracts of land owned by the Renton Housing Authority (such as the Sunset Terrace site); and a number of large, underutilized, privately owned parcels in the commercial area of the Highlands. Given the number of large parcels that may be available,there is a unique opportunity to create something special in the Highlands. At the top of the Task Force's recommendations is to create a"third place*" in the Highlands. This "third place"is a place where community life happens outside of a person's home or place of work; it could be part of a commercial area, civic space, or open space. Imagine this "third place"as part of a community show piece that served the neighborhood and beyond. Such a development could incorporate many other Task Force recommendations including: a multi- functional community building with facilities for a recreation center, satellite senior center, and library; an attractive streetscape with wide sidewalks, street trees, underground wiring, and pedestrian-scale lighting; a sub-regional storm water facility located under the play fields; affordable housing*; and a network of trails that connect to a larger system of walkways in the neighborhood. Not only would such a project provide an amenity for residents city-wide,but it would also bring investment to the Highlands neighborhood. ,:, : ..i.::.. . s'.44Kilir, ' :.'N'': ..:"r7411 . .- 1 ,i ,--Ait.„4---, t . - .,0114 -, v_. ,. The Beaverton Round consciously created a Renton's Piazza becomes a "third "third place*"by surrounding civic space with place*"each Tuesday in summer, shops and housing. Photos from the City of as the community gathers for the Beaverton website: www.beavertonoregon.gov. Farmers Market. y 7 16 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term C,�'CY G �E1N One such community vision of a "third place*" concept very similar to that of the Task Force is the redevelopment of the High Point neighborhood in Seattle. The planned eight acre park contains a community center, storm water drainage facility, play fields, outdoor community space, and walkways that connect to a neighborhood system. A new public library is within walking distance. Senior housing stands next to the park on one side and a mix of affordable housing* and market rate housing on the other three sides. All the images below are from the Seattle Housing Authority website: www.seattlehousing.org. ►1 .r te 4�'4� , ! !L . 1 - '- si o, -- 8CRE l....- _ ` �; 'ENTRAL PARK( �— +!� �.1 ,- ' IL, 1 .-• if IP SENIOR { Amok JILtAGE < rry � . , .. II \•.„0 N - ,. _ ,....(7:..i.ilik Apar e . .. .4 gas [ *.w _ , Vit; , ,�', F I . N IGHeORH.- area 0• Pictures of the High Point commons e "'', opening, 2008. Photos taken by The $1 I-VIIIIJt i, ; Pomegranate Center. as.ip..46, Niki ! 1, rt, •_ 1%,,s, ,,. " Sieg _ N. • • . - • tyS. Wit , .. • ri1 r A storm water retention pond becomes a High Point Branch of the Seattle Public recreational amenity at High Point, Library. which also includes low impact development*storm water measures. 17 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term � ev ; ..'nrc° Comprehensive Plan* Compliance Individually, and as a whole, the recommendations of the Highlands Task Force are consistent with Renton's Comprehensive Plan. The Task Force's vision for the Highlands is very similar to the vision for the City as a whole, as expressed in the Comprehensive Plan. 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I a�i/a's`I� 0 Center Village M 0 Residential Multi-Family 0 500 1,000 2,000 0 Residential Medium Density Feet 0 Residential Single Family 0 Residential Low Density 1:12,000 i• Commercial Corridor - Commercial Neighborhood Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map showing the Highlands. Adopted May 14, 2007. 18 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term G\`Y O'A Each year, the Council creates a Business Plan that further elaborates how the City will achieve its vision. Recommendations made in this report meet several of the 2008-2013 Business Plan Goals: o Continue redevelopment efforts... in the Highlands.... o Support the vitality and positive appearance of neighborhoods through community involvement o Encourage and partner in the development of quality housing choices for people of all ages and income levels o Promote pedestrian and bicycle linkages between neighborhoods and community focal points o Foster development of vibrant, sustainable, attractive, mixed-use neighborhoods in established urban centers o Uphold a high standard of design and property maintenance throughout the City o Prioritize services at levels that can be sustained by revenue o Plan, develop, and maintain quality services, infrastructure, and amenities Central to the Highlands -- ,do study area is the designated I ,',1, -<•4,_.z `" ?0ir% Center Village. This concept i �; � incorporates features of { „ ,,,,e4. - �� compact urban development, i ' mixed uses, a variety of 4 , ,,, i housing types, transit, and t:-N---1;144...'t'' �'°" '� ,--t r,`4 �t4 ` t , pedestrian-friendly design ' � uf oyqC Aui i .1 > .4,...2! 7 ,� , !t,� ,i oriented around a community ,,,,; i@ lI ;:r -, , . , , to t w 4`;; �_ _ ,. i, ,rt 4 ,� - focal point serving a citywide >,, y! ti� `�w,, or sub-regional area. Many of ` '"- =- i� the Task Force's .J recommendations fit in with _.,,_-,r ; 4 4,�t, this concept, including: creating a community"third Conceptual rendering of Center Village land use place*,"business district in the Highlands- MAKERS-2006. I improvements, streetscape improvements, developing incentives*for redevelopment, parks and facilities planning, community planning, connecting walkways and trails, and funding sidewalk repair. Similarly, several other Comprehensive Plan Objectives support Task Force recommendations: o Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Objective- F to connect parks, schools, open spaces, and community facilities with trails and walkways for non-motorized access o Housing Objective- G to support a variety of types of housing in quality neighborhoods, affordable to all incomes 19 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term V (fir. � l ` �L;vim• o Land Use Objective- R to plan public facilities that benefit a broad range of uses o Land Use Objective- BB to support high quality growth in neighborhoods that support transit and urban densities with built amenities and enhanced natural features Next Steps With the issuance of this report of recommendations,the work of the Highlands Phase II Task Force is complete. After much study,the Task Force fully understands that revitalization of the Highlands is a complex task. Full implementation of the Task Force recommendations may require a dedication of more funding, staff hours, and resources than the City can provide. Staff will not be able to work on the recommendations without an assigned budget. Ultimately,the City Council and Administration must work together to decide which recommendations to implement, and how and when they can be implemented. With this in mind,the Task Force asks Council to take the following steps to implement the report: o Adopt this report by resolution o Work with the Administration to draw up a work program to implement those recommendations endorsed by the City Council o Ask staff to give a progress report to the Mayor and Council at a public meeting in a year to summarize actions the City has taken 20 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term tiCY 0 4. Appendix A- Glossary { k 40 Assets: This is a research based program used in some communities to raise awareness about creating safe environments for children and youth. The ' program identifies skills arid actions that kids, families, schools, and communities use to create 'safe and healthy environments where youth know they are valued. The assets are factors that support healthy development and include:. support, empowerment,boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. More information can be found at www.4oAssetsRenton.com. 911: Most people know that this is the number to call in case of emergency. However, in the City of Renton, 911 should be used to report any disturbance, suspicious activity, or other similar concerns. Police officers on patrol prioritize 911 calls so officers are never called away from an emergency. However, data from 911 calls and follow-ups is used to engage in problem oriented policing (POP). POP helps indentify potential neighborhood problems and activity patterns. It helps keep neighborhoods safe. Affordable Housing: There are many different ways of defining affordable housing. o Affordable housing is typically described as housing that does not exceed 30% i of a household's gross income. Housing costs include rent or mortgage, tenant paid utilities for renters,taxes, and insurance for homeowners. o The City of Renton defines affordable housing as housing where a family with an income less than 80% of the area median income (AMI) pays no more than 30% of that income for housing expenses. o Housing affordability is a term that refers to the imbalance between incomes and housing costs in an area. A common measurement compares the number of households in a certain income category with the number of units in the market that are affordable at that income level. Block Watch: Block watch is a well established program that has been proven to reduce crime. It educates residents about keeping their homes and neighborhoods safe from crime and encourages communication between neighbors. The program is free, requires a minimum commitment of one meeting per year, and can be conducted with groups ranging from 10-10o people. Comprehensive Plan: The City expresses its vision for growth and development in its Comprehensive Plan, a 20 year plan for the City and its potential annexation area. This vision is expressed in two ways: the Comprehensive Plan Land Use Map, and a series of written policies. Policies are grouped into chapters called elements, each addressing a different aspect of growth and development. By state law, City zoning must be consistent with the = policies in the Comprehensive Plan. 21 1 � Renton's Comprehensive Plan contains the adopted policies and vision for the Highlands. The Highlands area is one of three designated"Centers" in the Comprehensive Plan (the historic downtown and the Landing area are the others). Although development should be compact, urban, and with a mix of commercial and residential uses, the Comprehensive Plan envisions redevelopment at a smaller scale in the Highlands than in the other centers. As a "Center Village"the Highlands will provide a concentration of goods and services to serve a larger area and become a focal point along the Coal Creek Corridor. CPTED: CPTED stands for crime prevention through environmental design. The basic idea behind CPTED is to encourage activity and watchfulness over an area so there are "eyes on the street"to observe what happens there. Sometimes { CPTED is integrated into the design of a space. For example, orienting front porches toward a pocket park so people can see what is.going on there from their front windows and the comings and goings from the house create activity. Oftentimes simple techniques, such as making changes to vegetation or lighting, are used to make improvements to existing spaces. Crime Prevention Programs: The Renton Police Department offers a number of crime prevention and educational programs to help residents and businesses stay safe and secure. These programs include: Citizen and Advanced Citizen Academy classes, Bank Watch, Block Watch, Business Security Surveys, Business Watch, Business Watch Bulletins, Burglary Prevention, Child Safety/ Stranger Danger, Commercial Robbery Prevention, Crime Resistant Multi- housing Program, False Alarm Reduction, Internal Theft, National Night Out, Office Safety, Park Safety, Personal Safety Classes, Residential Security Surveys, Senior Alert Publication, Shoplift Prevention, Technical Advisory Committee, Vacation House Watch, WEB Page and Youth at Risk. These programs have been underutilized in the Highlands study area even though they are offered for free or low cost and do not involve a large time commitment. '6 Incentives: Incentives are a common tool used to encourage development and redevelopment of an area. Typically, incentives are used when the City wishes to achieve a specific goal (e.g. increased density, energy efficiency, affordable housing, reserved open space),but the private market will not provide the means to achieve that goal on its own. Incentives can take many different forms, and are best used and applied when the City goals are clear and the barriers to private development are well understood. Low Impact Development: A storm water management strategy that reduces the overall storm water run off from a development by integrating a number of � techniques such as: limiting impervious surfaces, use of porous paving materials, and the use of bio-swales, rain gardens, rain barrels, and other techniques to slow the movement of storm water. Neighborhood Program: Renton's Neighborhood Program has an important mission to promote positive communication between residents and City ) ' 22 government. This program helps neighbors organize themselves into officially recognized neighborhood associations that support community health and vitality. Some of the popular features of the Neighborhood Program include working with a City liaison; sponsorship of neighborhood picnics, an annual Neighbor-to-Neighbor conference, and eligibility for neighborhood grant funds. Porch Light Network: The Highlands Phase II Task Force came up with the idea of a porch light network. Many streets in the Highlands study area were not built with street lights. However, if houses along the street kept porch lights on, it would be one way to improve pedestrian safety in the neighborhood. Renton Housing Authority: The Renton Housing Authority(RHA) is a special purpose government that provides both housing units and subsidies for rental units to approximately 1,40o households earning less than the median income in Renton. That breaks down to 341 units for seniors, 424 units for family housing, and more than 600 Section-8 housing vouchers. Safe House:A safe house'is a place where children or adults can take refuge if they need immediate assistance. Typically,this is a program where people volunteer to be designated a safe house, go through a background check, get a bit of training from the local police or fire department, and then hang a safe house placard in their front window. Safe houses have been used in situations ranging from someone getting locked out of their house to a child being followed by a stranger. Third Place: A third place is a term that simply means a place where people spend time that is neither home nor work. Such places involve community and social interaction that can be both formal (e.g. shopping,taking a class,watching a performance) and informal (e.g. meeting up with friends, chatting with strangers). Parks,businesses, restaurants, and public plazas can all possibly be a community"third place" depending on how they are used by the community. A coffee house or book store might be third place year round. Renton's Farmer's Market is a great example of a third place each Tuesday afternoon during the summer. Zoning: A power given to local governments that establishes rules about land use. Renton's zoning code establishes rules about where certain types of land uses may locate and the standards that must be met in developing those uses. Zoning is a blunt tool that can be used to regulate land use in many ways,but can not be used to discriminate: For example,the same rules that allow a specialty boutique (which the community may want) also allow a discount store (which the community may not want). 23 I v � ~ •,r,,N 1c? Appendix B- Where to Go for help Contact Information For help with... Animal'Control 425-430-7550 barking,loose or dangerous animals - Block watch 425-430-7521 starting a local block watch Code Compliance 425-430-7373 report issues such as poorly maintained "ti codecompliance@re properties,junk cars,litter and garbage, or ntonwa.gov overgrown vegetation -,' Crime 911 emergencies and suspicious activities Public Disturbance Suspicious Activity Crime Prevention 425-430-7521 information and assistance with a variety of s Programs* 425-430-7520 crime prevention programs geared for residents and businesses Graffiti , graffiti clean up and removal in progress 911 r~ already there 425-430-7373 _ 1 Home repair program information about housing repair programs Renton 425-430-6650 where low and moderate income homeowners King County 206-2163-9095 can get help with home improvements Neighborhood 425-430-6595 information about starting a neighborhood Program association,the neighborhood picnic program, or neighborhood grant funds Parking Enforcement 425-430-7553 report parking problems with vehicles in public streets _ Rental Rehabilitation 206-263-9032 information about loans for property owners ' Loan Program to fix up properties rented to low income tenants Renton Community 425-430-6650 or phone numbers for organizations providing Resource Directory services and assistance to the Renton community-available in 12 languages Small Business 425-235-7819 business assistance and information Development Center including classes and one-on-one help L growing your business Street and Sidewalk 425-430-7400 or report street and sidewalk maintenance Repair type"Maintenance concerns Service Request"in the search feature at w wv.rentonwa.gov Traffic Patrol Request 425-430-7561 or request a traffic emphasis patrol to address type"Traffic Service speeding in your neighborhood-be sure to Request"in the specify theplace and time that problems search feature at occur www.rentonwa.gov Traffic Study 425-430-7380 request a study by the Public Works M Transportation Division to determine if your street needs additional traffic controls or lighting 25 1 ` ,,_, -. Appendix C- Detailed Recommendation Table _ Infrastructure and Physical Environment Recommendation City Action Task Type Lead Department(s) Work Program Status Investigate the possibility Contract with a consultant to study the feasibility of a sub-regional storm water drainage Study and report back Public Works- Storm New work program item. of a sub-regional storm facility that would serve the Highlands. Look specifically at how such facilities could be to Council for further Water Utility and water drainage facility. integrated into other public projects, private projects, and public open spaces (such as decision making. Interdepartmental parks and schools). Evaluate the public benefits of such a facility, as well as its use as an Team incentive for future develo•ment. Develop a package of Contract with a consultant tustudy the feasibility of an infrastructure package that Study and report back Public Works- New work program item. major infrastructural would underground power lines, build new sidewalks on both sides of the street, plant to Council for further Transportation and improvements in the street trees,:.and provide streetlights in the Highlands. Include information on how such decision making. Interdepartmental Highlands. a project could be financed. Team Advocate for Boulevard Work with Washington State Department of Transportation to create a Boulevard Support with City Public Works- New work program item. Improvements for Sunset Improvement Plan for Sunset Boulevard. This would include wider sidewalks, street policy, include in City Transportation and Boulevard. trees and landscaping, and street and sidewalk lighting at a minimum. Public art, plans, such as the Six- Interdepartmental pedestrian safety, and pedestrian amenities should also be considered. Ideally, Year Transportation Team boulevard improvements should be planned from the I-405 overpass east to City limits, Improvement Plan. with special emphasis between the overpass and Union Ave NE. The first phase of ______ improvements should be installed between Edmonds Ave NE and NE 12th Street. Implement Low Impact Adopt a Low Impact Development storm water standards ordinance for the City of Initiate work program Public Works- Storm On the Storm Water Utility Development* storm Renton. to amend Renton Water Utility, 2009 work program. Part of water standards. Municipal Code. Community and the future Planning Division , ;, , Economic work program,but not ,._ Development- scheduled for 2009. To be Planning, and looked at as part of the update Community Services- for the Parks Plan in 2009. Parks Develop a sidewalk repair Use existing sidewalk repair inventory to prioritize projects in the Highlands. To the Fund additional--— - -- - -Public-Works- New work program. Sidewalk _ program in the-Highlands. extent possible, coordinate repairs with new sidewalk installations. sidewalk repairs in the Maintenance Services repair program is on-going Highlands. citywide,but the request for additional funding specific to the Highlands would be new. w, r 27 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term , i_ +0,6-. Public Outreach and Education Recommendation City Action Task Type Lead Department(s) Work Program Status Start public outreach Develop an outreach program and materials to inform public about calling 911*, Implement and Administrative, Judicial Some of the resources needed for campaign. parking enforcement, and about existing Police department programs. fund an outreach &Legal Services- public outreach on these topics are Develop outreach and educational materials about how government works,what program on rights Community Relations already available. Funding is needed taxes pay for, and how residents can make the most of City government. and responsibilities and - for producing and distributing Educate residents and businesses about their responsibilities to the community, of residents and Police, Fire and materials. including topics such as the responsibility to maintain vegetation and sidewalks in government. Emergency Services, or front of their properties. • Community Services- as Provide educational materials about how to care for vegetation, in coordination applicable with Urban Forestry Planning efforts. Make information easily accessible via the internet on the City's website and in alternate formats for those who do not use the internet. Use Channel 21 to post information as well. Provide translated materials that are available in different languages and geared around cultural differences. ,- Develop a City speaker's bureau to get information out to community groups. Use the Neighborhood Program*to get information out to community groups and individuals. Expand business and Increase block watch* program participation. Start a safe house* program. Fund additional Police Funding for additional outreach is neighborhood safety and Sponsor a Porch Light Network*. Apply CPTED* (Crime Prevention Through outreach and not budgeted for 2009. Police crime awareness programs. Environmental Design) to neighborhood problem areas. Provide technical programming. programming in these areas is on- • expertise and training for the community, staff support for programs, and program going. - set up expenses. Sponsor incentives or giveaways for program participants, such as: whistles, light timers, light bulbs, coupons,etc. Emphasize "Good Neighbor" Distribute Code Compliance "Good Neighbor"brochures through utility bills or Fund additional Community and Funding for distribution and practices. through events like neighborhood picnics. Consider printing them in different outreach to the Economic Development- outreach is not currently budgeted languages. Highlands Code Compliance and for 2009. Human Services Maintain a list of community groups that can offer service and assistance to neighborhood to Neighborhood Program* maintains a list of groups and property owners who are in need. support code -- and Community agencies that provide services to Help groups establish more neighborhood associations in the Highlands. enforcement. Services- Human property owners in need. The Services. Neighborhood Program has an on- -, going program to recruit neighborhood associations in the Highlands and citywide, which will ti be continued in 2009. Create and manage a list of • City staff should partner with the Chamber of Commerce, Renton Community Implement a work Community and This information is already being • groups and organizations Foundation, and REACH (Renton Ecumenical Association of Churches) to develop program item to Economic Development- compiled by the Chamber , that serve Renton residents, a list of organizations and groups that serve Renton residents and then contact achieve this aim. Economic Development Community Development with the purpose of these organizations to see if they need volunteers. Information about groups that and Administrative, Committee and several City publicizing information need volunteers should be publicized in a variety of ways, including: print and Judicial and Legal departments. It is part of on-going about those groups and their television media, the City's website, and inserts within utility bills. Services- Community work programs for 2009. However, need for volunteers and Relations compiling the information into a community support. single web page and publicizing it would be a new work program. 28 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term , `�Y G^ • • -,,,,,o, 1 . Parks and Recreation Recommendation City Action Task Type Lead Department(s) Work Program Status Focus on parks planning in Include the following considerations during the 2009 update of the Parks, Plan-include these Community Services- A major parks and recreation the Highlands. Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan: • considerations in Parks planning effort is a 2009 work • Redevelop playfields to a standard that would make them useable for many planning efforts. program item for the Parks division. different types of users- and for extended hours • Utilize public-private partnerships in park development • Partner with Renton School District to jointly develop and maintain park facilities and play fields __ • Put more active programming in existing Highlands parks • Consider lighting trails, walkways, and parks • Consider the multi-cultural and multi-lingual needs of the Highlands community in facilities planning and recreational programming Provide for the recreation Consider putting a satellite Senior Center in the Highlands to reach large senior Plan- include these Community Services- A major parks and recreation needs of seniors in the population. Programming and activities for seniors could be integrated into considerations in Parks planning effort is a 2009 work Highlands. existing parks and facilities now. Consider the multi-cultural and multi-lingual planning efforts. program item for the Parks division. needs of seniors in the Highlands when planning facilities and establishing - programming. When the library, a neighborhood center, or.other City facility q v redevelops, consider creating facility space specifically for seniors. Support expansion of the Pair a new Highlands library with multi-use and multi-generational facilities that Consider this in Community Services- Library plans are being considered Highlands Library. provide meeting spaces, a senior center, and a family center. future decisions for Library and Parks by the Council in 2009. A major library service and parks and recreation planning effort in parks and is a 2009 work program item for the recreation facility Parks Division. planning. Develop programs that Work in partnership with local schools or a non-profit agency to start a program Implement a Community Services- Read to a Dog program is already utilize animals to help kids that allows regular encounters between children and pets, such as the Read to a community Library and Recreation available at Main Renton Library. build self confidence and Dog program. program. Expansion of this program or any self-esteem. -- _ new programming would be a new I work program item. Utilize the many public Conduct an inventory of all open spaces and public spaces in the Highlands study Implement and Community Services- New work program. spaces and walkways in the area (including the ownership status of these spaces). Apply CPTED* principles to fund a work Parks, Public Works- Highlands for a useable evaluate the safety of these sites as part of the inventory. Use the vision developed program to review Property Management Public purpose. through a community plannineffort to select spaces for further development as and upgrade public and Transportation, 9 parks, trails, and open spaces. Sell the spaces not selected for future development spaces in the Police, and Community to partially fund program implementation. Highlands. and Economic Development- Planning, _ as appropriate 29 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term C-S - G® •Y Planning Recommendation City Action Task Type Lead Department(s) Work Program Status Engage in a formal planning Set aside staff time and resources to engage in a community planning effort that includes the Plan-include these Community and This is part of the • effort that includes Highlands study area. Develop a public participation plan as one of the first steps in the considerations in Economic Community Planning community visioning to planning process to ensure early and continuous public involvement. Hold a series of"town planning efforts. Development- Initiative work program determine the direction of meetings" on increasingly specific subjects with City Council participation encouraged. Planning for the Planning Division, future plans, policies, and Visioning should include the following topics: but a specific date has not implementation. • What should the Highlands be like in 20 years time? been set to begin work on 1 • What is the role of(social and economic) diversity in maintaining a unique, healthy, and the Community Planning vibrant neighborhood? Area that includes the • What character is desired for the Highlands? Highlands. • What type of architecture or design is desired for this area? • Where and how should the Highlands fit into local and regional growth strategies? • What is the community's vision of a walkable community? • What can be done to cooperatively develop the property north of NE 16th Street (owned by the City, the Renton School District, and the Renton Housing Authority*) into a mixed-use project with affordable housing* and recreation? • How can business areas be improved and enhanced? , - • What is the neighborhood's vision for community space within the Highlands neighborhood? Conduct a visual preference survey to help determine the preferred style and design of improvements in the Highlands. _ Strengthen and develop Develop code to limit parking in yards to surfaced areas such as: concrete, asphalt, or framed Implement work Community and Development of a provisions for code gravel. program to amend Economic minimum property enforcement. Create an impervious surface standard in the R-8 and R-14 zones. Renton Municipal Development- Code maintenance code is _ Develop code to limit parking in unimproved right-of-ways. Code. Enforcement and underway and will Develop a minimum property maintenance code. Planning continue in 2009. ` ,I Additional code changes would be a new work ri i program item. Develop a package of Create incentives for redevelopment, including, but not limited to: parking requirement Implement a work Community and This is included in the redevelopment incentives* reductions, density bonuses, infrastructural improvements, reduced hook-ups and other fees, program to create Economic 2009 work program for for the Highlands. tax breaks, and construction of a sub-regional storm water drainage system. Include incentives development Development- Planning and Economic specifically for the provision of good sidewalks and pedestrian amenities and for the provision of incentives to spur Economic Development. new or rehabilitated, secured affordable housing*. revitalization of the Development and Commission a study that analyzes barriers that may prevent redevelopment in the Highlands. It Highlands Planning and should also include a cost benefit analysis of possible incentives. Identify a Community Interdepartmental _ Revitalization area in which incentives*will be applied. Team Use streetscape prototypes in Develop streetscape prototypes for residential, commercial, and mixed use areas and insert Implement a work Community and Part of the Urban Forestry planning and permitting them into the Development Regulations. program to develop Economic Program and part of the operations. streetscape Development- future work program for prototypes. Planning and the Planning Division, but Community Services- not currently part of 2009 Parks . work program. Add"down light" pedestrian- Add standards for pedestrian-scale lighting to the Urban Design Regulations (RMC 4-3-10o) Implement a work Community and New work program. scale lighting standards to districts 'D' and'E'. program to amend Economic the Highlands design • the Renton Development- regulations. Municipal Code. Planning 30 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term , , ��Y O� s./.,,,N, f Economic Development Recommendation City Action Task Type Lead Department(s) Work Program Status Create a strategic plan for Develop short and long-range economic development strategies for the improvement of Create and implement Community and Part of the future work business district the Highlands Business Areas in coordination with businesses, property owners, and the a plan. Economic program for the Economic improvement. Chamber of Commerce. Include all business areas in the Highlands in the analysis to get Development- Development Division, but not an accurate picture of market conditions and opportunities. Economic Development currently part of 2009 work program. Focus on business Work with the Chamber of Commerce to form a committee of businesses in the Develop business Community and Work with the Chamber of retention and Highlands. development program Economic Commerce on this issue is enhancement in the Use Economic Development staff to assist the Highlands Business Committee in focused on the Development- already underway and will Highlands. organizing events to draw the community such as: sidewalk sales, open air markets, Highlands. Economic Development continue in 2009. Some of the ethnic celebrations, business receptions,business fairs, group marketing and more specific aspects of this advertising, cooperative events (like Downtown's artwalk, holiday and seasonal recommendation are consistent celebrations, or themed events). with this work program, but are Work with the Chamber of Commerce to put together a City of Renton business guide not specifically scheduled for that is broken down by neighborhood. 2009. - Talk with the US Postal Service about installing a drive through mail box in the Highlands shopping area on Sunset. Evaluate location criteria Investigate state and federal requirements for locating this facility. Look at how other Implement a work Community and Economic Development for the methadone clinic. jurisdictions regulate such uses. Develop a citywide plan for regulating such uses. Find program to review this Economic Division is already working out what the existing methadone clinic needs from a location and see if there is an use Development- with the shopping center alternate location for it outside of the Highlands. ' Economic Development owner. Review of this item. and Planning would be a new work program for the Planning Division. '. Develop a first-time home Develop a program that supports first-time homebuyers in the City of Renton. Gear the Implement and fund a Community and New work program item. This buyer program for the _ _ _ program toward eligible buyers who have limited incomes or who work as civil servants. first-time homebuyer Economic recommendation was not City. Set aside funding or land to assist non=profit organizations in providing affordable - program. _Development- included in the 2008 ' housing* in Renton. Set up cooperative agreements with banks to help support and fund Economic Development Affordable Housing Initiative. this program. Program details and contact information should be available on the City's and Community website. Services- Human Services Create a community"third Economic Development staff should work with commercial businesses,the Renton Implement a work Community and New work program item. place*." Housing Authority*, and other property owners in the Highlands to investigate the program to investigate Economic possibility of creating a community"third place*"within the commercial area or within a the creation of a"third Development- publicly owned space. The idea is to create a multi-functional community space that place." Economic Development could be used for formal or informal gatherings and meetings. 31 *See Appendix A for a definition of this term