Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4406CITYOFRENTON,WASHINGTONRESOLUTIONNO.4406ARESOLUTIONOFTHECITYOFRENTON,WASHINGTON,AUTHORIZINGPURSUITOFACOVID-19VACCINEMANUFACTURINGFACILITYINTHECITYOFRENTON.WHEREAS,thenovelcoronavirusfCOVID-19)whichfirstappearedinDecember2019hassincespreadthroughoutmostoftheworld;andWHEREAS,thefirstcaseofCOVID-19identifiedintheUnitedStatesoccurredinWashingtonStateonJanuary20,2020;andourstatehassinceexperiencednearly11,000infectionsandover500deaths;andWHEREAS,COVID-19wasdeclaredaglobalpandemiconMarch11,2020;andWHEREAS,asofmid-April,2020,nearlytwomillionpeoplearoundtheglobehavebeendiagnosedwithCOVID-19andmorethan120,000peoplehavedied;andWHEREAS,themostmission-criticalobjectivetoeliminateCOVID-19asadeadlydiseaseistomanufactureascientificallyprovenvaccinetocombatit;andWHEREAS,theU.S.NationalInstituteofAllergyandInfectiousDiseases(NlAID)estimatesthataCOVID-19vaccinecouldbedevelopedin12to18months;andWHEREAS,governmental,business,andnon-profitfoundationleadershaveidentifiedaneedfortherapiddeploymentofmanufacturingfacilities;andWHEREAS,theSeattle-basedBillandMelindaGatesFoundationhassteppedforwardtohelpleadandfundthiseffort,pledging$250milliontodateandvowingtoputanotherfewbilliondollarsintothedevelopmentofuptosevennewfactoriesforpotentialCOVID-19vaccineproduction;and1 RESOLUTIONNO.4406WHEREAS,theGatesFoundationcommitmentgivesthePacificNorthwestalegupinleadingthegloballyvitalworktodevelopaCOVID-19vaccine;andWHEREAS,theidealsiteforCOVID-19vaccinemanufacturingshouldbeonethatfeaturesablendofmanufacturingcapacity,healthcareexpertise,awell-trainedworkforce,andalocationincloseproximitytomultiplemodesoftransportation;andWHEREAS,theCityofRentonisknownasoneofthenation’smanufacturinghubs,hostingthemostefficientairplane-manufacturingfacilityintheworld(Boeing737and737MAX),servingashomebasetoaglobalandFortune500leaderintruckmanufacturing(PACCAR),andhousingotherleadingmanufacturerssuchasAlliancePackagingandTrojanLitho;andWHEREAS,theCityofRentonisalsohometoagrowingandimpressivehealthcareandmedicalemploymentcluster,includingahospitalrankedasbestintheSeattleMetroAreaandWashingtonState(UWMedicine/ValleyMedicalCenter),nottomentiontheheadquartersofKaiserPermanenteWashingtonandProvidenceSt.JosephHealth,aswellasalargepharmacyandtele-medicinenetwork(Genoa),andtheonlyfull-servicetissuebankinthePacificNorthwest(LifeNetHealth);andWHEREAS,theCityofRentonalsohastheadvantageofbeingsituatedonornexttobothInterstate5andInterstate405andwithinfivemilesofSeaTacInternationalAirport,alongwithhousingageneral-aviationairportofitsown(RentonAirport);andWHEREAS,theCityofRentonalsoboastsarobustandwell-trainedworkforceofmorethan54,000areaemployees,hastechnicaltrainingexpertiseatRentonTechnicalCollege,maintainsanactivedata-basetoenablethemostappropriatesitingofmanufacturingfacilities,andisamulti-culturalcityofinclusion;2 RESOLUTIONNO.4406NOW,THEREFORE,THECITYCOUNCILOFTHECITYOFRENTON,WASHINGTON,DORESOLVEASFOLLOWS:SECTIONI.Theaboverecitalsareadoptedasfindings.SECTIONII.TheCityCouncilsupportsandaffirmsacallbyMayorArmondoPavoneandKingCountyCouncilmemberReaganDunnforthesitingofaCOVID-19vaccinemanufacturingfacilityintheCityofRenton.SECTIONIII.TheCityCouncilgivesitsbackingtoaninitiativeenablingtheMayorandtheCity’sCommunity&EconomicDevelopment(CED)DepartmenttoidentifyandengagewithpotentialmanufacturersofCOVID-19vaccinesandthefederalgovernment.SECTIONIV.TheCityCouncilenthusiasticallysecondstheefforttocompeteforandsecurecommitmentsto siteandsupportaCOVID-19vaccinemanufacturingfacilityinRenton.SECTIONIV.TheCityCouncilauthorizestheengagementofoutsideandconsultinghelp,ifitbecomesnecessary,toassistCEDinconnectingwithbusinessandnon-profitfoundationleadersandotherkeystakeholdersinthefurtheranceofattractingaCOVID-19vaccinemanufacturingfacility.PASSEDBYTHECITYCOUNCILthis20thdayofApril,2020.Jason.Seth,Cy’ClerkAPPROVEDBYTHEMAYORthis20thdayofApril,2020.Arnvone,Mayor3 RESOLUTIONNO.4406Approvedastoform:haneMoloney,CityAttoyRES:1843:4/17/20204