Renton council adopts SKHHP 2026 budget, approves multiple contracts and grants

The Renton City Council adopted a resolution approving the South King County Housing and Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) 2026 work program and operating budget and unanimously approved a slate of finance committee recommendations on contracts, grants, personnel and insurance renewals.

The nut graf: In a single council meeting the body approved SKHHP’s 2026 work plan, authorized capital and operating contracts, accepted multiple grant agreements funded from state sales‑and‑use tax allocations, approved a property purchase agreement and authorized the state auditor engagement for the 2024 audit. Most motions were approved by voice vote at the council meeting; where vote counts were not recorded on the record, the proceedings show the motions passed.

Items adopted or authorized at the meeting included:

- Adoption of a resolution approving the SKHHP 2026 work program and operating budget. The planning and development committee recommended concurrence and the council voted to adopt the resolution.

- Approval of claims and payroll vouchers (accounts payable and payroll disbursements). Finance staff presented vouchers and payroll totals; council concurred with the finance committee recommendation.

- Approval to add one full‑time equivalent capital project coordinator position with a 2025 budget allocation of $176,242 to address backlog in capital and repair maintenance projects.

- Conversion of a vacant public records specialist position (salary grade A17) to an enterprise content specialist I/II (salary grade A16 or A20) and related appropriations to fund the conversion.

- Authorization for a professional services agreement with Facet Northwest, Inc. for preliminary site assessment and community engagement for the Cedar River Natural Area Mountain Bike Park project in the amount of $56,065, and a related budget appropriation of $200,000 to cover the contract and a future design/permitting amendment.

- Approval of a $900,000 grant agreement to Homestead Community Trust for Willowcrest Phase 2, funded by HB 1590 sales and use tax allocations.

- Approval of a $500,000 grant agreement with Wayback Inn and St. Stephen Housing Association for the Steel House townhome development, funded by HB 1590 sales and use tax allocations.

- Authorization to execute a purchase and sale agreement with Stacy Holdings LLC for King County parcels 3023059096, 3023059098, 3023059099 and 3023059091 and related documents, with total sale price and closing costs not to exceed $8,500,000.

- Approval to execute the annual audit engagement letter with the Office of the Washington State Auditor for fiscal year 2024 services at an estimated cost of $112,000.

- Renewal of the city’s property, pollution and cybersecurity insurance policies for the period 07/01/2025 through 07/01/2026 in the amount of $1,438,455.31 (a 2.74% decrease from the prior year premium), to be bound through the city’s broker, Alliant Insurance Services.

Each of the above items was introduced to the council by committee report (primarily the finance committee) and carried by motion. The meeting record shows voice votes with "all in favor, say aye," followed by "motion passes" for the listed items; no roll‑call tallies were recorded on the public record included in the meeting transcript.

Also on first reading the council placed an ordinance amending several subsections of the Renton Municipal Code (4‑6‑060 series) on second reading at the next council meeting. The ordinance was moved to second and final reading on the next meeting without recorded opposition.

Ending: Council members and staff asked for follow‑up materials on several items — including project timelines for the Cedar River bike‑park planning contract and legal clarifications on the Stacy Holdings property purchase — and staff said they would provide those details in future committee materials and council packets.