Kent council authorizes steps to consider 0.1% public safety sales tax; staff to draft ordinance

The Kent City Council on June 17 unanimously adopted a resolution directing the mayor and staff to take steps needed to prepare an ordinance to impose a 0.1% public safety sales tax under Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2015.

The resolution, adopted 7-0, does not itself impose the tax. Mayor Dana Ralph said the council’s vote starts “the beginning step in the decision-making process” about whether to use the new state authority. The step authorizes the mayor to submit required documentation to the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to establish eligibility and to pursue any related grants.

City Attorney Tammy explained what the resolution would authorize: “What the resolution would do if you were to pass it tonight is it would authorize the mayor and staff through the mayor to take actions that would be needed to draft the ordinance, to bring it before you,” and it would allow the city to submit documentation to CJTC and apply for grants if eligible.

Tammy said eligibility hinges on a CJTC determination and several statutory requirements, including adoption of policies consistent with the state’s guidance on use of force, participation in CJTC training on de-escalation and mental-health response,…