Renton CED seeks $150,000/year for downtown cleaning, advances Legacy Square plan

Jenna, speaking for the Community and Economic Development (CED) team, told the Renton Committee of the Whole that the department’s 2025–26 biennial budget remains largely unchanged from prior years but includes one new annual funding request: $150,000 to maintain the downtown cleaning contract that supports businesses and residents. “The community and economic developments budget has remained consistent with previous years with 1 additional ask and that is a 150,000 annually to maintain the downtown cleaning contract,” she said.

CED also proposed a graffiti-abatement approach it calls “Paint with Purpose” to replace frequently tagged walls with murals developed in partnership with the Arts Commission, businesses, agencies and residents. Jenna said the Arts Commission will be involved in developing a solicitation process—potentially modeled on the city’s Prado program—so pre-selected artists are available when a site requires treatment.

On code enforcement, Jenna described an enhanced code-compliance initiative scheduled to begin in 2025 that uses a grid system intended to ensure equity and fairness across neighborhoods. She emphasized a partnership approach to avoid punitive first responses for minor issues and said the department will explore programs to assist low-income residents and seniors with tasks such as mowing and trash removal.

Planning and housing highlights included a comprehensive-plan update nearing adoption, a required revision to the city’s critical-area ordinance, and outreach to identify partners to deploy funds referenced in the presentation as “house bill 15 90” for affordable-housing delivery. Jenna also noted ongoing work on several large pipeline projects—Long Acres redevelopment master plan, Willow Crest Townhome phase 2 and Solera phase 2—and said staff will explore partnerships for the Grady transit-oriented development (TOD) site to include affordable housing, retail and transit amenities.

On downtown recruitment, Jenna said the city is pursuing larger experiential tenants to increase foot traffic and named Costco, Vertical World and interest from the Kids Quest Museum as active prospects. She also described a plan to formalize a creative-economy program and finalize a five-year arts-and-culture master plan within the biennium.

Jenna presented conceptual plans for a Legacy (World Cup) Square—the working name for a public gathering space developed with the Sounders Rave Foundation—and said conceptual drawings are approximately 90% complete. She described a phased build: Phase 1 (2025) focused on underground utilities, hardscape and turf, followed by Phase 2 for vertical elements including stage and screen. The presentation cited a project budget “about 1,100,000” with a separate gateway renovation “adding 500” as presented; those figures were given in the presentation and are reported here as provided.

Council members asked for details about mural selection, the department’s role supporting social services, ADU outcomes and hiring timelines. Jenna said the Arts Commission will help define the mural selection process, CED will partner with Human Services and Parks on social-service infrastructure, and that of about 43 ADU pre-application inquiries, two ADUs have been built to date. She said two of three CED positions had been filled and the remaining vacancy will be re-advertised in the first quarter.

The committee will consider legislation and further budget materials at upcoming meetings before formal adoption.