Renton Council adopts housing allocation, signs off on leases, contracts and first reading for fiber franchise

The Renton City Council on a routine March meeting approved a city resolution authorizing a $227,503 contribution to South King Housing and Homelessness Partners’ SCIP Housing Capital Fund and took up a slate of committee-recommended contracts and leasing agreements that city leaders said support affordable housing, infrastructure and local business incubation.

The council unanimously moved to adopt the SCIP allocation resolution after a motion by Councilmember Prince and a second by Councilmember Van. That resolution directs the city’s administering agency to execute documents necessary to enter into funding agreements for affordable-housing projects recommended by the SCIP Executive Board.

In committee reports and subsequent council action, members concurred with a series of finance recommendations: approval of accounts payable vouchers totaling $11,438,765.79 and payroll disbursements of $2,273,207.48 for the February pay period; acceptance of Kidder Matthews vouchers totaling $36,593.36; authorization of Amendment No. 1 to Contract 23249 with the Federal Aviation Administration for additional engineering services not-to-exceed $216,653 for the Taxiway Alpha Rehabilitation Project; and authorization to purchase two servers in support of an airport security and fence upgrade project in a not-to-exceed amount of $232,184.70.

The council approved a $165,738.98 agreement with New Generation Electric LLC to provide and install electric-vehicle chargers for city fleet use and endorsed a $140,000 budget appropriation to fund completion of that project as part of the first-quarter adjustment.

Council members also approved a 10-year lease with Logan Market LLC (effective 04/01/2026–03/30/2036) with a stepped base-rent schedule intended to help a tenant make capital investments and establish customers. The lease terms as reported call for base rent of $5 per square foot in years one and two, $10 per square foot in years three and four, and $15 per square foot in years five and six, plus parking and storage fees, subject to a 3% annual escalation beginning in year seven and Washington State leasehold excise tax. The council approved the finance committee concurrence on the lease with one recorded abstention by Councilmember Epstein.

The Utilities Committee recommended — and the council approved committee concurrence for — a package of infrastructure actions: a proposed 10-year telecommunications franchise for Hyper Fiber of Washington LLC (doing business as Ripple Fiber) was presented for first reading and the council voted to place the ordinance on second and final reading at the next meeting; a $1,240,033 agreement with Consort North America, Inc. for construction management and inspection services on the Kennydale/ Lakeline sewer system improvement project; and a $477,600 agreement with Kimley-Horn & Associates for design, bidding and construction support for the Northeast 24th and 16th Street AC water-main replacement and sidewalk improvements project.

Recognition and community items punctuated the meeting. Mayor Armando Pavoni read and signed a proclamation declaring March 2026 as Women’s History Month in Renton. Representatives from the YWCA—identified in council remarks and introductions as Arnel Wilkerson (director of health and safety), Angelique Rodriguez (domestic-violence legal advocate) and Cameron Claytor (assault advocate)—accepted the proclamation and described YWCA services including shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, support groups, safety planning and legal assistance. Wilkerson said in closing, “Healing begins the moment someone is believed and change begins the moment we refuse to stay silent.”

Deputy CAO Christy Rowland presented the Renton Civic Academy’s second cohort, said the program has produced more than 60 graduates who serve as community ambassadors, and invited residents to sign up for future cohorts via the city website.

The council recessed into an executive session to discuss labor negotiations pursuant to the RCW citation read into the record; no formal action was taken during the executive session and the meeting was adjourned at its close.

Votes at a glance - Resolution: $227,503 to South King Housing and Homelessness Partners — adopted (motion moved by Councilmember Prince; seconded by Councilmember Van). - Consent agenda (9 items) — approved by voice vote. - Finance: accounts payable $11,438,765.79; payroll $2,273,207.48; Kidder Matthews $36,593.36 — concurred with committee report. - FAA Amendment (Contract 23249) — authorized not-to-exceed $216,653 — concurred. - Servers purchase for airport project — authorized not-to-exceed $232,184.70 — concurred. - EV charger agreement (New Generation Electric LLC) — $165,738.98; budget appropriation $140,000 — concurred. - Lease with Logan Market LLC — approved (10-year term); 1 abstention (Epstein). - Hyper Fiber / Ripple Fiber franchise ordinance — presented and placed on second reading at the next meeting. - Consort North America — $1,240,033 agreement for sewer project — concurred. - Kimley-Horn & Associates — $477,600 for water-main and sidewalk design/support — concurred.

What’s next The city scheduled several committee and council meetings in early April (Committee of the Whole and standing committees including Utilities, Public Safety and Transportation) to consider traffic-calming updates, solid-waste rate amendments, a Puget Sound Energy gas main extension and a SR 167 ramp supplemental. The council moved to recess into executive session on labor negotiations for approximately 15 minutes and adjourn the public meeting upon its conclusion.