The city was recently recognized as a Green Star leader from Puget Soundkeeper and Washington Environmental Council. Green stars were given to cities and counties that embraced a healthy, more sustainable future by initiating low-impact development as the preferred and commonly used approach, according to a press release.

For its permit process the city created an internal review team with representatives from multiple departments, who reviewed municipal codes along with comprehensive plans, shoreline management plans and design standards.

Low-impact development techniques include rain gardens, buffers around paved areas, permeable pavement, and preservation of existing plantings on development sites, according to the release. Public Works officials Hebe Bernardo and Kristina Lowthian, and Community and Economic Development official Angie Mathias served as project leads

The city’s Duvall Avenue Northeast pavement preservation project was also recognized by the Washington state chapter of the American Public Works Association as the best asphalt work in the state in 2016. The project involved resurfacing Duvall Avenue Northeast from Northeast Fourth Street to Northeast 10th Street, which extends the life of the pavement an estimated 12 to 15 years. Flora Lee from Renton’s Public Works Department was the project manager.