Council roundup: Parks and Rec proclamation, Japanese Sister City

The Renton City Council was busy July 8 with a Parks and Recreation Month proclamation, an honoring of Councilmember James Alberson Jr.’s achievement, and a visit by the Sister City delegation from Nishiwaki, Japan.

Parks and Recreation Month

The theme of the Parks and Recreation Month proclamation this year is “Where You Belong,” which the department’s staff embodies, according to the proclamation.

“The significance of National Park and Recreation Month is not just a national observance, but a local commitment and celebration in Renton,” Mayor Armondo Pavone said in his proclamation. “Our community, like many others across the nation, thrives on the access to, and the conservation and enjoyment of outdoor spaces, which are all at the heart of the quality of life people experience in the Pacific Northwest.”

The proclamation went on to say that Renton has more than 445 acres of parks, 10 miles of developed trails and walking paths, and 117,000 trees along city streets, parks and natural areas. Alongside that, the proclamation said the Renton Parks and Recreation Department provides regional attractions, including a senior center, an aquatic center, a regional park, a golf course, a boat launch, a skateboard park, recreation centers, access to numerous regional trail corridors, and a history museum.

Maryjane Van Cleave from Renton Parks and Recreation accepted the proclamation. Van Cleave said the department has gone through a lot since 2010, but it’s going to be rebranded to better align with its national parks and recreation association, Three Pillars.

“Their priorities are conservation, resilience and equity by way of access and ability as well as health and wellness. The department has been around since 1914 with Liberty Park,” Van Cleave said. “It was renamed it was originally City Park, and we look forward to not only being the city’s peachy folder, as what I call us, and as one of the oldest departments, but I think we’re certainly one of the most beloved. Last year, we served 2 million visitors in our parks and in our buildings.”

Van Cleave said the department is still facing many challenges that are out of its control, but it’s certainly still planning to improve these challenges with its over 75 employees and over 100 supplemental staff.

Council President Ed Prince added that he went for a walk at Cascade Park on July 5, and the park was full of fireworks debris. Despite the debris that day, Prince praised the parks department, citing that when he went for a walk three days later, on July 8, the park was “99 percent” clean.

Municipal Leadership Award

Councilmember James Alberson was awarded the Association of Washington Cities Certificate of Municipal Leadership, which is awarded to people who complete its training program.

Councilmember Prince, who presented the award to Alberson, said that for over 90 years, AWC has worked to help improve elected officials. Prince said the majority of the city council held that certificate or advanced certificate.

“That’s a lot of work to get that award,” Mayor Pavone said. “I want to thank Councilmember Alberson for his dedication to the city and taking his job seriously. Thank you very much.”

Renton’s Sister City

The council also hosted guests from our Renton’s Sister City of Nishiwaki, Japan: Mayor Shozo Katayama, Superintendent of Education Kazuhiro Endo, and Nishiwaki Secretary Naomichi Nakano.

Renton and Nishiwaki have been Sister Cities for 55 years, according to Renton Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Rowland.

Rowland said the delegation had lunch with Mayor Pavone, then came back to City Hall to lay the groundwork for a delegation for 2025. Additionally, the delegation met with Renton School District’s Deputy Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Shannon Harvey. Rowland said they met to speak about resuming, at pre-pandemic levels, the middle school exchange program, which Councilmember Carmen Rivera was part of.

In addition to formal business, Rowland said they would be visiting the Seahawks training facility and the Renton Farmers Market, and would be ending their time joining Pavone for dinner.

“With the work of Lions Club back in 1969, is where our work started,” Katayama said. “The world expo will start in Japan next year. I would love for you to visit us in Japan and enjoy the world expo, surrounding area, and definitely Nishiwaki.”

In other council action

2025 to 2025 Biennial Budget: The Finance Department recommended setting a public hearing date of July 22, 2024, to solicit public input on the preliminary development of the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget. Council concurred.

Police grants: The Police Department recommended executing an agreement with the Association of Washington Cities to accept grant funds in the amount of $185,000 to reimburse Project Be Free for co-response contract costs. Council concurred.

Project Be Free and Renton Police agreement: The Renton Police Department recommended the approval of an agreement with Project Be Free, in the amount of $185,000, for co-response services on domestic violence calls with the Renton Police Department. Council concurred.

Renton City Council President Ed Prince presenting James Alberson Jr. his Association of Washington Cities Certificate of Municipal Leadership at the July 8 Renton City Council meeting. Photo by Joshua Solorzano/The Reporter