Mayor Denis Law on Wednesday gave a rundown of all the development and growth in Renton, highlighted some of the priorities for the future and proclaimed the state of the city “very good” during his ninth annul State of the City Address Wednesday at the Renton Pavilion Even Center.

The mayor also talked about economic development, quality of life, diversity and commended a handful of city employees during the speech.

Law began by talking about a few of the challenges facing the city and the region, including the growing drug crisis, homelessness and a shortage of affordable housing.

“In Renton, we are working hard to address all of these issues,” he said. “Our police, code enforcement and human services staff are working together to address the impacts of homelessness and drug abuse.”

Law cited the success of the Center of Hope, the only day shelter for homeless women and children in the region. Located in City Hall, the center has provided shelter for more than 450 families and has placed 78 families in permanent housing since it opened in 2013.

Law also said he has the city staff focused on five major areas: economic development, continued progress on the inclusion/diversity initiative, police effectiveness and improving community relations, quality of life issues and improving workforce culture with a focus on competence and efficiency.

Speaking about diversity, Law said a commitment to creating a community that serves all citizens has become “part of our DNA at City Hall.”

Law cited the Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force, outreach on the part of the police department and a commitment to building a workforce that looks like the community.

“Everything we do as a city includes a component that considers inclusion and diversity,” he said.

Law also spoke about police efforts to make the city safer. Though violent and property crimes are down nearly 50 percent since 2000 in the city, Law said domestic violence, issues with the mentally ill and suspicious activity continue to be on the rise.

He also cited two police officers for going above and beyond the call of duty recently.

Officer Tanuj Soni was honored for an incident in September in which he was dispatched to a shoplifting call, only to discover that the suspect was a teenager who was stealing because he had no food. Instead of arresting him, Soni took the teen through the store, purchasing food for him.

Though Soni never reported the incident to his superiors, a resident saw him at the store and wrote a letter to the police chief to praise him for what he’d done.

Law also called out Officer Marty Leverton who a few weeks ago was dispatched to an auto accident and determined the driver was a homeless veteran who had two children in the car with him. When the kids began to cry after the car was towed, Leverton comforted them by giving the stuffed animals, before learning from the driver that their mother was actually in the Highlands begging for money.

Leverton swapped his motorcycle for a patrol car and spent an hour locating the woman and then working with the department’s domestic violence advocate to secure a hotel room and food vouchers for the family.

“This is not unusual,” Law said of what the officers did.

On the business side, Law spoke of his plan to move the downtown transit center to Grady Way and rainier Avenue North and talked about several transportation projects currently underway in Renton, like the Logan Avenue project and the upcoming South Main Street rebuild.

Law then pivoted to talk about the more than $500 million in investments under construction in Renton today, from the Southport Hotel and Office project on Lake Washington, to the new PACCAR plant in North Renton to the Group Health and Providence Health and Service projects in the industrial area, as well as the new two-story IKEA being built next to the current store.

Downtown, he cited work at the former Renton Western Wear building, which achieved historical status last year, the Lofts at Second and Main and a handful of other projects currently under development.

In the Highlands, Law spoke of the soon-to-open new library and the surrounding Sunset redevelopment project, which will bring new housing for all income levels, retail and a park to the area.

Law also cited Boeing’s 737 plant, which produces 47 airplanes each month and will increase production next year.

“I only want one,” the mayor joked, asking the company to donate a plane to the city.

Council president Randy Corman said he thought the speech was a great report on everything happening in Renton.

“It really captured how much is going on in our city,” he said, adding that everything in this year’s speech was new and not a retread of what we’d heard last year.

Chamber president Vicky Baxter, whose organization hosted the breakfast event, agreed.

“It’s real exciting what’s happening here in Renton,” she said.