Mayor's Update - Clean Economy Strategy

Mayor's Update - Clean Economy Strategy
Posted on 03/14/2022
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Monday, March 14, 2022

Number 15

Cover image for mayor's update for March 14, 2022

What comes to mind when you envision the landscape of Renton in 2040? Accessible, green, and vibrant? Multiple modes of transportation, including ease of access for pedestrians and bicyclists?

I firmly believe the decisions we make over the next five to 10 years will affect our city for the next 50 years. Therefore, we need to be a city our residents find livable and workable while anticipating an ever-changing environment.

To help guide our present-day decisions for future benefit, we’re launching Clean Economy Strategies (CES) 2.0 to evolve Renton over the next 20 years. CES brings together community, economy, and environment to identify goals, strategies, and actions to reduce pollutants, enhance sustainability, and prepare for climate change. It’s a year-long, citywide effort encompassing all departments and relying on input from our residents.

We have identified these five areas of focus and will work to identify ways in each where we can benefit you and your family.

  • Building and Energy

  • Transportation and Land Use

  • Consumption and Materials Management

  • Water and Natural Systems

  • Community Resilience and Wellbeing

Willowcrest models CES

A great example of an award-winning use of Clean Economy Strategies is the Willowcrest Townhomes, which merged the need for affordable housing and environmental stewardship. The homes provide homeownership opportunities for families making between 60 and 80% of our area’s median income.

Each unit is outfitted with solar panels and has heating and cooling systems that provide a 25% energy savings beyond the state’s energy code. A high-efficiency heat pump water heater and WaterSense low-flow fixtures save energy and provide conservation. Carpets come from recycled content. Rainwater barrels capture water that homeowners use for gardening. Landscape plants are native and drought-tolerant, removing the need for irrigation.

Willowcrest stands alone as the first permanently affordable multifamily homeownership project in King County to use net-zero energy construction. Credit goes to the innovative partnership between the city (grant contribution), Homestead Community Land Trust (sponsor and developer), Renton Housing Authority (land donation), and JP Morgan Chase (initial grant contribution). In addition, the project won a Governor’s Smart Communities Award by the Washington State Department of Commerce for its partnerships, financing, and design. It’s proof that quality and environmental stability can go hand in hand.

Our Vision

Our vision is that all residents of Renton, regardless of socioeconomic status, have an environment where they can live, work and play. Our city council and staff are committed to making decisions that strategically allow for development and growth without negating the need to be environmentally conscious or progressive.

We look forward to engaging with our community and working on this strategy together.


Previous Mayor's Updates

  • November 5, 2021 - Renton’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion leads to several impactful initiatives
  • October 1, 2021 - Human Services Funding: City Council increases Human Services budget almost three-fold; approves three projects through HB 1590
  • August 31, 2021 - Solera is the cornerstone of our ongoing redevelopment of the Sunset area
  • June 22, 2021 - Support Housing: Mayor Pavone and county executive announce Renton hotel is part of Health Through Housing initiative

  • December 18, 2020 - City Council passes emergency ordinance for interim zoning controls

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