Our Renton

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Our Renton

Our Renton is included in utility bills mailed to single-family residents and businesses. It is also emailed residents in apartment complexes via the Washington Multi-Family Housing Association.

Our Renton contains news, information, an event calendar and list of city contacts.

December 2023

Shaping Renton's Future: 2023 Community Survey Results

“As city leaders, we must listen to our residents’ concerns and immediate needs. Residents act as the city’s customers, and the more community feedback and opportunities to create dialogue, the more likely we can develop solutions that directly impact the lives of Renton residents.” — Mayor Armondo Pavone

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The City of Renton aims to meet our residents’ needs and provide high-quality customer service by listening and responding. Community surveys occur every two to four years, but due to the pandemic, our last survey was conducted in 2017. The city is happy to announce the completion of the 2023 Community Survey.

The survey is used to evaluate city performance, inform the budgeting process, ensure city priorities align with those of the community, and ultimately help shape the future of Renton.

Renton faces many of the same challenges that most cities in the region, if not the entire country, are also encountering. Concerns around crime and safety, travel and mobility, and providing mental health services and support to those experiencing homelessness are vital areas that residents prioritized and want to see improved. Numerous projects, programs, and other efforts are already in place to address these concerns.

Despite the challenges faced by the city, Renton residents have expressed their genuine happiness and satisfaction with the place they proudly call home. The recent survey has revealed one of the city's greatest achievements: the outstanding rating given to city employees by its residents.

Residents are the city’s direct customers, and the success of the city relies on staff providing courteous, knowledgeable, and responsive customer service. The trust between the city and its residents is of utmost importance, and the exemplary customer service provided by the city employees serves as a bridge between local government and residents.

The high ratings received from the survey reflect the dedication and commitment of the city employees in going above and beyond to meet the needs and expectations of residents.

In addition to customer service, there were a few other highlights:

Eight out of ten residents say the quality of life meets or exceeds their expectations.

Sense of community was rated highly amongst all races, ages, and genders, demonstrating that Renton is a welcoming and inclusive community.

The community highly values the parks and trails, special events, and the availability and variety of recreation activities.

The city needs to learn and adjust from findings like this to ensure Renton is a livable community. Here are things the city is working to address:

Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety and Infrastructure: The city's Transportation Division and Parks and Recreation Department are addressing the need to improve pedestrian/bicycle safety and infrastructure through two focuses. The first is the Safer Access to Neighborhood Destinations (SAND) Academy. The SAND Academy has Renton teens work with city staff to determine safe routes for walking, biking, and getting around their neighborhood. In addition, the Parks and Recreation Department will re-evaluate the city's Trails and Bicycle Master Plan in the coming year.

Communication and Engagement: The city has been piloting a two-way digital engagement platform through city-hosted neighborhood events, public forums, and a robust collection of volunteers serving on Boards and Commissions that include members of the public to provide insight, feedback, and direction on city decisions, including our most recently formed Chief's Community Council and Equity Commission.

Emergency Preparedness: The city's Emergency Management Division has several opportunities to prepare and educate residents in disaster preparedness. The first is the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT is a 7-week course that teaches personal preparedness skills. Another opportunity is through the Renton Emergency Preparedness Academy (REPA). REPA is a partner-based academy working with various agencies to teach skills to manage different emergencies. Learn how to build an at-home emergency kit and more about CERT or REPA; check out the latest emergency management video led by Emergency Coordinator Michelle Theurer

Thank you to over 650 Renton residents for participating in the survey. To learn more about the survey results, access the interactive dashboard that compiles the full survey findings.