Renton council concurs with finance committee on grants, World Cup policing interlocals, and adopts street-vacation ordinance

At its April 27 meeting, the Renton City Council unanimously approved a slate of finance and land-use actions after the Finance Committee presented several recommendations.

Grants and budget actions: The council concurred with the Finance Committee to accept a $1,000,000 Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant for the Willow Crest Phase Two project and to enter into an agreement with Homestead Community Land Trust. Council members also concurred with staff to accept an obligation of $3,694,886 in grant funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation to advance Rainier Avenue Corridor Improvements, Phase 5. A small SNAP incentive agreement amendment to add $2,000 at the Rent Farmers Market for March 1, 2026–Feb. 28, 2027 also was approved.

World Cup policing interlocals: The council adopted resolutions authorizing interlocal agreements with the cities of Federal Way and Auburn to assist the Renton Police Department with security and police services for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and authorized future interlocal agreements with Tukwila, Kent, Des Moines, and the Port of Seattle as legal form approvals are completed. The expected fiscal impact for police services during the World Cup was stated as $358,000.

Budget amendment scheduling: Council approved scheduling Ordinance 6192 — a budget-amendment ordinance that would increase revenues by $57.6 million and expenditures by $176.9 million for the 2025–2026 biennium and amend the 2026 salary table — for second and final reading at the next council meeting.

Land use: On second and final reading the council adopted Ordinance 6191 (VAC 25-001), which vacates an unopened right-of-way east of 158th Avenue Southeast and south of Northeast 128th Street to benefit the Renton Regional Fire Authority. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote recorded as all ayes (Council President Perez; Council members Alverson, Rivera, O'Halloran, McIrvin and Prince).

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution 4578 (Federal Way interlocal): adopted (voice vote).
- Resolution 4579 (Auburn interlocal): adopted (voice vote).
- Resolution 4580 (fee schedule): adopted (voice vote).
- Ordinance 6192: scheduled for second and final reading at next meeting (motion carried; final adoption pending).
- Ordinance 6191 (VAC 25-001): adopted on second and final reading; roll-call all ayes.

Why it matters: The approvals commit state and interlocal grant resources to infrastructure and housing projects that affect city planning and budgets; the Rainier Avenue and Willow Crest actions will advance transportation and affordable-housing projects, while the World Cup interlocals prepare the city for a major regional event.