It’s that time again.  What time is that?  Uhg…yes…spring cleaning time.  However, it doesn’t need to be all bad.  There is somewhere you can take those hard to get ride of items.  The City of Kent is sponsoring the “Special Recycling Event” on March 20, 2010 from 9:00am to 3:00pm.  Bring your approved items (check out their website for more info) all to one location.  Make that spring cleaning fast, easy and less stressful.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010, Kent, Washington–Today Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke gave her annual State of the City Address at the February Kent Chamber membership luncheon. With a packed room at the ShoWare Center, Mayor Cooke revisited 2009.

“This past year was challenging, not just for this city, but for all governments, large and small,” Mayor Cooke said. “Kent, like all cities, worked under a tightening budget.”

She is, however, optimistic about three things:  1) that 2009 is over; 2) the economy appears to be recovering; and 3) flood season is ending. She recounted a number of the city’s 2009 highs and lows, including:

1)  The popularity of ShoWare Center which brought 350,000 guests through its doors in 2009, including 60,000 guests who saw Disney on Ice at the new sports arena

2)  The implementation of the new CodeRED system which allows the city to make 60,000 emergency contacts per hour via phone, email and text message

3)  The four labor unions taking voluntary pay cuts to avoid staff reductions and to help the city save more than $1 million in 2009 spending

4)  2.8%, or $2.2 million, drop in revenue

5)  8.1%, or $1.5 million, drop in sales tax revenue

6)  Elimination of 56 positions within the city, about half of which resulted in layoffs. Other vacant positions were not filled.

7)  Expansion of Kent Station with the GRCC expansion

8)  1,677 Kent Parks volunteers

9)  4,000 volunteer hours spent removing graffiti

10)  Annexing Panther Lake to occur July 1, 2010, making Kent the sixth largest city in the state

In addition to these items, Mayor Cooke reviewed the 2010 budget, stating that public safety remains the city’s #1 priority. The 2010 budget is 5.6% less than the 2009 budget and it includes $1 million to be set aside for emergencies like potential flooding.

“Things are looking a lot better economically,” she added.

A topic of major concern was, of course, the flood risk of the Howard Hanson Dam. Once predicted at a 1 in 4 chance of flooding, the flood risk has dropped to 1 in 33. While this is a positive step, Mayor Cooke said, a permanent fix is not available for three to five years.

“Any kind of delay is simply unacceptable,” she added. “Until that dam is fixed, it is going to haunt us.”

To help control potential flooding, the city raised levies by three feet, successfully completing the task before the beginning of flood season last fall. In addition, Mayor Cooke thanked the community, business leaders and service groups for helping to spread the word about potential flood risks as well as helping one another fill sand bags and helping seniors and the disabled prepare for a flood.

Mayor Cooke singled out a number of city staff and community and business leaders for their support of the Kent community. She thanked them for their tireless service and for making Kent the great place that it is. One person instrumental in the city’s survival of a difficult year was Chief Administrative Officer John Hodgsen.

“John Hodgsen is an outstanding leader and worker in the city,” Mayor Cooke said.

The overall mood of the meeting was positive and Mayor Cooke left the audience with some new things to watch for:  a redesigned website, taking the inbox newsletter to an email format, and the second annual International Festival, set for June 26, and the Kent Refugee and Immigrant Forum.

“It’s 2010 and I’m smiling,” Mayor Cooke said.

The event was presented by the Kent Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Allied Waste and co-sponsored by Kent Downtown Partnership. The program was taped to be shown on Kent TV21 at a later date.

Join Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services on Monday, January 18 for the 2nd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.  This year the project is Clean-up at West Hill Skate Park.  The community service project will begin at 2pm and continue until 4pm.  Please make sure to dress warm and wear sturdy shoes and gloves.  Trash bags and pick up sticks will be provided.   Please pre-register by January 14.  For more information or to register visit kentwaparks.com.

In a recent ad, Waste Management reminds us that certain holiday items can go into our Food and Yard Waste bin for composting. Those items include:

• Garland
• Wreaths
• Christmas trees
• Unwanted candy
• Baked goods (cookies, fruitcake, etc.)
• Turkey carcasses

For more info., visit Waste Management online or call 1-800-592-9995 (M – F, 7 am to 5 pm).

Worldwide millions of women and girls endure sexual slavery. Although this topic is gaining awareness, people still often assume it exists far from home.

The truth is that sexual slavery happens almost everywhere, including South King County! To highlight this pandemic, Soroptimist International of Kent (SIK) joins Soroptimist International of the Americas to raise awareness about sexual slavery. Join us for this upcoming event:

Human Trafficking Awareness Luncheon
Monday, December 14, 2009 @ 11:45 a.m.
Golden Steer, 23826 104th Ave. SE, Kent, WA
Speakers:  Velma Veloria and Emma Catague
Cost:  $18 for lunch

Limited seating. RSVP today. Call Christine Pearson (253-813-2676), Adrienne Rockwell (253-631-3372) or Carla Loux (253-630-4501).

In addition, SIK will conduct a Human Trafficking awareness campaign in January 2010 in downtown Kent and along Pacific Highway South. If you’d like to help with this initiative, please let us know. Thank you!

It’s here!  Severe weather in Washington during this time of the year often increases the possibility of hazards such as flooding. Planning in advance and implementing a flood fight plan will help protect your employees, assets and property and reduce your risk.

Attend this free workshop and learn the latest details about flood safety and the efforts underway to reduce the risk to people, property, businesses and tribal lands during this storm season.  Learn how designing and planning a flood fight plan can reduce the severity of damage from flooding.

Date:  Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Time:  1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location:  King County Office of Emergency Management, 3511 NE 2nd St., Renton, WA

Questions?  Contact Wendy Freitag, WA Emergency Management Division, w.freitag@emd.wa.gov, 253.512.7308

Sponsored by:

Washington State Emergency Management Division
King County Office of Emergency Management
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers

In a story in the Kent Reporter dated November 5 by reporter Steve Hunter, the community learned that the flood risk for the Howard Hanson Dam has dropped dramatically from early predictions. According to the article, a recent fix to the dam dropped the Green River Valley’s chance of flooding from a 1 in 3 chance to 1 in 32. Compared to the 1 in 140 chance offered by an undamaged dam, this risk is dramatically reduced, but a high risk of flooding still exists.

Read the full story here.

Thanks to the Kent Downtown Partnership for sharing this story.

From the City of Kent

November 4, 2009 – Kent service clubs are taking the lead to match volunteers with those who need help preparing for potential flooding. Residents can now call or email for help with filling and placing sandbags at their homes.

Kent Sunrise Rotary, Rotary Club of Kent, Kent Meridian Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis Club of Kent, Kent Lions, Soroptimist International of Kent and Quota International of Kent Valley have all come together to serve as volunteer coordinators.

According to Kent’s Housing and Human Services Manager Katherin Johnson, there has been a outpouring of support from local residents and church groups wanting to know how they can help.

“The free sandbags have been a huge benefit for residents, but some people need help getting them” said Johnson. “Some just aren’t physically able to shovel sand or move sandbags. The local service clubs matching these people up with volunteers will be an outstanding help for everyone.”

Residents needing help with sandbags, or people willing to volunteer, can leave a message on the service club hotline at 206-755-4814 or by email at kentserviceclubs@yahoo.com.  Interested parties can also follow the service clubs on Twitter at twitter.com/SandbagsKentWA.

The Kent Valley is facing a higher risk of flooding this winter due to water seeping more rapidly through an earthen bank next to the Howard Hanson Dam after record high water last winter. Until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can make repairs, it must limit the amount of flood water it stores behind the dam.

October 30, 2009 –City crews have completed placement of over 17,000 giant sandbags on the Green River levee in an effort to prevent flooding in the Kent Valley. Spanning 12 miles on the east side of the Green River, the giant sandbags have raised the height of the levee by three feet to provide additional freeboard, or capacity, to protect the levee from overtopping.

Read the full press release here.

October 27, 2009

The alerts concerning potential flooding in the Valley will initially come from the Army Corp of Engineers. They assure us that we will have approximately 48-96 hours early warning of potential flooding.

Then a 24-48 hour notice before they perform a release at the Dam, which may or may not cause actual flooding. With the 24-48 hour notice, this should be provide amble time for cancellation of school classes and relocation of residents from the Valley.

There should be no “mass exodus” at once as everyone will have considerable time to make the appropriate arrangements. Additionally, evacuation routes have already been determined and signage and monitoring have been arranged.

Remember, any flooding will be caused by a release from the Dam, hence the Army Corp of Engineers can monitor and predict with almost certainty when and if they will perform a release and thus provide us with sufficient notice.

From Robert Constant, Traffic Sergeant
Patrol Division, Kent Police Department

In other King County business yesterday, the King County Council adopted an agreement to relocate county inmates should flooding of the Green River require evacuation of the Maleng Regional Justice Center in downtown Kent. Inmates would be moved temporarily to detention facilities in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.

Here is the text of the county’s press release, issued October 26, 2009 by Larry Gossett:

Council Adopts Agreements to Relocate County Inmates in Case of Emergency

Pierce, Kitsap Counties to house inmates if flooding forces evacuation of the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

The possibility that water released from behind the storm-damaged, federal Howard Hanson Dam could flood the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent has the Metropolitan King County Council acting to protect the inmates housed in the facility. The Council gave its approval today to two separate interlocal agreements with Pierce and Kitsap Counties to house inmates from the Regional Justice Center in their detention facilities.

“We have a responsibility to protect the people serving their time in the MRJC, as well as those who work there and the public,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, the sponsor of the ordinance. “These agreements ensure that if we do have to relocate inmates, they will be placed in secure facilities outside of the flood zone.”

The detention facility at the MRJC can house up to 1,300 felony and misdemeanor inmates. In the event of flooding, up to 200 of those inmates would be transferred to the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle. The adopted agreements augment the capacity of the KCCF by allowing for the transfer of 168 to Pierce County detention centers and 114 inmates to Kitsap County.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working on interim repairs to the Howard Hanson Dam since last January’s record rain, when sinkholes and rapid seepage of water were discovered in an earthen abutment next to the structure. The Army Corps is working to control that seepage through construction of a “grout curtain,” which consists of a concrete-like substance being injected into the earthen material to slow the flow of water.

Due to the weakened nature of the dam, the Army Corps is limiting the storage capacity of the reservoir until the repair can be tested next spring. If the Green River overtops its banks and floods the valley, the County has projected that the MRJC could be under up to 4 feet of water, forcing the evacuation of County staff and the inmates housed in the facility.

The City of Kent needs volunteers to help at Turnkey Park (23312 100th Ave. SE) this Saturday. From 9 am to noon, work crews will clear a wooded area, pull weeds, plant trees and shurbs and refurbish gravel trails.

To volunteer, contact Victoria Andrews at 253-856-5113.

Contact: Al Sanders 206-296-1685/Frank Abe 206-296-0355

October 19, 2009

Council authorizes emergency funding for relocation of County services and protection of County facilities in flood-threatened Green River Valley

Vital county services to continue operating despite any flooding from federal Howard Hanson Dam.

The Metropolitan King County Council today authorized the emergency funds needed to relocate County services and protect critical County facilities in the Green River Valley, in advance of the threat of flooding from the storm-damaged, federal Howard Hanson Dam.

“It is imperative that the County take the necessary actions to protect our employees and the facilities in which they work in the Green River Valley,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, chair of the Council’s Budget and Fiscal Management Committee that reviewed the legislation. “Today’s actions help us prepare to take the steps we need to ensure continued operation of vital county services.”

“Our job is to protect citizen access to their government and the services that only we can provide,” Said Councilmember Jane Hague.

“In the event of a major flood, it is crucial that King County be able to guarantee basic services, such as wastewater treatment, to its citizens,” said Council Chair Dow Constantine. “These measures will also allow King County to maintain its key justice system functions during an emergency.”

The $34.6 million appropriation funds work already underway to, among other things:

·       negotiate for jail space to relocate inmates from the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC),
·       negotiate for leases to relocate Superior Court, District Court, the Prosecuting Attorney, the Public Defender, and Judicial Administration from the MRJC,

·       hire a contractor to build a wall of concrete blocks and earthen berms around the MRJC, and provide flood protection around other critical, valuable County facilities,

·       negotiate for leased space for Aukeen District Court and affected public health facilities,
·       lease a temporary animal shelter for five months,
·       lease generators capable of producing 16 megawatts of electricity to continue pumping treated sewage out of the South Treatment Plant in the event of a power failure,

·       erect a water barrier around the South Treatment Plant, and
·       move the Elections Office out of the Earlington Building to the King County Airport Operations Center.

“It would be irresponsible if King County was not prepared,” said Councilmember Julia Patterson. “The County has already acted to protect the November election, but if other critical services are not protected, flooding in the Green River Valley could leave our employees at the Regional Justice Center unable to provide basic services to citizens, and raw sewage headed to our wastewater treatment facility could back up and pollute Lake Washington. This funding provides reassurance that County services, services that are critical to protecting people, property, and democracy, will continue in the event of a flood.”

“This emergency funding to protect our wastewater facility could save millions in property damage” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn. “Preserving county services and protecting the wastewater facilities from damage are key elements of responsible planning and response to the flood threat.”

“To ensure the health and safety of King County residents, we must make these investments to prepare for potential flooding,” said Councilmember Bob Ferguson. “The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made it clear that it may take the federal government 5 years to permanently fix the dam. Today’s decisive action is an important step in addressing a multi-year problem.”

“If flood waters strike there will be limited time to react to keep our facilities out of harm’s way,” said Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer. “This decision assures that the County’s vital services such as wastewater treatment will continue their primary responsibility of serving the homes and business in the Green River Valley.”

The ordinance provides funds to lease a temporary King County animal shelter for five months, but prohibits the use of the funds for purchase of an animal services facility. The County Executive has already announced that animals will be relocated from the animal shelter in Kent and the facility closed by November 1 in anticipation of the flood threat, and proposed the transition of both animal control and sheltering services to a new entity by June 30, 2010.

“As an advocate for being prepared, I appreciate this thoughtful plan for moving the animals in our Kent shelter out of harm’s way due to the threat of severe flooding this winter,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert. “Because the warning period for flooding could be very short, we need to have a flexible and cost-effective plan for transferring our court operations as well as the animal shelter to temporary locations. I am confident that this framework will provide for the continuity of operations that still delivers compassionate care for the animals in our custody and responsive customer service in our court system.”

Of the emergency funds authorized today, $27.2 million will come from the sale of bond anticipation notes and $7.4 million from the County’s Wastewater Treatment construction fund. The legislation requires the Executive to report back to the Council every two weeks on how the money is being spent. Money that is not used during this flood season will be returned to the General Fund and the wastewater fund to be held in reserve in the event of another Green River flood threat next year.

The Council doubled the amount of funds placed into a flood contingency fund from $4.5 million to nearly $10 million by reducing other areas of the Executive’s budget request.

The Council on August 31 gave the County Executive proactive authority to declare a state of emergency in advance of actual flooding, which he did on Sept. 10.

“Relocating vital services out of the Howard Hanson Dam flood zone will ensure that the business of the county will continue uninterrupted in the event of a flood,” said Councilmember Larry Phillips. “This is an interim precaution we must take while urging the federal government to speed up permanent repairs to the dam.”

Agencies that are moved out of their facilities will remain at their interim locations until testing on the interim “grout curtain” being injected into the earthen abutment next to the Howard Hanson Dam is complete and it is determined that it is safe to return. The legislation calls on the Executive to report back to the Council with a 3- to 5-year relocation plan for County facilities, the period of time the Army Corps has said it will take to design, fund and construct a permanent fix for the dam.

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at
http://kingcounty.legistar.com and type in “2009-0559 and 2009-0560”

Follow the Council’s deliberations through Twitter by visiting the

King County Council Web site at:
www.kingcounty.gov/council

Watch all Council proceedings held in chambers LIVE on King County TV
on Comcast and Broadstripe Cable on channel 22, or online at:
www.kingcounty.gov/KCTV

Complimentary Sand and Sandbags Available for Kent Residents
Beginning October 15

KENT, Wash. – October 14, 2009 – The City of Kent will begin making complimentary sand and sandbags available to Kent residents beginning Thursday, October 15. Empty sandbags, along with instructions for proper filling and placement, will be available for pick up at the City’s Operations facility located at 5821 West James Street at the following dates and times:

* Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
* Saturdays (10/17, 10/24 and 10/31 only): 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Once residents have their empty sandbags, they can fill them at one of the following sandbag filling stations during daylight hours only.  Residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

* Old Panther Lake Elementary Site, 20831 108th Ave. SE
* Earthworks Park, 742 E. Titus St.
* Home Depot, 26120 104th Ave. SE
* Totem Middle School, 26630 40th Ave. S.
* Grandview Park, 3600 S. 228th St.
*East Hill Fred Meyer, 10201 SE 240th St.

Residents will be limited to 100 bags per household.  For more information, contact the City of Kent Public Works Department at 253-856-5600.

The City of Kent is sponsoring a Fall Recycling Event on Sat., October 17, 2009 from 9 am to 3 pm at Russell Road Park, 24400 Russell Road, Kent, WA. No vehicles will be admitted after 3 pm.

Items that can be accepted include scrap metal, propane tanks, porcelain toilets and sinks, refrigerators, freezers, air conditions, TVs, computers, electronics, petroleum-based products, tires, reusable household goods, documents for shredding, concrete, asphalt, rock, brick, cardboard and batteries.

Some fees will apply for the recycling of certain items such as propane tanks, refrigerators and tires.

The program is only available for household materials from King County residents.

Questions? Call 253-856-5449 (Monday – Friday).

More info. on recycling:

Calendar of Recyling Events

Recycling Special Materials

Hazardous Waste

Flooding in the Green River Valley

Residents, businesses and farms below the Howard Hanson Dam in the Green River Valley should prepare now for a higher risk of flooding. Parts of Seattle, Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila—could be flooded and evacuations in some communities are possible.

MORE INFO HERE.

Are you ready?

See the King County Flood Plan website for complete information on upcoming presentations and tips on how to prepare for potential flooding. Events listings here.

Not sure if you are in an area that may be affected? Check this map for more information. Potential areas to be affected are those below the Howard Hanson Dam including Kent, Auburn, Renton, South Seattle and Tukwila.

Additional is also available in this blog post.

King County is advising residents of the Green River Valley area to prepare for possible flooding this fall. On their list of “to dos”:

1.  Make an emergency plan and an emergency kit.

2.  Buy flood insurance now. It takes 30 days to become active. Check with your local property & casualty insurance agent* for a quote.

3.  Purchase an AM or emergency radio that runs on batteries.

4.  Monitor news media for severe weather.

5.  Listen for evacuation alerts and be aware of evacuation routes near you.

6.  Monitor local road conditions and obey road closure signs.

7.  Take medications and medical supplies with you.

8.  Be prepared to relocate pets, livestock and other animals.

9.  Minimize flood damage.

For more information and tips on how to prepare for a flood, visit the King County website.

*Some local agents with knowledge about flood insurance include:    Patti Jenson, Allstate (Maple Valley); Rob Jones, Farmers Insurance; Doug Jones, State Farm; and Rod Saalfed, Bell-Anderson Insurance.

[Note:  There are other agents throughout the Green River Valley area who will also be able to provide a quote on flood insurance. This list is not all inclusive and not meant to endorse any of the listed agents.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Victoria L. Andrews, Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services
253-856-5113
vandrews@ci.kent.wa.us

Norah Kates, Cascade Land Conservancy
206-905-6943
norahk@cascadeland.org

Kent & Cascade Land Conservancy Launch Green Kent Partnership

KENT, Wash. – September 2, 2009 – The City of Kent is the newest city to join the Cascade Land Conservancy’s Green City Network, the growing regional movement to recognize the need for a coordinated restoration effort of our forested parklands and greenbelts.

The Kent City Council voted Sept. 1 to make Kent the region’s fifth Green City Partnership.  A $95,000 grant from the King Conservation District will enable Kent to partner with The Conservancy to create a 20-year urban forest restoration plan. The first phase of the plan will be completed by December 2010.

Since 2004, the successful Green Seattle Partnership has provided important lessons on how volunteers can actively help re-establish and maintain healthy forested parklands.  Urban forest plans have been created and Green City Partnerships are now being implemented in Kirkland, Redmond and Tacoma.  Kent becomes the fifth city to make this long-term commitment to healthy urban green space and community involvement.

Kent Parks and Public Works Departments will use the Conservation District funds to include all City-owned forests and wetlands in the plan.  Once all lands have been surveyed and mapped in a Partnership process known as “tree-iage,” City staff will recruit and train volunteer stewards in the removal of invasive vegetation and planting of native trees and shrubs.  The mapping process helps identify high priority areas.

“Kent has a strong foundation to work with,” commented Jeff Watling, Director of Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services. “The stewardship that we have fostered through our volunteer programs over the years will serve as a great starting point for this work.”

“The Green City Network is an important part of The Cascade Agenda,” said Ara Erickson, The Conservancy’s Green Cities Director.  “We must make our forested parklands as ecologically viable as possible because they help to make our cities and towns great places to live, work and play.”

In 2005, The Conservancy and its many partners launched The Cascade Agenda, a 100-year vision and call to action to protect our quality of life by balancing urban growth/economic development with natural resource protection throughout the Cascades region.

The Green City program brings together volunteers, municipalities and experts to remove invasive plants and begin a restoration program to return areas to native trees and shrubs. The program addresses a serious problem facing cities in our region:  the loss of forest canopy to invasive species, which will eventually shrink the green places that make cities livable.

For more information about Kent Parks’ current volunteer program and upcoming events, contact Victoria Andrews at 253-856-5113 or vandrews@ci.kent.wa.us. To learn more about the Cascade Land Conservancy’s Green Cities program, contact Norah Kates, 206-905-6943 or visit www.cascadeland.org.

About the City of Kent: The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, Washington with a population over 88,000. As a culturally rich destination, Kent’s dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks and nationally accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. For more information, visit www.choosekent.com.

About the Cascade Land Conservancy: The Cascade Land Conservancy is the largest land conservation, stewardship and community building organization operating in Washington State with headquarters in Seattle and principal offices in King, Kittitas, Mason, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.  Founded in 1989, the Conservancy has protected over 158,000 acres of working forests, farmlands and natural areas as well as estuary lands on the Olympic Peninsula and along the Washington Coast.  It provides stewardship services, caring for more than 10,000 acres of land.  Since 2005 it has been the host organization of The Cascade Agenda, which links conserving great lands with creating great communities. For more information, please visit www.cascadeland.org.

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Public Invited to Weigh In on the Future of Kent Parks
Workshop Planned for September 29, 6:00 – 8:30 PM

KENT, Wash. – September 3, 2009 – What changes would you like to see in our existing parks? What should be included in new parks or open spaces?  The public is invited to an informal, drop-in workshop on Tuesday, September 29, 6:00 – 8:30 PM at the Senior Activity Center, Room 6.

The purpose of the workshop is to gather input for the Parks and Open Space Plan update.  “The update solidifies our vision for Kent Parks and prioritizes our next steps for the short- and long-term future,” explained Jeff Watling, Director of Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services.  “In order to do this and accurately reflect the needs of our changing community, we need to hear from our park users!”

So far, the Parks Department has completed a survey and started gathering information to write a draft of the plan.  Watling continued, “We want to continue to get more feedback from citizens about what they want to see over the next five or six years, and also 20 years from now, to make sure we are on the right track.  The input we receive will help us fine-tune the community’s needs, wants and priorities.”

At the workshop, staff will provide a brief summary of the survey results, a look at what has been completed thus far, and allow ample time to discuss how to move forward.  A draft of the plan is expected to be available for further comment by late October or early November.  For more information, contact Lydia Moorehead, Park Planner, at 253-856-5114 or lmoorehead@ci.kent.wa.us.

The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, Washington with a population over 88,000. As a culturally rich destination, Kent’s dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks and nationally accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. For more information, visit www.choosekent.com.

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