Dear iLoveKent.net Readers and Fans,

When I started iLoveKent.net in 2009, I did it to showcase some of the great people, places and things in Kent, Washington. I wanted to show the rest of the world, or at least South King County, that Kent has a lot to offer — from basic shopping, dining and recreational options to deeper values like culture, diversity and creativity.

Over the years, my passion for Kent has grown, and I’ve tried to reflect that in the pages of iLoveKent.net and on our Facebook and Twitter accounts. I’ve done this as a service to the community, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I will continue to provide this service because I believe in Kent, and my readers have shown that they believe in Kent too.

But my mission is evolving and I want your help. Kent needs us now, perhaps more than ever. Over the last several months, we’ve heard about fatal car crashes, missing teens, vandalized stores, closing businesses, shootings and other crimes. Financially, our city is in danger as well. Businesses are being asked to pay more to run the city, the city is cutting valuable services and programs, and job layoffs continue. With so much going on, particularly at election time, it may seem like we as individuals can’t make a difference…but we CAN and we need to! Our city needs us, our schools and businesses need us, and our neighbors need us.

Many of you are already active in the community. You volunteer at school or church, participate in local government, or serve as a mentor or board volunteer somewhere. Those contributions continue to be important, but I think we need to do even more — at the most basic level, we need to look out for each other. We need to report burned out streetlights, call 9-1-1 when we see suspicious vehicles and erratic drivers, and need to avoid unnecessary distractions when driving, biking or walking through town. We need to remember to be kind and compassionate, pay attention to our surroundings,  and clean up after ourselves when out in public. While these may seem like minor actions, each time we help someone else in a small way, it adds up to big change and a safer, more secure community.

In the weeks and months ahead, I’ll use iLoveKent.net to share ideas and resources with members of the community to show you ways you can help. I welcome your suggestions and comments as well. I don’t have all the answers; together we do! Let’s show Kent we care.

Caring for our community,

Dana Neuts, Publisher
iLoveKent.net

[Pictured above, right:  Kent Fire Department at Kent Cornucopia Days, 2012. Photo taken by Dana Neuts.]

The following is an update sent to some Kent business owners today by Andrea Keikkala, Executive Director of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. It’s an update on the Kent City Council’s action at last night’s meeting. Thanks, Andrea, for allowing us to reprint your update. Emphasis added by iLoveKent.net.

Thank you, for your time and hard work to quickly learn about the B&O Tax issue and Kent’s infrastructure funding challenges. Last night the City of Kent Council did NOT pass a proposed B&O Tax. The vote came down 5 to 2 on an ordinance that would have put into place a .2 B&O Tax on Warehouses only. However, a Resolution was passed that solidifies the continued work of the business community and the city of Kent to come up with $4-6 million by the end of the year in a revenue generating mechanism. Be that, B&O, Head Tax, Door Tax, etc.

Section 2 of Statement of Intent Resolutions – “ The city council will consider all available revenue structures, including, without limitation, a Business and Occupation Tax, a Business License Tax, a Transportation Benefit District, and any other tax or fee structure that will best serve the needs of the people to have well maintained streets while imposing the least and fairest burden on the business community of Kent” This resolution passed the council on a 6 to 1 vote.

The hard work is just beginning. The City of Kent Council talked a lot about trust, hope and their desire to keep the business community at the table. We need to make sure we follow through and do our part. This is an opportunity for the business community to give input on the economic vitality of Kent and guide the process. Please make sure that you make time to be at this table. We will be gathering information, mapping out next steps and will call for a follow up meeting with the business community shortly to review all taxing mechanisms available.

As we requested, the City of Kent also passed a resolution to hire an outside consulting firm to do an efficiencies study. This was passed by council unanimously.

Also, as requested by the Kent Chamber, a Levy Lid Lift of $.37/1000 assessed valuation will be put on the ballot this November. This resolution passed the City of Kent council on a 4 to 3 vote.

Again, thank you all for your work on this issue. Thank you for your phone calls, emails and discussion. I look forward to working with you in the near future.

Best Regards,

Andrea (Keikkala)

At Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke’s annual State of the City address today, Mayor Cooke asked businesses to participate in  helping the city out of the economic downturn.

“This is your city,” Mayor Cooke said. “Be a part of the solution.”

Mayor Cooke was referring specifically to the city’ significant revenue losses – including a 32% reduction in sales tax revenue and a 75% reduction in real estate tax revenue. The city’s administration and seven-member Kent City Council have been tasked with finding ways to continue offering critical services with fewer staff and less money. Among the creative solutions being considered are imposing a local Business & Occupation (B&O) tax and creating a transportation benefit district. Mayor Cooke asked businesses to stay or become engaged with the city to help it find solutions for expensive problems like the$3 million price tag to remove sandbags along the Green River.

The two-term Kent mayor highlighted several projects in the works, including the Kent City Center project which will replace the now-demolished parking garage that was located at Smith and Fourth in downtown Kent.

“It was such a dream that went awry,” she said.

But she is encouraged to see Kent City Center in the works, a five-story, 164-unit mixed use building go up to include residential units with corresponding parking, lower level retail space and 35 parking stalls for downtown shoppers and visitors. In addition to this project, the economic development department is working on a bid to the GSA and FAA to bring a 2,000 employee facility to downtown Kent. There are other properties under consideration, including nearby Renton, but the Mayor is optimistic that Kent will be considered a strong candidate.

Another portion of her discussion focused on infrastructure and the importance of maintaining and upgrading it as needed. With nine top tier suppliers to Boeing in Kent, Mayor Cooke stressed the importance of being smart with our educational and infrastructure decisions, particularly in meeting the needs of the aerospace industry.

“We cannot let our infrastructure deteriorate,” she said.

Inviting Kent Chamber president-elect Ken Sharp and executive director Andrea Keikkala, Kent City Council President Dennis Higgins, KDP president Dawn Colston and executive Barb Smith to join her on stage, Mayor Suzette Cooke urged each of them to be part of Kent’s solution, asking each of them to hold hands and recite their commitment to the City of Kent.

She closed with a quote from Martin Luther King, Jr.:  “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”

Mayor Suzette Cooke will give her annual State of the City Address this year on Wed., March 7 at the Kent Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon:

State of the City Address

March 7, 2012
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ShoWare Center
625 W. James St.
Kent, WA  98032

Chambers $20
Guests $30

Register online.

Sponsored by Valley Bank of Kent

From the City of Kent in a press release dated October 19, 2011 (a letter to the editor of the Kent Reporter):

Dear Editor,

Much has been said, written, implied, and rumored about the collection and use of property taxes by the city. We’d like to set the record straight, not only about those taxes, but to right some false statements made by Mr. Berrios in his letter to the editor printed in the October 7 edition of the Kent Reporter.

In 2010, voters approved the formation of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA). That measure passed with over 70% of the vote. By approving the RFA, voters approved two major revenue changes that appear on your property tax bill 1) a transfer of $1.00 per thousand of assessed value from the city to the RFA and 2) the collection of a new revenue charge called a Fire Benefit Charge (FBC). Both of these changes were in the voters pamphlet and part of the public outreach campaign prior to the vote.

The Truth about Property Taxes

Property taxes are collected by King County and are used to pay for a variety of organizations and services including state and local schools, county services, city services, the Port of Seattle, ferry services, King County Library System, emergency medical services, and Valley Medical Center.

Only a small portion of the property tax we pay comes to our city – 11.2% of the total to be exact.

The property tax revenues our city receives have always been deposited into the General Fund and used to pay for general government services including public safety, parks, streets and other services. They were never transferred from another fund as alleged. Property owners should note that property taxes only cover 25% of the total cost to provide the previously mentioned services.

The remaining costs are covered using sales and utility tax revenues, building revenues and permit fees, which also, have always been deposited into the General Fund. Unfortunately, these revenue sources have declined by $8.4 million since the recession began.

It is clear there is a mistaken assumption that before voters approved the RFA, the Fire Department was funded solely by property taxes. Nothing could be further from the truth. If this assertion were true – if the entire city’s portion of property taxes received were dedicated to public safety – those dollars wouldn’t even cover half of the total cost to provide those services. In fact, in 2010, before the RFA, only $8.9 million dollars of property tax money was used to pay for the fire department. The remaining $15.2 million dollars in their budget came from other revenue sources.

In 2010, the city received $2.36 per $1,000 in assessed valuation to pay for all of the general government services referenced previously. When the RFA was formed, the city gave up $1.00 of the $2.36 previously received, leaving $1.36 per $1,000 assessed valuation to pay for those previously referenced services. That $1.00 dollar equated to a reduction of $11.7 million in property taxes that used to go into the city’s General Fund, which is now collected by the RFA. That is well over the $8.9 million in property taxes that partially funded the fire department in 2010.

This year, due to fluctuation in property values, the county, not the city, set the rate at $1.48 per $1,000 in assessed valuation. This is just the city’s portion of the total property tax bill.

The letter to the editor wrongly asserts that “additional taxes were collected without voter approval.” The $1.00 redistribution from the city to the RFA is a “wash” to taxpayers. The $1.48 still received by the city in property taxes was not “stolen”, “kept” or “taken” as the author claims. That money was, and has always been received and deposited into the city’s General Fund to provide general government services…not to solely pay for the Fire Department. Remember, the city gave up $1.00 of its total property tax receipts. The RFA now receives that $1.00 dollar. At a minimum this was not an “excess collection,” and to say it was “unethical” is unconscionable.

This was never a property tax reduction discussion; it was about a redistribution of $1.00 from the city to the RFA, pending voter approval. Again, voters approved the plan to redistribute the $1.00 from the city, to the RFA by more than 70%.

About the Fire Benefit Charge

Well why is it if the city used to get $2.36 and now gets $1.48 that my property taxes have gone up? A review of one’s property tax bill will show voter approved tax increases and charges to pay for services they deem valuable.

For instance, voters approved bonds, levies and charges to support the Kent School District, King County Library System and the Regional Fire Authority.

An additional voter approved charge appearing on tax statements is the new Fire Benefit Charge (FBC). This charge is over and above what was previously billed and collected. To be clear, the FBC is a charge, not a tax and goes directly to the RFA. While we agree it’s confusing that this charge is included in King County’s property tax bills, it is not a tax. That’s why it falls under the “Other charges” category just as the Noxious Weed and Conservation charges do. There is no double taxation here. Voters agreed to transfer $1.00 from the city’s total property tax collection to the RFA. Voters also agreed to be assessed a FBC.

The fact the measure to approve the RFA, including its FBC required a 60% voter majority signaled more money out of our pockets.

Moving Forward…

Mr. Berrios is asking the city to reduce its portion of property taxes collected by $4.9 million. For the owner of a $300,000 home, that would equate to $114 per year. It would not reduce the $1.00 received by the RFA, or the Fire Benefit Charge, also received by the RFA.

That $114 reduction would come at cost; a cost in police services, parks, street maintenance and other services vital to the community.

Declining revenues since the recession began have forced reductions in every area of the city budget. Since 2009, 90 employee positions have either been eliminated or left vacant and programs have been cut.

The suggested $4.9 million cut translates to between 60 and 70 additional employees losing their jobs, causing even further reductions and elimination of programs.

We understand the public is typically eager to cut government spending, and government employees for that matter. At the same time, the public insists on a strong police force, streets without pot holes, sidewalks in good repair, snow removal, parks and teen programs, neighborhood councils and even the lunch program at the Senior Center. The city employees are the people patrolling the streets, repairing streets and sidewalks and removing the snow. These programs don’t exist without funding, or the employees that provide the services.

The council is always looking for feedback on what you would like to see, or not see in the budget. The next public hearing on the 2012 budget is set for Tuesday, November 15, 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall and we encourage you to come with ideas and suggestions on how to move this city in the right direction.

Sincerely,

Jamie Perry, Council President
Elizabeth Albertson, Councilmember
Deborah Ranniger, Councilmember
Debbie Raplee, Councilmember

Contributed by Michelle Wilmot, City of Kent, Community & Public Affairs

Mayor Suzette Cooke’s 2012 Budget Proposal to Kent City Council

Kent, Wash. – October 5, 2011 – Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke’s 2012 proposed budget was presented to the Kent City Council on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 by Chief Administrative Officer John Hodgson.

In a prepared statement, Cooke said her budget is in line with the “new normal.”

“For nearly four years, city government has been in persistent contraction. Rising costs and deteriorating revenues have forced reductions in nearly every area our budget.

We’ve made significant cuts, we’ve reduced staff, we’ve cut programs — and hoped conditions would stabilize.  Instead, projections continually collapse.  As Arun Raha, our state’s economist and forecaster, recently stated, ‘a return to normalcy seems like mirage in the desert that keeps slipping away’. This unprecedented recession just won’t end.

Earlier this year, the Council established its strategic goals for 2012 including the ‘development and implementation of a sustainable funding model for city services.’  This budget proposal is reflective of that goal and the new economic reality.”

The proposed 2012 Operating Budget totals $141.7 million.

Cooke’s statement further noted the budget continues to make law enforcement and public safety a high priority. “Approximately 46% of the expenditures in the General Fund are dedicated to public safety, which includes police, corrections and courts.”

Highlights of the proposed budget

Top priorities maintained

• Law Enforcement:  No reductions in the number of sworn officers are proposed.
• Human Services:  Maintain 2011 funding levels for human services. With the departure of the fire department, the original 1% calculation would have been $733k.  An additional $95,600 keeps it whole for 2012.
• Infrastructure:  Preserve the City’s infrastructure assets, including utilities (water, sewer and drainage), streets, parks, facilities and technology.
• Economic Development:  Focus on increasing economic development opportunities that provide jobs for Kent residents.
•  Increase connections and communication with our residents: Aim to foster inclusiveness by celebrating our diversity and creating new gathering places.

Cost increases and required/contracted expenditures

* $500,000 towards repayment of a 2002 loan from the water fund related to land acquisition for Kent Station.
* $126,000 increase in animal control services provided by Regional Animal Services of King County, for a total cost of nearly $417,000 for 2012.  The city-county contract will end 12/31/2012.
* $110,000 increase for election services and $44,573 increase in voter registration services provided by King County.
* $172,000 new expense for custodial, maintenance and security screening costs for the newly acquired Aukeen Court/Municipal Court building.
* $572,000 in utility cost increases for city-owned facilities and parks (i.e. electricity, water, sewer, garbage, etc.), as well as neighborhood street lighting previously covered by Home Owners Associations.
* $343,000 increase for state-mandated pension costs.
* $373,000 increase for worker’s compensation costs, largely due to remaining fire department claims.  The City is still responsible for these outstanding claims, because they occurred prior to the formation of the Regional Fire Authority.

Cost savings/fee increases

•     Eliminate 20.5 vacant positions – $1,711,562
•     Restructure fees for permitting and development services – $400,000
•     Apply a technology fee to permitting, parks and utility billing transactions to maintain technology systems – $125,000.
•     Increase business license fees – $100,000.

Residents are encouraged to attend a public hearing on the 2012 budget on Tuesday, November 15 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

Council members will review the budget and likely adopt a final version at their December 13 meeting.

 Is your organization an arts, heritage and/or cultural King County-based non-profit?  4Culture is offering a funding opportunity for cultural facilities.  They are combining “big ticket” facilities requests of over $30,000 for both arts and heritage.

4Culture is a unique integration of the arts, heritage, preservation and public art, committed to advancing community through culture.  4Culture believes the arts are critical to a healthy community and that arts experiences should be accessible to all residents and visitors.  4Culture stimulates cultural activities and enhances the assets that distinguish a community as vibrant, unique and authentic.

The Heritage Cultural Facilities program funds projects providing strong heritage programming that focuses on the identification, collection, evaluation, preservation, restoration, exhibition, and/or interpretation of the County’s heritage resources.

The Arts Cultural Facilities program supports the purchase, development and renovation of arts and cultural facility projects.  A separate program provides funding for arts equipment.

4Culture Cultural Facilities Application deadline is September 14, 2011, 5 pm PST.   All applicants are encouraged to attend a free workshop that will explain the step by step application process. To learn more about this funding opportunity for both Arts and Heritage Cultural Facilities, please email Deb Twersky at 4Culture.

Starting March 1, Kent Station will launch the “Moolah for Schoolah” pgrogram, its newly titled annual March scholarship fundraiser. “Moolah for Schoolah” provides scholarships for Kent area high school graduates attending Green River Community College (GRCC). Since 2007, Kent Station has held the annual fundraiser, providing 15 scholarships and more than $20,000 in college funding to students who might not be able to attend school otherwise. During the month of March, shoppers can participate in the scholarship fundraiser by picking up a postcard at any one of Kent Station’s 56 participating merchants.

For each postcard completed, Kent Station will donate $1 to the GRCC scholarship fund and provide the shopper with a chance to win a $500 Kent Station gift card and other prizes. The prize winners will be selected in a  random drawing to be held on April 5,2011; winners will be notified via email or phone.  For further questions, please contact Sommer Ueda at Kent Station at 253-856-2301.

South Puget Sound Realtor® Marti Reeder Tops Off an Award-Winning Year withJohn L. Scott’s President’s Award

Kent, Washington, March 1, 2011 –

Following a tumultuous year in the real estate market, Realtor® Marti Reeder of Kent continues to excel in helping clients to buy and sell homes in the South Puget Sound. Most recently, Reeder received the 2010 President’s Award from John L. Scott for her real estate work last year. She and several other agents received awards last week in a ceremony hosted by J. Lennox Scott, Chairman and CEO of John L. Scott, in the company’s Kent office. This is the fourth year in a row the Kent Realtor® has won a President’s Award from John L. Scott. (Pictured at left are J. Lennox Scott and Marti Reeder.)In addition, in the local John L. Scott office, Reeder was named Top Producer and Top Salesperson during the second and fourth quarters and Top Listing Agent during the first and third quarters of 2010. She was also named a Five Star Real Estate Agent for Overall Satisfaction in the December 2010 issue of Seattle Magazine. As a full-time, full-service real estate agent and broker, Reeder credits her success to hard work, engaged clients and a strong support team, both at home and work.“This has been a whirlwind year for me, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Reeder says. “These awards are always fun to receive, but the best reward is knowing that I’ve helped a client to successfully buy or sell a home. That’s what keeps me going, no matter what the market is doing!”With more than 25 years of industry experience, Reeder has worked in the John L. Scott office on Kent’s East Hill for the last six years. She is a certified buyer’s and seller’s representative, and she specializes in pre-foreclosure properties and short sales. Born and raised in the Seattle area, many clients seek Reeder out because of her vast knowledge of the area, its neighborhoods and their unique charms. In fact, she has been voted “Best in Kent” for the last three years for this knowledge and personalized service.In addition to her real estate work, Reeder is active in the Kent community. She is a member of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, Kent Downtown Partnership and the Noon Kiwanis Club. This summer she is sponsoring a Relay for Life team called Friends 4 Life! For more information about Reeder, visit http://www.martireeder.com.

You can also find Reeder on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

For more information, contact:Marti Reeder, John L. Scott13026 SE Kent-Kangley Rd., Kent, WA 98042253.859.8500 (office) 206.391.0388 (cell) martireeder@johnlscott.com www.martireeder.com

In a press release dated today from Michelle Witham, communications director for the City of Kent, Mayor Suzette Cooke announced that the finalists for the position of Kent Police Chief . They include  David Frazer of Rohnert Park, California; Jeffry Sale of Spokane; Kenneth Thomas of Puyallup; and Michael Villa of Auburn. The selected candidate will replace Chief Steve Strachan as Kent Police Chief. Strachan vacated the position on January 5 to take the position of King County Undersheriff.

“After careful consideration of the 18 applications, four finalists were selected to participate in on-site interviews,” Cooke said.

“Our screeners spent several hours reviewing the applications, determining minimum qualifications and compatibility of experience for our community.  We are pleased with the quality of the four finalists and look forward to concluding the interview process, and selecting our new Police Chief, hopefully by early March.”

Frazer, the only out-of-state candidate, brings 24 years of police, fire and emergency operations experience. His current position is Police Chief of McFarland, California, a city of approximately 13,000 located in the San Joaquin Valley, where he established a new department in 120 days after ceasing to contract with Kern County for police services.  Previously, Frazer was with the Rohnert Park, California Police Department (city population 43,000) where he served as Division Commander for the 78-member department since 1986.  (In the case of each city, the department population represents the total number of commissioned officers and full-time employees.) He holds a Masters Degree in Leadership from St. Mary’s College of California.

Sale, who has served since 2004 as Chief of the 25-member Police Department in Cheney, Washington, population 10,500 (20,000 when Central Washington University classes are in session), has 32 years of law enforcement experience, including 25 years with the Washington State Patrol.  He is credited with developing a multi-agency team to identify and provide services to at-risk youth and speaks nationally on law enforcement issues.  Sale is a graduate of Washington State University and the FBI National Academy.

Thomas, a 22-year veteran of the 185-member Kent Police Department, currently serves as Captain.  He is credited with leading the City’s Community Oriented Policing Unit resulting in reduced residential burglaries and auto thefts.  Thomas holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Development from Central Washington University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Villa brings 20 years of police experience to his current position as Assistant Police Chief for the City of Tukwila.  The 87-member department serves a population of 18,190 residents (140,000 daytime population).  Villa is credited with the development and implementation of a multi-pronged strategy which has resulted in a decrease of residential burglaries.  He saw active duty in the US Marine Corps Reserves, has a Business Degree from Central Washington University and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

The finalists will be interviewed January 13 by three separate panels, including one comprised of community members.

Read the press release online here.

The Morford Family Carousel needs volunteers for shifts throughout the holiday season. Located in Town Square Plaza (2nd and Harrison Streets) in downtown Kent, the carousel is open throughout the holiday season for local children and families to enjoy.

Suggested donations are $1 per ride, and proceeds benefit two local organizations:  Kentwood High School National Honor Society and Children’s Therapy Center via South King County Autism Support Group for Parents.

Carousel volunteers are needed for the following. If you or your organization can help, please contact Angel Townsend at 206-330-4264 or via email.

Carousel Volunteers Needed on…

* Friday, December 17th – 4pm-6:30pm

* Saturday, December 18th – 3pm-6pm and 6pm-8pm

* Sunday, December 19th – 2:30-5pm

* Tuesday, December 21st, 1pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm

* Wednesday,Thursday,Friday, December, 22nd, 23rd, 24th – 1pm-5pm

* Friday, December 31st – 1pm-5pm

It’s easy, it’s fun and it will warm your heart to be a part of the effort!

From Michelle Witham at the City of Kent:

Kent City Council Approves Transportation Impact Fees
New Development to Help Pay for City Road Projects

KENT, Wash. – July 7, 2010 – After nearly four years of planning and gathering public input, the Kent City Council approved an ordinance allowing the collection of transportation impact fees to help pay for road projects necessary to accommodate new growth.

Transportation impact fees are paid by developers and expanding businesses to help cover the cost of road improvements that increase traffic capacity.  Money from the fees is tied directly to the size and type of the development and the anticipated increase in traffic associated with the project.

State law requires that cities plan for projected growth and have the infrastructure in place to support it within six years.

“We adopted a Transportation Master Plan in 2008,” said Council President Jamie Perry.  “But a plan is only a plan until it’s funded.  I’m happy to see we’re taking these first steps to implementing the plan we passed two years ago,” Perry said.

Projected future development accounts for roughly 45% of the total cost for new road projects identified in the Kent’s Transportation Master Plan.

Transportation impact fees are calculated by determining how many more vehicle trips are generated as a result of new development; the more traffic that results from a project, the higher the amount paid by a developer.

“Development should help pay the costs of new development,” Perry added. “Current residents shouldn’t be asked to shoulder the costs associated with new growth.”

The new fees will replace the City’s current Environmental Mitigation Agreements, which required developers to pay an average $2,400 per peak hour trip towards the cost to complete three cross-valley corridor projects over the last 15 years.

Citywide, the fees will now average $4,084 per peak hour trip, while downtown area fees will be approximately 25% lower, in part, because the impact fee calculation assumes fewer trips due to the close proximity of amenities and public transportation options.

In approving transportation impact fees, council members were particularly concerned about the effect they might have on future development and will review the rates annually beginning in July 2011.

“We will watch carefully what impacts the new fees have, and make adjustments accordingly” said Perry.  “But right now, we need to be proactive in funding our infrastructure.  Superior infrastructure will be good selling point for investing in Kent.”

Depending on the actual development that occurs, the new fees are expected to generate approximately $89 million from 2010 to 2017 to help pay for $389 million in needed transportation projects.

Transportation impact fees have been implemented across the state as diminishing revenues are insufficient to support the infrastructure needed for future growth.   Neighboring cities including Auburn, Covington, Des Moines, Federal Way, and Renton utilize transportation impact fees.

The City of Kent is the sixth largest city in Washington with a population over 112,000. 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.

Press release from Kent Station

Kent Station’s March Fundraiser Yields Four Scholarships
Totaling $5,000 for GRCC Students

Kent, Washington, April 27, 2010 – Kent Station is proud to announce that it received nearly 5,000 postcards from its customers during the Green River Community College scholarship fundraiser held in March each year. Kent Station donated $1 to the scholarship fund for every completed postcard submitted by shoppers and visitors. Four scholarships will be awarded in 2010 and, since starting the program in 2007, Kent Station has donated 15 scholarships totaling over $20,000.  Scholarships are awarded to Kent students who may not otherwise be able to attend college without financial assistance.

Miranda Green, a 2009 scholarship winner, said, “I am honored to be one of the recipients of the Kent Station Scholarship. Thanks to [Kent Station’s] support, I am the first in my family to attend college. Without this scholarship, I would not be able to go to college.”

“Kent Station is proud to partner with our merchants to provide scholarship money for local high school graduates,” Sommer Ueda, Kent Station marketing coordinator, said. “We are particularly proud of the community’s ongoing support of this annual fundraiser. It shows us that Kent really cares about its future.”

“This program is really a win-win for everyone.  The GRCC Foundation is thrilled to partner with Kent Station to support educational opportunities for youth in our community,” said Beth Gatzke of Green River Community College.

Kent Station encourages other businesses in the community to donate scholarships to the GRCC Foundation and help make a difference in educating our youth.

For more information about Kent Station’s annual scholarship fundraiser, call Sommer Ueda at 253-856-2301. For more information about Green River Community College, visit GRCC online at http://greenriver.edu.

Located on 18 acres in the heart of downtown Kent, Kent Station is an urban shopping village developed by Seattle-based Tarragon Development Company. The 470,000 sq. ft., mixed-use development features locally-owned and national retail stores, professional office space, and dining and entertainment, including a 14-screen AMC Theatres Cineplex and a branch campus of Green River Community College.

For more information, please contact:

Sommer Ueda
Kent Station
417 Ramsay Way, Suite 110
Kent, WA 98032
253-856-2301
www.KentStation.com
sueda@kentstation.com

According to a press release issue by the City of Kent today, Safe Havens Domestic Violence Visitation Program will have to close its doors at the end of April unless immediate funding is found. Safe Havens opened in 2005 to help keep adult and child victims of domestic violence safe while complying with court-ordered visitation and exchanges.

Initially paid for with federal funding, budget reductions and the elimination of funding sources have created a $100,000 shortfall in the program’s 2010 budget.

“City staff and program allies have been working diligently to develop a long-term sustainability plan for the Safe Havens,” said Katherin Johnson, Kent’s Housing and Human Services Manager, in the April 22 press release.

“However, if emergency funding is not found immediately, we’ll be forced to close doors as early as April 30.  Friends and allies of the program are soliciting emergency funding from various foundations and agencies as well as asking for personal donations. Checks have begun to roll in, however, much more is needed and quickly.”

Since the opening of Safe Havens, state and county funding assistance has been an annual request by the City. According to Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke, the softening economy made the need to transition the service very apparent.

“Our annual legislative agenda has included the transitioning of Safe Havens over to a state agency or non-profit organization,” Cooke said in the press release.

“We can’t deny the value of the program, but it is truly regional in its scope.  Safe Havens has provided services county-wide and beyond to Snohomish, Pierce and Thurston counties.  It should not, and cannot be funded only by the City,” she added.

To help keep the program in place, the City of Kent has established a a fund for accepting donations. Checks can be made payable to City of Kent/Safe Havens and mailed to Safe Havens Visitation Center, 220 4^th Ave S, Kent, WA 98032.  Donations via credit card can also be made online at http://www.formdesk.com/kccadv/SafeHavens.  Donations are tax deductible.

As the subject of much debate, the hideous, half-finished parking structure in downtown Kent (corner of W. Smith St. and Fourth Ave.) may soon become the victim of foreclosure. The 350-stall parking garage was supposed to be a part of a multiple use development with parking, condos and retail space. Plan B Development of Bellevue began the project three years ago but stopped in May 2007 when its lender refused to continue financing the project. The partially finished project has been a downtown eyesore ever since.

In a press release dated April 7 from the City of Kent, the Kent City Council voted unanimously last night to give Mayor Suzette Cooke and City Attorney Tom Brubaker the authority to start foreclosure proceedings.

“The recession has further complicated matters by causing not only the original investors, but banks and title companies involved to face failures and become subject to mergers and takeovers, all cooling interest in the property,” Brubaker said in the press release.

“Because of the realities of depressed commercial values in today’s real estate market, ironically, now may be the ideal time to exercise our interest in the property.” Brubaker said.  “If no buyer appears to purchase the City’s interest during foreclosure, the City will own the property free and clear, with marketable title to the site.”

“This property is the 50-yard line between Kent Station and the downtown Historic District, and that key geographic position poses some risk,” Brubaker added.  “There’s always a risk associated with moving forward with the foreclosure process.  If another party purchases our interest, we may get a development that doesn’t fit with your vision for downtown, or even worse—no development at all.”

According the press release, City Council President Jamie Perry said that the foreclosure process will do one of two things:  clear up the title of the property so the City can sell it or make the property available for sale now.

“While I know staff has been working to spur development interest in the site, I’m ready to move forward,” said Perry.  “We’ve waited long enough for a resolution on this key property in our downtown.  I’m ready, and I’m certain our residents are ready for us to do something about this eyesore.”

Brubaker concluded saying it is unknown how long the foreclosure process will take.  “There are so many variables in play, but hopefully, within one to two years, we’ll see development again at that site.”

In a press release from the City of Kent, issued April 6, 2010:

Economic Downturn Triggers More City Service Reductions
Annexation Staffing Plan to Cushion Layoffs

Kent, Wash. – April 6, 2010 – The economy continues to negatively impact the City of Kent’s revenues.  Despite spending cuts of over $6 million, including the layoff of 28 employees last year, Mayor Suzette Cooke recommended an additional $7 million in spending cuts and $100,000 in revenue increases to the Kent City Council on Tuesday.

“The recession is not easing its grip on Kent’s finances,” said Cooke.  “We projected flat revenues for 2010, but tax collections and fees continue to decline below 2009 levels.”

According to Kent’s Finance Director Bob Nachlinger, in closing the City’s books for last year, declining revenues in November and December, and other factors impacted the final 2009 fund balance.

“We can’t control the external environment,” said Nachlinger.  “It’s impossible to know exactly how we’ll finish the year until all the numbers come in.  We receive many of our revenues two months in arrears so I’m unable to close the prior year’s books until March.”

“Although we ended the year with a positive fund balance, it is not at the target both the Council and Mayor requested,” said Nachlinger.  “Besides reduced sales tax, we saw reduced income from revenue sources in many departments.  Utility tax revenues were also down due to our mild winter and people not using natural gas and electricity as they would normally.  The threat of flooding has further slowed commercial activity, and finally, an underpayment of $600,000 by the State’s Department of Revenue for Streamlined Sales Tax mitigation left a huge hole.”

According to John Hodgson, Kent’s Chief Administrative Officer, revenues for the first two months of this year are below last year’s levels and other fund sources are also trending downward, forcing the need to make adjustments now.

“Maintaining a strong fund balance is the goal of the Mayor and Council,” said Hodgson.  “It allows us to make our monthly obligations, which is critical given that revenues don’t come in at equal amounts during the year.”

36% of the City’s General Fund revenues come from property taxes paid in April and October.

Hodgson said he’s been working with department directors over the past two weeks to identify operational adjustments, new revenue ideas and cuts to address the budget situation.

“We reviewed services and looked at what was considered mandatory and required by City ordinance.  We looked at preserving our physical assets, what services were discretionary yet improved Kent’s quality of life, and we looked at levels of service delivery overall.  The fact is it’s very difficult after the elimination of programs and staff reductions we already made last year,” Hodgson said.

“We reviewed the staff reductions recommended by department directors in relation to our staffing needs for when the Panther Lake annexation is effective July 1,” said Hodgson.  “While trying to anticipate and plan services in the annexation area, we’re able to utilize many of those employees, yielding very good, high producing staff there.  Unfortunately, we aren’t able to place seven employees, forcing us to lay them off, or reduce their work hours, at the end of this month.”

Kent’s proposed annexation staffing levels have also been adjusted to reflect revenue shortfalls in the Panther Lake area.  Key annexation positions including police, street maintenance crews, land use experts, prosecutors and courts will continue to be filled.

“While police officers on streets and firefighters on engines will not be impacted, the proposed budget cuts will impact every department and level of service city-wide including the annexation area,” Hodgson said.

Some of the impacts of the proposed budget adjustment include:

• Lay off or reduce work hours of seven employees
• Require Spotlight Series performances to be self-supporting
• Transfer some police officers from special units, e.g. investigations, to patrol
• Transfer some fire fighters in special units to fire suppression
• Reduce development services staff due to continual decline in commercial development
• Eliminate the lunch program subsidy at the Kent Senior Activity Center
• Reduce financial support to the Kent Meridian Pool

Mayor Cooke also proposed doubling the fine for parking violations from $20 to $40 and adding a 5% admissions tax to green fees at the Riverbend Golf Complex.  Pending approval by the City Council, these fees would yield an additional $100,000 per year.

The City Council will review the Mayor’s proposed budget adjustments and will take action later this month or in early May.

Federal Way, Washington, March 23, 2010 – In response to the economic downturn and consumer credit crisis, Recla!m Credit Consultants recently announced the relaunch of its credit repair business to assist consumers in restoring and reclaiming their credit.

Originally founded in 1999 under another name, Recla!m Credit Consultants is owned and managed by Lee Anderson, a business banker in Federal Way, Washington. He started the company to help consumers repair and restore their credit when buying homes or applying for other loans or types of credit. With stricter requirements for mortgage loans now, loan approvals have declined, so Anderson relaunched Recla!m Credit Consultants to help consumers improve their credit scores safely and effectively.

“My clients’ credit scores are impacted by many things, including duplicate and outdated reporting, inaccurate information and more,” Anderson said. “By removing and correcting credit errors, Recla!m Credit Consultants can help consumers improve their credit scores.”

With higher credit scores, consumers can reclaim control of their credit allowing them to achieve their financial goals, finance homes and vehicles, and get preferred interest rates on loans and credit cards. According to Anderson, Recla!m Credit Consultants is one of the best credit repair services available because the company gets results quickly by using a powerful, comprehensive set of credit fix services and tools.

For more information about Recla!m Credit Consultants or credit repair tips and services, visit Recla!m Credit Consultants online at http://reclaimcreditconsultants.com or contact Lee Anderson at 253-370-9432. Recla!m Credit Consultants can also be found on Facebook.

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Founded by business banker Lee Anderson in 1999, Recla!m Credit Consultants of Federal Way specializes in credit repair and restoration services quickly and effectively. Using powerful, comprehensive credit repair services and tools, consumers who have used the service are able to raise their credit scores, finance homes and vehicles, and get preferred interest rates on loans and credit cards. The firm serves consumers in the Puget Sound area.
For more information, contact:

Lee Anderson, president
Recla!m Credit Consultants
253-370-9432
http://reclaimcreditconsultants.com
Email