City Council Meeting - October 26, 2026

At its October 26, 2026 meeting, the Renton City Council held the third and final public hearing on the proposed 2027–2028 biennial budget and property-tax levy; no public comments or correspondence were received. The proposed levy rate was 93 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, about $5 more per average household. The council approved Finance Committee recommendations that included accepting $196,255 in nonmatching recycling grant funds, approving payments of $11,159,025.15 in accounts payable and $2,495,046.96 in payroll, and advancing items related to Taxiway Alpha rehabilitation and a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The council also amended and approved a committee recommendation for a revised 2025–2026 budget ordinance to return for further reading, including an appropriation of up to $95,000 in 2026 for Phase 2 of the Cedar River Boathouse dock replacement, citing permitting and seasonal work windows. The budget amendment discussion also referenced a proposed $37.8 million increase in expenditures, to an amended total of about $1.1 billion, and revisions to the salary table that would retain a lead building inspector position.

Council and public commenters discussed the city’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) contracts, privacy concerns, and the scheduled expiration of the Flock contract. The city attorney’s email, read during the meeting, stated that the Police Department had given Flock notice of nonrenewal; a council member requested a public announcement about the contract’s status. Other public commenters urged the city not to pursue replacement ALPR services and raised concerns about Axon-related surveillance. The council also approved amendments to the Equity Commission bylaws and discussed other policy and community matters; no new ALPR procurement was approved in the transcript.