The Renton City Council on its September meeting adopted an ordinance establishing the King County Metro wastewater pass-through rate for 2026 and approved multiple finance committee recommendations ranging from grants to a $22 million land purchase.

The council voted unanimously on the wastewater ordinance on second and final reading; a roll call recorded each member voting “Aye.” The ordinance amends Renton Municipal Code subsection 8.5.15(d) to set the 2026 pass-through rate and authorizes administrative corrections and an effective date (see provenance: SEG 712–SEG 749).

Council members also concurred with the finance committee’s recommendation to authorize execution of a purchase and sale agreement for King County Parcel 1723059026 for a sale price of $22,000,000 plus closing costs; the motion carried by voice vote (provenance: SEG 602–SEG 625). The committee’s consent included a series of smaller approvals and funding actions:

- Professional services agreement with Anchor QEA for design and environmental permitting of the Northeast Renton Park project in the amount of $500,207 (provenance: SEG 477–SEG 486).

- Acceptance of a Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission wellness grant of $24,342 for 2025–2026, with a recommended budget appropriation in the mid‑biennial adjustment (provenance: SEG 500–SEG 508).

- Authorization to accept up to $19,599.28 in cost reimbursement from the King County Sheriff’s Office to reimburse overtime costs associated with verifying addresses and residency status of registered sexual- and kidnapping-offenders (provenance: SEG 526–SEG 537).

- Execution of the Simple Possession Advocacy and Representation (SPAR) program funding agreement GRT26028 to accept $8,800 (provenance: SEG 552–SEG 563).

Council also moved two ordinances from first reading to second reading for future final action: an ordinance authorizing a 0.1% sales and use tax for criminal justice purposes as allowed by ESHB 2015 (section 201, chapter 350, Laws of 2025) and docket No. 240, an ordinance to incentivize small businesses (provenance: SEG 672–SEG 706). The council approved a package of payroll and claims vouchers presented by the finance committee, which included accounts payable totaling $7,765,790.64 and payroll totaling $2,244,973.10 for the August pay period (provenance: SEG 443–SEG 463).

Why it matters: the wastewater ordinance implements a county rate the city must pass through to ratepayers; the $22 million parcel purchase is a material use of city capital and may affect future development or city operations; the grants and contracts represent modest but immediate budgetary and service commitments.

Next steps: The criminal justice sales tax and the small‑business incentives ordinance were placed on second and final reading at a future meeting for final council action; the wastewater ordinance is effective per the adopted ordinance language. Council materials and staff reports were referenced during the meeting and will accompany final ordinance and contract documents (provenance for items above: SEG 477–SEG 486; SEG 500–SEG 508; SEG 526–SEG 537; SEG 552–SEG 563; SEG 602–SEG 625; SEG 712–SEG 749).