December 16 Recap

Roughly 16 people joined Chief Administrative Officer Ed VanValey’s at Four Generals.

Flood Preparation & Debrief

• In October and November, the city’s Public Works Department and Emergency Management Division prepared for the forecasted heavy rain.
  • Public Works inventoried their resources, cleared drains of leaves and debris, checked that emergency generators were operational, and more.
  • The Emergency Management Division conducted door to door outreach to over 1,400 homes and apartment units in the immediate Cedar River Dam failure risk zone.
  • Doorhanger information about the Cedar River Dam failure is available here.
• Emergency Management Director Deb Needham shared that the rain and flooding far exceeded forecasted rainfall.
• While the Cedar River reached a record high, thanks to the levees and dredging of the river, the flooding did not cause the same amount of damage as past floods.

  • Engineers measure the river based on volume of water, not the height. The river’s volumes did not concern engineers.
    

• Public Works Administrator Martin Pastucha shared about the city’s actions taken in response to the heavy rainfall and flooding.
  • The city watched the weather and maps and monitored the rainfall.
  • Public Work employees visited neighborhoods, observed and reported of any flooding concerns in person.
  • Public Work employees monitor Seattle Public Utilities as they control the dam and dam release, which fluctuates Renton’s river levels.
  • Public Work employees monitor the city’s own property and roadways so that transportation is not inhibited and roadways are kept safe. Additionally, the city provides resources, such as sandbags for the public.
  • The City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) stepped in and filled 200 sandbags.
  • Click here to learn more and sign up for CERT program.
• Communications and Engagement Director Laura Pettitt reminded folks that is important to follow Renton specific news.
  • ALERT Renton and the city's communication channels are the best way to stay up to date with verified information.
  • Sign up for Alert Renton today.
  • The National Weather Service was the first to put out the alert of the Green River levee breaking, however they are not familiar with Washington State topography, which caused some subsequent issues with the reporting.
  • An individual commented that while the city's social media did a good job reporting out during the flooding, there was a lack of communication prior to the flooding. Certain neighborhoods could have benefited from the additional time and information in preparing for the flooding.
  • The Emergency Management team is working on getting more residents signed up for ALERT Renton.
• VanValey shared that the city received eight 9-1-1 calls about the flooding.
  • Calls were worried about their loved ones, concerned about individuals too close to the river, and concerns of bridges.

Flooding Questions:

• Are there bridges closed?
  • Yes, the Nile Bridge is closed at this time of the question (12-16). Due to the bridge's age, the city has taken caution in closing the bridge. Additionally, the city is unaware if large debris is getting caught under the bridge.
• What methods
  • Within the City of Renton website, the Current Emergency Information page is updated as information is provided and verified. All posts are redirected to that page.
  • The city posts on Facebook, Instagram, X, Nextdoor, and sends necessary updates out through Alert Renton.
  • Follow and subscribe to the city’s social media channels.
• How does the city know if flooding will cause issues to the bridges?
  • The Public Works Department will inspect the bridge as water levels decrease. If they notice cracking or a concern to the bridge, they will close it out of an abundance of caution. However, it is important to note that the bridges are built to sustain a lot of weight and pressure.
• How much water was coming out of the dam?
  • A lot, water coming from both the reservoir and canyon. It was measured less than a 1,000 cubic feet per second.
• Could residents be notified of when the dam is released in emergencies
  • We could, however context is important, the city does not want to overwhelm with extra information.
  • King County has already embedded dam releases in their flood warnings
    • Releases from the dam were relatively insignificant.
• One guest commented that their neighborhood has a group chat in which the members share info of what was actually happening, people fact checks comments. Helpful to have a group of folks that trust each other. They recommended that each neighborhood create their own form of group chat to communicate in case of emergencies.

Upcoming Parking Reform

• A new state law will go into effect 2027.
• Will affect new developments.
• The city will begin outreach and outreach to questions throughout 2026.

2026 Legislative Agenda

• Government Affairs Manager Eric Perry shared about the upcoming 2026 legislative session and the city’s priorities.
• Shared about what the city and state could expect from the state’s budget deficient.
• Residents can stay updated on the 2026 legislative session City of Renton Legislative Agenda | Your Voice Renton

Question: What's Happening at friends of youth facility?

• VanValey is checking in with Community and Economic Development on the sale of the property.