Kent City Council opens 2026 with levy concerns and swearing-in ceremonies

The Kent City Council kicked off 2026 on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 with a session that balanced ceremonial milestones with a firm demand for regional equity.

While the evening featured the swearing-in of Mayor Dana Ralph and three councilmembers, the primary focus centered on the stark inequity of the King County Parks Levy.

As city leaders celebrated the “One Kent” spirit that helped the community navigate recent record-breaking floods, they also signaled a new era of advocacy, calling on south King County neighbors to unite against the disproportionate distribution of taxpayer dollars.

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Parks Levy Update: Unfair Distribution

Kent Parks Director Julie Parascondola gave an update on the King County Parks Levy. The levy, which was recently approved by voters, will cost county taxpayers $1.4 billion. This is a 71% increase from the previous parks levy, passed in 2020. The levy will cost Kent residents $48.6 million, while only providing $7.8 million in local parks funding. Director Parascondola shared that this is a meager 16% return on taxpayer investment.

Parascondola expressed concern that the levy does not provide nearly enough investment in South King County, and that Kent residents are paying much more than they are receiving. She said 51% of Kent voters approved the levy, but she believes many may have thought they were voting for Kent parks, rather than parks in other areas of the county. While everyone can use public parks throughout the region, she knows that transportation and time constraints limit the parks that will actually be enjoyed by the Kent community. Parascondola said leaders throughout South King County need to band together to demand more from King County.

Election & Swearing-In 

City Hall was filled with friends and family who came to celebrate the election and re-elections of members of the city council. Mayor Dana Ralph was sworn in for another four year term. In addition, there was a swearing-in ceremony for Councilmember Satwinder Kaur and Toni Troutner after their recent re-elections. 

One new councilmember was sworn in as well: Councilmember Sharn Shoker. She succeeds longtime incumbent Brenda Fincher, who did not seek re-election after serving since 2014.

The council then took a vote, unanimously supporting the election of Councilmember Satwinder Kaur as council president for another two year term.

Employee Of The Month

Corrections Sergeant Rick Armstrong was chosen by his peers as well as his subordinates as January Employee of the Month. According to Police Chief Rafael Padilla, this shows that Sergeant Armstrong is a caring leader who leads by example. In addition, Armstrong is energetic and has an incomparable work ethic. 

Mayor Dana Ralph said that Armstrong was originally hired as a corrections officer in 2006. His job duties now include ensuring the safety, security, and control of the incarcerated population, as well as being the community liaison and program supervisor. Armstrong strives for excellence, and his efforts make the corrections facility an outstanding place to work.

“One Kent” Ethos Demonstrated In Flood Aftermath

According to Mayor Dana Ralph, the entire city staff came together to maintain services and keep the city functioning in the last two weeks of December, after the region was hit by unprecedented flooding. Chief Administrative Officer Pat Fitzpatrick echoed this sentiment, saying that every single department showed up to minimize damage and get freeways, roads, and facilities operational again. Kent staff worked overtime to handle emergencies both within and outside of city boundaries.

Guardrail Projects

After requests by the community as well as analysis by the city, safety guardrails are planned for a few dangerous roads in Kent. These locations include SE 240th Street, near 148th Ave SE; E Smith Street at Summit Ave N; and S 228th St at 94th Ave S. The total cost to construct these guardrails will come to $101,000.

Grants Accepted For Parks, Roads, Stormwater

The council approved accepting a $119,850 King County grant, which will cover the entire purchase of a parcel for Clark Lake Park. Other grants accepted will help pay for road and stormwater projects.

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