Kent City Council hears sobering state budget update, eyes new sales tax option & more at Tuesday’s meeting

The Kent City Council convened on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, addressing a diverse agenda that spanned local funding initiatives, community infrastructure, environmental policy, and upcoming city events.

Key items included a budget update from South King Housing & Homelessness Partners, the approval of security enhancements for the Kent Commons, and initial discussions regarding a potential tree canopy goal for the city.

The council also received a sobering update on the outcomes of the 2025 state legislative session and its financial implications for Kent.

Announcements were made for vibrant community celebrations and openings.

SKHHP Workplan & Budget Update

South King Housing & Homelessness Partners (SKHHP) gave a brief presentation on their budget during the Committee of the Whole. SKHHP is a partnership between 12 cities that pool funds to support the construction and preservation of affordable housing. 

Each city pays SKHHP dues based on their population size, with Kent’s share being $68,386 per year. SKHHP’s total budget is around $500,000 per year, and 64% of that goes to fund the salaries and benefits of two SKHHP full-time staff members.

Security Enhancements At Kent Commons

The council voted to approve a bid for $182,216 to update security at Kent Commons Community Center. Enhancements will include cameras, doors with badge readers, and a lockdown function for entry doors.

Tree Canopy In Kent

The council will soon be deciding whether to have a tree-canopy coverage goal for the city. Kent is currently undergoing an assessment of its tree canopy, to determine how much canopy it’s starting with. Many area cities have committed to working towards a 40% tree canopy. Councilmember Marli Larimer said Kent should absolutely set a tree canopy target. Councilmember Brenda Fincher mentioned that Kent is a heat island, and trees help to cool and clean the air, improving the lives of residents in many ways.

One concern brought up during the presentation is that tree codes can potentially conflict with middle-housing requirements. A speaker during Public Comments mentioned that Kent could focus on building increased density, while also providing more intentional green spaces like public parks. Councilmember Larimer brought up the idea of incentivising businesses to plant trees in unused spaces around their properties. There will be a presentation with more details on Kent’s tree canopy and potential targets at a future meeting.

Juneteenth & Dr. Terrence Roberts

The 14th annual Juneteenth celebration at Morrill Meadows is free and open to everyone. There will be music as well as free food. The festivities will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 19.

On June 18, Dr. Terrence Roberts will be speaking on the history of segregation and ways we can preserve our democracy. Dr Roberts was a member of the Little Rock Nine, a pioneer in the fight to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, 68 years ago. This free event runs from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Kent Commons.

Riverbend Bar & Grill Ribbon Cutting And Kent Farmers Market

The newly reopened restaurant at Riverbend Golf Course, Riverbend Bar & Grill, will have a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 14. Councilmember Zandria Michaud said the establishment is already open for dining.

Also on June 14 is the opening day of the 2025 Farmers Market season.

2025 Legislative Update

The 2025 state legislative session just closed, and the outcome reported to the council was pretty negative. Of 2,387 bills that were introduced, only 433 passed. The state is facing a $15 billion shortfall due to slowing revenue and increased obligations. To reckon with this shortfall, legislators made budget cuts and added new taxes, including capital gains, estate, and B&O taxes.

According to the presentation, it was harder than usual to advance any budgetary requests, leaving the city and many programs in the lurch. Legislators approved allowing cities to impose a .01% sales tax increase, but there are several hoops that must be jumped through to do so. It is a far cry from the .03% sales tax increase for public safety that Mayor Dana Ralph had been hoping for. The city did not receive the $9 million requested for energy upgrades for the new administration building. This request could still be met in a future legislative session, however.

Not all the news was negative. Two large wildlife and recreation program grants were awarded, including $940,000 for LP Uplands extension acquisition, and $500,000 for Uplands Playfield & Spray Park. Also, organizations within the city were funded, including $1.3 million for Sea Mar Community Health Center, and $12 million for Open Doors Multicultural Families.

Other statewide changes include reduced parking minimums, and the recycling reform act, which will shift the cost of recycling to the producers rather than consumers. Mayor Dana Ralph said she was extremely disappointed in state legislators. She said Kent was doing everything right, and lawmakers let us down. She added that the council will see a proposal on the .01% sales tax increase at the next council meeting.

July 1 Meeting Moved To June 30

There will be a special council meeting on June 30 to address amending the zoning code to meet state requirements. This will take the place of the July 1 meeting, which has been canceled.