Money for sidewalks, jobs for homeless people to remove graffiti and a pre-apprenticeship program for people to get construction jobs were among the items added by the Kent City Council to the 2022 city budget adjustment.<\/p>\n
Council members also discussed plans the majority of them support in Mayor Dana Ralph’s budget proposal to spend $2.8 million for traffic improvements at Willis Street and Naden Avenue in the Valley and $1 million for landscaping upgrades at Veterans Drive and Military Road South on the West Hill.<\/p>\n
The mayor’s staff proposed using $500,000 from federal relief (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to start a sidewalk matching grant fund with plans to get state or federal grants to help pay for sidewalks. If no matching grants are found, the $500,000 would be used directly for sidewalks, said Derek Matheson, city chief administrative officer, in his report to the council at its Oct. 19 budget workshop.<\/p>\n
Matheson said the idea to put money aside for sidewalks was in response to comments made at an Oct. 5 budget workshop by Councilmember Marli Larimer and public hearing testimony Oct. 5 at a council meeting by two Kent residents about the need for sidewalk and bicycle path improvements near Southeast 256th Street and 132nd Avenue Southeast on the East Hill.<\/p>\n
“I like that idea,” Councilmember Bill Boyce said about a sidewalk fund. “Are there any priorities for sidewalks? There are probably quite a few we need.”<\/p>\n
Chad Bieren, city Public Works director, responded that staff is working on a priority list. He said aging sidewalks that need to be replaced and sidewalks that would complete gaps along certain streets could receive priority funding.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Brenda Fincher and Larimer at the Oct. 5 budget workshop discussed the potential of a program that would employ homeless people or at-risk youth to help remove graffiti around town. Larimer made reference to a new King County program to employ homeless people to work at parks.<\/p>\n
Mayor Ralph reached out to King County Executive Dow Constantine about the county program and came to an agreement to partner with the county on the program at a cost of $200,000 in 2022.<\/p>\n
“We would take $200,000 of city funds to give to the county for a team dedicated to the city of Kent,” Ralph said.<\/p>\n
The mayor further explained that the county would cover the overhead costs, including supervision, and handle the transportation of workers to Kent.<\/p>\n
The $200,000 would come from the American Rescue Plan Act funds.<\/p>\n
The city will receive $28.2 million in federal relief funds due to COVID-19 and its impact on cities across the nation. Kent received $14.1 million in June and will receive another $14.1 million next June.<\/p>\n
“I want to make sure Kent people are hired for the program,” Fincher said.<\/p>\n
Matheson said an interlocal agreement with the county will need to be approved by the council before the program starts.<\/p>\n
“What a great idea,” Boyce said. “At the end of the day, we get more for our money. It’s kind of like outsourcing. They (King County) get the program set up and we provide additional funds.”<\/p>\n