Chad Bieren

The meeting commenced with a CEO's report regarding legislative efforts in Olympia, noting the failure of adverse bills. The Council then recognized Evan Swanson as the March 2026 Employee of the Month for his exceptional efforts during the December flood event, including coordinating levy patrols and leading his department by example. Following this, the agenda approval was confirmed. Discussions on community events included details about upcoming sporting events at the SSO Showware Center and Kent Arts Day. The main agenda item involved an update from the Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority by Fire Chief Mark Jones. Chief Jones detailed the organization's mission, vision, and values, emphasizing public trust, training, and labor partnership. He highlighted significant organizational statistics, such as serving five cities and two fire districts, over 500 employees, and responding to over 44,000 calls in 2025, primarily EMS. Key strategic focuses for 2026 include hiring 100 new firefighters over four years through innovative pipelines, such as partnering with the University of Alaska, and prioritizing health and wellness, particularly cancer awareness and introducing new physical and gear swap programs.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and a roll call. The agenda was approved after adding an excused absence for the mayor. Key discussions included appointments to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Belonging Board, and the confirmation of Stephanie Wedwick to the Kent Parks and Recreation Commission. Council Member Boyce provided an update on numerous community events scheduled through April, primarily at the Access Shoreware Center. The Public Safety report featured the swearing in of new Police Officer Cameron Alonzo. Council reports covered activities such as advocacy work in Olympia resulting in opposed bills dying, council workshop discussions on significant 2025 grant funding received for streets and roads, and updates from various committees including Public Works, Puget Sound Regional Fire Authority Governance Board, Kent Arts Commission, and the Human Services Commission. The Human Services Commission reported on grant application workshops. Council Member Shooker reported on training orientations and tours of the East Hill Operations Center and the Police Department Training Academy. A public comment was heard from a resident regarding flood damage response and a grievance requesting exemption from the stormwater drainage fee due to incurred personal losses.

The meeting covered several key agenda items. The IT director sought approval for a lease extension agreement with Canon USA for multifunction devices, estimated at $151,461, running through March 2027, aimed to align with the upcoming consolidation project. The Economic and Community Development section reviewed appointments to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, specifically seeking approval for Cynthia Boyd and the reappointment of David Quac, while noting challenges in maintaining equal representation per state law due to a lack of participation from hoteliers. Additionally, a presentation was given regarding updates to the Community Commercial Zone codes as part of ReCode Kent Phase 2, focusing on addressing legacy code barriers like site coverage and height restrictions to promote redevelopment and increased home ownership along the Benton corridor.

The meeting commenced with the flag salute and a roll call. Key agenda items included public recognition and appointments to the Kent Arts Commission and the Land Use and Planning Board, with specific discussion regarding the appointment of Galleti Tran Jeli and the reappointment of Ben Reid. Community event updates featured upcoming games from the Assesses Shower Center, including ice hockey matches and the Harlem Globe Trotters. The Public Safety Report detailed the swearing in of two new officers, Michael Curry and Nicholas Heath, including personal testimonies from the new officers about their motivations for joining KPD. The Economic and Community Development Report addressed the recent successful opening of El Pollo Loco and provided context on regional retail changes, such as the closure of Fred Meyer and Walgreens, discussing the impact of shifting retail models and real estate activity concerning the former Fred Meyer site.

The meeting included procedural items such as roll call and agenda approvals. Key discussions involved the renewal of liability insurance policies, resulting in a total savings of $142,058.90 for general liability, excess workers compensation, and cyber risk liability coverage for 2026 compared to previous premiums, despite market pressures. Specific changes included increasing the first layer of general liability insurance from $5 million to $7 million, locking that rate for 2026 and 2027, and lowering the self-insured retention for non-general liability claims. Cyber liability coverage savings of $9,000 were attributed to successful preventative measures by the IT department. Additionally, approval was sought to extend the King County Inet contract through December 31, 2027, for services including internet access, public addressing schemes, and intergovernmental network access, at a cost of $137,494.