Written by At the council meeting a week ago, the Renton City Council debated passing a resolution concerning the Sonics Arena.
The debate was as described in the minutes below (with the exception that Marcie Palmer did not say she didn’t want the arena in Renton…only that she did not want it at the Landing. The minutes were corrected on Monday night to reflect this.)
Here is the draft resolution (which did not pass):
CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON
RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, REGARDING THE PROPOSED KING COUNTY EVENTS CENTER.
WHEREAS, the Professional Basketball Club, LLC, owners of the Seattle Sonics and Storm professional basketball teams, has proposed that a multipurpose events center be built in Renton on property anticipated to be sold by The Boeing Company within the Urban Center—North Comprehensive Plan designation; and
WHEREAS, the Comprehensive Plan directs the transformation of the Urban Center—North to a vibrant mixed use district if and when Boeing deems property no longer necessary for its operations; and
WHEREAS, the adopted zoning for this area, Urban Center—North 1, allows development of indoor sports arenas, auditoriums, and exhibition halls with certain conditions; and
WHEREAS, a development agreement between the City and The Boeing Company, adopted in 2003, directs that a portion of anticipated new tax revenue generated by redevelopment of these properties be used to finance public infrastructure to support redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature is considering legislation that would authorize the King County Council to extend certain existing taxes and tax credits to generate a significant portion of the events center funding; and
WHEREAS, if the Legislature adopts the authorizing legislation, the King County Council has the authority to create a public facilities district for the purpose of constructing and operating a multipurpose events center such as that being proposed; and
WHEREAS, either the King County Council or the Legislature may require that the extension of the taxes and tax credits be subject to a vote of the people; and
WHEREAS, development of an events center such as that being proposed has the potential to catalyze additional development that will bring new jobs and revenue to the City; enhance shopping and dining options at The Landing and expedite build-out at Southport; create a new, accessible regional entertainment venue that Renton residents will be able to enjoy; and generate activity that will support existing restaurants, pubs, and shops in downtown Renton and throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, the presence of professional sports teams in Renton would be a source of pride and inspiration for the youth of the City and the charitable contributions of the teams and their players would have a positive impact on the community as a whole; and
WHEREAS, development of a regional facility such as that being proposed would further Renton’s emergence as a regional economic hub, and has the potential to ensure the timely construction of regional road and transit improvements benefiting Renton; and
WHEREAS, development of an events center such as that being proposed will likely have significant impact on the City and its neighborhoods and residents have already expressed concerns about traffic, public safety, changing neighborhood character, demands on city services, negative impacts to Boeing, The Landing, and other adjacent businesses, the expectation of a demand for a significant financial contribution from the City, the potential for lack of local control of a King County public facilities district, and uncertainty about the long-term commitment of the Sonics and Storm to the region even if an events center is constructed; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is not willing under any circumstances to impose new taxes at the city-level, leave our neighborhoods unprotected from negative impacts, subsidize cost of events center operations to the detriment of other city services, or put the City’s fiscal health at risk;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I. The above findings are true and correct in all respects.
SECTION II. The City will perform due diligence to determine economic benefits, potential impacts to neighborhoods and traffic, and anticipated demands on City services; engage professional assistance to protect the City’s interests; work with the Professional Basketball Club, LLC, to ensure quality design and sufficient mitigation of impacts; consider City investment in the project based on anticipated new revenue from the events center itself and development directly resulting from its construction; provide results of the City’s due diligence to the Legislature and King County Council to aid those bodies in their decisions; and work to identify and secure additional funding sources.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this _______ day of ___________________, 2007.
Bonnie I. Walton, City Clerk
APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this _______ day of _______________________, 2007.
Kathy Keolker, Mayor
Approved as to form:
Lawrence J. Warren, City Attorney
RES.1247:3/6/07:ma
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