Multiple Renton residents and a small‑business owner used the council’s public comment period to urge city action after a series of towing incidents and safety concerns at a private housing complex at 495 Renton Centreway known in testimony as "the Reserve."

Minita Fessa, founder of Avicenna Beauty School and Clinic, told the council that homeless individuals congregate at her business entrance, clients have canceled appointments, and students and customers have been blocked from entering. She asked the city to "increase police or community patrol visibility around our block, especially during business hours," and to collaborate with small businesses to find sustainable solutions.

Residents and advocates described a pattern in which people are told it is permissible to park in certain areas and then their cars are towed minutes later. Lumen Nguyen, speaking for residents at 495 Renton Centreway, said one resident was told parking was allowed and then the vehicle was towed two minutes later; Nguyen urged the city to “follow the money trail” and see who benefits from towing fees.

Victor Yan, speaking for his mother, described his parents’ car being towed after decades of parking in the same spot. “My parents called me and said our car was stolen. I had to leave work, go bail out the car, $600 to get a towing out for only a couple of hours? That's ridiculous,” Yan said, adding that notices about required parking permits were not provided in Chinese, Vietnamese or Spanish for residents with limited English.

Business owner Ty Nguyen and others reported online reviews they call false and damaging, and several commenters said towing has harmed seniors with limited incomes.

City response and next steps
Mayor and council members thanked speakers and said staff would look into options despite limits because the parking lot is private. The mayor said staff will review what the city can and cannot do and will update the executive leadership team; the mayor also directed the chief of police to speak with the business owner after the meeting.

Councilmembers referenced the city’s existing rental‑protection ordinances and said those protections can be enforced or expanded administratively. Councilmember Rivera asked that the executive branch explore funding options for local food resources and rental protections, and Councilmember Van noted the city offers language translation resources for public comment when requested in advance.

Speakers
Minita Fessa — Founder, Avicenna Beauty School and Clinic (business owner; spoke about blocked access and lost revenue)
Ty Nguyen — Business owner (complained about harmful online reviews and towing related issues)
Lumen Nguyen — Advocate/representative for residents at 495 Renton Centreway
Victor Yan — Resident advocate (spoke on behalf of his mother, a long‑time resident of the Reserve)

Authorities referenced
None cited specifically by statute; speakers and council referenced city rental‑protection ordinances (passed September 2023) and existing police/city authority limits because the parking in question is private.

Clarifying details
incident_count: "not specified" — detail: Multiple anecdotal reports of towing incidents; exact count not provided in comments.
financial_impact_example: "$600" — detail: Victor Yan reported paying about $600 to retrieve a towed car for a few hours; cited as personal example.
language_access: "not provided in Chinese/Vietnamese/Spanish" — detail: Notice about parking permits was described as only in English for some residents; source_speaker: Victor Yan
business_impact: "loss of appointments and cancelled clients" — detail: Avicenna Beauty School reported at least $1,500 lost in one day per testimony; source_speaker: Minita Fessa

Proper names
{"name":"Avicenna Beauty School and Clinic","type":"organization"},{"name":"495 Renton Centreway (The Reserve)","type":"location"},{"name":"Don Person Renton Senior Activity Center","type":"facility"}

Searchable_tags:["predatory_towing","tenant_protections","public_safety","Renton"]