2009 was a year of extremes for Renton.

Remember the bitter cold of last winter and the extreme record-breaking heat of this summer? Or the rampaging Cedar River and now the potential for the Green River to spill over its banks with devastating fury?

Maybe, it’s a year to forget. That would be a mistake, for if we decide to ignore the mistakes of the past, then we are sure to make them again.

2009 was a year of triumph, too, even if just measured by the fact that so many families and businesses are still standing despite the tough economic times.

Still, there was hurt. About three-dozen city employees lost their jobs this year to help fill a multimillion-dollar hole in the city’s budget. Such layoffs are unprecedented, brought on by declining tax revenues.

Hundreds of other employees lost their jobs in the private sector, including at Boeing. Undoubtedly, other workers in support businesses lost their jobs as a result.

But all was not gloom.

In the midst of their belt-tightening, Renton residents seemingly overnight refilled the shelves at the Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

New businesses opened where others closed, just not enough to fuel an economic recovery. But, that is still a sign of hope, one the city as a whole can build upon.

Hope, even in tough times, will always lead to a better day.

2010 could easily become a time of opportunity for Renton, especially downtown where so much of the city’s self-image rests.

The city is working on a City Center Community Plan. Downtown businesses and the public at large have had and will continue to have plenty of opportunity to help shape the future of downtown.

The downtown plan is the first of many such plans that will eventually cover the entire city. If you ever thought of getting involved in civic affairs, this is the time to do it.

Already, many of you have offered your ideas about downtown, which are included in the initial framework of the downtown plan. It’s clear you want downtown neighborhoods and your quality of life protected. Downtown’s street patterns are confusing and crime continues to worry residents.

One idea is to simply shout out what’s right about downtown.

What’s key to the plan’s success is the buyin of City Center businesses and residents. They are the ones who will make it work, through investments and their support of its goals. The City of Renton plays a big role, of course, because any change will first cross the City Council members’ desks.

Luckily, downtown Renton has a lot to work with. It’s just a matter of focusing the energy of everyone to make the plan a reality.

The city is preparing meetings soon on the downtown plan. Keep watch for details.