Title
Action Plan -- Briefing
Recommended Action
None; receive briefing on the Action Plan.
Report
Issue:
Staff will provide Planning Commissioners with a briefing on the current status of development of the City’s first Action Plan.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
In 2014, Olympia adopted a new Comprehensive Plan (Plan) with updated goals and policies that reflect our community’s vision. Early in the Imagine Olympia process, the City Council identified a vital next step: ensure the goals and policies become reality and have real “on the ground” impact by creating an Implementation Strategy or Action Plan with performance measures.
In November 2013, the Council Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) provided staff with direction to begin work on an Action Plan. An interdepartmental staff team was formed to take what was learned during the Comprehensive Plan update process, Imagine Olympia, and develop a draft Action Plan.
The Draft Action Plan (Attachment A) was released in April, and was organized into five key Action Areas - Community Services; Downtown; Economy; Environment; and Neighborhoods. Each Action Area included:
• A summary of the vision and goals from the Comprehensive Plan:
• A draft list of actions, or things we want to do to carry out the Plan; and
• A draft list of indicators to help us track our progress in achieving our goals.
Staff sought comments on the draft using a variety of tools and events to engage community members, City Advisory Committees and Commissions, and potential implementing partners. The formal public involvement process was completed in August, and culminated with staff providing City Council with an overview of the feedback received on August 25, 2015.
Feedback received during the public involvement process addressed the Action Areas, actions, and indicators; however, it also provided insights into community priorities; how community members and potential partners perceived the intent of the Plan; and how clearly the proposed elements related to one another. All comments received are available to view on the City’s website (Attachment B). Having reviewed all comments from the public involvement process, staff members across departments are now engaged in revising the Draft Plan.
This agenda item is to provide Planning Commissioners with an overview of the intent of developing an Action Plan with community indicators; how it supports and aligns with other efforts to implement the Comprehensive Plan; and a status update on the revision process. The briefing is in preparation for the Planning Commission having an opportunity to review and make recommendations on the Draft before it is forwarded to City Council for review and adoption in early 2016.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Action Plan is a document that when adopted will have community-wide impacts.
Options:
None; briefing only.
Financial Impact:
None; this work item is already budgeted for 2015.