Title
Briefing on the Comprehensive Plan Action Plan
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Planning Commission discussed the Action Plan at its June 6 and June 20 meetings and provided a letter of recommendation to the City Council indicating the draft Action Plan is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan (Attachment 1).
The Land Use and Environment Committee has received regular briefings throughout development of the Action Plan, most recently March 17, 2016.
City Manager Recommendation:
Accept the Draft Action Plan framework (Attachment 2) and direct staff to continue its implementation.
Report
Issue:
Whether to accept the Draft Action Plan and direct staff to continue its implementation.
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Development (CPD), 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
Leonard Bauer, Deputy Director
Background and Analysis:
In 2014, Olympia adopted a new Comprehensive Plan with updated goals and policies that reflects our community’s vision. Early in that planning 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. The Comprehensive Plan’s direction for the Action Plan is included in Attachment 3. Attachment 4 is an updated summary of the vision and goals of the Comprehensive Plan, organized into five Action Areas, with desired outcomes within each Action Area.
The Council Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) has provided an interdepartmental staff team with direction throughout development of the Action Plan.
A draft Action Plan was released in April 2015 and was the subject of an extensive public comment process. A summary of the major themes from the public comments - and how the new Draft Action Plan Team responds to those comments - are included in Attachment 5.
Responding to the public comments involved a major adjustment to the approach to the Action Plan. It has resulted in a web-based Action Plan, rather than a static document. This will provide more convenient public access, and more timely updates. It also provides for a more graphic display of the actions and strategies, and how they connect to the overall goals from the Comprehensive Plan. These graphic displays are called Results Maps.
The Draft Action Plan also defines the community indicators that will track progress toward the Comprehensive Plan goals. Baseline data is included for the indicators where available. Additional work will be needed to develop and maintain data for all indicators.
In the future, data for each community indicator will be presented in an annual report to the community. That report will then be used to update the Action Plan annually (see draft schedule in Attachment 6). The Action Plan also includes a list of long-term actions that could be considered for addition to the Action Plan during these annual updates.
At the June 6, 2016 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission received an update on the Action Plan. After discussion the proposal, the Commission authorized Chair Richmond to draft a letter to the City Council recommending approval of the Action Plan. At the June 20, 2016 Planning Commission meeting, the Commission approved forwarding the letter to City Council (Attachment 1).
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Action Plan is a document that will have community-wide impacts.
Options:
1. Accept the Draft Action Plan framework and direct staff to continue its implementation.
2. Direct staff to work on specific changes to the Draft Action Plan and bring back to City Council for additional consideration.
Financial Impact:
None; this work item is already budgeted for 2016. Individual actions within the Action Plan may require additional resources to implement.
Attachments:
Olympia Planning Commission Signed Recommendation
Hyperlink to Draft Action Plan
Comprehensive Plan Direction for Action Plan
Comprehensive Plan Summary
Public Comment Summary
Action Plan Annual Update Cycle