Title
Olympia 2045 - Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Review and discuss the draft goals and policies of the Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
Report
Issue:
Whether to review and discuss the draft goals and policies of the Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
Staff Contact:
Susan McLaughlin, AICP LEED AP, Director, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.753.8206
Tim Smith, AICP, Deputy Director, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3915
Joyce Phillips, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.570.3722
David Ginther, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Economic Development, 360.753.8335
Presenter(s):
David Ginther, Senior Planner
Background and Analysis:
For the last periodic update, the City’s Comprehensive Plan underwent a major rewrite through a planning process that took place from 2009 through 2014. The Plan was adopted in December of 2014. At least once every 10 years, cities and counties that are fully planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA), must update its plan through a process known as a periodic Update. The periodic update requires that jurisdictions update the planning horizon to a minimum of 20 years, update the population projection it is planning for, and address all new planning requirements that have been adopted since the previous update.
The Public Participation and Partners chapter provides guidance for outreach and engagement of the community in a meaningful, inclusive, and equitable way. The voices of residents, local business owners and organizations provide the perspective and information that are essential to effective planning and decision-making regarding issues that will shape our community for generations to come.
In summer of 2023, a survey was made available to gather community input and comments on the chapter. Of the 95 survey respondents, the majority indicated that they supported the overall intent and goals of the chapter. However, some felt that some of the goals were not being adequately achieved or that the City was not adequately conveying to the public when goals were being accomplished.
Advisory Committees Input
Comments were provided by the Advisory Committees regarding prioritizing equity and diversity in the scope and methods of outreach. These were reflected in verbal comments from the Youth Council and written comments from the Social Justice and Equity Commission. The Social Justice and Equity Commission provided a comment letter that is attached.
Planning Commission Recommendation
After conducting a public hearing and deliberating on the proposed amendments, the Planning Commission recommended approval. The Planning Commission recommendation letter is attached.
Climate Analysis:
The Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan provides the background and explains the importance of working with all members of the community including regional and local partners. Regional coordination and partnerships led to the creation of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, which exemplifies how important working collaboratively with community involvement is to achieving effective plans. This is an example of how establishing partnerships and providing opportunities for public participation allows the city to establish broadly supported goals related to climate. This chapter provides the policy basis for continued outreach and engagement in the development and implementation of plans across a variety of topics that our community cares about and for which it wants and expects to participate.
Equity Analysis:
The Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan provides a basis for outreach, participation opportunities, and partnerships for the community. It also establishes the importance of working with all members of the community. Updating the chapter allows the city to continue to improve its methods of outreach, expand the variety of public participation opportunities that it utilizes, and provide guidance for establishing new partnerships. It also allows the city to apply an equity lens to the existing methods of outreach and public participation to provide opportunities for engagement, input, and feedback from community members that may not have been included in the past.
Neighborhood/Community Interests:
Ninety-five people provided input through the survey for the Public Participation and Partners chapter. Changes to the chapter are based on survey input and public comments. The draft chapter was made available to the public on July 15, 2024.
Financial Impact:
The Washington State Department of Commerce is providing a grant for up to $175,000 to help cover the costs of the City of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update.
Options:
1. Review and discuss the draft goals and policies of the Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
2. Review and discuss the draft Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan at another time.
3. Do not review and discuss the draft Public Participation and Partners chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
Attachments:
Draft Public Participation and Partners Chapter
Planning Commission Letter
Social Justice and Equity Commission Letter
Public Comments