Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce Growth Management Services for a 2023-2025 Climate Planning Grant
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a Resolution authorizing an interagency agreement between the City of Olympia and Washington State Department of Growth Management Services for a 2023-2025 Climate Planning Grant.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Resolution authorizing an interagency agreement between the City of Olympia and Washington State Department of Growth Management Services for a 2023-2025 Climate Planning Grant.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs, Office of Community Vitality, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
Climate Planning Requirements
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.70A) guides and directs local government planning in the state. It requires most cities and counties, including Olympia, to adopt and periodically update a comprehensive plan to accommodate the succeeding 20 years of growth and establish the primary goals and policies to guide all City actions. The GMA mandates consistency between all elements of the comprehensive plan, and between the plan and all City regulations and actions intended to implement the comprehensive plan.
Planning for climate change and resiliency was added as the 14th goal to the GMA in 2023, by adoption of House Bill 1181 (Chapter 228, Laws of 2023). The GMA now requires local comprehensive plans to have sub-elements with climate resilience and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
• The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission sub-element - with goals and policies to reduce GHG emissions and vehicle miles traveled - is mandatory for the state’s 11 largest counties (of which Thurston County is one) and for cities located within those counties that have a population size greater than 6,000; thus, this requirement applies to Olympia.
• The Resilience sub-element - with goals and polices to improve climate preparedness, response and recovery efforts - is mandatory for all fully planning counties and cities under the GMA and is encouraged for others.
In 2023, staff began the periodic update for Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan, as required by the GMA. This update will look out to the year 2045 to show how the City will accommodate new population and employment growth. This update will also address the GMA goal for climate and the new Climate Change and Resiliency element requirement. The deadline to complete this update is June 30, 2025.
Climate Planning Grants
The Climate Commitment Act (Senate Bill 5187 (Sec. 130 (21)) directs the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to administer grants and provide technical assistance to cities and counties to plan for climate change. Commerce will make approximately $30 million (as appropriated) in statewide grants to implement House Bill 1181 (Chapter 228, Laws of 2023), supporting the development of climate change and resiliency elements.
All local governments that are subject to HB 1181 (including the City of Olympia) may apply for funding for activities related to implementing climate change planning. The City of Olympia has been awarded a $150,000 2023-2025 Climate Planning Grant to support the development of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan Climate Element.
Climate Analysis:
Development of the Comprehensive Plan Climate Element will support long-term planning for climate mitigation (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions reduction) and resilience.
Equity Analysis:
Frontline community members are people who experience the first and worst consequences of climate change. Such residents’ health and livelihoods are often highly vulnerable to climate-exacerbated hazards and economic disruptions, and their communities often lack basic support infrastructure and suffer disproportionately from the compounding impacts of pollution, discrimination, racism, and poverty. The project team will engage frontline communities in the development of climate goals and policies and evaluate the potential of each proposed measure to support environmental justice.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in climate action (including greenhouse gas reduction and resilience). Multiple opportunities for community engagement and feedback will be provided throughout this project.
Financial Impact:
The City has been awarded a $150,000 grant to develop the Climate Element. This grant will reduce costs to meet the new GMA requirements to plan for climate resilience and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. There is no matching requirement for this grant.
Options:
1. Approve a Resolution authorizing an Interagency Agreement between the City of Olympia and Washington State Department of Commerce Growth Management Services for a 2023-2025 Climate Planning Grant.
2. Request changes to the Interagency Agreement.
3. Do not approve the Interagency Agreement. The City would not receive grant funding to support the development of the Comprehensive Plan Climate Element.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement