Title
Olympia 2045 Climate Element - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Move to recommend the Climate Element and forward to City Council.
Report
Issue:
Whether to recommend approval of the proposed Climate Element of the Comprehensive Plan and forward to City Council.
Staff Contact:
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs, City Manager’s Office, Climate Program, 360.753.8249
Presenter(s):
Pamela Braff, PhD, Director of Climate Programs
Natalie Weiss, Climate Resilience Coordinator
Background and Analysis:
Climate Element: Description and State Requirements
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) (RCW 36.70A) guides and directs local government planning in WA. It requires cities and counties to adopt and update a comprehensive plan to accommodate 20 years of growth. The Comprehensive Plan also establishes the primary goals and policies that guide all City actions.
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 requires local comprehensive plans to include goals and policies for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate resilience.
The new Climate Action & Resilience chapter will address both climate mitigation (the reduction of greenhouse gases) and resiliency (the ability to adapt to our changing climate). The overarching goals of this chapter are to:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Reduce vehicle miles traveled.
• Improve climate preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
• Maximize co-benefits and prioritize environmental justice in the development of policies/programs to achieve these goals.
To capture the collaborative approach that is needed to address climate action in the City of Olympia, the Climate Element will be integrated throughout each chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. This effort is supported by a cross-departmental staff team (Climate Policy Advisory Team), made up of staff from the City of Olympia and the Squaxin Island Tribe.
Resilience Sub-Element
The Resilience Sub-Element Climate Element strengthens Olympia’s capacity to prepare for, adapt to, and respond to climate-related events. The sub-element focuses on the most significant climate risks in Olympia, which were identified through a Climate Risk and Vulnerability assessment completed in 2024. One of the most significant climate risks in Olympia includes impacts to public health from extreme heat and wildfire smoke. We also expect negative impacts to the environment, including forests, marine, and freshwater ecosystems, from extreme heat, drought, and heavy rainfall. Sea level rise also poses a significant challenge for Olympia’s downtown, including critical infrastructure systems, buildings, and emergency response. The proposed resilience goals and policies seek to mitigate the greatest risks and vulnerabilities identified in the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment.
Mitigation Sub-Element
Through the Mitigation Sub-Element, we aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across sectors. The Sub-Element focuses on Olympia’s largest emitting sectors - transportation, buildings and energy, and waste. The City of Olympia has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, and the Mitigation Sub-Element lays out the goals and policies needed to meet this target. While the City is already working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the proposed emissions reduction goals and policies outline strategies to further reduce emissions in each sector. The goals and policies are informed by the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, 2021 Olympia Greenhouse Gas Inventory and 2021 Carbon Wedge Analysis.
Community Engagement Process
Staff conducted community engagement with the public and City advisory committees throughout the development of the Climate Element. Engagement activities included open houses (in-person and virtual), community workshops, Q&A sessions, small group community conversations, two Engage Olympia surveys and direct emails. Over the past year, staff also briefed the Land Use and Environment Committee, the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, the Social Justice and Equity Commission, the Parks, Arts and Recreation Committee, the Utility Advisory Committee, Youth Council, and Olympia Planning Commission on the Climate Element.
Community engagement was conducted over 3 separate phases.
• Phase 1 (July 2024 - February 2025): Initial outreach to learn more about community concerns and priorities related to Climate action in Olympia.
• Phase 2 (February - March 2025): Feedback on the first draft of the Climate Element goals and policies.
• Phase 3 (May - June 2025): Feedback on the first full draft of the Climate Element (including chapter narrative).
Public Hearing Draft
The public hearing draft the Commission is considering tonight reflects the feedback we heard during all phases of community engagement.
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:
Climate change affects everyone. However, some people and communities in Olympia (sometimes referred to as frontline communities) will experience greater impacts due to their age, race, gender, health, where they live, or what they do for work. Prioritizing environmental justice and maximizing co-benefits for frontline communities is a key goal of the Climate Element.
Equity has been incorporated throughout the Climate Element goals and policies, and staff prioritized outreach to frontline communities to the greatest extent feasible throughout the update process.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is considerable community interest in climate action (including greenhouse gas emissions reduction and resilience). Multiple opportunities and forums for community engagement were provided throughout the development of the Climate Element. A summary of community feedback that informed the development of the Climate Element is included in the attachments.
Options:
1. Conduct the public hearing and recommend approval of the draft chapter to Council, as proposed.
2. Conduct the public hearing and recommend approval of the draft chapter to Council, with specific modifications.
3. Conduct the public hearing but complete deliberations and development of a recommendation to City Council at a future meeting.
Financial Impact:
The development of the Climate Element is funded by a $245,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Attachments:
Public Hearing Draft
Project Webpage
Phase 1 Community Engagement Summary
Phase 2 Public Comment Summary
Phase 2 Public Comments
Phase 3 Public Comment Summary
Phase 3 Public Comments
Youth Council Comment Letter