Title
Approval of Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance for Planning and Assessment of Potential Sea Level Rise
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance for Planning and Assessment of Potential Sea Level Rise.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an Interlocal Agreement to allow for joint planning and assessment of potential sea level rise between the Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, Public Works/Water Resources, 360-753-8575
Presenter(s):
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, Public Works/Water Resources
Susan Clark, Senior Planner, Public Works
Background and Analysis:
Downtown Olympia and its peninsula are vulnerable to flooding. Sea level rise will increase the likelihood of flooding and could threaten large portions of downtown. Implications to various public and private entities are extensive. Without action, maintaining downtown public and private services will be challenging.
The City of Olympia has been engaged in climate change and sea level rise planning since the early 1990s. Considerable topographic, water elevation, and land use information has been generated and evaluated. The City of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Strategy provide support for the development of a Sea Level Response Plan. Based on research, the City is recommending that we plan for 24 inches of sea rise by the year 2050 and 55 inches by 2100. While these projections may change, researchers indicate with 99 percent confidence that sea rise will not exceed 72 inches by 2100.
The City of Olympia, the Port of Olympia and, the LOTT Clean Water Alliance share common concerns regarding sea level rise, yet also have unique individual vulnerabilities. Under the Interlocal Agreement, the parties will work to complete a formal sea level rise planning process for downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula. The planning process will take into account each party’s unique vulnerabilities. The three agencies will hire a consulting firm to lead the planning effort.
After executing a professional service contract with the selected consulting firm, AECOM, facilitated discussions on the scope of work for the sea level response plan and public involvement plan will begin. The resulting detailed scope of work will undergo an elected officials and public review process.
Reaching agreement on the scope of the sea level rise planning process and implementing a robust public involvement plan is key to the success of the project. At a minimum, the tasks to be completed by AECOM for this project include: public involvement, capital facility planning, environmental assessment, land use planning, and identification of regulatory and financing needs.
The planning process will culminate with elected official consideration of the plan and its implementation.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Various community groups and other agencies are engaged in climate change and sea level rise issues. The City of Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Strategy support developing a sea level response plan. At a February 8, 2017 sea level rise community informational meeting, support for starting a sea level response planning process was voiced.
Options:
• Approve the Interlocal Agreement. This will allow the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance to share costs and work collaboratively on a plan to respond to sea rise.
• Decline or modify the Interlocal Agreement. This would make maintaining downtown public and private services challenging. The lack of a coordinated approach to sea level rise would impact relations amongst the City of Olympia and the Port of Olympia and LOTT Clean Water Alliance.
Financial Impact:
The City of Olympia, the Port of Olympia, and LOTT Clean Water Alliance will share costs under this Interlocal Agreement. The Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance will each pay up to $75,000 and the City of Olympia will pay $100,000 plus necessary in-house costs such as staff salaries. Total costs under this Interlocal Agreement are not to exceed $250,000. The City Storm and Surface Water Utility capital program will provide the necessary funding.
The Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance have authorized financial participation in the sea level response plan and will sign the Interlocal Agreement following City of Olympia approval.
Attachments:
Interlocal Agreement
Resolution