Title
Update on the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (March 2019)
Recommended Action
Information only. No action required.
Report
Issue:
Receive a briefing on the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan (March 2019)
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Senior Planner, Public Works/Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Presenter:
Eric Christensen, Engineering and Planning Supervisor, Public Works/Water Resources, 360.570.3741
Background and Analysis:
In early 2017, the City, the Port of Olympia and the LOTT Clean Water Alliance entered into an Interlocal Agreement to jointly fund and participate in a formal sea level rise planning process for downtown Olympia and the Port peninsula. A consulting firm, AECOM Technical Services, assisted with the planning effort, which concluded in spring 2019.
The Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan provides comprehensive short-term, mid-term and long-term strategies for minimizing and preventing flooding to downtown Olympia from rising sea levels. The Plan is organized into ten chapters addressing the following:
• Planning context
• Public engagement and outreach
• Climate science
• Vulnerability and risk
• Approach to adaptation
• Physical and operational strategies
• Governance and informational strategies
• Cost of adaptation
• Implementation and next steps
• Monitoring and action triggers
Draft plan public review and comment opportunities included:
• December 11, 2018 Community Meeting
• December 11, 2018 - January 25, 2019 public comment period
• February 26, 2019 Olympia City Council Public Hearing
• Public Hearing comment period (through March 6, 2019)
Additionally, the City issued a notice of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Determination of Non-significance (DNS) for the Olympia Sea Level Rise Plan on February 13, 2019 and adopted the plan on March 19, 2019.
Staff will brief the Planning Commission on the contents of the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan, with an emphasis on the plan’s governance strategies. Governance strategies address flood vulnerabilities through policies, plans, coordination, guidelines, and regulations.
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. Citizens voiced their support for the sea level response planning process during four well-attended public meetings conducted during the 18-month planning process. Comments received at each public meeting are included in meeting summary reports that are available on the City’s website. Coordination with the City’s regional climate change mitigation planning is also occurring.
Options:
Information only.
Financial Impact:
None at this time.
City of Olympia Storm and Surface Water utility capital budget includes $125,000 annually for continued planning and technical work associated with Plan implementation. Additional capital facility funding is provided annually for downtown flood reduction work.
Attachments:
1. Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan Overview
2. Link to Sea Level Rise Response Plan (March 2019)