Title
Approval of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to modify Policy PN 8.1 regarding the City’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Move to approve a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to modify the text of policy PN8.1 related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to modify the text of policy PN8.1 related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Staff Contact:
Susan Clark, Senior Planner, Public Works Water Resources, 360.753.8321
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360-570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Senior Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
The City of Olympia adopted a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goal in its 2014 Comprehensive Plan. The City’s goal was developed to reflect the GHG emission reduction goal of the Sustainable Thurston plan, which was approved in late 2013. Both goals were reflective of the North America 2050 coalition and the State of Washington emission reduction provisions adopted in state law (70.235.020 RCW). Other jurisdictions in Thurston County adopted similar but different goals.
Sustainable Thurston recommended that a Climate Action Plan be developed. In 2018 the City entered into an Interlocal Agreement with the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC), Thurston County, and the Cities of Lacey and Tumwater to develop a regional climate mitigation plan. Phase 1 of the project included a review of each participating jurisdiction’s varying climate policies and emission targets. As a result, a recommendation to adopt a common region-wide emissions reduction target, using 2015 as the base year instead of 1990, was made.
The change in base year was proposed because inventories developed after 1990 provide a more accurate accounting of emissions. Essentially, there is better data for the 2015 base year than what exists for 1990. As a result of changing the base year, the overall percentage of reduction proposed by the end year of 2050 has been increased (from 80% to 85%). The effect of increasing the percentage based on the change in base year used is that the amount of reduced emissions is essentially the same outcome.
Having a shared base year and shared GHG emissions reduction goal will allow the partnering jurisdictions to work more fully in cooperation as we move, as a region, toward this goal.
At the end of the Phase 1 work, each of the jurisdictions agreed to the shared GHG emissions reduction goal. On October 16, 2018, the Olympia City Council passed Resolution M-1976 (attachment 2), adopting the common targets to reduce community-wide GHG emissions and committing to continuing the work to develop the regional climate mitigation plan. Phase 2 of the regional mitigation planning process, which is the development of the Thurston Regional Climate Mitigation Plan, began in January of 2019.
The application materials (attachment 1) include a “bill format” proposal of the changes to Policy PN8.1 of the Natural Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The City of Olympia has a diverse population, with many who care deeply about climate change and other environmental issues. The City of Olympia has a longer history than most jurisdictions when it comes to addressing issues like environmental protection, sustainability, climate change, and sea level rise. More opportunity for public involvement and participation will occur as the climate mitigation plan is developed. In regard to the proposal to amend the policy text in the Comprehensive Plan, only one public comment has been received (attachment 3).
Options:
1. Recommend City Council adopt the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, as proposed.
2. Recommend City Council adopt the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment, as modified by the Planning Commission.
3. Recommend City Council deny the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment.
Financial Impact:
None - Annual processing of any city-proposed annual comprehensive plan amendments is included in the base budget.
Attachments:
Application Packet
Resolution M-1976
Public Comment
Response to Public Comment
Review Criteria
TRPC Climate Webpage