[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6205567,"mediaKeyId","3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa","parentId",3769265,"title","Puyallup council approves 2044 comprehensive plan update after debate over 'equity' language and lahar study","audioSeconds",4876,"startMs",2165000,"endMs",7041000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa&start=2165&end=7041","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa/thumbnail_2165000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6205567/Puyallup/Pierce-County/Washington/Puyallup-council-approves-2044-comprehensive-plan-update-after-debate-over-equity-language-and-lahar-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205567-b56b72b60a39a86976f03ee0733d1fd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172862&Signature=RiknTm~qmYwVCr60IRJnILAfraxMrtUjQQ6MohGWQghPR0qEXl~GHaxZ204l5goPv4nkj-cRVouZa-y~36EpJmqJCr3fxhT8X4OR9r1XKjvzuaUVIq8EZBrzscp37aknbANBsZ-OLJ6j~0t6W~ay4u-Z5kyJsM7qXD0fnOgKmC41BmZ0JkQ4rRiHsdPFV9nfozVms1bk24AKL8XN4laNKRMRG5c9X8zzlAEtd2mqJkOAfAV~srPaIoqNgJCeYFBpAzoh9wdIk9WAgGHTDNok2uygxCT9J0c~3r0kSYMeGdrnGiuOXHV8EyCXj3~wjdfE8Wde7B1-QhGqFtrrVzvpPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Puyallup, WA","date","2025-06-11T17:07:58.327Z","article","Puyallup City Council approved the Puyallup 2044 comprehensive plan periodic update, as amended, during its June 10, 2025 meeting after hours of public comment and council debate.

The vote finalized a package of changes that included replacing some uses of the word \"equity\" with race-neutral terms such as “underserved” or “disadvantaged,” map adjustments (including a reduced neighborhood-commercial area near Meeker Elementary and a mixed-use designation along the South Meridian corridor), a directive that staff develop a methodology for future emergency housing, removal of a proposed policy to require climate-change analysis under SEPA for individual housing projects (NE 11.6), and a council-directed study of volcanic lahar impacts on city infrastructure and emergency response. Mayor Castima summarized the council’s rationale as aligning plan language with recent federal and state legal guidance and said the revised text “ensures that anyone who is underserved or disadvantaged, again, regardless of race, … is considered.”

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan guides land use, housing, natural environment and transportation policy for the next two decades. The amendments the council adopted change how the city frames equity and risk, and they create a new, explicit study requirement for volcanic lahar risk — an item several council members and residents said is urgent for the valley.

Most important facts
- The council advanced the comprehensive-plan ordinance with amendments and approved final passage on June 10, 2025. The final roll call yielded a close approval (four in favor, three opposed).
- The council removed policy NE 11.6 — a staff-proposed policy to include climate-change analysis in SEPA reviews for certain projects — after members said the requirement could slow housing production and raise costs.
- The council directed staff to conduct a volcanic lahar impact study focused on infrastructure, economic consequences, emergency response and building guidance for development inside the designated volcanic hazard area.
- Map and land-use changes adopted included a scaled-back neighborhood-commercial designation near Meeker Elementary and a conversion of a South Meridian corridor area to mixed-use commercial; the plan also creates flexibility for future emergency housing methods to be defined by code.

What council members and residents said
Several residents urged retaining climate and equity language during the public comment period. Heather Schiller, a former planning-commission chair, told the council: “This document will shape our city's future for the next 2 decades. It's imperative that the language we adopt reflects our commitment to all citizens of our community.” Nancy Shattuck, a former city victim advocate, said replacing \"equity\" with \"equality\" would “erase key protections” and could put the city at odds with state planning requirements.

Council debate centered on balancing legal risk, funding consequences and the pace of housing production. Council member Whiting explained his amendment removing NE 11.6 by saying that requiring climate analysis on individual housing projects “would increase the cost and affordability of our housing” and may not protect the climate meaningfully at that project scale. Council member Doerr (opposed) repeatedly raised concerns about process and transparency and cited a late-arriving legal opinion; she said the changes risked state or federal funding and were not sufficiently vetted.

The mayor framed the primary change as a shift to need-based, race-neutral language and cited federal court decisions and state law as motivating the wording changes. In his remarks he quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s principle about judging “by the content of their character,” and referenced the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions as a legal context for avoiding race-based classifications in policy.

Lahar study and evacuation planning
Council members who supported a lahar study said the city must prepare for the valley’s documented volcanic-hazard risk. Council member Whiting and others emphasized options such as evacuation-artery improvements and infrastructure measures; Whiting noted the city already uses valley-wide lahar sirens. During public remarks, the mayor and other council members referenced different lahar recurrence estimates provided during the meeting (one council member said lahars recur roughly every 250 years; another cited a figure that represented a 15% chance over 75 years). The adopted amendment directs staff to evaluate infrastructure, economic impacts, emergency response and appropriate building guidance in lahar-designated areas.

Process and next steps
Council members passed a series of individually voted amendments before taking final passage on the amended ordinance. The city will now direct staff to incorporate the adopted text into the formal ordinance for the reading and subsequent administrative steps required to finalize the plan. Council members and several residents said the plan will return for formal reading; staff noted the full compiled document spans about 200 pages and will require behind-the-scenes work to integrate the amendments.

Ending
Council members and members of the public signaled sharply different views about the role of equity language and local preparedness. The council adopted the amended plan narrowly and directed staff to carry out the lahar study and the code work to define emergency-housing methodology. The plan will return for formal reading and final administrative processing before it becomes the city’s adopted comprehensive plan for the coming two decades.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Puyallup Council Meeting June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Puyallup City Council approved the Puyallup 2044 comprehensive plan periodic update, as amended, during its June 10, 2025 meeting after hours of public comment and council debate.","taxTitle","Puyallup, Pierce County, Washington","taxId",54129,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6205557,"Puyallup council authorizes $390,297 to continue police designated crisis responder program through 2026",166,7550000,7716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa&start=7550&end=7716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa/thumbnail_7550000.jpg","/articles/6205557/Puyallup/Pierce-County/Washington/Puyallup-council-authorizes-390297-to-continue-police-designated-crisis-responder-program-through-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205557-c1e06d302ab16dc03b0c4be8856e9fe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172862&Signature=jBE~EZ5XffaWQUFezFQKFlTbODeb-AhMD1vEJSehXhJ~NwNisBUBqNreUXxx5IdHKEx3DltQrLz6red2ObR5JnLbFbug6GT9VG6x3pAMUMT0b0G-~8uvbkNLlMKvBaZc53WRALI0Dz0k8i1q6BhlSPR-x5osNAAgjrTSrc22fjXXgVZNAKaqevW~~oeLebnI2eX4fTkjh5QgQ17V9di5yeD-5XEAa65Nu1OrCHWpoJZMPw-dBr74m3WElGM4bv6Q2X78anwU8u4128GqV19LPSRbzFSI0gzmBBrDQ0FkRLxbgTHXwLbg06UCP5ClcJ9i3VORnixSXTLdCKZ0jRT8Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Puyallup City Council approved $390,297 in funding to continue the Puyallup Police Department’s designated crisis responder program through Dec. 31, 2026, during its June 10, 2025 meeting.

Chief Scott Engel told the council the department had sought outside grant funding earlier in the year but did not receive it; the amount approved covers the program from July 1 through Dec. 31, 2026. Council member Adler asked for confirmation of the dollar amount and the coverage period; the chief confirmed the figure and dates.

Why it matters: the designated crisis responder program pairs mental-health-trained responders with police for certain calls; continuing the program keeps that service in operation while the city evaluates longer-term budget options.

Key facts
- Approved funding: $390,297 to support the designated crisis responder program through the end of 2026.
- The department had applied for a grant through the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and did not receive award funding; the city moved to cover the program locally.
- Council member Wenning (speaker noted concerns) said the city is using a one-time \"tier 3\" funding source and cautioned that this is not a sustainable ongoing funding source; the council will consider long-term funding in the October budget process.

Action
Council approved the funding by a voice vote; council members voted in favor and the measure passed.

Ending
Council members asked staff to identify sustainable, ongoing funding options during the upcoming budget process, and the program will remain operational through Dec. 31, 2026 under the approved allocation.","The Puyallup City Council approved funding to continue the Puyallup Police Department’s designated crisis responder program, allocating $390,297 to cover the program through Dec. 31, 2026; council members noted the funding source is a one-time tier-3 allocation and flagged the need to include ongoing support in the next budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6205562,"Council approves reading of Good Samaritan Hospital master plan ordinance",233,3632000,3865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa&start=3632&end=3865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3769265-5ad133d563ede8dc085c9d9be97520aa/thumbnail_3632000.jpg","/articles/6205562/Puyallup/Pierce-County/Washington/Council-approves-reading-of-Good-Samaritan-Hospital-master-plan-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6205562-954340330d5caead9c51cfb811c5799a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172862&Signature=ZLav-d~GJESdtNQaYEWaOeQoTfAgv2cgj1O394POEfA2ECAQv0v2q~KCAp3Ts145ij-vl7zIJx8k4sDs5uOMUVro19inAA-NTbut3ijKE4vE8xkS3oTyS0E-3glDM~Dl2pUUhdF0lT4cj69YaaRNYlLkfDCz5SnGKruj6qdoqeHiheZ-KW036pZjW4lyFv2~13mxxqlD3dntkUUPxP-S1UqS8WqCfl4WwRFQkxnvSweEvCDXPF63kKymq4FovGDWX6D7YiEo43M0JB7M5L3POhQFJz3qGWRLKTdYtfXP4OMfBX5KYS9Q~vAeoGDEVyG9pIXJL4-bn9GNDL~oKW9m~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Puyallup City Council held the reading and approved an ordinance adopting the Good Samaritan Hospital master plan during its June 10, 2025 meeting. The reading was moved, seconded and passed on a roll call vote.

Senior planner Chris Beal told the council the document has seen no substantive changes since the council’s reading in late May. Council member Johnson moved adoption of the reading and described a recent personal experience at the hospital to highlight its service to the community: “Their staff from the very get go was extremely efficient and welcoming… I was in and out of there in a very quick period of time, all with the ultimate of care, compassion,” Johnson said.

Why it matters: the master plan frames the hospital’s future campus development and operations in the city. Council members emphasized the hospital’s role in providing critical health services and local employment.

Key facts
- The city planning senior planner presented the ordinance on June 10, 2025 and stated there were no substantive changes since the prior reading.
- Council member Johnson moved approval on reading; the motion passed on roll call vote with all members voting in favor.

Ending
The council advanced the hospital master plan by reading; staff will complete any remaining administrative steps required by municipal code to record the ordinance.","Puyallup City Council conducted the reading and approved the ordinance adopting the Good Samaritan Hospital master plan on June 10, 2025; council members said the hospital provides important local healthcare services and jobs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Puyallup council approves 2044 comprehensive plan update after debate over 'equity' language and lahar study

Puyallup council authorizes $390,297 to continue police designated crisis responder program through 2026

Council approves reading of Good Samaritan Hospital master plan ordinance