Liberty Lake staff outlines state-mandated climate planning, $500,000 grant and 2050 net-zero goal
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Summary
City planning staff described the new state-required climate element of the city's comprehensive plan, noting a $500,000 state grant, $245,000 in reimbursements received so far, an aspirational 2050 net-zero target and potential consequences if the plan is noncompliant with the Growth Management Act.
Lisa, a city staff member, told the Community Engagement Commission on July 23 that the comprehensive plan update now must include a climate element required by state law and that the state has allocated $500,000 to jurisdictions for that work. "This is a new element of the comp plan. It is required by state law," Lisa said. She said the city has already received $245,000 in reimbursement for planning work to date.
The climate element contains two subelements: strategies to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions and climate resiliency measures for events such as wildfires and drought. Lisa said the state goal is an aspirational target of "net 0 emissions greenhouse gas emissions by 2050," and the plan uses a prescribed methodology to establish a baseline and to measure progress in subsequent five-year intervals.
Why this matters: Lisa said the plan must be submitted to the Washington State Department of Commerce to check compliance with the Growth Management Act (GMA). She warned of two concrete consequences if the plan is not compliant: the state could seek to recover grant funds and the city could become ineligible for state or federal grants. "If our comp plan is not compliant with GMA, the city is not eligible for any state or federal grants," Lisa said.
Lisa described how the city's greenhouse-gas subelement was developed: using a climate planning action team of volunteers that included five or six high-school students from Crystal Larson's environmental planning AP class, and crosswalking proposed policies with existing local policies on trees, green space, active transportation and mixed-use development. She emphasized the baseline is not an exact science but will provide a consistent method for tracking progress.
On resiliency, Lisa said work is already underway on a stormwater master plan aimed at protecting the local aquifer and on updating the city's hazard mitigation plan. She said planned transportation resiliency analysis will inform evacuation planning and that planned workshops on energy efficiency and "fire wise" practices are expected in the fall.
Lisa said some implementation funding initially set aside (about $100,000) was deferred after state Commerce indicated implementation spending was unlikely in the current biennium. That prompted staff to reframe work toward more public engagement and education instead of near-term capital implementation.
Discussion vs. decisions: Commissioners asked whether the plan's policies imposed mandates; Lisa said they do not, characterizing many policies as "educate, encourage" rather than regulatory. She also confirmed the city intends to submit the draft to Commerce for review and to revise per feedback to ensure compliance.
Details and next steps: the comprehensive plan update follows a two-year planning cycle that crosses state bienniums; some deliverables from the first biennium are complete, the contract with Commerce for the second biennium is pending, and staff will workshop the climate goals and policies with the planning commission and city council in August. Lisa said the city has already completed some deliverables and will continue engagement through farmers markets and other public events.
Ending: Staff recommended continuing community outreach and finalizing the document for Commerce review so the city remains eligible for grants and meets GMA requirements. Lisa said she will return in a future meeting with the early draft of the six-year capital facilities plan.
