Tumwater committee reviews draft climate element, seeks public input on goals and timelines

TUMWATER, Wash. — At the Jan. 8 meeting of the City of Tumwater General Government Committee, Melissa Jones Wood, the city’s sustainability manager, walked committee members through the draft climate element of the 2025 comprehensive plan periodic update and asked for further public and council input before the document advances.

The draft, which is open for public comment through the month, contains greenhouse gas mitigation and climate resilience subelements the state requires and lists about 201 implementation actions. "We are doing the Climate Element not only because climate change is a serious thing that City of Tumwater takes seriously, but we've also been mandated by the state to develop this chapter," Jones Wood said.

The draft sets three overarching goals emphasizing environmental justice, increased city capacity to implement climate priorities, and planning for climate impacts such as heat, wildfire and flooding. Greenhouse gas goals aim to reduce emissions from buildings and transportation and to expand on-site renewables; resilience goals address buildings and energy infrastructure, preparedness, cultural site protection in coordination with tribes and frontline communities, and ecosystem-appropriate natural carbon solutions.

Jones Wood summarized the city’s community outreach to date: a Climate Policy Advisory Team of about a dozen members, an in-person open house on Aug. 14 that drew about 60 attendees, an online open house that ran through Halloween, tabling at the Thurston County Food Bank and the library, and follow-up meetings with regional groups including the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative and Thurston Climate Action Team organizers. She said the city will work with the advisory team next month to prioritize the long list of actions and that a grant-funded, more detailed vulnerability assessment is budgeted for 2026.

Council members raised several substantive concerns during the discussion. Council member Liana Dahlhoff asked how the plan addresses rural residents who lack sidewalks, frequent transit, or sewer and water connections. "Where does that fit into this conversation?" she asked, noting that people in rural areas may depend on vehicles and well-and-septic systems. Jones Wood said she would re-review the draft with rural needs specifically in mind and report back.

Committee members and staff also discussed student transportation. A member relayed constituent comments seeking better bus service to Black Lake/Black Hills High School and reducing car idling at schools; Jones Wood said the city can pursue partnerships and start discussions with the school district and transit providers but cannot mandate changes by other agencies.

Food access and engagement with food bank clients were also noted. Jones Wood described ongoing tabling and relationship-building at Mountain View Church’s food distribution and said food-security voices have taken part in outreach.

Jones Wood provided a high-level timeline showing many greenhouse gas actions concentrated in the first six years and resilience work ramping into the next biennium. She said some resilience work will begin immediately after possible adoption, supported by grant funding for a vulnerability assessment in 2026. She urged committee members and the public to submit comments — even on a single action — and left the draft available for reference.

No formal committee action or vote was taken on the climate element at the meeting; staff asked for continued review and comment and said they will return with prioritized actions and follow-up work.

What’s next: the city will continue community engagement, the Climate Policy Advisory Team will help prioritize the 201 actions, and staff plan to pursue the budgeted vulnerability assessment in 2026. Public comments remain open through the month and can be submitted to the city’s planning/sustainability staff for consideration.