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Lakewood staff details new natural environment and climate program; advisory team to be convened
Summary
Staff told the Lakewood Planning Commission Oct. 1 that consultants have been contracted and initial funding secured to begin a Natural Environment and Climate Change program that will include a climate advisory team and an urban forestry effort.
Lakewood planning staff briefed the Planning Commission Oct. 1 on the new Natural Environment and Climate Change (NECC) program and said consultants have been engaged and funding identified to begin program work, including forming a climate advisory team and developing a 10-year implementation plan.
Tiffany Spear, planning staff, summarized the NECC program as a consolidation of existing city goals and initiatives — including the 2021 climate action plan, an urban forest assessment, and a heat-watch report — into a single program to coordinate work across departments. Spear said the program will develop a 10-year implementation plan and a 3- to 5-year work plan, and will include an urban forestry component tied to the citygoal of achieving 40% tree canopy by 2050.
Spear told the commission that recent state changes to the Growth Management Act (referred to in presentation as House Bill 1181) require cities to incorporate climate change and resilience into planning; she said the NECC program will address those requirements and produce timelines, benchmarks and funding strategies to meet them. Staff said the city expects to convene a climate advisory team starting in late January 2026 and planned to present a recommended list of advisory team members or organizations to the City Council on Dec. 15, 2025.
The advisory team will include subject-matter experts, business and resident representatives, and potential liaisons from other boards and commissions. Spear said staff is considering outreach to Pierce College, Renton Technical (Park Technical College referenced in the presentation), the University of WashingtonEvans School implementation guide authors, and local businesses as part of the nomination process. A consultant contract is in place to support the planning effort and an initial workplan will prioritize the remaining tasks from the city———2021 action list.
Commissioners discussed representation and staffing. Commissioner Sharon Wallace expressed interest in serving as a liaison; Commissioner Lynn Larson proposed two planning commission representatives (alternating or shared) because the advisory work will span departments and be time-consuming. Commissioners also raised questions about whether the program will have sufficient staff capacity to support increased monitoring, outreach and implementation as the city moves to meet state and local goals. Spear said internal coordination among planning, public works and parks will be part of the program standup and that public outreach and voluntary private-property efforts will be an important component of achieving the canopy goal.
No formal commission action was required or taken on the NECC program at the Oct. 1 meeting; staff requested commission input on potential liaisons and said it will return with more detail as the advisory team and consultants begin work.
