Thurston County delays public hearing on affordable-housing disposition ordinance after noticing error

Thurston County commissioners agreed on Tuesday to move a public hearing on an ordinance amending county code governing disposition of public property for affordable housing to May 20 to allow for correct legal noticing.

County staff told the Board of County Commissioners that “the legal noticing requirements were not completely met” for the scheduled hearing and recommended shifting the hearing to May 20 to allow proper notice. The chair then confirmed the change and said the May 20 hearing will be added to the afternoon agenda at 3:30 p.m.

The move came during the board’s agenda-setting work session, when staff flagged the noticing problem after an earlier review. Commissioners discussed posting an announcement online and informing people waiting for the original 3:30 p.m. slot so members of the public would not have to wait unnecessarily. The clerk’s office agreed to post notice and to include the change in the chair’s opening announcements for the meeting.

No substantive debate on the ordinance took place during the work session; staff said the shift is to ensure legal notice requirements are met. The transcript did not include specific language of the proposed ordinance or a final vote on the ordinance itself; the public hearing will proceed on the new date for public comment and further deliberation.

The board also confirmed that proclamations tied to the afternoon meeting will proceed as scheduled, and staff will notify speakers of timing for receiving proclamations when they come forward to the dais.

The board’s calendar now lists the public hearing on the affordable-housing disposition ordinance for the May 20 meeting at 3:30 p.m. for public testimony and any subsequent formal action.