Regional plan retreat set for May 2; staff seeks council feedback on agenda and a May 2026 mail ballot timeline

Comprehensive and neighborhood planning staff reviewed the upcoming joint regional-plan retreat with the County Board of Supervisors and Planning and Zoning Commissions on May 2.

Sarah Dector, comprehensive and neighborhood planning manager, said the 60-day public review generated more than 2,400 comments and that staff have incorporated most feedback. The retreat, she said, marks a transition from draft review toward the implementation and adoption phases. Staff requested council input on a draft agenda that focuses on plan organization and priorities, a future-growth illustration (the map planners use for front-counter zoning guidance), trail-mapping issues, and language intended to capture ‘‘community character’’ and a sense-of-place approach within the plan.

Dector said staff will not circulate a full draft policy packet before the retreat because the legal and technical reviews are still in progress; the city and county want to avoid publishing density or policy language before cross-checks are complete. She said staff now plans to target a May 2026 mail-only ballot initiative rather than the previously discussed March 2026 date to allow more time for legal checks and implementation clarity.

Dector also said the retreat venue moved to City Hall Council Chambers after earlier renovations to the Aqua Plex made that site unavailable; facilitators from Cascadia Partners will run breakout activities, and remote facilitation will be available for members who cannot attend in person. Council members generally expressed support for the agenda and the facilitation approach.

Staff asked if council had specific agenda changes; no substantial revisions were requested during the work session, and staff said a final retreat packet will be sent Monday to all participants.