Council reviews revised Capital Facilities goals and policies; members press for stronger climate and equity language

Joyce Phillips, Long Range Planning Manager, presented proposed revisions to the Capital Facilities Plan (CFP) goals and policies as part of the Olympia 2045 update during the April 15 council study session.

Phillips said the CFP is volume 2 of the comprehensive plan, covers a 20-year horizon with a six-year financial focus, and that the goals and policies had not been updated since 2014. She told the council the draft adds stronger references to environmental stewardship, equity and accessibility and recognizes that "sometimes the city will need to make strategic investments in infrastructure so that we can accomplish our housing and climate goals."

The Social Justice and Equity Commission had recommended clearer treatment of accessibility and equity for infrastructure such as sidewalks; Phillips said the chapter now includes language to "strive to meet and exceed standards in alignment with our city values even if state or federal standards may change." She reported unanimous Planning Commission recommendation and noted the Land Use and Environment Committee suggested stronger language on equity metrics and climate considerations; Phillips said suggested revisions from that committee were included in the draft.

Council Member Gilman urged stronger, operational language tying capital project prioritization to the city's climate goals, asking whether projects that expand capacity for cars or increase vehicle miles traveled should be deprioritized. Phillips responded that operationalizing complete-streets approaches and accommodating all users in projects could be strengthened in the chapter, and that vehicle-miles-traveled tradeoffs can be complex given multiple compliance requirements.

Council Member Madrone pointed to policy language (policy 2.2(e)) that would rework projects that "may result in maladaptation or interfere with environmentally sensitive areas, contribute to hazards or exacerbate current climate vulnerabilities," and suggested adding explicit language about what the city will not prioritize. Council Member Cooper reminded colleagues that the capital facilities plan and its goals can be updated when the CFP is adopted annually, and cautioned that references to "current standards" may not represent the highest environmental standard.

Mayor Pro Tem Nguyen and other council members welcomed the addition of policy 4.5 linking equity-based metrics to master-plan development and noted the CFP language aligned with the council's prior Reparations Resolution that referenced the CFP. Phillips said staff will return with the chapter for regular meeting consideration and that the council could send the chapter back to the Land Use and Environment Committee if it wished further review.

No formal action or votes were taken at the study session.