City planning staff and consultants led an extended discussion of the draft comprehensive plan update and related development regulations on Nov. 24, clarifying multiple policies and accepting several textual edits while setting a tight schedule for public review.

Planning Director John Coleman said the development regulations (published in September) and the comprehensive plan (published in July) are being refined in response to council questions. Staff said they will publish all council‑requested changes Wednesday and open a targeted public comment window that will close on Dec. 11. Council may consider and act on the comprehensive plan and development regulations at its Dec. 15 meeting, the final meeting of the calendar year expected for substantive action.

Key policy clarifications included striking policy T‑0.19(d) (a remnant that could imply upgrading West 2nd Street to an arterial), broadening Land Use policy 4.6 language so wildfire‑risk reductions are not limited to the wildland‑urban interface, and retaining an existing policy to pursue electric‑vehicle charging stations rather than adopting a staff‑proposed edit. Council agreed to harmonize inconsistent Level of Service language between the transportation element and the capital facilities plan and to preserve applicable DOT requirements for state routes.

Transportation consultant Chris Como and other consultants advised the council that Kansas Avenue cannot be functionally classified as an arterial until constructed; the council directed staff to pursue federal functional classification approval (policy T‑0.28) with SCOG and WSDOT to position the project for future grant funding. Staff also proposed a new policy (T‑1.27) to explore a fee‑in‑lieu program for sidewalks so the city can fill sidewalk gaps, and council indicated support for a program that prioritizes arterial or higher‑need locations rather than obligating a builder to place sidewalks where they would create isolated segments.

On land‑use specifics, staff described a new 'small duplex' designation with a per‑unit gross floor‑area cap of 1,400 square feet and zone‑specific minimum lot sizes (the council discussed keeping 4,500 sq. ft. in the R‑3 zone rather than 3,000). The planning commission had recommended more restrictive allowances, but council chose to allow small duplexes in certain zones with the clarified sizes. Staff also presented graphical clarifications of façade stepback rules tied to bonus density incentives.

Council debated a police staffing metric in the plan (1.83 officers per 1,000 residents). Staff said the police chief provided the figure and that it tied to the levy lid lift target; members queried whether metrics based on call volume or response time might be a better guide. Staff and the planning team referenced Title 19 concurrency provisions to explain how policing is considered in development reviews.

Staff and consultants will publish the edits Wednesday, accept public comment through Dec. 11, and return the package for council action on Dec. 15 if the council chooses to proceed.