Tenino delays comprehensive plan vote; council raises timing concerns about public input

The Tenino City Council on June 24 discussed the draft comprehensive plan prepared by the planning commission and agreed to table the draft for further work. Adam, a planning commission representative, said the draft remains incomplete — the environmental section still needed work — and that the planner who was due to present was sick. He recommended the planner provide a presentation and that council schedule public comment, likely in August.

Several council members said public hearings should allow time for citizen input to be reviewed and incorporated before a final vote. One councilor warned that taking public comment and immediately voting on a final draft risks turning the meeting into a "show" if substantive public concerns cannot be addressed before a vote. Adam said the commission intends to bring the draft to council with a public comment period and that a final vote could be as late as December after further deliberation.

The chair moved to table the comprehensive plan draft because it was not complete; the council agreed to postpone action until the planner can present and outstanding sections are finished.

What’s next: Planning staff will finish the environmental component, provide hard copies to council for review, and the council expects a public comment meeting (likely in August) followed by further deliberation later in the year.