Council OKs contract with JUB Engineers to write climate-resilience element funded by $150,000 grant

City staff presented a grant-funded effort to develop a climate resilience sub-element of College Place's comprehensive plan and council voted March 4 to authorize execution of the professional services agreement with JUB Engineers.

"This is the work plan and contract with JUB to implement that," Mr. Rickard said, describing a project that will run alongside the comprehensive plan update. The Commerce grant provides $150,000 for the work, which must be complete by the end of 2026. Mr. Rickard said the effort will include a Climate Policy Advisory Team (CPAT) made up of local stakeholders and public involvement via a community survey and meetings.

Council members asked whether the project would address aquifer recharge and large-scale water challenges. Mr. Rickard said the sub-element will set resiliency goals and policy guidance that can inform future grant applications and studies but noted a key constraint: College Place lacks surface-water rights, limiting the city's ability to conduct local aquifer recharge without coordination with neighboring jurisdictions.

Council moved to "authorize the community development director to execute the professional service agreement with JUB Engineers, Inc. for the creation of the climate resilience sub element plan of the comprehensive plan," a motion that passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The funded plan will guide local climate resilience policy and inform future grant applications; however, limits to the city's water-rights status mean some adaptation actions (for example, direct recharge) will require interjurisdictional coordination or outside resources.

Next steps: The consultant will convene the CPAT, circulate a public survey, and proceed to draft policies and vulnerability assessments for adoption as part of the comp plan update.