HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2024-05, Adopting Public Participation PlanCity of East Wenatchee Resolution No. 2024-05 with Exhibit A
Retain Resolution until no longer needed for City-business, then transfer to Washington State Archives (GS50-05A-
16 Rev. 1).
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City of East Wenatchee, Washington
Resolution No. 2024-05
A Resolution of the City of East Wenatchee, Washington, adopting a public participation plan in accordance with the requirements of the Growth Management Act, to establish a process for involving the community in the ‘East Wenatchee 2050’ comprehensive plan update process.
1. Alternate format.
1.1. Para leer este documento en otro formato (español, Braille, leer en voz alta, etc.), póngase en contacto con la administradora municipal de la ciudad al alternateformat@eastwenatcheewa.gov, al (509) 884-9515 o al 711 (TTY).
1.2. To read this document in an alternate format (Spanish, Braille, read aloud, etc.), please contact the City Clerk at alternateformat@eastwenatcheewa.gov, at (509) 884-9515, or at 711 (TTY).
2. Authority.
2.1. The City of East Wenatchee is a non-charter code City duly incorporated and operating under the laws of the State of Washington.
2.2. RCW 35.11.020 and RCW 35A.12.190 authorize the City of East Wenatchee (“City Council”) to organize and regulate its internal affairs.
2.3. The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA), in RCW 36.70A.140, requires cities and counties to establish, and broadly disseminate, a public participation plan that identifies procedures and provides for early and continuous public participation in the development and amendment of comprehensive plans and development regulations.
3. Recitals.
3.1. The Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and counties to periodically review, update, and amend, if necessary, their comprehensive plans and development regulations.
3.2. RCW 36.70A.130(5)(c) requires that East Wenatchee shall take action to review and, if needed, revise the comprehensive plan and development regulations to ensure the plan and regulations comply with the requirements of the GMA on or before June 30, 2026.
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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN
Overview
East Wenatchee must take action to review and update its comprehensive plan and
development regulations by June 30, 2026. Periodic review and amendments to the
Greater East Wenatchee Area Comprehensive Plan and development regulations are
necessary to comply with current laws, reflect local needs, include new data, correct
errors, and generally keep the plan and regulations up to date. Citizen involvement is
an essential component of the review and update process. The Growth Management
Act (GMA) requires that the city create and broadly disseminate a Public Participation
Plan (RCW 36.70A.140) for this update to the comprehensive plan.
The purpose of this plan is to provide a unified public outreach approach. This includes
determining the city’s public participation goals, identifying key parties, and developing a
communications approach and schedule. The goal is to provide the public with timely
information, a general understanding of the amendment process, and opportunities to
review and comment on amendment proposals during the process – before decisions
are made. This plan also describes how the city intends to meet the requirements of
early and continuous public participation during the update.
Exhibit A
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Background
All members of the community are affected by how land is used in East Wenatchee.
Land use planning helps guide and shape our community. There are many reasons
why someone may wish to become involved with land use planning issues. Whether
applying for a permit to build a home or business, testifying on a project proposed in
your neighborhood or the community, or helping to develop new land use policies or
regulations; citizen involvement in land use planning at all levels is important.
Public involvement generally means participation by people who are not professional
planners or government officials. It is the process through which the general public
takes part in developing and amending local comprehensive plans and land use
regulations. City staff and decision makers need comments and ideas from those who
know the community best: the people who live and work here.
Public involvement is a two-way process. Citizens provide information that is needed to
develop and implement the comprehensive plan and at the same time receive
information about planning and land use. An informed community and informed leaders
create a better framework for planning. Involving the community in planning gives the
citizens more of a sense of ownership in the process and fosters cooperation between
citizens and their government. This sharing of information ensures that issues and
concerns are openly expressed, understood, considered, and incorporated into the final
product wherever possible.
Historically marginalized communities
The city has a special responsibility to engage historically marginalized communities,
which are those who have not had as much of a voice in decision-making because of
specific barriers to participation and feedback being minimized or discounted compared
to other communities.
Methods that the city will use to engage historically underrepresented communities in
this periodic update will focus on providing a wide variety of ways to participate and
collaborate with community organizations as intermediaries. As resources allow,
materials may be translated into Spanish to help facilitate communication with members
of our community where English is not the primary language spoken.
By incorporating a more diverse range of public voices, staff can provide a richer and
fuller context to elected officials as they make decisions.
Objectives
The City of East Wenatchee wants to hear from the community about what is important
to them. To do that, we will provide multiple ways for the community to learn about and
comment on the update.
Exhibit A
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Seek input on and ideas about how the city should grow over the next 25 years
with a variety of tools tailored to the needs and opportunities during each phase
of the update including surveys, information booths at community events, open
houses and workshops.
Seek input through written and oral comments and in-person feedback at
meetings from a broad range of individuals and community groups.
Solicit feedback early in the update process through a survey, and at strategic
points throughout the process at open houses, information booths at community
events, workshops, and open public meetings.
Provide information that is accessible, inclusive and easily understandable for a
diverse audience.
Provide information to help the public understand laws and regulations that
shape comprehensive planning and the update process.
Ensure elected officials and staff are aware of and understand community
viewpoints and concerns that relate to the comprehensive plan update.
The audience for the periodic update is anyone who lives, works, learns, visits or
otherwise interacts with East Wenatchee. This audience includes residents of the City;
owners and tenants of property in the City; owners, managers, employees, and
customers of businesses in East Wenatchee; educators, student, and administrators of
schools; officials and staff of public agencies that interact with our community. This a
broad audience that adds up to thousands of people, hundreds of businesses, hundreds
of organizations, and dozens of public agencies.
Tools and Actions
The city will use the tools and actions in this public participation program to reach and
give a voice to as many of those people and organizations as possible. While outreach
and engagement will focus on those who currently live, work, play or otherwise interact
with East Wenatchee, city staff and leaders, and those participating in the update
process, must keep in mind the needs of those who will, in the future, live work, play or
otherwise interact with the city. The city will use the following public participation tools
and actions to carry out the purpose and goals of the program and engage the
audience.
Project website
The city will maintain a project website at www.eastwenatcheewa.gov. The website will
be the one-stop shop for up-to-date information about the periodic update. Visitors to
the website will be able to review documents and draft plan elements, sign up for the
contact list, see a calendar of key dates, comment periods, and upcoming events, and
submit comments.
Exhibit A
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Interested party list
The city will maintain a list of people and organizations who are interested in closely
following the periodic update process. The list will include names, email addresses, and
mailing addresses of people and organization contacts.
People can add their contact information to the list via a link on the project website and
at sign-up sheets at events. Staff will also add to the list the contact information of
people who submit formal comments at any point in the process.
Email, comment form and mail
People and organizations may submit comments throughout the update process via the
online comment form on the project website, via email to the Community Development
Department and by mail to East Wenatchee Community Development, Attn: East
Wenatchee 2050, 271 9th St. NE, East Wenatchee WA 98802.
Online Survey
Staff will use a web-based survey to solicit input from a range of key parties. This is one
avenue to reach populations that do not have the time or energy to attend in-person or
virtual meetings. To reach historically underserved communities, staff will seek to
provide the survey in Spanish in addition to English.
Handouts
Staff will create graphics for the project website as well as handouts and poster boards
to distribute at outreach events. Handouts will be translated into Spanish.
Local media
The city will seek to build relationships with local journalists and news outlets to help
spread the word.
Social media
The City’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts will be used to build awareness
about the update, advertise events, and share key information such as formal comment
periods.
Community Events
Community events happen year-round. Staff will join as many of these events as
possible in order to: staff tables and kiosks, answer questions, and listen to what people
have to say. Connecting people with our website and survey/comment tools will be an
important part of ensuring people’s voices are brought into the process. These events
will also be helpful for promoting other events like open houses, comment periods for
draft documents, etc.
Open Houses
Open houses will be high-profile opportunities for the city to reach people and
encourage comment on central aspects of the plan update. Depending on the target
audience, Spanish translation services may be provided.
Exhibit A
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Targeted Focus Groups
There are segments of our community whose voices have been underrepresented
during community planning outreach efforts. This update process, our goal is to reach
out to bring those voices into the process. Our community’s youth, Latino(LatinX)
community, and senior citizens are examples of groups of people we want to hear from.
Depending on the targe audience, Spanish translation serviced may be provided.
Environmental review process
The city will conduct an environmental review process under the State Environmental
Policy Act, which includes comment periods on the scoping phase and threshold
determination.
Notice of Public Hearings and Decisions
Notice of all public hearings and any decisions regarding the comprehensive plan
update will be published under “legals” in the Wenatchee World classified section.
Public notifications of all hearings will be provided at least 10 days before the date of
the hearing. The notice will include the date, time, location and purpose of the hearing.
All meetings and hearings are conducted in person with an online option. The link to
the meeting and call-in information will be provided on all notices and agendas.
To avoid duplication of effort, the City will integrate public involvement required by the
State Environmental Policy Act, Chapter 43.21C RCW, into the overall public
involvement process for the comprehensive plan update.
Public notification of the adoption of, and any amendments to, the comprehensive plan
or development regulations shall be published in the Wenatchee World normally within 5
days of the adoption and posted on the comprehensive plan update page in the city’s
website. The date of publication of the notice initiates the 60-day appeal period in
accordance with the provisions of the GMA in RCW 36.70A.290(2).
Planning commission
The East Wenatchee Planning Commission has a lead role in supporting staff through
the comprehensive plan update, then considering different elements of the proposal and
making a formal recommendation to the city council. The planning commission will work
on the update over most of its meetings in 2024 and 2025. Public comments are taken
at every planning commission meeting and several formal public hearings will be held
before a recommendation is made to the council. The commission will also be provided
summary reports of public comments at key points in the process.
City Council
The East Wenatchee City Council is the final authority on the contents of the
comprehensive plan and will adopt the plan in early-2026. The council will receive
briefings at key points in the update process in 2024 and 2025. Public comments are
taken at every city council meeting, and one or more formal public hearings will be held
before the council makes its decision. The council will also be provided with summary
Exhibit A
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reports of public comments at key points in the process. In RCW 36.70A.035(2) the
GMA limits the City Council with regards to changing a proposal after it has been
transmitted to them by the Planning Commission. If the Council chooses to consider a
change to an amendment after the Planning Commission has concluded their public
hearing and formulated a recommendation, the Council must provide an opportunity for
public review and comment on the proposed change. This public review must occur at
a duly advertised, public hearing held by the City Council before voting on the proposed
change.
Coordination with Douglas County
The Growth Management Act is structured in a way that not only encourages but also
requires local governments to work together to address common issues. Coordination
and consistency between the City of East Wenatchee and Douglas County
comprehensive plans and development regulations are required components. The city
and the county participated in joint planning efforts during the initial GMA processes and
in all updates since. Section C of the Douglas County Regional Policy Plan establishes
a procedure for joint workshops and hearings between the city and the county to review
and adopt amendments to the Greater East Wenatchee Area Plan within the urban
growth area.
Responses to comments
The city will publish, at a few points in the process, a summary and compilation of
comments received and conversations our staff has documented during public outreach
events.
Project Files and Records
Project Files. An official project file will be kept a the East Wenatchee Community
Development Department. All documents will also be available on the comprehensive
plan update page. Documentation of the public participation process will be retained.
The physical address for the city is:
East Wenatchee City Hall
271 9th St. NE
East Wenatchee, WA 98802
Recordings and Minutes of Meetings. All public meetings, except for open-format
meetings, will be audio recorded. Summary minutes of all public meetings will be
prepared and made available on the comprehensive plan update page at:
www.eastwenatcheewa.gov.
Exhibit A
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Key Messages
With the potential for a wide range of opinions about planning for the future of East
Wenatchee, messaging will be critical. The primary message will be that an update to
the comprehensive plan represents a rare (once every 10 years) opportunity for the
public, elected officials, and experts to plan how to accommodate growth in the city in
such a manner that enhances the quality of life for all in the city.
Messages for All Audiences
The population of the East Wenatchee Urban Area is expected to grow by
roughly 9,200 people between 2020 and 2050. The city must prepare for this
growth to ensure it occurs in a way that is in line with our values, goals and
quality of life for all residents.
The City of East Wenatchee is updating its comprehensive plan, a document that
sets out the vision for the next 25 years (2026-2050).
The City of East Wenatchee is eager to receive input from the public to help
inform the planning process.
Long range planning decisions can positively affect change in your community.
Message for Elected Officials
Please encourage your constituents to provide their input to help inform planning
decisions that affect the City’s future. They can find ways to participate in the
process on the East Wenatchee 2050 website.
Message for Community Groups
Your community will have opportunities to provide input to help inform planning
decisions that affect the City’s future. East Wenatchee does not want to plan in a
vacuum, and through organizations like yours we can reach the communities this
plan will impact most.
Legal Framework
The Growth Management Act. RCW 36.70A requires local governments to establish
and disseminate a public participation program for the development or amendment of its
comprehensive plans and development regulations ensuring early and continuous
public involvement.
Several processes are listed in that section of the GMA as examples of notice
provisions including posting property; publishing notices in newspapers, trade journals,
agency newsletters; and sending notices to individuals or public or private groups with
known interest in the proposal being considered.
Exhibit A
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RCW 36.70A establishes the overall goals of the GMA to guide the development
and adoption of comprehensive plans and development regulations. Goal 11
specifically addresses public participation and states:
Citizen participation and coordination. Encourage the involvement of
citizens in the planning process and ensure coordination between
communities and jurisdictions to reconcile conflicts.
RCW 36.70A requires the notification to the Washington State Department of
Commerce (Commerce) if a county or city is proposing adoption of, or an
amendment to, a comprehensive plan or development regulation. That provision
requires that a notice of intent to adopt a comprehensive plan or regulation to be
provided at least 60 days prior to final adoption. This provides Commerce and
other state agencies with an opportunity to comment on the proposed
comprehensive plan or proposed development regulations during the public
review process and prior to adoption.
Open Public Meetings Act. RCW 42.30 states that “All meetings of the governing body
of a public agency shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend
any meeting of the governing body of a public agency…” A “meeting” includes any
gathering of the governing body at which action is taken. “Action” means the
transaction of official business of the governing body which includes receiving
testimony, discussion, deliberations, considerations, reviews, committees, councils or
any other policy or rule-making body of a public agency. This definition covers planning
commissions, city councils, county commissioners and advisory boards.
East Wenatchee Municipal Code (EWMC). Tile 19 EWMC provides the processing
timeframes, notice requirements, and general procedures for amending the
comprehensive plan and development regulations.
Exhibit A