549 TC Sustainable DevelopmentCITY OF YELM
RESOLUTION NUMBER 549
ACCEPTING THE REGIONAL PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT "CREATING
PLACES PRESERVING SPACES: A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE
THURSTON REGION"
WHEREAS, in 2011, 30 partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work in
cooperation to complete a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development (Plan) for the Thurston
Region; and
WHEREAS, the intent of this process was to bring together expert groups on elements of
sustainability in response to economic and long term development concerns to provide data to
regional partners that could be used as a resource for future decision making; and
WHEREAS, this effort was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) under the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant
Program; and
WHEREAS, the Sustainable Thurston Task Force was convened by the Thurston Regional
Planning Council (TRPC) to undertake the development of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yelm was an active member of the Sustainable Thurston Task Force,
along with other cities, Thurston County, Intercity Transit, Housing Authority of Thurston
County, Washington State Departments of Commerce and Enterprise Services, TRPC's
Transportation Policy Board and panel chairpersons representing the Blue Ribbon Economic
Development Panel, Health and Human Services Panel, Housing Panel, Local Food Systems
Panel, Public Outreach and Education Panel, Public Safety Panel, North and South County
Schools and Transportation Panels, Water Infrastructure Panel, and Energy workgroup; and
WHEREAS, the Sustainable Thurston Task Force completed the Plan, identifying twelve
priority goals and targets, and approximately 300 actions to enhance quality of life, foster
economic vitality, and protect the environment while balancing our needs today with those of
future residents; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yelm voiced concern early in the process that some members of the
Task Force were using the process to attempt to influence control over local communities; and
WHEREAS, Yelm continued to express that concern throughout the process; and
WHEREAS, while many of the elements of the sustainability plan have merit to provide
sound guidance to each individual community, some elements of the priority goals do not meet
the goals of the local communities or leadership, and
WHEREAS, these goals, targets, and actions do not all apply to every jurisdiction and
organization that participated in the planning process and form a menu of possible actions that
can be used by each jurisdiction as it deems appropriate for local conditions; and
WHEREAS, continued coordination, tracking, and education will be essential to the
successful progress toward these goals; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yelm has a history of regional collaboration and coordination on
activities of mutual interest; and
WHEREAS, the Yelm City Council is the sole authority in the City for Comprehensive
Planning, zoning, and land use planning within the City of Yelm, and
WHEREAS, the Yelm City Council is the sole authority to determine which policies and
actions from the Plan are appropriate to implement within the City of Yelm as well as the
method of implementation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council will oppose any attempts by outside organizations or agencies
to interpret or implement the Plan within the City of Yelm;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Yelm that the
document "Creating Places Preserving Spaces: A Sustainable Development Plan for the
Thurston Region (2013)" is accepted as a resource for providing background information,
informed actions, and a viable template for consideration by the City of Yelm through the local
planning process with the understanding that the plan includes many goals, policies, and
actions that are too intrusive to individual rights and many of which are inapplicable to Yelm
and that the Yelm City Council determines which goals, polices, and action items are
appropriate for Yelm and how best to implement the appropriate polices.
APPROVED this 8th day of April, 2014
Ron Hardi ,Mayor
ATTEST:
nine Schnepf, City Clerk