PORT ANGELES — The City of Port Angeles is set to conduct the first of two public hearings on its Climate Resiliency Plan this week.
The first will be hosted by the city Planning Commission at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The meeting will be virtual and comments can be made during the public comment period.
The second will be during the first reading of the plan on June 7 during the City Council’s regular meeting at 6 p.m.
There is also an opportunity for public comment on May 17 following the City Council workshop, during which they will discuss the plan at 6 p.m.
These meetings will be virtual as well. Links are available at www.cityofpa.us/583/Meetings-Agendas. Written comments should be sent to the Department of Community and Economic Development via ced@cityofpa.us.
The Climate Resiliency Plan is a “roadmap” to increase the city’s resilience to the impacts of climate change while reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“The plan’s focus on resilience also means it will bolster public health and emergency management services, support affordable housing and fair development, improve public transit and walkability, and support local, living-wage green jobs,” according to the city’s website. “The Climate Resiliency Plan will build on existing work the city has done and identify new opportunities for ambitious, feasible and equitable climate action.
“As a result, Port Angeles will join cities around Washington State in meeting the state goal to be carbon neutral by 2050 and preparing residents and businesses for future climate change.”
More information about the Climate Resiliency Plan can be found at www.cityofpa.us/1010/Climate-Resiliency-Plan.
The plan will be folded into the city’s Comprehensive Plan as an amendment upon approval.
“This is a community-initiated plan that began when Olympic Climate Action requested the inclusion of climate action-related goals and policies during the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update,” Mayor Kate Dexter said. “This direction became a catalyst for City Council to add climate action to our 2019-2020 Strategic Plan.”
In November 2019, the Climate Action Planning Group (CAPG) provided the council with recommendations, Dexter said.
“This path included one of the most robust public participation and engagement processes that the City of Port Angeles has ever undertaken, which is especially remarkable given a necessary transition to virtual engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “The CAPG has remained a sounding board for the plan’s various elements and iterations, and the community’s input has provided invaluable guidance that has shaped and prioritized the vision, goals, policies and actions within the plan.”
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Reporter Ken Park can be reached by email at kpark@peninsuladaily news.com.
