A new coalition of community groups is tackling the environment, affordable housing, and community participation in local land use and budget policies.
THURSTON COUNTY, WA —In February of 2022, several community groups came together to form the Local Good Governance Coalition (LGCC) with the mission to connect local organizations in the joint work of supporting of the environment, affordable housing, as well as with a focus of engaging the community in local land use and budget policies and the quasi-judicial processes. Currently the LGCC has turned attention towards the upcoming update to the Comprehensive Plan process, a seemingly dry topic which has massive implications for the daily lives of residents.
By law, every city and county in Washington state is about to undergo a two-to-three-year planning process called the “Comprehensive Plan update” which will result in ten-year plans, that set the long-term vision for growth, infrastructure, and services for that jurisdiction. The resulting plan articulates a series of goals and policies intended to guide the day-to-day decisions of elected officials and staff. On July 14th at 6:30 pm, the LGCC will be hosting their first public event via Zoom, to educate and engage the public on the upcoming update to the Comprehensive Plans that will take place across Thurston County.
The LGGC will host three general information sessions this year to help community members get involved in shaping our future, with a focus on climate change and affordable housing, as the coalition aspires to see equitable policies enacted and enforced. The first session “Comprehensive Plan Update 101” will be held virtually via
Zoom on July 14 at 6:30 PM. Participants will learn the basics of the Comprehensive Planning process and how to help set the standards for climate change and housing for the future of our county. The second of these sessions will take place on August 17th at 6:30pm at the Rose Garden Shelter a Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point) and will include members of city and county planning staff.
To pass a detailed Comprehensive Plan that goes beyond vague business-as-usual goals, the LGCC is hoping for large-scale community involvement. The nine community organizational members that currently make up the LGCC are; the League of Women Voters of Thurston County, Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT), South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity, People of Color Community Coalition, Olympia Indivisible, Olympians for Smart Development and Livable Neighborhoods, Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT), Citizens for a Clean Black Lake, and the Black Hills Audubon Society. The LGCC is a growing alliance and in addition to community groups it includes associate individuals. Interested community members are encouraged to reach out to any of the partner organizations to get involved.
More about the LGGC can be found at
https://thurstonclimateaction.org/programs/local-good-governance-coalition/.