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PC Meeting <br />1/26/23 <br />Page 2 <br />- Public records, and what a public record is, searching for records, public records vs private records. <br />- Appearance of Fairness Doctrine requires that no ex parte contact is allowed relative to quasi-judicial <br />actions. <br />Department of Commerce Presentation — New Requirements for Local Housing Planning <br />Nancy Eklund, Long -Range Planning Manager, AICP, DCD, introduced the presenter, Joe Tovar. <br />Joe Tovar, Consultant, American Institute of Certified Planners Fellow (FAICP), from the Department of <br />Commerce, Middle Housing Grant section, gave an overview on the comprehensive planning process and <br />the update. He provided background on the Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the Growth <br />Management Act (GMA); some of the major features and the role of the State versus the County, the City, <br />and the Regional County; new housing requirements; a recent opinion survey taken in Washington; and the <br />Commerce assistance that can be offered. <br />The GMA, which was adopted in 1990, exists to address uncoordinated development and urban sprawl; to <br />manage threats to the quality of life in Washington; and to require local planning — all guided by state law, <br />and regionally coordinated. <br />Following are some explanations and/or suggestions that were provided in the GMA framework: there are <br />14 GMA goals that provide direction on how cities should plan and what they should prioritize. Planning <br />involves making sure goals and policies are in step with regulations and capital projects. There are 39 <br />counties in Washington, but they are not all required to plan under GMA in the same way. Twenty-nine <br />counties are "planning fully" under GMA and must also develop countywide or multicounty policies that <br />will guide how their cities develop their plans. <br />Within the Puget Sound area (the Puget Sound Regional Council area including King, Pierce, Kitsap, and <br />Snohomish counties), the deadline for submitting updates to Comprehensive Plans and associated <br />regulations is December 2024. <br />There is a housing crisis. There has been extensive discussion around housing in recent legislatures, and cities <br />have had to add local policies to respond to requirements. The state fell short of meeting the housing supply <br />needs from 2000-2015. There are disparities in housing in Washington State and rates of cost -burden are <br />highest in communities of color (Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)), which means they spend <br />a greater portion of their income than they should on housing, etc. In 2021, Washington State adopted HB <br />1220 to direct communities to strengthen how they plan for and accommodate housing needs for all income <br />bands. HB 1220 changed Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 36.70A.070 for townhomes, duplexes, and <br />triplexes housing option: this type of housing is known as "middle housing" and is sometimes called <br />"missing middle housing," because not much of it has been built over the past 30+ years. With population <br />growth anticipated, Commerce projects that there will be a housing need of more than one million homes <br />statewide over the next 20 years. There is debate around trying to determine how states and cities can provide <br />greater opportunities for home ownership, etc. <br />Mr. Tovar also provided information on the 2022 Joint Housing Opinion Survey. The results of the question, <br />"What are the most pressing issues?" revealed that housing costs and homelessness are the top two issues <br />throughout Washington State. Results further revealed that more housing options for seniors, teachers, <br />firefighters, childcare workers, and health care workers are needed. He noted that 74% of respondents <br />preferred new housing to be in walkable neighborhoods and that 64% wanted their community to offer more <br />diverse and affordable types of housing. The survey found that p eople want lower rents, as the cost of buying a <br />home is unaffordable, and more reasonably priced housing. Another survey question indicated that respondents <br />Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov <br />