Tumwater starts update of city plan

By Keri Brenner | The Olympian • Published October 31, 2007

City leaders on Tuesday launched a yearlong push to get ahead of growth and develop a cohesive plan and vision for the next five to 20 years.

The city will pay Seattle consulting firm Berk & Associates $128,000 to help officials and the public create both a five-year strategic plan and a long-term economic-development plan.

"The more proactive the city is in directing development, the more it can control the environment," said Kapena Pflum, one of two Berk & Associates staff members at a joint meeting Tuesday night of the City Council and the Planning Commission at City Hall.

"A good strategic plan will be a unifying force in the community," Pflum said. "It allows the city to become less reactionary and more forward-looking."

Among the challenges mentioned Tuesday were how to:

• Add trees, open space, walkability, Deschutes River improvements and parks while also enhancing economic development.

• Improve traffic flow along Capitol Boulevard and other major routes.

• Add retail, including restaurants, for state workers at Town Center office buildings.

• Upgrade the former Olympia brewery and old historic brewhouse.

• Improve development planning around Olympia Regional Airport.

• Strengthen city identity and neighborhood character.

• Maintain strong service levels for the annexed areas as well as the rest of the city.

Nancy Partlow, a leader of the citizens group Tumwater Liveable Community, said she hopes the community is able to help direct the scope of both plans from the beginning.

"I've found the scoping is where the real work gets done," said Partlow, one of three members of the public at Tuesday's meeting.

Mayor Ralph Osgood said he will encourage as much public participation as possible.

"We will need a lot more dialogue and a lot more community involvement," he said.

The Berk & Associates schedule calls for the strategic plan to be done by late April and the economic-development plan to be completed by the end of next year.