Thursday, October 1, 2026
The City of Lacey is preparing changes to its Equity Map after a year of public use.
The online resource provides information about social and environmental differences in the city. Now, newer data, accessibility improvements and possible additions could expand its public use.
Lacey Assistant City Manager Shannon Kelley-Fong briefed the Lacey Commission on Equity about the planned update at a meeting on Aug. 24.
The Equity Map launched in 2025 after receiving input from the commission. It uses community indicators grouped into five categories: accessibility, livability, education, economy and environment. Demographic information appears separately and does not factor into the equity rating.
The map covers the city and its urban growth area, and its ratings are based on countywide comparisons.
Some information in the map dates to 2023 and 2024, Kelley-Fong said. The city plans to use available 2026 data and replace indicators no longer maintained at the federal level.
The work also includes quality assurance, validation and possible revisions to the user guide.
The map rates areas from very high to very low based on relative outcomes and access to opportunities. Kelley-Fong said, for instance, an area with strong access to roads, bus stops and parks could score higher on accessibility than one without.
Kelley-Fong cautioned against using the ratings alone to assess a community.
"We're taking the best available of what we have, and it's not perfect," Kelley-Fong said. "It's a tool, but not the only tool in a tool belt."
The city has also stated the data is not comprehensive and should be considered with other research, data sources and community input.
Another part of the update addresses how people interact with the map. Planned changes include screen-reader compatibility, dashboard revisions and better identification of indicators included in the equity index. The update also calls for compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which spells out how to make content more accessible to people with disabilities.
The city is also considering new layers for sidewalk information, housing and age distribution for people 65 and older.
Bicycle and trail information is already included in the map, Kelley-Fong said, while sidewalk data is being considered as a separate addition. City officials have not decided whether the proposed additions will factor into equity ratings.
Commissioner Makieda Hart addressed more detailed housing data during the discussion. She pointed to multigenerational households, shared housing and specialized housing as categories worth tracking.
Commissioner Annie Clay proposed adding heat information to show hot spots in relation to urban tree canopy data. She also raised a navigation issue, saying major streets can be difficult to identify unless users zoom in closely.
Commission Chair Kim Sauer raised emergency information as another possible layer. She suggested identifying locations people could use for safety or access during wildfires, earthquakes or other emergencies, particularly when communications are unavailable.
Kelley-Fong said staff is going to continue reviewing possible additions with map consultant, Community Attributes.
"This is a really good list to start thinking about what could be some possibilities," Kelley-Fong said.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Pkt3154
So someone spent a lot of time and taxpayer dollars developing a map that "The city has also stated the data is not comprehensive and should be considered with other research, data sources and community input". Great! So the problem solved is?
Friday, August 28 Report this
TheVirtualOne
Total waste of taxpayer money and resources.
Friday, August 28 Report this
OlyBlues
This is the biggest waste of taxpayer dollars I have ever seen coming out of Lacey. What a useless, feel good project. The city loses all credibility saying the are running a tight budget and they are being fiscally responsible while at the same time funding waste like this silly map. Unbelievable.
Saturday, August 29 Report this
Uoglio
The map should also show the density and locations of northwest gadflies in Lacey!
Saturday, August 29 Report this
Wesley
How silly.
Sunday, August 30 Report this
ViaLocal
anyone MAGA would be against equity maps. MAGA teaches you NOT to concern yourself with equity, because it's a hoax.
That way they can keep climbing the wealth ladder and you never notice that the wealth isn't trickling down.
It never will. But at least you can be a racist !
Monday, August 31 Report this
TheVirtualOne
MAGA this, MAGA that. Go get that OCD treated. You are nothing but a one trick pony, taking connecting flights on every subject to MAGA. You and the SnakeCharmer have something in common.
Saturday, September 5 Report this