In 2024, Olympia faced several pressing challenges, including housing affordability, workers’ rights, urban development, environmental restoration and community spaces.
The city spent almost the entire year crafting strategies to tackle these issues, and is expected to see further development or implementation in the coming year.
In 2015, Councilman Jim Cooper initiated discussions on minimum wage and a Workers' Bill of Rights in Olympia. Nearly 10 years later, these crucial issues have finally gained traction among city leaders.
The city council is set to revisit the Workers’ Bill of Rights and wage proposals during their January retreat. This would kick off an engagement process aimed at gathering input from various stakeholders, including workers, businesses,and nonprofits.
The minimum wage discussion will be guided by research on living wages, community needs and broader economic factors. The Workers' Bill of Rights conversations will expand to include critical areas, such as workplace safety, fair scheduling and overall workforce protections.
In April, the Olympia City Council approved additional rental housing policies, which included relocation assistance.
JOLT Staff photo via Zoom
Olympia is still confronted with significant housing challenges, with more than 7,600 households burdened by high rental costs and an increasing demand for affordable options. The city responded by prioritizing affordability and implementing policies to ease housing development barriers.
Some key initiatives included strengthening tenant protections, aligning local plans with state laws like HB 1220, addressing historical housing disparities and expanding middle housing options.
Olympia’s efforts in 2024 laid the groundwork for more housing reforms anticipated in 2025, focusing on improving equity and accessibility in housing.
In July, the Olympia City Council approved the Capital Mall Triangle subarea plan that would convert the area into urban neighborhoods with mixed land use.
The approved subarea plan incorporates height bonuses for affordable housing projects, improved connectivity and flexible parking requirements.
In January 2025, the Olympia Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the planned action ordinance and monitoring transportation impacts through a “trip cap” system before forwarding a recommendation to the city council for review and final approval.
Signed in October, the Olympia City Council approved an interlocal agreement for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project.
JOLT Staff photo via Zoom
After years of planning, the Olympia City Council has approved an interlocal agreement (ILA) for the Deschutes Estuary restoration project.
This initiative aims to restore Capitol Lake to its natural estuarine state, improving water quality, reviving habitats and addressing sediment issues.
The project includes removing the 5th Avenue dam and constructing a new bridge with an educational oculus. Olympia will contribute $11.5 million for long-term sediment management.
While the construction start date is not specified, the ILA approval moves the project forward. Once completed, the restored estuary will enhance Olympia's waterfront, meeting environmental needs with recreational opportunities.
The Olympia Armory Building made strides toward transforming into a community arts center. This year’s achievements included selecting eight anchor nonprofit partners to help shape the facility’s programs.
The Armory completed a site planning review for major renovations like upgraded accessibility, stormwater improvements and electric vehicle charging stations. Public input also began to rename the 85-year-old structure.
Looking ahead, renovations are set to commence, including reconfiguring shared art spaces and classrooms, making the Armory a hub for arts education and cultural events.
Olympia’s Parks, Arts, & Recreation Department has laid out the plans to enhance its parks and recreational offerings. Rebecca Howard Park moved closer to fruition with designs emphasizing cultural storytelling, healing, and community connection.
Olympia Parks Director Paul Simmons unveiled the Phase 1 design for the Yelm Highway Community Park, which addresses the need for athletic fields, pickleball courts and other family-friendly amenities. The city also partnered with Berger Partnership to design the park’s first phase. Construction will start in early 2026.
Olympia has unveiled plans to reinstate a police auditor position aimed at enhancing public trust and confidence through independent review of police complaint investigations.
In December, the city released a request for a proposal for a Civilian Police Auditor. This role will involve overseeing investigations into use-of-force incidents, assessing potential bias or civil rights violations in police actions and offering recommendations to improve the handling of critical incidents.
In a separate development, the Olympia Police Department is considering leasing 12 additional patrol vehicles as a public safety measure, utilizing funds from Proposition 1.
In October, the Olympia City Council appointed 16 members to the first-ever Olympia Youth Council. By creating this council, Olympia aims to provide a platform for the younger generation to contribute to local governance and decision-making processes. The Olympia Youth Council will hold its inaugural official meeting on Jan. 15, 2025.
Editors note: The links in the story were replaced with working story links on the evening of December 28.
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MrCommonSense
Not a comment on the story, but the links in the story don't seem to work. Tried 2 different browsers. Thanks.
Saturday, December 28, 2024 Report this