Thurston County updates planning policies to include tribal coordination 

Thurston County officials have proposed amendments for its Countywide Planning Policies (CWPP) to include tribal coordination requirements following a 2022 state law mandating local governments to involve tribal nations in planning decisions. 

Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) Planning Manager Allison Osterberg detailed the updates to the CWPP during the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) agenda-setting meeting on Tuesday, March 18. 

The proposed policy changes came after a two-year process led by TRPC in response to House Bill 1717, which amended the Growth Management Act, RCW 36.70A, to require tribal governments be invited to county planning processes. 

“This change to the countywide planning policies was sparked because of a change to state law,” Osterberg said.

She noted the legislation “specifically called out that the countywide planning policies themselves needed to talk about this tribal coordination.” 

After the law passed, TRPC began reviewing the CWPP. 

Osterberg said staff worked with the Squaxin Island Tribe, the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation. 

She added, “We also worked with the Department of Commerce's tribal liaison, who had worked on the original kind of guidance around those changes to state law. And we had also worked with Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission to see if they had any other input, and had reached out to other tribal staff just to see what they preferred.” 

The introduction of the CWPP was up for revision to include the Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes. Section 1 adds a preamble committing cities, towns and tribes to consult each other on matters of mutual impact. 

New Policy 1.3 requires collaboration “with tribes to identify and protect tribal cultural resources.” Policy 1.4 recognizes “tribal sovereignty and tribal governmental authority,” while Policy 1.17 highlights the “need for cooperation on utilities, transportation, and economic development.” 

Environmental Policy 10.3(c) was clarified to state that “rivers and creeks, fish habitat and passage” are included in existing water quality standards. 

Section 11, which governs policy development, now adds tribes to the Urban Growth Management (UGM) Subcommittee under Policy 11.3. 

According to Osterberg, initial changes were brought to the mentioned subcommittee, a panel under TRPC with representatives from all local jurisdictions. 

“The Urban Growth Management Subcommittee needs to review and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners on any changes to the countywide planning policies,” Osterberg said. 

She said the subcommittee asked for more review. 

“The subcommittee at that time requested a little additional time to review," Osterberg said.

In August 2024, it forwarded its recommendation to the board. A public hearing followed in January 2025, which resulted in the “unanimous support of proposal.” 

Commissioner Emily Clouse acknowledged the efforts of the TRPC. 

“The fact that we were able to coordinate this and get you all here before the vote and the morning of the day where we have the vote on our agenda … I just really appreciate that.” 

She asked about timelines for tribal participation on the subcommittee. 

“There isn’t anything specific or a timeline that we need to do it on, because we’ve already taken the major action, which would be inviting tribal representation on the UGM Subcommittee,” Osterberg responded. 

She confirmed that the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis are already involved. 

“The Squaxin Island Tribe has been invited to join, but as yet hasn’t decided on their representation on that group,” she added. 

BoCC Chair Tye Menser said the Chehalis Tribe previously joined UGM Subcommittee discussions and gave input on comprehensive plan changes. 

Community Planning and Economic Development Director Ashley Arai added, “TRPC has been really proactive, reaching out and inviting tribal representation to the table ahead of formal action.”  

Osterberg clarified that the proposed revisions echo past standards. 

“There’s no radical departures here from what we already do. … It’s really just enshrining, making more formal what I think all our jurisdictions across Thurston County already do," she said.