Olympia seeks consultant to review its 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update

Olympia is seeking proposals from qualified consultants to prepare a draft and final Environment Impact Statement (EIS) for its 2045 Comprehensive Plan update. The work will also include a review of the city's critical areas ordinance using the state's Best Available Science (BAS) guidelines.

This initiative is part of Olympia's ongoing commitment to updating its Comprehensive Plan in compliance with the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA).

The 2045 Comprehensive Plan Update is a non-project action under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Its focus is on addressing emerging state requirements, including climate change, resiliency, and housing needs.

Tasks

• Critical areas ordinance review. The selected consultant will conduct a comprehensive review of Olympia's current critical areas ordinance, ensuring it complies with BAS. The consultant will provide a detailed written report identifying recommended or required changes, for example, potential adjustments to buffer zones for wetlands.
• Prepare the draft EIS (DEIS). The consultant will be responsible for preparing the DEIS that will provide a comprehensive analysis of the probable environmental impacts of the plan, consider reasonable alternatives, and address all scoping comments received during the initial public comment period.
• Coordinate with the city for the issuance of the DEIS for review and comment by the public, tribal governments, and other local state, and federal agencies.
• Prepare the final EIS. It includes analyzing and responding to all comments received on the draft EIS and includes references to existing studies and modeling to evaluate probable impacts.
• Coordinate with and assist the city for the issuance of the final EIS.

Proposals shall be submitted via email to RFP coordinator Casey Schaufler, . The deadline for submission is on Oct. 25, 2024, at 5 pm.