CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION stating The City of Seattle’s intent to address climate change and improve resiliency as part of the One Seattle update to the Comprehensive Plan.
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. As part of the One Seattle update to the Comprehensive Plan, it is the City’s intent to address greenhouse gas emissions reductions, climate resiliency and adaptation, and environmental justice. City staff is directed to study and develop new and revised goals and policies founded in science that include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. Reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, and other harmful pollutants that exacerbate climate impacts, including:
1. Reducing per capita vehicle miles traveled within the city limits of Seattle;
2. Increasing the amount and diversity of housing and providing amenities near housing to reduce dependence on cars;
3. Planning for future transportation investments to equitably meet forecasted multimodal transportation demands across the city; and
4. Updating level of service standards for all locally owned arterials, transit routes, and active transportation facilities.
B. Fostering the resilience of natural and human systems to climate impacts and natural hazards, including:
1. Enhancing the resilience of existing natural areas, including wetlands, riparian areas, and vital habitat for safe passage and species migration;
2. Increasing resilience against natural hazards created or aggravated by climate change, including sea-level rise, landslides, flooding, drought, heat, smoke, wildfire, and other effects of changes to temperature and precipitation patterns;
3. Leveraging investments in natural and “gray” infrastructure to increase climate resiliency and provide co-benefits, such as stormwater management, salmon recovery, and other ecosystem services; and
4. Enhancing tree canopy to reduce airborne pollutants, decrease stormwater runoff, and mitigate urban heat island effects, particularly in residential areas with low canopy coverage.
C. Working toward environmental justice by:
1. Reducing environmental health disparities;
2. Prioritizing work in communities that have experienced disproportionate harm due to air, water, and soil pollution or will disproportionately suffer from compounding environmental impacts and will be most impacted by natural hazards due to climate change;
3. Providing opportunities for communities that have been displaced to return to the city in healthy environments and addressing the needs of those at risk of being displaced; and
4. Incorporating strategies to prevent displacement of vulnerable communities that could result from implementation of measures to address climate change and resiliency.
Section 2. The City should consider the following information when revising and adding to the Comprehensive Plan’s goals and policies:
A. Analysis of climate-related trends to identify current and anticipated impacts, including from the Seattle Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis;
B. Identification of vulnerable populations and assets (including social, cultural, and economic assets);
C. Classification of risks, capital facilities and utilities, and community assets to determine where change is most needed to equitably address climate change, with a specific focus on vulnerable populations;
D. Inventories of air, water, and ground transportation facilities and services, including transit alignments, active transportation facilities, and general aviation airport facilities;
E. Analysis of disparities in health, environmental burden, and access to green space;
F. Identification of natural areas and infrastructure that may be vulnerable to changing environmental conditions; and
G. Identification of environmentally critical areas, including habitat, vital for safe passage and species migration.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2022, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2022.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2022.
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Bruce A. Harrell, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2022.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)