Special Planning Commission Meeting

City of Prosser PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA Council Chambers, 1002 Dudley Avenue, Prosser WA 99350 Thursday, October 2, 2025 @ 6:00 PM Per Ordinance No. 22-3175, Planning Commission meetings will be held in-person at location listed above and virtually. To join the meeting, please click the following link: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/590067637 You can also dial in using your phone. +1 (646) 749-3112 Access Code:590-067-637 Page 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. BOARD DISCUSSION a. Continued review and discussion of the Draft Climate Element. 2 - 105 Climate Element Recommended Motion: No action at this time. Presentation and discussion only. 4. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 of 105  CITY OF PROSSER, WASHINGTON AGENDA BILL Agenda Title: Meeting Date: Continued review and discussion regarding October 2, 2025 the Draft Climate Element. Special Planning Commission Meeting Item Type: Discussion Department: Director: Contact Person: Phone Number: Planning Rachel Shaw Rachel Shaw 509-786-8218 Commission Cost of Proposal: Fund Name and Number: The cost will depend on the changes directed N/A by Council Amount Budgeted: $0 Reviewed by Finance Department: N/A Attachments to Agenda Packet Item: 1. Draft Climate Element (pdf) 2. Climate Element Worksheet (xls) Summary Statement: At the August 21, 2025, Planning Commision meeting, the City's contract planning teams at Measure Ment and Nexus Planning Services, provided an overview of the City's draft Climate Element document. Staff is seeking feedback on the goals and policies outlined in the Draft Climate Element. Feedback will be considered for inclusion into the draft of the Comprehensive Plan which is scheduled for adoption in June of 2026. Instructions for commissioners PRIOR to the meeting: Step 1: Review the draft Climate Element (attached PDF) – this is optional as all the goals & policies are also listed in the worksheet (step 2) Step 2: Fill out the attached Worksheet (attached XLS) – the consultant team is looking for your “support rating” for each goal and policy in the draft element. The rating column is highlighted in yellow. If you reject the goal/policy, please state why; if you accept with Page 2 of 105  changes, please indicate the changes you want to see. Step 3: Come to Thursday’s meeting prepared to share any goals/policies that you reject or request changes to. Bring your completed worksheet with you. Consistent with Council Goal: Goal #1: Livability & Quality of Life, Goal #4: Infrastructure & Transportation Recommended Action/Suggested Motion: Recommended Motion: No action at this time. Presentation and discussion only. Reviewed by Department Reviewed by City Attorney: Approved by City Director: Administrator: Rachel Shaw Rachel Shaw Date: Sep 30, 2025 Date: Date: Sep 30, 2025 Page 3 of 105 Climate Element City of Prosser 2026 Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update DRAFT June 18, 2025 Page 4 of 105 Acknowledgements The City of Prosser 2024 Climate Change Planning Grant is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and- invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov. El “City of Prosser 2024 Climate Change Planning Grant” cuenta con el respaldo del financiamiento proveniente de la Ley de Compromiso Climático de Washington. CCA (Climate Commitment Act, Ley de Compromiso Climático) apoya los esfuerzos de acción climática de Washington y utiliza el dinero del programa de límite e inversión para reducir la contaminación climática, crear empleos y mejorar la salud pública. Para obtener información sobre la CCA, visite www.climate.wa.gov. Introduction City of Prosser is actively addressing climate change by both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing goals and policies that minimize risks to people, infrastructure, natural resources, and the local economy. In 2023, the Washington State Legislature passed House Bill 1181, which amended the state’s Growth Management Act (GMA) to require local jurisdictions to integrate climate change considerations into their comprehensive plans. These updates are codified in RCW 36.70A.070 and establish two new required components: a greenhouse gas emissions reduction sub-element and a climate resilience sub-element. The goals and policies in this chapter were co-created by City leaders and the City of Prosser’s Climate Advisory Team (CAT) – a volunteer committee consisting of members of the Prosser community from various sectors including agriculture, economic development, utilities, transportation, public health, education, environmental conservation, seniors, and community-based organizations supporting low-income residents. Members of the Yakama Nations Natural Resource Department also participated on the advisory team. The development of these goals and policies was informed by a robust community engagement process, including monthly meetings with the Prosser Climate Advisory Team, one-on-one interviews with subject matter experts, in-person workshops, and an online public survey. Vision The City of Prosser is committed to building a resilient future by protecting our environment, safeguarding our community and economy from climate hazards, and promoting sustainable, inclusive growth. We will prioritize actions that are effective, affordable, and equitable— especially for those most at risk—while preserving our ecosystems and guiding development that allows people and habitats to thrive. City of Prosser Climate Element 1 Page 5 of 105 City of Prosser’s Guiding Principles for Climate Planning The City of Prosser is dedicated to fostering a resilient and sustainable community that promotes the well- being of its residents, supports a thriving economy, and preserves natural resources. Members of the Climate Action Team (CAT) emphasized the importance of ensuring that the climate goals and strategies outlined in this plan are both effective and affordable. They also stressed that Prosser must build resilience to help both its own community and neighboring communities mitigate the risks associated with climate change. Guided by these values, the CAT developed a set of principles to inform the goals and strategies presented in this Climate Element. • Take action that is effective, affordable, efficient, and sustainable • Protect and preserve the environment and local ecosystems • Mitigate climate hazards to reduce risks to the local economy and public health • Prioritize resilience efforts for community members, especially those most at risk • Ensure that future land use and growth reduce both pollution and vulnerabilities Current Conditions & Future Projections Before finalizing this Climate Element, the City of Prosser, in collaboration with the Climate Advisory Team (CAT), conducted two foundational assessments: a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and a climate vulnerability assessment. The findings from these assessments directly informed the development of the goals, policies, and strategies outlined in this chapter. Drawing on this data, the City crafted targeted actions to reduce emissions and strengthen community resilience to climate hazards. Greenhouse Gas Inventory The City of Prosser undertook its first comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory in 2024, utilizing 2022 data to establish a baseline for future planning and policy development. The 2022 GHG inventory reveals that Prosser's total communitywide emissions amount to approximately 28,719 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The primary sources of Prosser’s communitywide emissions are the transportation sector (43%) and the built environment sector (30%). The waste management sector, including solid waste and wastewater treatment, contribute 26% of Prosser’s communitywide emissions. Municipal operations account for 23% of the communitywide emissions, with wastewater treatment being the most significant source. See the City’s website for the full 2022 GHG Emissions Inventory report. 2 "Prosser Plan 2026" - Draft June 18, 2025 Page 6 of 105  Figure 1: Sources of communitywide GHG emissions for the city of Prosser by sector and sub-sector Waste water Electricity 20.6% 19.7% Solid Waste Natural Gas 5.7% Aviation 9.2% Propane 0.3% On-road 1.1% 43.3% Built Environment Transporatation Waste On-road transportation is the largest source of GHG emissions within the city boundaries. In addition to contributing to climate pollution, tailpipe emissions also expose people to hazardous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. People living near high-traffic areas will experience compounded health impacts during wildfire season. Figure 2: Major Tailpipe Emissions for the City of Prosser N Albr o Rd S u n n y s id al e Can N Mi s sim er R d W J o h n s o n Rd W Old Inl S Missim er Rd City of Prosser Climate Element 3