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Project Background <br /> The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires cities and counties to update <br /> Comprehensive Plans and implementing development regulations every 10 years(RCW 36.70A.130). <br /> Comprehensive Plans are 20-year policy documents that guide and plan for growth (population and <br /> employment), housing,transportation, capital facilities and utilities, parks, recreation and open space, <br /> rural areas, and protection of natural resource lands (RCW 36.70A.070). Kittitas County will be updating <br /> their comprehensive plan by June 30, 2026. <br /> This Public Participation Plan (PPP) outlines how the community will be engaged during the project and <br /> given specific opportunities for providing feedback on the plan.Throughout the engagement process, <br /> the County and consultant staff will seek to understand the vision, goals and priorities of the <br /> community.This feedback from the public will provide staff information necessary to shape policy and <br /> standards that reflect the character and values of Kittitas County. <br /> The Public Participation Program (PPP) is required by state law (RCW 36.70A.140), which states: <br /> "Comprehensive plans—Ensure public participation. Each county and city that is required or <br /> chooses to plan under RCW 36.70A.040 shall establish and broadly disseminate to the public a <br /> public participation program identifying procedures providing for early and continuous public <br /> participation in the development and amendment of comprehensive land use plans and <br /> development regulations implementing such plans.The procedures shall provide for broad <br /> dissemination of proposals and alternatives, opportunity for written comments, public meetings <br /> after effective notice, provision for open discussion, communication programs, information <br /> services, and consideration of and response to public comments..." <br /> The PPP outlines how the community will be engaged during the project and given specific opportunities <br /> for providing feedback on the plan.Throughout the engagement process,the County and consultant <br /> staff will seek to understand the vision, goals, and priorities of the community.This feedback from the <br /> public will provide staff information necessary to shape policy and standards that reflect the character <br /> and values of Kittitas County. Feedback will be collected, reviewed and incorporated into the <br /> engagement summaries which will in turn be used for plan updates prior to its presentation before <br /> County decision makers for plan adoption.This plan will be used by County staff and consultants to <br /> guide engagement during the comprehensive plan update process. <br /> 2026 Periodic Update <br /> In 2023,the Growth Management Act was revised to require a "Climate Change and Resiliency Element" <br /> be added which will be a new chapter to the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan.This chapter is often <br /> interchangeably called the "Climate Element". As Kittitas County continues to grow and change, the <br /> County's Comprehensive Plan is intended to change to reflect the current needs and vision of the <br /> County and into the future. It is important to note that community engagement will be broadly <br /> applicable to all elements of the Comprehensive Plan.Specific activities will be added to gather <br /> feedback on the climate element, as it represents a new area of focus that has not previously been the <br /> subject of public input. <br /> Kittitas County 2026 Periodic Update—Public Participation Program 3 <br />