Puyallup: Opposition to Comprehensive Plan Update
On June 10, Puyallup City Council faced protests from about 20 residents during a meeting concerning amendments to the city’s proposed comprehensive plan. This plan, set to guide the city until 2044, incorporates updated language on critical areas including equity, tribal history, climate change, and housing. Eleven residents spoke out, arguing the changes would make Puyallup less welcoming and potentially conflict with state law. Resident Heather Schiller urged the council to consider an inclusive future, acknowledging the long-term impact of their decisions. The two-hour meeting, marked by impassioned council speeches, public reactions, and an unplanned executive session for legal review, culminated in a 4-3 vote passing the plan’s first reading. Mayor Jim Kastama, Deputy Mayor Dennis King, and council members Dean Johnson and Renne Gilliam voted for it, while Ned Witting, Julie Door, and Lauren Adler voted against. A second reading and final vote are pending, after which the plan will undergo state and regional review.
Puyallup's comprehensive plan outlines the city’s vision for the next two decades, as mandated by Washington’s Growth Management Act, covering community development, housing, economic growth, and environmental protection. While typically updated every ten years, policies are drafted for a twenty-year horizon. The contentious amendments in the current draft included replacing "equity" with "equality," removing a policy requiring climate change impact analysis for new construction, stipulating adherence to federal executive orders even if they contradict state law, altering housing language regarding race and marginalized populations, and revising the city’s historical narrative concerning the Puyallup Tribe by removing implications of forced displacement. Mayor Kastama and Council Member Witting proposed the climate change amendment, with Kastama alone proposing the others.
Public opposition was unified, with all 11 speakers expressing concerns. Joe Columbo criticized the climate change policy removal, recalling past severe wildfire smoke and advocating for sustainable housing. Kathleen McLeod, a beneficiary of the Equal Opportunity Act, opposed the “equity” to “equality” change, stressing the importance of "diversity, equity, and inclusion." Nancy Shattuck, from a bicultural family, called the amendments discriminatory, asserting that “equity is about repair, removing barriers, and redistributing power and resources.”
During the council debate, Ned Witting acknowledged that removing climate change requirements might make housing more affordable but expressed concern that changing "equity" to "equality" could violate state law, which he felt would have a greater impact on Puyallup than federal directives. Julie Door emotionally rejected all changes, arguing they would undermine community inclusivity and citing legal concerns revealed just hours before the meeting. An executive session was called for legal guidance. Upon returning, Council Member Dean Johnson and Mayor Jim Kastama voiced support. Kastama, invoking his upbringing based on judging character, asserted the changes enhance inclusivity by using terms like "underserved" and "disadvantaged" to cover all residents regardless of race, including seniors, low-income families, and immigrants. He argued the updated language aligns with Supreme Court rulings and federal executive orders, aiming to prevent federal issues and asserting that race-neutral language is the safest approach, believing "you cannot solve discrimination by discriminating."