Community Livability and Public Safety Committee Meeting - March 25, 2026\n\nThe Community Livability and Public Safety Committee of the Olympia City Council met on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. All three committee members (Chair Dani Madrone, Kelly Green, and Yến Huỳnh) were present. No public comments were submitted. The committee approved three agenda items, all forwarded to the full City Council for final action.\n\n### Consent Calendar\n- Approval of Agenda: Approved unanimously.\n- Approval of Minutes: Approved minutes from February 25, March 4, and March 5, 2026, all unanimously.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- None.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) Phase I Findings and Phase II Direction: Economic Development Director Jennica Machado and Uncommon Bridges consultants Brian Scott and AshLee Day presented findings from a comprehensive evaluation initiated in late 2025. The PBIA, created in 2005, assesses approximately 520 downtown businesses based on number of employees, raising about $113,000 annually—unchanged since inception with no inflation adjustment. The assessment is divided into three zones and ten rate categories ($150–$750 per year). Consultants compared Olympia to similar districts (e.g., Downtown Everett at $636,000; West Seattle Junction at $570,000) and identified key weaknesses: outdated assessment model, insufficient revenue to justify collection costs, inefficient city administration, and misalignment of services (current spending on marketing/beautification while ratepayers prioritize clean/safe). Recommendations included substantially increasing the budget to roughly $500,000 per year, shifting to a property-based assessment (e.g., 15–20 cents per building square foot), and transferring day-to-day management to a nonprofit program manager such as the Olympia Downtown Alliance (ODA). Stakeholder engagement (interviews, focus groups with ratepayers, PBIA board, ODA board, city staff, and other business owners) revealed general support for more services but also distrust and a need for trust-building. The PBIA advisory board had unanimously recommended moving to Phase II, which would involve forming a steering committee, iterative ratepayer engagement to refine services and rates, and developing an operations plan—with a target to return to council with a refined proposal in early 2027. Committee members expressed support for Phase II, though Committee Member Huỳnh raised concerns about compliance and cultural/language barriers among some ratepayers. Chair Madrone asked about potential rebranding to improve public understanding. The motion to approve Phase I findings, move forward with Phase II, and forward to the full council passed 3–0.\n\n- Civilian Police Auditor 2026 Work Plan: Community Engagement Program Specialist Margo Morales and OIR Group Civilian Police Auditor Stephen Connolly presented the first annual work plan under an expanded contract. The work plan builds on recommendations from the Social Justice and Equity Commission (accepted by council in July 2024) and includes regular reporting (mid-year and end-of-year reports), quarterly meetings with the Community Policing Board (CPB), and community engagement initiatives. The key substantive focus for 2026 is an audit of the integration between the Olympia Police Department and the Crisis Response Unit during calls involving persons experiencing mental health crises. The CPB reviewed and provided input on the work plan. Committee members expressed strong support, noting the proactive approach. The motion to approve the work plan and forward to the full council passed 3–0.\n\n- City Council Appointed Advisory Body 2026 Work Plans: Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray presented an overview of work plans for 10 advisory bodies, organized by focus area (Public Safety, Community Livability, Environmental Stewardship, Economy, Organizational Excellence, and Well-Planned City). Of 31 work plan items, 16 will result in a recommendation to council, 14 to staff, and 2 to outside entities. Twelve items directly align with the 2026 council work plan. Examples include: the Social Justice and Equity Commission providing input on reimagining public safety and discrimination findings; the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee reviewing speed limit enforcement cameras; the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee working on the Rebecca Howard Park Concept Plan and Yeshiro Japanese Garden relocation; the Arts Commission developing the municipal art plan and recommending a cover artist; and the Planning Commission reviewing the Capital Facilities Plan, multifamily tax exemption, and parking strategies. Staff noted the planning commission typically has the heaviest workload, meeting twice monthly. Committee Member Huỳnh highlighted the need to coordinate with the planning commission on topics of council interest. The motion to approve the work plans and forward to the full council passed 3–0.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- PBIA Phase I approved and Phase II authorized (motion passed 3–0) – staff directed to bring to full council on April 14, 2026, with Phase II work to begin mid-year.\n- Civilian Police Auditor 2026 Work Plan approved (motion passed 3–0) – to be forwarded to full council for approval; implementation can begin before official approval.\n- Advisory Body 2026 Work Plans approved (motion passed 3–0) – to be added to the April 14 council consent agenda.\n- Meeting schedule update: No committee meeting in April 2026; a special meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2026.