Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

1. During the land use committee meeting this week, the city will be discussing its response to global warming. Here is what the staff recommends:

Staff proposes the following short-term work plan to address future impacts of sea level rise on Olympia. With the best available science, we will identify implications, establish priorities, and propose a long-term management approach.

Proposed Work Plan

• Synthesize best available research on climate change and sea level rise in South Sound/Olympia with experts and research from CIG. CIG provides resource forecasts and regional- and resource-specific interpretations of global climate change for the Pacific Northwest.

• Using the best available science, revise Olympia’s 1993 Potential Sea Level Rise maps using current elevation data and GIS mapping. Maps will reflect various increments of sea level rise projections and consider existing public infrastructure, especially stormwater systems.

• Define potential long-term implications of expected sea level rise and other profound climate changes on Olympia. The implications could include key infrastructure, environmental, regulatory, and public safety issues.

• Develop a conceptual timeline of potential implications. City roles and responsibilities for managing the implications will be proposed.

• Present current climate/sea level research, updated maps, implications, and timeline to Council in mid-2007.

• With Council support, host a regional community forum on climate change and sea level rise during the fall of 2007.

2. Way before the Olympia School District decided to shut down the Old Madison School, the city has been leasing part of the property for our Madison Scenic Park (pdf file). Now that the school district is finally putting that property up for sale, they're selling the two acre or so park portion to the city for $144,000.

3. The city is going to be studying traffic on the West side. The funniest part of this document is that it refers to traffic problems at Cooper Point and Blake Lake in the future. Like they're "going to happen" if we don't do anything about it soon. Have they been over there at 5 p.m. on a Thursday?

The report reads:

The 2025 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) indicates major traffic congestion will occur at the Cooper Point Road and Black Lake Boulevard intersection within the 20-year planning horizon even with a package of efficiency measures—including extended peak periods, urban transit service, multi-modal facilities, and increased local street connectivity in the future. The City’s annual concurrency analysis indicates that unacceptable traffic congestion and travel delays will be evident in the near term, based on criteria and guidance in the Olympia Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). A deficiency of access and circulation opportunities hampers the ability to meet Olympia’s growing transportation needs on the Westside.

...

The primary purpose of the WOAS is:

• To identify needed improvements to the existing transportation network in West Olympia and identify a range of alternatives to improve current and future mobility and traffic circulation

• To evaluate the need for an additional West Olympia access to US 101 to accommodate expected growth; and

• To identify where the access will be provided to US 101, if the need is determined.