PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND
The Washington State Department of Commerce hereafter called "COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals from firms interested in participating in a project to convene a work group to review and make recommendations for legislation to update the Washington State Growth Management Act (chapter 36.70A RCW), with consideration given to The Road Map to Washington's Future, a final report produced by the William D. Ruckelshaus Center.
Background
In 2017, the Washington State Legislature commissioned the William D. Ruckelshaus Center to study Washington State land use framework, conduct outreach throughout the state and present recommendations for the future of the state’s growth strategy. The work resulted in a report to the legislature including multiple recommendations. Additional guidance materials and background on the collaborative Road Map to Washington’s Future may be viewed here on the web site for the Ruckelshaus Center.
In 2020, the University of Washington completed a report "updating Washington's growth policy framework" This report including the findings and presented the work of a multi-stakeholder process to develop recommended changes to Washington’s growth policy framework. At the conclusion of the work in 2023, one issue remained: how to integrate special purpose municipalities into the growth management planning framework.
Updating Washington's Growth Policy Framework - Center for Livable Communities (uw.edu)
In 2021, the Environmental Justice Task Force issued recommended strategies for incorporating environmental just principles into the work of the state and included best practices for increasing meaningful and inclusive community engagement that takes into account barriers to participation that may arise due to race, color, ethnicity, religion, income or education level.
Environmental Justice Task Force :: Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities (wa.gov)
Phase IV Recommendations
In the 2024 supplemental budget, the legislature commissioned a task force to recommend how to integrate special purpose municipalities into the growth management planning framework. Special purpose municipalities include water, sewer, schools and port districts, as well as public utility districts and transit districts. The task force must involve diverse perspectives and include representatives of:
 State agencies,
 Cities,
 Counties,
 Special purpose districts,
 Tribal government,
 Builders,
 Planning organizations,
 Environmental organizations.
Under the HEAL act, Commerce must ensure that its actions engage meaningful participation of overburdened and disadvantaged communities. Special effort must be made to include in these discussions the lived experiences and perspectives of people and communities often excluded from public policy decision-making despite being disproportionately impacted by those decisions.

Pre-Proposal Conference (via online video/audio conference call), register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom
May 16, 2024 @10:30 AM Pacific

Please contact RFP Coordinator Deborah.Jacobs@commerce.wa with any questions.