Illusion of Public Involvement: There are many places in the plan that the

public was credited with its overwhelming input. This is simply not true. Preamble Page iii:
D !ct as a "convener# to build regional consensus on issues through information and citi$en involvement. %&ecutive 'ummary Page i:

The 'ustainable Thurston pro(ect began in early )*++ with a simple -uestion for the Thurston .egion/s -uarter0million residents: 1ow do you want your community to loo23 function3 and feel in )*456
%&ecutive 'ummary Page i

7nline and in person3 thousands of people considered the challenges and opportunities of growth from an economic3 environmental3 and social sustainability perspective. 8ust as important3 these engaged residents helped the 'ustainable Thurston Tas2 9orce craft a regional vision of sustainable development that encompasses land use3 housing3 energy3 transportation3 food3 health3 and other interconnected issues.
%&ecutive 'ummary Page ii:

The region will wor2 together toward common goals3 putting people in the center of our thin2ing3 and inspire individual responsibility and leadership in our residents. Page ::
9oundational Principles ; Policies: To support the 'ustainable Thurston vision3 the Plan establishes +* foundational principles and related policies3 developed using input from e&pert panels3 engaged residents3 surveys3 and the best information available. Together3 these principles and policies articulate the region/s definition of sustainability:

Page <:
=ultivate respectful civic engagement and participation by residents3 public3 private3 and nonprofit businesses and organi$ations. It will ta2e all of the partners > acting locally3 collaborating regionally3 engaging residents and sustainaing efforts over time > to achieve the vision. Page +?: 9ind resources for continuing the community conversation about land0use and $oning changes. Page )@: 'ustainable Thurston is a community conversation to develop a vision for a vibrant3 healthy3 and resilient future3 and to identify the actions and responsibilities to achieve it.

Page )A: 'o began 'ustainable Thurston > a three0year community conversation to lay out the vision3 goals3 and actions of a long0range plan for a more sustainable future. 9rom the outset3 public views strongly influenced the pro(ect. Page )<: !n education and outreach panel developed a public0engagement plan3 laying out the course for the remainder of the pro(ect. To engage residents3 in spring )*+)3 the planning team mailed a postcard to every household in the region and instituted a series of radio spots3 local newspaper stories3 and videos on local television. 'ustainable Thurston partners reached out to their individual contactsBcommunities through notices on their websites and in newsletters and e0mails. The planning team placed posters on storefronts. These efforts called for action encouraging people to attend the wor2shops held throughout the region and to send in their comments. Cy comments: the first grant for generating the plan occurred in )*+*. Dhy did it ta2e two years to do the engage residents move6 Das it after the T.P= had developed all the training needed to manipulate people into a pre determined way of thin2ing6 In early )*+43 the partners sought a second round of public engagement on the wor2 produced by the 'ustainable Thurston Tas2 9orce3 panels3 and planning team. Page 4*: The public spo2e clearly and directly: "E% E7FD%. and =.%!T% C7.% 'P%=I9I= G7!F' !HD T!.G%T'.# The Tas2 9orce responded with a bold vision statement3 a land0use vision3 and +) priority goals and targets. In fall of )*+43 T.P= released the draft Plan for public comment. Eriefings were held in every local city hall and the =ounty =ourthouse3 reaching another 4** people in person. 7ther people participated online3 too2 a survey3 or sent in comments3 helping to shape the final plan. Cy comments: There was a 'eptember version of the plan and a Hovember version of the plan. ! slightly revised final version became available shortly before the+)B:B+4 meeting. This was the plan dated December. This plan was adopted at the +)B:B+4 T.P= meeting. There was appro&imately one month for the public to respond to this )5* page plan that was not finali$ed until days before its adoption. In addition there were three meetings at the end of )*+4 where there were abundant negative public comments to this plan. %ven so3 on +)B:B+4 the plan was adopted with one no vote. The port of 7lympia commissioner said that he was concerned about the public outcry and wanted the T.P= to loo2 into what that was all about and delay the adoption. 1e was overruled by a roll

call vote. Fater it was e&plained by CcIey that the port commissioner had only been on the panel for three months and did not understand what was going on. 1e was on the panel for a great deal longer than three months3 more li2e a year. The rest of the panel demonstrated their total disregard for the public comments. The T.P= is only interested in comments that further their vision as could be seen at the meeting in Jelm on 8anuary )*+4. Page 4+ A5 percent of the respondents noted their belief in the value of wor2ing together 'uccessful action toward that vision will depend on motivated3 inspired3 and informed leaders and residents who continue to e&pand The use of "we# in this Plan is intentional. "De# refers to the people who will ma2e the vision happen3 including residents3 business owners3 and community leaders. "De# represents local people ta2ing local actions to increase the -uality of life in our community. Page 4): Cy comments: there is this chart: =ommunity 7utreach by the Humbers )< partners signed a Cemorandum of Knderstanding +A* people participated on +) topic panels )4 'ustainable Thurston Tas2 9orce members held 4A discussion sessions +*? (urisdictions3 agencies3 organi$ations3 and community groups represented at Tas2 9orce and panel meetings < Dor2shops held around Thurston =ounty3 with ?** public participants 4 .egional forums )5* Eusiness leaders attended the 'ustainable %conomic 9utures luncheon +35** people visited www.%ngage'ustainableThurston.org !lmost +53*** page views and +?* ideas submitted 553***L page views of the pro(ect website A3***L documents downloaded +) briefings reaching every cityBtown 0 4** people reached +A5 people too2 a survey on the draft Plan +3A**L residents responded to two 'ustainable Thurston surveys about priority issues3 concerns and values +3*** low0income residents responded to a 'ustainable Thurston survey about meeting minimum basic daily needs =ommunity 7utreach by the Humbers ++*3*** postcards sent to homes and businesses countywide +3:5* uni-ue email addresses regularly contacted on 'ustainable Thurston email list

A libraries targeted with posters and flyers A cityBcounty halls targeted with posters and flyers )+5 %mployee Transportation =oordinator wor2sites targeted with posters and flyers 4 radio advertisements played :?* times ? on0air radio interviews with T.P= staff 5 tabled events ) newspaper editorials in The 7lympian 5 news articles from regional newspapers and newsletters : videos produced with )3?** views on JouTube.com ))5 people and associated networ2s reached on 9aceboo2 and Twitter Cy comments: =iti$ens who participated have been merely +M Nminimum to 4M Nma& of the population using the plans own numbers found on the above chart. The page 4) annotated Nhighlighted sum is 5A?* people out of )5:3*** people which gives ).4M of the people in the county may have been truly aware of this plan since its inception. 7f those 5A?* there had to be many duplications so it is hard to arrive at a uni-ue number of individuals from these provided numbers. I would assume far fewer individuals participated3 but for the sa2e of argument will disregard this point. People informed by the advertisements3 mailers3 posters3 flyers3 editorials3 videos and news articles probably did not understand what was going on3 thin2ing that it sounded li2e a good idea but did not pursue investigating. !fter all sustainhability is a good thing isn/t it6 This is an allusion to having broad public support by using a well 2nown word such as sustainability and giving another meaning to it. Eroad public support is something that must be very important to T.P= since it is mentioned scores of times in this plan. T.P=/s own numbers deny broad public support or even 2nowledge of this plan. Page 44: Public Input !dvisory %arly ; 7ften Public Ceetings in all parts of the =ounty 0 =ities3 Towns3 and .ural =ommunities 7utreach to members of the public traditionally not represented in planning processes 'ta2eholder Ceetings Cedia Page 4:: =ultivate respectful civic engagement and participation by residents and public3 private3 and non0profit businesses and organi$ationsO Develop new ways to cultivate and support respectful civic engagement and participationO Page 4@: Eut those partners who helped frame the Plan in response to the public process N'ustainable Thurston Tas2 9orce members and the adopters NThurston .egional Planning =ouncil members are committed to advocating for actions that are essential for sustainability and for finding the resources to ta2e such actions. Cy comment: in this statement there is no mention of public responsibility

It is up to Thurston =ounty3 cities3 towns3 school boards3 the Port of 7lympia3 water providers3 sewer districts and other partners to decide which goals and policies to implement within their purview. Cy comments: This is in direct conflict with the statement on page 4 which states: The
priority goals and targets measure this balance. If progress is not made on all of the goals3 the balance is not achieved3 and additional actions must be ta2en.

Jou can not have it both ways. %ither it is a menu of actions or it is not. 'o which is it6 Page 4<:
Three leadership goals and associated actions have been identified through Tas2 9orce discussion3 public input3 and panel wor2 as being essential to support meeting the regionPs sustainability goals.

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7n the chart: IolunteersBPublic Participation

Page +?:: =reate a local or regional standing committee3 composed of public0 and private0sector representatives3 tas2ed with ma&imi$ing collaboration and cooperation toward achieving shared housing goals. Cy comments: 1ow does the ordinary resident get on these standing committees6