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Washington state legislators, local policymakers, and planning practitioners have been working on strategies to increase new housing starts, reduce housing costs, improve choice, and reduce homelessness. This Panel will re-cap the developments in housing policy and practice in Washington over the past two legislative sessions and explore some of the successes, challenges, and gaps in implementation. Panel members will connect housing supply and attainability to related key planning issues such as climate resilience, racial and environmental equity, displacement, and state and regional investments in transportation mobility.
The discussion will include tools to achieve greater housing variety for current and future residents of all income levels with access to services and transportation: zoning changes to allow missing middle housing; housing benefit districts; tax increment financing; and other housing innovations and incentives. This session will highlight the Chapter’s 2023 session Legislative Agenda for the 2023 session with a specific focus on housing will be highlighted.
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Paula Reeves, AICP
WA State DOH
Paula Reeves, AICP CTP has been planning and developing public policy, programs, and infrastructure projects for over twenty years with a focus on health and sustainability. She came to the Washington State Department of Health, Environmental Public Health Division, in 2018, from the Washington State Department of Transportation where she managed the Community Design Office providing a range of policy, planning, and engineering services to cities, counties, and special districts across the state. Several of Paula's policy and program development accomplishments include creating Washington's Safe Routes to Schools, Bicycle and Pedestrian and Complete Streets Programs, establishing Washington as the most bicycle-friendly state in the nation, and securing a federal grant thru the Center for Disease Control to modernize Washington's Growth Management Act. She has also traveled around the US doing community design work for major metropolitan areas with the American Institute of Architects, Sustainable Design Assessment Team. Paula is a practicing mediator in Thurston County, immediate Past President of the American Planning Association (APA) Washington Chapter, and 2018 recipient of the Robert Burke Award for distinguished service from APA. In 2016, Paula received Alumnus of the Year from her alma mater, University of Florida, Architecture College, where she completed her Masters's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.
Chris Collier, MPA
Housing Authority of Snohomish County
Chris Collier is a Washington State native. He received his BS in Information Technology from Central Washington University and a Masters of Public Administration from The Evergreen State College. In large part thanks to his work at NASA with the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, and later working for Governor Inslee in constituent services, he has lived far and wide – from Washington DC to Texas, Arizona to Olympia, and all points in between, including time overseas. He has lived north of Lynnwood with his wife and young son since 2016.
Robin Proebsting
King County
Robin has worked as an urban planner both in permit review and long-range planning. She has worked for the cities of Mercer Island, Sammamish, and Corvallis, Oregon and is currently a Legislative/Policy Analyst for King County. In her work with the APAWA Legislative Committee, she has a particular interest in housing policy and using urban planning tools to create a sustainable built environment for all.
Rep. Jessica Bateman
22nd Legislative District
Rep. Jessica Bateman lives by the commitment that no one should be left out or left behind.
A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, she grew up in a single-parent, working-class household. Watching her mom work hard to provide for her family deeply shaped Jessica’s worldview and later motivated her advocacy for those most vulnerable in our communities.
Since then, Jessica has dedicated her career to serving the 22nd Legislative District, where she envisions an inclusive, equitable future for all who call this region home. As an organizer and coalition leader, Jessica has worked to create affordable housing, assist struggling families, and empower at-risk youth. Jessica also worked to pass a Sanctuary City Resolution in Olympia and is a passionate advocate for accessible health care.
Jessica is a first-generation college student who earned her master’s degree in Public Administration from The Evergreen State College and her bachelor’s degree in environmental science. She currently works as a health care policy analyst and served on the Olympia City Council and as staff in the House of Representatives.
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