Issues

Capitol Lake

Protecting Capitol Lake is critical to our cultural and economic future.  Olympia was built around a lake and it’s an amenity we can’t afford to lose.  Some may say it’s no longer a city issue but Jeff will use his experience, his track record of bringing people together and his leadership to stop any attempt to get rid of Capital Lake.

Jobs

Jeff has been the leading advocate for creating living wage jobs in our city.  He has helped secure seven capital projects including a new City Hall, new facilities for the Hands on Children’s Museum and three transportation projects including the Boulevard Road roundabout.  These projects are keeping our local economy moving forward despite the tough national climate and have lead to over 2,500 new jobs.

Public Safety

Jeff works to keep public safety a city priority. As chair of the regional 9-1-1 committee Jeff ensures that help arrives when you call. He supported building a new fire station to reduce response times and is endorsed by your firefighters and police officers. Olympia was named the most secure mid-size city in 2008 by Sperling’s Best Places on behalf of Farmer’s Insurance.

Homelessness & Social Services

Jeff’s goal is to eradicate homelessness in Olympia by 2015.  Pretty audacious goal, but Jeff Kingsbury doesn’t shy away from tough challenges.   On the Thurston County HOME Consortium Jeff has been the leading advocate ensuring nearly $5 million has been allocated to help our areas most vulnerable and has worked to add 350 housing units to our area just in the past three years!  He also wrote the Camp Quixote ordinance that works to house homeless in Thurston County.  Olympia boasts the strongest social services in our region and Jeff wants to keep it that way.  As budget cutbacks continue Jeff is committed to advocating on behalf of those in need and increasing public, private, and non-profit partnerships to ensure needed services remain in place.

Downtown Parking

After 55 years of studies and talk this council is taking action and has committed to a parking structure in our downtown. A development partner will be chosen by the end of this year.  Jeff supports a public/private plan that won’t cost the city a dime in construction costs.  This must remain a top priority to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support downtown work, shopping, and recreation opportunities.

Parks

Eight new city parks are in the works including West Bay Park and the freshwater swimming beach at Ward Lake. Jeff personally lobbied for a $3 million grant to repair Percival Landing.  These projects are creating jobs and laying the groundwork for Olympia to continue to thrive as vibrant, walkable, forward-thinking community.

Housing

Housing density in our downtown is key to revitalization. We have a housing density mandate that had been ignored for years. But Jeff has taken a strong position to ensure that we create the housing densities that we need to grow in an environmentally and economically sound way. This council has put the tools in place to bring market rate housing to our downtown and currently several projects are underway. Jeff has also been working with an organization called ArtSpace to bring our first workforce housing project to our area.

City Hall

17 years ago the Council began talking about a new City Hall, and this Council has taken action.  Allowing our citizens to have a single location in the very heart of our downtown in order to work with staff on all of their city needs is critical to our sustainability goals.  Parking in one location, taking care of city business, and possibly eating lunch, shopping, or visiting other services.  Convenience and accessibility are key to our citizens.  This bonded project is on time and on budget!

The Arts

As Founder and Artistic Director of Capital Playhouse, Jeff is passionate about the arts in Olympia.  Most recently as a Councilmember he worked to bring Artspace to town which required securing a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.  He’s working closely with Artspace to build our first workforce housing project to our city and is a leading advocate for creating a long dreamed about Art Center.