Board discusses SYNC coordination, comprehensive needs assessment and technical assistance priorities
February 20, 2026 | Board Council Commission Agencies , Executive, Washington
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Members used the Feb. 20 meeting to review SYNC’s (CINC) history and plans and to discuss a proposed comprehensive needs assessment and technical assistance strategies.
Angela Castro and other SYNC representatives described SYNC’s statutory role, a project dashboard that tracks funded projects, and two subgroups formed to focus on technical assistance and a greater financing strategy. Gary Shimek and Claire Miller summarized an Oregon presentation about project‑readiness criteria, a housing needs analysis and a development‑ready lands inventory that aim to prioritize projects ready for immediate housing production.
"Development ready land is really a subset of the buildable lands," Shimek said, summarizing the Oregon approach to distinguishing short‑term buildability from longer‑term land supply.
Members discussed aligning SYNC with the board’s priority to quantify unmet infrastructure needs. Brian Baumlender and Maria Juad described a proposed proviso language for the Legislature to authorize a comprehensive needs assessment intended to quantify statewide unmet infrastructure demand and to inform budget conversations. Baumlender noted a recent revenue forecast showing a modest improvement but a larger overall shortfall in statewide revenues.
Commissioner Laura Petsoe cautioned the board about scope and cost: she said expanding the assessment to cover water, sewer, stormwater, roads, bridges, tribal systems and solid waste could make the study either expensive or not credible, and warned against diverting funds from project grants to fund the assessment. "We're either going to have to take money away from projects to do this...or it's going to be terribly expensive," Petsoe said.
SYNC leaders said they plan to leverage existing data sources (including partner efforts such as Partners for Rural Washington and Commerce’s information services) and the SYNC dashboard to avoid duplication. SYNC will bring progress reports back to the board and can incorporate findings into the required biennial legislative report.
Board members asked staff to refine the scope and to coordinate closely with other state agencies that already perform federal or statutory needs assessments to reduce overlap. The board did not take a formal vote on the proviso at this meeting.
Angela Castro and other SYNC representatives described SYNC’s statutory role, a project dashboard that tracks funded projects, and two subgroups formed to focus on technical assistance and a greater financing strategy. Gary Shimek and Claire Miller summarized an Oregon presentation about project‑readiness criteria, a housing needs analysis and a development‑ready lands inventory that aim to prioritize projects ready for immediate housing production.
"Development ready land is really a subset of the buildable lands," Shimek said, summarizing the Oregon approach to distinguishing short‑term buildability from longer‑term land supply.
Members discussed aligning SYNC with the board’s priority to quantify unmet infrastructure needs. Brian Baumlender and Maria Juad described a proposed proviso language for the Legislature to authorize a comprehensive needs assessment intended to quantify statewide unmet infrastructure demand and to inform budget conversations. Baumlender noted a recent revenue forecast showing a modest improvement but a larger overall shortfall in statewide revenues.
Commissioner Laura Petsoe cautioned the board about scope and cost: she said expanding the assessment to cover water, sewer, stormwater, roads, bridges, tribal systems and solid waste could make the study either expensive or not credible, and warned against diverting funds from project grants to fund the assessment. "We're either going to have to take money away from projects to do this...or it's going to be terribly expensive," Petsoe said.
SYNC leaders said they plan to leverage existing data sources (including partner efforts such as Partners for Rural Washington and Commerce’s information services) and the SYNC dashboard to avoid duplication. SYNC will bring progress reports back to the board and can incorporate findings into the required biennial legislative report.
Board members asked staff to refine the scope and to coordinate closely with other state agencies that already perform federal or statutory needs assessments to reduce overlap. The board did not take a formal vote on the proviso at this meeting.
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