Members of the Bonney Lake City Council had an opportunity to discuss an ordinance that would unify two chapters of the city code into one under the State Environmental Policy Act at their June 2 workshop

SEPA is a state policy that requires state and local agencies to consider the likely environmental consequences of a proposal before giving approval or denial.

It provides a way to identify possible environmental impacts that may result from governmental decisions. These decisions

may be related to issuing permits for private projects, constructing public facilities, or adopting regulations, policies or plans.

“The ordinance would consolidate the city’s SEPA policies and procedures into a new charter,” said John Vodopich, planning and community development director.

Vodopich said parts of SEPA was scattered through the city municipal code.

“Under the administrative side, you had to flip back-and-forth between different codes,” Vodopich said.

Vodopich noted one substanive change – making the building of single-family residential lots with critical areas subject to SEPA review.

Currently, single-family residential homes are exempt from SEPA.

“This is a great start to something that applies to public nusiances, noise, garbage and all sorts of things,” said Councilman Dave King.

The Planning Com-mission recommended updating two chapters in the city regulation for SEPA and unify them into a single code chapter.