HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 6/23/2020 - Memorandum From Lindsay Ex R: Housing Update: Housing Strategic Plan And Ad Hoc Council CommitteeSocial Sustainability
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 18, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Affordable Housing Executive Team1
FROM: Lindsay Ex, Interim Housing Manager
RE: Housing Update: Housing Strategic Plan and Ad Hoc Council Committee
Bottom Line: This memo outlines a proposed timeline and scope for the Ad Hoc Council
Committee to support the development of Fort Collins’ Housing Strategic Plan. This work aligns
with the Council Priority of Affordable and Achievable Housing Strategies. The outline anticipates a
Resolution would be brought forward on July 21, with the first Ad Hoc Committee meeting in
August. This allows the Committee to meet approximately seven sessions in 2020, though the
scope is flexible to be designed with Council once established.
Background
On January 21, 2020, City Manager Darin Atteberry gave a staff report to Council outlining next
steps for Fort Collins’ housing efforts:
Create a Housing Manager position to (1) deliver the Housing Strategic Plan centered in
equity and in alignment with community goals, (2) establish clear goals, targets, strategies,
roles and definitions; and (3) coordinate the Council Ad Hoc Committee.
Establish an Ad Hoc Council Committee to support the Housing Strategic Plan’s
development.
Additionally, at the April 14 Work Session, Council considered two potential solutions to achieve
Fort Collins’ affordable housing goals (Inclusionary Housing and Impact Fees). Councilmembers
expressed support for the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan update to move forward with an
expanded scope that includes the entire housing spectrum, see attached Work Session Summary.
Finally, given the City’s hiring freeze, which was enacted in response to significant and uncertain
revenue decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Housing Manager position was filled on an
interim basis in mid-May and will continue for approximately 9-12 months.
Ad Hoc Council Committee Scope and Approximate Timeline
Based on feedback from Councilmembers at the January 21 Council meeting and subsequent
direction, the goal of the Committee is to set the stage for the Housing Strategic Plan, with an initial
outline following four phases of grounding, exploring, strategy identification, and action:
1 Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer; Theresa Connor, Utilities Executive Director; Caryn
Champine, Planning, Development, and Transportation Director; Julie Brewen, Housing Catalyst Executive
Director; Dave Lenz, Finance Planning and Analysis Director; Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director
DocuSign Envelope ID: A65DB428-1538-4A2C-AD03-3CD310CEF837
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Grounding
o Discuss and finalize Committee approach, with context of the overall plan roadmap
o Develop guiding principles for meetings and clarity for what success looks like, e.g.,
alignment with City Plan and community goals such as carbon neutrality
o Initial overview of Fort Collins’ housing context
Exploring
o Drivers of housing market and costs, including the market, policies, funding sources,
and future demographics of Fort Collins
o Local, national, and international cities who are leading in this space
o Levers of influence, including policies/regulations, partnerships, and investments
(local, state, and national)
o Perspectives from the community, including experts from different sectors and
community members with lived experience
Strategy Identification
o Deep dive into strategies and solutions that could work in Fort Collins and that will
guide community conversations for the development of the Housing Strategic Plan
Initial thinking for short-term, mid-term, and longer-term strategies
o Identification of data and indicators to assess potential impact of strategies
Action
o Development of action plan for future Council action(s) as it relates to the Housing
Strategic Plan for full Council discussion
o Summary of opportunities and tensions, knowns and unknowns to guide the full plan
It is anticipated the Committee could meet up to seven times, at a pace of every 3 weeks for
approximately 90 minutes per meeting thru 2020. This allows enough time to be spent in the
“exploring” phase and ensures the Committee can hear from a wide variety of experts and voices.
Note this is an initial outline and could be extended beyond 2020 depending on Council direction.
Additional Actions
Staff is conducting a series of listening sessions with a diverse group of community partners and
stakeholders to inform the Housing Strategic Plan scope. To ensure the planning process is
centered in equity, this work is being closely coordinated with the Home 2 Health project. A draft
scope and roadmap to develop the Housing Strategic Plan is anticipated in July, which will include
a public engagement plan and key milestones.
Next Steps
July 21: Council consideration of Resolution to form Ad Hoc Council Committee
Late July: If adopted, schedule Committee meetings with first meeting in early August
August 25: Council Work Session to review the overall scope of the Housing Plan and Ad
Hoc Council Committee scope and timeline
Attachments
April 14, 2020 Council Work Session Summary
DocuSign Envelope ID: A65DB428-1538-4A2C-AD03-3CD310CEF837
Social Sustainability
321 Maple Street
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: April 17, 2020
TO: Mayor Wade Troxell & City Councilmembers
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Kozak-Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer
Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Department Director
FROM: Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Policy & Housing Program Manager, SSD
Tom Leeson, Deputy Director, Planning Transportation and Development
RE: Work Session Summary April 14, 2020 – Affordable Housing Priorities
Introduction: At the April 14, 2020 City Council Virtual Work Session, Jackie Kozak-Thiel and
Sue Beck-Ferkiss from Sustainability Services reported to Council on four items as requested at
a City Council Meeting in October 2019. All Councilmembers were present. The topics were:
Homebuyer Assistance Program, Elevation Community Land Trust, Inclusionary Housing
Ordinance and Affordable Housing Impact Fee. Staff also sought guidance on strategic housing
planning options.
Councilmembers’ discussion and direction included:
The need for future framing - What are the tools we have, what are the tools we need,
and how do we make an impact?
The need for broad stakeholder and community engagement especially with end users
from various income levels and people with lived experience in challenges related to
housing affordability.
Interest in looking at a wide range of tools, options and policies to help alleviate the
affordability issues related to housing in our community.
Appreciation for the partnership with Elevations Community Land Trust.
Understanding that the City’s Home Buyer Assistance Program may not be needed due
to other programs – with some concern that Impact Development Fund’s program with
similar terms may not meet community needs. Some question about whether a new City
program was required for households with incomes greater than 80% area median
income (AMI). (Follow-up information below).
The need to continue to find ways to support affordable and attainable home ownership
opportunities.
Direction that while conditions are not right for an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance at this
time, this should be reconsidered in 2-3 years.
Cautious support for continuing to investigate an affordable housing impact fee with the
development impact fee update in 2021 since a legal nexus was established and this
can be tailored in a way to least disrupt or negatively impact development.
Some interest in exploring other sources of revenue like sales tax or property tax.
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Support for broadening the scope of the next strategic housing plan in both income
levels and tools considered.
Excitement around getting the housing planning process and work of the Council Ad Hoc
committee started.
Follow-up items
Clarification regarding Home2Health state grant – this funding can only be used for Land
Use Code Updates and Housing Policy to lead to systemic improvements and long-term
impacts. It is not available to invest in housing or for direct service.
Down Payment Assistance Programs (DPA):
o DPA is available through private banks, Colorado Housing and Finance
Authority, and Impact Development Fund (IDF).
IDF can serve the households with incomes up to 80% area median
income with the Division of Housing (DOH) grant. Because they have this
state funding, the City will not need to fund IDF at this time. If they are
successful at deploying the DOH funds, they can apply to the City’s
Competitive Process for additional funding for Fort Collins households.
Any funding left in the City program when IDF’s program is up and
running can be returned to the completive process to be used to support
affordable home ownership such as a Habitat for Humanity home.
Staff will continue to explore additional ways to support home ownership.
o Families with higher incomes can access Colorado Housing Finance Authority
Programs. For example, their Larimer County maximum income limits vary by
program but in summary are:
up to $120,000 for households regardless of size,
and up to $122,000 for 3 person households.
Recognizing that the density needed to recommend an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance
is not achievable under current regulations, staff recommends further analysis beyond
the consultant’s example of a 20% density increase including a methodology that
accounts for scenarios that reflect implementation of City Plan strategies and consider
removing other regulatory barriers to achieving our land use goals.
In answer to the question about Elevation Community Land Trust’s track record,
Elevation is one of the newest community land trusts in Colorado, although others such
as the Colorado Community Land Trust have been operating for decades. Since
inception less than 2 years ago, Elevation’s trust now holds 77 homes in trust. Their
2020 goals were to acquire 209 homes and sell 90 to buyers, but COVID-19 impacts
may slow that down for this year. While the City’s partnership with Elevation is not
exclusive, their unique model capitalizes them in a way that allows them to bring subsidy
to projects. Most CLTs do not have that capacity.
Still to come:
Requested follow-up regarding the Housing Manager position and the Council Ad Hoc
committee will be shared with Council separately.
Consultant Economic & Planning Systems Inc. has been asked to include an
assessment of development potential available in the City as we look at long term
planning horizons from City Plan and how that could affect conditions for a successful
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
More information on how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the City’s housing sector.
Staff will continue public engagement through Home2Health and internal analysis to
inform the next strategic housing plan.
Staff will provide regular quarterly updates to Council on the on-going planning process
in addition to the Council Priorities Dashboard. The next one will be in June.
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