HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 8/25/2020 - Memorandum From Lindsay Ex Re: Housing Strategic Plan Update
Social Sustainability
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6758
MEMORANDUM
DATE: August 24, 2020
TO: Mayor and City Council
THRU: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Affordable Housing Executive Team1
FROM: Lindsay Ex, Interim Housing Manager
Meaghan Overton, Senior City Planner
RE: Item #1: Housing Strategic Plan Update – Scope of Ad Hoc Council Committee
Purpose: As committed in the August 25 Work Session materials, this memo summarizes the
outcome of the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Housing Council Committee (held on August 20),
including the overall scope of work for the Committee, an initial list of topics to guide the
Committee’s work, and how the Committee’s work will proceed. A website has been established for
the Committee’s work: https://www.fcgov.com/council/ad-hoc-housing-committee.
Summary
Committee members agreed upon the following for the overall scope:
Chairperson: Councilmember Gorgol was elected Chair of the Committee.
Overall Approach: The Committee will take a hybrid approach to their scope of work, to
enable the group to focus on both the Housing Strategic Plan and deeper dives into specific
topics of interest.
Specific Topics: A list of 41 topics were identified by the Committee and Staff, and 14 were
initially prioritized for further discussion, see image on page 2
o Committee members noted this list is likely to evolve and some topics overlap; the
Committee expressed their priority is to focus on the greatest challenges to
achieving the broader housing vision and then identify solutions and strategies to
support overcoming these challenges.
Who to hear from: Committee members indicated staff should work with Councilmember
Gorgol as the Chair to identify who best to hear from on any given topic. Councilmembers
indicated they would be interested in learning more from communities and experts who are
at the cutting edge, e.g., builders, developers, peer communities, and more.
In addition to the scope of the Committee, Councilmembers also shared what success looks like for
their service on the Committee:
o Focus on the greatest challenges and then identify solutions to meet those challenges
o Periodically check in to assess progress
o Flexible yet responsive – being clear about where the work needs to go while being flexible
if adjustments are needed
o Be actionable and address community members’ needs – make a difference
o Engage the entire Council in the Committee’s progress
o Provide advice about policy questions Council can address
1 Jackie Kozak Thiel, Chief Sustainability Officer; Theresa Connor, Utilities Executive Director; Caryn Champine,
Planning, Development, and Transportation (PDT) Director; Julie Brewen, Housing Catalyst Executive Director;
Dave Lenz, Finance Planning and Analysis Director; Beth Sowder, Social Sustainability Director
DocuSign Envelope ID: 828D3865-0504-4BAE-BAC4-9C26EF163233
2
Finally, the Committee discussed the following for how to meet moving forward:
o Meeting format: The Committee with meet virtually on a monthly basis.
o Agenda preparation: Staff will meet in advance with the Chair to prepare the agenda.
Materials will be provided in the Thursday packet prior to the meeting.
o Next meeting’s focus: Discussing the greatest housing challenges Fort Collins faces and
hearing from content and context experts regarding their experiences.
An updated slide 15 is attached and will be included in the August 25 Work Session presentation.
Zoom whiteboard exercise: The image below illustrates the 41 topic areas the Committee could
explore. 14 items were identified as being of interest to all three Councilmembers. Councilmembers
noted there is overlap in the various topics, and staff will identify ways to weave in those items that
did not receive three “stamps.”
The 14 topics include the following (see the overarching categories in the image below):
Systemic racism and housing
Applying an equity lens
Displacement and gentrification
Differing perceptions of density and
NIMBY
Preserving existing affordable housing
Public/private partnerships or Innovative
Partnerships
Dedicated funding source
“Missing Middle”
ADUs and Tiny Homes
Expanding home ownership
Demand-side strategies, e.g., livable
wage
U+2, Rental licensing, tenant protections
City Goals and Alignment, e.g., climate
action
City’s financing tools, e.g., CDBG & CCIP
Nexus of economic policies and housing
affordability
Attachments
o Updated Slide 15 for the PowerPoint presentation
DocuSign Envelope ID: 828D3865-0504-4BAE-BAC4-9C26EF163233
Ad Hoc Committee
Councilmember Gorgol
elected Chair
Overall approach: Split
time amongst learning
and Plan Focus
Specific Topics: 14 of 41
prioritized
Topic list will evolve
Align to greatest
challenges
Meet monthly
15
DocuSign Envelope ID: 828D3865-0504-4BAE-BAC4-9C26EF163233