2019-09-26 Citizens Housing Commission PacketOp E D
o Agenda
Edmonds Citizens Housing Commission
snl,nyo COUNCIL CHAMBERS
250 5TH AVE NORTH, EDMONDS, WA 98020
SEPTEMBER 26, 2019, 7:00 PM
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PUBLIC COMMENTS
III. INTRODUCTIONS
1. Welcome -Mission -Process
2. Introductions
IV. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS & COMMENTS ON MISSION OR PROCESS
V. TOPICS OF INTEREST FOR FUTURE MEETINGS
1. Topics of Interest for Future Meetings
VI. FUTURE MEETINGS -SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS
1. Future Meetings —Schedule & Locations
VII. UPDATES ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND CONSULTANT ASSISTANCE
1. Updates on Consultant Assistance and Community Outreach
VIII. COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
IX. ADJOURN
Edmonds Citizens Housing Commission Agenda
September 26, 2019
Page 1
3.1
Citizens Housing Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 09/26/2019
Welcome -Mission -Process
Staff Lead: Shane Hope
Department: Citizens Housing Commission
Prepared By: Debbie Rothfus
Background/History
September 26, 2019 is the first meeting of the Citizens' Housing Commission.
Staff Recommendation
N/A
Narrative
Welcome
We welcome you to the first meeting of the City of Edmonds Citizens' Housing Commission. The
willingness of Commission members -and all who applied to serve -is greatly appreciated. We also
welcome everyone who attends or otherwise observes this meeting and future Commission meetings.
Special events and other opportunities for information and input will also be designed for the broader
community.
Mission
The Housing Commission's mission, as adopted by the City Council in Resolution No. 1427, is:
Develop diverse housing policy options for Council consideration designed to expand the
range of housing (including rental and owned) available in Edmonds; options that are
irrespective of age, gender, race, religious affiliation, physical disability or sexual orientation.
While side issues may be interesting, the Commission's work should stay focused on the mission.
Highlights of Overall Process
The Citizens' Housing Commission was appointed under City Council Resolutions Number 1427 and
1428. Elected officials completed all their appointments by late August 2019 after reviewing 135
applications. Selection was a difficult task because so many qualified people applied.
The Housing Commission is a temporary group, which "sunsets" (ends) on January 1, 2021. It will meet
at least once a month while its work is being conducted, on a schedule to be determined.
Note: The Housing Commission is subject to the Open Public Meetings Act. In part, this means that a
quorum of members shall not engage in discussion of Housing Commission business (whether in person,
by email, or any other manner) outside of the Commission's public meetings.
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3.1
Housing Commission members who cannot attend an upcoming meeting are asked to notify the City in
advance at 425.771.0220 or devserv.admin@edmondswa.gov
<mailto:devserv.admin@edmondswa.gov>. When a Commissioner cannot attend a meeting, the
alternate for her/his district may serve as a substitute.
Besides monthly Commission meetings, other public events and activities will be held. (This is a subject
for later discussion.) Broad community input -not just from the Commission -is vital.
Under Resolution No. 1427, the Housing Commission must report progress to the City Council at least
once per quarter, beginning in the 3rd quarter of 2019. Because the Commission's first meeting could
not be held until nearly the end of the third quarter, City staff plans for quarterly reports to Council to
begin in the fourth quarter of 2019.
The Commission's recommendations, per the mission identified in Council Resolution No. 1427, must be
provided to the City Council by the end of 2020.
Process for Current Meeting
The September 26 meeting will include a time for the public to offer comments.
No final decisions, other than the date of one or more future meetings, will be made at this time.
Commissioners will be seated at the table and may fully participate in the meeting. Any alternate who
is substituting for an absent Commissioner will also be seated at the table and may fully participate.
Otherwise, alternates will be seated in a front row so they can be aware of discussions and ready to
participate, as needed, at future meetings. During parts of the September 26 meeting, alternates will be
asked to participate on specific topics.
The meeting will be video -recorded and the video posted on a City webpage.
Process for Future Meetings
The exact format for future meetings may vary. Generally, meetings will have time for information to be
provided, as well as for Commission discussion. It is likely that meetings in 1919 will be introductory,
with more policy discussion in 2020.
Generally, Commissioners will be seated at a table and may fully participate in the meeting. Any
alternate who is substituting for an absent Commissioner will also be seated at the table and may fully
participate. Otherwise, alternates will be seated in a front row so they can be aware of discussions and
ready to participate, as needed, at future meetings.
Commission meetings will be videotaped and the videos posted on a City webpage.
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3.2
Citizens Housing Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 09/26/2019
Introductions
Staff Lead: Shane Hope
Department: Citizens Housing Commission
Prepared By: Debbie Rothfus
Background/History
N/A
Staff Recommendation
N/A
Narrative
At the meeting, each Commissioner and alternate will be asked to take one minute or less to introduce
themselves and may identify something about their own or their family's experience with housing in
Edmonds.
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5.1
Citizens Housing Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 09/26/2019
Topics of Interest for Future Meetings
Staff Lead: Shane Hope
Department: Citizens Housing Commission
Prepared By: Debbie Rothfus
Background/History
All members of the Housing Commission are knowledgeable about their communities and they care
about housing in Edmonds. Levels of understanding on specific housing issues and definitions may vary
among members.
Staff Recommendation
Participate in the exercise
Narrative
Some common understanding of housing issues and definitions will be extremely useful for the Housing
Commission to make progress on its mission to recommend "diverse policy options to expand the range
of housing (including rental and owned) available in Edmonds".
As part of a group exercise, Commissioners will be asked to add or comment on topic ideas for future
meetings.
The last part of this memo below identifies items that are on the "beginning list" of potential topics
about which the Commission may want to know more. At the meeting, members may add topic ideas
for the list. Future Commission discussions may also lead to the need for having information on other
topics. (Note: "Homelessness" is not identified as a topic because it is being addressed separately by
the City Council.)
Both Commissioners and alternates will have an opportunity to vote on preferred topics through a
"sticky dot" exercise during the meeting. Topics with the greatest number of votes will be prioritized for
future agendas. Topics that have fewer votes may still be addressed but not necessarily early in the
process.
Beginning List of Topic Ideas related to the Housing Commission's Mission:
Definitions of typical housing terms, such as:
o Affordable
o Low- & moderate- income levels
o "Missing middle" housing
Open government & legal issues for boards & commissions
Accessory dwelling units
Data about housing in Edmonds
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5.1
Available federal, state & regional housing programs & resources
What is the Growth Management Act & how does it apply?
What other state or federal laws apply?
Recent state legislation
What does the Edmonds Comprehensive Plan say?
How does zoning affect housing?
Information on housing types
What are other cities doing about housing?
Group tour of interesting projects in other cities
Housing cost factors
Needs of seniors, veterans, etc.
Multifamily Tax Exemption & other incentive programs
Meaning of "policy options"
Community engagement
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6.1
Citizens Housing Commission Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 09/26/2019
Future Meetings —Schedule & Locations
Staff Lead: Shane Hope
Department: Citizens Housing Commission
Prepared By: Debbie Rothfus
Background/History
Resolution No. 1427 calls for the Housing Commission to have at least monthly meetings on a schedule
it may determine. The Resolution does not speak to the location of these meetings, although it does call
for special outreach events to be held quarterly in varying public locations in Edmonds. (Outreach
events will be discussed briefly at the September 26 meeting under a different agenda item.)
Staff Recommendation
Decide on a regular monthly meeting schedule
Optional: If any extra meetings are definitely desired in the next month or two, the Commission should
decide on dates now.
Narrative
Monthlv Meetine Schedule
Having a regular monthly meeting schedule makes it easier for the public, as well as Commission
members, to keep track of Housing Commission meetings. It also simplifies the reservation of meeting
rooms. All other City boards and commissions have regular monthly meetings (for example, second
Wednesdays of each month) in a designated location. In addition, the City Council meets every Tuesday
evening.
Staff understands that daytime and weekend meetings are not desirable for regular meetings. Meetings
on second or fourth Thursday evenings appear to be the easiest to schedule without conflicting with
other City meetings. More information about potential conflicts will be shared at the September 26
meeting.
Once decided, the Commission's regular meeting schedule will be posted on the City's webpage.
Occasionally, a regular Commission meeting may need to be canceled. Cancellation will be done with as
much advance notice as possible. In addition, "special" Commission meetings may be added on other
days -again with as much advance notice as possible. If Commissioners agree that they want an extra
meeting within the next month or two, this would be good to know now.
Location of Regular Meetings
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6.1
Staffs assumption is that regular Commission meetings will be held in the Council Chambers, because
this space has the right equipment and does not require dedicated use of a staff person to manage
building entry in the evening.
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7.1
Citizens Housing Commission Agenda item
Meeting Date: 09/26/2019
Updates on Consultant Assistance and Community Outreach
Staff Lead: Shane Hope
Department: Citizens Housing Commission
Prepared By: Debbie Rothfus
Background/History
Consultant Assistance
The City Council approved of additional resources, including assistance by one or more
consultants/contractors, for the Commission's work.
Community Engagement
Council Resolution No. 1427 directs that the Commission host public outreach sessions (such as open
houses and town halls) once per quarter at varying public locations in Edmonds "to provide updates on
its progress in developing housing option policy recommendations."
Staff Recommendation
N/A
Narrative
Consultant Assistance
The City Council approved of additional resources, including assistance by one or more
consultants/contractors, for the Commission's work. The Development Services Department advertised
for such assistance and conducted a process to select among interested parties. The status will be
announced at the Commission's September 26 meeting.
Community Engagement
Part of the consultant team's work will be on community engagement -to help ensure that a broad range
of people in the community know about the housing work that is being done and that they can/will
provide input.
Several months ago, an interim committee gave some ideas to share with the Housing Commission
about community outreach. Their ideas included:
Need for outreach to young families and others who don't necessarily attend City meetings
Reaching out through Facebook and with local social media groups (such as Edmonds Moms)
Reaching out to faith -based organizations, local business owners, neighborhood groups, Asian
community, military families, seniors, and the Edmonds School District
Using questionnaires
Using small focus groups.
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7.1
Community engagement will be a continuing subject for the Housing Commission to consider and
discuss.
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