HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/17/2019 10 Dept. of Commerce Grant; Housing Action Plan; Letter of Commitment a\'4\lyy bxk ik 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
Item No. 10.
For Meeting of: September 17, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Authorize the Mayor to Sign a Letter of Commitment for a
Department of Commerce Grant for a Housing Action Plan
SUBMITTED BY: Joan Davenport, Director of Community Development
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The Washington State Legislature approved E2SHB 1923 in 2019 which encourages
communities to take various actions and adopt plans that will increase residential building
capacity. The City of Yakima is already working on various elements contemplated by the new law
and will be reviewing appropriate zoning text amendments to implement some of these actions in
October 2019. The new bill authorizes up to $100,000 to each qualifying community to draft a
Housing Action Plan that implements various portions of the law. In addition, the funding may be
utilized for community engagement necessary to public participation in the Housing Action Plan.
On May 7, 2019, the City Council voted to initiate a Housing Action Plan.
A letter of Commitment from the Mayor of Yakima is a required attachment for the grant
application.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
�, � - "�" � Interim City Manager
SUBMITTAL:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
draft®Letter of immanent_FlousingAetionPlan 9/9/2019 backup Material
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September 17, 2019
Washington State Department of Commerce, Growth Management Services
1011 Plum Street SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
Subject: City of Yakima Commitment to Affordable Housing Action Plan Project
Dear GMA Grant Section,
This letter is to acknowledge the full support of the Yakima City Council to undertake a Housing
Action Plan, as contemplated by E2SHB 1923 and made available by the grant application. Last
fall, the Yakima City Council identified the need to address Affordable Housing as one of their
2019 Strategic Priorities. With this focus, City Council directed staff to begin preparation of policy
initiatives and tasks that would encourage new construction of housing units, develop strategies
to specifically encourage housing for low to moderate income families, maintain existing housing
stock and streamline permitting processes. On February 12, 2019. The Yakima City Council held
a study session on Affordable Housing at which over 24 strategies were discussed. The Council
directed various tasks to the Yakima Planning Commission, the Council Partnership Committee
and reserved other items for full City Council consideration.
On May 7, 2019, the Yakima City Council voted to initiate a Housing Action Plan (HAP) that would
include a community engagement component. The Council recognized that significant policy
changes may impact existing neighborhoods and could benefit from broad messaging, listening
sessions and careful presentation to the community. With multiple, complex strategies under
review at the same time, there is strong potential that efforts would become fragmented and not
produce a cohesive or effective program without guidance of a Housing Action Plan that includes
community engagement.
The City of Yakima is committed to developing a Housing Action Plan. Affordable Housing is a
top priority for the Yakima County Homeless Housing Network which has provided data and policy
suggestions to the City. The Central Washington Homebuilders and the Yakima Housing
Authority have partnered with the City of Yakima to explore strategies utilizing non-profit and for-
profit approaches to develop more housing units. The Yakima Planning Commission has already
held study sessions and public hearings to develop ordinance recommendations to the City
Council on revising density in the R-1 Zoning district, to allow duplexes and accessory dwelling
units, to utilize the in-fill exemption in RCW 43.21C.229, and to streamline permitting processes.
These ordinance changes are scheduled for City Council in October 2019.
The City applied for a $25,000 Yakima Community Foundation Grant in the spring of 2019 to help
support the HAP project, but was not successful in obtaining this funding. City resources are
limited, especially for planning efforts. Without grant assistance, the community engagement
process may be severely constrained. The City remains concerned about a fragmented approach
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to implementing Affordable Housing strategies without the assistance from a HAP. With grant
assistance, the HAP can include effective Community Engagement as well as provide a strategy
to develop more housing units.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit this grant application.
Sincerely,
Kathy Coffey, Mayor
City of Yakima, Washington