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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
Item No. 9.
For Meeting of: May 4, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Discussion of a motion to direct staff to write amendments to the
draft Housing Action Plan, which will actualize affordable housing
policy goals
SUBMITTED BY: Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager
Joan Davenport,Al CP, Community Development Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the April 20, 2021 meeting, City Council scheduled a discussion to "direct staff to write
amendments to the draft Housing Action Plan (HAP)which will actualize our affordable housing
policy goals."A background memo is included in this packet that summarizes an abbreviated
history and the current status of the HAP project.
A City Council study session is scheduled for May 25, 2021 on the HAP.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Neighborhood and Community Building
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Provide direction, as necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
ackground e o can status of 4/23/2021 backup Material
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2
Joan Davenport, AICP, Director
Planning l i‘ision
CITY CIFiMA Joseph Calhoun, Manager
129 North Second Street, 2nd Floor,Yakima,WA 98901
ask.planning@yakimawa.gov • www.yakimawa.gov/services/planning
MEMORANDUM
May 4, 2021
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Robert Harrison, City Manager
FROM: Joan Davenport, AICP, Community Development Director
Joseph Calhoun, Planning Manager
SUBJECT: Background Information on City Council Review of Housing Action Plan Draft
At the April 20, 2021 meeting, the City Council scheduled a discussion "to direct staff to write
amendments to the draft Housing Action Plan which will actualize our affordable housing policy
goals". This memo is offered to the City Council as a summary of the status of the Housing
Action Plan (HAP). Staff is prepared and available to assist the City Council in conveying
direction to accomplish City policy and goals.
The Housing Action Plan (HAP) Over-view
The Yakima City Council adopted Resolution R-2019-118 on December 3, 2019 to accept a
grant of $100,000 from the Washington State Department of Commerce for the purpose of
preparing a Housing Action Plan, as outlined in HB 1923. The legislation included in HB 1923
was a flagship effort by Washington State Department of Commerce to promote a robust effort
at the local level to foster and encourage affordable housing in our communities, as well as
implement regulatory reform to promote housing construction. Yakima is one of the 66
communities to receive a grant under this program. The City contracted with BERK Associates
to coordinate and draft the HAP, as BERK was also the firm which prepared the Comprehensive
Plan Housing element.
In 2019, the City of Yakima was very involved in measures to encourage affordable housing. The
Council study session on March 12, 2019 resulted in direction of staff to begin working on 24
different strategies to encourage housing. The Planning Commission held 12 study sessions to
review zoning, subdivision and SEPA amendments, which the Council adopted. Additionally, the
City Council adopted HB 1406 which authorized an optional sales tax provision for Affordable
Housing purposes.
The priorities stated by the City at the time of entering the HB 1923 grant project included:
1. Infill Development;
2. Promote Home Ownership for low to Moderate Income families;
3. Affordable Senior Housing;
4. Encouraging Permanent Supportive or Transitional Housing.
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Status of the HAP
Completed and adopted HAP's are required to be submitted to Department of Commerce by June
15, 2021. Largely due to the pandemic, virtually all communities have struggled to complete their
HAP by the deadline and Commerce is now granting extensions. The City of Yakima has
submitted a request to extend the deadline. Community engagement was significantly re-
strategized in March of 2020, when public meetings were restricted.
The HAP is considered a Supplement to the Comprehensive Plan. As such, the Yakima Planning
Commission (YPC) is responsible for the public process which includes the review of the draft
document, conduct a public hearing, incorporate public and agency comments, and then forward
an amended draft HAP to the City Council for their review and adoption.
Below is a list of notices for the public hearing and SEPA review process, which is underway.
April 8, 2021 Notice of YPC Public Hearing and Environmental Review (SEPA) issued
April 28, 2021 YPC public hearing
April 28, 2021 Public and Agency Comments due
May 12, 2021 YPC finals draft of HAP for Council
May 25, 2021 City Council Study Session to review HAP, as recommended by YPC
June 1, 2021 Yakima City Council Public Hearing on HAP
We have a study session set for May 25th when the Council will have the opportunity to review a
more complete draft HAP. The City Council may receive public comments on June 1, 2021 and
then discuss, deliberate and direct edits to the draft HAP. The City Council may choose to
schedule a follow up session to consider amendments to the draft HAP, if necessary. Once the
HAP is adopted by the Council, after any changes are made, the final document is required to be
forwarded to the Department of Commerce, in order to close out the grant and receive the final
reimbursement.
Yakima
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