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AHAB forms subcommittees to shape trust-fund priorities, NOFO timeline
Summary
The board discussed and assigned members to subcommittees that will operationalize two Place for Everyone strategies: (1) awarding trust funds for subsidized production and (2) identifying diversified funding sources. Subcommittees must be approved by the City Commission and will operate as public meetings.
At its Feb. 13 meeting, the City of Lawrence Affordable Housing Advisory Board discussed the structure and membership of subcommittees that will draft and refine the Affordable Housing Trust Fund NOFO and research additional revenue streams.
Board and staff described two primary work groups the board will lead under the Place for Everyone plan: (1) a trust-fund grants/work group to recommend how to prioritize and distribute funds for subsidized production of affordable units (strategy 1) and (2) a revenue/work group to identify and recommend sustainable, diversified funding streams for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (strategy 11). Board members said other, narrower work groups aligned with Place for Everyone priorities may also operate concurrently.
Procedures and membership Leah Rosen, Affordable Housing Administrator, explained that, under the revised city boards-and-commissions ordinance, subcommittees must be approved by the City Commission and meet as open public meetings. Rosen clarified that subcommittees must be composed of AHAB members (external non-member voting members are not permitted) and that the public can participate through public comment at subcommittee meetings.
Board members volunteered and were tentatively placed into work groups during the meeting. Assignments noted on the record included: Monty (several name variations present in the transcript) and Elizabeth O'Neil on a trust-fund grants/NOFO work group; Christina Gentry on the revenue work group; Andrew Dallagher volunteered for strategy 11; other members indicated willingness to participate in at least one work group. City staff will follow up and confirm final membership after the City Commission approves the subcommittees.
Timelines and expected outputs Board members and staff agreed on a near-term schedule for NOFO development. Key calendar items discussed: draft NOFO review at the AHAB meeting on April 10, 2025; AHAB approval of the NOFO targeted for May 8, 2025; application review and scoring training in August 2025. Staff noted that a city-sponsored housing study due late in 2025 could prompt substantive revisions to goals and to the NOFO for subsequent funding rounds, with full implementation expected to align with a 2026 funding cycle.
Public meeting obligations and staff support Rosen indicated staff will create agendas, post notices, provide meeting facilitation and circulate drafts to work group members. Board members discussed appointing conveners to schedule meetings and manage agendas; a few members volunteered to serve as conveners for specific work groups.
Ending City staff will seek City Commission approval of the subcommittees, then notify AHAB members and begin scheduling public work-group meetings to produce NOFO language and revenue recommendations.
