Members of the Prescott Workforce Housing Committee debated whether workforce-housing eligibility should be limited to people who work in Prescott, people who live in Prescott, or a broader regional workforce.
Amber, Community Development staff, said several council members wanted residency and employment requirements limited to activities “within the city limits,” and that language could be clarified in the draft. Randy and Mike both warned that most of the local workforce does not live within city limits and that strict work-in-Prescott rules could exclude many employees who shop, pay taxes, or otherwise contribute to Prescott’s economy.
Randy said constraining eligibility to those who both live and work in Prescott could be “outside our lane” and hard to enforce. Amber confirmed the committee could keep the original, broader language and pose the residency/employer question for council discussion during the December study session.
Several members raised hypothetical enforcement problems — for example, if an employee qualified at move-in but later took a new job elsewhere — and asked whether deed restrictions, covenants, or certification procedures would address changes of employment. Amber said application and certification forms have not yet been drafted and would be developed if council approves policy direction.