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Board gives direction to amend ARPA agreement with MIPA to extend housing analysis and strategy work
Summary
County staff told the board they will amend the ARPA agreement with the Mid Iowa Planning Alliance (MIPA) to add work updating housing-condition reports and developing housing strategies for Story County communities (excluding Ames, Huxley and Nevada); supervisors directed staff to proceed and the amendment will return on the consent agenda.
County staff asked for direction on amending an existing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) agreement with the Mid Iowa Planning Alliance (MIPA) to expand housing-related tasks. The requested amendment would add services at no additional fee that update current and near‑future housing condition reports and develop housing strategies for Story County communities that lack recent local studies—specifically excluding Ames, Huxley and Nevada, which have recent work.
Staff said the original housing study (RDG) was started in 2020 and accepted in 2021 and that a housing action plan was approved in 2022. MIPA was contracted in April 2023 to help implement selected tasks. County staff proposed asking MIPA to prepare a current housing‑conditions report and tailored strategies for the smaller communities and suggested there would be no increase in contract fees. The board discussed the item, noted the earlier presentation from Good Neighbor on rent pressure, and directed staff to proceed with amending the agreement and to return the signed amendment on the consent agenda.
No additional funding was requested at the meeting; staff said the proposed work aligns with allowable ARPA uses to support long‑term housing security and affordable and permanent supportive housing development.
