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Shelton council declines to send letter asking county to spend HB 1406 funds on feasibility study
Summary
The Shelton City Council voted down a motion to approve a letter asking Mason County to use leftover House Bill 1406 funds to pay for a feasibility study on converting a former community building into permanent supportive housing.
The Shelton City Council on Tuesday declined to approve a letter asking Mason County to commit HB 1406 funds to a feasibility study on converting the former community lifeline building at 218 N. Third St. into permanent supportive housing.
City Manager Mark presented a draft letter supporting a funding request from New Horizons Communities for a feasibility study; he said the structure’s conversion "is allowed within the CRV zone" and that only a potential parking variance might trigger a quasi-judicial process. He also described a 2019 interlocal agreement between the city and county that governs use of locally collected HB 1406 passthrough funds.
Council members debated the request during public discussion. One resident asked, "How many people are gonna be parked in there? Where's that parking gonna be at?" The council heard concerns that paying for the study could use much of the city’s small share of HB 1406 money and that the site might not be the best location for supportive housing.
Mayor Anisco called for the vote after a motion and second to authorize the mayor to sign the letter. After roll call responses of "aye" and "nay," the mayor said, "Motion fails." The motion did not carry.
City Manager Mark and other council members said the county reported roughly $500,000 remaining in the county-held HB 1406 account and that about $55,000 previously had been spent on a county housing needs analysis. The city’s annual share was described in the meeting as roughly $18,000 a year (an estimated total of about $70,000 in city-held credits), though council discussion showed confusion about exact totals and prior uses.
Council members noted that the land use zone would allow the use outright and that a variance process could address parking. Several council members said they supported exploring more housing options, but they were not convinced this letter was the right use of the fund at this time.
The failed motion means the council will not send the draft letter asking Mason County to use HB 1406 passthrough funds for the New Horizons feasibility study. Council members said they may continue conversations with the county and consider other approaches.
The council scheduled its next regular meeting for July 1.
