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City to recruit new planning leader, move housing to city manager—s office; $7M homebuyer bond proposed
Summary
Deputy city manager told council staff will restructure Community Development into Planning & Development Services, recruit a new director and move housing to report to the city manager; the budget includes a proposed $7 million bond for homebuyer assistance and $250,000 for incentive pay for affordable housing.
Joanne Key, deputy city manager, outlined a planned organizational change after the departure of the city—s community development director: Key said staff will rebrand Community Development as Planning and Development Services, recruit a director for that unit and move housing into the city manager—s office. She said the new housing division would be stood up as a formal division within about six months.
"The idea is to change community development to planning and development services, have building safety and code and real estate and planning report to that new director recruit for that new director and then move housing, as a report into the city manager's office," Key said.
Budget and housing staff also described financing proposals and programs. The recommended budget includes a $7,000,000 bond proposal for a homebuyer assistance program (CHAP) that would be set up as a revolving loan fund, and it sets aside $250,000 for the city's incentive policy to encourage developers to include affordable units. Staff said employer-assisted housing and unit-preservation funding will be supported through program income and available one-time resources.
Other housing items discussed: city staff said the rental-incentive bond program is fully obligated; staff listed reservations for development incentives that total roughly $1 million across multiple projects, and staff said the housing commission would review a proposed amendment to the incentive policy soon.
Why it matters: Housing was presented as a top organizational priority. Key and other staff said moving housing under the city manager's office will shorten decision lines and help the city implement housing projects and bond-funded assistance more quickly.
Ending: Key said recruitment for the planning director will be the first step; staff will move housing functions and return to council with details and any recommended classification or funding adjustments.
