Council reviews draft STEP Housing Advisory Committee charter, asks to add at least one public comment opportunity

Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Debbie Bent presented a draft charter to form a STEP Housing Advisory Committee to make recommendations on local implementation of state guidance for shelters, transitional housing, emergency housing and permanent supportive housing.

Bent told the council the committee's goal is to produce recommendations consistent with recent state law and a model ordinance. She said the committee would clarify regulations and build community engagement rather than require immediate amendments to the comprehensive plan.

Council members debated how the advisory committee should relate to the Planning Commission. Several councilors proposed an ex officio liaison from the Planning Commission or a formal way for the commission to receive committee reports. Councilor Lutzes (Lucius in roll call) and Councilor Shrubnick suggested the council and planning commission should coordinate but noted the planning commission lacked bandwidth for a full assignment.

Public engagement and schedule

Councilor Marshall and others asked that the charter explicitly include public engagement: at least one public comment period at a committee meeting and at least one town-hall or open-house session during code amendment considerations. Bent pointed to the draft charter's engagement options (project webpage, social media updates, town hall) and the council directed staff to add a requirement for at least one public comment opportunity at a committee meeting.

Bent also outlined a proposed schedule in the packet: applications reviewed and applicants selected for interview on March 24, with a special council meeting to appoint committee members on March 31. The committee is slated to begin work in April, and the community engagement plan would be drafted by the committee in its April meeting.

Why it matters

The charter and subsequent committee work will shape how Kenmore applies state direction on STEP housing locally, including whether code changes are recommended to clarify where and how such housing is allowed. Council direction on public outreach and the committee's relationship with the Planning Commission will affect the level of public participation and the pathway for any code amendments.

What comes next

Staff will move forward with recruiting per the timeline in the packet, add an explicit public comment period to the charter and return with selections and next steps according to the March schedule in the packet.