Homeless Planning Council debates downsizing and governance after Metro Council rule change

Council members and staff spent significant time debating whether to downsize the Homeless Planning Council and how to reconcile local attendance problems with representation goals after recent legislation changed voting rights for some participants.

Participants reviewed a packet of documents including attendance records, feedback gathered from a general-membership exercise, the original ordinance that established the council, and the November legislation that made Metro Council appointees nonvoting members of the HPC. Metro Legal staff said the November change removed voting privileges for the three Metro Council members who serve on the body; mayoral appointees retain voting rights. The legal office also explained that the Homeless Planning Council is established in Metro code (section references discussed included 2.144.020 and 2.144.040), and that the council is not labeled a “board or commission” under the code but remains a metropolitan administrative council.

Staff and members said the push to consider downsizing originates in HUD technical assistance and a community assessment noting multiple committees, stretched member capacity and inconsistent quorum. Raquel, speaking for the collaborative applicant, summarized that downsizing initial recommendations stemmed from HUD technical assistance and subsequent community feedback; attendees noted a history of attendance challenges and one meeting in 2024 where the council lacked quorum.

Council members voiced competing concerns: several urged a smaller, more efficient body to improve decision-making and attendance, while others cautioned that reducing size could shrink representation of key sectors and risk federal perception, because HUD technical assistance had driven some recommendations. Members also discussed procedural options — whether to pursue legislative changes by attrition, by replacement, or via an administrative bill initiated by the mayor’s office. Staff described a proposed timeline: a half-day retreat in early February followed by a March workshop with general membership to finalize recommendations for any ordinance changes and to prepare materials for Metro Council if needed.

“Attendance is the biggest factor,” Raquel said, noting exercises and a July feedback session that captured member views on representation and committee consolidation. Metro Legal indicated clean-up of ordinance language would likely come as an administrative bill from the mayor’s office if the council agrees on the changes.

What’s next: Council leadership and staff will workshop downsizing options at a February retreat and aim to convene combined meetings in March to prepare recommendations that could require ordinance amendments. Staff said they will gather additional best-practice examples and the expected governance consequences of specific downsizing choices to inform that process.