Prescott workforce housing committee votes 6-0 to recommend policy to council

The Prescott City Workforce Housing Committee voted 6-0 on a motion to recommend a revised workforce housing policy to the Prescott City Council.

The committee approved forwarding the document after reviewing edits that broaden incentives and clarify program mechanics, including the potential to pay all or a portion of impact fees, density bonus provisions, phased inclusion of units across development phases, and standards tied to the city—s adopted building codes. Amber, a city staff member who presented the revisions, told the committee members they had two options: submit the document as a draft for later council review or vote to recommend the policy now so council could take it up sooner.

Why it matters: The policy would give city leaders tools to incentivize affordable workforce housing through fee waivers or deferrals and increased density on qualifying projects. Committee members said moving the policy forward now would avoid further delay and help the incoming council consider a near-final proposal rather than starting from scratch.

During discussion, Council member Connie urged the committee to "get it right the first time," stressing that new council members will require education on the proposal and that impact-fee decisions could be central to project viability. Amber summarized the committee attorney—s suggested language that highlights key initiatives, including fee waivers, and the committee added that paragraph by consensus.

Members debated whether to send the policy as a draft for additional committee edits after council feedback or to recommend it now. Some committee members argued a recommendation would speed the process even if council later amended the document; others worried the incoming council might feel excluded. Several members said density provisions are critical to making developments financially feasible.

The committee approved the recommendation motion by voice vote, recorded as "Motion passes 6 to 0." The committee asked staff to pursue scheduling with the city clerk; Amber said December is the scheduled study-session slot that would provide two hours for committee presentations, but she and members will ask the clerk about earlier options if the mayor or at least two council members request it.

The policy text the committee reviewed allows developers to qualify for incentives by offering one or more specified options (density bonuses, fee deferrals, unit inclusion across phases, compatibility with neighborhood goals and adopted standards) and includes a catchall that "other solutions that support the city's workforce housing goals may also be considered." The document was edited to broaden language on density bonuses and to clarify that any incentives deferred would also be deferred until the final phase is permitted for phased projects.

The committee discussed presentation logistics for council review. Possible presenters include Chair Kennedy (if available), Vice Chair Goodman, and member Mike Phan; members suggested keeping the presentation concise if it is scheduled alongside other agenda items. The consultant Pollock and Company is expected to assist; Michael McGinnis, community development staff, said Rick Merritt, president of Pollock and Company, wants to meet with committee members to discuss strategy and implementation.

Next steps: Staff will circulate a clean version of the policy to the committee and the city council within about a week, work with the city clerk on scheduling a study session (targeting December if no earlier slot opens), and set up follow-up meetings with the city attorney and staff to discuss impact-fee details. Michael McGinnis said he will coordinate virtual meetings between Pollock and Company and committee members.

Public comment during this meeting was minimal and no changes to the policy were made outside the edits reviewed and accepted by the committee.