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Council invites Vancouver Housing Authority for urgent update on Weaver Creek Commons funding gap
Summary
Council agreed to invite the Vancouver Housing Authority to next week's council time for an update on funding shortfall for the Weaver Creek Commons project and discussed options including use of 14.06 funds and possible timing if the council pursued a 1 percent sales tax option (noted as 15.90).
Councilors agreed July 16 to invite the Vancouver Housing Authority (VHA) to next week’s council time to detail a funding gap that VHA officials told council could put the Weaver Creek Commons affordable-housing project at risk.
Councilors and staff reviewed county funding options, including previously committed 14.06 mental-health sales-tax dollars. County staff told the council there is roughly $1 million available in the 14.06 fund to allocate for projects, and earlier council action committed approximately $670,000 to Weaver Creek Commons from those funds; exact current balances will be confirmed.
Councilor Marshall and others emphasized tight timelines. Several councilors noted uncertainty about the speed and amount of revenue from a proposed 1% local option (referred to in conversation as “15.90”). County staff and a finance official noted implementation delays: one staff member said the Department of Revenue requires a 75-day notification period after approval and collections would begin the quarter after that, with an additional two-month delay before distributions reach the county.
The council asked staff to invite VHA to council time next week for an itemized update and said staff could bring back a staff report for a final decision at the Aug. 5 council meeting if the council gives direction. Councilors also requested a dedicated work session on housing financing options; staff identified available work-session dates and said an August 27 work session is the earliest regularly scheduled date, with the option to call a special meeting if council wants an earlier date.
No appropriation or final commitment was made at the July 16 meeting; VHA will present detailed needs next week and staff will return with a report if council directs action.
