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Council reviews three options for a 20‑year affordable housing plan; staff recommends staff lead using Fund 46
Summary
City managers presented three approaches to develop a 20‑year affordable housing plan: hire a term staff lead, contract a consultant to produce a plan, or reconvene the affordable housing task force. Members expressed a preference for hiring a staff coordinator, and staff asked to use Fund 46 as startup funding; no formal vote was taken.
Englewood city staff presented three options Monday for producing a 20‑year affordable housing action plan and asked council for direction and a funding approach to start implementation.
Deputy City Manager Tim Dodd and City Manager Sean Lewis outlined three paths: (1) hire a two‑year, term‑limited staff member to compile and begin implementing the plan, (2) hire a consultant to write the plan and then hire a staff member to implement it, or (3) reconvene the community affordable housing task force to develop implementation steps and recommendations.
Staff said the city has an existing restricted fund (Fund 46, the housing rehabilitation fund) with roughly $1 million available and recommended using it for start‑up costs. Lewis said the fund is already used for low‑income rehabilitation loans and that staff estimated a fully loaded coordinator position would cost about $106,000 annually (salary plus benefits). He also said the city anticipates future lease revenue from McClellan Reservoir properties that could provide $500,000–$750,000 per year to support long‑term programs once leases are finalized.
Council members discussed the merits of each option. Council Member Noonankamp said she preferred option 1 — hiring a staff member — because that person could build relationships, secure funding and then help implement the plan. Council Member Prang and Council Member Wright voiced similar support for a city staff lead and for retaining local control of funds. Council Member Pareng (sic in transcript as "Pring") and the mayor pro tem raised the possibility of a consultant if it would speed delivery, while others cautioned that a consultant alone would still require hiring staff for long‑term implementation.
Multiple council members asked staff to develop job descriptions, provide grant‑matching requirements and identify which current city grants or potential state grants could be used to finance plan development and implementation. Staff agreed to provide those details and to return with a recommended scope, a draft job description for a coordinator, and options for regional partnerships or shared staffing with neighboring jurisdictions.
Council did not take a formal vote. Staff asked council to include language authorizing use of Fund 46 for start‑up costs; City Manager Lewis requested that if council supports any option it also direct staff to prepare implementation steps and return with specifics on funding and timelines.
