Astoria council creates Housing and Community Resiliency Fund, transfers Astor West balances

The Astoria City Council on Thursday approved a pair of resolutions that close the Astor West Special Projects Fund (No. 140), create a new Housing and Community Resiliency Fund (No. 141) and transfer remaining balances into the new account.

Staff said the existing fund was created in 2022 specifically for Astor West Urban Renewal District projects; the new fund establishes a citywide purpose for housing and resiliency projects. "In this case, counsel's identified clearly a change in purpose for the use of these funds, which is what made it necessary to close the fund, open a new fund with a new stated purpose," Finance Director Hillary Norton said. She added the council could later change a fund's purpose through the same transparent public process if needed.

Councilor Mazzarelli moved to create the new fund; Councilor Davis seconded. The council then separately approved a supplemental budget to close Fund 140 and transfer the balance into Fund 141. Both roll‑call votes were unanimous.

A member of the public, Marilyn Ditto, asked whether the city could already use the existing special projects fund for housing without renaming and transferring funds. Norton replied that special revenue funds are defined by their stated purpose: "If council wanted to build housing only next to the Urban Renewal District, then it probably could be used in that way. But in this case, council has stated they want to look at housing for the entire community, so that would go outside the original stated purpose of that fund," Norton said.

Councilors said they sought a purpose with enough flexibility to support community resiliency initiatives, including food benefits and other programs that relate to housing stability. The council's action immediately creates Fund 141; specific program allocations will be decided in future budgeting and supplemental budget processes.