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Council asks staff to return with short‑ and long‑term options for $150,000 in affordable‑housing funds
Summary
Council discussed options for $150,000 in undesignated affordable-housing funds from a development agreement and asked staff to prepare short‑term emergency assistance and longer‑term acquisition/program recommendations for a future meeting.
City staff briefed the council on July 8 about $300,000 the city received from a development‑agreement amendment with Wood Mountain; $150,000 of that sum remains undesignated in the 2025–26 budget. Councilmembers debated options including a one‑time contribution to ARCH, saving the funds for a site acquisition, establishing a programmatic short‑term emergency rental‑assistance RFP administered by a third party, or using the funds for repairs to existing affordable housing.
Several councilmembers urged immediate action to create a short‑term stabilization program given anticipated economic uncertainty and recent layoffs. Councilmember Arndt described an "incoming tsunami of instability" and recommended allocating roughly $100,000 to an RFP‑administered emergency assistance program that would provide one‑time payments to help residents avoid eviction. Other members emphasized balancing short‑term emergency help with a strategy to preserve and maintain existing affordable housing stock.
Outcome: Council requested staff return with options that include short‑term program administration via a third party, and longer‑term strategies (including exploring inclusionary zoning or fee‑in‑lieu options) to replenish and grow an affordable‑housing fund. No final appropriation decision was made at the meeting.
