Commission directs staff to draft Hometown Heroes workforce‑housing incentive program

City Manager Fletcher asked the commission for direction to develop a Hometown Heroes workforce‑housing incentive program to encourage development of owner‑occupied workforce units for eligible workers (healthcare, education, first responders, state/local government employees and similar sectors). He framed the concept as a citywide program that could include impact‑fee waivers or deferrals and noted the need to identify offsetting funding sources and program safeguards.

Commissioners sought additional detail on program scope, asking for eligibility verification, homestead/owner‑occupancy requirements, resale/recapture restrictions and a clearer affordability definition. Vice Mayor Langdon suggested employer participation and a housing needs study to set targets; Commissioner Petro cautioned about shifting infrastructure costs to taxpayers and emphasized that price points presented to commissioners in one‑on‑one briefings (e.g., $325,000 examples) must be reviewed for true affordability.

After discussion a motion directing the city manager to work with the initiating developer to draft the program and return a staff recommendation with parameters passed 5–0. The action was only direction to draft; no fee waivers or budget appropriations were approved at this meeting.

Next steps: staff will prepare a draft ordinance and program parameters, bring options on waivers vs. deferrals, propose eligibility criteria and identify funding offsets and reporting requirements for commission consideration.