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Jackson Town Council directs staff to incorporate employee housing goal and objectives
Summary
After a Navigate LLC presentation, the Jackson Town Council unanimously directed staff to incorporate a proposed goal and eight objectives into an employee housing strategy; consultants said the draft aims to secure housing for roughly 70% of town employees while providing assistance to others.
The Jackson Town Council voted unanimously to direct staff to incorporate a proposed goal and eight objectives developed by Navigate LLC into the town’s employee housing strategy.
David Garcia, the deputy town manager, introduced the consultants and framed the workshop as a high‑level policy discussion rather than approval of detailed strategies. Maggie Shilling of Navigate said the council’s interviews and a staff working group produced a draft goal and objectives intended to guide later strategy development. "We're asking today for direction and feedback on the goal and objectives," Shilling said.
Consultant Christine Walker said the working group emphasized a "practical supply" of housing rather than a generic investment portfolio, and recommended that units be sized and designed for workers' needs. "It’s not practical to have families living in one‑bedroom units," Walker said, citing working‑group feedback that affordability must also reflect unit suitability.
The draft presented two related targets: consultants described a commonly discussed baseline of 65% of employees housed, and a working‑group refinement to 70% for the town. Staff clarified that the 70% figure refers to securing housing units through a mix of town‑owned units, rights of first purchase or rental, and other mechanisms; the remaining employees could receive housing assistance such as stipends, down‑payment help or flexible schedules.
Council members debated the wording and structure of the goal and objectives. Councilor Schechter urged tighter, less wordy language so the document can function as an operational managerial tool, while other councilors stressed honoring the phrasing that stakeholders and the working group provided. Schechter suggested a concise alternative phrasing: "Ensure appropriate affordable housing options are available for all town employees."
After members discussed occupant selection (prioritizing critical service providers and hard‑to‑fill positions), quality and maintenance standards for town‑controlled housing, and the need to refine metrics during the strategy phase, Councilor Beeman moved to direct staff to incorporate the proposed goal and objectives "as presented and discussed today" into the employee housing strategy. Councilor Regan seconded the motion. The council voted and the motion passed unanimously.
Staff and the consultants said they will return with a final strategy that reflects council direction and provides the specific strategies, costs and implementation options for council review and formal action.
Details of the presentation, including a draft objective list and the consultant timeline, will be revisited during future meetings as staff and the working group develop strategy options.
