Committee recommends amending affordable‑housing land‑purchase study resolution to fold into housing plan update

The committee voted to forward Resolution 2026‑R022 to council with a recommendation to amend the requested 90‑day feasibility study so that work on a city acquisition method for affordable housing is included in the city’s strategic housing plan update due Dec. 16.

Michelle Peters, deputy director for Housing and Community Development, told the committee that her department supports a study of how the city might purchase real property for affordable housing but asked that it be incorporated into the comprehensive housing-plan update because that process will produce a stronger, data‑driven recommendation. "Our team is committed to a comprehensive data‑driven review of all available tools," Peters said, noting the strategic housing plan update will guide city housing policy for the next three to five years.

A committee member sought clarity about the 90‑day deadline contained in the draft resolution; city staff confirmed the resolution requests a written report 90 days after adoption. Committee members agreed a longer timeline that folds the work into the December update (roughly 180 days) would be more practical and less duplicative. The committee approved the recommendation to forward the resolution with that amendment.

The committee also noted that an amendment would be prepared by the council chief of staff and would be considered at the next council meeting; the committee recorded a unanimous favorable recommendation in committee and indicated it would add committee sponsorship to the resolution before forwarding it to council.