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Council approves two-year "Lease to Locals" pilot to incentivize workforce housing
Summary
Cannon Beach council voted July 7 to adopt Resolution 26-13 to launch a two-year, 10-unit pilot "Lease to Locals" program with an estimated annual city cost of roughly $143,000 and an approximate two-year budget in the staff discussion near $279,500; councilors discussed eligibility, per-unit costs if enrollment is lower than projected, and program administration.
The Cannon Beach City Council on July 7 approved Resolution 26-13 to affirm the city’s intent to participate in a two-year pilot of the "Lease to Locals" program intended to encourage property owners to lease homes to local workforce tenants through voluntary incentives.
Staff presented a program outline and budget estimates to the council. The presenter said the pilot is structured as a city-level, 10-unit program with estimated annual costs "about $143,000 a year" and startup hiring and administrative costs that raise the two-year discussion figure staff referenced in discussion to roughly $279,500. Councilors asked whether incentives would target vacant homes, short-term rentals converted to long-term leases, or existing long-term rentals; staff clarified the resolution language focuses on incentives for converting short-term rentals and vacant units but that regional partners had earlier discussed a broader approach.
Council discussion focused on program costs per unit if the city enrolls fewer than 10 homes. One councilor noted that getting fewer participants would raise cost per unit — staff estimated per-unit subsidies could rise from about $11,000 (at higher enrollment) to roughly $17,500 if enrollment were only 10 units or fewer in some scenarios. Councilors also asked whether the city would administer eligibility and reported that participating counties in the regional program typically manage qualification and that the pilot would be largely turnkey with regional partners handling eligibility verification.
After discussion a councilor moved to adopt Resolution 26-13, a second followed, and the chair called roll. Councilors recorded affirmative votes and the resolution passed.
Why it matters: The pilot is an explicit local policy and budget commitment intended to create short-term incentives for property owners to lease to local workers. If the program enrolls few units, per-unit subsidy costs could be materially higher than staff’s baseline estimates.
Next steps: Staff will implement the pilot as described in the resolution materials and return with required administrative steps; the council set direction to prepare the implementing resolution and associated agreements.
