City Council - Community and Economic Development Committee

City of Bellingham Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes May 8, 2023, 2:10 PM Mayor: Seth Fleetwood Contact: (360) 778-8100, mayorsoffice@cob.org Council Members: Hollie Huthman, Chair Contact: (360) 778-8200, ccmail@cob.org Hannah Stone, Kristina Michele Martens https://cob.org/council Call to Order President Lilliquist called the meeting to order at 2:18 pm. Roll Call Present: Committee Chair Hollie Huthman, Second Ward Committee Member Hannah Stone, First Ward Committee Member Kristina Michele Martens, At Large Council Standing Committee Meetings: Open to the public to attend. Note: there is generally no public comment period for Committee sessions. Standing Committee Members receive reports and information, ask questions and, when appropriate, vote on a recommended action for consideration by the full Council at the Regular Meeting. The notice of Committee Meetings identified below also serves as notice of Special Meetings of the City Council at the times identified as Council Members who are not members of the committee routinely attend and participate in the Committee Meetings. Committee Chairs give a report of the Committee Meeting at the Regular Meeting in the evening prior to deliberation and formal vote in the order shown below: 23712 1. A Presentation by the Port of Bellingham's Regional Economic Partnership (REP) p. 3 Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, introduced Don Goldberg, Port of Bellingham Representative, who provided an overview of the Port of Bellingham's Regional Economic Partnership (REP) 2022 activities and accomplishments. The City supports a collaborative commitment to fund the REP through an Interlocal Agreement with the Port of Bellingham and Whatcom County. Goldberg reported on the work of the REP, their team and partners, their intentions and vision, deliverables, goal updates, and a look ahead to 2023 and 2024. Goldberg responded to questions from Council Members. 23650 2. 2023-2027 Consolidated Planning Process p. 23 The 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan is required by the Federal Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) which identifies community needs and priorities to be funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) over a five-year period. The City uses this planning process to identify priorities for its local housing levy, Affordable Housing Sales Tax and General Fund expenditures. Samya Lutz, Housing and Services Program Manager and Tara Sundin, Community and Economic Development Manager, summarized the consolidated plan, portions of which have been presented to Council over the past Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 1 May 8, 2023  four Council meetings. They reported on what actions the Council can take, populations they recommend prioritizing, the role of the Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) recommendations, rent assistance and cost burden, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, local-level housing policy options, and funding recommendations included in the resolution. Council Members discussed and asked questions of staff. Hollie Huthman moved to support the analysis of low income tax credit facilities in terms of cost- burdened individuals and to explore policy changes regarding the issue of cost-burdened individuals in low income tax credit facilities and the interplay of vouchers now and in the future. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Hannah Stone moved to recommend approval of the resolution relating to the 2023-2027 Consolidated Plan MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:48 pm. Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes Page 2 May 8, 2023