Community Development Advisory Board

Community Development Advisory Board Minutes City of Bellingham, Washington Thursday 6:00 PM September 14, 2023 Mayor's Boardroom Audio Recorded https://meetings.cob.org -Call to Order The Community Development Advisory Board meeting was called to order by the Chair at 6:00 PM. 1. Introductions Present: Aran Clauson (Chair), Jonathan Stubblefield, Karin Jones, Shannon Laws, Ryan Wood Absent: Brien Thane, Jennifer Miles, Jonathan Scanlon, Pierce Bock, Suneeta Eisenberg, Victor Crosetti and Yin-Ho Lai Kristina Michelle-Martens (Council representative) City Staff: Samya Lutz, Kate Bartholomew and Heather Aven 2. Approval of minutes from previous meeting The minutes from August 10, 2023, were not approved due to a lack of quorum. 3. Link to Meeting Video Click here to view the meeting Public Comment Period Agenda Items Presentation 1. Sean Humphrey House Presentation Elizabeth Page provided an overview of the agency program related to existing Sean Humphrey House operations, and explained how it benefits the community as a whole. She shared how the house is set up for residents and some of the services they are provided with. She spoke to the new Karen Durham House and updated the group on the remodel status. Some statistics she shared: In program year 2022, SHH provided 2,190 bed nights, 6,750 complete meals, and 29,200 courses of medication. It operates as a licensed Adult Family Home providing Permanent Supportive Housing, and has done so for many years. They serve very low- income adults (most of whom are homeless-on-entry) with an HIV diagnosis who also have a disabling condition preventing them from living independently. Work Session 1. Cost Burden in Publicly Funded Rental Properties Samya Lutz shared that this topic will be going before the Bellingham City Council on September 25, 2023. She reviewed the memo and discussed some of the statistics relevant to Bellingham.  She spoke to the analysis the city staff has done with regard to the cost differential, as well as some potential approaches that could be taken. Other Business 1. Staff Updates Kate Bartholomew provided an update on the American Rescue Plan funding provided to Bellingham. She spoke on the letter of interest process that occurred in December 2022. It was pointed out that Housing of Urban Development has advised the City that a more robust application process will need to be followed, which is why there is currently an open Notice of Funding Availability an opportunity for full applications. See these sites for details: https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/preventing-homlessness-nofa.pdf and https://cob.org/services/housing/funding-opportunities/partnerships-funding (under Prevention of Homelessness). It was announced that Housing Week will occur the week of October 16th. See this link to sign up for sessions: https://whatcomhousingalliance.org/projects/whatcom-housing-week/. 2. Annoucements / "What's the Buzz" 3. Future Agenda Items • Housing and new legislature passed • ADU State Bill • Rental Registration and Safety Inspection Program Updates • Family Systems Solution Group • Verbal summary on the Project Update page • LMM Director speak to the Board (Housing first vs. Housing ready) • Housing accessibility barriers (unable to use vouchers) • Wrap-around funding (State level) • Enforcement for Air BnB • 2022 state legislative session – specifically renter protections • A speaker on the business side of housing and real estate development (Kate suggested members watch the recent Housing Week session on “Making Affordable Housing Pencil” and shared link). Let staff know if there is still interest in this topic. • A policy discussion in light of the close defeat of recent City Ballot Initiative 1. • A staff presentation from BHA about how the voucher system works (Section 8 and local forms of rent assistance) • Presentation on role of non-profit vs role of government entity and ways they overlap and how they differ. • Balance homeownership and the gap in funding. • Additional discussion on ways to measure equity. Minutes prepared by: ____________________________________________ Heather Aven, Recording Secretary Minutes edited by both staff and Community Development Advisory Board members.