City Council Committee Agendas

Development Services Committee November 17, 2021 Attendees Present: Mayor Boudreau Council Members: Beaton, Brocksmith, Carias, Hudson, Molenaar, and Morales Staff Members: Development Services – Phillips, Lowell; Mayor’s Office – Donovan 1. Approval of October 20, 2021 minutes. 2. BERK Housing Work Plan Brief: Kevin Ramsey from BERK Associates provided an all-inclusive review of the Housing Work Plans from 2017 through present. The foundational document for this discussion was the 2016 Comprehensive Plan Housing Element followed by a cause and affect rationale of Council adopted legislation on meeting those goals and objectives. A spirited discussion ensued on how to increase the quantity of Affordable Housing and a desire to affect the construction rate, diversity of, and increase efficiency. The Council discussed and desired a briefing on net versus gross land use methodology at the next DS Committee meeting which could lead to a feasibility study on the topic. Additionally, Council desired to further discuss the 2016 Housing Elements Objectives, Goals and Policies. Finally, the Council to further define the term: Affordable. Terms utilized were: In Program, Market Rate, Subsidized, Income Restricted, Attainable Housing and Work Force Housing…no consensus or decision was made. 3. Community Action Update: Eviction Protection: Kathleen Morton and Melissa Self provided a brief on Eviction Protection to City Council. A brief Q&A session followed. 4. Fully Contained Cities Brief: Principal Planner Rebecca Lowell provided a thorough brief on the topic to include a range of definitions and the Skagit County’s plan to complete an EIS. 5. Shoreline Master Plan Update: Principal Planner Rebecca Lowell provided an SMP update. Planning Commission voted 5-0, recommended the topic be forwarded to City Council for their consideration and approval. 6. Misc. Code Amendments: Principal Planner Rebecca Lowell provided an overview of misc. code amendments that included: Shoreline Master Plan and small portions of the housing code. Meeting adjourned at 810 PM.