HomeMy WebLinkAboutWHAC-June 2020 AgendaNEW HANOVER COUNTY PLANNING & LAND USE
AGENDA
COUNTY-CITY WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HR Training Room, 230 Government Center Dr. Wilmington, NC
June 3, 2020 – 3:00 PM
Purpose: The Committee shall be organized for the purpose of developing a comprehensive workforce housing study, workforce housing
opinion study and public awareness campaign, support for increasing equitable access and the supply of workforce housing that is
affordable; informing the Appointing Authorities and other organizations of their findings; and making recommendations, in an advisory
capacity, to the Appointing Authorities and other organizations, as necessary.
Estimated
Minutes
5 I. Call to Order
Welcome
Establish Quorum
5 II. Approve Agenda
5 III. Approve Minutes
March 4, 2020
30 IV. Public Comments
45 V. New Business
Information Items
o Update on Housing Study and Survey
o CARES Act and other funding updates
o Density and Affordability in New Home Construction (Presenter- Dave
Spetrino, PBC Design + Build)
Discussion Items
o Introduction of UNCG team and workshop of the interview instrument
(Presenter – Dr. Stephen Sills, Director, UNCG Center for Housing and
Community Studies)
5 VI. Announcements
VII. Adjourn
ATTACHMENTS:
Draft Minutes of February 5, 2020 Meeting
Please note that while the meeting is officially open to the public, the County is limiting public gatherings due
to COVID-19. Individuals that would like to attend the June 3 meeting will need to sign up in advance.
Please contact Rachel LaCoe, rlacoe@nhcgov.com for any accommodation requests by Monday, June 1.
New Hanover County-City of Wilmington Workforce Housing Advisory Committee
March 4, 2020 Regular Meeting
Committee Members Present: Shamonique Brantley, Patrick Brien, Philip Brown, Evelyn Bryant, Don
Harris, Katrina Knight, Katrina Redmon, Steve Spain, Dave Spetrino, Paul Stavovy
Staff Present: Tufanna Bradley (NHC), Rachel LaCoe (NHC), Suzanne Rogers (CoW), Rebekah Roth (NHC)
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order and quorum established at 3:05 pm by Chairperson Evelyn Bryant.
Chairperson Bryant welcomed new member Dr. Philip Brown.
Approve Agenda
Don Harris made a motion to approve to the agenda, which was seconded by Katrina Redmon and adopted
unanimously.
Approve Minutes
Dave Spetrino made a motion to approve the draft minutes from the February 5, 2020 meeting. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Harris and adopted unanimously.
Public Comments
No members of the public had signed up to provide public comment.
New Business
Review Housing Study Proposals
Chairperson Bryant recognized Workforce Housing Planner Rachel LaCoe, who led the committee
members in a discussion on the three proposals that had been received for the comprehensive housing
study and public opinion survey.
The committee discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the proposals, including:
the strength and reliability of proposed data sources,
the consultant perspective and approach to the project,
the strength of the consulting teams, and
experience with similar housing studies.
The committee reviewed the variety of study and survey audiences (policy makers, builders, and existing
residents) and the applicability of the consultants’ experience with each stakeholder group. Members
considered the possibility of contracting with multiple consulting firms for separate components of the
study and survey outlined in the Request for Proposals. The committee discussed the project’s timeline
needs, the requirements for contract negotiations, and how follow-up questions would be discussed.
After a thorough discussion regarding each proposal and the options moving forward, Paul Stavovy
made a motion to authorize staff to negotiate with UNC-G to conduct the public opinion survey and
focus group portion of the project and Bowen to complete the market data analysis and final report, as
long as unincorporated New Hanover County could be considered a primary study area. The motion was
seconded by Mr. Harris and passed unanimously.
The committee determined that to keep with the proposed timeline, staff should be authorized to move
forward with the project even if negotiations with UNC-G and Bowen were not successful. Steve Spain
made a motion that in the case that two contracts were not allowed, not acceptable to either
consultant, or would result in costs over the approved budget, staff would be authorized to negotiate a
contract with PES, the third consultant. The motion was seconded by Mr. Stavovy and passed
unanimously.
Chairperson Bryant requested that staff contact New Hanover County’s Purchasing division to ensure
that negotiations with multiple consultants was possible and to update the committee with that
information.
Announcements
Mr. Spetrino asked whether the committee was required to provide a report to the Wilmington City
Council and New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Ms. LaCoe and Suzanne Rogers responded
that both boards would want a report once the study and survey moved forward, and that staff was
keeping management apprised of the committee’s activities.
Ms. LaCoe reminded the committee that the 2020 Census would be released in April and urged everyone
to participate.
Mr. Stavovy announced that the Cape Fear Community Land Trust’s fundraiser, the 5th Annual Daddy
Daughter Dance, would be held in April.
Katrina Knight requested that staff send out a calendar of upcoming housing-related events by email with
the monthly meeting agenda so committee members could stay informed on projects and programs, such
as the City of Wilmington’s Affordable Housing Opt-in District.
Adjournment
With no further questions or comments, Chairperson Bryant adjourned the meeting at 4:41 PM.