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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-01-04 MinutesNEW HANOVER COUNTY-CITY OF WILMINGTON WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE January 4, 2023 | REGULAR MEETING Committee Members Present: Sarah Arthur, Sharm Brantley, Liz Carbone, Tom Gale, Melanie James, Krysti Keser, Eric Knight, Katrina Knight, Katrina Redmon, Paul Stavovy NHC Staff Present: Tufanna Bradley, Katie Burket, Rachel LaCoe, Sarah Lipkin Sularz, Theo McClammy, Jennifer Rigby City of Wilmington Staff Present: Abie Bonevac, Craig Harris, Suzanne Rogers Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:03 PM by Chairperson Sharm Brantley and a quorum was established. Agenda Approval and Minutes Mr. Eric Knight made a motion to approve the meeting agenda, seconded by Mr. Paul Stavovy and adopted unanimously. Mr. Knight made a motion to adopt the December 7th draft minutes, seconded by Mr. Tom Gale and adopted unanimously. Public Comments NONE Old Business Suzanne Rogers showed the committee a five-minute promotional video for the City of Wilmington’s Homeownership Pool (HOP). Strategic Plan The committee reviewed the draft Workforce Housing Advisory Committee Strategic Plan and requested the following updates: • Change "decreased number of demolitions and/or condemnation" to "number of houses rehabilitated". • Define "workforce" at the bottom of the chart. • Use colors that have less of a positive/negative association. Ms. Krysti Keser made a motion to adopt the strategic plan, with requested updates. Seconded by Mr. Knight and adopted unanimously. Annual Report Preparation Staff presented a draft outline for the report which includes: *Message from the Chair *Strategic Plan *Bowen Report Update *New Hanover County Housing Program Updates *City of Wilmington Housing Program Updates *Next Steps/Recommendations 2 Pending calendar approval, the goal is to present to City Council and the Board of Commissioners at their second February meeting. The Board of Commissioners and City Council will receive the same report and presentation so recommendations should be high level and not organization specific. The committee discussed potential recommendations. Discussions included: • Establishing a specific pool of funding for Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects. • Including previous recommendations with the potential bond menu of programs. • Highlight the impact of ARPA funding over the past two years. • Gap funding recommendation not limited to LIHTC. Can present individual projects to the elected officials for a unique project. • Recommendations in the chart that the group developed/presented previously. • Importance of a selection menu for the electees. • Recommendations should focus mostly on policy since timing of the report does not align with the budget cycle. • Show ARPA funding accomplishments that will be discontinued as funding phased out. • Highlight private market funding. • Prioritize production of units. • Covid-related funding and programs ending, including ARPA. • Rental/housing assistance money abuse. • Financial literacy expansion programs. • Discussion of Healthy Opportunities initiative. Committee members were encouraged to consider recommendations and priorities to discuss at the February meeting. New Business Education and Awareness Update Ms. Keser updated the subcommittee’s meeting. • Discussed public comments submitted regarding housing in the city and county. • Website precedent research underway. Announcements • Ms. Liz Carbone announced that the Cape Fear Housing Coalition is still planning the details of the annual Legislative Breakfast. Details to be announced in the coming weeks. • Tom Gale won the 2022 Regional Service Award from the NC REALTORS Association. Adjourn Mr. Gale made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Ms. Katrina Knight. The meeting was adjourned at 4:51PM.