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03. March Agenda NEW HANOVER COUNTY PLANNING & LAND USE AGENDA COUNTY-CITY WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Conference Room 500, 230 Government Center Dr., Wilmington, NC March 2, 2022 3:00 PM Estimated Minutes 5 I. Call to Order Establish Quorum 5 II. Approve Agenda 5 III. Approve Minutes January 5, 2022 February 2, 2022 30 IV. Public Comments 45 V. New Business Meeting Debrief o Cape Fear Housing Coalition Legislative Update & Breakfast o Joint Board of Commissioners/City Council Meeting 5 VI. Announcements VII. Adjourn Attachments: Draft Minutes of Updated January 5, 2022 Meeting Draft Minutes of Updated February 2, 2022 Meeting tǒƩƦƚƭĻʹ 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. New Hanover County-City of Wilmington Workforce Housing Advisory Committee January 5, 2022 Regular Meeting Committee Members Present:Tom Gale, Melanie James, Kristen Keser,Katrina Knight, Frank Smith, Paul Stavovy, Staff Present:Tuffana Bradley (NHC), Rachel LaCoe (NHC), Margaret Peth (NHC), Suzanne Rogers (CoW), Ron Satterfield (CoW), Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:11pm byMs. Brantley and quorum was established through roll call. PublicComments None Agenda Approval and Minutes Committee membersdiscussed editing the December minutes, includingchanging the description of the poll discussed in the ballot initiative section to describe it more neutrally and not as showing lack of supportbecause of the small margin of approval. Committee members also requested the meeting minutes more comprehensi poll as compared to that of the chamber. Tom Gale made a motion to amend the minutes. Ms. LaCoe stated that she would amend the minutes and provide them for committee members prior to n New Business: City of Wilmington Consolidated Planning Process: Ms.Rogersgave an overview ofongoing housing programs in the City of Wilmington. These programs include loan programs that provide loans to homeowners and homebuyers, loans for rehabilitation (including loans to nonprofits), and loans to incentivize affordable housing development. All housing efforts total approximately $2.5 million annually,including all funding sources. Ms. Rogers noted that the City Council has provided increased funding for affordable housing over the last few years. Ms. Rogers discussed the opportunities facing the City of Wilmington in the coming years, including increasing home ownership, rehabilitation, and reducing led paint exposure. Challenges facing affordable housing inventory, and loss of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH). Ms. Rogers also discussed increasing multi-family affordable housing units through tax credits and land use ordinances. Committee members discussed different funding mechanisms to incentivize affordable housing development, including CDBG and local funding that other communities are leveragingto provide tax creditsto developers.Committee members also discussed funding available through the Housing Authority, including borrowing for projects that include affordable housing. Ms. Rogers also discussed the five-year plan for CDBG focused on serving homeowners <80% and victims of violence and abuse, and homelessness. CDBG funding is somewhat flexible, and while it has some restrictions it is a useful tool for affordable housing funding. Committee members discussed how it increases access to housing but does not help to create new housing supply. Ms. Rogers discussed HOMEfunding which focuses on new construction, rental, rehab, and homeownership assistance. HOME ARP includes an addition $5 Billion for communities across the United States. This funding is more flexible than conventional HOME fundingand available until 2030. Wilmington will receive $2.5 million, and the North Carolina Finance Agency will administer $65.6 millionto non-entitlement communities. Ms. Rogers noted that the City of Wilmington will complete a planning process that includes citizen participation, needs assessment, a housing market analysis, a strategic plan, and an annual action plan that will allocate funding. Committee members discussed the available funding and the ability to layer different funding mechanisms, and county and city owned propertiesthat could host affordable housing units. Committee members discussed purchasing properties for rehabilitation and how areas can be acquired for that purpose, and what the existing policies are around that kind of acquisition. Nonprofitsand developers of all sizes could also rehabilitate dilapidated homes through layering various programs and funding sources, granted they are able to do allthe necessary leg work.Committee members discussed the difficulty in pulling together existing funding sources to make them sufficient in the existing market. ctivity to increase the appeal of high-densitydevelopment and in fill development, like other cities have done. Housing Work Plan Agenda: Ms. LaCoe continueddiscussions for thehousing work plan could be used any potentialfunding source, including ones with fewer restrictions than the proposed bond. Committee members discussed the ongoing work that community organizations have done, and how that work can be conveyed to city and county officials.Committee membersnoted that developers might be interested in tax credit developments if they knew that they could count on the city or county to provide gap financing. Committee members noted that theywould like the opportunity to present to the joint elected official working groupwhere WHAC could showcase theprogress that is currently being made with existing funding. Committee members discussed where the community stands on affordable housing and the progress that is currently being made, and has been made over the past few years and how that progress can be used to show how additional funding could increase existing capacity across nonprofits and government offices. Committee member discussed the recent community endowment and their funding process, priorities, and capabilities. Ms. Knight expressed concern that officials may be placing the burden of funding affordable housing on to the endowment to avoid placing the bond on the ballot. Committee members talked about community education and how to inform the public about the issue of affordable housing and existing efforts to address affordable housing, potentially through a bond education effort. Committee members discussed showing elected officials that a pilot program is not necessary, given the existing efforts and outputs of nonprofits and existing city programs. Committee members also discussed how a reliable source of funding for affordable housing could attract developers. Committee members discussed the upcoming meeting of the joint elected officialworking group.Mr. Gale suggested gathering numbers and creating a presentation to show how effective existing efforts are addressing the issue of affordable housing and how additional funding could aid in those efforts. Committee members also discussed how revolving funds could be earmarked to ensure that they continue to be used for affordable housing. Committee members discussed the community endowment and potential funding sources. Announcements None Adjournment With no further questions or comments, Ms.Kesermade a motion to adjournseconded by Katrina Redmond. The meeting was adjournedby Tom Galeat 4:46 P.M. New Hanover County-City of Wilmington Workforce Housing Advisory Committee February 2, 2022 Regular Meeting Committee Members Present:Sharm Brantley, Phillip Brown, Ashley Daniels,Tom Gale,Melanie James, Kristen Keser,Eric Knight, Katrina Knight,Frank Smith,Paul Stavovy Staff Present:Tuffana Bradley (NHC), Rachel LaCoe (NHC), Margaret Peth (NHC), Suzanne Rogers (CoW), Rebekah Roth (NHC),Ron Satterfield (CoW) Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 3:25pm byTom Galeand quorum was established. Agenda Approval and Minutes Eric Knight made a motion to approve the agenda seconded by Kristen Keser. Katrina Knight made a motion to approve the December 08, 2022 minutes, seconded by Eric Knight Public Comments None New Business Presentation by JC Lyle from WARM: JC Lyle provided a presentation detailing the mission and recent activities of WARM (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry). Ms. Lyle provided information about affordable housing preservation efforts, health and safety repairs and upgrades, and community partnerships. Ms. Lyle provided additional information about the opportunities and challenges facing WARM. WARM recently acquired a new parcel of land located near the Cape Harbor Apartments that they intend to use as a warehouse and new WARM headquarters. Ms. Lyle invited committee members to provide input on what additional needs this new space could meet. Committee members asked questions regarding security, and the potential benefit of taller ceilings. Old Business Housing Work Plan: Ms. LaCoerequested creating a high-level, scalable housing workplan forproposals for potential or city or county fundingincludingidentifying potentialfunding that may not be included in existing framework. Ms. LaCoe suggested proposal deadlines for January and July. Committee members discussed timelines for proposal deadlines andnoted that January and February arealready busy times for housing funding requests.Committee members also discussed concerns over having bi-annual RFPs as opposed to revolving funding, including the concern that bi-annual proposals might not be flexible enough to respond to the market to allow smaller organizations to utilize funds.Committee members also discussed concerns that bi-annual funding would work better for larger developers who are able to predict needs that far out, and smaller organizations may not have that same ability.Ms. LaCoe noted that it may be easier to administerbiannual application periodsthan rolling deadlinesand the priorities of the framework could change as the market changes. Committee members discussed the importance of creating a strong scoring rubric. Committee members also discussed how to track the success of programs, and discussed tracking funding and output as well as the general housing stock. Committee members discussed whether the best strategy would be to put all funding into one bucket of funding or provide micro funding across all funding priorities. Dr. Brown noted that the committee needs to set metrics for success so that the committee can determinewhat has been a success. Committee members discussed how even with the proposed $50 Million bondthe loss of affordable housing units would only be slowed by approximately 30%(currently 1,075 affordable housing units lost annually). Committee members discussed addressing the root issues in the community affecting affordable housing including jobs and community educationabout the impact of housing on other social issues. Committee members discussed what options provide different strengths including the most efficient methodsfor creating affordable units (LIHTC), homeownership for building generational wealth, and how the affordable housing narrative can be reframed. Announcements Ms. Knight announcedthe upcoming legislative breakfast which will be held at UNCW on February 18, 2022. The legislative breakfast will feature speakers discussing the issue of affordable housing form various perspectives. Adjournment With no further questions or comments, Ms. Knight made a motion to adjourn,seconded by Mr. Knight. The meeting was adjourned at 4:39 P.M.