08. August Agenda
NEW HANOVER COUNTY PLANNING & LAND USE
AGENDA
COUNTY-CITY WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Conference Room 500, 230 Government Center Dr., Wilmington, NC
August 3, 2022 3:00 PM
Estimated
Minutes
5 I. Call to Order
Establish Quorum
5 II. Approve Agenda
5 III. Approve Minutes
June 1, 2022
45 IV. Public Comments
45 V. New Business
Election of Chair and Vice Chair
Establish New Hanover County Housing Services Program RFP Review
Subcommittee
Discussion Items
o Public Awareness and Existing Resources
o Advocacy Subcommittee Updates
15 VI. Announcements
VII. Adjourn
Attachments:
Draft Minutes of June 1, 2022 Meeting
Final RFP Workforce Housing Services Program
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.
NEWHANOVERCOUNTY-CITYOFWILMINGTONWORKFORCEHOUSINGADVISORYCOMMITTEE
JUNE1,2022|REGULARMEETING
Committee Members Present: Sarah Arthur,Sharm Brantley, Melanie James, Eric Knight, Katrina Knight,
Frank Smith, Paul Stavovy
Staff Present:Tufanna Bradley (NHC),Karlene Ellis Vitalis (NHC), Rachel LaCoe (NHC), Suzanne Rogers
(CoW), Rebekah Roth (NHC), Sarah Lipkin Sularz (NHC), Andrew Zeldin (NHC), Marissa Wiater (NHC)
Others: Nina Herzog,Vanessa Lacer (Pender County)
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 3:20p.m. by Chairperson Brantley and quorum was established.
Agenda Approval and Minutes
EricKnight made a motion to approve the June agenda, seconded by Paul Stavovy and adopted
unanimously.
Public Comments
Nina Herzog stated that there is a definite lack of affordable multi-family dwellings for those who earn
$35,000 to $60,000becauseluxury apartments and new construction aredriving up market rate prices
for established units. Ms. Herzog
and start building basic affordable living without having twoor threejobs.
New Business
Item: Update to Committee By-Laws and Interlocal Agreement
Rachel LaCoe discussed the proposed updates to the committee by-lawsand interlocal agreement.Minor
changesmay bebrought to City and County managers for approvalwhile the substantial changes would
need to be adoptedby the elected boards.
The committee discussed the following updates:
Draft Interlocal Agreement amendment request
o Income RangeUpdate to 0% 120%AMI
o Duties of the committee 3.5.5 (Article 5.2 in the bylaws)
o Chair or designee for community relationship advisory committee
Draft Bylaws amendment request
o Chair or Designee for the Community Relations Advisory Committee (3.2)
o Allow for Remote participation for committee members
There was concern that the duties of the committee are not clearly outlinedwith no definitive action
items. The committee further discussed the duties outlined in the by-laws and interlocal agreement,
including the work plan, annual written report or presentation, and public awareness campaign.
Tufanna Bradley informed the committeethat the by-laws and interlocal agreements are madegeneral
on purpose so that they can create goals and objectives and can more detail as a committee, but the work
and should stay broad. The committee should create a work plan tofacilitate goals and objectiveswith
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measurables and deliverables that can be presented to the elected officials.After discussion, it was
requested that county strategy staff be invited to assist the committee in finalizing the work plan with
goal setting. County planning staff will coordinate with strategy on potential dates.
The committee discussed the need for a coordinated public awareness campaign. While there is no budget
for outreach at this time, there areexisting resources, including the website, billboards, and social media.
As the committee works out the campaign, County and City staff can put together a budget request this
fall for the next fiscal year.
Ms. Knight mentioned that the Cape Fear Housing Coalition Advocacy Committee is developing15-minute
general affordable housing presentations to deliver to external groupsand invited thecommittee to
review a draft of the presentation.
Ms. LaCoe informed the committee that annual update presentations to the Board of Commissioners and
City Councilhavebeen on hold since COVID but were beginning to be scheduled once again. Discussions
on the best time of year for the annual presentation included April for Fair Housing Month and June for
National Homeownership Month.
To continue moving forward, a subcommittee of Workforce Housing Advisory Committee members would
meet in July to discuss public awareness and advocacy. Katrina Knight, Sharm Brantley, Paul Stavovy,
volunteered to participate. Eric Knight suggested Tom Gale to be included. Communications staff from
the City and County would be invited to a future meeting to continue the discussionof existing resources
and assist the committee in planninga coordinated public awareness campaign.
Action Item:EricKnight made a motion to approve the amendment request for the interlocal agreement
and by-laws for submission as written, seconded by Katrina Knight and adopted unanimously.
Item: Draft Framework for County Workforce Housing Services Program
Ms. LaCoe requested feedback from the committee on the draft framework for countyWorkforce
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Housing Services Program. This draft is scheduled to be presented tocommissioners at theirJune 20
meeting.
This criteria and priorities in the initial funding cycle were based on the findings of the housing study and
survey with a focus on getting units on the ground. The Request for Proposal will not belimitedin scope
to allow for a variety ofproposals thatmay not have been identified in this RFP priority list. The proposals
receivedin this cycle, along with changing market conditions,may change the priorities and criteria of
future funding cycles.
Staff clarified:
Tenant-based rental assistance was specified because it would be difficult to ensure location-
based rental assistance based on the funding structure
In order to provide immediate impact, groundbreaking would need to occur by July 2023
The committee requested the following changes:
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There will be across-functional team of countystaff to reviewthe proposals for eligibility and
completeness in order to prepare asummary andrecommendations for a sub-committee of WHAC
members. It is proposed that the sub-committee be comprised of five members of the WHAC with three
members representing appointments from the Board of Commissioners. Recommendations from the
WHAC sub-committee will be presented to the Board of Commissioners in October 2022 for funding
allocations.
The sub-committee will be selected at the August meeting.
Old Business
None
Announcements
Ms. Knight informed the group that Canopy Point LIHTC annexation is scheduled forCity Council
on the June 7th. The applicantsare looking for people to come to the comment hearing periodto
support the project.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned by Mr. Knight second by Ms. Knight at 4:53pm
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