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08. August 2022 minutes NEW HANOVER COUNTY-CITY OF WILMINGTON WORKFORCE HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE August 3, 2022 | REGULAR MEETING Committee Members Present: Sarah Arthur, Liz Carbone, Tom Gale, Melanie James, Kristen Keser, Eric Knight, Katrina Knight, Katrina Redmon, Frank Smith, Paul Stavovy, Edwrin Sutton Staff Present: Jonas Bryson (CoW), Rashad Gattison (NHC), Rachel LaCoe (NHC), Sarah Lipkin Sularz (NHC), Jessica Loeper (NHC), Theo McClammy (NHC), Jerod Patterson (CoW), Marissa Wiater (NHC), Lauren McConville (NHC), Suzanne Rogers (CoW), Rebekah Roth (NHC), Ron Satterfield (CoW) Call to Order A quorum was established and the meeting was called to order at 3:01 p.m. by Katrina Knight. Agenda Approval and Minutes Ms. Knight made a motion to approve the August agenda and minutes, seconded by Mr. Edrwin Sutton. One grammatical error was noted and made by staff to the minutes. Ms. Katrina Redmon asked the August minutes to reflect that there was no July meeting of the WHAC held. Minutes were adopted unanimously. Public Comments None New Business Item: Election of Chair and Vice Chair Ms. Sharm Brantley was nominated for the position of Chair by Mr. Tom Gale, seconded by Kristen Keser and voted unanimously. Mr. Tom Gale nominated for the position of Vice Chair by Ms. Katrina Redmon, seconded by Ms. Knight and voted unanimously. Item: Establish New Hanover County Services Program RFP Review Subcommittee Planner Rachel LaCoe reminded the WHAC that the Board of Commissioners approved a five person subcommittee with a minimum of three county appointees to review Housing Services Program RFP submittals and asked for volunteers to serve. Members of the subcommittee include: 1. Sharm Brantley – County Representative 2. Frank Smith – County Representative 3. Edrwin Sutton – County Representative 4. Sarah Arthur – City Representative 5. Katrina Knight – City Representative Planner Sarah Lipkin Sularz will schedule the time and date of the review with members of the subcommittee for early September. Item: Discussion Items Members of the advocacy subcommittee gave updates from their July meeting, including: • Existing resources and need for messaging that is consistent messaging with other housing groups o Cape Fear Housing Coalition speaker's bureau • Develop coordinated events with other affordable housing organizations and existing events: o Housing Finance Fair with the City of Wilmington and Cape Fear Realtors o Lenders Fair at the MLK Center, tentative October date. Item: Public Awareness and Existing Resources Jessica Loeper from New Hanover County communications team suggests the group starts by determining the primary two or three messages that they want to convey. Ms. Loeper reminded the committee to narrow the key messaging for the public education campaign vs a presentation delivered in person. Ms. Loeper requested the group consider: • What do you want to accomplish? • Who do you want to reach? Tools and Tactics for the Subcommittee to consider before their next meeting: • Social Media, Billboards, News releases, Interviews • Initial push is education on what is “Workforce Housing” • Starting with education, engagement, then follow-up/next steps • Future county website may have a place for housing to redirect to resources Following committee discussion, an education and advocacy subcommittee meeting would be held on September 14th to present next steps at the October WHAC meeting. Announcements Ms. Knight is attended the City of Wilmington’s August Planning Commission that evening. Wilmington is considering donating a parcel to Good Shepherd to create permanent supportive housing. Ms. Knight noted that while the project will eventually support Good Shepherd, the City is the applicant. If recommended for approval, this item will be heard at the Wilmington City Council on September 6th. Planning Director Rebekah Roth informed the WHAC that a citizen request for text amendment was filed in early August 2022 to include ADU as allowable use in residential zoning districts. Planner Lipkin Sularz has been assigned the case planner and the item will be presented at the New Hanover County Planning Board September Meeting. The application was strictly to allow ADUs in all residential zoning districts, but staff will be recommending additional standards and regulations. At the September meeting, county staff will be presenting multiple staff led UDO maintenance amendments. Of note to the group include an update to number of people in group homes and modernization of the definition of family. Adjourn Meeting was adjourned by Mr. Sutton second by Mr. Knight at 4:03pm.