AGENDA#3a(2)

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board

                        Carol Siebert, Chairperson

                        Elizabeth Hollers-Welsby, Vice-Chairperson

                        Sarah Donahue

                        Carl Martin

                        Melody Peak

                        Evangelee Shuler

                        Karen Stegman

SUBJECT:      Change in the Charge of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board

DATE:            February 13, 2006

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this memorandum is to ask the Town Council to revise the charge of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board.

BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION

The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board presently has the formal charge of advising the Council on aspects within the Housing and Planning Departments of the Town.

Housing Department – The advisory board makes recommendations to the Council regarding the Capital Fund Program for public housing renovations and resident services and the operating budget for the public housing program.  We also review policy and program changes that affect the residents of public housing as well as promote the needs of the Housing Department and residents.  The advisory board also has the responsibility of serving as a hearing panel for grievance proceedings between the Housing Department and the residents of public housing.  We are staffed by the Housing Department and meet in their offices.

Planning Department – The advisory board makes recommendations to the Council regarding the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Programs.  We meet with the Planning Department’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Coordinator several times a year.  Although we do advise the Council on the CDBG and HOME Programs, it is the opinion of the board that we lack the sufficient staffing, involvement and appropriate representation to effectively advise the Council on these programs.  The board feels we are simply “rubber stamping” proposals because of the myriad of organizations and complexities of housing and community development issues in Chapel Hill. 

We are asking for clarification of our charge because we function primarily as an advisory board for public housing, but our name implies that the scope is much larger.  This misrepresentation of our focus has made it difficult for us to retain members on the board.  Oftentimes applicants to the board express an interest in addressing broader issues of affordable housing.  As a result, we have trouble retaining board members who find the activities of the board are not within their interest areas.  We also have trouble recruiting members who are passionate and informed about public housing.  We would like the Council to evaluate our charge and duties in order for us to effectively recruit board members and to serve the needs of the Council more fully.

RECOMMENDATION

It is the opinion of the Housing and Community Development Board that there needs to be two separate boards to adequately advise the Council on the many and varied housing and community development issues in Chapel Hill.  We believe the two advisory boards could be divided as follows:

Community Development and Affordable Housing Advisory Board

This board’s primary task would be to advise the Council on the CDBG and HOME programs as well as general affordable housing issues.  Currently the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force has been working on one aspect of affordable housing within the confines of the zoning ordinance.  This task force has been received by both the council and the citizens.  It might work well for the Council to extend the work of the Inclusionary Zoning Committee into a permanent advisory board because of the training and members represented and the importance of this issue to the Council and the Town of Chapel Hill.  This board would be best served if staffed by the Planning Department.

Public Housing Advisory Board

This board’s primary task would be to advise the Council on all issues affecting public housing including the Public Housing Capital Fund Program and budget as well as advocate on behalf of the Housing Department and residents.  In addition, the Public Housing Advisory Board would also serve as the Grievance Hearing Panel and be staffed by the Housing Department.

ATTACHMENT

1.         Article XI of the Town Code of Ordinances (p. 3).