AGENDA #7
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Amendment Regarding a Change in the Name and Charge of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board to the Public Housing Program Advisory Board
DATE: March 27, 2006
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to respond to a petition received from the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board on February 13, 2006 (please see Attachment 1).
Enactment of the attached ordinance would amend Article XI of Chapter 2 of the Town Code regarding the name, duties and powers of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board. The name of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board would be changed to the Public Housing Program Advisory Board.
BACKGROUND
On February 13, 2006, the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board petitioned the Council regarding a change in the charge of the Board. In the petition, the members of the Board asked the Council to revise the Board’s charge to reflect its actual duties and responsibilities.
The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board functions primarily as an advisory board for the public housing program. However, the Board’s name implies that its scope is broader than the public housing program and also includes community-wide affordable housing issues.
The involvement of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board in the Community Development Block Grant Program and community-wide housing issues is minimal. The members of the Board believe that its limited involvement in community-wide housing issues has made it difficult to attract and retain Board members.
DISCUSSION
The Housing and Community Development Advisory Board has asked the Council to revise the charge of the Board. The members of the Board believe the name of the Board is misleading to some applicants who are interested in participating on an advisory board that focuses on a broad scope of affordable housing issues.
In the February 13, 2006 memorandum to the Council, the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board recommended two separate boards. One board would be a Public Housing Program Advisory Board that would advise the Council on public housing issues. The other would be a Community Development and Affordable Housing Advisory Board that would advise the Council on the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Programs and community-wide affordable housing issues.
We agree that the board that advises the Council on public housing issues should not also advise the Council on the Community Development Block Grant Program and community-wide affordable housing issues. Therefore, we are recommending that the name of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board be changed to the Public Housing Program Advisory Board. We are also recommending that the duties of the Board be changed as noted in the attached ordinance.
Regarding the Community Development Block Grant Program, in the past, the Council has asked the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board to review and provide a recommendation on annual plans and program amendments for the Community Development Program and the HOME Program. The Advisory Board also reviews citizen comments presented at the Council’s January and March public forums. Federal regulations do not require an advisory board review process. Therefore, we are not recommending the creation of a Community Development and Affordable Housing Advisory Board at this time. We recommend that we examine the need for a new board, staffing implications and possible duties of such an advisory board following the conclusion of the work of the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council enact the attached ordinance amending Chapter 2, Article XI of the Town Code of Ordinances. The name of the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board would be changed to the Public Housing Program Advisory Board.
ATTACHMENT