Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the Cities of Lacey and Tumwater, and the Thurston Regional Planning Council, for Housing Action Plans
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the resolution authorizing an Interlocal Agreement with the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, and the Thurston Regional Planning Council, for Housing Action Plans and authorize the Interim City Manager to sign the agreement.
Report
Issue:
Whether to enter into an agreement with the cities of Lacey and Tumwater, and the Thurston Regional Planning Council, for a regional approach to completing Housing Action Plans. Olympia’s Housing Action Plan would be funded through a grant from the WA Department of Commerce (which is under consideration by the City Council separately).
Staff Contact:
Leonard Bauer, Interim Director, Community Planning& Development, 360.753.8206
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
The 2019 WA State Legislature approved E2SHB 1923. Among other provisions, this legislation directs the WA Department of Commerce to distribute grants to cities and counties to complete housing action plans.
Together with the Cities of Lacey and Tumwater, Olympia applied for a grant for a regional approach to their housing action plans. The three cities were awarded grants for a total of $300,000. Lacey and Tumwater were awarded $50,000; Olympia was awarded $200,000.
Under this proposed interlocal agreement, Olympia will direct $150,000 of its grant funds to the Thurston Regional Planning Council (TRPC) to complete public outreach, data analysis and other tasks for the three-city region. TRPC’s work products will support the cities’ adoption of individual housing action plans. The detailed scope of work to be performed by TRPC is in Attachment A of the interlocal agreement. All three cities will guide TRPC’s work and share the work products, which each city would then use to adopt its housing action plan.
E2SHB 1923 requires housing action plans to include multiple elements, including a housing needs assessment, which must result in a projection of housing needs by various income levels. It must also develop an income forecast and compare it to housing affordability. The regional approach will result in a menu of strategies to increase the supply of housing and variety of housing types to serve the region’s projected housing needs. Olympia will form its housing action plan from this menu of strategies. The Olympia Comprehensive Plan’s housing element will also be reviewed for potential updates.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is a strong interest in meeting housing affordability needs throughout Olympia and the region.
Options:
1. Approve the resolution and direct the Interim City Manager to sign the Interlocal Agreement with the Cities of Lacey and Tumwater, and Thurston Regional Planning Council, for a regional approach to a housing action plan.
2. Do not approve the resolution.
Financial Impact:
The City will receive a $200,000 grant from the WA Department of Commerce to complete a housing action plan. Under the interlocal agreement Olympia would provide $150,000 of the grant to TRPC for the work outlined in Exhibit A of the agreement. Olympia’s remaining $50,000 grant funds will support city staff work on the city’s housing action plan.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement