Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement of the Regional Housing Council
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Resolution authorizing an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement of the Regional Housing Council.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Resolution authorizing an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement of the Regional Housing Council.
Staff Contact:
Darian Lightfoot, Director of Housing and Homeless Response, 360.280.8951
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
On March 6, 2018, the Olympia City Council passed Ordinance No. 7127, as authorized under RCW 82.14.530 to be used for the Olympia Home Fund to construct affordable and supportive housing and housing related services.
In 2020, Thurston County and the Cities of Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Yelm
entered into an Interlocal Agreement which dissolved the Health and Human Services Council, the Community Investment Partnership, and created the Regional Housing Council (RHC). The RHC agrees to mutually share decision making responsibilities related to homelessness and affordable housing in Thurston County, collaborate to expand affordable housing options, and share the planning for, activities and programs intended to support individuals experiencing homelessness in Thurston County.
On January 26, 2022, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners passed Ordinance No. 16128, as authorized under RCW 82.14.530 to be used for the Thurston County Home Fund to construct affordable and supportive housing and housing‐related services.
The City of Olympia Council approved a Resolution of Intent on January 12, 2022, to bring their Home Fund dollars to the Regional Housing Council in coordination with the County’s Home fund to achieve a regional decision-making process on these combined funds.
This second amendment to the agreement is needed to create an administrative/executive arm to effectively guide the Regional Housing Council on funding recommendations.
In this agreement the jurisdictions agree that it is mutually beneficial to share decision making responsibilities related to homelessness and affordable housing, agree to collaborate to expand affordable housing options throughout the county, and agree that by collaborating, these activities and programs will be delivered more efficiently and effectively and the costs and impacts of managing them will be shared equitability.
Climate Analysis:
This amendment has no direct effect on any of the climate work outlined in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan. However, the RHC and advisory boards will establish priorities in the request for proposals being released this summer which will include the funding of new housing projects. When creating the scoring criteria, the TCMP goals reducing carbon emissions in buildings and land use should be considered and prioritized for funding allocation.
Equity Analysis:
For this governing body to become beholden to the housing and homeless response efforts needed in the community to truly make a difference, there needs to be explicitly stated goals and expectations outlined in the Interlocal Agreement. The RHC has yet to establish a workplan and agreed upon benchmarks and performance measures allowing the body to make decisions often based on politics instead of equity and best practices. A future amendment should require these metrics.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The Regional Housing Council will now oversee most funding sources in Thurston County related to housing and homelessness, both topics that are of great community interest. The RHC has developed robust advisory boards to help set funding priorities and ensure the process is equitable and transparent.
Financial Impact:
This new collaboration with the RHC remits the two largest funding sources, Home Fund and 1406, currently funding housing and homeless response in the City of Olympia. The City will retain 30% of the Home Fund revenue to pay for homeless response and the operation of the Tiny Home Villages for the next 3 years. However, the approximately $2.6 million the City has used for local housing projects and urgent response will now be included in the RHC funding portfolio for county-wide disbursement for housing and homeless response related projects.
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement of the Regional Housing Council.
2. Approve with amendments the Resolution Authorizing an Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement of the Regional Housing Council.
3. Take no action.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement