Title
Discounted General Facility Charges
Recommended Action
Move to approve the recommendation to develop a program to incentivize low-income housing by providing a discount (or exemption) on general facility charges (GFCs) at the time of development.
Report
Issue:
Receive a briefing on a proposal to incentivize low-income housing by providing a discount (or exemption) on general facility charges at the time of development. Provide a recommendation on whether staff should proceed with the proposal.
Staff Contact:
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, (360) 570-3741
Presenter:
Eric Christensen
Background and Analysis:
Public Works Water Resources line of business is proposing to incentivize low-income housing by providing a discount on GFCs at the time of development.
GFCs are connection charges paid by the property owner seeking to connect to the utility system - the charge includes not only the physical connection to the system, but the "equitable share of the cost of such system". GFCs are often cited as a barrier to the development of low-income housing.
RCW 35.92.025 grants cities the authority to charge property owners seeking to connect to the water or sewerage system their equitable share of the cost of such system. RCW35.92.020 grants cities the authority to provide assistance to aid low-income persons in connection with services including GFCs.
The City of Olympia's Comprehensive Plan encourages finding ways to support affordable housing for low-income residents.
Olympia Municipal Code Chapter 15.04.060 defines low-income housing as housing with a monthly housing expense that is no greater than thirty percent (30%) of eighty percent (80%) of the median family income adjusted for family size for Olympia, as reported by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Olympia Municipal Code 15.04.060 allows low-income housing development to be granted a partial exemption of up to eighty percent (80%) of park, transporta...
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