CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM

Department:	City Manager’s Office		Commission Meeting Date:   01/16/2018
Staff Contact:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested:
Adopt on first reading, Ordinance No. 9427, amending Chapter 1, Article 18, Section 1-1802 of the Code of the City of Lawrence increasing the number of members on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to twelve, adding term limits for members, and repealing existing section 1-1802.
Executive Summary:		When the City Commission created the Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB), the intent was to include subject matter experts knowledgeable about affordable housing. Nine (9) seats were established on the board representing the following: the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, Family Promise of Lawrence, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, Tenants to Homeowners, Justice Matters, the Lawrence Homebuilders Associations, and one (1) current or former resident of the subsidized housing.  Over the course of their work, the Board has commented on multiple occasions that they would benefit from the expertise and input from perspectives missing from the board.  Further, when the Board requested proposals for the demonstration project in 2016, four (4) members of the board recused themselves from deliberations because their agencies applied for funding.  This made it difficult to establish a quorum with the remaining members.  To address these concerns, the Board adopted the following goal at their retreat in the fall of 2016:  To expand the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to include up to three (3) more seats for partners such as the Chamber, the University of Kansas, and the Lawrence Board of Realtors by the end of 2017.  The Chamber could provide a business perspective on the need for workforce housing.  The Lawrence Board of Realtors could provide data and insights into the real estate market in Lawrence.  The University of Kansas certainly has an impact on the housing market in Lawrence and a representative of KU could be valuable as the Board continues to collaborate on addressing housing affordability issues.  Ordinance No. 9427 amends the City Code, increasing the number of AHAB members to 12 by adding representatives of the Chamber, the University of Kansas, and the Lawrence Board of Realtors. If adopted, the Mayor will need to make additional appointments and the bylaws of the AHAB will need to be amended accordingly.    Also, in accordance with the adopted policy on advisory boards and committees, the ordinance adds term limits for this board.  Previously, the ordinances specified no term limits for this board.  The City is also in receipt of a request from the United Way for a seat on the AHAB.  Should the Commission wish, the City Commission could direct that seat be added with the other additions to the board, or could direct AHAB to provide a recommendation on the matter prior to action.
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor		Safe, Healthy, and Welcoming Neighborhoods Collaborative Solutions Economic Growth and Security
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source):		The fiscal impact to the City is negligible.
Attachments:		Ordinance No. 9427 United Way correspondence

Reviewed By: (for CMO use only)

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