4.
City Council Combined Special Meeting/Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 09/28/2021
- From:
- Leah Bloom, Housing Project Manager
- Department:
- Planning & Development Services
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
Update and Review of Flagstaff's Draft 10-Year Housing Plan
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Informational only.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
There is a strong and growing movement among Flagstaff community members, housing advocates, and City Council to ensure all Flagstaff residents have access to affordable housing. On December 1, 2020, City Council declared a Housing Emergency in Flagstaff, committing to prioritizing affordable housing within City operations to create safe, decent, and affordable housing opportunities for all community members.
Although the City has several Housing planning documents, when declaring the Housing Emergency, Flagstaff City Council directed staff to create a single, comprehensive community-facing document to summarize the City's immediate and long-term needs and strategies to improving housing affordability.
For the detailed list of policy initiatives and strategies refer to page 44 of the draft Plan.
Although the City has several Housing planning documents, when declaring the Housing Emergency, Flagstaff City Council directed staff to create a single, comprehensive community-facing document to summarize the City's immediate and long-term needs and strategies to improving housing affordability.
The draft plan discusses how housing is interconnected to health, neighborhoods and equity, sustainability, zoning and land use, and to economic growth. The draft plan provides results regarding;
- Housing data and needs assessment,
- Market rate and subsidized housing gap analysis; and,
- Findings from the City of Flagstaff Housing Survey.
For the detailed list of policy initiatives and strategies refer to page 44 of the draft Plan.
INFORMATION:
Extensive and inclusive public participation has occurred through informal working group meetings, Housing Commission meetings, and the City of Flagstaff's Housing Survey. These interactions have resulted in the creation of Flagstaff's Draft 10-Year Housing Plan.
Informal working groups convened on the topics of housing and health, neighborhood and equity, housing and sustainability, and zoning and land use. Informal working groups were composed of City staff, Housing Commissioners, and community experts. City Housing Section staff and the Economic Vitality Section worked together to discuss the connection between housing and economic growth. The working groups discussed how mutually connected housing is to all the above topics. The groups defined housing barriers and challenges for residents and created policies initiatives and strategies to address the Housing Emergency and advance housing opportunities for all.
The 10-Year Housing Plan Survey collected data from Flagstaff residents on local living conditions, the cost of housing, and household goals. The survey was shared with Flagstaff businesses, multifamily developments, community members, and the service provider network known as the Continuum of Care. The City shared the survey via social media, Housing Authority program participant newsletters, Flagstaff’s Community Forum, and clients of emergency shelters and transitional housing. The survey was available online via Survey Monkey and in print at local libraries and with various service providers. Both English and Spanish surveys were available. 2,949 responses were collected.
The draft 10-Year Housing Plan and the Community Forum Survey can be located on the City's webpage during the public comment period. Upcoming public participation opportunities are:
Informal working groups convened on the topics of housing and health, neighborhood and equity, housing and sustainability, and zoning and land use. Informal working groups were composed of City staff, Housing Commissioners, and community experts. City Housing Section staff and the Economic Vitality Section worked together to discuss the connection between housing and economic growth. The working groups discussed how mutually connected housing is to all the above topics. The groups defined housing barriers and challenges for residents and created policies initiatives and strategies to address the Housing Emergency and advance housing opportunities for all.
The 10-Year Housing Plan Survey collected data from Flagstaff residents on local living conditions, the cost of housing, and household goals. The survey was shared with Flagstaff businesses, multifamily developments, community members, and the service provider network known as the Continuum of Care. The City shared the survey via social media, Housing Authority program participant newsletters, Flagstaff’s Community Forum, and clients of emergency shelters and transitional housing. The survey was available online via Survey Monkey and in print at local libraries and with various service providers. Both English and Spanish surveys were available. 2,949 responses were collected.
The draft 10-Year Housing Plan and the Community Forum Survey can be located on the City's webpage during the public comment period. Upcoming public participation opportunities are:
- Sept. 29 – Nov. 2 – Public Comment Period & Community Forum Survey
- October 5 – Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona
- October 7 – Northern Arizona Association of Realtors
- October 7 – Virtual Public Outreach – City of Flagstaff Commissioners
- October 19 – Friend of Flagstaff’s Future
- October 21 – Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
- October 27 – Virtual Public Outreach
- November 2 – Coconino County Continuum of Care
- November 29 – Housing Commission Meeting for consideration of approval of Final Plan
- December 7 – City Council Consideration of adoption of Final 10 Year Housing Plan