K. Sellner, E. 5th St., Frederick. I applaud the Council for the resolution supporting the Mayor’s Housing Task Force report recommendations. As I have stated several times to you, in order to “Explore and develop innovative financing tools—including Tax Increment Financing, Community Development Financial Institution partnerships, PILOT programs, fee-waiver and deferral frameworks, and recordation tax relief—to support affordable housing projects,” commit to providing 2-3% of each year’s general annual revenues, >$5 M of the City’s rainy day fund, and the following to actually provide housing for those making less than 30% AMI: 1) collect 2.5% of all hotel taxes collected from AirB&B and VBRO rentals (see the 2018 Short-Term Residential Rental report), 2) establish a City voucher program as a pilot for 10-20 eligible lowest income individuals or families, and 3) reassess and tax vacant lands equivalent to values of the surrounding neighborhood. The cross-departmental housing implementation team as well as the affordable housing commission with its ‘housing navigator’ are also excellent first steps that should ensure the 5 City properties are quickly identified in RFPs for affordable housing. Finally, provide more staff specifically committed to weekly to biweekly affordable housing communication, proposal submissions, RFP production, managing collected funds, and distributing incentives and collected affordable housing funds to quality developers and builders.
K. Sellner, E. 5th St., Frederick. I applaud the Council for the resolution supporting the Mayor’s Housing Task Force report recommendations. As I have stated several times to you, in order to “Explore and develop innovative financing tools—including Tax Increment Financing, Community Development Financial Institution partnerships, PILOT programs, fee-waiver and deferral frameworks, and recordation tax relief—to support affordable housing projects,” commit to providing 2-3% of each year’s general annual revenues, >$5 M of the City’s rainy day fund, and the following to actually provide housing for those making less than 30% AMI: 1) collect 2.5% of all hotel taxes collected from AirB&B and VBRO rentals (see the 2018 Short-Term Residential Rental report), 2) establish a City voucher program as a pilot for 10-20 eligible lowest income individuals or families, and 3) reassess and tax vacant lands equivalent to values of the surrounding neighborhood. The cross-departmental housing implementation team as well as the affordable housing commission with its ‘housing navigator’ are also excellent first steps that should ensure the 5 City properties are quickly identified in RFPs for affordable housing. Finally, provide more staff specifically committed to weekly to biweekly affordable housing communication, proposal submissions, RFP production, managing collected funds, and distributing incentives and collected affordable housing funds to quality developers and builders.