Agenda - Planning Commission - 09/04/2014

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Last revised July 24, 2014 Appendix A: About the Housing Policy Plan Work Group In contemplating its first housing policy plan update in nearly 30 years, the Council recognized the need to solicit input, ideas, and perspectives from a wide array of stakeholders and in a variety of forums. Among these is the Housing Policy Plan Work Group (HPPWG), a 26-person advisory team created to advise the Council on key housing issues, policies, and implementation options related to the Housing Policy Plan. This diverse work group brought together people from throughout the region, including Metropolitan Council members, local government officials, housing advocates, developers, communities of color, and other regional stakeholders. From its first meeting in July 2013, the group discussed regional and local housing needs, developed key priorities for the Council, contemplated ways to align and better use scarce financial, human, and technical resources, and identified new ways for the Council and its local partners to address regional housing needs through collaboration, partnership, and capacity sharing. The Housing Policy Plan Work Group also engaged and hosted a number of professionals involved in housing finance, policy, and research to enhance the group's familiarity within and across disciplines and to guide the group's efforts in areas such as: • Challenges and opportunities in affordable housing finance, development, operations, & long- term management • Research findings regarding the stock of "naturally occurring affordable housing" and potential means for ensuring the ongoing viability and affordability of this often overlooked affordable resource • The implications of Choice, Place and Opportunity: An Equity Assessment of the Twin Cities Assessment and the need for a concerted, shared, and sustained response • Best practices around housing policies and policy plans from across the nation • Key population trends and changes in preferences that need to be carefully considered in accommodating and planning for regional growth and in developing housing policy The Housing Policy Plan Work Group also assisted in developing strategies and recommendations for three key areas of existing Council involvement in housing —its allocation of affordable housing, through which the Council communicates to local jurisdictions their respective "fair share" of housing affordable to low and moderate income households; its Housing Performance Score system, which is used in evaluating progress toward local and regional housing goals and as part of the ranking and selection of projects under Livable Communities Act programs; and in assessing opportunities to integrate affordable housing criteria into the Regional Solicitation for Transportation Funding. Finally, the Work Group played a critical role in refining the scope, content, preparation, and presentation of this plan. The Council hopes that members of the Housing Policy Plan Work Group will stay actively engaged as the Council moves from publication of the plan to implementation. 2040 HOUSING POLICY PLAN 1 METROPOLITAN COUNCIL DRAFT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Appendices 1 Page 77