PRESENTER: Presenter
Jeff Jewell, Director of Economic and Community Development
Body
SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and consider recommended changes to the Bylaws of the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee and approval of the recommendation of Stephen Brockman as committee’s Chair
Header
DEPARTMENT: Economic and Community Development
Body
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
City Council created the Workforce Housing Advisory Committee (WHAC) to address the community’s affordable and workforce housing needs. The committee first convened in early 2020 and has met regularly since.
ISSUE:
The changes are proposed to ensure the committee can continue to meet on a regular basis and to clarify some outstanding questions that have arisen as it has operated. Specifically, the major revisions/changes are as proposed:
1. Reduces committee membership from 15 to 11;
2. Requires representatives from six community institutions/bodies: New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation, New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, New Braunfels Housing Authority, New Braunfels Utilities, Planning Commission, and Habitat for Humanity;
3. Amends residency requirement to include residents of the Extra Territorial Jurisdiction;
4. Separates Qualifications from Membership and establishes a new section (3.02) that delineates the qualifications of those applicants that will be considered by City Council;
5. Clarifies that the designated organizations can have a maximum of one representative on the Committee;
6. Clarifies that if qualified applicants are not available to represent the aforementioned organizations, the City Council may appoint additional at-large committee members;
7. Removes “unexcused” absences;
8. Clarifies that special called meetings do not count against a member for attendance requirement purposes;
9. Specifies that the Committee will accept nominations and put forward a slate of candidates (or candidate) for City Council’s consideration for the Chair position; and
10. Minor grammatical and spelling corrections.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The Workforce Housing Advisory Committee met on August 18, 2021 to consider the proposed changes. The recommended changes were approved by a 8-0 vote.