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CLEAR Temp: 79 °F Wind: NNW at 4 mph Wednesday, May 21, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend June 7, 2002 Ashland targets affordable housing Coordinator position will implement plan to deal with shortage detailed in analysis of city options By TONY BOOM Mail Tribune ASHLAND — Minutes before they approved the 2002-2003 budget Tuesday, City Council members added $40,000 to fund a new position — affordable housing coordinator. Members said it was the only way to ensure that plans to create affordable housing in Ashland are actually implemented. "Without the position, we would be unable to go forward with momentum that has been established by an excellent housing commission," said Councilman Don Laws. The new coordinator will implement an action plan that’s under development based on a housing needs analysis done this year. The council allocated $30,000 for the analysis and the action plan in the 2001-2002 budget. "This decision means that the city will look beyond planning and strategizing and will be in a position to start implementing some of the plans," said Rich Rohde of Oregon Action, which promotes social issues in the Rogue Valley. Young families are unable to afford the city’s increasing home prices, the housing analysis found. It said up to 800 low-cost rental units are needed to keep those earning near minimum wage from relocating elsewhere. The affordable housing coordinator will be hired on a contract basis, rather than as a regular employee. Work will probably begin early next year, after the housing commission and the council have approved an action plan. It should be finished in late August. The funds should allow the person to work full time for six months and have some administrative support, said Planning Director John McLaughlin. Duties will be based on the action plan. "The housing commissioners hope they will find a way to partner with others, both nonprofits or developers, to assist with affordable housing," said McLaughlin. McLaughlin anticipates the report will suggest two broad strategies for affordable housing in addition to specific recommendations. One strategy will be coordinating city efforts with nonprofit agencies and foundations offering grants. The other will be adopting regulations that encourage affordability. "The person will have to make sure that what we are doing in land use has some basis in reality that will work in the development community," he said. The city’s planning department is set up to develop and enforce standards, McLaughlin said. "To go into the development business of raising money to build new housing is not a duty we are really geared up for at this point." A housing trust proposal will be included in the action plan, said Rohde. More than 150 cities in the United States have housing trusts that receive regular allocations of public money, he said. A real estate transfer tax may be suggested in the action plan as a way to generate funds, said McLaughlin. But current state legislation prohibits cities from passing such taxes. Laws said he could not recall a similar addition to a budget committee recommendation except for urgent situations. Budget committee members had not recommended the position in their final proposal. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times