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MINUTES
HOUSING FUND BOARD
Regular Meeting — Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
Commissioners' Chambers, Jefferson County Courthouse
1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368 (Hybrid)
Housing Fund Board Members: (* indicates present at the meeting)
Greg Brotherton—Chair Viki Sonntag * Julia Cochrane
Amy Howard—Vice Chair * Audrey Morford
Neil Nelson * Heather Dudley-Nollette
CALL TO ORDER: Vice Chair Amy Howard called the Joint Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend
Housing Fund Board(HFB)to order.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Vice Chair Howard called for public comments, and two comments
were received.
DISCUSSION re: Funding requests: Finance Director Judy Shepherd presented a financial overview
of Funds 148 (affordable housing)and 149 (homeless housing), noting current expenditures,budget
balances, and unallocated funds for major projects like Casa Collina and Caswell Brown Village. She
reported that while revenues are tracking closely to the budget and interest earnings are strong,the
county's emergency shelter has already exceeded its allocated funding and will likely require an
additional $66,000 to operate through June. She answered questions posed by the Board. The consensus
of the Board was to use more of the funds in the reserve. The members will work on potential funding
strategies and report at a future meeting.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting Minutes of January 22,2025,February 26,2025,
March 26,2025, and Special Meeting of January 3,2025: Member Sonntag moved to approve all the
meeting minutes as presented. Member Dudley-Nollette seconded the motion. The motion carried.
REVIEW re: Housing Task Force applicants: Following the last meeting,there were three applicants
for the open lived experience positions: Tamara Allen, who was previously a client; Lita Fetherolf, who
participated in a needs assessment as someone with significant under-housed experience; and Galen
Goodwick,who mentioned "lived experience" as a special skill alongside technical proficiencies,though
the specific nature of his lived experience is unclear.
After discussion,Member Sonntag moved to recommend two lived experience positions and nominate
Tamara Allen and Lita Fetherolf. Member Nelson seconded the motion. The motion carried. It was
noted that may be an ability to pay the stipend for members with lived experience.
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Housing Fund Board—Regular Meeting Minutes of April 23, 2025 La
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DISCUSSION re: Housing Task Force—next steps: The group addressed a delay in the planned
meeting schedule, originally intended to begin in April but now pushed into May. To make up for lost
time, members concurred to holding two meetings in May -one for introductory alignment, and the
second to present results from the needs assessment and data analysis. They also touched on logistical
coordination for setting up a recurring meeting schedule.
Additionally, a subcommittee is working on the technical data elements and collaborating with service
providers and with the lead at OlyCAP.
NEW BUSINESS ITEMS: Not discussed.
OLD BUSINESS ITEMS: Not discussed.
COMMITTEE UPDATES: The meeting addressed several key updates and ongoing projects. Member
Dudley-Nollette updated the Board on the Urban Rest Stop project discussion scheduled for the
following day,with the location tentatively set at OlyCAP's office. Member Cochrane provided an
update on a potential positive development regarding the Legion extending the date for the congregate
shelter project, contingent on a specific construction timeline. Concerns were raised about the design of
the congregate shelter,particularly regarding its ability to serve diverse populations and the lack of
public input or consideration of lived experiences in the design process.
The Board also discussed the importance of data collection and reporting from service providers,
drawing a comparison to the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee's approach of actively working
with fund recipients to establish relevant and meaningful data metrics. The suggestion was made to
request regular reports from OlyCAP to better understand how funds are being utilized and to inform the
development of the five-year plan, ensuring that resource allocation aligns with identified needs and
objectives. Integrating these reports with the five-year plan's objectives would provide a clearer picture
of service delivery and highlight existing gaps.
Member Sonntag provided an update on the recent data needs assessment sessions, with the
understanding that a report summarizing the findings would be presented as a draft during the second
Housing task Force meeting, focused on the five-year plan.
NEXT STEPS/CLOSING REMARKS: Member Dudley-Nollette offered a new meeting room setup,
that that they can face the audience.
Vice Chair Howard opened the floor for public comments, and one comment was received.
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Vice Chair Howard adjourned the meeting at 4:12 p.m. until the next
regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
Respectfully submitted by:
Adiel McKnight, Deputy Clerk of the Board Date
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