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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPCD 2021-03-15 Item 1C - Discussion - Follow-Up on King County's Health through Housing Program PresentationCity of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Community Development Committee CC: Mayor Ekberg FROM: Rachel Bianchi, Deputy City Administrator DATE: March 8, 2021 SUBJECT: Follow-up on King County's Health Through Housing Presentation ISSUE On Monday, February 22, 2021 staff from King County presented to the Council an overview of the Health Through Housing Program. King County is seeking to purchase existing hotel/motel buildings within cities on a voluntary basis to provide rapid rehousing for chronically homeless individuals. DISCUSSION King County has indicated — and legislation currently moving forward in Olympia mandates — that implementation of this program within cities must be done on a voluntary basis. Before Tukwila determines whether it will be a "willing city," staff recognizes that the Council and community have many questions that must be answered. Staff recommends that the Committee develop a preliminary set of questions at the March 15, 2021 Planning and Community Development Committee meeting. A draft list is attached to this memo, which was culled from questions asked at the February 22, 2021 meeting, as well as from public social media posts on the topic and public comment received to date. Staff will return to the Committee on April 5, 2021 with available answers. In addition, staff recommends that IF the Council is willing to move forward as a "willing city," that the City remove the Tukwila International Boulevard (TIB) neighborhood and the Central Business District (CBD) from consideration. For various and different reasons, these two areas of the City are not good candidates for this program. The TIB neighborhood continues to be an emerging one, and ongoing planning and zoning deliberations will be coming before the Council later this year. These issues should be resolved to better understand the future of this critical neighborhood in Tukwila. As to the CBD, because this is a critical economic engine for the City and state, and is an employment, retail and entertainment district, it is not a good fit for this program. As Tukwila moves forward with investigating whether to participate in this program, there may be other criteria the Council wants to develop before moving forward with the program. RECOMMENDATION Staff is seeking Committee feedback and addition to the preliminary questions on the Health Through Housing Program as it relates to Tukwila. In addition, staff is seeking Committee guidance on whether it concurs with the recommendation to remove the two areas specified above from consideration. This discussion should not be construed as designating Tukwila a "willing city," but is to provide a framework and basic guidance for initiating discussions with the County on a potential role for Tukwila in this program. ATTACHMENTS Preliminary list of questions on the Health Through Housing Program. 23 24 Preliminary Questions on Health through Housing Program 1. What is the goal? 3/1 PCD 2. What will be the measures of success? 3/1 PCD 3. Where could such a facility be located in Tukwila? 3/1 PCD 4. Should Tukwila residents be prioritized? 3/1 PCD 5. How will safety be ensured for residents both in and near the facility? 3/1 PCD 6. What wraparound services will be available on site? 3/1 PCD 7. Who qualifies for this housing? 3/1 PCD 8. How long does the King County Health Through Housing Program last? Community Member Post 9. Is this long-term housing or temporary shelter housing? Community Member Post 10. How is it funded? Are bonds involved? Community Member Post 11. How many chronically homeless individuals will be served? Community Member Post 12. Are families eligible? Community Member Post 13. What are the maximum income limits to qualify? Community Member Post 14. How many cities might be involved? Community Member Post 15. How many facilities are there likely to be in this effort? Community Member Post 16. Do those who participate need have some form of disability? If so, what forms? Community Member Post 17. Will drug use in the individual units occur? Community Member Post 18. Will the facility have on-site 24/7 staff? Community Member Post 19. Does this program budget an amount of money to be spent (on an annual basis) in support services to each unit? If so, how much? Community Member Post 20. Do participating cities have local referral rights? Community Member Post 21. What zoning designation would such a use fall under? 3/8 Public Comment 22. Would it be considered a shelter or multifamily housing? 3/8 Public Comment 23. Would it be subject to the City's rental housing inspection program? 3/8 Public Comment 24. Where in the City are there such zones currently? 3/8 Public Comment 25. Would the City consider changing zoning solely for such a facility, and if so, how would that not constitute illegal spot zoning? 3/8 Public Comment 26. Have the challenges other communities faced after employing the program been adequately explored? 3/8 Public Comment 27. What kind of services will be offered on site? 3/8 Public Comment 28. Who will provide these services? 3/8 Public Comment 29. Who will be served? 3/8 Public Comment 30. Will the population genders be mixed? 3/8 Public Comment 31. Will children be sheltered with people with substance abuse and behavioral problems? 3/8 Public Comment 32. Will there be barriers to becoming a resident? 3/8 Public Comment 33. Will there be drug tests and background checks to screen for criminal behavior, including sex offenses? Will drug use be allowed on the premises? 3/8 Public Comment 34. What safeguards will protect others, especially if families are allowed in? 3/8 Public Comment 35. Will there be security personnel and counselors on site at all times? 3/8 Public Comment 36. Will sections of a building be off limits for the safety of others? 3/8 Public Comment 37. What exit strategy does the City have if the facility is not good for the community? 3/8 Public Comment 38. Once a facility is acquired by the County, will the City have the ability to alter how it is operated or ask the County to stop operating and sell the property? 3/8 Public Comment 39. lithe County acquires a property in the City of Tukwila, the site will supposedly no longer be subject to paying property taxes. What impact will losing from the tax rolls a commercial property that probably generates a tax revenue for the City have on City finances? 3/8 Public Comment