ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Community Development with a Request to Concur with the Recommendation from the Fair Housing Commission to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending CHAPTER 17 of the CODE of the City of Peoria, Relating to the HOUSING COMMISSION.
Body
BACKGROUND: In 2019, the Fair Employment and Housing Commission was split into two separate Commissions: the Fair Housing Commission and the Fair Employment Commission. Each Commission was tasked with reviewing the duties of the new Commission.
Upon review and input from City staff, it was determined that the current duties of the Fair Housing Commission are duplicative of state functions of the enforcement of fair housing and that there was no current enforcement mechanism for the City in this role.
While continuing to work on Fair Housing issues and directing any local complaints to legal resources and the state process, Commissioners reviewed three options presented by staff for moving forward:
1) Do nothing and keep the Fair Housing Commission as it stands.
2) Create a Housing Commission and keep the Fair Housing Commission
3) Create a new Housing Commission with expanded duties for both fair housing and affordable housing.
The Commission voted to move forward with option three to create a new commission that includes fair housing, but also expands the scope of the Commission to focus on affordable housing.
The Commission duties outline items such as assisting in developing a comprehensive housing strategy, review of plans and reports submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and publishing educational materials about fair housing. The Commission will also continue to perform the review of the data collected regarding the enforcement of section 20 and section 17 as agreed with Hope Fair Housing.
The newly created commission will expand to 11 members. The membership of the Commission is recommended as outlined below:
1. Individuals with the following interests are required:
a. Three representatives of neighborhood interests.
b. One representative of fair housing interests.
2. Individuals with the following interests are optional:
a. One representative of tenant interests.
b. One representative of landlord interests.
c. One representative who is a licensed realtor
d. One representative of special needs housing interests.
e. One representative of lending/financing interests.
f. One representative of construction interests.
g. One representative from the local housing authority
h. One representative of affordable housing interests
Attached is a memo from the current Commission that outlines additional information about the request.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The adoption of the new ordinance will not have a direct financial impact.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: Neighborhood concerns can be represented on the commission in neighborhood interest positions and through attendance at commission meetings.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: The new City of Peoria Housing Commission would be created.
IMPACT IF DENIED: The new City of Peoria Housing Commission would not be created, and the Fair Housing Commission would remain.
ALTERNATIVES: None identified at this time.
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2017 - 2032 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Beautiful Peoria
2. Grow Peoria
3. Financially Sound City Government
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Reinvest in neighborhoods.
2. Have an efficient government.
3. Choose an item.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development