Council Approves New Version of Housing Action Plan

Lisa Gardner, City Council Communications Director, 509.625.6226

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at 12:19 p.m.

During the City Council Briefing Session, Council approved a new version of the Housing Action Plan (HAP) to add an implementation plan.  The current HAP is more of a report and does not provide clear prioritization.  The Implementation plan provides the first steps to spearhead action with resources to achieve them in a timely matter. 

Summary of strategies in the Implementation Plan include:

  1. Land Use Changes to Support Increased Density Using Infrastructure Priorities
  2. Financial Incentives for Rapid Development of Attainable Housing Using Infrastructure Priorities
  3. Administrative Reform and Resources for Rapid Development Housing
  4. Additional Support of Rental Housing Market
  5. Housing Equity Strategies

The Implementation Plan approval follows the Mayor’s Housing Emergency Proclamation that proposes more than two dozen priority actions recommended by City Council.  

“We commend Mayor and the administration for following Council’s recommendations,” says Council President Breean Beggs.  “Working collaboratively with the Mayor on this housing crisis is significant and we appreciate the swift movement to implement the Council’s plans.

During tonight’s legislative session, Council will consider the priority actions proposed by Mayor Woodward in the Housing Emergency proclamation.