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INFORMATION UPDATE
October 25, 2022
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition Update
InfoMemo_WMRHC Update.docx
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INFORMATION ONLY MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:Elizabeth Axberg, Housing Policy Analyst
THROUGH:Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager
MEMO DATE:October 19th, 2022
RE:West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition Update
REQUEST OF COUNCIL: This memo is informational only. No Council action is
requested.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this informational only memo is to update Council on the
West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition’s (WMR Housing Coalition) status and
ongoing actions.
BACKGROUND:In early 2018, a coalition of communities in Colorado’s Roaring Fork
Valley (from Glenwood Springs to Aspen) began meeting to discuss the opportunities for
regional collaboration and cooperation around the topic of housing. In February 2022,
City Council approved a contribution of $10,000 to create the non-profit organization,
West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition (formerly known as “Greater Roaring Fork
Valley Housing Coalition”). Since fall 2021, the Assistant City Manager has been working
closely with the Coalition and has been the board representative for the City of Aspen
since the Coalition’s first Board meeting in June 2022. The mission of the WMR Housing
Coalition is to work across the region to increase collaboration towards a more
sustainable housing future for all.
DISCUSSION:To date, seven governmental entities and one organization have also
committed $10,000 each and are part of the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition.
This includes Pitkin County, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood
Springs, Eagle County and Colorado Mountain College. The Coalition’s board is made up
of a representative from each of these entities plus one representative from the
community at large. WMR Housing Coalition officially received tax exempt, Colorado
501(c)(3) nonprofit status this summer of 2022.
Right now, WMR Housing Coalition has three priorities: 1) Standing up the coalition; 2)
Developing a strategic plan; 3) Building out a toolkit of development neutral strategies;
and 4) pursuing state and federal grant funding to support the aforementioned efforts.
The Coalition is already the recipient of several planning and administrative grants,
including support from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Recovery
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Roadmaps program and an Innovative Housing Opportunities Program (IHOP) grant from
the Division of Housing. This funding supported contracting technical and planning
assistance from Bohannan Huston Inc. (BHI).
Through this process the Coalition created the Housing Programs/Strategies Toolkit
which provides a list of strategies that align with the Coalitions objectives. Specific future
objectives of the nonprofit range from launching new development neutral housing
programs, supporting new home ownerships, retaining affordable rentals, providing data
and education, promoting housing policies and activities, and generally supporting the
Region’s unique housing needs.
The Coalition also contracted strategic planning consultant John Dougherty to develop a
Strategic Plan for the Housing Coalition. As part of this process, WMR Housing Coalition
will survey regional stakeholders. Survey results will inform the strategic plan content.
West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition is also taking steps to continue building
funding support. This includes creating a local fundraising plan and various grant
proposals that include pursuing DOLA American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding this
winter. The State of Colorado has made an historic investment in affordable housing this
year, and the West Mountain Regional Housing Coalition is positioning itself to take
advantage of some of this funding for our region. Importantly, WMR Housing Coalition
members are encouraged to also apply for the same funding, where available funding
opportunities are of interest to the member agency. Many of the recent funding
opportunities have been focused on planning grants.
The WMR Housing Coalition board meets every 1
st and 3rd Thursday of the month. Visit
the new WMR Housing Coalition website for additional information.
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
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