HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.140-23RESOLUTION #140
SERIES OF 2023
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ASPEN CITY COUNCIL
ACKNOWLEDGING AND SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION BY THE CITY
OF ASPEN FOR A STRONG COMMUNITIES PLANNING GRANT THROUGH
THE STATE OF COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL AFFAIRS.
WHEREAS, within the adopted City of Aspen's Affordable Housing Strategic
Plan (2022-2026), several Action items are identified as priorities including: Land
Banking, Regional Collaboration, Development Neutral outcomes, and Partnerships; and,
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), with funding from
HB22-1304 and in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and Colorado
Department of Transportation (CDOT) has established a new grant program for municipalities
and counties; and,
WHEREAS, The Strong Communities Planning Grant Program is intended to
support local governments in planning for sustainable growth and development patterns and
affordable housing into the future; and,
WHEREAS, a team of City of Aspen staff from the City Manager's office, Asset
Management - Housing, and Community Development have evaluated the grant application
requirements and elements of Aspen's current housing program through the lens of the 150
Fund, the Land Use Code, and APCHA regulations and development requirements; and,
WHEREAS, the staff team has identified the concept of a community land trust as a
tool in the development of affordable housing and in meeting other community desires — that
has been used as a highly effective strategy elsewhere, but not in Aspen; and,
WHEREAS, land trusts have been identified by the Strong Communities Planning
Grant Program as one of the "Suggested Best Practices" in the area of Affordable Housing;
and,
WHEREAS, the development of a community land trust is a complex process with
many stakeholders, in which the eventual role of the City of Aspen would need to be defined;
and,
WHEREAS, staff has determined that consultant support in evaluating the potential
of a community land trust in building capacity in the development of affordable housing, and
in providing support in the development of a plan for the establishment of a community land
trust would be an appropriate request within the Strong Communities Planning Grant
Program; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that this Resolution furthers and is necessary for
the promotion of public health, safety, and welfare.
Resolution No. 140, Series of 2023
Support for Grant Application
Page 1 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ASPEN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1
A. Aspen City Council acknowledges and is supportive of an application to The State
of Colorado Department of Local Affairs Strong Communities Planning Grant
Program for the purposes of exploring the potential of a community land trust in
building additional capacity in the development of affordable housing.
B. A successful grant proposal will pursue funds for consultant support in evaluating
the potential of a community land trust within the Aspen context and will help to
develop a plan for the establishment of a community land trust — including
identifying the appropriate role for the City in the process.
C. If the grant proposal is successful, an RFP for consultant support would be the next
step in the process. Staff is continuing to evaluate the final amount of the grant
request but does not believe the cost of the identified scope of work will exceed
$150K. The maximum grant request allowed by the program is $200K. Council
would have a future role of reviewing and approving the contract for the selected
consultant.
D. CounciI is aware that the receipt of a grant would require the City of Aspen to
provide a match of 10% of the project's cost. Monies for this match would come
from budgeted planning programs in the 150 Fund and Community Development.
The total value of the match would not exceed $20K and would be equally divided
between these two budget sources.
E. It is intended that the results of the project's work will be used to inform and inspire
a community process to establish a community land trust. City Council
acknowledges that the City would have an important role in the development of a
community land trust, but that an eventual community land trust would be a non-
profit organization, independent from the City of Aspen.
FINALLY, adopted this 26"' day of September, 2023.
BW-V���
Torre, Mayor
ATTEST
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Nicole Henning, City Cle
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
James R. True, City Attorney
Resolution No. 140, Series of 2023
Support for Grant Application
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