Get Involved - Apply for City Boards and Commissions Affordable Housing Trust Fund Development Request Budget Committee to Discuss Capital ...

In This Issue:
•   Get Involved – Apply for City Boards and Commissions
•   Affordable Housing Trust Fund Development Request
    for Proposals Released
•   Budget Committee to Discuss Capital Improvement
    Program (CIP)
•   The Commons on MLK Welcomes New Residents

                                                           1

Get Involved – Apply for City Boards and Commissions

Eugene residents looking for new opportunities to get involved in the
community can apply now for positions on City boards and commissions. Each
year, a number of vacancies occur and are open to residents interested in
helping to improve our city.
The members of boards and commissions advise City Council and City
departments on important community issues, making Eugene a better place for
everyone.
The following groups have openings this year:
City Council Advisory Bodies*
        Budget Committee (3 openings)
        Civilian Review Board (2 openings)
        Historic Review Board (2 seats)
        Human Rights Commission (3 openings)
        Planning Commission (2 openings)

                                                                              2

  Sustainability Commission (4 openings)
         Toxics Board (3 Industry Representative Positions, 1 Advocacy
          Position, 1 Neutral Position)
Other Groups
Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (1 opening)
       Whilamut Citizen Planning Committee (4 openings)
Apply online through March 12. For questions or more information, contact
Jessica Gebb at jgebb@eugene-or.gov or 541-682-8497.
*Please note: applicants to these groups should plan to meet with City Council
the evening of April 19.

           Affordable Housing Trust Fund Development
                 Request for Proposals Released

The City of Eugene invites proposals from affordable housing developers for
the creation of rental housing affordable to low and moderate-income
households. This Request for Proposals (RFP) offers $300,000 of Affordable
Housing Trust Funds generated by the City of Eugene’s Construction Excise
Tax.

Affordable Housing Trust
Funds are limited to serving
households earning no more
than 100% of area median
income (AMI) although
developers could propose
developments serving lower
income households. Rent levels
must be affordable to
households at the income level served. Resources will be prioritized for
development of rental housing with higher numbers of units, and/or higher
numbers of bedrooms serving larger households. Projects serving historically
underserved communities; Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
populations; and special needs populations are preferred.

                                                                                 3

Affordable Housing Trust Fund RFP Applicants are expected to submit a letter
of intent to apply by Tuesday February 23, and the final due date for the
application is Tuesday, March 23. Once the applications are received, an
Evaluation Committee and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory
Committee will assess and rank RFP proposals, then scores and ranking(s) will
be presented to the Eugene City Council, which will make final funding
decisions.

In addition to the $300,000 for affordable housing development, Council
dedicated $500,000 of FY21 Affordable Housing Trust Funds for direct
assistance for renters and homeowners experiencing financial difficulties.

To learn more about the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and view the RFP
documents, please visit https://www.eugene-or.gov/4232/Affordable-
Housing-Trust-Fund.

                 Budget Committee to Discuss
               Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
On Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 5:30 p.m., the Eugene Budget Committee
will meet remotely using virtual meeting technology to discuss the Proposed
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for fiscal years 2022 through 2027 (FY22-
27). Information about online or other options for access and participation will
be available at www.eugene-or.gov/3384/Budget-Committee-Webcasts. The
CIP provides a six-year funding plan for the City’s capital improvements,
including transportation, airport, public buildings, parks and open space,
stormwater and wastewater projects. The CIP also serves as the basis of the
capital budget for the next two fiscal years (FY22 and FY23).

                                                                                   4

At the meeting on February 18th, the
                                    Budget Committee will provide an
                                    opportunity for the public to comment on
                                    the Proposed CIP and will formulate its
                                    recommendation to the City Council. The
                                    Proposed FY22-27 CIP is available for
                                    public review online at www.eugene-
                                    or.gov/371/Capital-Improvement-
                                    Program. Copies can be obtained by
                                    contacting the City of Eugene Finance
                                    Division, 541-682-5512 or
                                    EugeneBudgetMailbox@eugene-or.gov.

                                     Members of the public are encouraged to
                                     provide feedback on the capital projects
                                     identified in the Proposed CIP by
                                     commenting at the Budget Committee
meeting or by visiting the Budget website at www.eugene-or.gov/106/Budget
and selecting the “Contact the Budget Committee” button. The Budget
Committee meeting on February 18th will be broadcast on Metro TV, and a
webcast will be available at www.eugene-or.gov/3384/Budget-Committee-
Webcasts. For more information, please contact the Finance Division at 541-
682-5082.

       The Commons on MLK Welcomes New Residents

Homes for Good Housing Agency celebrated the Grand Opening of The Commons
on MLK development with a virtual event on Thursday, February 4, 2021.
The Commons on MLK is a 51-unit ‘Housing First’ apartment community located
at 2315 Martin Luther King Blvd, adjacent to MLK Community Health Center
(previously called Lane County Behavioral Health Center). It will
provide housing and 24-hour supportive services seven days a week to people
experiencing chronic homelessness, prioritizing those who have been homeless
the longest and utilize the most emergency services. Housing First means
residents are provided permanent housing without preconditions and barriers
to entry, such as sobriety, treatment or service participation requirements.

Residents began moving in this week. Homes for Good will use Project Based
Voucher (PBV) wait-list referrals through Lane County’s Coordinated Entry

                                                                                5

System. The voucher subsidy allows residents to pay only 30% of their monthly
adjusted income for rent. ShelterCare will provide services including behavioral
health support, case management, connections to employment and educational
services, and assistance with independent living skills.

The Commons on MLK is the first Housing First model in Lane County. Research
has demonstrated that the Housing First model is more effective than shelter
and transitional housing systems alone. This new apartment community
supports the City’s goal to increase the supply of affordable housing, a strategy
established by the City through the Eugene-Springfield 2020 Consolidated Plan.

This $13 million project was made possible through multiple collaborative
funding sources, including government subsidy, private investment, and health
care provider contributions. Property and funds were contributed by Lane
County. Eugene City Council approved over $1.15 million in assistance for the
development including approximately $150,000 in Low-Income Housing Funds,
$250,000 in Systems Development Charge (SDC) exemptions and $750,000 in
federal HOME funds, which were then awarded by the Eugene-Springfield HOME
Consortium Governing Board. Additional resources were provided by Oregon
Housing and Community Services, including 4% Low-Income Housing Tax
Credits, Oregon Health Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Kaiser

                                                                                    6

Permanente Northwest, PeaceHealth, Trillium and Pacific Health Associates,
PacificSource Foundation.

For questions or more information, contact Ellen Meyi-Galloway (EMeyi-
Galloway@eugene-or.gov).

             Links to Eugene City Council Resources
                      Mayor & City Council Webpage

     Public Meetings Calendar                Tentative Council Agenda

                                                                             7

8