|
CITY COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM |
|
|
Department: |
City Manager’s Office |
Commission Meeting Date: 10/17/17 |
||
|
Staff Contact: |
Casey Toomay, Assistant City Manager |
|||
|
Recommendations/Options/Action Requested: |
|
|||
|
Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. for completion of a comprehensive housing market study in amount not to exceed $78,650. |
|
|||
|
Executive Summary: |
The City Commission authorized distribution of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Comprehensive Housing Market Study, as recommended by the Affordable Housing Advisory Board (AHAB) in March of 2017.
The Housing Study was identified by AHAB at their retreat in 2016 as a way “to prepare an updated inventory of the housing stock required to meet affordable housing needs, the amount of time needed to meet the needs, with a final goal of meeting the need in 10 years.” A Community Housing Assessment Team (CHAT) report was conducted in 2005. It is safe to assume that the need for affordable housing has changed since 2005, however, it is unclear how and to what extent. It is also likely that the housing market in Lawrence has changed in the 12 years since the study. The AHAB plans to use the results of the study to develop core initiatives and programs to achieve the City Commission’s strategic goals related to affordable housing.
The RFP was distributed in March of 2017 and the City received responses from four (4) firms. A selection panel of City staff, AHAB members, and a representative of the Lawrence Board of Realtors interviewed all four (4) firms and in the end recommended selecting BBC Research & Consulting, Inc. The AHAB reviewed the recommendation of the selection committee at their meeting in April and approved forwarding the recommendation to the City Commission. Staff worked over the summer to negotiate a contract with BBC and the agreement is now ready.
The housing study is anticipated to take six (6) months with results expected in the Spring of 2018. The cost of the study is not to exceed $78,650. Staff did solicit funding partners for the study and received a pledge of support from the Lawrence Board of Realtors. The extent of their participation remains unknown. |
|||
|
Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor |
Effective Governance/Professional Administration Safe, Healthy, and Welcoming Neighborhoods |
|||
|
Fiscal Impact (Amount/Source): |
The maximum fiscal impact to the City is $78,650, however, the cost to the City may be less as staff has had preliminary discussions with the Lawrence Board of Realtors about a potential contribution to help fund the study. The 2017 budget for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (Fund607), was amended to allow the City to use donations to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to pay for the study. |
|||
|
Attachments: |
RFP #R1704 for a Comprehensive Housing Market Study |
|||
|
Reviewed By: (for CMO use only) |
☐TM ☐DS ☒CT ☐BM |