Metro Thursday Meeting to Accept Urban Growth and Housing Needs Reports: My Objections and YOUR Opportunity to Comment.

This Thursday Dec 10th at 2 PM, Metro Council will be holding an important meeting to consider adoption of the Urban Growth Report and the Housing Needs analysis that is part of that report.

The agenda for that meeting is HERE. The Urban Growth Report acceptance agenda item begins on page 78 of the package of materials HERE. It includes a series of staff recommendations for changes to the draft report.

I applaud Metro and their staff for their work and outreach to date, including some changes made as a result of earlier comments; most notably increases in the count of units requiring at least partial government assistance. (You will also see "vouchers" mentioned for likely the first time as part of the needed housing analysis).

My Objections:
While I appreciate the work done to date, both the UGR and the housing needs analysis are in my view incomplete because of a series of defects. In the comment letter I have prepared HERE, I list a series of 7 defects and 17 time specific corrective actions necessary to make the subject reports "complete". My comments are in MS Word format so if necessary you can copy, edit, and paste them into your own testimony. The last page (6) is a one page table listing the defects and the corrective actions I suggest. Feel free to paraphrase, quote, and support all, some, or none of the defects I have noted or my suggested corrective actions.

How to Comment:
Written comments can be sent to individual members, the Council President, or the Chief Executive Officer. (Page HERE has links to contact information for each Council Member)

After speaking to Metro I chose to send my comments to a Metro Council staff person, who assured me that they would be distributed appropriately. (I also CC'd Carl Hosticka, the Councilor carrying this agenda item). Council staff person contact information and how I would reference what you are commenting on (including a request to confirm receipt) is:

tom.matney@oregonmetro.gov
Phone: 503 797 1852

I am commenting on an item on the December 10th Metro Council Agenda item, Resolution No. 09-4094, For the Purpose of Accepting the Population and Employment Forecasts and the Urban Growth Report as Support for Determination of Capacity of the Urban Growth Boundary. I ask that you acknowledge receipt of my comments.

xxxx etc.

While written comments are good, the most effective way of having your voice heard is to submit your comments AND then appear in person to present a summary of your views. If you do testify in person bring at least 10 copies for Council members and staff.

Final Note:
While I HOPE I have provided a substantive rationale for additional changes to the UGR and housing needs analysis, I am only ONE voice. If I am the ONLY voice that Metro hears on Thursday that would be a shame, and a missed opportunity to influence Council action on key housing policy choices.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.