FY2024 Proposed Budget

 Have committed over $4.3 million in local recovery funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to area partners and recently allocated $500,000 in non-profit assistance and workforce development to local agencies.  NDS has hired 17 new staff members since January 1, 2021 due to regular turnover and retirements. This represents 35% of our department. Training and onboarding efforts continue so that we can operate as efficiently as possible.

Upcoming Challenges:

 The complexity, lack of flexibility and number of reviews in our development process. We currently have our existing zoning districts, conservation/historic districts, sensitive areas ordinance, and design overlays, but we also have the Peninsula Code, Eastside Mixed Use District, Riverfront Crossings Form Based Code with eight sub-districts, and the new South District Form Based Code to learn and implement. Staff is also currently working on the adoption of a form based zoning code for a portion of the Southwest District following completion of the Rohret South Subarea Comprehensive Plan. Our development process is time consuming and there is difficulty understanding requirements amongst enforcement officials, other departments, and the development community.  Staff capacity throughout the department. In Development Services they have been asked to complete several Council initiatives that are in addition to their existing workload including, but not limited to, City-wide Comprehensive and Neighborhood District Planning, integrating missing middle housing in our residential zones as well as regulatory changes to support affordable housing, substantial amendments to the Riverfront Crossings Form Based Code, and climate action initiatives. Neighborhood Services is the primary administrator of additional state and federal funding through the CARES Act, HOME-ARP and ARPA funds in response to COVID-19 for low-moderate income households. These funds are addition to our regular HUD entitlements and local funds (CDBG, HOME and Affordable Housing Fund dollars). MPO will be allocating over $11 million in Surface Transportation Block Grant and Transportation Alternative Program funds for the urbanized area. Administering these funds while spending out current funds in a timely and effective manner, and in compliance with all the new rules, will be challenging.

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