o    To evaluate jurisdictional progress towards meeting housing goals including those contained in the Countywide Planning Policies.  Through the analysis of affordability data and an assessment of housing strategy implementation, the evaluation will identify key housing affordability issues for the future.

• Background

o    Requirement of Countywide Planning Policy HO-9 that applies to all County jurisdictions

o    Mid-2001: SCT Planning Advisory Committee (PAC, jurisdiction planning staff) agreed to pool resources and jointly hire/fund a consultant to prepare the HER in order to fulfill report requirement for all jurisdictions

o    Late-2001: Steering Committee (jurisdiction elected officials) supported this approach to funding the HER

o    Early to mid-2002: Consultant hiring process underway with inter-jurisdictional SCT review committee

o    July 2002: Snohomish County Economic Development Council selected as top-ranked consultant team (sub-consultant Ravenna Planning Associates), contract commenced

o    Summer 2002- March 2003: Preparation of draft report, consultant meetings with jurisdiction staff, stakeholders, Community Advisory Board (CAB), PAC, Steering Committee 

o    March 2003- June 2003: Comments collected during review period and draft report revised for consideration at June PAC meeting 

o    June 19, 2003: PAC recommended forwarding report on to the Steering Committee as an information item

o    July 1, 2003: Executive Committee recommended placing the report on the Steering Committee agenda as an action item, providing an opportunity for acceptance of the report