City of Wausau. MWC file graphic
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A new task force is being created in Central Wisconsin regarding affordable housing.
Tuesday evening at their monthly meeting Wausau’s Economic Development Committee discussed adopting a charter for an affordable housing task force for the City. The idea of an affordable housing task force had been brought up by the Committee before earlier in the year while discussing a Thomas St. RFP proposal submission.
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Mayor Katie Rosenberg has spent time working on putting together the charter for the affordable housing task force. The charter lays out the task force’s mission and purpose, its membership, its duties and responsibilities, and its other organizational relationships.
Rosenberg says the task force would be comprised of citizen members appointed by the City along with members from other community groups that currently work in the affordable housing space. “We have that citizen participation form, people can fill that out.
“And I thought it would be important that we include some people that we have. Community Development Authority, people who work there or who are on that board. We have a great wealth of information there. North Central Community Action Program, they’re already kind of living in that space. So it was important there,”.
The committee went over the charter and discussed potential issues they would like to see handled by the task force. Some of those issues included looking at the process and impact of gentrification, how the current rate of high-end properties being built downtown are affecting housing in the rest of the City, and how to include other municipalities.
There was some concern from Committee and Council members in attendance about housing issues that would need more immediate attention than a task force model. Rosenberg says the City will also be able to address those concerns.
“No matter what the task force does, it’s all going to be on the City Council to implement whatever it is. So you all don’t stop voting on things and suggesting things and authoring resolutions while this task force does stuff. You’re still doing your work. So if stuff needs to get done, lets get it done,”.
The Committee also heard some public comments on the task force in favor of its creation. Bruce Grau a Wausau resident who has been vocally in support of affordable housing at other City meetings used the public comment portion of the meeting to voice his support.
“I support the mission and purpose of the Task Force, its inclusion of people directly impacted, the bringing together of groups invested in the goal of ending homelessness, and it’s intent to engage the public along the way.
“I am encouraged that it was created in response to Citizens’ concerns, and that it will address supportive services , understanding Affordable Housing means more than just providing a roof over one’s head,”.
The Committee also heard from Kevin Porter who mentioned the City could connect with the local Builders Association to help contribute some solutions regarding affordable housing. Those solutions could include using resources without charging a premium of subsidized money.
After about 40 minutes of discussion, the creation of the task force passed on a unanimous vote. The next step for the task force will be for City staff to find potential task force members.
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