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WS – Item 7 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item 7 Date: September 7, 2010 To: City Council Jeff Smyser / Re: Continuing Participation in Livable Communities Programs Background The City Council discussed this item previously at the work session prior to the regular meeting on August 23. The Council desired additional discussion. Lino Lakes has participated in the Livable Communities Act (LCA) programs since 1995 and has benefited from four grants totaling $1,645,000. Participation includes the adoption of goals. The initial goal period ran 1996 -2010. To continue to participate in the LCA program, the City would establish new goals for the next ten years (2011- 2020). Continuing with the program continues the City's eligibility for future grants —which is consistent with the City Council's direction to pursue additional grant funding. The old goals were adopted by the Lino Lakes City Council and appear in the existing comprehensive plan that was approved in 2002. The old and new goals cannot be compared directly for two reasons. First, the old goals covered 15 years and the new goals would cover 10 years. Second, the old goals were percentages applied to the forecasted new dwelling units but the new goals would be a range of new dwelling units, not a percentage. Because of these differences, the old and new goals are compared below by showing the annual averages. The draft new comprehensive plan housing chapter states that the affordable housing goal for the city is 560 new affordable units. The new LCA goal foraffordable units is a range of 364 to 560. "Lifecycle" is not the same thing as "affordability ", and the LCA lifecycle goal is different from the affordability goal. The land use map in the new comprehensive plan accommodates these new goals, so the goals are consistent with the new comprehensive plan. Requested Council Direction Staff requests direction regarding putting the LCA goals resolution on the City Council agenda for adoption on September 13.