## Meeting Overview On September 19, 2024, at 6:00 PM, the Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) convened in the Mayor's Boardroom for their monthly meeting, with several members participating virtually. This was a particularly substantial meeting featuring the public hearing on the CAPER report, a detailed discussion of the Administrative and Financial Plan, and an overview of funded agencies. Present were board members Karin Jones (Chair), Andrew Calkins, Ben Spicer, Jake Hawes, Jasmine Fast, Josh Sanders, Katherine Freimund, Matt Unger, Ryan Wood, Shannon Laws, and Councilmember Jace Cotton. Staff included Samya Lutz, Kathleen Morton, and Heather Aven. The meeting showcased both the complexity and achievements of Bellingham's housing and community development efforts, from the federal reporting requirements that document their progress to local funding allocation strategies and the challenging realities of providing human services in a constrained funding environment. ## CAPER Public Hearing: A Year of Significant Achievement Kathleen Morton, Development Specialist, led the Community Development Advisory Board through the public hearing on the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) — the city's annual accounting to HUD of progress on housing and community development goals. The presentation revealed both impressive accomplishments and the ongoing challenges facing Bellingham's housing landscape. The CAPER covers the period from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, documenting how the city has deployed federal CDBG and HOME funds alongside local funding sources including the housing levy, affordable housing sales tax, and general fund dollars. Morton explained that while HUD requires this technical report, the city has also created a more accessible public-facing version to better communicate with residents about these investments. The data showed remarkable progress in some areas while highlighting persistent challenges in others. The city exceeded its housing production goals, completing 157 affordable rental units through projects like the Laurel and Forest development and the Millworks housing…