Q: How many of those surveyed responded?
Response: 14 out of 62 responded.
Q: What do you think is the number of people who need agricultural housing?
Response: I suspect that it might be close to 300.
Q: Should we assume the need is located more in the eastern part of the county?
Response: We geolocated some the demand and most is north of Highway 52 and along the Diagonal.
Q: How many acres do you think is affected by this need?
Response: Approximately 250 acres out of 16,000 acres of irrigated cropland.
Q: Do you have data on how many farmers have left because of this issue?
Response: I can't think of one that has left recently due to business conditions.
Q: Do you think you can do a follow-up survey with more nuance to keep the information flowing?
Response: There is survey fatigue out there, but farmers have been telling their stories for years and need action on this issue. What we do need to know is the total number of H-2A workers who require housing.
Q: Are there other factors that Boulder County can have an influence over that can improve the situation?
Response: Rent subsidies would help and would be a quicker solution. The BOCC did approve subsidies and financial support for small businesses. When that program is up and running, growers can try to qualify for that support.
Q: Could BCPOS provide subsidies from open space funds?
Response: That would have to be weighed against other program priorities. For 267 workers, if we provided $800/month per worker for 9 months, that is just under $2 million. That's half of the Agricultural budget.
Q: What could be waived to meet the need?
Response: The BC POS Charter limits housing on open space land that was purchased with open space dollars and if possible to change, it would likely require a public vote. It might be possible on properties purchased with general fund money, but those would also require a full Land Use review.
Q: Do mobile homes violate the charter?
Response: That's something I'll need to check on.
POSAC requested that staff provide a map that shows the locations of growers and any properties purchased with general fund money that could allow housing. They also requested a legal opinion around the charter and the ability to allow roll-ons and roll-offs as temporary housing and what approvals are required.