2. CDN Policy Workshop Objectives:
Learn about and provide feedback on CDN’s strategy for educating legislators and Governor-elect
Learn about and provide feedback on CDN Policy Agenda for the 2015 General Assembly
Learn about how to get involved

3. Create messaging about CD economic impact
Education Strategy
Create Fact Sheet-MD and national stats on impact (within a week or two)
Create messaging about CD economic impact
Build from Leading the Way to Stronger Communities Campaign messaging
Long term: conduct thorough study on community development return on investment in Maryland

4. Education Strategy (con’t)
Organize CDN members to:
Meet with Republican Delegates and Senators who are current allies (ex. Delegate Serafini in Washington County)
Assist with meetings with Governor-Elect and new Republicans in GA
Meet with new Legislators through Legislative Luncheon and one-on-one meetings

5. CDN Policy Agenda Operating Fund $1 million pilot
Eligible organizations:
Existing organizations
Any community development org, including housing orgs, non-housing orgs, main street orgs, etc.
Must have strategic/business plan and plan for sustainability.
Up to $50K for each applicant

6. CDN Policy Agenda Rural Maryland Council
$6 million for Rural Maryland Prosperity Fund
Highway User Funds distributed to rural areas

7. CDN Policy Agenda (con’t)
CD programs at DHCD
$10million for Community Legacy (up from $6million)
$4.2million for Neighborhood BusinessWorks (level funding)
$10million for Strategic Demolition and Smart Growth Investment Fund (up from $7.5million)
$31million Rental Housing Works (up from $24 million) includes $6million for RAD funding

8. CDN Policy Agenda (con’t)
Source of Income:
In the past called the HOME Act
Makes discrimination based on sources of income illegal
Given the new environment, likely a jurisdiction by jurisdiction approach (Montgomery, Frederick, Howard Counties, City of Annapolis already have such legislation)
Strategic Communications proposal by CDN pending

9. CDN Policy Agenda (con’t)
LLC Transparency:
Difficult to find owners of properties owned by LLCs
Some wage related issues as well.
Legislation introduced several times without success
CDN and Community Law Center convened a coalition including opposition to come up with compromise legislation. Negotiations still pending and options include:
More power and responsibility to resident agent
Amending Personal Property return and making it public
Landlord registries

10. CDN Policy Agenda (con’t)
HOA/Condo fees for bank owned properties:
After banks take back unit, they are only required to pay 4 months of condo/HOA fees or $1200, whichever is higher.
Should be required to pay fees just as any other owner.

11. CDN Policy Agenda (con’t)
Purple Line and Red Line Surplus Land:
MTA should be required to make surplus land (used for landing areas during construction, etc) available for community development (including green space, parks, affordable housing, etc), rather than selling to highest bidder.

12. What are other legislative priorities CDN should consider?
Feedback
What are other legislative priorities CDN should consider?
How can we effectively communicate with new leadership and new legislators to ensure they understand the impact of community development in MD?
How would you like to participate?