Medford’s City Council on Tuesday approved an amendment to municipal code that consolidates the Housing Advisory Commission and the Community Services and Development Commission into a single Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) with 11 members.

Planning Director Michelle King told councilors staff and the two commissions had discussed the change at a July 23 joint study session. King said the commissions’ responsibilities overlap and unifying them would streamline grant review and policy alignment for homelessness, affordable housing, land use and funding programs such as CDBG and HOME.

Under the adopted code changes (Council Bill 2025-69), the new HCDC will oversee the competitive review for federal funds, general fund grants and the construction excise tax (HOF) fund. The plan reduces combined membership from 15 active members to an 11-member body through attrition; staff said vacancies will be reduced in January 2026 and January 2027.

King described the composition as including representatives with expertise in affordable housing development, tenant advocacy, nonprofit legal services and other roles. Councilors asked specifically about ease of filling particular seats such as tenant-organization representation; staff noted existing nonprofit partners that typically fill those roles, for example a tenant representative from the Center for Nonprofit Legal Services and an affordable housing developer seat regularly filled by Habitat for Humanity representation.

Councilor Nick Card moved adoption; the motion passed unanimously. Staff emphasized the timing: the change precedes the fall grant-review season so the new commission can begin grant review and deliver recommendations in January.

Councilors asked staff to confirm quorum language handles the stepped reduction in positions; staff said code uses majority of filled positions so quorums will adjust as seats are consolidated.