CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bill Smith called the meeting to order at
Commissioners Present: Carol Voisin |
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SOU Liaison: Alexandra Amarotico, Absent |
Nick Frost |
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Graham Lewis |
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Council Liaison: Alice Hardesty |
Steve Hauck |
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Bill Smith |
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Staff Present:: |
Aaron Benjamin |
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Linda Reid, Housing Specialist |
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Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk |
Commissioners Absent |
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Richard Billin |
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Voisin/Lewis m/s to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2008 Housing meeting. Voice Vote: Approved
PUBLIC RECORDS AND MEETINGS LAW
Barbara Christensen City Recorder and Richard Appicello, City Attorney gave a short presentation on Public Records Law and Public Meeting Guidelines. Ms. Christensen encouraged the Commissioners to call her office or the legal department if they have any specific questions regarding anything that has to do with being a Commissioner. As an appointed Commissioner you are representing the citizens of the Community and you are subject to Public Records Law as well as Public Meetings Law.
Some highlights that Ms. Christensen and Mr. Appicello pointed out were:
PUBLIC FORUM
No one spoke
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Liaison Reports
Finance – No report
Education – Because the Sub-Committee did not have a quorum on August 13, 2008 a meeting was not held. Benjamin did spend time talking with Goldman regarding air rights and the application of Frost’s presentation on Community Land Partnership. They discussed the distribution of the DVD’s that were made by RVTV and the Education Sub-Committee. There is a Candidates Fair at SOU on October 11, 2008 and they discussed the feasibility of providing each table with a packet of material including the Housing Notebook to help educate the Candidates. Linda will find out if this is a possibility; there may be a lobbying issue. Ayars is organizing the Candidates Fair and will check with the League of Woman voters to see if they will be open with the idea of the distribution of materials. Put this on next month’s agenda.
Land Use – Ayars distributed her minutes to the Commissioners from the August 27, 2008 meeting. The Committee looked at the four proposed Land Use goals in order to determine priorities. It was decided the priority would be to target City owned air rights/vertical housing RFP for parking lots. The next meeting will be September 10, 2008 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm.
Liaison Reports
Council – No report.
Reid reported that
Parks Commission – No report.
Ayars reported that at the last Park Commission meeting the Commissioners did not make a decision regarding the Westwood property and have scheduled an on site visit to the Clay Street property.
School Board – No report. Frost was out of town.
Planning Commission – Benjamin said that after much discussion the Planning Commissioners finally approved the amendments to the Ashland Land Use Ordinance regarding annexation as was submitted to them by the Housing Commission. The Ordinance will be going to the City Council on
Benjamin commented on the Housing Commissions continued interest in the Croman Site with regard to workforce/affordable Housing. Assuming that the land will be developed with light industry the Commission would like see Housing somewhere in the City of
Cate Hartzell, City Councilor, said what she heard the Land Use Planners say was that if you try and put Housing to close to large Commercial zones you may dilute the value of it as a Commercial or Manufacturing District.
Graham/Hardesty m/s that the Commission encourages the Planning Commission and City Council when looking at economic development issues for the City of
Hardesty/Graham m/s to amend the motion to include master planning as well as economic development.
Voice Vote on the motion and amendment: All Ayes, both motion and amendment passed unanimously.
DISCUSS AND FINALIZE GOALS FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS
Move to next months agenda.
PROJECT UPDATES
John Wheeler, Director of Acquisitions and Construction for Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation, gave an update to the status of
Terrace Court will have a ribbon cutting on September 26, 2008. Six houses are almost done. This project has a total build time of seven months. These houses already have owners. The cost of the two bedroom homes is $138,000, $145,000 and $146,000. No down payment is necessary because the loans come through Rural Development. Mr. Wheeler said it is very important that each family is capable of making their monthly payment and should never pay more then one third of their income for their mortgage. When the house is completed it has to have at least 15% of its value in equity. If the homes are sold it must be to another qualified low income family.
Mr. Wheeler thanked Reid and Goldman for the wonderful Affordable Housing News Letter that came out.
SEPTEMBER 25TH AGENDA ITEMS
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
Parks Commission Meeting August 25, 2008, City Council Chambers 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Regulatory Barriers Meeting joint Planning, Housing Commissioners and City Council meeting – September 30, 2008 Council Chambers 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Housing Commission regular meeting –September 25, 2008 4:30 – 6:30.
ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by, Carolyn Schwendener