MINUTES
FEBRUARY 23, 2005
1. CALL TO ORDER & APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Matt Small called the meeting to order at
Commissioners Present: Matt Small, Chair
Kim Miller
Alice Hardesty
Don Mackin (left the meeting at
Liz Peck
Absent Members: Faye Weisler
Carol Voisin
Council Liaison: Cate Hartzell (arrived at
SOU Liaison: None
Staff Present: Brandon Goldman, Housing Specialist
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The minutes of the January 26, 2005 meeting will be approved at the next meeting.
2. PUBLIC FORUM – No one came forth to speak.
3. PROJECT UPDATES - HOME Consortium Update
Goldman reported HOME is a Federal program that is administered by the State of
Goldman said one negative is the regional allocation could be less than the yearly average amount of money from the state brought to the region by local non-profits. If a consortium is formed, non-profits within our region could not apply to the state for HOME funds, only to the region, however, ACCESS has encouraged the region to move ahead to form the consortium.
The next step is to let HUD know if the region wants to begin the process of forming a consortium for 2006.
4. OTHER BUSINESS FROM HOUSING COMMISSION MEMBERS – None
5. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Finance – They reviewed the survey to be sent to the realtors and employers asking questions about the housing trust fund and employee assisted housing (Education). The survey will be sent out at the beginning of March. The responses will aid in the development of both the housing trust fund and employee assisted housing.
6. NEW BUSINESS
Action Plan Development
Goldman said in developing an Action Plan each year, HUD requires an opportunity for the public to comment on what types of activities will be funded. Other eligible activities are listed in Goldman’s memo of
Public Hearing – No one came forth to speak.
CDBG RFP Evaluation
Goldman said a request for proposal was sent out for $190,000 in CDBG funds to be applied to an affordable housing project. Two proposals were received. Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation (RVCDC) has applied to purchase three townhomes, rehabilitate them and make them available to the current tenants, if possible. If not, they would make the units available to low income “for purchase” households at approximately 80 percent of median income. No further planning is needed to partition the lots.
The second proposal is from Habitat for Humanity. They are looking to use $156,000 to acquire two lots for the development of two attached townhomes to target low income households between 30 and 60 percent of median income. An evaluation of each project has been provided.
Staff has recommended $190,000 be awarded to RVCDC.
(4:50 p.m - Mackin left the meeting.)
Public Hearing
Ron Demele, RVCDC, said the owner of the
(4:55 p.m. - Hartzell arrived at the meeting. She stepped out of the room because the Cohousing project will be heard before the Council on March 1st) .)
Habitat for Humanity
Presenters: Melanie Mindlin,
Henry DeGraff said they can make homes available from 30 to 60 percent of median income with a 30 year mortgage. Someone could purchase a unit in this development with a payment as low as $310 per month including taxes and insurance. This is Habitat’s niche – helping those that no one else can seem to help.
Mindlin added that if they do not receive the CDBG funds, they would bring the affordable houses in at the maximum that they could (close to 60 percent of median income) and working under the guidelines of the Systems Development rebate program. The lots are priced at $156,000, however, it would be sufficient to receive $63,000 and it could still work with Habitat. Mindlin changed their request to $63,000. Mindlin said the number one reason for working with Habitat is to solve the 60 year equity limit financing problem.
Miller thought it was really bad form to split the allocation.
At this point in the meeting, the Commission was nearing their period of discussion, but the public hearing had not yet been closed. Miller recused himself from the discussion and voting because he has had conversations with someone involved in the Cohousing project. Mackin had left the meeting earlier, therefore, not leaving a quorum present to vote. Goldman suggested each Commissioner could attend the Council meeting and give his or her own personal recommendation, but that would end up leaving the Commissioners without a single recommendation for the Council. The Commissioners decided they wanted to make a recommendation as a Commission. They left the public hearing open. They scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at 4:00 p.m. in the Lithia Room or Siskiyou Room. Goldman will contact the other Commission members to assure a quorum and confirm the time and date with all the Housing Commissioners.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
(Hartzell rejoined the meeting.)
Planning Process
Does the Housing Commission wish to review planning actions concerning affordable housing? This discussion is a continuation from last month. The Commissioners would like to keep a pulse on affordable housing in the community. They do not want to be part of the planning process by holding public hearings. However, they are interested in getting affordable housing built – quality and quantity. Therefore, the Commissioners asked Goldman to keep the Commission apprised of projects by using a standardized report form tracking the status of each project (how many units, location, etc.). Also, if a pre-application is submitted that includes an affordable housing component, that Staff would recommend the applicants present their affordable housing component to the Housing Commission before making formal application. These items could fall under Project Update or Commission Coordination on the agenda.
8. COMMISSION COORDINATION
Focus Group discussion on Consolidated Plan Needs element – There will be a meeting on
Quarterly Meetings – Time and topics will be discussed at the next meeting.
9. MARCH 23RD, 2005 MEETING AGENDA ITEMS
Goldman reported that the deadline for the Lithia Way RFP has passed and he received several proposals.
It was decided to look at another date for the March meeting as several members will be absent. Goldman will e-mail the members notifying them of the date of the March meeting.
Save Our Schools (SOS) is looking at a concept of getting private investors to do built housing on school land.
10. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at