MINUTES
MAY 24, 2007
CALL TO ORDER
Chair
Commissioners Present: |
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SOU Liaison: Sunny Lindley, Absent |
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Richard Billin |
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Council Liaison: Alice Hardesty, Present |
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Aaron Benjamin |
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Staff Present: |
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Carol Voisin |
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Brandon Goldman, Housing Specialist |
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Liz Peck |
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Sue Yates, Executive Secretary |
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Bill Smith |
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Absent Members: Steve Hauck |
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES – The minutes of the April 26, 2007 Housing Commission meeting were approved.
PUBLIC FORUM – No one came forward to speak.
MULTI-FAMILY LANDS HOUSING INVENTORY
The Housing Commission requested a housing inventory within multi-family zoning districts to determine a unit count. The work was begun by the SOU Planning Issues Class beginning in 2005 and was completed by this year’s class. The maps provided show multi-family units and commercial buildings. Goldman thanked Pat Acklin and her class for doing this work.
Pat Acklin introduced her students. The students explained the work they did. They provided maps and explained their methodology. They used the maps from the 2005 survey to identify and locate vacant parcels or parcels missing data and checked the accuracy of the 2005 data. Most of the data was accurate. They ground checked the data. They found a lot of apartments converted to condominiums as well as new condominium development. They thought it would be useful to have aerial photographs for the next survey to match up what is on the ground. They made the following suggestions: 1) Regulate the number of units reserved for rent within condominium conversions, and 2) Provide incentives for condo owners to provide rental units, and 3) Provide incentives for apartment owners to maintain as apartments instead of converting to condos.
It was suggested that this survey be updated every five to ten years and in advance of a buildable lands inventory.
RENTAL NEEDS ANALYSIS
Steve Ferrarini, Ferrarini & Associates, Inc. presented his report and findings. The findings are outlined in his memo dated May 5, 2007 and assess the current rental market in the city, forecast future rental housing needs, recommend public policy solutions to the city’s housing needs, and establish a methodology for updating the needs analysis on a regular basis in the future. The forecast suggests the type of units needed in
The City of
1. There is a production problem. (There is a need to build rental units and the rental units are not being built.)
Consequently, Ferrarini suggested the City needs to do the following:
1. Create strong policies and follow-up with action and leadership.
2. Allow staff to develop the expertise in affordable housing.
3. Develop programs that make development of affordable housing more financially attractive.
4. Reduce SDC and permit fees.
5. Be proactive about directing state and federal funding.
6. Be proactive about dedicating staff time to grant writing and contacting the state about funding – what’s available, acquiring funds and directing funds.
7. Increase the land supply.
8. Have current information so programs and policies can be revised accordingly.
Bill Smith said SOU is trying to identify vacant land. Smith said there is currently a waiting list for SOU housing.
Hartzell is concerned the survey is skewed because so many young people have cell phones and those are not listed number and therefore could not be contacted to be surveyed. Ferrarini said that is a problem and if they were included in the survey the rent burdened number would be greater.
Hardesty said the Commission has discussed the need for two and three bedroom units because that would draw in children, yet the population trends show that studios are the units we need. Ferrarini said he talked to about six property management companies and they indicated studios, one bedroom and three bedrooms are the most difficult for renters to find available. Three bedroom units are not as economically viable.
The final rental needs analysis report will be coming out on May 30, 2007.
Voisin left the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
CONDOMINIUM ORDINANCE UPDATE
The City Council reviewed the proposed ordinance on April 17th. At that time, the Council instructed staff to continue the public hearing and bring back a revised ordinance. They asked staff to remove the development agreement section as well as addressing a goal of providing rental housing as primary and affordable housing additionally. There is a memo from Goldman dated April 24, 2007 in the packet covering those changes. An ad hoc committee was formed consisting of: the Land Use subcommittee of the Housing Commission (Bill Smith, Regina Ayars, Alice Hardesty and
The Housing Commission reviewed the conversion table options and asked Goldman to bump up the number of market rentals and affordable rentals by capturing a lower cutoff point (number of units). Leave the numbers but change the percentages required to increase the number of affordable units. Goldman wants to present just one table to the Council. The Housing Commission endorsed the concept of the matrix and sliding scale, but asked Goldman to look at ways to increase the number of affordable rental units. Billin noted that his concern with using Option 3 might end up reducing the overall inventory of market rentals. Hardesty heartily endorsed the concept. Street suggested inviting a small focus group of apartment owners before it goes before the Planning Commission or the Council to see if there are any concerns that come up for them.
REPORTS AND UPDATES
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Education – An RVTV show is scheduled for June 21st from 6 to 7 pm on Channel 9 to discuss employee housing. Guests will include: Carolyn Johnson,
Finance – They looked at the Housing Commissions’ response to the mission statement and at priority uses for the Housing Trust Fund.
Land Use – They discussed the condo conversion ordinance (noted above).
Liaison Reports
Council – Hardesty said it was suggested at a Council/Budget meeting that because the City’s economic needs are so great that the proceeds from the sale of the Strawberry property might be better spent on something other than affordable housing, however, for the time being that idea has been dropped.
Schools – Street said he thought the Board of Directors would be meeting the afternoon of May 25th in a study session to discuss affordable housing.
Planning – At their meeting on May 8th, they discussed the Economic Opportunities Analysis data. They talked about goals, the relationship between transportation and affordable housing, planning and public process, sustainability and the environment and housing. They also talked about land supply and possible expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary as a component that should be seriously considered. They discussed mixed use, higher density, and careful consideration of condos as well as the use of public lands. They said the Croman site and the Railroad property should be dedicated to industrial use. The City received a grant to work on a master plan for the Croman site.
Parks – no report
Tripartite – They did not meet in May. The next meeting will be June 20th.
Pre-App Review Board – no report
Goldman announced there was a Fair Housing presentation last night. It was web cast throughout the state.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The August Housing Commission meeting was changed from the 23rd of August to the 30th of August at 5:30 p.m. Hardesty will be absent.
May 31st, 5:30 p.m. - RVCDC Groundbreaking at Siskiyou near
June 21st,, 6 to 7:00 p.m. (Channel 9) Housing and Employers RVTV Show
Next Housing Commission Meeting – Community Development and
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Sue Yates, Executive Secretary