ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION

MINUTES

May 27, 2010

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Steve Hauck called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Development and Engineering Services Building located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR  97520.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes from the March 25, 2010 meeting were approved as presented.

Chair Hauck requested to move the Public Forum to the end of tonight’s meeting in order to accommodate Ashland resident, Cate Hartzel, who could not be present until later in the evening.  The Commissioners agreed to the change.

Commissioners welcomed new member Nikki Pons.  Pons said she has been in Ashland since the year 2000, coming originally from Oklahoma.  She attended SOU and has a Bachelor’s degree in sociology.  Pons is very excited about serving on the Commission and is eager to learn new things.

Hauck informed the Commission that new member Jody Waters had a prior commitment and was not able to attend tonight’s meeting.

REPORTS AND UPDATES

Subcommittee Report

                Finance – None

                Education – None

                Land Use – None

Liaison Reports

Council – Navickas reported that the Council had a special meeting May 26th to deliberate on the Croman Mill Master Plan.  The meeting has been continued to the June 1, 2010 regular Council meeting date.  Navickas anticipates some changes as it moves forward. 

Parks –Hauck acknowledged that the Parks department is moving forward with the Clay Street project.

School Board – At their April meeting the School Board discussed the properties they have outside the Old Mill Village which they use for student housing. 

Planning – Benjamin reported that the June 8, 2010 Planning Commission meeting experienced quite a heated discussion regarding the satellite towers at the Ashland Cinemas Complex located at 1644 Ashland Street.  Those who testified were adamantly against it for various reasons. No decision was made.

Staff – Reid reminded the Commissioners that Project Homeless Connect will be taking place on June 25^th at the Medford Armory from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.  This event welcomes the homeless population into the community. 

The City of Ashland is working with the City of Medford and the Fair Housing Council to put on Fair Housing trainings.  A Training is being planned for June 29, 2010 at the Medford City Council Chambers with two more trainings planned for October of this year.

Reid recently attended a conference called “The Professionals Serving Veterans” Reid commented it was very informative and they anticipate seeing a lot of veterans returning to our community.

Reid acknowledged that the City received more Community Development Block Grant funds this year then prior years.  $224,545.00; more money then they expected. 

Eighty-eight million dollars will be coming to the State of Oregon from the US Treasury Department in the form of TARP funds, stated Reid.  The program is called the Hardest Hit Housing Market Program.  This money is given out to states that are the most economically distressed and have unemployment rates of over 12%.  The money will be coming to Oregon Housing and Community Services.  The Mayor has submitted a letter to OHCS advocating that the majority (over 50% or more) of the funding be allocated to the counties which have unemployment rates of over 12%.  A resolution will be going to the council in June. 

2010 CDBG ANNUAL ACTION PLAN PUBLIC HEARING

Hauck opened the public hearing.

On April 20^th the City Council allocated the funds for two proposals. 

·         Funding for Saint Vincent DePaul Home Visitation Program for emergency rental and utility assistance in the amount of $30,000. 

·         $110,861 to Ashland Supportive Housing-Respite Home rehabilitation of an existing housing unit to be used as a respite home for peoples with disabilities.

The Council did not approve using the rest of the funds for the CDBG Recovery Act Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Program but instead decided to allocate the remaining money to ADA improvements within the City.

Having no public input Hauck closed the public hearing.

Billin/Ayars m/s to approve the 2010 CDBG Annual Action Plan as presented.  Roll call:  Billin, Ayars, Frost, Hauck, Benjamin and Pons all voted yes.  Motion passed unanimously.

REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF NEW BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS RULES

Reid said the new rules went into effect in March of this year.  She highlighted some of the changes that will affect the Commission.

• Any member who has two or more unexcused absences in a six month period shall be considered inactive and the position vacant.
• A meeting of greater than one-half of the sitting members constitutes a quorum.
• Council Liaisons are not voting members.

The Commissioners discussed the situation with Frost who has missed two meetings in a six month period consequently, under the new rules he would be inactive.  Frost apologized for missing meetings and explained his absentees were due to family health issues.

City staff made a recommendation that the Housing Commission forward a report to the Mayor and the City Council requesting that due to Commissioner Frost’s continued interest in serving on the Commission; the Housing Commission recommends that Commissioner Frost is reappointed to his vacant seat.

Billin/Pons m/s that a letter be drafted and forwarded to the Mayor regarding the reappointment of Frost.  Voice Vote:  All ayes, motion passed.

Audience member, Rosemary Lazzari shared interest in becoming a Housing Commissioner.

SUBCOMMITTEE DISCUSSION

Ayars proposed that due to a lack of active participation this might be an appropriate time to eliminate the standing sub-committees and go to Ad-Hoc Committees as needed.  The Commissioners agreed that this was a good idea.

Ayars/Billin m/s that the Housing Commission dissolves the three standing Sub-Committee, Land Use, Finance and Education and initiates the establishment of Ad-Hoc Committees as needed.  Roll Call:  Ayars, Billin, Frost, Hauck, Benjamin and Pons all voted yes.  Motion

Passed unanimously.

PUBLIC FORUM

Cate Hartzel and Rosemary Lazzari, board members on the Housing Authority of Jackson County were present to speak.  Hartzel brought a story she had written regarding the Snowberry Brook affordable Housing project in Ashland that HAJC are developing.

Hartzel requested that the Housing Commissioners write a letter to the City Council requesting the remainder of the Community Development and Engineering Fees be waived.  Hartzel does not believe that HAJC should have to return to the Council to request those fees waived rather the City should initiate it on their own.

Reid said the Housing Authority is scheduled to come to the July 19^th meeting to ask about the fees.  The Commissioners would like to discuss this issue before making the recommendation.  Put this on next month’s agenda. Reid will invite Brandon Goldman to next month’s meeting to discuss the IGA.

JUNE 24^th 2010 MEETING AGENDA ITEMS

Discussion of lack of Studio Apartments in the Community

Annual goal setting

Ad-Hoc Committee procedures

Snowberry Brook Comm-Dev Fees

Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting

4:30-6:30 PM Thursday June 24^th, 2010 Community Development Building

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by

Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk