ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION

MINUTES

August 26, 2010

CALL TO ORDER

Acting Chair Regina Ayars 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

Waters/Billin m/s to approve the minutes from the July 22, 2010 meeting. The minutes of the July 22, 2010 meeting were approved as presented.  

Billin/Waters m/s to add a liaison report discussion to this agenda.

PUBLIC FORUM

No one was present to speak

REPORTS AND UPDATES                            

Liaison Reports

Council – Navickas reported that the City Council approved the Croman Mill development proposal.  The Council did not approve the fee wavier for Housing Authority of Jackson County regarding the Snowberry Brook project.  The Council discussed the recent Oak Knoll fire which has brought to the forefront the issue of homelessness and their needs.

Parks – No report

School Board – No report

Planning – No report

SOU- The Commission still needs a SOU liaison. Pons and Waters will get together to discuss the possibilities.

Staff – Reid did hear from a SOU student who is interested in being a liaison who has experienced discrimination himself.  Reid attended the open house for the HOPE house, a transitional shelter built by the Salvation Army. They have twelve units three of which are already occupied.

OVERVIEW OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING ORDINANCES

Brandon Goldman, City Planner, reviewed existing City Ordinances and how they relate to affordable housing. Everything that the City does has to be compliant with Oregon State law. The State provides a goal for housing that all communities encourage a variety of housing types to address the housing needs of people of different incomes.  That is the basis for zoning and why the City has multiply zoning types around the city such as; multi-family, high density and low density multi-family, single family, mixed use above Commercial.

The City of Ashland Land Use Ordinance has within provisions that relate to Affordable Housing:

• Mixed Use Development
• Density Bonuses
• Accessory Residential Units
• Annexations
• Zone Changes
• Condo Conversions
• Croman Mill District   

Goldman said the Public Works department is working on an eighteen month project to update the Transportation System Plan. The Transportation Commission is reviewing how vehicles, pedestrian, bicycles, rails and buses move throughout the Community and serve our population. The Planning Department was awarded funds to look at pedestrian nodes where the City could apply specific zoning overlays to encourage transportation oriented mixed use development.  These types of developments often encourage the inclusion of affordable housing types and provide better affordability through improved access to employment and transportation.  The three areas that will be reviewed are:

1. Corner of Ashland Street and Tolman Creek Road
2. Corner of East Main Street and Mountain Street
3. Corner of Walker Street and Ashland Street. 

NEW CHAIR ELECTION

Waters/Pons m/s to elect Ayars for Commission Chair and Billin for Vice Chair.   Voice Vote:  All ayes, motion passed to take effect immediately.

The Housing Commission would like to have one of their members attend or listen to each of the following Commission meetings and bring back a report.

• Pons, Planning Commission

• Waters & Billin will share responsibility for the Parks Commission
• Ayars, Transportation Commission

NEW MEETING TIME & DATE DISCUSSION AND DECISION

After a discussion the Commissioners decided to have the Housing Commission meetings changed to the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Council Chambers located at 1175 E Main.  The meeting will continue to start at 4:30 p.m.

DISCUSSION:  HOUSING AUTHORITY FEE WAIVER COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM

The Housing Commission sent a letter to the City Council recommending that the fees for Jackson County Housing Authority, Snowberry Brook project be waived.  Navickas reported that the council felt that City has already contributed a significant amount of City funds to this project.  Some councilors seem fundamentally opposed to the government getting involved in Affordable Housing issues, stated Navickas.

The Commissioners discussed their disappointment regarding the fact that the Council did not take their recommendation.  It was acknowledged that no member of the Housing Commission was present at the Council meeting to express their support.  Navickas confirmed it is always helps at the Council meetings if someone from the Commission is present to represent them.

As Chair Ayars is committing to attend any Council or Planning meeting where the Housing Commission has put forward something or have a definite position or action.  When she is not available the commissioners agreed to designate someone as her replacement.

SEPTEMBER MEETING 22nd, 2010 MEETING AGENDA ITEMS

Presentation on the CDBG Program and review the CAPER

Action from the Homeless Ad Hoc Committee

Retreat discussion, date, place, time and goals

Homeless discussion

UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINS

Billin may not be present at the next meeting. 

Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting

4:30-6:30 PM Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at the Council Chambers located at 1175 East Main, Ashland.

ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener