Agendas and Minutes

Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee (View All)

Housing and Human Services Regular Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, June 26, 2014


Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission
Minutes June 26, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Joshua Boettiger called the meeting to order at 4:34 in the Siskiyou Room at the Community Development and Engineering Offices located at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland OR 97520.
.
 
Commissioners Present: Council Liaison
Joshua Boettiger Pam Marsh, arrived at 5 pm
Heidi Parker  
Sue Crader SOU Liaison
Michael Gutman Andrew Ensslin
Regina Ayars  
Rich Rohde Staff Present:
Coriann Matthews Brandon Goldman, Housing Specialist
Gina DuQuenne, left at 5:30 Carolyn Schwendener, Admin Clerk
Commissioners Absent  
Connie Saldana  
 
 
 
 
 
Approval of Minutes
Rohde/Parker m/s to approve the minutes of the May 22, 2014 Housing and Human Services Commission with a meeting date correction.  Voice Vote:  All Ayes, minutes were approved with correction.
 
PUBLIC FORUM
Judy Kerstetter/1354 Quincy Street spoke regarding the dangers of using Roundup as a weed killer.   Ms. Kerstetter told the Commission about three weeks ago she realized that her property owner was spraying glyphosate, which in her opinion is extremely toxic.  Ms Kerstetter is an artist who paints with her door open and has become sick due to the frequent spraying within twelve feet of her door.
 
The Commissioners encouraged Ms Kerstetter to attend the Conservation Commission meeting as well as speak with the property owners and neighbors. Ms. Kerstetter had the idea to start a program offering meals to the homeless in exchange for them whacking down weeds. She would like to see the use of glyphosates banned within the City. She will give an update to the Commission at a future meeting.
 
Keith Haxton and Christy Wright from SOU Student Fair Housing campaign were present for the Student Fair Housing agenda topic.
 
Paul Shoemaker, communications and government affairs liaison with the Rogue Valley Association of Realtors was present to observe the meeting.
 
STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE AND NEXT STEPS
Commissioner Saldana and Reid presented the Strategic Plan to the City Council at their June 3, 2014 meeting. The Council was very receptive and gave them the go ahead to move forward and draft the Strategic Plan. Reid conveyed the next step in the time line is to do a Community Outreach Event.
 
It was determined that sub-committees would be in order. The following topics were suggested for the sub committees. 
  • Brief history background
  • Public outreach to stakeholders
  • Outline of the goals
  • Quantification of the goals and methodology for that.
     
At this time with Commissioners agreed to start with one sub-committee and then see what comes out of that meeting.  The Commissioners who volunteered for the sub-committee are Parker, Rohde, Matthews and Boettiger.
The deadline goal for the Strategic Plan is November of 2014 in order be completed before the RFP is issued for the social service grant money in January or February of 2015.
 
DISCUSSION:  COMMUNITY OUTREACH MEETING FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN
The Community outreach event is scheduled for July 24th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm in the Community Center located at 59 Winburn Way.  Refreshments will be served.
 
Reid created a postcard mailer invitation.  With the help of the Commissioners compiling names and addresses Reid will take responsibility to complete the mailing.   Those invited will be grantees from past awards, community volunteer members, faith based communities, budget members; agencies who applied but have not received awards, etc.   After the mailing Commissioner DuQuenne will follow up with a phone call.
 
Brandon Goldman will participate in the outreach event because Reid will be out of town during that time.  It was determined that each Commissioner would be responsible for a round table in which the participants would have a list of specific questions in order to gather information.  There will be two Commissioners at each table and focus will be on gaps and goal settings.  Once the tables have completed their discussions then there will be a common presentation reviewing the information gathered.  
 
Some suggested questions were;
  • What was the application process like for you?
  • What improvements would you make in the application process?
  • How as the public presentation process?
  • Fairness of the process?
  • What are our community needs, where are the gaps? Where is there excess?
     
    Ayars and Gina along with Reid will work together creating the lists of questions for the tables.
     
    STUDENT FAIR HOUSING – NEXT STEPS
    SOU Liaison Ensslin explained that at the last Commission meeting they discussed ways in which to get feedback from landlords as was requested by City Council. It was proposed that an alternative to hosting a public forum was to put together questions to bring forward to the landlords. When the questions are compiled they will take the survey to the Southern Oregon Rental Association as well as other groups.
     
    The Commissioners reviewed and discussed Ensslin’s questions he and Christy Wright had prepared. 
     
    Some of the recommendations to Ensslin were;
  • Make the survey anonymous
  • Change the title, don’t use Fair Housing it implies they aren’t providing fair housing
  • Make the survey as short as possible so the applicant will complete it
  • Don’t use fill in the blank questions but check boxes which is easier to fill out
  • Make the questions simple and specific
  • Include more of an introduction to explain why they are taking the survey
 
Ensslin and Wright will complete the survey using the suggestions that the Commissioners made and bring it to the Housing and Human Services Goal Setting meeting on August 28th
 
RENTAL REGISTRY UPDATE
Reid explained that it was recommended in a 2007 Rental Needs Analysis that the City have a rental registry in order to better track the rental stock in Ashland. Two years ago the City business license registry ordinance was updated to change the language around rentals. Previously landlords were only required to get a business license if they had six or more units.  That ordinance has changed to read two or more units giving the City the opportunity to collect the information they were interested in gathering through a rental registry.  Information regarding, how many bedrooms were available, were utilities included in the rent, vacancy rates, emergency contact information etc.
 
Reid acknowledged that at this time the City is not collecting any information but staff is working on making this happen.  It would be beneficial to track that information year after year.
 
It was recognized that most landlords don’t even realize they need to register or purchase a business license.  Staff is looking at ways to notify the public.  The Commissioners discussed ways in which to incentivize the landlords to purchase their business license and fill out the registry. A monetary discount was suggested. 
 
LIAISON REPORTS DISCUSSION
Council – Marsh announced that at the next Council meeting they will be looking at Traveler’s Accommodations in R-1 zones.
 
General Announcements – La Clinica mobile health van is now offering morning hours from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and then 1:00 pm to 5:00pm on Tuesdays.  They are really looking for more places for the summertime.
 
Commissioner Matthews announced she is no longer working at Community Works and will be starting employment with Southern Oregon Goodwill as a program specialist; she has a new email contact.
 
JULY 24, 2014 AGENDA ITEMS
Outreach Event – The Community outreach event is scheduled for July 24th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm in the Community Center located at 59 Winburn Way.  Refreshments will be served.
 
Quorum Check – All Commissioners confirmed they will be present at the next meeting.
 
UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
Housing and Human Services Commission Goal Setting meeting – August 28, 2014, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm in the Siskiyou Room of the Community Development Building located at 51 Winburn Way.  Pizza and salad will be served.
 
 
ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 6:35p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Carolyn Schwendener

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