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Agendas and Minutes

Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee (View All)

Housing and Human Services Commission Regular Meeting

Minutes
Thursday, September 24, 2020

Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission
Minutes
September 24, 2020
Audio

Call to Order

Commission Chair Rohde called the Zoom meeting to order at 4:00 pm in Ashland, Oregon, 97520.

Commissioners Present:	Council Liaison
Rich Rohde	Dennis Slattery - ABS
Echo Fields
Gina Duquenne	SOU Liaison
Linda Reppond	None appointed at this time
Tom Gunderson
Heidi Parker	Staff Present:
Chris Mahan	Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist
Jackie Bachman	Liz Hamilton, Permit Technician
	Brandon Goldman, Senior Planner
	Bill Molnar, Community Development Director
Commissioners Not In Attendance:
Erin Crowley

Approval of Minutes

Commissioners Gina Duquenne / Jackie Bachman m/s to approve the minutes of July 23, 2020.   Hand Vote: All raised as yes. Motion passed

Public Forum
Commission discusses an email from Molly Silver

Affordable Housing Trust Fund Review and Recommendation
Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist indicates that a re-review for recommendations is needed due to COVID and additional CDBG funding. Commission discusses how to go about recommendations.

Michelle Arellano / OHRA (requesting $179,983) speaks about the funds OHRA would like to have from the Housing Trust fund for a Winter Shelter that can accept the social distancing. Commissioners ask some general questions about the program and Michelle answered questions.

Mary Farrel / Maslow Project (requesting $30,000) speaks about the funds Maslow would like to have from the Housing Trust fund for their program to help house families with children. Commissioners ask some general questions about the program and Mary answered questions.

NeighborWorks Umpqua (requesting $43,500) was not represented, and their application remains the same as in March.

Jackie Bachman states she has no financial gain from any decisions of these recommendations and can vote in a fair and just manner.

Commissioners Jackie Bachman / Tom Gunderson m/s the recommendation to fully fund each of the applicant programs at the requested amounts with the provision that Staff develops a plan that flexibly funds each proposal. Linda Reppond recuses due to possible conflict of interest Individual Voice Vote: All Ayes,.
Motion passed


Affordable Housing Program Revisions Review and Recommendation
Brandon Goldman, Senior Planner gave history of how the Ordinance came about. Lind Reid and Brandon Goldman give an overview of the outline on the Ordinance. Commissioners asked questions and made comments.

Commissioners Echo Fields / Chris Mahan m/s to recommend the Amendments to the Land Use Ordinance, regarding conversion of Multi-family rental housing into for purchase, Affordable Housing Standards, and Approval standards for Zone changes and Annexation changes., Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed

Cahoots Program Update
Rich Rohde, Commission Chair gives update of forming an emergency mental health response team for homeless in the Rogue Valley.

Utility Assistance Recommendation Updates
Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist gave update as to what programs are currently in place for Utility Assistance.

General Announcements and Updates
Hardesy property / Gina – walk thru with many organizations that help homeless. City owned property but County has zoning rights, property is also outside of our urban growth boundary.

Staff update by Linda Reid gave update on monies given for COVID relief and monies available for further options upcoming.

Upcoming Events and Meetings
Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting
                        October 22, 2020

Adjournment:   Rich Rohde adjourned the meeting at 6:20p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Liz Hamilton