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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-22 Housing & Human Services MIN Ashland Housing and Human Services Commission Draft Minutes September 22, 2022 Call to Order Commission Chair Linda Reppond called the Zoom meeting to order at 4:00pm. Commissioners Council Liaison Rich Rohde Gina Duquenne Echo Fields / Vice-Chair #3 vacant SOU Liaison Linda Reppond / Chair-absent Reese Rosenburg - Absent Joy Fate Kathy Kali Staff Present: Heidi Parker-absent Linda Reid, Housing Program Specialist Chris Mahan Brandon Goldman, Planning Manager #9 vacant Approval of Minutes Commissioners Rich Rohde/Joy Fate m/s to approve the minutes of July 28, 2022. Voice Vote: All Ayes. Motion passed Public Forum - None Overview of HPS questionnaire Results The Commissioners reviewed the Open City Hall questionnaire results and discussed them. Some of the reactions were:  That it was hard to know what to do with the written comments.  Some Commissioners found the results encouraging.  Some Commissioners felt that more information is needed by the public about the housing strategies, as they are complex,  and about the what the city’s housing program already does,  and what City can and cannot control. Housing Production Strategy Discussion and Recommendation The Commissioners each provided their list of prioritized strategies. The individual priority strategies are tabulated in the table below. The commissioners discussed how best to structure a motion that reflected their common priorities. Joy Fate/Rich Rohde M/S The Commission recommends prioritizing the following nine strategic actions for inclusion in the Housing Production Strategy document, with the tier one (highest priorities) strategic actions including: Housing Trust Funds, Manufactured home protections and development of new manufactured homes, land trust and land bank. Second tier of recommended strategic actions to include, the construction excise tax and disallowing single family development in multifamily zones. The third tier of strategic actions would include the creation of an urban renewal district, MUPTE, an increased capacity for construction of multifamily residential units. Theses strategic actions are put forward with the understanding that the Commission’s priorities should not be construed as eliminating or diminishing the remaining strategies. Motion was approved unanimously. CDBG CAPER Review and Recommendation The Commission reviewed the CAPER. There were some questions, clarifications, and suggested revisions. Joy Fate/Rich Rohde M/S to approve the CAPER with the understanding that additional revisions will be completed before being submitted to HUD. Motion approved unanimously. Cooling Shelter Debrief Some commissioners expressed disappointment that the City Council has yet to adopt updated guidance for how and when a severe climate shelter will be called. Commissioners expressed a desire for a better process and to have a systematic regular volunteer recruitment process with training opportunities. Commissioners who were involved in organizing and staffing the emergency cooling shelter talked about the difficulties of trying to find a location and volunteers with such short notices. Commissioners and the Council Liaison agreed that there needs to be a designated individual for shelter, there needs to be a mechanism for recruiting and maintaining volunteers for shelter, such as a volunteer appreciation plan, and a regular location to hold the shelter. Commissioners also stated a preference for clear adopted thresholds for temperatures and conditions under which shelters will be called. Vice Chair of the Commission, Echo Fields, provided a link to a pbs documentary on one of the cooling shelters this summer. https://www.pbs.org/video/august-2022-ashland-cooling-shelter-history-ft-klamath-pw3i2l/ Liaison Reports Housing and Human Services Commission will become a Sitting Advisory Committee and will still meet each month. Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting October 27, 2022 Adjournment: adjourned the meeting at 6:07p.m. Respectfully submitted by Linda Reid