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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-26 Housing MIN ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES February 26, 2009 CALL TO ORDER Chair Bill Smith called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. at the Community Development and Engineering Services Building, 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR 97520. Commissioners Present: SOU Liaison: Alexandra Amarotico Richard Billin Graham Lewis Council Liaison: Carol Voisin Steve Hauck Bill Smith Staff Present:: Aaron Benjamin Linda Reid, Housing Specialist Commissioners Absent: Carolyn Schwendener, Account Clerk Nick Frost Alice Hardesty Regina Ayars APPROVAL OF MINUTES AND AGENDA CHANGES Voisin/Hauck m/s to approve the minutes of the January 22, 2009 Housing Commission meeting with the correction of adding Carol Voisin, Council Liaison, who was present. Voice Vote: Approved PUBLIC FORUM Mike Faught, Ashland Public Works Director introduced himself. The City will be submitting a grant application to fund a Transportation System Plan (TSP) update. The Public Works Department is preparing this application to help pay a portion of the fees that will be incurred. Mr. Faught pointed out that the Housing Commission would have a direct benefit from the TSP in terms of the multi-modal transportation aspect and how it relates to affordable housing. Mr. Faught asked if the Commission Chair would be willing to sign a letter of support that talks about the impact of affordable housing in the community, more specifically in the transit side of it. Mr. Faught briefly discussed the TSP. Hauck/Lewis m/s that they direct the Commission Chair to sign the letter in support of the Transportation System Plan Grant application. Voice vote: approved. CONSOLIDATED PLAN OVERVIEW AND DISCUSSION Reid reviewed the timeline for the Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is due next year and prior to that there must be two public hearings. Next in the timeline will be the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) th applications which are due tomorrow Friday February 27. At next month’s meeting, March 26, 2009, applicants for CDBG awards will make presentations. Reid is planning to review in detail the Consolidated Plan at the Commissions April meeting when there would be more time available. Reid is anticipating a possible Housing Commission Ad Hoc committee with the role of research and information gathering, putting together survey questions, taking data and putting it all together. The Consolidated Plan must be done 45 days before the end of the grant year, same cycle as the CDBG. Two public hearings must be held, one to get public input and the second hearing is to adopt the final draft and take public comments. The Consolidated Plan is important because it gives a new snapshot of our community to see if the greatest priority need is still the creation of affordable housing units. It may now be that the City needs more home owner housing developments, rental housing units or social services stated Reid. It’s important to get that picture so we can set our priorities for the next five years. Then, when CDBG applications come in and when they are reviewed they can be evaluated based upon the priority goals addressed. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 1 MINUTES February 26, 2009 SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS Sub-committee Reports Finance – No report Education – No report th Land Use –The minutes from the February 11 meeting were included in the Housing Commission packet. Smith commented that the committee had a good discussion on Co-housing. Liaison Reports rdth Council – Voisin reported at the February 3 and 17 meeting the Council dealt with the cougar episode. Voisin said that the State law trumps everything and the City had no choice but to kill the cougar on site or tranquilize it to remove it and then kill it. The Mayor is going to ask for a citizens group to work on wildlife issues to figure out a policy for Ashland, though again the State law will trump all City policies. Council talked about the budget, the Croman site and the Transient Occupancy Tax. There will be a discussion between the Parks and the City regarding the money that comes from property taxes. The Council will be having a retreat in March for the purpose of goal setting. The Gun Club is holding off on signing a lease while an environmental assessment is being done. City employee, Adam Hanks has been given the position of Economic Development Project Manager/Strategic Planner. Parks Commission – Parks has decided to move forward with purchasing the land on Clay street School Board – No report th Planning Commission – Benjamin said the meeting on the 10 was quite robust. There were quite a number of people present who were absolutely against the Clay Street project for a variety of reasons. Apparently they didn’t know that the council had already approved the project conceptually and this was the required Planning Commission hearing with the final plan, stated Benjamin. SOU – Amarotico reported that Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group (OSPIRG) has put out new revised renters handbooks which are guides for students specifically that state “Know your rights.” Seven students are currently in Salem lobbying for higher education and the Governors recommended budget. SOU is opposed to becoming part of the University of Oregon and the students are protesting against that. The Vice Present of Students Affairs, John Eldridge has recently put out a new student reorganization plan. The goal is to have students and faculty work together to come up with the best solution for everybody. An issue on the State wide level is the Safe Schools program. The purpose is to develop programs to help stop bullying in Kindergarten through Twelfth grade Helping people at a young age be happy in school hopefully will create an atmosphere where they will want to continue with their education. CITY LAND USE INVENTIVES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION Reid discussed and answered questions regarding the list of planning and financial incentives. It was decided that this project would be handled by the Education Sub-Committee. Voisin proposed a Carbon incentive for green building. Also discussed was System Development Charge incentives for green building. AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND UPDATE AND DISCUSSION th The Committee did not meet last month. The next meeting will be Tuesday March 10 at 4:00 p.m. at the Community Development Building. HOMELESS LIAISON DISCUSSION The discussion was postponed until the next meeting when hopefully Nick Frost will be present. Graham would like to have this discussion before they begin to work on the comprehensive plan since many items in that plan deal with the homeless. It was suggested that careful consideration be taken with the election process of a homeless ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 2 MINUTES February 26, 2009 liaison. It could possibly be someone who has the knowledge and understanding of the needs the homeless population may have with regard to housing rather then actually being a homeless person. Voisin encouraged the Commissioners to check out the Ashland Community Health Center. They are in need in funding and provide direct services for low-income people. Reid said they could certainly apply for funding from the City. They would be eligible for Public Service Grant funds. UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS Next Housing Commission Regular Meeting – Thursday, March 26th, 2009 between 4:30–6:30p.m., Community Development Building th Retreat set for March 28between 1:00-4:00 for goal setting at the Community Development Building. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Respectfully submitted by, Carolyn Schwendener ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 3 MINUTES February 26, 2009