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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-27 Housing MIN ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES DECEMBER 27, 2000 CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. by Chair Larry Medinger. Other Commissioners present were Joan Legg, Madeline Hill, and Carlus Harris. Joe McKeever arrived at 4:25 p.m. Cate Hartzell was present. Absent members were Jan Vaughn, and Nancy Richardson. Staff present were Bill Molnar and Sue Yates. PROPOSAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS Medinger reported that several Housing Commission members were present at the last City Council meeting to present their affordable housing ideas as outlined in the memo sent to the Council earlier. The Housing Commission members received a positive push from the Council. However, upon meeting with City Administrator, Greg Scoles two days later, he said there was no money in the budget. Medinger feels there seems to be a real problem with the concept that there is truly an affordable housing problem in Ashland. Medinger asked “Why”? We are changing the character of our town by not doing anything about affordable housing. Why can’t there be city funding to make affordable housing programs work? Harris concurred with Medinger. He was left with the feeling that the overall thrust of the city has been locally lacking with regard to affordable housing and how it ties in with all the other larger issues the city is facing such as traffic and alternative modes of transportation. We are in a situation where people will not be able to avail themselves of any of the remedies if they live in a town outside of the one in which they work. He felt like the City was asking the Housing Commissioners where the money is coming from. In Harris’ opinion, the shoe is on the wrong foot. The Commissioners were there with a concept to move forward and hope the City would be an active partner and give them some ideas of where the funds might be to help the concept along. The question was posed right back to the Commissioners. Molnar had the follow-up meeting with Scoles, Harris and Medinger to keep the momentum going. He concurred with Medinger and Harris that some of the comments from Scoles and Fine were deflating in terms of where the money would come from. Molnar felt Harris and Medinger did a good job in expressing that it seems when the city has a priority they somehow seem to find the money to fund it. It was apparent they are going to have to meet a lot more to try and figure out if there are a myriad of funding sources. Later in their meeting some ideas did start coming out. McKeever arrived. Molnar asked if Hartzell could educate the Commission on how certain funds are dedicated. Hartzell has learned from a lay person’s perspective over the past six years of serving on the Budget Committee that some money comes from taxes and goes into the General Fund. Some funds (Electric, Water) are closed loop services. Some money is dedicated to related items. We have to ask the question--Is there any kind of fee happening or a new fee that could be levied within the Planning Department that is related to the high cost of housing in the City? It would seem to Hartzell that part of the strategic planning process would be laying on the table all the different sources of funding. If, after everyone has done their research, we see potential for raising a certain amount of money, this Commission needs to go back to the Council and say we are working on a source of funding. Can you match it? Medinger and Legg stated the need for Staff to explore funding options and to be immersed in housing. It cannot be done by volunteers. Hartzell thought this can be dealt with at the strategic planning meeting on January 18th. She hoped the Commissioners would do as much research as possible before the 18th. Hartzell thought the Council made a recommendation to approve discussion to happen around sources of funding. She suggested the Housing Commissioners hold the strategic planning session, put out every tool we have on the table and come out with a plan. Go back the Council and present the plan. Let the Council choose and make a decision. The Housing Commission will let the Council know we are the best they’ve got, we are making a recommendation, now it is up to the Council. Press the issue that night so they will make decision. COMMENTS FROM GUEST Richard Seidman said he moved here about a year and a half ago. There are a number of Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) in Portland that operate in specific neighborhoods. He wondered if working in conjunction with the Land Trust could be a vehicle to access federal funds. He has had experience working on various projects. One project was decimated because of budget cuts but because it was non-profit there was a volunteer effort that filled the void. Seidman requested that at the strategic planning, the Housing Commission will identify quantifiable goals. He would like to see them really put a number on what is affordable. Two houses a year is just a drop in the bucket for the need. Is it possible in the strategic planning to come up with a goal for how many houses for how many years? There was some discussion about partnerships between CDC’s and the city and administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Hartzell would like to convince the Council that $100,000 of CDBG funds should go for affordable housing. Molnar wondered if there was any reason the CDBG has to be competitive. Could the Housing Commission count on $100,000 each year? Seidman thought SOU might have a graduate student who could look at funding sources. Or, Hartzell mentioned someone from the University of Oregon. Harris said what makes Ashland different is the limited property in this town and no dilapidated housing stock to build on. The kinds of cooperation that come from the city with regard to ordinances and inclusionary zoning laws are crucial to making programs work. We are looking for a municipal buy-in and partnership. Money is important, however, there are other monies out there to be tapped through grants, etc. that could at least match any city funds. More importantly, is the city’s buy-in to the extent they can encourage through some kinds of incentives the inclusion of affordable housing? He was disturbed when attending the railroad property charrette process that he heard someone say the city was not even considering housing as a part of it. There needs to be an overall strategy for including affordable housing in the railroad district mix. If we don’t include it, it will only exacerbate other problems in the city such as parking and transportation. Harris noted the story in the Tidings about the small trailer park across from Wendy’s that is being bought out by a bank so they can build a branch. It would seem that affordable housing just does not seem to be a primary concern. It would be Harris’ hope that when the Planning Commission is looking at this proposal they will take into consideration that there are a dozen families, some of whom work in the city, that will be displaced and the bank has no plan to help re-locate these people. By virtue of the cost of housing in this town, these people will be kicked out of town. He would think the city would seriously be looking at these types of opportunities. He would hope through the ACLT and the Housing Commission they could begin looking at innovative and creative ways to stop this sort of thing from happening. Hartzell said this is a unique opportunity for any member of the Housing Commission to go to the Planning Commission meeting and speak. The relationship between commissions is lacking. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Hill moved to approve the minutes of the November 29, 2000 meeting, the motion was seconded and the minutes were approved. STRATEGIC PLANNING Hartzell said she has talked with several consultants and will choose one. She will choose the place. She mentioned sending out preparatory material they can look at such as the Housing Element to help prepare them for this meeting. Do they all have the CDBG report? Legg suggested the morning session will be set aside to talk about where we are now and where we want to go and the guests would be brought into the afternoon session. It was suggested the following be considered to invite: Debbie Price, Kevin Miller, Darrell Pearce, Ashland Community Land Trust members, John Fields, Ray Kistler, David Fine, Ron Roth. Hartzell said she is talking with Tim Bewley who does RVTV about getting more visibility for commissions. McKeever suggested using the utility billing newsletter to keep affordable housing in front of the public. ACLT UPDATE - No report. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 2 MINUTES DECEMBER 27, 2000 ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 3 MINUTES DECEMBER 27, 2000