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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-07-26 Housing MIN ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES JULY 26, 2000 CALL TO ORDER Chair Larry Medinger called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. Other Commissioners present were Madeline Hill, Joe McKeever, Jan Vaughn, and Gerry Sea. Nancy Richardson, Carlus Harris, and Joan Legg were absent. Council Liaison David Fine was present. Staff present was Bill Molnar. Sue Yates arrived at 3:30 p.m. PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO EMERGENCY RESPONDERS There was considerable discussion surrounding the question about whether or not to move forward with a recommendation to the Council regarding providing affordable housing for the City of Ashland emergency responders. Molnar distributed a handout with some salary figures. From the information gathered, it appears there are one to two new hires each year. Several of the Commissioners had numerous questions about this possible program. For example: Should there be income limits? Should the spouse’s salary be taken into account? Should there be an escape clause? What is the assets test? What other ways does a possible qualifying person spend their money? Do we want to give affordable housing to someone who cannot budget his/her money? Is there more statistical data available? What about the new employee’s probation time? What happens when someone is fired or quits? Do they still get to keep the house? Should we be looking to get new hires into land trust houses? Is there other funding available for this program? How will the citizens view this benefit? How will the citizens feel if a firefighter works three to four days a week and has a second job on his days off? Can it be shown it is for the greater public good? Will anyone apply for this? Do emergency responders all want to live in Ashland? Do they want to live in a land trust home? Sea said she would look into HUD programs that might be geared to living and working in the same community. Molnar asked where this would lead. The land trust is a tool that is already out there. Do we need to design another program? Hill is concerned that politically the money will be put into a new program. Sea believes there are a lot of issues and she is not ready to vote today. She would also like to survey emergency responders. There was not unanimous enthusiasm. RESALE RESTRICTION AGREEMENT Molnar found an old agreement that he handed out to the Commissioners. Under 3, he said the city has a right to 85 percent of the gain. He believes there should be some incentive that the gain is reduced, the longer one stays in the home. The resale restriction agreement brought up a lot of questions. Can it be done the way the land trust does it? Should the gain be based on appraised or market value? Should an affordable be in a free market? Will any developers be interested in this? Will they have other affordable choices? A developer has to build 25 percent affordable homes if they do an annexation. Molnar said the problem is that annexations are becoming fewer and fewer. Do we look at scenarios next month? (Show tying it to an appraisal vs. the method the land trust uses.) McKeever feels there are too many ways to get around the appraisals. Do we look at a penalty? GENERAL DISCUSSION Medinger expressed his frustration at not having a full-time housing officer. Molnar said the Planning Staff has accomplished a number of things for affordable housing. He noted that his efforts will soon be going to updating the Housing Element of the Comprehensive Plan. Sea wondered about pursuing hiring of a consultant and using money from the Housing Trust Fund. Medinger asked about the contract for the Ashland Community Land Trust. Hill did not feel it was appropriate for the Housing Commission to review it. The Board of Directors of the Housing Trust should review it. McKeever stated the Ashland Community Land Trust has moved well beyond the link with the Housing Commission. He said that is stated in the by-laws. ADJOURNMENT – The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 2 MINUTES JULY 26, 2000