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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-12-08 Housing MIN ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION DECEMBER 8, 1999 MINUTES CALL TO ORDER - The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Gerry Sea at 4:05 p.m.. Other Commissioners present were Jan Vaughn, Joe McKeever, Madeline Hill and Larry Medinger. Absent members were Steve Hauck, Joan Legg, and Carlus Harris. Staff present were Bill Molnar and Sue Yates. PUBLIC FORUM - Michael Gutman asked the Commission for a waiver of the Systems Development Charges (SDC’s) for his seven-unit affordable housing project on California Street. They will break ground in January. The SDC’s would need to be waived at the time the permits are picked up. Gutman said it would allow him to not carry the cost of the SDC’s. If the owners do not qualify at the time of purchase, the SDC’s will be paid at that time. Gutman approached the Council and the Council sent him to the Housing Commission for a recommendation. Hill wondered if Gutman realized how difficult it is for someone to qualify for the City’s guidelines. There is a small income window; enough to qualify for the loan and yet not too much. She suggested he review the City’s affordable housing guidelines and talk to potential purchasers and see what it takes to do this. He needs to understand the program before the Commission would approve a waiver. Molnar said this is the first he has heard of Gutman’s request. He could have contacted Molnar and requested this be put on the agenda. Molnar has not discussed this with the Planning Director. Hill would like more Staff research and more research done by the developer. DISCUSSION OF HOUSING RESTRICTIONS FOR SOU STUDENTS Sea introduced Sophia McDonald, SOU representative; David Lively and Chuck Butler, Capital Property Management; and James Stout, President, Southern Oregon Rental Owners Assn. She thought it would be helpful to have a dialogue about the college housing situation and gather more information. McDonald said they had a meeting at SOU on Friday with most of this group. They talked about possible solutions to their housing problems by way of a rental training program. Stout believes the best bet is the education and certification of students. It would give landlords something tangible to look at. Changing the ordinance is probably not a good idea. From a legal standpoint, students are not a class. Lively is interested in partnering with the University to provide housing for students. There is an opportunity to create a class to educate students about some issues about rental property and how to better take care of property and how to get their deposit back. Butler said the educational program would be a student program. Lively has volunteered to teach the class. As property managers, they want to make sure they get good tenants. Parking can also be a problem too. If there are three students, there will be three cars. When there are more students in a rental house, there is more chance for high turnover and this can be very expensive for the property owner. McDonald feels very positive about the meetings and dialogues they have been having. She is excited about the rental class. Sea has talked about ACCESS becoming involved. She would also like to see the Housing Commission partner in some way with a community perspective. McKeever thinks one of the biggest problems for tenants is getting their deposit returned. He would like to see a true disclosure. McDonald said the next step will be to do some research as to what to include in the program ,and determine who will house it and who will run it. At some point, it will be necessary to get all the parties together again. LAND TRUST UPDATE Tomorrow night is the first workshop for applicants for one of the homes in Chautauqua Trace. Jeff Yegian from ICE will be at the meeting to go over the finer points of the land lease. The Chautauqua Trace units will be available the latter part of March. ACCESS has applied for a $100,000 grant through the Regional Strategies Partnership and should know the outcome of that application by the latter part of January. We will soon be coming up on the CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) cycle. Molnar reported the partitioning of the City parkland on North Main (with a house) is coming up this month before the Planning Commission. The Trust will approach the Council to make an offer on the house. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m. The next meeting will be January 26, 2000. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION 2 DECEMBER 8, 1999 MINUTES