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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-24 Housing MIN CITY Of ASHLAND ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES October 24, 2005 CALL TO ORDER Liz Peck, Acting Chair called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm. on October 24th, 2005 at the Community Development and Engineering Services Building at 51 Winburn Way, Ashland, OR. Commissioners Present: Liz Peck, Acting Chair Alice Hardesty Bill Street Carol Voisin Don Mackin Matt Small, Vice-chair arrived at 6: 10 and became Acting Chair Faye Weisler Cate Hartzell Brandon Goldman, Housing Specialist Absent Members: Council Liaison: Staff Present: Subcommittee updates Education Carol Voison spoke of the work of the Education Subcommittee in developing the upcoming Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) Workshop. Date is December 2, 2005 from 9-2:00 lnterviewees have been underway and the subcommittee is looking at a number of representative case studies including: o City of Ashland o Greenleaf Restaurant o Ashland Community Hospital o Sky Research Panelists have been identified and include: o FannieMae, Tonya Parker o HomeStreet Bank, Jennifer Larson o RVCDC, Ron Demele o A rental expert (Jim Kuntz?) o A business tax specialist Land Use Liz Peck noted that the prior Land Use Subcommittee meeting consisted of herself and Brandon Goldman. At this meeting they spoke about suitable properties and opportunities for land acquisition. They discussed conducting a "field trip" to look at the identified properties and spoke about realtor representation selection. Hartzell questioned where land acquisition is in process and Goldman explained that there is still not a resolution on where the funds to pay a consultant would come from. Hartzell requested Goldman resolve the issue and obtain the needed money for Real Estate Services. Goldman stated he would work with Bill Molnar, acting Community Development Director, to identify where the consultant services cost could be covered in the adopted budget. Finance The Finance Subcommittee had not met but had scheduled a conference call with Mary Brooks [ Housing Trust Fund Specialist] to occur in early November. Liasion updates Hardesty spoke briefly regarding her conversations with School Board members and the Chamber of Commerce. Commented on the need for the Chamber to produce "family friendly marketing". Noted the Chamber will advel1ise the EAH meeting in their news letter provided they receive materials by November 14th. Peck spoke briefly about her attendance at the Planning Commission hearing regarding II First Street. She saw value in further Planning Commissioner Education and perhaps future Trainings. Hartzell indicated Diana Shavey [ affordable housing consultant] would be available on December and indicated that there would be considerable value in a training provided by Shavey to the Housing Commission, Planning Commission, and City Council would be. Goldman asked what informational need of the Commission would they see such a training addressing. Voison questioned Hartzell on how Shavey's presentation could help them specifically. Hartzell explained Shavey's expertise in affordable housing and that she could help educate both on general programs and specific financing tools. Planninq Review Process Goldman presented on the potential expansion of the Housing Commissions role to include planning review, and implications it may have on their activities. Further Goldman noted that such a change in the resolution assigning the Housing Commission powers would be made by Council and that the Housing Commission should send a letter requesting such for consideration. Goldman noted that Staff will prepare a Council Communication but that a request letter and presentation by the Housing Commission would be necessary. Don Mackin expressed the perception that added review could be seen as onerous to developers and without criteria some comments may not have a legal standing. Hartzell spoke regarding the educational opportunities to the Housing Commission to understand the code their involvement in planning review would provide, and noted it would also provide better exposure for the Housing Commission and affordable housing. Mackin suggested the Housing Commission receive a monthly report on projects in the housing pipeline, including any specific issues on those projects. Jennifer Henderson stated the broadening the visibility of the Housing Commission before the Plamling Commission, by being a participant in the current planning review process, was a positive. Bill Street explained that currently developers only do the minimum necessary, and that adding Housing Commission reviews may provide the opportunity to work with developers to create more affordability. Goldman asked the Commissioners to define the types of actions the Housing Commission would review. There was consensus that the Housing Commission should review all projects that have affordability requirements [per land use ordinance or CDBG or City Funding], and further stated that voluntary affordable projects of2 or more units should come before the full commission. Commission members forwarded items for consideration when reviewing planning proposals could include: -Family friendly amenities -Mass Transit accessibility -Dedication of affordable units or land to be developed as affordable -Energy efficiency of units Housina Goals Small suggested that at the subcommittee level the Action Plan strategies and previously identified Housing Commission Goals be prioritized and come back to the full commission at the next regular meeting for vetting. The commission agreed to do this as there was no further time available in the study session to undertake the prioritization process. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. ASHLAND HOUSING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES Oct 24, 2005 2