HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing Catalyst - Minutes - 04/18/2021
Housing Catalyst Board of Commissioners
Meeting November 18, 2021
Attendees
Commissioners: Cathy Mathis, Jennifer Wagner, David Bye, Emily Francis, Ann Green, Lizette Mill, Hep
Wilkins
Legal Counsel: Kate Belford
Guests: Jake Arnold, Jake Ediger, Susan Klopman, Ann Nelson, Meaghan Overton, Jada Mornes
Staff: Julie Brewen, Justin Corey, Tonya Frammolino, Julie Francis, Rachel Gaisford, Brian Heckart, Carly
Johansson, Angelika Lintner, Traci McGraw
Call to Order
Chairperson Mathis called the meeting to order at 7:37 a.m.
Citizen Input
Approval of Minutes from October 21, 2021
Commissioner Bye moved to approve the minutes of the Housing Catalyst Board of Commissioners from
October 1, 2021, with minor revisions. Commissioner Wilkins seconded, and the motion was passed
unanimously.
Action Items
Review of 2021-Q3 Financial Report
Chief Financial Officer Tonya Frammolino presented the 2021 Q3 financial report and provided a
summary and overview.
Ms. Frammolino provided a summary of the current trends: voucher utilization is at 92% with a target of
96% by the end of the year; 1,093 units are currently being managed; there is 95.3% occupancy; Staffing
is currently at 84.5 full time employees, and it was stated that staffing and turnover remain a challenge.
Revenue is slightly ahead of budget; expenses are over budget by 5% due to the timing of Housing
Assistance Payments (HAP). It is expected that this will be resolved by the end of the year.
Ms. Frammolino discussed the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties and explained the
reasons for the low Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) on Redtail Ponds, Village on Elizabeth, and
Village on Plum. The remaining properties are expected to meet target by the end of the year.
Chief Executive Officer Julie Brewen explained that the capitalization policy is being reviewed and will be
revised. These revisions are expected to help the DSCR for all properties. More information will be
presented to this Board at a future meeting.
Housing Catalyst Kechter Operating Agreement
Ms. Brewen presented the Kechter Operating Agreement and introduced Attorney Jake Ediger of
Gilmore & Bell.
Attorney Ediger provided a brief overview of the resolution presented. Housing Catalyst staff and
Development Committee have been involved in discussions and strategies regarding the City of Fort
Collins Kechter Landbank property since the developer, TWG, was selected. Housing Catalyst has
provided support and guidance through conceptual meetings and direct technical assistance provided to
the developer. Initial support included willingness to participate by way of fee waivers or sales tax
abatement if needed.
The recommendation is to approve the documents related to Housing Catalyst’s partnership in the
development in order to provide sales tax abatement and receive compensation for development
technical assistance already rendered.
Ms. Brewen explained that once the properties are purchased, Housing Catalyst will no longer be a
partner in this development. The land will be permanently owned by Elevations Community Land Trust.
It is projected that it will take about four years to sell all homes.
Commissioner Mill moved to approve HC RES 2021-11-01, A joint resolution of the Board of
Commissioners of Housing Catalyst (The “Authority”), Housing Catalyst Kechter Homeownership, LLC
(The “Company”) and Julie J. Brewen as Chief Manager of the Company, approving the formation of the
Company, authorizing the admission of the Company as a Special Limited Partner in the borrower (as
hereinafter defined), entering into other contracts in relation to the admission of the Company, providing
for the repeal of any inconsistent prior resolutions, and providing for the effective date of this Resolution.
Commissioner Green seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.
Legacy Seniors Apartments Request to Refinance
Ms. Brewen provided a brief summary of Housing Catalyst’s involvement in this development and
explained that there has been a request from the developer to refinance. Housing Catalyst is evaluating
the pros and cons of accepting repayment of the soft loans and is looking at how the funds would be
utilized if this happens.
More information will be presented to the Board for further review at the next meeting.
Staff Updates
Development Report
Manager of Real Estate Development Carly Johansson provided a brief summary of projects currently in
progress: Oak 140 is moving along smoothly and is on schedule; the builder is currently working on the
second floor. The Swallow Road renovation project is approximately fifty percent complete and is on
schedule; exterior work is currently underway. The Village on Bryan renovation project is moving
forward with the selected design team; the scope of work is being developed. Interviews with design
teams for the Impala renovation and redevelopment project have been completed and a selection is
expected soon; site work will then begin.
Ms. Johansson summarized the progress on the public housing disposition work (Section 18 program).
All projects are on target.
Legislative Issues/Updates
Colorado Legislative Update:
Ms. Brewen reported that Governor Polis spoke at last week’s CO NAHRO conference. He has
established a housing task force that will present recommendations on how to use funds received from
the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). United States Senator John Hickenlooper’s staff also spoke at the
conference and discussed rent assistance.
Ms. Brewen is participating in Larimer County-focused conversations on utilization of ARPA funds. The
Committee includes leaders from the County and the City of Fort Collins.
National Legislative Update:
Ms. Brewen said that staff are monitoring daily updates and guidance in order to ensure Housing
Catalyst and our community is aware and taking advantage of all opportunities to access ARPA funding.
Fort Collins City Council Legislative and Business Update:
Commissioner and Fort Collins City Council Mayor Pro Tem Emily Francis reported that the City adopted
a one-year budget for 2022 and will begin in March to put together a two-year budget. The City is
working to restore parts of the budget that had been deleted as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Ms. Francis reported on the progress of revisions and updates to the land use code.
She also provided an update on the search for a new City Manager. The hiring team is working on
putting together a list of requirements being sought in applicants.
Legal Issues
Attorney Kate Belford indicated that there are no legal issues.
Other Business/Upcoming Events
Ms. Brewen announced that the Finance Committee will begin to meet monthly going forward.
Ms. Brewen reported that Director of Housing Assistance Traci McGraw has been working with
Commissioners Bye and Green to update Housing Catalyst’s Housing Choice Voucher Administrative
Plan. A proposal will be presented to the Board next month.
Other Business/Upcoming Events
The Housing Catalyst Development Committee will meet on December 6, 2021.
Executive Session
Commissioner Wagner moved to go into an Executive Session per (b) §24-6-402(4)(b), C.R.S.,
Conferences with an attorney for the public entity for the purposes of receiving legal advice on specific
legal questions, for the purposes of receiving legal advice from Housing Catalyst’s employment law
attorney on specific legal questions arising out of Housing Catalyst’s draft COVID Safety Policy.
Commissioner Wilkins seconded, and the motion was passed unanimously.
The Board then went into Executive Session.
Adjournment – Next Meeting Date: December 16, 2021
Vice Chairperson Wagner adjourned the meeting at 9:30 a.m.