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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 06/02/2022AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 1 June 2, 2022 4:00-6:00pm Remote/Online via Zoom due to COVID-19 CALL TO ORDER At 4:02 PM the meeting was called to order by Tatiana Zentner 1. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: Tatiana Zentner, John Singleton, Stefanie Berganini, Bob Pawlikowski, Kristin Fritz, Seth Forwood, and Jennifer Bray joined in progress. • Staff Members Present: • Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Staff Liaison – City of Fort Collins • Taylor Reynolds, Minutes – City of Fort Collins • Beth Rosen, Social Sustainability – City of Fort Collins • Guests Present: • Lisa Cunningham • Marilyn Heller • Patdu (no last name listed) 2. AGENDA REVIEW – No changes. 3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION – None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Stefanie Berganini moved to approve the May minutes. John Singleton seconded. Approved 7-0. 5. NEW BUSINESS • Board Elections Reprise • Tatiana Zentner will be moving out of Fort Collins and resigning from this board. • John Singleton accepted the nomination for Chair. • Bob Pawlikowski accepted the nomination for Vice Chair. Tatiana Zentner moved to nominate Bob Pawlikowski for Vice Chair. John Singleton seconded. Approved 7-0. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 2 • HOME American Rescue Plan Act Funding – Beth Rosen, Grants Compliance & Policy Manager • $2.6 Million in HOME American Rescue Plan Act (HOME ARP) funding was allocated to the City • Households that may receive support through HOME ARP funded programs must be of one of the following qualifying populations: (1) Homeless (McKinney-Vento Definition), (2) at-risk of homelessness (McKinney-Vento Definition), (3) people fleeing/ attempting to flee violence, (4) veterans and families with a veteran member, and (5) other populations for whom supportive services would prevent homelessness or risk of housing instability. • HOME-ARP funds have four eligible uses: (1) production or preservation of affordable housing, (2) tenant-based rental assistance, (3) purchase and/or development of non- congregate shelter, or (4) supportive services, homeless prevention services, and housing counseling. • Two focus group sessions were completed in April, along with a community questionnaire of identified stakeholders (organizations that serve the targeted populations). • Focus groups prioritized resources for those at risk of homelessness over homelessness support to prevent more people from losing housing and seeking shelter and to allow the allocated resources to serve those who are currently homeless. • Prioritized uses of HOME ARP dollars included designating majority of funds to building new housing units and offering supportive services (especially for those at risk of losing their housing when funding from other programs stops). • Timeline: The gaps analysis will take place through July, the Draft Plan is expected to be available by September, the Plan will be submitted to HUD in October, and funding allocations will require review by the Human Services and Housing Funding Board and City Council and be deployed by early 2023. • DISCUSSION SUMMARY: • Can you clarify the qualifications and disqualifications for funding for supportive services? • HOME ARP dollars cannot fund services already being offered, but rather it must expand services (i.e., adding a staff member to an outreach organization). DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 3 • Will individuals who have previously received federal funds be disqualified from HOME ARP funded programs? • Often, the need for assistance is based on changing circumstances. For example, an individual who received rent assistance due to COVID-19 economic hardship, may receive additional rent assistance because their monthly rent was raised, and they can no longer afford to live where they are now. • How were the stakeholders identified? • The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s guidance for mandatory consultation is prescriptive and must include your housing authority and the organizations serving the qualifying populations to determine the currently available services and gaps. • There will be the opportunity for all residents to share their thoughts on the Plan during the public comment period and public hearing. • How will the program applications be evaluated? • Similar to the Competitive Grant Process, organizations who apply will have to demonstrate the capacity to administer federal dollars and explain how the requested funds will expand eligible services. • Will this funding be part of the Competitive Process? • There are pros and cons to considering including the HOME ARP dollars in the annual Competitive Grant Process. City staff are seeking input before deciding whether to combine these funding cycles. • What is the deadline for spending these funds? • These dollars must be spent by June of 2030. • Housing Strategic Plan – Meaghan Overton, Housing Manager • Housing Strategic Plan Implementation – 26 strategies with different timelines • Quicker Wins (<1 year): 10 total, 6 complete, 4 40% or more complete • Sequencing of LUC changes and development of incentives and extending affordability term in affordable housing definitions are tied to the LUC changes and will not meet <1 year timeline • Transitional (1-2 years): 8 total, 7 underway • Innovate Fort Collins Challenge was delayed for additional engagement • Water Resources Matter study temporarily paused with project manager’s departure but may resume shortly DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 4 • Transformational (2+ years): 8 total, 7 underway • These goals include building code changes, new streams for affordable housing funding, and rental policy and occupancy changes. • Upcoming Council sessions to note: • June 14 – Land Use Code Work Session • June 21 – PAB Allocations and Administrative Process for Fee Credits • August 23 – Rental Programming and Licensing • DISCUSSION SUMMARY: • Are there “next steps” related to engaging manufactured and mobile home communities outside of providing information to residents? • The City hired a staff person to focus on building relationships with the residents of manufactured and mobile home parks to intervene when appropriate, including working on legislation at the State level. • Board members would welcome a presentation regarding City efforts in manufactured or mobile home parks. • What is the City doing to remove barriers to Accessory Dwelling Unit’s (ADU)? • The proposed Land Use Code (LUC) updates would allow ADU’s in all residential zones. Though not the only barrier to their development, including this change in the LUC updates is a first step to making ADU’s more feasible. • City staff hope to release a public draft this summer. Board members would like to schedule time at an upcoming board meeting for a review of the updates to the LUC. • What has been the stakeholder feedback for the rental programming? • The Rental Housing Task Force of around 19 people, including renters, property owners, property managers, realtors, etc. and the feedback has been a culmination of many perspectives. • A facilitator is walking the Task Force through an advisory stakeholder process that takes about 10 weeks. • City staff will provide additional opportunities for engagement this summer throughout various neighborhoods and review the results of the rental industry survey. • Recommendations will be public before going to Council in August. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 5 • Land Use Code Updates – Meaghan Overton, Housing Manager • City staff reviewed a variety of proposed changes including (1) reorganization/ user friendliness, (2) choice, compatibility, diversity, (3) capacity, and (4) affordability. • Highlighted revisions include: • Renaming “Land Use Code” to be “Land Development Code” • Reorganizing the code to include the most frequently used information first • Using simple tables and graphics to provide clarity and decrease redundancy in written descriptions • Consolidating forms and standards and updating definitions and rules of measurement for consistency • Allowing ADU’s in all residential and mixed-use zones and enable more small-lot infill development to create “missing middle” housing • Reducing parking requirements and increasing height allowances for increased capacity • Expanding affordable housing incentives to all residential and mixed used zones • Continuing to require a minimum 10% of units to be affordable for development seeking incentives • Modify income criteria to address the most critical shortages for affordable rental and for-sale units • DISCUSSION SUMMARY: • How did the City determine the percentage of units to be affordable for developers seeking incentives (proposed at 10%)? • An extensive Pro Forma Analysis was conducted to compare what could be built under the current code vs. the proposed changes and the level of affordability that could be provided while offering a similar rate of return for the developer. • Has the City considered affordable homeownership programs that are jurisdiction lead? • Currently, the City is partnering with Elevation Community Land Trust to provide affordable townhomes, but this is relatively new. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 6 • The City’s only experience providing this type of opportunity is through the Provincetowne townhomes. This program, like other restricted homeownership programs, requires a lot of administrative work that does not decrease overtime. • Fee Credit Eligibility – Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Staff Liaison • Following May’s discussion about changing the minimum fee credit eligibility, City staff report that there is an estimated 25 40% AMI units currently under construction • Based on this estimate, changing the fee credit eligible could double the funding needed for this program • DISCUSSION SUMMARY: • How would this change likely be received by City Council? • The 23-24 Budget Cycle process is already underway, but this Board could still advocate for Council to expand this fee relief program at any time. • Is there data available to quantify any portion of the affordable housing gap closed by this additional fee relief funding? • The subsidy provided by this fee relief is small, compared to that which is needed to build very low-income units. • This funding would benefit the developers who already have plans to create units but would not necessarily be sufficient to new plans for very low-income units • Would changing the eligibility criteria for fee relief require Council approval more frequently (amid trying to create a strictly administrative process where funds are available)? • If the code was changed to allow 40% AMI unit developers to apply for fee credits, it would require more funding, or the available funding would be used more quickly, and any additional requests would have to go before Council. • City Council will be reviewing the ordinance that would allow fee credits to be allocated administratively on June 21st and the final decision will likely be made by the end of the summer. DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 6/2 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 7 • Board members requested more data regarding the housing needs and gaps by income level and will consider recommendations for fee credit eligibility changes at a later time. • Board Member Ideas – None. 6. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS – NOT DISCUSSED • Meeting Logistics • Liaison Reports 7. STAFF MEMBER REPORTS – None. 8. OTHER BUSINESS – NOT DISCUSSED • City Council 6-month planning calendar review • Council Comments – Who, what? • Review 2022 Work Plan • Update on Affordable Housing Projects • Future AHB Meetings Agenda 9. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:12 PM DocuSign Envelope ID: 91E2892F-F625-48BA-87D7-EE7D8F4E18FF