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Home My WebLink AboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 07/07/2022AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 7/7 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 1 July 7, 2022 4:00-6:00pm Remote/Online via Zoom due to COVID-19 CALL TO ORDER At 4:01 PM the meeting was called to order by John Singleton 1. ROLL CALL • Board Members Present: John Singleton, Stefanie Berganini, Seth Forwood, and Jennifer Bray. • Board Members Absent: Bob Pawlikowski and Kristin Fritz. • Staff Members Present: • Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Staff Liaison – City of Fort Collins • Taylor Reynolds, Minutes – City of Fort Collins • Guests Present: • Marilyn Heller 2. AGENDA REVIEW – No changes. 3. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION – None. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Seth Forwood moved to approve the June minutes. Jennifer Bray seconded. Approved 4-0. 5. NEW BUSINESS • Board Member Ideas • Board members provided an overview of the educational topics discussed this year including, but not limited to, low-income housing tax credits, The American Rescue Plan Act funding, and improving indoor air quality with EPA grant dollars. • The Board began considering topics of interest for early 2023 meetings, including the significant increase in rental housing assistance distributed post pandemic. • Regarding the concern for mobile home parks, Stefanie Berganini has some additional information that will be included in September’s meeting packet as well as a recommendation for a guest speaker, if desired by the Board. DocuSign Envelope ID: 280E83F0-8A48-44E8-ABEC-5703EF96B60D AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 7/7 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 2 6. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS • Meeting Logistics • Board members agreed to take a summer break and cancel the August meeting. • Liaison Reports • Human Relations Committee • John Singleton reported that recent conversations with the Human Relations Committee included the need to address housing equity, defining vulnerability, and difficulty of building affordable housing for people with no income. • Board members discussed including the impact of homelessness into meetings on a regular basis and opportunities to support the conversion of mobile home parks to be resident owned. • The Board inquired about hosting Alea Rodriguez, Housing Stability Program Manager at Larimer County, at an upcoming board meeting. • 24/7 Shelter Update • Seth Forwood reported that work with the Homelessness Advisory Committee over the last three years helped identified three priorities for people experiencing homelessness: 24/7 shelter, day shelter and medical access. • Fort Collins Rescue Mission has identified the Bohemian Foundation owned site on 1311 North College as the potential location for the 24/7 shelter and is working with an architecture firm to incorporate “trauma informed architecture” into the facility. • Proposed capacity for the new Fort Collins 24/7 shelter is approximately 200 permanent beds and 100 for overflow expansion (or 150/150). The actual proposed numbers could change following interviews and the design process. • Surrounding communities, including the Loveland and Greeley are creating processes for placing people experiencing homelessness into hotels and moving them into their 24/7 shelter and offering winter overflow shelter. • DISCUSSION: • What has been the impact of COVID-19 on homelessness? • Seth Forwood shared that two impacts of COVID-19 on homelessness in Fort Collins may be the increase in camping because of the health DocuSign Envelope ID: 280E83F0-8A48-44E8-ABEC-5703EF96B60D AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 7/7 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 3 concerns for congregate shelter and the increased demand for shelter overall, though there are many contributing factors. • What testing or precautionary measures were taken in the congregate shelters during the pandemic? • Fort Collins Rescue Mission used an array of interventions, especially at the height of the pandemic, including expanding their shelter to allow for social distancing, providing weekly COVID testing, requiring masks, sanitizing on an hourly basis, serving as an outbreak site, and utilizing hotels and the Isolation Recovery and Quarantine site for those experiencing homelessness who did test positive for COVID-19. • Were there any COVID related deaths among people experiencing homelessness? • Fort Collins Rescue Mission does not believe there to have been any COVID-related deaths, though some people experiencing homelessness may have been had long-term, post-acute conditions that worsened with COVID-19 symptoms. • Partnerships with Outreach Fort Collins, Murphy Center, Homeward Alliance and the Health District were imperative to pursing health safety for those experiencing homelessness and the employees of the agencies throughout the pandemic. • North Fort Collins Business Association • Seth Forwood has been attending the North Fort Collins Business Association meetings as part of his role with Fort Collins Rescue Mission, to gain feedback from business owners about the impact of the new 24/7 shelter site. • The Board requested a list of concerns shared by the North Fort Collins Business Association to discuss at a later date. • Board members interested in reading about a different take on the Housing First vs. Contingent Based Housing models for people experiencing homelessness might like to read San Fransicko: How Progressives Ruin Cities by Michael Shellenberger. • National Conference to End Homelessness • Seth Forwood will attend the National Conference to End Homelessness in Washington DC and will report back to this Board. DocuSign Envelope ID: 280E83F0-8A48-44E8-ABEC-5703EF96B60D AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 7/7 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 4 • Rental Advisory Task Force • Proposed Rental Licensing Program • Board members reported interactions with community members who have shared their concerns regarding the proposed rental licensing program. • Opponents to the program question the need for it, the City of Fort Collins’s administrative costs for supporting it, and potential infringement of home ownership rights. • The Board would like to get a one-page document about the pros and cons of the rental licensing program and the goals of the Rental Housing Advisory Task Force. • After the work session in August, City staff will have a better understanding of how City Council wants to approach rental registry and/or licensing. • One benefit to the rental registry program would be data on the inventory throughout the city and how it’s being used, something there is no data for currently. • Council Liaison • Board members examined the different ways in which they can engage City Council to help provide some understanding on topics related to affordable housing. • Water Rights • The Board also discussed approaching Mayor & Council with questions regarding the rising costs of Water Rights and its effect on affordable housing. • Fee In Lieu – Provided as alternative compliance. • The City of Fort Collins accepts Water Rights, money, or both. • Board members questioned whether there is data available regarding water usage for multifamily units and if affordable unit developments can access better water rates. • The Board agreed to continue this conversation at an upcoming meeting to engage members involved in affordable housing developments and determine whether they would like to further investigate including water conservation efforts in the competitive grant process application. DocuSign Envelope ID: 280E83F0-8A48-44E8-ABEC-5703EF96B60D AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD REGULAR MEETING 7/7 /202 2 – MINUTES Page 5 7. STAFF MEMBER REPORTS – Not discussed. 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 6:04 PM DocuSign Envelope ID: 280E83F0-8A48-44E8-ABEC-5703EF96B60D