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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 02/03/2005CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado February 3, 2005 4-6p.m. Kay Rios, Chair Denise Rogers, Vice Chair Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753 Marty Tharp, City Council Liaison, 970-484-5711 Board Members Present: Kay Rios, Denise Rogers, Jon Fairchild, Joe Hebert, Joe Rowan, Peter Tippett, Sunshine Workman. Staff Present: Maurice Head, Ken Waido, Timothy Wilder. Council Members Present: Marty Tharp Guests: Tom Honn, Fort Collins Housing Authority Board and Affordable Housing Coalition; Cathy Miller, Care Housing; Lee Watkins, Transportation Board; Ted Shepard, City of Fort Collins Current Planning Chair Kay Rios called the meeting to order; a quorum was present at 4:15 p. M. Ooen public Discussion None. New Business Welcome New Member Michelle Jacobs, Director of Community Affairs for the Northern Colorado Homebuilders Association, was welcomed as the newest member of the Affordable Housing Board in absentia. Minutes After clarification that staff and the CDBG Commission were not rewriting Affordable Housing board policy on inclusion of Habitat for Humanity families in the Downpayment Assistance program, the minutes of January 6, 2004, were unanimously accepted as presented on a motion by Joe Hebert seconded by Denise Rogers. Buildable Lands Inventory Timothy Wilder, City Planner, made a presentation on the Buildable Lands Inventory findings. This study was developed for the City Plan Update completed last year, and the figures are scheduled to be updated in the next few months. The major finds of the report show that the Fort Collins Growth management Area contains approximately 12,000 acres of vacant land, 37 percent of which is constrained by floodplains or natural features, and Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board February 3, 2005 Minutes Page 2 of 4 another 30 percent that could be developed only with mitigation. Under current zoning, the vacant land can accommodate approximately 17,000 housing units (to house 40,000 residents) and 16 million square feet of nonresidential building space (to house 35,000 jobs). Approximately 5,500 housing units -- for 13,000 people - have been approved by the City but not yet built, for a 3-4 year housing supply. Redevelopment is expected to provide 10 percent of new housing and jobs: 2,800 units for 6,800 and 5,100 jobs. By the year 2025, there will be a surplus of 485 housing units and a deficit of 9,136 jobs, based on the difference between forecast demand and capacity. Most of the new units and jobs are concentrated in the north, although the southeast part of the GMA is developing rapidly, and the City is facing pressure to convert land zoned to provide employment to residential uses. The types of housing and types of jobs that can be supported are still being researched, but there is not a lot of land available for multifamily housing, Mr. Wilder said, and the concentration of the employment area is an issue for concern. He added that while there may be greater than 10 percent capacity available for redevelopment, constraints and costs make it much more unrealistic. Ken Waido pointed out that redevelopment will be affected by the policies adopted as the fixed GMA boundaries dictated by City Plan are implemented. Joe Rowan said the balance between housing and wages is critical. While the lowest income service workers are accommodated and the highest income workers can afford housing, the people in the middle wind up without affordable housing, as has happened in the mountain resort towns. Expanded Role of The Affordable Housing Board Marty Tharp reported that City Council had tabled the proposed ordinance on expanded duties for Boards and Commissions in such a way that it will most likely not be considered until after the April 5 election. Kay Rios reported that the memo from the Affordable Housing board opposing the ordinance had been sent to Council Homebuyer Assistance Program As a result of a request made by the Board at the last meeting, staff provided a draft report showing the lengths of loans made under the Homebuyer Assistance Program. In response, Joe Rowan asked staff to provide more detailed and additional information on the loans. Mr. Rowan said he would like to see dollar amounts corresponding to the number of loans, the number of loans made to households at or below 50 percent AMI, and a conversion from fiscal year to calendar year reporting to allow easier comparison of appropriations to and loan originations from the program. He felt that would allow for greater transparency for Board members to evaluate the actual money available and disbursed and whether lower income borrowers have substantially different capacity for repayment. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board February 3, 2005 Minutes Page 3 of 4 Staff felt that the report provided fulfilled the request of the Board, which was to see how quickly the loans made under the program had been repaid. The new data addresses a different question: how much money is available and cash flow through the program. The Board agreed that staff had provided what was requested, but would like to see the issue on the agenda for further discussion at the next meeting. During the discussion, Mr. Waido confirmed that income from the Homebuyer Assistance Program cannot be earmarked to support the program directly. It is used to replenish the funds distributed through the CDBG Competitive Process and the program must recompete for available funds through each competitive cycle. To date, the Homebuyers Assistance program has been fully funded every year, he added. CDBG funds used for Homebuyers Assistance must be matched by either HOME or Affordable Housing Fund money. Mr. Waido also said that if the federal government moves CDBG out of HUD and into the Commerce Department as has been proposed, communities such as Fort Collins could be facing a 50 percent funding cut. Mr. Rowan felt that would make a higher degree of transparency and accountability for the funds more important. Jon Fairchild agreed and would also like to see dollars amounts that have come back. Grocery Sales Tax Repeal Board members were provided working documents of scenarios being considered by the City Council regarding general revenue budget cuts that would be required it the City sales tax on groceries is repealed in the April 5 election. Marty Tharp said the Council was looking at Scenario 4, in which not only funds to the Affordable Housing Fund are cut but also cuts to personnel will affect affordable housing efforts. Kay Rios pointed out that the average family can expect to save $26 per year if the tax is repealed, at the cost of the services as outlined in the various scenarios, and directed Board members to the No on 1 website - no-on-i.org -- to find out more information on the opposition to this initiative. She added that her main concern with the repeal effort is that no alternative revenue sources are being proposed to replace the $6 million lost to the City if the grocery tax is eliminated. Since Council will not be able to cut $6 million without cutting services, the budget constraints created could set Fort Collins quality of life back 20 years, in her opinion. Old Business City Budget/Affordable Housing Fund Marty Tharp said that while Council has cut the budget for the last three years in part by freezing hiring and giving no employee raises, should the grocery tax be repealed, staff positions will have to be eliminated in all departments, including Advance Planning. The cuts to the Affordable Housing Fund could be $736,000, in addition to the funding shortfalls of previous years. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board February 3, 2005 Minutes Page 4 of 4 Sales and Use Tax Rebate Program See two previous items. Update/Reports on Subcommittee Efforts None. Kay Rios would like to see especially the Advocacy and Policy subcommittee get active in the coming months. Liaison Reports Kay Rios reported on the projected impact of the grocery tax repeal on Dial - a -Ride. Ooen Board Discussion Ken Waido pointed out the Agenda Item Summary of the rental registration issue before Council, now scheduled to he heard February 15. He asked any comments to be forwarded to Marty Tharp before then, with reference to the memo sent by the Board previously recommending strengthening and enforcing existing ordinances and no new costs imposed on owners for any registration plan. Marty Tharp said Council had discussed a $35 fee. This item will appear on next month's agenda for followup. Mr. Waido also distributed the most recent Boards and Commissions Manual and announced the upcoming Boards and Commissions training classes. Maurice Head reported that the recent Technical Assistance meeting held for organizations considering applying for funding through the next Competitive process was attended by a record 40 individuals and organizations. He said the lack of social services funding is squeezing the very poor, and more organizations are competing for fewer resources. The reality is that with only $190,000 available, according to Mr. Waido, not everyone will be funded and not everyone funded will get what they need. In response to a question from Joe Rowan about private activity bonds, Maurice Head said while the City encourages developers to come in with them, there has been no interest. Mr. Rowan felt that with CHFA losing $100 million next year, interest might pick up. Mr. Head agreed and asked for suggestions on ways to let developers know about them. Marty Tharp suggested this might be an issue for the Housing Authority's subcommittee on development. Meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kate Jeracki February 21, 2005 jax2 i✓,�d-