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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 05/04/2006CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado May 4, 2006 Denise Rogers, Acting Chair Ken Waldo, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753 Kurt Kastein, City Council Liaison, 970-223-0425 Board Members Present: Jon Fairchild, Kevin Brinkman, Joe Rowan, Denise Rogers, Pete Tippett, and Donna Wetzler. Michelle Jacobs, Joe Hebert and Chris Crutcher were absent. Advance Planning Staff Present: Maurice Head, Ken Waldo. Council Members Present: None. Guests: Bob Browing, Chair, CDBG Commission; Dee Toplyn, Senior Budget Analyst, Finance Department. Chair Denise Rogers called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:00 p.m. Ooen Public Discussion Chair Rogers welcomed Marilyn Heller, observer from the League of Women Voters. New Business Welcome New Affordable Housing Board Members Chair Rogers welcomed new Affordable Housing Board members Donna Wetzler and Chris Crutcher. Minutes Mr. Rowan moved the April 11, 2006 minutes be approved as submitted; Mr. Brinkman seconded, motion passed unanimously. Budgeting Exception Process —Dee Toplyn At the March Affordable Housing Board meeting, Councilmember Kastein suggested the Board investigate the Budgeting Exceptions Process as a possible affordable housing funding source. The Board invited Dee Toplyn, Senior Budget Analyst from the Finance Department, to explain the process. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board May 4, 2006 Minutes Page 2 of 4 The City of Fort Collins adopts a new budget every two years. During the summer of the year between adoptions, the City examines the budget, makes necessary revisions, and appropriates any extra revenue through the budgeting exception process. Public hearings are held before the off-year budget is adopted in early fall. Ms. Toplyn added a large deficit is projected for 2007, so there will not be extra revenue to appropriate. Ms. Rogers thanked Ms. Toplyn for her presentation. The Board now knows to keep budgeting exception in mind for the future. Mr. Brinkman asked what the Board would list as its top priorities were budgeting exception funding available. Mrs. Rogers replied that project -based funding might be the best use. For example, a project that did not receive enough CDBG funding might apply for additional money available to them through the budgeting exception process. Debriefing on the Competitive Process Bob Browning, Chair of the CDBG Commission, attended the meeting to answer any questions the Board had about the Competitive Process. Mr. Fairchild asked why a small portion of HO-2 was not funded. Mr. Head explained that Competitive Process money comes from different sources; some of the money is restricted to certain uses. The remainder of HO-2 did not fit the restrictions. Mr. Brinkman asked about the status of HO-5, CARE Housing's Green Built project. Mr. Head told the Board the building will be either Gold or Silver LEED certified. Council was concerned the building would be expensive and experimental, but that is not the case. Mr. Browning explained the funding will be used for land acquisition —not as extra money to obtain the LEED certification. Mr. Head added that while CARE may partner with CSU for some technology transfer, most of the methods and materials used are known to reduce successfully tenant energy costs in the long run. In addition, more new construction is beginning to use green built techniques to lower long term energy costs. The Fort Collins Housing Corporation Village on Swallow project received less funding than requested. The Commission felt that given the FCHC's record incomes, they did not need full funding of the requested management fee. Mr. Brinkman asked how ASI quantified need for their accessible housing project. Mr. Browning replied the project is for a unique demographic of low income, handicapped people who can live on their own without assistance. The Commission and ASI know the project will take time to fill because of the type of residents needed. The project is unlike any other development in Fort Collins due to the accessibility of both the entries and interiors, including roll -in showers and lower counter heights. Mr. Head clarified that this is a special program using Section 811 funds as well. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board May 4, 2006 Minutes Page 3 of 4 Mr. Rowan asked if the City's new emphasis on economic development will change the focus of the CDBG money. One project the City is considering is using CDBG dollars as leverage for Section-108 low interest loans from HUD. The City could use these loans to help stimulate business in the community. This would not change the use of CDBG money for the Competitive Process. Mr. Browning thanked the AHB for their input. He appreciated Denise Rogers explanation of the Affordable Housing Board's rankings at the CDBG Commission meeting. Mr. Browning explained that two of the housing projects received funding only because a previous project folded, which increased the available housing money. Update on the Colorado Blue Ribbon Panel Mr. Head attended the Blue Ribbon Panel. The Division of Housing Director gave a presentation on the importance of affordable housing to economic development. Ms. Wetzler also attended the meeting. She said the focus this year seemed to be on preserving existing stock rather than building new projects. Ms. Rogers noted Mayor Hutchinson attended the meeting, but City Council did not. Representation from other communities was also lacking. Mr. Head felt it would be difficult to have a regional consensus on affordable housing issues until Greeley, Windsor, and other communities begin to participate. Building Advocacy for Affordable Housing The Board continued their discussion on building advocacy from a previous meeting. They feel affordable housing is no longer a Council priority. Therefore, the Board should work to build partnerships with community groups with the goal of reminding Council of the importance of affordable housing. Mr. Rowan noted that a community of voters can persuade Council of the importance of an issue, so building strong community support may be most effective. He suggested speaking with Vicky McLean of the MPO, who is an affordable housing supporter. He would also like to invite leaders from various community organizations to speak to the board about how the Board can help efforts to build grassroots support. For example, the Board could ask Gordon Thibedeau, Director of Larimer County United Way, to attend to speak about the United Way's efforts to create a day shelter. Mr. Fairchild would like Board members to increase involvement with community groups, which would enable the Board to tell Council about community interest and efforts. Mr. Brinkman, who is president of the Board of Realtors Government Affairs Committee, thought the Board should work to build a partnership with the Board of Realtors. Mr. Brinkman suggested inviting the City's new economic advisor to speak to the Board. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board May 4, 2006 Minutes Page 4 of 4 Mr. Fairchild requested everyone prepare to report on their networking successes next month. Citv Budget/Impact on Affordable Housing Chair Rogers asked what the Board would like to do with the information presented in Mr. Head's affordable housing memo distributed at the March meeting. The consensus was to include the facts as part of a larger educational effort. Mr. Fairchild thought the Board should decide on a few talking points regarding the memo. Mr. Rowan and Mr. Tippett felt giving examples of the types of people represented by the figures would help make the data more valuable; 50% AMI is not as meaningful as the realization that the number represents a starting teacher. Old Business Update/Reports on Sub -Committee Efforts None. Liaison Reports None. Other Business Open Board Discussion The Board requested that Sub -Committee Reports be removed from future agendas, as there are no current sub -committees. Meeting adjourned 5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted by Stephanie Sydorko May 23, 2006