HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 11/01/2007CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES K/
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado
November 1, 2007
Denise Rogers, Chair
Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753
City Council Liaison: Lisa Poppaw
Board Members Present: Denise Rogers, Jon Fairchild, Dan Byers, Pete Tippett, and
Ashley Monahan.
Board Members Absent: Robert Sullivan, Mane Edwards, and Ben Blonder.
City Planning and Community Development Department Staff Present: Ken Waido
Council Members Present: None.
Board Chair Denise Rogers called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:10
PM.
Oven Public Discussion
None.
Approval of the Minutes of the October 4 2007 Meeting
Jon Fairchild suggested amendments to the minutes dealing with the proposed
Neighborhood Quality Codes. Jon then moved that the minutes of the October 4, 2007,
meeting, as amended, be approved. Pete Tippet seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously 5-0.
2008 Work Plan
The Board reviewed its 2007 Work Plan as the basis for the 2008 Work Plan. The new
2008 Work Plan is attached to these minutes. The plan needs to be submitted to the City
Clerk's Office by November 30. There was general discussion and agreement
concerning the Board continuing to impress upon the City Council the interrelationships
that affordable housing has with a variety of issues (e.g., economic development) and the
need to increase funding for affordable housing programs.
Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice
The Board reviewed and discussed the draft "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing
Choice" report. The report is required by the Department of Housing and Urban
Development in order for the City to remain eligible for HUD's financial grant programs.
Denise Rogers questioned how "income level" is a barrier to fair housing choice given
the definition of fair housing being discrimination based on race, color, national origin,
etc. Staff indicated many of the discrimination classes are typically also those of lower
income categories.
The Board discussed the usefulness of the report, since it will be adopted by the City
Council, as it could be the basis for Board positions regarding policy changes and
comments to the Council regarding affordable housing issues.
Review/Discussion of the CDBG Commission's Funding Recommendations
In addition to reviewing the CDBG Commission's funding recommendations to the City
Council for the affordable housing proposals that were part of the fall cycle of the
competitive process, the Board discussed whether or not any changes were needed in the
process as a whole.
Staff reviewed a table that presented the Board's listing of priority projects, the
applicant's initial funding request, and the CDBG Commission's funding
recommendations. Staff reported on some of the Commission's justifications behind the
recommendation for no funding for the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA)
Program. These included: the typical general belief that TBRA is a "black hole" that
while it does support families in rental housing for a period of time, once that period is
over, there are no new housing units and the support need issues remain; the Affordable
Housing Fund, which is for production of new and the retention of existing housing, had
to be used for administrative purposes because the percentages available for
administration expenses from the federal grant programs (CDBG and HOME) were at
their allowable maximums; the Commission did not have good data to evaluate the first
year of the program in order to judge whether the program was achieving its goals and
showing success; one particular issue involved the need for a doubling of security
deposits over conventional rental needs; and the requests were -presented as "all or
nothing" choices. The Commission believes its job is to make recommendation based on
the data and information presented to them. The Commission believes the Council will
provide funding for the TBRA Program once other factors are considered which are
beyond the purview of the Commission.
The Board had no comments or suggested changes to the process as a whole
Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) Process
Staff updated the Board on the City's 2008-2009 Budget process whereby the City
Council approved the budget on first reading on October 16, 2007, with second reading
scheduled for November 20, 2007. The budget included an additional $100,000 for the
Human Services Program and an additional $100,000 for the Affordable Housing Fund.
2007 Legislative Policy Agend
The Board had no comments regarding the "Affordable Housing" section of the City
Council's Legislative Policy Agenda.
Proposed Property Maintenance Codes
The Board reviewed a draft memo created by Ben Blonder and decided to send additional
comments to Ben using the "Reply to All" technique of sending email messages. Ben
will revise the draft and the Board will discuss the memo again at their December
meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
Liaison Reports
None.
Qpen Board Discussion
Staff reported that the process to fill the Affordable Housing Planner position is staring
over as the previous top two candidates each turned the position down.
The meeting adjourned at 5:25 PM.
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