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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 02/11/20161 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES 215 N Mason Street, Fort Collins FEBRUARY 11, 2016, 6:00PM COMMISSION MEMBERS PRESENT: Holly Carroll - Chair Margaret Long –Vice- Chair Amy Dondale Annette Zacharias Taylor Dunn COMMISSION MEMBERS ABSENT: Steve Backsen Anita Basham Deb Westcott – Medical Leave STAFF PRESENT: Sharon Thomas – Staff Liaison Tina Hopkins-Dukes – Minute Taker Sue Beck-Ferkiss – Social Sustainability Beth Rosen – Social Sustainability The meeting was called to order by Chair, Holly Carroll at 6:03 pm without a quorum. A quorum was established when Amy Dondale arrived. PUBLIC COMMENT: None AFFORDABLE HOUSING DISCUSSION: Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Sustainability Specialist, and Beth Rosen, Affordable Housing Administrator, both from the City of Fort Collins spoke about affordable housing in Fort Collins. Beck-Ferkiss discussed the lack of housing; especially housing that is affordable to residents with incomes below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). The Affordable Housing Strategic Plan attempts to address these issues. The City has ambitious goals to increase inventory by 188 units a year. Housing is a big concern in Fort Collins and a report in the Denver Post today cited Fort Collins having one of the tightest rental markets in the country. The City of Fort Collins and the Board of Realtors are hosting a regional conversation on housing affordability to look at ways to partner with neighboring communities and organizations to improve what is currently being done. The City of Fort Collins is beginning to deploy our long- term asset/strategy from the past 15 years – Land Bank. Fort Collins offers limited incentives to 2 developers who say it is not enough incentive to build the product needed. Currently 5% of our inventory is affordable to 80% AMI or lower. Statewide we are having trouble constructing townhomes and condominiums which are typically for first time home buyers. Downsizing seniors are also reporting having trouble finding affordable housing. Inclusionary Housing requires a specified portion of the development be affordable and has worked well in other states. In Colorado rent control is illegal so inclusionary housing would only apply to home owners not rentals which is where our greatest needs are. The average sales price in Fort Collins is $300,000 but in Boulder it is $800,000. Holly Carroll asked how much 80% AMI is and Beck-Ferkiss answered that for a family of 4 it is about $62,250. Beth Rosen explained that the amount does not change much stating that for a single person 80% AMI is less than $45,000. Amy Dondale asked Rosen about the comparison in the paper regarding the .02% vacancy rate and if that was an accurate portrayal. Rosen agreed that it is accurate however we are still in the top quarter of the western region. Rosen will provide Commission members with staff comments and underwriting guidelines using the strategic plan to help Commission members when reviewing housing applications. Some things to consider when allocating funding: the need to age in place, adding 188 units per year; preserving long-term sustainability, remaining affordable for 20 years might mean asking for more funding; supporting first time buyers and permanent supportive services for disabled residents. Things that might be red flags while considering which proposals to fund: number of units, cost per unit, and timeliness (HUD funding may be lost). Citizens approved an Affordable Housing Capitol Fund from Building on Basics (BOB2). At this time there isn’t a mechanism in place for distributing the funds. Council has directed staff to determine how to use the funds. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Annette Zacharias motioned to approve the January minutes, Amy Dondale seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. COUNCIL LETTER FOLLOW-UP: Holly Carroll and Margaret Long plan to meet with Councilmember Bob Overbeck on February 24th. Being new on the Commission, Amy Dondale needs more information before meeting with a Councilmember. Carroll and Long will draft a letter for Budgeting for Outcomes (BFO) to address the need for additional funding. Steve Backsen, who originated the idea to request more money for public service agencies, was nominated to help with the BFO letter which will explain the funding need and intent to submit a BFO offer. Taylor Dunn said the feedback he and Backsen received from Councilmember Gerry Horack was that Council wants something tangible to help them justify their decisions. STAFF REPORTS: All applicants who requested technical assistance for the funding process received technical assistance by staff. Applications are due February 18 th . Sharon Thomas will compile the 3 responses to the new question about United Way funding received over the past three years, and will put the data into a spreadsheet for the Commission. Thomas mentioned 40 Public Service and seven Housing pre-applications for funding have been submitted. Of the 40 Public Service requests, six are new requests never before funded through the City. Stephanie Crookston has relinquished her seat for personal reasons and Deb Wescott is on medical leave and will not be at the deliberations meeting. Presentations are scheduled for five nights in March in the Community Room at 215 N. Mason. March 22 nd will be mainly for housing applicants, March 24 th , 29 th , 30 th and 31 st will all be applicants in the public service category. Deliberations will be April 14 th at 6:00 pm in the CIC Room of City Hall. OTHER: Jim Becker – Health District of Northern Larimer County In FY2015 the Health District was awarded $20,000 for partial salaries of two Dental Connections employees at about $10,000 each. Becker informed the Commission that one of the two positions was eliminated and asked to use all of the funds for the remaining position. Annette Zacharias made a motion to allow the Health District to reallocate the funds, Margaret Long seconded and Holly Carroll asked for any opposition; all are in favor. ADJOURNMENT: Margaret Long motioned to adjourn at 7:42 pm.