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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 10/03/2013CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD BOARD MEETING MINUTES 300 Laporte Ave Fort Collins, Colorado October 3, 2013 4:00–6:00p.m. Chair: Dan Byers Staff Liaison: Sue Beck-Ferkiss 970-221-6753 City Council Liaison: Lisa Poppaw Board Members present: Dan Byers, Tatiana Martin, Terence Hoaglund, Jeffrey Johnson, and Curt Lyons Board Members absent: Troy Jones Staff present: Sue Beck-Ferkiss, Social Sustainability Specialist; Dianne Tjalkens, Board Support; Polly Lauridsen, Compliance Supervisor; Beth Sowder, Neighborhood Services Manager; Joe Frank, Director of Social Sustainability; Beth Rosen, Affordable Housing Administrator. Council Members present: Lisa Poppaw Guests: Chadrick Martinez, Director of Development, Fort Collins Housing Authority Meeting called to order by Dan Byers at 4:00 pm. AGENDA REVIEW No comment. PUBLIC COMMENT Marilyn Heller brought brochures for the board from the League of Women Voters affordable housing team promoting available local financial literacy programing. They have 40 agencies they are providing brochures to. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Jeffrey moved to approve the August 1, 2013 minutes. Tatiana seconded. Approved unanimously, 5-0-0. For the September 19, 2013 minutes, Jeffrey asked that under H03 Care Housing, second sentence be changed from “he asked the group” to “the chair asked the board.” Tatiana moved to approve the September 19, 2013 minutes with modification above. Jeffrey seconded. Approved unanimously, 5-0-0. Conversation about CDBG Dan would like to hear presentations of agencies before ranking affordable housing projects. Sue suggested a joint meeting to be included in the presentations. Jeffrey asked if they could organize the meeting to group housing projects together, in order to avoid listening to all proposals. Dan would like the presentations on the same day the board receives the proposals. Dan observed the presentations from some of the projects that were given at the CDBG Commission meeting. He would like to be able to ask the agencies questions at the presentations. He would like them to give a presentation to this board separate from the CDBG Commission. Tatiana agreed with Dan. Jeffrey was hesitant to ask the agencies to present twice, but Dan believes they wouldn’t mind. He thinks that Julie would like that opportunity (FCHA). Sue suggested making it optional. This would be for housing projects for both competitive cycles (spring and fall). Sue will find out more about the feasibility of this and bring more information to the next board meeting. NEW BUSINESS AGENDA ITEM 1: EXTERIOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE – BETH SOWDER AND POLLY LAURIDSEN Beth gave an update of what happened at City Council on September 17 related to the suggested improper exterior storage recommendation. They voted 4-1 on adopting on first reading, with some changes. Changes include eliminating language around quality of life and identifying health and safety as items of importance, as well as clarifying what defines excessive storage. The health and safety changes have been made already. The portion about rodents is in another section, so they are leaving it there. There are five specifications to define excessive storage; the property owner would have to meet 3 of the five specifications to receive notice of excessive storage. The five are: disarray, length of time of storage, dilapidated, volume of materials, and overall appearance and manner in which stored. The intent is to address bigger problems. She spoke with Amy Irwin at Larimer Home Improvement Program (LHIP) about people who cannot afford to make repairs. They had worked together before on dilapidated fences and dirt yards. In the five years since the funding has been made available for these repairs, only five people have applied for it and only 2 have qualified. Beth said this funding may be available to help people deal with the excessive storage code issues. This is separate from the emergency fund, and can only be used for this purpose. These are grants, not loans. The cap is $1500 for owner occupied homes. They have to use City contractors and qualify financially. Discussion/Q & A: • Jeffrey asked how much is in the fund. Beth believes there is approximately $15,000 left. Jeffrey asked about the financial requirement. Beth believes it is 50% of AMI. • Dan said that there is a question on defining excessive. One suggestion that came out of the last meeting was a committee review of the problem properties, rather than one person making the designation. Beth said Mike relayed that information to them and it was recommended that they continue to use the appeal process that is in place. The properties are already reviewed by a group. Once the letter is sent out, the owner has the opportunity to appeal. If it wasn’t brought into compliance and they were cited, there is another appeal process. • Dan said he likes the addition of meeting 3 of 5 requirements to be out of compliance. • Jeffrey asked whether the exterior property maintenance codes were broken into storage and maintenance categories. Beth said there are two different ordinances, one is the “deficient and dangerous vacant” ordinance (which passed on both readings), and the other is about excessive storage. The second reading for this is October 15. • Tatiana asked for clarification on the size and type of the lot. Polly said that they would be looking at what is appropriate to store on various types of lots, from commercial to rural, to urban residential. • Jeffrey asked about viewing from second stories, decks, etc. Beth said that the outdoor storage ordinance is in regard to what can be seen from public right of way. They will discuss whether that will be expanded to views from neighboring properties. They are in discussions about adding more time between phase 1 and 2. They would like to get a month extension to work out these details. • Jeffrey said the policy and enforcement issues with view from private decks and views from public right of way are very different. He thinks it is a slippery slope. • Beth said currently it is under nuisance code for weeds, etc. for ground level neighboring property. Regarding expectation of privacy, where does that stop? • Polly said when they are talking about back yards, they are talking about items that are not normally stored outdoors. They are saying that you can’t keep a refrigerator or sofa on your back porch. The phases are talking about two different things. • Dan asked if they received feedback from the article in the Coloradoan. Beth and Polly agreed that they didn’t get any feedback that was out of the ordinary. • Dan asked what would be the chain of events for the property addressed in the article. Polly said they have been reaching out to him and telling him the impact that the ordinance will have if it is passed. He is working with a right of way issue right now. He will need time to determine where to put things since there is no room in the back yard for items in the front. It is believed that he doesn’t have the financial ability to make these changes, but he has not accepted help that has been offered. He came to Council to speak. Polly anticipates working with him on the most egregious issues. He also has deficient structure issues. They have worked with him for years, but the neighbors are grateful for the relief, so they will need to continue to enforce. • Dan asked if the property owner would resist. Polly said he has always been respectful of the law and code. He knows what is coming. • Tatiana asked if there would be problems with neighbors complaining about items they just don’t want their neighbors to have in their yards, like ATVs. Beth explained that they would let the neighbors know what is contained in the code. • Tatiana asked about the LHIP funds. Beth said that very little has been requested. If the money dwindles down they could go through the budgeting process to request more funds. • Dan asked about the timing of the second reading. Beth said that is only for phase 2 that they would like to push out a month. • Tatiana thanked Beth for keeping suggestions in mind and making changes. Tatiana moved to make a recommendation to Council regarding the use of LHIP funds: Tatiana Martin motioned and Curt Lyons seconded. The Affordable Housing Board recommends City Council support the use of LHIP funds by Neighborhood Services to assist property owners coming into compliance with the new exterior property maintenance codes. Motion passed unanimously: 5-0-0 AGENDA ITEM 2: 2014 WORK PLAN – CITY COUNCIL LIAISON – LISA POPPAW Dan Byer, chair, asked Sue Beck-Ferkiss, staff liaison, to go through the 2014 Work Plan to review and discuss. Sue said that she updated the Work Plan and added questions where she thought the board would want to make changes. Some of the Plan consists of 2013 goals that are underway or haven’t been achieved yet. She talked about the inclusionary housing study that will start at the beginning of next year and the Social Sustainability GAP Analysis. She said that right now the board has no liaison to the Housing Authority. Discussion/Q & A: • Dan asked the board how it has done on supporting affordable housing. • Lisa said she would like to see the board engage more and step up to advise Council. She would like to see this group come regularly to Council meetings. She suggests keeping an eye on the six-month calendar and the read-before packets, with someone taking responsibility for keeping up with these items. • Dan said that we do not have anyone specifically designated to attend Council meetings yet. Dan added that 4 and 5 years ago the board had a general feeling that Council did not well receive the comments from the board. He wondered if that has changed. • Lisa said that is doesn’t matter. The board is here to advise, not to make the Council happy. Regardless of how it is received, Council wants input from the board on anything from international property maintenance code, to land use issues, to Old Town design, to fracking. • Lisa clarified that as a Councilmember liaison to the board she does not come to these meetings unless invited. • Lisa suggested inviting all Councilmembers to an AHB meeting, especially the newer ones. Lisa also advised to engage in conversations about BOB2 and other taxes coming up for renewal, and getting in at the front end to make sure a component includes affordable housing. She said that campaigns begin 2 to 3 years before renewal comes up. Any time there is a conversation about fees, she would like the board to make sure affordable housing is called out specifically. Unless the board makes noise about dedicated funding, it may not happen. She suggested looking at Transportation and the City Budget. • Curt said he would like to see more verbiage that includes workforce housing. People should be able to access affordable housing near their workplaces. Tatiana said that the spectrum for affordable housing is for not just for the homeless, but up to 80% AMI. • Lisa said that the board should educate the Council on what affordable housing means, so the people who take care of this community like teachers and firefighters can live in this community. She suggested a white paper to Council. • Jeffrey said one of his interests in being involved in this board was because there is a misconception that affordable housing is subsidized housing. He wants to educate people. • Beth Rosen asked if it would be appropriate to go to a Work Session to give a presentation on the spectrum of affordable housing. She explained how there are pockets of severe needs and others that are being covered, for example, those who can afford home ownership if down payment assistance is available. Then there is housing below market rent that isn’t subsidized, and then there are the clientele served by Redtail Ponds. She would like Council to know where the gaps are, the priorities, and where projects hit. • Joe Frank added that the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan will be a good opportunity for educating Council. Lisa said that the board can invite up to two Councilmembers at a time and give the status of affordable housing. She would like to see Council get context to why it is an important topic. We are going to start losing workers because we don’t have enough affordable, accessible places for them to live. • Jeffrey added that he has seen people resign from positions because they cannot afford the gas to come into work. • Dan asked when the Affordable Housing Strategic Plan would be completed. Joe said it would be later in 2014, perhaps starting around October. • Lisa added that it isn’t too late for the board to weigh in on budget revisions. October 15 is the Annual Appropriations meeting. • Sue said that in midyear review, an Inclusionary Zoning housing study was recommended. But there was an “opportunity fund” that was not recommended. Sue said the board could have advised how those funds would have been used if they were made available. Lisa added that this board could have advocated these funds be approved by Council. • Dan added that we all have a responsibility to keep ourselves aware of these issues as they come up. • Tatiana added that she has been working with CHFA to bring a homeowners fair here. She is talking to many groups to come to the fair to learn about housing opportunities. This may be an opportunity to determine funding sources. • Joe Frank said that the Inclusionary Zoning Impact Fee could be a sustainable funding source. • Sue said we are looking at how we engage with development to get them to include affordable housing. Some municipalities use inclusionary zoning, but have focused on home ownership. The study should determine where the needs are in the community to focus on those. • Terence said there aren’t any real incentives to get developers to provide affordable housing. He said there could be more fee waivers. • Sue said that FCHA has some statutory help, but others may not. • Terence said if builders are creating workforce housing, there needs to be more teeth in the incentives. Sue suggested a subcommittee to look at this issue in more depth. • Curt asked about examples of best practices in other communities that encourage infill. Infill projects are being charged the same amount as those building new construction that will get new schools, fire stations, etc. • Joe added that there will be a joint boards and commissions workshop to go over the GAP Analysis. Sue added that Homeward 2020 is coming to the November meeting. • Curt said in number 8 of the Work Plan, special emphasis is put on homelessness. Is it too much? Does it leave out those in the 60-80% AMI area who need housing? A lot of workforce needs for housing are ignored. Lisa said the homelessness has been called out because of an emphasis on ending chronic homelessness. They looked at what would be involved in that, like wrap around care. In the past it just dealt with affordable housing on the other end of the spectrum until about 5 years ago. • Jeffrey added that if we are going to educate on what affordable housing is, we should not get caught up in the pendulum swing. Sue said the board could add the special needs populations. Curt asked if we could add the spectrum in parenthesis. Jeffrey suggested leaving the language as is. He just wanted to continue the discussion about the spectrum of needs for affordable housing. • Dan asked if there were any other items that should be addressed. Lisa said the board has captured an appropriately broad scope, with action items. • Lisa would like a board member to attend the FCHA board meetings. Dan asked if there could be a conflict of interest. Joe Frank didn’t think there would be an issue. Sue will get a City attorney’s opinion on this. Jeffrey said he thinks it may be included in a previous meeting’s minutes. • Lisa will ask Katy to include AHB on the FCHA minutes contact list. Individuals can also sign up online. Sue will make sure the AHB is on the FCHA monthly distribution list. • Lisa asked to be let know what the board needs in terms of new members. • Dan and Sue asked Chadrick about the FCHA Monthly Activity Report. Chadrick will email this report to Sue, who will add it to the monthly AHB packet. Individuals who want to be on the FCHA mailing list can sign up themselves. Dan added that minutes can be attained by signing up on the City website for FCHA and other boards and commissions. • Sue will bring back the cleaned up work plan next month to be passed by the board. OLD BUSINESS UPDATE ON REDTAIL PONDS – ADVOCACY (10 MINUTES) Dan said they are going to Planning and Zoning board on November 21st. They have asked for AHB’s participation. Discussion/Q & A: • Jeffrey asked about the overlay zone and a recent change on parking. He asked if this project is impacted by that. Chadrick thinks they can avoid that new code because of timing. • Sue said that to be an interested party, you can go to the meeting or send a letter, or both. • Jeffrey suggested becoming an interested party so AHB can be included in any appeal processes that may come up. • Terence said the public, or board representative, can ask questions or speak to the board. • Sue offered to draft a letter. • Joe added that there will be many people there who oppose it, so it is important to have someone attend. • Dan suggested passing the letter around by email. Dan motioned and Tatiana seconded. The Affordable Housing Board supports the Redtail Ponds permanent housing project and will become a party of interest in this process by sending a letter to the Planning and Zoning Board. Motion passed unanimously 5-0-0. OTHER BUSINESS OPEN BOARD DISCUSSION • Board request Mike Gebo attend next month’s meeting to give an update. • Tatiana said there is discussion in Transfort about changing east/west routes that could affect low income persons, and asked the board to keep an eye on this issue. • December meeting is the tour of the Land Bank properties. The board will meet at 2:00pm, then return to the CIC at 4:00pm for debriefing until 5:00pm. • Sue said that January 2 is the January meeting date. She wonders if people will be ready to have a board meeting. Terence suggested moving the meeting to the 9th, with option to cancel if it is not needed. • Curt would like to talk about how percentages of AMI affect qualifying for mortgages in a future meeting. Dan said he isn’t a mortgage lender, he works with commercial. Tatiana said this is a need for the board to have a member with expertise in this area. Sue said she can add this to unscheduled items. • Dan added that much of this will come out in the study. Sue added that we have a housing opportunity index of 80%, which means that 80% of the homes sold in the last quarter were affordable for median income. Joe said he can get the AHB the chart from HUD about housing affordability based on family size and AMI, for ownership and renting. LIASON REPORTS Dan is the liaison to the EAC. He will not be here next year. Troy is liaison to Planning and Zoning and would like to continue. The Board of Realtors’ liaison is Tatiana. Transportation board liaison was Troy. Tatiana can pick this up too. An FCHA liaison is needed. • Dan clarified that being the liaison means reviewing the agenda and determining whether attendance is necessary and reviewing minutes after meetings. • Terence offered to take over EAC and FCHA liaison posts. • Sue added that if there are other boards that should be added to let her know. • Joe Frank suggested the Human Relations Commission since they work with housing for disabled and special populations. • Curt said that they are reviewing the 2012 building codes and determining what to adopt and not adopt. He said that sprinklers are in that code and Mike is pushing for adoption. CITY COUNCIL SIX-MONTH PLANNING CALENDAR REVIEW Tatiana brought up: • International Code Review • Second phase of external property maintenance • 3 Mile Plan Update, December 17 • Old Town design standards Dan asked the board to keep up with the six-month calendar. Curt suggested emailing topics to Sue if board members find something in the calendar that should be discussed in the meeting. – Meeting adjourned at 6:10 pm by Chair Dan Byers. – The next meeting of the Affordable Housing Board is scheduled for: November 7, 2013 at 4:00 PM The meeting will be located at: Fort Collins City Hall Council Information Center 300 Laporte Ave