HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 02/04/2021AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
February 4, 2021, 4:00-6:00pm
Remote/Online via Zoom due to COVID-19
2/4/2021 – MINUTES Page 1
1. CALL TO ORDER:4:02
2. ROLL CALL
x Board Members Present: Kristin Fritz, Jen Bray, John Singleton, Bob Pawlikowski, Tatiana
Zentner, Diane Cohn, Daphne Bear
x Board Members Absent: None
x Staff Members Present: Cameron Gloss, Ingrid Decker, Meaghan Overton, Lindsay Ex, Sue
Beck-Ferkiss, Brittany Depew
x Community Members: Marilyn Heller
3. AGENDA REVIEW
4. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
x Marilyn Heller – postponed League of Women Voters affordable housing panel, now scheduled
for Monday, April 12, 2021 via Zoom. County Commissioner John Kefalas will be speaking,
along with Councilmember Emily Gorgol, and City staff members JC Ward and Ryan Mounce.
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Jen moved to approve January minutes.
John seconded. Approved 7-0.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Legal Issues Related to Boards and Commissions – Ingrid Decker
City Attorney Carrie Daggett’s office has 14 attorneys, 3 paralegals, 4 administrative support staff.
Fort Collins is a Home Rule City, City charter was voter approved as local “constitution,” and laws
enacted by City Council. Charter describes how boards can be established and what they can/can’t
do. Boards and Commissions Manual is official set of policies and procedures. Some boards have
quasi-judicial role, but most are advisory. Email can be used to share information, but discussions
among multiple board members should only take place at official public meetings. Conflicts of
interest occur when making decisions around funding, if any board member has a financial or
personal interest in the outcome. If you or a relative have a conflict of interest, you cannot vote on
that matter and the conflict must be disclosed.
Discussion:
x If a board member’s organization is applying for funding, and they are not directly impacted
by the outcome, there may still be a perceived conflict or concern about bias in decision-
making.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
2/4/2021 – MINUTES Page 2
x A true conflict of interest must be disclosed; a perceived conflict or discomfort does not
require disclosure – that person can simply recuse.
x AHB does not only recommend expenditure of Affordable Housing Fund, but other fund
sources as well – this should be updated in the new proposed language.
B. Residential Metro District Evaluation Process, Cameron Gloss
This project started with Economic Health and has moved to Planning & Development. Tasked with
creating evaluation system for Metro Districts. Metro Districts are quasi-governmental and have the
authority to issue tax exempt bonds. Public infrastructure can be financed over time at tax-exempt
interest rates. Must provide extraordinary community benefit. Trying to add objectivity and rigor to
current process. Proposals are assigned points based on various criteria – affordable rental housing,
attainable housing, unit size, accessory dwelling units, higher efficiency, etc. Must achieve at least 5
points of attainable or affordable housing and can choose from the list how to get there. Approval
process: public benefits agreement, development agreement, building permit review, certificate of
occupation only once criteria are met.
Discussion:
x This has evolved well since first brought to AHB.
x Developers could achieve requirement by offering attainable housing, not strictly affordable,
which helps reserve some resources for those developing housing for 60% AMI and below.
x Average resident may not understand funding mechanisms so this may need to be explained
clearly and simply.
x Relying on data and professional judgment of utilities staff for options to increase efficiency
for cost savings.
x Varying opinions on how possible these goals are to reach for developers.
x Some concern when requirements are too specific and not flexible based on current
economic circumstances.
x Board interest in trial period with current requirements and would be interested in revisiting in
1-2 years to assess feasibility and flexibility.
x Many metro districts are higher-end and amenity-driven, fewer are starter homes, but some
do use metro districts to fund street infrastructure and other basic amenities.
x Recommendation from AHB: support metro districts with affordable/attainable housing
requirements and would like flexibility in those requirements. Expressed concern regarding
inherent competition with already competitive funding sources for affordable housing.
o Nuanced enough that AHB might want to consider a memo to Council with more
detail.
o Deadline for memo would be around February 16 to be included in Cameron’s
Council materials.
o Kristin will create draft memo to share with board members for additions/edits.
Diane moved that AHB is generally in agreement with affordable and
attainable housing requirements presented here and also expressed some concern
that the board will share in a memo to Council. John seconded. Approved 7-0-0.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
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2/4/2021 – MINUTES Page 3
C. Housing Strategic Plan, Lindsay Ex and Meaghan Overton
Housing Strategic Plan goes to Council for first reading on February 16. Currently at step 7: consider
adoption after finishing step 6: strategies to outcomes. Since the draft plan was released, received
137 public comments, visited with multiple committees, board and other groups. Changes made to
the plan: added storytelling, emphasized supportive services, increased linkage between strategies
and outcomes, letters from leadership, recognition of business implementation, updated graphic to
illustrate supply gap, enhanced connections to existing goals and strategies, and additional updates
to the guiding principles. After adoption, implementation will begin in spring.
Discussion:
x Did well engaging with Affordable Housing Board throughout this process.
x Appreciate all the hard work that has gone into the plan.
x This plan separates out implementation, which is different than other plans.
x First reading is February 16, second reading is March 2.
Bob moved to recommend that the Housing Strategic Plan be adopted by Council.
Tatiana seconded. Approved 7-0-0
7. OTHER BUSINESS
a)City Council Six-Month Planning Calendar
x February 16 first reading – Housing Strategic Plan
x Consideration of Phase 1 of Land Use Code
b)Council Comments
c)Review 2020 Work Plan
d)Update on Affordable Housing Projects
e)Future AHB Meetings Agenda
x April’s meeting will be devoted to ranking housing applicants from the competitive process.
8. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS
a) Liaison Reports
x Jen will be attending Fort Collins Board of Realtors meeting next week to discuss new
Hughes Stadium plan
10. ADJOURNMENT:6:02