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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 03/04/2004CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado March 4, 2004 4-6p.m. Kay Rios, Chair Isabel Garity, Vice Chair Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753 Marty Tharp, City Council Liaison, 970-484-5711 Board Members Present: Kay Rios, Jon Fairchild, Isabel Garity, Denise Rogers, Joe Rowan, Peter Tippett and Sunshine Workman. Advance Planning Staff Present: Ken Waido, Maurice Head Council Members Present: Marty Tharp Guests: Julie Brewen, Fort Collins Housing Authority Executive Director Kay Rios called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4 p.m. The Board welcomed two new members, Sunshine Workman and Joe Rowan. There was no open public discussion. New Business Minutes The minutes of February 5, 2004, were unanimously accepted as presented on a motion by Isabel Garity, seconded by Peter Tippett. DOH Rental Assistance Program Julie Brewen on a tenant -based rental assistance program, proposed by the Colorado Department of Housing (DOH) as a two-year pilot program. The three -city, $2.8 million program would provide $450,000 to Fort Collins/Loveland to assist between 35 and 70 families earning less than 30 percent AMI, working families in shelters, and homeless individuals and families. The funding will provide rental assistance, security deposit assistance, case management for self-sufficiency and project administration. The other areas included in the program are Colorado Springs and the Denver metro area, which are also facing double-digit rental market vacancy rates, financially challenged low-income affordable housing projects, demand exceeding capacity in homeless shelters, and long waiting lists for deep subsidy programs such as Section 8 vouchers. DOH is asking for a local matching contribution of $305,000 in support of this program; a 70/30 split with Loveland brings Fort Collins' portion to $213,500. DOH is willing to apply case management and discounted rents If Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 4, 2004 Minutes Page 2 of 5 toward the total local contribution, but will still need some unspecified amount of local cash contribution. With a firm local commitment, DOH will commit to 100 percnet for the first six months of funding. Subsequent six- month periods would be at 75, 50 and 50 percent. DOH would like the program to start immediately since it is a stop -gap, pilot program in response to current needs. Because of the timing of the Competitive Process, HOME or CDBG funds would not be available for this project until the Fall cycle, and such funds would be restricted in use. The current need is critical. Julie pointed that because of current market conditions that have pushed the community -wide rental vacancy rate above 12 percent, Fort Collins could be in danger of losing valuable affordable housing resources, most notably Sleepy Willow. There are 900 families on the Section 8 voucher waiting list, which has been closed for two years; a single parent with two children earning minimum wage pays 40 percent of income for a two -bedroom apartment targeted for 30 percent AMI. Approximately 20 percent of workers in Fort Collins make minimum wage. The DOH program would allow FCHA to match struggling families -- homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless -- with struggling affordable housing projects. Julie confirmed that with the assistance of local nonprofits, matching eligible families with available units will not be difficult. Case management will be a large, labor-intensive part of the effort, but as a limited time pilot project, the point is to do everything possible to get families on their feet by the end of the program. Alternative sources of funding were discussed. Marty Tharp pointed out that there were undesignated funds in the Housing Reserve Fund that could become available if City Council chose to free them up. Isabel Garity raised the point of taking funds from other needed items in the budget, such as police personnel. Ms. Tharp will investigate the Housing Reserve Fund and other sources of unrestricted funds, including the City Manager's Opportunity Fund and the Economic Downturn Emergency Fund, which cannot be used to fund ongoing needs. Kay Rios wanted to know why, if there are unrestricted funds in the Housing Reserve Fund, does the Affordable Housing Fund continue to be cut in the budget? She was cautious in supporting the program without knowing where the funds would come from and how it would affect funding for other affordable housing projects. Joe Rowan suggested that holding off on support of the concept might not be possible, given the timing of the program and the immediate need for assistance in the community. Jon Fairchild moved that the Affordable Housing Board generally supports the needed commitment for the type of assistance proposed by the Colorado Department of Housing's pilot program, and if we do not act now we will lose this funding to another community. Denise Rogers offered a friendly amendment, that while it is important to Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 4, 2004 Minutes Page 3 of 5 leverage state dollars with a small local contribution to address immediate needs for affordable housing in Fort Collins, the Board has concerns about the source of funding for the local matching contribution. The amendment was accepted by Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Rogers seconded the motion as amended. The motion carried unanimously. Maurice Head will appear before the next City Council study session to explain the program. He will also share the results about any unrestricted funds with the Board at its next meeting. Recommendation to City Council on International Residential Code (IRC) The Board reviewed and agreed with the letter drafted by the Policy Subcommittee making a formal recommendation on the proposed changes to the City Building Code. Marty Tharp confirmed that the issue has not come before City Council yet. Ken Waido reported that the letter had also been sent to Felix Lee, the City's chief building official. Priority Affordable Housing Needs and Strategies Maurice Head and Isabel Garity will attend City Council's March 9 study session, where the report will be discussed. Maurice is also gathering input from other Boards and Commissions, local organizations and the public, and will provide a final draft incorporating any changes to the Board for review and a recommendation to Council prior to final adoption, now scheduled for June 18. Busin 2004 Work Plan The Board reviewed the Work Plan for the upcoming year. For the new members, Kay Rios explained the function of the various subcommittee and asked for volunteers to join the Advocacy subcommittee. She would like to see items developed by the Advocacy committee to begin moving to the Board agenda for discussion and action in the coming months. City Plan Update Ken Waido will send Board members a copy of the comments presented to City Council on the final draft document via email. Council is scheduled to consider adoption of City Plan April 6. AHB members are encouraged to attend. City Budget/Affordable Housing Fund There was no formal update presented, but Marty Tharp reported that the situation was better than in November, but remains essentially static; no more items are being cut. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 4, 2004 Minutes Page 4of5 Update/Reports on Subcommittee Efforts The Policy Subcommittee drafted the letter regarding the IRC, considered above. Liaison Reports Kay Rios reported that Dial -A -Ride is looking for funding from Larimer County for service to rural areas outside the area now served by Shamrock Transportation. She also asked the new members to select organizations with which to develop a liaison relationship. Kay Rios asked staff about a wish list of items to be funded by a quarter -cent Community Capital sales tax. Joe Rowan confirmed that local nonprofits as well as other Boards and Commissions had been asked to provide such a list, but the Affordable Housing Board has not. Ken Waido will investigate. Jon Fairchild continues field research on the City's Development Review Process as he renovates his own home. Isabel Garity asked what the Board can do to support the two mobile home bills offering residents right of first refusal if the owner wants to sell the land before the state legislature. Ken Waido will check on the status of both; depending on their status, Isabel, with the assistance of Kay Rios, will draft a letter to Council stating the Board's position. Marty Tharp said she would be testifying before the Legislature against a bill that would make landlord/tenant issues a statewide issue, effectively taking away local control. Kay Rios asked that the Right of First Refusal ordinance issue be placed on next month's agenda for an update, especially in light of the mobile home bills. Ken Waido distributed packets for the spring cycle of the CDBG/HOME funding Competitive Process. Requests this time include seven public facilities and are approximately twice the amount available; two-thirds of the applicants are competing for 15 percent of the funds. For the new members, Ken outlined the importance of AHB members having no direct communication with applicants regarding their requests. All such questions should be directed to staff. Ken also distributed copies of the updated Boards and Commissions Manual. Special Meeting Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 4, 2004 Minutes Page 5 of 5 The Affordable Housing Board will meet at 4 p.m. on March 18 at 281 N. College Ave. to discuss the Competitive Process requests and develop a recommendation to the CDBG Commission. Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted by Kate Jeracki March 17, 2004