HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 12/04/2003CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
281 N. College Ave.
Fort Collins, Colorado
Kay Rios, Chair
Isabel Garity, Vice Chair
Ken Waido, Staff Liaison,
Marty Tharp, City Council
December 4, 2003
4-6p.m.
970-221-6753
Liaison, 970-484-5711
Board Members Present: Kay Rios, Jon Fairchild, Isabel Garity, Jane Phelan,
Denise Rogers, Jeff Taylor and Peter Tippett.
Advance Planning Staff Present: Ken Waido, Maurice Head
Council Members Present: none
Isabel Garity called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:05 p.m.
No members of the public were present and there was no open public
discussion. Ken Waido announced that Adrienne Pic has resigned from the
Board.
New Business
Agenda Review
Ken Waido announced that Felix Lee, Chief Building Official, will not be
appearing before the Board today to discuss the new requirements for radon
reduction in new residential construction under consideration as part of the
City's proposed adoption of a building code update. He has rescheduled for
the January 8, 2004, regular meeting. Isabel Garity suggested discussing the
Priority Affordable Housing Needs and Strategies report before the Work
Plan. Kay Rios added City Plan Update to New Business.
Minutes
The November 6, 2003, minutes were corrected to read:
Liaison Reports
Kay Rios reported that the Dial -A -Ride Advisory Committee discussed
proposed fee hikes and making riders under 18 pay bus fare. To be and
remain affordable, housing must have an efficient transit component.
The minutes were unanimously accepted as amended on a motion by Jeff
Taylor seconded by Denise Rogers. The minutes of November 20, 2003, were
unanimously accepted as presented.
Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board
December 4, 2003 Minutes
Page 2 of 4
Priority Affordable Housing Needs and Strategies
The Board discussed Part II, pages 51-95, of this report, which updates 1999
data.
Isabel Garity asked if the page -by -page review could be more efficiently
completed via e-mail or other written comments. Maurice Head felt that
discussion by the entire Board would give him better direction for completing
the final document. However, he also encouraged Board members to send
comments, questions and small editorial changes to him via e-mail prior to
the next meeting, so they can be discussed as needed.
A major concern of the Board was that the list of Policies on Page 77-82 were
unclear as to whether they were ranked in priority order or were simply
descriptions of what the priorities could be. It was suggested they be
referred to as "areas of greatest concern" rather than "priorities." However,
many members would prefer to see a priority ranking, and the issues of
housing production and preservation addressed in relation to both for sale
and rental units. Ken Waido added that a list of priorities is also needed in
the Implementation and Strategies section of the report to help determine
how much funding should be allocated to each mode of housing. He also
pointed out that any language in the report from City Council resolutions
cannot be changed. Jon Fairchild suggested the language about the City's
role on page 75 and page 93 be more closely aligned.
Part III of the report will be discussed at the January 8, 2004, meeting. Final
recommendations will be forwarded to City Council in time for its study
session on March 9, 2004.
City Plan Update
The Board discussed the draft final recommendations to City Council on the
City Plan Update developed by the Policy Subcommittee.
Isabel Garity asked about the inclusion of the statistic that 40 percent of the
422 acres suitable for affordable housing development have some kind of
constraints, and whether it implied that the other 60 percent were just fine.
Maurice Head pointed out that the acres are merely considered appropriate
for such development, not in any way designated or controlled by the City,
and therefore also available for market -rate development. Competition for
the limited number of parcels could drive the price beyond the reach of
affordable developments. This point will be added to the letter.
Isabel also asked if the current references to limiting the expansion of the
City's Growth Management Area could be reworded to be less inflammatory.
Kay Rios felt strongly that it was important to let Council know that not all
members of the Citizens Advisory Committee supported a no -growth agenda,
and that most of the recommendations of the CAC were closely split
decisions. The letter will make that point.
Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board
December 4, 2003 Minutes
Page 3 of 4
A corrected draft will be e-mailed to all members, and the final sent
to Ken Waido in time for inclusion in the packet of information for
consideration by City Council at its January 13, 2004, study session.
Staff will include the map identifying the appropriate available
parcels with the recommendations.
AHB Work Plan 2004
Board members reviewed the work plan discussed at the last meeting. It was
decided that the Education and Outreach function should be performed by
the entire board, not a separate Subcommittee, and should coordinate
closely with staff efforts. Denise Rogers announced she is no longer liaison to
the Continuum of Care Coalition, and will select a new liaison position soon.
Kay Rios will continue as the Advocacy Subcommittee, and welcomes anyone
who would also like to serve. The Policy Development and Review
Subcommittee will include Jon Fairchild, Denise Rogers and Kay Rios.
Old Business
Update/Reports on Subcommittee Efforts
The Policy Subcommittee produced the recommendations on City Plan
discussed above. Kay Rios asked members to bring ideas for speakers to be
invited to next year's meetings to the January 8, 2004, meeting.
Liaison Reports
Kay Rios reported on the Dial -A -Ride Advisory Committee. Members of the
committee will be sitting on the committee overseeing the RFP process for
the Dial -A -Ride privatization, along with members of the Commission on
Disability and the Office on Aging. Isabel Garity reported that many homeless
people think the medical van is going to go away because of funding cuts.
She and other Board members asked staff for clarification on City regulations
on cutting off utilities during the winter. Ken Waido explained that the
housing code only covers basic life safety issues and is enforced only on a
complaint basis. Renters can be hesitant to report violations, and City
employees do not make door-to-door inspections. Isabel will see if she can
bring more specifics to a future meeting.
Open Board Discussion
Peter Tippett reported that he will be meeting with the President of the Board
of Realtors. Denise Rogers and Jeff Taylor asked staff for an update on Sales
and Use Tax figures; Ken Waido will bring them to the January meeting.
Isabel Garity would still like to see a breakdown of how many of the Section
8 residents of the Northern Hotel are seniors. Jon Fairchild asked that
information also be included in the Priority Needs and Strategies report.
Isabel also asked anyone with used furniture they'd like to donate to the
formerly homeless to contact her. In response to a question from Jon
Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board
December 4, 2003 Minutes
Page 4 of 4
Fairchild, Ken Waido confirmed that the reason Felix Lee cancelled today's
presentation is that figures on the cost of the changes to the building code
had not been finalized, and he knew that cost was a important issue to the
Board.
Meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by
Kate ]eracki, who wishes one and all a joyous holiday season and a
wonderful new year
December 17, 2003