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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 11/03/2005CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado November 3, 2005 Kay Rios, Chair Denise Rogers, Vice Chair Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753 Kurt Kastein, City Council Liaison, 970-223-0425 Board Members Present: Kay Rios, Denise Rogers, Michelle Jacobs, Kevin Brinkman, Jon Fairchild, Joe Rowan and Peter Tippett. Advance Planning Staff Present: Maurice Head, Ken Waido. Council Members Present: None. Guests: Tess Heffernan, Policy and Project Manager, City Manager's Office. Kay Rios called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:02 p.m. Open Public Discussion: Charlotte Rehnberg, League of Woman Voters representative, introduced herself. Karen Wolff introduced herself as an observer from Christ Fellowship Church attending the meeting to help her group identify potential community outreach projects. New Business Minutes Michelle Jacobs moved the October 6, 2005 minutes be approved as submitted, Peter Tippett seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. 3-Unrelated Ordinance Update Tess Heffernan, Policy and Project Manager, City Manager's Office, attended to update the Board on the 3-Unrelated ordinance presented at Council's October 18 meeting. The ordinance involved changes to five other ordinances, all of which passed first reading. Boarding house applications will require a $200 application fee and a full Type I or Type II development review. The proposed change is that in allowed zones, an application for four or five people will require basic development administrative Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board November 3, 2005 Minutes Page 2 of 4 review. For six or more people, or for four or more people in LMN, a public hearing will be required as well. Michelle Jacobs asked about opposition to the boarding house provision at the October 18 meeting. Tess Heffernan replied that the City wants to allow the boarding house provision to avoid gutting the rental market. One proposal to help with boarding house parking would be to redefine parking limits to 0.75 cars per boarder. Kevin Brinkman asked about the ordinance's compliance target. Ms. Heffernan replied that the City would like 100% compliance, but is basing its financial figures on 75% voluntary compliance. Joe Rowan remarked that if the percentage is off, enforcement will become more staff intensive and costly. The proposed enforcement start date is January 2007. The City will continue to investigate occupancy violations, with the offerise changing from criminal to civil in 2007. Occupancy enforcement is separate from rental registration. Enforcement will be financed from the general fund and fines, while rental registration will be financed by registration fees. The proposed violation fines range from $500 to a maximum of $1000. Ms. Heffernan added that the cost and efficacy of the new ordinance will be reevaluated in 2008. Jon Fairchild asked Ms. Heffernan to clarify the "Truth in Advertising" clause. Ms. Heffernan replied the intent is disclosure of occupancy limits. Earlier versions of the clause included additional text on rental signs or newspaper advertisements. Currently, the City is considering written disclosure forms with leases. Kay Rios asked the Board what action they would like to take. Joe Rowan was skeptical that additional resolutions and ordinances will solve problems with rental properties, specifically the enforcement of civil problems in single family neighborhoods. Joe Rowan will draft a statement regarding violation fine structure clarification. Michelle Jacobs will draft a statement regarding boarding house opposition. Kay Rios will draft a memo to Council stating the Board's disapproval of the truth in advertising clause, and acknowledging Council for keeping registration fees affordable and changing offenses from civil to criminal. 2006-2007 Budaet Ken Waido told the Board that the Advance Planning Department has been directed to support the Board unfunded for the time being. The Advance Planning Department has been discussing costs associated with the Board, including after hours staff time. Mr. Waido reported that one possible solution includes less staff support at meetings. Mr. Waido said the City's request to for Advance Planning to support the Board is not in the spirit of the BFO process; programs below the funding line were to be Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board November 3, 2005 Minutes Page 3 of 4 cut. Kay Rios and Denise Rogers agreed, and added the message being sent is that the Affordable Housing Board is less important than other Boards and Commissions. Council will examine all Boards and Commissions in 2006 to determine costs and overlap. Ms. Rios would like the City to standardize the method used to determine all B & C costs. Kay Rios will draft a memo to Council regarding the lack of BFO direction given to City departments that provide Board and Commission support. The memo will also include the Board's belief that the City is sending the message —intentional or not —that they are not concerned about elderly, disabled and low income citizens. Housing Affordability Index Update Maurice Head provided the Board with copies of the HAI report for review at the last meeting. He has addressed and added comments from the Board to the report. Ken Waido asked why the tables use listed prices from the MLS instead of sold data. Mr. Tippett and Mr. Brinkman explained that the MLS has lines for concessions and credits, and the difference between the two price sets is usually around 1%. Mr. Head said he will determine if the HAI could use both sets of data. AHB Work Plan Joe Rowan prepared a list of items he would like to see in the new work plan, including development of partnerships with the private sector, education for the Board to learn more about available funding sources, and discussion of options to reduce board costs. Mr. Rowan also said that affordable housing is linked to economic development, and that the Board needs to "understand all the tools and innovations available." The Board discussed the possibility of educational presentations or meetings. Michelle Jacob suggested the Board work on a stronger statement of purpose. She will work on a revised statement. Mr. Waido reminded her that any changes will need to be approved by Council. Kay Rios asked the Board to brainstorm ideas for policy, education and advocacy items, and bring their results to the December meeting. This item will be moved up on the December agenda. Old Business Update/Reports on Sub -Committee Efforts None. Liaison Reports Dial -A -Ride. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board November 3, 2005 Minutes Page 4 of 4 Kay Rios reported on Dial -A -Ride and potential negative effects to the community due to the 3-Unrelated Ordinance and Transfort cuts. She said the trend in Fort Collins is to move people farther out in the City and into surrounding areas, while cutting transportation services. Other Busin men Board Discussion None. Meeting adjourned 5:45 pm. Respectfully submitted by Stephanie Sydorko November 23, 2005