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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffordable Housing Board - Minutes - 03/02/2006CITY OF FORT COLLINS AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD MEETING MINUTES 281 N. College Ave. Fort Collins, Colorado March 2, 2006 Denise Rogers, Acting Chair Ken Waido, Staff Liaison, 970-221-6753 Kurt Kastein, City Council Liaison, 970-223-0425 Board Members Present: Denise Rogers, Jon Fairchild, Joe Rowan, Michelle Jacobs, Peter Tippett, Joe Hebert, and Kevin Brinkman. Advance Planning Staff Present: Ken Waido, Joe Frank. Council Members Present: Kurt Kastein. Guests: None. Acting Chair Denise Rogers called the meeting to order with a quorum present at 4:05 p.m. Open Public Discussion: Marilyn Heller, League of Women Voters representative, informed the Board about the Affordable Housing Coalition of Larimer County's website http://www.fortnet.org/AHCOLC/. New Business Minutes Jon Fairchild moved the December 1, 2005 minutes be approved as submitted, Michelle Jacobs seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Discussion with Council Member Kurt Kastein City Council member Kurt Kastein attended the meeting at the invitation of the Board to discuss the role of affordable housing in the community, affordable housing funding, and the purpose and future of the Board. Ms. Rogers mentioned Councilmember Kastein changed some of the wording in the work plan to read "continue to focus council on matching funding to affordable housing goals." Mr. Fairchild felt the rewording of the work program really does not change the Board's goals because the Board needs to get affordable housing Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 2, 2006 Minutes Page 2 of 4 funding back to fund affordable housing projects. He thanked Councilmember Kastein for reading the workplan. Ms. Rogers told Councilmember Kastein about the BFO process, in which staff support for the Board fell below the funding line. The Board was left wondering if the lack of funding was symbolic of Council's feeling that affordable housing is not an important issue. At this point, the Board is unsure if it has Council's support. Councilmember Kastein replied that every department received less funding than desired, since the City does not have the level of income it has had in the past. He asked staff how the Board could exist without staff support. Mr. Waido and Mr. Frank explained that the AHB was not funded through BFO; Advance Planning currently is using backfill money to support the Board. Staff support has been cut back in an effort to conserve funds. Mr. Frank added that Advance Planning will continue to provide staff support until directed otherwise. Councilmember Kastein asked the Board what they had accomplished in the first few months of 2006. Mr. Rowan replied that the Board has been off to a slow start, since members were not sure the Board would still exist. Mr. Rowan asked staff and Councilmember Kastein if the City has considered ways to promote affordable housing without using funds by facilitating affordable housing projects as they come into the system. Mr. Fairchild added the City could work for more efficient development review. Mr. Rowan gave the example of Habitat for Humanity's Innovation Island project, which was recently appealed by a neighboring HOA. Councilmember Kastein replied that Council upheld the project. Mr. Rowan noted that was the case, but added that for many affordable housing projects, just the threat of a neighborhood appeal and the additional time involved can keep a project from securing funds. Ms. Rogers asked Councilmember Kastein to tell the Board what Council needs to better understand the importance of affordable housing to the community. Councilmember Kastein suggested the Board demonstrate to Council how the lack of funding is keeping the City from meeting its affordable housing goals, specifically the goals outlined in the Priority Needs and Strategies Report. He suggested the Board research what affordable housing programs are hurt the most by funding cuts. Councilmember Kastein also told the Board about Council's upcoming project on identifying economic barriers. The discussion may include changes to the Fall Land Use Code. He encouraged the Board to find developers and businesses to participate in the discussion as affordable housing advocates. Ms. Rogers led the follow up discussion after Councilmember Kastein left the meeting. The Board discussed ways to research funding cuts to and possible sources of affordable housing monies. The consensus was to not point fingers nor attack other service areas. The Board felt they knew about affordable housing, and Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 2, 2006 Minutes Page 3 of 4 should stand on their own merits rather than trying to find the potential shortcomings of other Boards and Commissions. Mr. Frank told the Board that the Priority Needs and Strategies Report will explain what the funding cuts mean in terms of number of units. Mr. Rowan thought the Board should examine the type of housing and location as well as unit numbers, and the Board should put this information in context with economic development. When better jobs are created, two or three lesser paying jobs are created as well, which increases the need for affordable housing. Ms. Rogers added that although the City currently has high vacancy rates, the Board needs to stress to Council the timeline needed to create affordable housing; once the need is evident, the City will be several years behind. Mr. Frank suggested the Board work to raise the elevation of consciousness of affordable housing to Council. If Council perceives affordable housing as a relevant issue to economic development, they will direct the City Manager to find ways to integrate it into the City's goals. He also added they should develop an advocate on Council and a strong affordable housing advocacy group in Fort Collins. Council responds to the support they are shown for an item. In particular, this would be a good item for business leaders to speak to Council about, because of their ties to economic development. Mr. Waido seconded the suggestion, and felt the Board should find grassroots advocates to speak to Council to show them the benefits of affordable housing. Ms. Rogers asked the Board to work to foster relationships with people in the community who could be advocates for affordable housing. Mr. Fairchild said the Board needs to take ownership of this issue and work with groups with which they are associated to make contacts. He asked the liaisons think about ways to build advocacy with outside groups, then report back at the April 6, 2006 meeting. The Board will research Councilmember Kastein's suggestions regarding affordable housing, and give him an update sometime in the next several months. Land Bank Program Update The City's most recent Land Bank property acquisition is an approximately 15 acre property on Kechter Road between Zeigler and Timberline purchased for $1.1 million. The City will hold the property for at least five years, after which time it will open a request for proposals to have developers submit designs to build affordable housing on the land. Ms. Rogers asked if the Kechter purchase spent the remaining Land Bank funds. Mr. Waido replied that there are still some funds available. Advance Planning is working with Stormwater Utility to purchase property on Vine Drive west of Shields Street, which will zero out the program. Fort Collins Affordable Housing Board March 2, 2006 Minutes Page 4 of 4 Distribution of Affordable Housing Proposals Staff distributed the five Spring 2006 Competitive Process housing proposals. The Affordable Housing Board will hold a special meeting on March 23rd at 5 p.m. in Conference Room A, 281 North College Avenue to discuss and rank the proposals. The AHB rankings then will be forwarded to the CDBG Commission. Old Business Update/Reports on Sub -Committee Efforts None. Liaison Reports None. Other Business Open Board Discussion None. Election of Officers Denise Rogers was nominated and elected as Chair. Jon Fairchild was nominated and elected as Vice Chair. Meeting adjourned 5:30 pm. Respectfully submitted by Stephanie Sydorko March 16, 2006