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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/21/2007 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 090, 2007, AMENDING ITEM NUMBER: 14 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: August 21, 2007 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Wanda Krajicek SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 090, 2007, Amending Section 2-82 of the City Code Relating to Membership of the Affordable Housing Board. RECOMMENDATION Staff and the Affordable Housing Board recommend adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY At the July 24, 2007 Work Session,the Affordable Housing Board met with City Council as part of the periodic review process for boards and commissions. The Board stated that boardmember turnover had created a problem for meeting quorum requirements at meetings and further stated that the Board had not had full membership this year.The Board requested,as part of its Periodic Review Questionnaire, to reduce its membership from 9 to 7 members. Currently there are 8 members on the Affordable Housing Board due to the resignation of Jason Oldham. On December 31,2007,Jon Fairchild's term will expire. Since Mr. Fairchild will meet his term limit in December 2007, this vacancy will not be filled bringing the board membership to 7 members beginning January 1,2008. ATTACHMENTS 1. Affordable Housing Board Periodic Review Questionnaire ATTACHMENT 1 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS PERIODIC REVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE DATE PREPARED: July 2, 2007 BOARD/COMMISSION NAME: Affordable Housing Board LIST OF MEMBERS: Denise Rogers, Chair Jon Fairchild,Vice Chair Ashley Monahan Dan Byers Peter Tippett Robert Sullivan 3 Vacancies 1. Are the current duties of the board, as defined by City Code, realistic? If not, what duties would you suggest be added and/or deleted? The Board's duty to "advise City Council on matters pertaining to affordable housing" is realistic and allows the Board leeway to pursue issues that may affect housing affordability, such as land use regulations, development standards,building codes, and impact fees. 2. Is the board's workload (annual work plan) too much; too little; about right? Explain. The Board believes their workload is about right. 3. Does the board effectively accomplish its annual work plan? The Board's work plan calls for advocacy for affordable housing to the Council. Yet the Board has not been effective in advocacy for all issues listed in the work plan. This might be explained by a disconnect between the issues pursued by the Board and Council's goals and policies. Without Council support of an issue, staff resources to research that issue are not available to the Board. The Board would like to understand better Council's goals for affordable housing, and adjust its work plan to be more consistent with those goals. 4. Are board meetings conducted in an effective manner? What could be done to improve board meetings? The Board believes their meetings are conducted in an effective manner. The Board appreciates receiving agenda packets in advance and the assistance of staff. 5. Is the current size of the board appropriate? There are some issues related to the size of the Board. Turnover has been a problem. With reduced numbers, it is sometimes difficult for the Board to achieve a quorum in order to conduct an official meeting. Therefore, the Board would like to propose a reduction in the membership number from nine (9) to seven (7)members. 6. Are communications between the board and Council effective? What could be done to improve these communications? Because the Board has not received a response from Council to a number of memos written over the last couple of years, (including a memo specifically requested by a Council member), it appears to the Board that their recommendations are not being considered by Council members, and are not having an impact on Council decisions. The Board believes that more direct contact with the Council liaison would be helpful to discuss issues and concerns. This would also provide the Council with an opportunity to provide direction to the Board. The Board recommends meeting with its Council liaison twice a year at regular Board meetings. 7. Other comments: None. Attachments: City Code description of duties Current Work Plan Current Annual Report Current Bylaws ORDINANCE NO, 090, 2007 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING SECTION 2-82 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS RELATING TO MEMBERSHIP OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD WHEREAS , on August 3 , 1993 , City Council adopted Ordinance No . 084, 1993 , creating an Affordable Housing Board (the "Board") ; and WHEREAS , the Board was created with a membership of nine members ; and WHEREAS , the Board has requested that its membership be reduced from nine to seven members ; and WHEREAS , through the attrition of board members by resignation and the expiration of one member' s term of office, the membership of the Board will be reduced to seven members as of January 1 , 2008 , and, in light of the Board' s request, Council believes that the number of members of the Board should be maintained at that level thereafter. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows : Section 1 . That Section 2 - 82 (a) of the Code of the City of Fort Collins be amended to read as follows : Sec . 2 -82 . Membership ; term. (a) The Board shall consist of nine (9) seven (7) members appointed by the City Council, which members shall possess expertise in affordable housing issues, including, without limitation, issues pertaining to development, finance, lending, charitable and low income services and general community services . Section 2 . That the effective date of the foregoing change in membership shall be January 1 , 2008 . Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21 st day of August, A.D . 2007, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of September, A.D. 2007 . Mayor ATTEST : City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of September, A.D . 2007 . Mayor ATTEST : City Clerk