HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 06/15/2022June 15, 2022, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 1
Approved on July 20, 2022
AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE June 15, 2022, 6:00 p.m., meeting held online and at City Hall
Members attending: Janet Bellavance, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Sandy Dooley, Ariel Jensen-Vargas (left at 7:30), Darrilyn Peters, Minelle Sarfo-Ado, and Chris Trombly; members absent: Vince Bolduc Patrick O’Brien, and John Simson; Also present: Jessie Baker, City Manager;; Meaghan Emery, City Councilor AGENDA 1. Call to order, agenda review, approval of 5/18/22 AHC meeting minutes, announcements, public comment 2. City Manager Update
3. Discuss and possible action - FY22 Policy and Priorities Update 4. Discuss and possible action - FY23 Policy and Priorities 5. Planning Session to determine how to accomplish FY23 Priorities
6. Adjourn 1. Call to order, agenda review, approval of 5/18/22 AHC meeting minutes, announcements, public comment
Call to order: Chris called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Agenda review: Darrilyn moved and Leslie seconded motion to approve agenda as proposed. Approved: 6-0-0
Approval of minutes: Darrilyn moved and Janet seconded motion that the 5/18/22 meeting minutes be approved with the following amendments: correction to Governor’s role vis-à-vis legislation that included a rental registry, and addition of information about Jessie’s provision (in chat) of link to DRB memo re committees’ review of
application before DRB. Approved: 6-0-0 Announcements: None Public Comments: None 2. City Manager Update: Jessie’s report included the following: a. one person attended the pre-meeting for the $1 million ARPA fund RFP, b. at its 6/6/22 meeting, the City Council approved the survey for gathering input from the public re how to use the remaining ARPA funds, c. comments of U-Mall representative who attended Economic Development Committee meeting had strong focus on housing, d. she recently attended a Champlain Housing Trust retreat,
e. the City Council & City Leadership retreat re FY23 policies and priorities is scheduled for evening of 7/11/22 with in-person-only attendance, f. Form-Based Codes height restriction, if not modified, will affect U-Mall developers’ options.
Following Jessie’s report, Darrilyn raised subject of committees’ participation in development of the Comprehensive Plan update and expressed disappoint that, based on what she has read so far, committees’
participation will be limited. Jessie indicated that committees will have ample opportunity to participate in update of Comprehensive Plan. . 3. Discuss and possible action - FY22 Policy and Priorities Update: The committee reviewed the latest draft of the column titled “FY22 Update (June 2022)” of the FY22 Policy Priorities & Strategies/Adopted by Council 11/15/21 document. Darrilyn then moved and Leslie seconded motion to approve this column of the document as presented. Approved: 6-0-0 (Minelle had not yet joined the meeting.) 4. Discuss and possible action - FY23 Policy Priorities & Strategies: Sandy reviewed how the subgroup (Chris, Darrilyn, Janet, Leslie, and Sandy) had worked together, including two Zoom meetings, to develop the latest draft of the proposed FY23 priorities and strategies. Ariel noted the absence of anything in this draft related to renters and shared personal experiences as a renter and how she found no available remedies to address problems. She advocated for the committee to address safety and security (the fact that a tenant has no assurance of being able to stay in their unit as long as they would like, even if they pay their rent and comply with all the rules) of
June 15, 2022, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 2
housing, in addition to affordability. A lengthy discussion of renter and related issues followed, which, among
others, included these topics: “Let the buyer beware” situation for prospective home-buyers and renters, where does tenant go with complaints about landlord behavior, need to support folks in adding ADUs to their homes (making them more affordable), consumer protection for prospective renters and home-buyers, mediation service,
renter advisory panel, mention that CHT has a renter advisory committee, Winooski’s rental registry handles complaints and visits every four years to determine code compliance, and bad press that at times brings attention to noncompliance and generates corrective action, and gentrification that makes rental situation worse for lower and middle income households. Other subjects mentioned include Winooski’s equity audit and committee’s FY23 recommendation for SoBu to commission similar audit in place of impact assessment audit the committee recommended for FY22 but was not implemented. Committee agreed on the following changes to the draft FY22 Policy Priorities & Strategies/Adopted by Council 11/15/22 document presented:
(a) In first box under Recommended FY23 Priorities for Committee column, add “safe, secure, and” before “affordable” (b) In first box under FY23 Proposed Strategies/Projects column, add “Identify renter-related and home-buyer
protection strategies to pursue in FY24.” (c) In second box under FY23 Proposed Strategies/Projects column, delete “in collaboration with the Economic Development committee.”
(d) Include in the Recommended FY23 Priorities for Committee column all strategies stated in the FY23 Proposed Strategies/Projects column that propose additional spending or staff. This change is in response to input from Jessie that the FY23 Proposed Strategies/Projects column would not be included in document provided to City
Council and councilors need to be informed of proposals for additional spending of staff. Sandy moved and Arial seconded motion that the draft FY22 Policy Priorities & Strategies/Adopted by Council 11/15/21 document, incorporating the modifications agreed to, be approved for submission to the City Council. Motion approved: 7-0-0. The committee’s final FY22 Policy Priorities & Strategies/Adopted by Council 11/15/21 document, incorporating the changes described above is included with these minutes. See below. 5. Planning Session to determine how to accomplish FY23 Priorities: Darrilyn reiterated her question of what is role of committees in development of Comprehensive Plan update? Planning Commission (PC) discussion of this subject at 5/24/22 meeting was mentioned. The PC will devote one of its meetings each month to working on the Comprehensive Plan update. Need for a Housing Needs Assessment to be done as part of Comprehensive Plan work was stressed. Jessie reiterated that committees will have ample opportunity to participate in update of Comprehensive Plan. .
Members present recognized they did not have enough time to develop a FY23 plan but agreed for need to have subcommittees work between meetings to make progress toward achievement of goals. Sandy and Janet agreed to work with Chris on developing a list of proposed subcommittees linked to committee goals.
As accomplishing goals requires people to do the work, attention turned to fact that committee would be losing two valued members, Patrick O’Brien and Minelle Sarfo-Ado. Members thanked Minelle for her important
contributions to the committee’s work and for being responsible for the CC’s new policy allowing residents younger than 18 to be appointed to committees. Minelle expressed appreciation to committee for their support of her work and added that she will be attending Antioch College in California in the fall, pursuing a Business/Real Estate major. Members were unable to thank Patrick as he did not attend the meeting. Mention was also made of former committee member Paula DeMichele’s recent passing and the contributions of former committee members to her obituary in Seven Days.
6. Adjourn: (7:58 p.m.) Darrilyn moved and Janet seconded motion to adjourn meeting. Approved: 6-0-0.
Recommended FY23 Priorities for Committee Proposed FY23 Strategies/Projects Committee ActionAHCMission‐related advisory role related to development of affordable housing.City‐wide inclusionary zoning adopted, which has been a committee goal since its inception. Provided recommendations to P;lannig Commission and City Council re LDR changes under Interim Zoming. Provided input to DRB regarding Summit Properties development of affordable housing as part of O'Brien Frams development. (ongoing) Make recommendations to Planning Commission and/or City Council in support of Comprehensive Plan content, Land Development Regulations, and other City regulations that address the housing crisis and promote preservation and increased availability of safe, secure, and affordable housing. Participate in update of City’s Comprehensive Plan, including advocacy for a Housing Needs Assessment. Jointly with Economic Development Committee, review proposed Short‐term Rental ordinance and make recommendation to the City Council. Advocate for change to SEQ LDR that limits density to 1.8 units per acre on lots smaller than 4 acres. Identify renter‐related and home‐buyer protection strategies tp pursue in FY24. AHC Explore funding mechanisms to increase funding to Affordable Housing Trust Fund and make recommendations to Council. Housing Trust Fund level funded in the FY23 budget. Focused on availability of ARPA funding to support development of affordabley housing. Otherwise not started.Explore potential methods by which the City can increase resources—financial and/or staffing and/or data—directed to housing, especially affordable housing. Propose using ARPA funds for a Housing Needs Assessment. Advocate for additional City staff dedicated to community, housing, and economic development. Propose using ARPA funds for a Housing Needs Assessment. Advocate for additional City staff dedicated to community, housing, and economic development. AHC Work with staff to review options for buying privately owned or developing existing city‐owned land to develop additional perpetually affordable housing. Monitored lease agreement approved by Council and School Board. Staff is now working on the possible lot line adjustment for 575 Dorset Street (land behind former City Hall and Fire Department) to enable expanded affordable housing. Focus on making City‐owned land at 575 Dorset Street available for development as affordable housing.Encourage City staff to continue their work toward this goal and monitor these efforts. AHC, EDC Make recommendations to Council on how best to use ARPA funding for housing and economic developmentDone in collaboration with the Housing Trust Fund with unanimous committees support. RFP was issued in May 2022Continued from FY22: Make recommendations to Council on how best to use ARPA funding for housing and economic developmentReview proposals received in response to ARPA RFP and make recommendation. Provide input regarding how to invest remaining ARPA funds to address housing and climate change crises, such as weatherization.Recommended FY23 Priorities for Committee Proposed FY23 Strategies/Projects Committee ActionOpportunity OrientedFY22 Update (June 2022)Role of City Committee"This is how our resident committees can inform policy and Affordable and Community StrongCity of South Burlington ‐ Affordable Housing CommitteeFY22 and FY23 Policy Priorities & StrategiesAdopted by Council 11/15/21 and RecommendedRole of City Committee"This is how our resident committees can inform policy and FY22 Update (June 2022)
AHC Identify regulatory barriers and added costs of developing multi‐unit buildings and propose ways for SB to address them. Could include: waiver or reduction of city impact and permit fees for perpetually affordable developments. Not started Carry out research and make recommendations to encourage and enable redevelopment and make development of housing more affordable.Joint project of Redevelopment subcommittee and members of Economic Development Committee to identify (1) opportunities for and barriers to redevelopment of underutilized and vacant properties; (2) regulations that prevent higher density housing development, especially multifamily housing development; and/or (3) strategies to increase developers’ capacity to exceed the City’s Inclusionary Zoning requirement. Make recommendations as appropriate. AHC Articulate connections between dense housing development and climate change solutions. Ongoing Identify actions City can take that address both the housing and climate change crises. Provide input to the Climate Action Task Force on the content and recommendations included in the Task Force’s Report. AHC Review zoning districts city‐wide to identify additional locations for residential/mixed‐use zoning including conducting an inventory of vacant space.Redevlopment subcommittee Integrated into first proposed FY23 priority listed under Opportunity Oriented.See first proposed FY23 Strategy listed under Opportunity OrientedAHC Identify regulatory barriers and added costs of redeveloping areas of SB and propose ways to address themFormed Redevlopment subcommittee that talked with and visited with neighboring communities to learn best practices. Attended and gave input to Planning Commission meetings on the General PUD discussions and Shelburne Road. Supported ADU change to LDRs.Integrated into first proposed FY23 priority listed under Opportunity Oriented.See first proposed FY23 Strategy listed under Opportunity OrientedRecommended FY23 Priorities for CommitteeProposed FY23 Strategies/Projects Committee ActionAHC Propose an Impact Assessment Checklist for Council consideration. Requested that CCRPC convene a meeting on housing, climate change, and equity. Included language in the RFP for the use of ARPA funding a specific focus on BIPOC and New American households. Received a presentation from CCRPC on the ECOS Report and their focus on equity and inclusion.Propose that the City, in partnership with the School District, conduct an Equity Audit. Request that City Council use ARPA funds to underwrite the Equity Audit. Propose additional changes related to Equity.Request that City Council use ARPA funds to commission an Equity Audit, in collaboration with the School District. Propose inclusion of Equity chapter in update of Comprehensivs Plan. Advocate for City‐sponsored activities that commemorate Fair Housing Month (April 2023).FY22 Update (June 2022)Core Municipal Services and AdministrationRole of City Committee"This is how our resident committees can inform policy and