HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 04/19/2023April 19, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 1
Approved on May 23, 2023 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE April 19, 2023, 6:00 p.m., meeting held online and at City Hall Members attending: Janet Bellavance, Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, Tom Getz, Emily Holt-Gosselin, Ariel
Jensen-Vargas, Darrilyn Peters, John Simson, and Chris Trombly; also present: Jessie Baker, City Manager, City Councilor Meaghan Emery (CC liaison to AHC); and (public) Amy Allen, South Burlington resident. AGENDA 1. Call to order, approve agenda, announcements, public comment 2. Approve minutes from March 15, 2023, and March 22, 2023, meetings 3. Receive update on affordable housing at the Long Property – Janet (Deleted) 4. City Manager Update 5. Discussion on Fair Housing Month 6. Discuss timeline for providing feedback to the Planning Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan 7. Receive update on rental registry ordinance – Councilor Emery, Jessie 7a. Discuss new business for future meetings 8. Adjourn 1. Call to order, approve agenda, announcements, public comment Call to order: Chris called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
Approve agenda: Sandy moved that the agenda be approved with the deletion, at Janet’s request, of item 2 “Receive update on affordable housing at the Long Property.” Darrilyn seconded motion and proposed an addition to today’s agenda of “Discuss new business for future meetings” immediately before “Adjourn.” Sandy
accepted Darrilyn’s proposed change as a friendly amendment to her motion. Darrilyn explained that her proposal is to have this be an item on all AHC meeting agendas. Members indicated support for this proposal. . Motion to approve meeting agenda, as modified, approved: 9-0-0.
Announcements: Members encouraged to check out Fair Housing Month display on Library’s second floor (prepared by Janet). Chris shared that Leslie Black-Plumeau resigned from the committee. Chris and John will prepare a resolution honoring Leslie’s longstanding service and submit it to Jessie for action by City Council. Meaghan shared that she met with Paul Conner about addressing SEQ policy that, for small lots, limits density to 1.8 units per acre. He indicated the Planning Commission will get to it. Public Comments: Amy Allen indicated that she moved to SoBu recently and is attending the meeting to find out what’s happening in the City. 2. Approve minutes from March 15, 2023, and March 22, 2023, meetings: Vince moved and Ariel seconded motion to approve the minutes as drafted. Approved: 9-0-0. 3. Item removed from agenda. 4. City Manager Update: Jessie is hoping to schedule Andrew Hayes of Eastern Real Estate (owner of U-Mall) to
meet with committee in June. Helen Riehle and Paul Conner will testify in House committee re S.100 on April 20. City Council (CC) will discuss need for additional water tower at next meeting. CC will need to make 37 appointments to City committees; they have adopted a different process for doing interviews, using two
subcommittees. 5. Discussion on Fair Housing Month (FHM): Vince reported on book discussion group focused on Fixer-Upper,
which is scheduled for May 3 in the Library. BTV’s CEDO office has donated 12 copies of the book to the Library for folks to read for the discussion or later. Sandy reported that, to date, individuals had picked up 22 of the 40 packets available for participation in the Project Home Art Project. Info about FHM events and activities has appeared in The Other Paper, the Library’s webpage, SoBu Front Porch Forum neighborhoods, the South Burlington Community Watch FB page, and SoBu’s City News. 6. Discuss timeline for providing feedback to the Planning Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan: Members reviewed timeline Kelsey Peterson sent Chris. She needs AHC’s input regarding draft Housing chapter
April 19, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 2
by May 31. Jessie indicated the chapter length is likely to be four to seven pages. First draft of chapter will go to Planning Commission (PC) on April 20 to be commented on at April 25 PC meeting after which Kelsey will prepare second draft. This is draft that AHC should provide feedback on. To allow ample time for preparation of second draft and the committee’s review of it, members decided to change date (and time) of May AHC meeting. The new date/time is Tuesday, May 23, 5 – 7 p.m. Members are encouraged to share comments on second draft to Jessie prior to this meeting.
7. Receive update on rental registry ordinance: Project team presented first draft of rental registry ordinance, including inspection cycle, to the CC on April 3. Ordinance includes regulations relating to short-term rentals (less
than 30 days). No need for IT addition/upgrade to implement a rental registry. Questions: how is affordable housing treated? How is owner-occupied applied to “snowbirds”—i.e. people who leave in the winter but are SoBu residents because they are here at least 183 days of calendar year? Answer: if they meet residency
requirement, then house is considered owner-occupied. Are all units inspected? Vin recommended inspecting a sample of the units. How will ordinance affect HomeShare Vermont? How is tenant perspective incorporated? Ariel urged that team be mindful of need to design program to prevent unintended consequences; e.g. displacement (evacuation) of undocumented residents who have no alternative housing. Jessie indicated it would be good for project team to meet with Tom (Getz). Team will present updated draft to CC. Goal is to have registry and regulations effective on 1/1/2024.
7a. Discuss new business for future meetings: May – Comprehensive Plan Housing chapter review and feedback; June – meeting with U-Mall representative and FY24 Policies & Strategies.
Additional Info from Jessie re Deputy City Manager and related appointments: Steve Locke has been appointed Deputy City Manager and will continue as City’s Fire Chief. Chris Corbin has been appointed Deputy Fire Chief.
8. Adjourn: (7:50 p.m.) Ariel moved and Tom seconded motion to adjourn the meeting. Approved: 9-0-0.