HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 05/23/2023May 23, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 1
Approved on June 6, 2023 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE May 23, 2023, 5:00 p.m., meeting held online and at City Hall
Members attending: Janet Bellavance, Vince Bolduc, Sandy Dooley, Darrilyn Peters, John Simson, and Chris Trombly; members absent: Tom Getz, Emily Holt-Gosselin, Ariel Jensen-Vargas, 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 April 19, 2023, meeting 3. City Manager Update 4. Finalize feedback to the Planning Commission on the Comprehensive Plan Housing section 5. Discuss the FY23 Policy Priorities & Strategies Report and the FY24 Policy Priorities & Strategies Recommendations 6. Adjourn 1. Call to order, approve agenda, announcements, public comment Call to order: Chris called the meeting to order at 5:16 p.m. Meeting could not begin earlier due to lack of
quorum. Approve agenda: Sandy moved and Darrilyn seconded motion to approve agenda as proposed. Approved: 6-0-0.
Announcements: Meaghan shared that she met Josh Hanford, Commissioner of Housing and Community Development at a recent groundbreaking. She discussed our committee with him and he indicated he would welcome an opportunity to meet with us. Meaghan will send committee his contact information. Chris shared that
he had emailed Steve Locke about the Rental Registry and received informative reply. He also asked about the $1 million cost of housing the Registry’s staff at the Fire Department mentioned at a City Council meeting and the reasoning behind locating the staff at the Fire Department. Jessie indicated the cost figure provided was a back of the envelope estimate, which is being refined, and explained that this location was chosen because rental registry operations are considered part of Fire Suppression and Prevention activities. Public Comments: Amy Allen indicated her attendance is due to an interest in learning more about the work of the committee. 2. Approve minutes from April 19, 2023, meeting: John moved and Darrilyn seconded motion to approve the minutes as drafted. Approved: 6-0-0. 3. City Manager Update: City Council is in process of interviewing applicants seeking appointment to city committees, boards, etc. Orientation for new/incumbent committee members is scheduled for 7/13/23. Andrew Hayes, U-Mall representative, is scheduled to attend the committee’s June committee meeting. Jessie and Chief
Burke are monitoring the end of the State’s voucher program for unhoused people/families staying in motels. An estimated 29 households funded by vouchers are staying in South Burlington motels.
4. Finalize feedback to the Planning Commission on the Comprehensive Plan Housing section: Topics discussed included: current circumstances vis-à-vis housing merit description as a crisis; reducing average commuting time of South Burlington residents as a possible objective; book: Retrofitting Suburbia; positive
comments on having objectives and strategies near beginning of chapter; new objective encouraging cooperation with neighboring towns for regional approach to housing development; question regarding meaning of “greenfield areas”—new term, not in land development regulations, need for clarification; need for open space and amenities near high density housing development; strategies included in 12/22/22 memo to Kelsey. Members reviewed the topics and agreed on the subjects that they wanted included in the feedback to Kelsey. Following this discussion John moved and Darrilyn seconded motion that Sandy prepare a memo based on the agreed-upon subjects for approval by the members present and subsequent forwarding to Kelsey. Motion approved: 6-0-0.
May 23, 2023, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes – APPROVED Page 2
Members agreed that had they had more time, they would have provided additional feedback. The desire for more objectives and strategies near beginning of chapter was mentioned. Jessie reminded those present that they may provide input on the Comprehensive Plan drafts to the Planning Commission as individual residents. She suggested that these communications be directed to Jessica Louisos, Paul Conner, and Kelsey. Link to memo: SoBu-AHC-Memo-K-Peterson052523.pdf
Note re memo: “DRAFT” at top of page 1 should be deleted.
5. Discuss the FY23 Policy Priorities & Strategies Report and the FY 24 Policy Priorities & Strategies Recommendations; Jessie informed members that the City Council needs the committee’s recommendations prior to their retreat on 06/26/23. (Jessie needs them by 06/19/23.) Due to absences anticipated for scheduled June
AHC meeting, it was determined that the meeting date needs to be earlier in June. Jessie will send Doodle poll. John, Janet, and Darrilyn, as a group, will prepare FY24 Work Plan/ Policy Priorities & Strategies Recommendations for committee’s review and approval at June meeting. Chris will do reporting out for committee at the Retreat. 6. Adjourn: At 6:46 p.m. Darrilyn moved and Janet seconded motion to adjourn the meeting. Approved: 6-0-0.