HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Affordable Housing Committee - 10/08/2019October 8, 2019, SoBu Affordable Housing Committee Minutes- APPROVED Page 1
Approved on November 4, 2019 AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE October 8, 10:00 AM, City Hall, Champlain Room
Members attending: Tom Bailey (arrived 10:28), Paula DeMichele, Sandy Dooley, Cindy Reid, Todd Rawlings, and John Simson Members absent: Leslie Black-Plumeau and Michael Simoneau Guests: Monica Ostby (PC liaison) AGENDA 1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests
2. Review and approval of minutes of 09/24/2019 committee meeting 3. Chair’s comments 4. Discuss outcome of Planning Commission meeting and changes recommended for tonight’s PC meeting 5. Discuss Paula’s email and power point and assign follow-up 6. Update on housing land priority identification project and task force 7. Review 2020 Work Plan to schedule Committee work
8. Reports and updates by committee members 9. Adjourn
1. Call to order, emergency procedure, agenda review, comments from guests: John called the meeting to order at 9:33 a.m. He reviewed the exit procedures. There were no public comments.
2. Review and approval of minutes of 09/24/19 committee meeting: Paula moved and Todd seconded motion to approve the September 24, 2019, meeting minutes, as drafted. Motion passed (5-0-0).
3. Chair’s comments: John informed members that the Planning Commission meeting scheduled for that evening has been canceled due to Yom Kippur beginning at sundown. It is unknown whether PC meeting will be re-scheduled or all agenda items will be deferred to next scheduled meeting (10/22). John noted the need
for committee members to reach out to community residents and encourage them to attend Planning Commission meeting in support of Inclusionary Zoning proposal or email PC expressing their support. John shared that he had contacted his fellow Rotary Club members encouraging them to attend. So far, he received no response. He noted that Sandy had emailed several SoBu residents attaching information about the Inclusionary Zoning proposal and encouraging their attendance or email correspondence in support. John noted that Rep. Maida Townsend had sent an excellent email in support of the committee’s proposal. Sandy added that she had sent 23 emails, some to more than one person, about the committee’s proposal encouraging PC meeting attendance or email support and knew that additional folks, in addition to Rep. Townsend would attend or send an email.
Monica mentioned the condo development that she, John, and Sandy had visited and stressed the power of the visual—being able to view an existing development that includes market and inclusionary units in which the inclusionary units are difficult to identify within an overall attractive development. Monica shared photos of this
development with all Planning Commissioners and encouraged them to take a “field trip” to view it themselves. John again stressed the importance of members reaching out to SoBu residents and encouraging them to
support the committee’s proposal via PC meeting attendance or communication with the Planning Commissioners. Todd shared that there is a California case challenging the legality of inclusionary zoning headed to the United States Supreme Court. The argument against Inclusionary Zoning is that it is an unlawful “taking” of the owner’s private property rights.
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4. Discuss outcome of Planning Commission meeting and changes recommended for tonight’s PC meeting: John and Sandy shared that they had carefully considered the challenge developers face in constructing an Inclusionary homeownership unit at a cost no greater than the maximum price permitted using the 70% AMI
target and the unavailability of subsidies to private developers for these units. They had also noted the difference between the maximum sales price for Inclusionary homeownership units at 70% AMI and 80% AMI, which for a two-bedroom unit is $28,000 lower for unit targeted to 70% AMI (greater reduction for units with additional bedrooms). In light of these factors, John and Sandy proposed that committee support modifying its proposal such that the maximum Inclusionary homeownership price would be tied to 80% AMI instead of 70% AMI. Monica suggested as an alternative that the committee keep the homeownership target at 70% AMI and get
the City Council to approve waiving impact fees for Inclusionary homeownership units. Because fees are established by an ordinance and not Land Development Regulations, the Planning Commission has no authority over their content. The City Council has authority over ordinances. John noted that the committee had proposed that the City waive fees for Inclusionary units two years ago and no action had been taken. The committee’s 2017 proposal was forwarded to City Manager Dorn and Planning Director Conner. Some members expressed concern that this plan would, again, delay the movement toward adoption of the
expansion of Inclusionary Zoning to the Transit Overlay District. Some members expressed concern that the 80% AMI maximum price level for Inclusionary homeownership units would pose a problem for owners at resale of their home/condo.
Monica pointed out that with developers receiving two offset units for each Inclusionary homeownership unit, the City would end up “making money” by waiving fees for the Inclusionary units. Members supported re-
visiting the subject of asking the City Council to waive fees for Inclusionary units but were not supportive of pairing a fee ordinance waiver proposal with the Inclusionary Zoning proposal to the Planning Commission. Sandy then moved and Cindy seconded a motion that the committee (1) support modifying the maximum price level for Inclusionary home ownership units from 70% AMI to 80% AMI, (2) revisit the subject of asking the City
Council to waive fees for Inclusionary Units under specified conditions, and (3) monitor the performance of having the maximum price level for Inclusionary home ownership units at 80% AMI. During discussion Monica reiterated her proposal to keep the maximum at 70% AMI and pair it with a proposal to the City Council to waive fees for these units. Sandy indicated skepticism that developers would find fee waivers a sufficient counter balance to having unit prices almost $30,000 lower than at the 80% AMI level. Todd indicated that he saw the fee ordinance proposal as being a better fit with an examination of the role of the Housing Trust Fund
than the Inclusionary Zoning LDRs. Motion passed by vote of 5-0-0. 5. Discuss Paula’s email and power point and assign follow-up: Members concurred with Paula’s proposal to
do more with public education. Getting high school students involved in this effort was mentioned. The need for one or more people to work with Paula on this “project” was identified. No one present indicated availability to work on this project. The subject of the vacancy created by passing of Larry Michaels came up. Mention
made of a banker, also someone who is passionate about need for affordable housing and has time to work on public education effort as potential new committee member. Themes of inclusion and thriving communities put forward. Sandy recalled attending workshop at 2018 Housing conference at which the challenge of marketing the need for more affordable housing was presented and backed by (discouraging) research. Todd attended same workshop and recalled same challenge. As homework, John asked committee members to think about Paula’s proposal before the next committee meeting and come back with additional input and ideas. John then briefly described his experience at the All-Committee’s Symposium on September 26th. He presented the committee’s recent work and work plan to the City Council (Riehle, Emery, and Barritt were present). In large room where attendees ate dinner and networked, City staff had prepared and put on display
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posters for each City committee. Andrew Bolduc, City attorney, did a workshop on the Open Meeting Law,
which included requirement that subcommittees working to develop policy proposals give public notice of date, time, and place of meetings. Coralee Holms led a workshop on public relations, which included the importance of storytelling.
6. Update on housing land priority identification project and task force: Tom reported that he and Mike have been preoccupied with other matters unrelated to the working group and have made little recent progress. 7. Review 2020 Work Plan to schedule Committee work: Sandy proposed placing high priority on devising strategy to raise money to support development of affordable housing. She acknowledged that this will be difficult in light of proposals to build new middle and high schools and new recreation facility.
8. Reports and updates by committee members: Due to lack of time deferred to a subsequent meeting. 9. Adjourn: At 11:25 p.m., Cindy moved and Paula seconded motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed (5-0-0) (Todd was not present for this vote). Note: as John will be out-of-town, Sandy will prepare agenda for 10/22/19 committee meeting.
Bike rack: ● 1/8/19 Emails to K. Dorn and D. Young to be completed by 1/24/19 City: DONE! ● Keep and address at 1/24/19 committee meeting. Work on Committee’s page on the City’s website ● Combine with item immediately above. (Quoted from January 23, 2018, meeting minutes) “John asked Mike to prepare a work plan for the committee to collaborate with Coralee to enhance its effectiveness in communicating with residents via the City’s website and via other means. The plan should include specific
assignments to be carried out by identified committee members. Mike accepted this assignment.” Homework (not yet reported on): All bike rack tasks should include date of assignment and date for task completion.