HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_08.27.2008City of Georgetown
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
August 27, 2008, at 3:30 p.m.
Glasscock Conference Room—Georgetown Municipal Complex
300‐1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Hartley Sappington; Chair, John Gavurnik; Vice‐chair, Nancy Biggs;
Secretary, Cynthia Anderson, Janis Cowman‐Arteaga, Emily Northrop, Larkin Tom, Naomi
Walker
Members absent: None
Staff present: Jennifer Bills; Housing Coordinator
This is a regular meeting of the Housing Advisory Board of the City of Georgetown. The Board,
appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, makes recommendations to the City Council on
affordable housing matters.
Regular Session ‐ To begin no earlier than 3:30 p.m.
Meeting called to order at 3:35 p.m.
1. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the Housing Advisory
Board meeting held on Wednesday, July 17, 2008.
Motion to approve by Gavurnik, second by Anderson. Approved 7‐0. (Walker and
Hoffman had not yet arrived).
2. Presentation of the City of Georgetown Home Repair Program.
Bills presented the recent program that the City has started using existing City funds for
home repair. This program has in the past been administered by United Way, Habitat
for Humanity and the Caring Place. Funds had not been used in the recent years, so the
City Council decided that the City should administer the funds directly. The Board
provided many suggested changes to the applications and program administration.
3. Discuss schedule for the next consultant visit.
Bills reported that the Housing Consultants would be presenting at City Council
Workshop on September 8, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. She scheduled the Board to meet that
morning at 10:00 a.m. to go over the Interim Draft. Bills also discussed the schedule for
holding two public meetings, on September 8 th at 7:00 and September 9th at 10:00 am.
Bills will look into meeting locations.
4. Discussion on the Interim Draft of the Housing Plan.
Northrop brought up that there seems to be a disconnect between the household
demographics and the income required for housing. Wage information is presented as
Housing Advisory Board Minutes, August 27, 2008 Page 1 of 2
Housing Advisory Board Minutes, August 27, 2008 Page 2 of 2
single income information, while assumptions are usually made that a household is a
two‐income household. She thought the information could be clearer if the housing
profile and wage information were related to each other better. Walker expressed
concern about the maximum purchase price affordable to a household making $71 the
plan
5. Discussion items from Staff:
a. Report on possible fee waivers for home repair report.
Bills reported on a recent staff report to City Council on possible fee waivers for
home repair in the City to encourage home ownership and maintaining home
values. Council charged staff with making a list of fees that could be waived and
other incentives to encourage these goals. Some suggestions staff had were to
waive all permitting fees for remodeling and tap and impact fees for new infill
projects. With these suggestions, Council asked staff to prepare a follow up
report on the number and areas that would be able to take advantage of these
incentives. The Planning, Inspection and Housing Departments are all working
on additional research on this issue and will report back in a couple months.
b. Update on Housing and Neighborhood Development projects.
At the opening of the meeting, Bills updated the Board on the recent City Council
cases involving the Sierra Ridge Development. There were two items, 1)
reviewing the impact fee waivers; and 2) an amendment to the Georgetown
Transportation Enhancement Corporation contract for public improvements.
Councilmember Sattler pulled the impact fee waiver item from the agenda before
the meeting. The second item was passed unanimously by Council.
c. Additional items.
6. Discussions items from Board members:
a. Additional items.
Board adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
__________________________________ _______________________________________
Approved, Hartley Sappington, Chair Attest, Nancy Biggs, Secretary