HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_04.21.2010
City of Georgetown
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
April 21, 2010, at 3:30 p.m.
Glasscock Conference Room—Georgetown Municipal Complex
300‐1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Tim Todd, Chair, Betty Craig, Vice‐Chair, Dollene Thompson; Secretary, Janis
Cowman‐Arteaga, Morris Greenberg, Lalena Parkhurst, Patsy Williams
Members absent: Debbie Hoffman
Staff present: Jennifer Bills; Housing Coordinator, Candice McDonald; Recording Secretary
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.
The meeting was called to order at 3:38 by Todd, Chair.
Agenda
1. Consideration and possible action to approve minutes from the March 24, 2010 meeting.
Motion to approve the minutes by Greenberg, Second by Parkhurst. Approved 7‐0
(Hoffman absent)
2. Discussion and possible action on the draft Housing Element.
a. Review Chapter 1: Executive Summary and Chapter 11 Policy Recommendations
Greenberg discussed the possibility of lowering the cost of low income housing by
giving the developer a relief on the 8.25% sales tax.
Board members discussed the benefits of non‐profits being tax‐exempt and for profit
organizations.
Todd stated that in order to bring in an affordable housing project to the City of
Georgetown, that a non‐profit organization has a better chance than a for profit
organization. Todd would like to refocus on the Housing Element because it is part
of the reason why the Housing Advisory Board was put together and to refocus on
funneling the Housing Element back to City Council for them to take possible action
and to get it in the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. By looking at the demographics that
changed within the Housing Element there doesnʹt need to be new research done.
Bills discussed that a large percentage of tax credit projects are built by a non‐profit
contractor. There has been research on trends with some organizations on their bid
Housing Advisory Board Minutes, April 21, 2010 Page 1 of 3
processes and who gets to apply the tax exempt status. The Board needs to mostly
focus on the recommendations because that is what City Council can take action on.
Parkhurst stated that sales tax is state based and would be a state level decision to
exempt someone from the sales tax. The Board needs to focus on that Georgetown is
not looking at building big apartment buildings, but more duplexes and triplexes.
The Board may need to rewrite some of the recommendations to state to keep up
with Georgetown atheistic such as multiuse buildings.
Bills stated that the Census was used to write the Housing Element. It may be best to
wait 6‐8 months to get the results from the 2010 Census. From the 2010 Census there
will be a more accurate population rather than using the populations from 2000‐
2007. When looking at a housing element you do not wait to go further out than 5
years. Some cities use an incentive program, like Austin has their smart housing
program. The smart housing program is where developers get an incentive to build
their homes to build their homes for affordability.
Cowman‐Arteaga discussed that the Board pay more attention to the Housing
Element as some ideas and that the Board is looking to City Council for guidance.
When the Housing Element was presented to City Council before, it was not
presented in a way open for comments. The Board should maybe take a year and
revamp the Housing Element.
Todd stated that the numbers that are coming out in the 2010 Census can be used as
reinforcement to present to City Council that there is urgency for affordable housing.
Williams discussed that one way to present the Housing Element to City Council is
to be more open. One option is to look at existing property and possibly remodeling
an existing structure to make it more affordable.
Bills discussed that Chapter 1 is an executive summary that is in the 2030 Plan as a
snapshot. Chapter 11 has the recommendations with more explanations. Chapters 2‐
10 contain the background and support the recommendations that are in Chapter 11.
The Housing Element should be updated every 5 years. Some cities waive fees, such
as impact fees to help with costs for non‐profit organization like Habitat for
Humanity.
Todd stated that there are 158 public housing units, 87 tenant based project 8, 60
project based, project 8 and 500 subsided apartments. The Housing Board tried to get
City Council to approve the recommendations in Chapter 11. The Board brought to
City Council the recommendations that the Housing Board ranked from highest to
lowest and took the top tier.
Thompson discussed the procedure and cost of a Habitat for Humanity project. The
Community Development Block Grant only allows Habitat to buy the land. Every
time Habitat builds homes they lose money because families wouldn’t qualify if they
were charged on every penny. Many of the materials are donated and the families do
not pay for the land.
3. Discussion and possible action on future meeting dates.
Board discussed the dates for the next couple months and meet again on May 19 th.
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Housing Advisory Board Minutes, April 21, 2010 Page 3 of 3
4. Update from staff on current projects.
1. Census Participation Rate
Bills discussed that currently the City of Georgetown has a 78% participation rate
for the 2010 Census. At this same stage in 2000 there was a 79% participation rate.
The Census will start to send workers out in the middle of May.
5. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Thompson. Second by Greenberg.
Motion to adjourn at 4:46 p.m.
__________________________________ _______________________________________
Approved, Tim Todd, Chair Attest, Dollene Thompson, Secretary