HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_03.20.2013City of Georgetown
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
March 20, 2013 at 3:30 p.m.
New Planning Conference Room —Georgetown Municipal Complex
300-1 Industrial Ave., Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Tim Todd,. Brad Curlee, Walt Doering, Ed Mullikin, Lalena Parkhurst, Larry
Gambone, Harry Nelson
Members absent: Clay Woodard arrived late.
Staff present: Jennifer C. Bills, Housing Coordinator; Tammy Glanville, 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 tlousing matters.
Regular Session - To begin no earlier. than 3:30 p.m.
The meeting was called to order at 3:33 by Todd.
Agenda
1. Election of a Vice -chair and Secretary for the 2013 Housing Advisory Board.
Todd suggested before we get into the business of the Board. have everyone introduce
themselves and give a brief background.
Todd welcomed new members Walt Doering, Larry Gambone and Harry Nelson to the
2013-2014 Housing Advisory Board.
Todd discussed the responsibilities of the Housing Advisory Board along with a brief
history of how the Housing Board started. The Board is set up te. advice CityCouncilon
matters pertaining to affordable housing in Georgetown and other housing project
coming through for development that involvesan affordable housing component.
The Housing. Advisory Board was created. in 2007. A Citizens Advisory Committee
came together on the advice of City Council to do a Comprehensive Housing Study.
The one thing that came out of the study was the City needed a -Housing Advisory
Board and a person on staff to direct housing matters. Bills, was chosen for the position
and has held the position since 2008. Also, what came out of that study was the City
Charter requires. a Housing Element as part of the overall plans for the city. That
Housing Elementwas never implemented so the Board has spent the last five years up
until this past year getting the City tobuy into a Housing Element which they have
done.
Hpusing Advisory Soard IVlirtutes, March 20, 2013 1
It's now up to the Housing Advisory Board to refine the Housing Element and put the
ideas, wording and direction of the'Board behind the Housing Element making it a
reliable part of the City's Charter.
Motion by Todd to nominate Woodward as the 2013-2014 Housing Advisory Board
Vice -chair, second by Mullikin. Approved 7-0 (Woodard absent at the time of vote).
Motion by Todd to nominate Curlee as the 2013-2014 Housing Advisory Board
Secretary, second by 1Vlullikin. Approved 7-0 (Woodard absent at the time of vote).
(Woodward arrived after the voting took place and introduced himself to the new 2023-2014
Housing Advisory Board).
2. Consideration and possible action to approve minutes from the October 17, 2012
meeting.
Motion to approve the minutes by Parkhurst, second by Curlee_ Approved 8-0
3. Consideration and Possible Action to set the date and time of the regular meeting of the
Housing Advisory Board.
The Board discussed future meeting dates and times. Gambone voiced concern with the
City of Georgetown's website having discrepancy with dates and times listed. Bills
indicated she would look into the matter.
Board agreed all future meetings will take place the 3ra Wednesday of each month at
3.30 p.m. Todd stated no vote is necessary. Bills stated if the meeting .date and time
becomes a problem we can always re -visit in the future.
4. Discussion on creating an implementation plan for Policy Recommendations 1 and 2 of
the Housing Element_
Bills gave a brief description about the Housing Element. The Housing
Element is required by the City's Charter, it's one of the thirteen different elements that
are supposed to be in place in order for the City to operate, The Housing Advisory
Board was given a task for developing a Housing Element and having it adopted. After
several drafts of the Housing Element the Housing Adv-isory Board toak it before
Council last July. Todd presented the plan to Council which contained some basic
demographic information and analysis of housing needs in the plan. Section 4 is the
Policy Recommendations the Board submitted to Council as things we should
accomplish_ The next step is actually creating an Implementation Plan.
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The Housing Advisory Board hastwo priorities_
(1) Developing a plan and programs that will address: the recommendation.
(2.) Addressing how the programs will interact with the City's budget and be
implemented with developers_
Todd stated looking towards that goal the Board is looking at and exploring certain
areas of town that we think we should focus on multi -family housing and affordable
housing as part of that. By establishing these priority areas, the Board can drive
development towards those areas if at all possible.
Woodard discussed. the first thing the 1-1ousirtg Advisory Board had to do is continue
change the City. Council's perception from "affordable housing" being. Section 8 to really
low income housing to housing suitable for most of the work torce....fireman, teachers,
police officers and retail workers. The Board succeeded and was able to. change City
Council's perception. Next step was to show the City Council shortages in the amount
of housing for those types of workers. Single Family housing was not an issue however,
multi -family housing fell short. The Board had to come up with a way to entice an
apartment developer to designated part of his portion of his project accessible to those
that earn less than average wages in Georgetown. Two options the Board suggested:
(1) Providing waivers or subsidies for review fees and impact fees for affordable
housing developments.
(2) How can we get the city to designate more land specifically for multi -family
housing?
Housing Advisory Board presented those two options to City Council and the City
Council agreed with the Board.. The Council stated the Board was tasked with finding
areas of land that the City can rezone towards that purpose and Council was open to the
idea of cost sharing to help incentivize the developer, but would need further
information on potential budget impacts and investment returns.
The Board's next goal is to get details on what specific land- should be recommended in
conjunction with Planning and Zoning. and Utilities. What fees can we recommend they
approve can be waived or deferred.
Mullikin and Bills mentioned having David Munk, City of Georgetown's Utility
Engineer attend our next meeting to discuss and show where the utility lines are already
in place.
Discussion between staff and Board regarding suggestions and recommendations
whether or not we need to involve the State and County.
Housing /Advisory Soard Minutes, March 20, 2013` 3
Bills explained one of the other things the Board does as part of its duties is tax credit
housing. Bills explained the difference between tax credit housing, Section 8 housing
and public housing. Each one of those programs is affordable to a different segment of
the population_
Parkhurst stated ultimately the City Council makes the final decision our Board just
makes recommendations to City Council_
Todd discussed what the Board is going to be focusing on for the next few months and
through the rest of the year which is create an Implementation Plan for these policy
recommendations.
Woodward asked Bills what our goal is going to be. Bills goal is to focus on multi-
family zoning options and develop a plan to show the best location for multi -family
housing for the next five years. This will allow Council a little more ability when
making decision on rezoning.
Garrnbone has concerns about the Housing.. Element's -finding that more housing units be
created without taking available and futurewater and electricity demand into
consideration_ Bills pointed out that this element is one of many that present a full -
picture of Georgetown's future when taken in whole. Todd replied the Board has tried
to include the Transportation Board in our element regarding transportation issues. The
City Council did not think that transportation issues should be addressed within the
I -lousing Element, as transportation issuesare covered in the Overall Transportation
Plan.
Bills provided and presented the two maps for discussion that showed potential sites for
multi -family in relation to water and electric service territories and proximity to waste
water lines_ Board requested if additional maps can -be mailed and printed at larger
scale.
Board requested having an orientation/presentation with David Munk, Utility Engineer
and Jordan Maddox, Long Range Planner for our next meeting to become more familiar
with the City's land use and existing utility lines. The Board also requested Bills give a
presentation about tax credit housing.
Bills suggested the mernbers look around town and focus on the light blue area of the
map since those are areas with our water and electric. Bring your suggestions and ideas
at the next meeting what you think would be a good area for multi -family housing.
Housing Advisory Board Minutes, ZVlarcil 20, 2013 4
Seard mentioned they would like to see more communication between other Boards and
how what were working on will affect there_
5. Reminder on next meeting. date of Wednesday, April 17, 2013.
6. Adjournment
Motion by Todd to adjourn meeting at 5:08 p.m.
�! e
Approvod, Tim Todd, Chair Attest, Brad Curlee, Secretary
V:cx Gl wa r
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