HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_03.17.2016City of Georgetown, Texas
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
March 17, 2016, at 3:30 p.m.
Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Ave
Georeetown. Texas 78626
Members present: Richard Glasco, Chair; Brenda Baxter; Nikki Brennan, Marion Goforth, Randy
Hachtel and Harry Nelson
Members absent: Joseph Gonzales
Staff present: Jennifer Bills, Housing Coordinator; Karen Frost, Recording Secretary
Call to Order by the Chair at 3:31 p.m. and reading of the opening remarks.
A. Welcome to guests.
Legislative Regular Agenda
B. Introduction of Housing Advisory Board members and staff.
Each board member introduced themselves.
C. Consideration and possible action to elect a Vice -Chair for 2016.
Motion by Glasco, second by Brennan to elect Brenda Baxter as the Vice -Chair.
Approved 6 — 0—1(Gonzales absent.)
D. Consideration and possible action to elect a Secretary for 2016.
Motion by Glasco, second by Baxter to elect Nikki Brennan as the Secretary.
Approved 6 — 0—1(Gonzales absent.)
E. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the February 11, 2016
meeting.
Motion by Brennan, second by Goforth to approve the minutes as presented.
Approved 6 — 0—1(Gonzales absent.)
F. Discussion and possible action to move the date and location of the regular Housing
Advisory Board meetings. --Jennifer C. Bills, AICP, LEED AP, Housing Coordinator
Bills lead the discussion and asked for the meeting to be moved to the third Monday of
each month. Motion by Brennan, second by Goforth to hold the regular Housing
Advisory Board meeting on the third Monday of each month at 3:30 p.m. in the
Historic Light and Waterworks Building at 406 W. 811, Street. Approved 6 — 0 —1
(Gonzales absent.)
G. Discussion on the purpose and goals of the Housing Advisory Board. --Jennifer C. Bills,
AICP, LEED AP Housing Coordinator
Housing Advisory Board rage 1
Minutes March I7, 2016
Bills read the purpose of the Board from the Bylaws, explaining that the Housing
Element of the Comprehensive Plan (2030 Plan) shows a deficit of affordable housing in
the city. She reported the household's monthly rent + utilities should be less than or
equal to 30% of the household income. The median family income in the area is listed as
$76,800. It is difficult to find housing to serve that income level and lower. The city only
looks at 30-80% incomes to offer affordable housing. The Council has adopted seven
recommendations to work on.
H. Presentation and discussion on the purpose of the Georgetown Housing Authority.
Nikki Brennan, Executive Director of GHA and Board member
Brennan explained that the Housing Authority is different than the Housing Advisory
Board and that the purpose of the Housing Authority is to provide decent and
affordable housing to lower income residents, elderly and handicapped residents. She
explained the Section 8 voucher program and how the city is limited in the number of
vouchers that are on hand in the city. Many more vouchers and government funding
are needed to meet the demand of all the citizens that require more affordable housing.
Brennan explained that the Mayor and City Council appoints the Housing Authority
Board and that she is appointed to both to improve collaboration between the two
boards.
I. Discussion on the Housing Tax Credit program and recent applications to the Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA).--Jennifer C. Bills, AICD,
LEED AP, Housing Coordinator
Bills explained the tax credit system. Tax credits were established in 1986 by the U.S.
Treasury to give tax credit incentives to developers. The United States distributes these
to the State based on the state population, who distributes them to different regions.
Georgetown is in the urban region number 7. The region was allocated $4 million
dollars' worth of credits in the last "application round". Developers compete through a
adopted process with a complicated scoring process. All applicants in Georgetown must
make a request to the Housing Advisory Board, which reviews the project and makes a
recommendation to the City Council for approval or denial of support for the project.
Georgetown recently had five projects apply for recommendation.
J. Discussion and possible action on the workshop item on affordable housing at City
Council Workshop on April 12, 2016. --Jennifer C. Bills, AICP, LEED AP, Housing
Coordinator
Bills explained that the City Council rejected the Board's previous request to hire a
consultant to help with the master plan. Therefore, she is going before Council on April
1711, to ask for direction from there. She asked that if the board members have comments
or suggestions to please contact her.
K. Invitation to meet with Avenue Community Development Corporation (CDC) in
Houston on March 28,2016. --Richard Glasco, Board Chair
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Minutes March 17, 2016
Bills explained that this trip was to meet with this group in Houston to see how they are
handling land trusts, affordable housing, rehabilitations of housing projects, and
building land trusts. All of these items are being discussed by Georgetown and this is
an opportunity to see things in action and learn from them.
Bills asked that if anyone wanted to go, to contact her. She will be driving a city vehicle
to Houston for the day. Baxter, Glasco and Goforth expressed interest.
L. Discussion and possible action to hold an additional meeting before the April 1.2, 2016
Council workshop. --Jennifer C. Bills, AICP, LEER AP, Housing Coordinator
Bills stated she would like to hold a special meeting on April 411, for the Board to review
her Council presentation. Motion by Goforth, second by Brennan to hold the meeting
on Monday, April 4th at 3:30 p.m. at the Historic Light and Waterworks Building.
Approved 6 — 0 —1 (Gonzales absent.)
M. Upcoming items:
Reminder of the next regular meeting the third week of April. The next regular meeting
will be held April 181h at 3:30 p.m.
Motion by Hachtel to adjourn, Second by Nelson. Approved 6 — 0 —1 (Gonzales absent.)
Board adjourned at 4:�55 p.m.
Approved, Richard Glasco, Chair
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes March 17, 2016
Attest, Nikki Brennan, Secretary
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