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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_03.18.2019Housing Advisory Board Page 1 Minutes March 18, 2019 City of Georgetown, Texas Housing Advisory Board Minutes March 18, 2019, at 3:40 p.m. Historic Light and Waterworks Building, 406 W. 8th Street Georgetown, Texas 78626 Members present: Nathaniel Bonner; Randy Hachtel; Jeannyce Hume; Bob Weimer; and Lou Snead, Chair Staff present: Susan Watkins, Housing Coordinator; Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager Chair Snead called the meeting to order at 3:43pm. Public Wishing to Address the Board A. As of the deadline, no persons were signed up to speak on items other than those posted on the agenda. Legislative Regular Agenda E. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the March 18, 2019 meeting. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Item E was moved in the agenda by the Chair. Motion by Hachtel, 2nd by Weimer to approve January 29, 2019 minutes. The board voted 4-0 to approve (Bonner absent). Motion by Weimer, 2nd by Hatchel to approve corrected meeting minutes from Nov. 19, 2018. The board voted 4-0 to approve (Bonner absent). B. Nomination and selection of Vice-chair and Secretary for the 2019/20 Board. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Weimer nominated as Vice Chair. Hatchel nominated to serve as Secretary. Motion by Hatchel, 2nd by Bonner to elect Weimer as Vice Chair and Hachtel as Secretary. The board voted 5-0 to approve. C. Discussion and review of Bylaws and attendance policy. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator No action taken. Housing Advisory Board Page 2 Minutes March 18, 2019 D. Discussion and possible action to approve meeting time for 2019/20 Board. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Motion by Bonner, second by Hachtel to hold Housing Advisory Board meetings on the 3rd Monday of month at 3:30pm. The board voted 5-0 to approve. F. Presentation and discussion of the application process to Williamson County for CDBG funding for FY19-20. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Watkins provided an overview of the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), information on the Williamson County Consolidated Plan (2019-2023) and the application process for FY2019. Chair Snead shared some concern about submitting a project other than sidewalks. He offered that partnering with Habitat for Humanity could be an option. Habitat could identify a property within the qualifying Block Groups. Hatchel also suggested that partnering with Habitat is a good idea. Hume suggested that other communities have used CDBG for Home Repair. Part of updated goal is to preserve existing homes. Hume asked if you can apply with multiple projects. Watkins answered yes, the funding can be applied to multiple projects. Hume asked about award/selection process. Watkins answered that the evaluation criteria does not include apportionment based on size. Board wants to prioritize safety and collaboration with Habitat for Humanity and discuss at the next HAB meeting. G. Discussion on Home Repair program eligibility and management with Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. Linda Sloan, Community Involvement Director, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County Linda Sloan provided an overview of Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. She shared that generally speaking HFHWC been doing home repair for a few years. Round Rock has taken project in house. Going to apply for home repair funds through CDBG for west side of Williamson County. Income limits based on HUD annual income limits. Applicants are vetted by repair and/or construction coordinator. Snead asked that the Board consider making a recommendation for the FY20 budget cycle during its next meeting in April, $35K-$40K. H. Presentation and discussion on research completed by University of Texas graduate students on housing policy tools. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Watkins provided an overview of the research completed to date through UT Austin which includes an overview of programs utilized within the region. The Board would like to invite Housing Advisory Board Page 3 Minutes March 18, 2019 the UT students to the next meeting to discuss the research further and to thank them for their work. I. Consideration and possible recommendation to the 2030 Steering Committee on proposed housing policies for the 2030 Housing Element Update. Susan Watkins, Housing Coordinator Watkins provided an overview of Council direction including the structure of the Housing Goal including 4 policy groups (Coordination, Affordability, Preservation, Diversity). Discussion summary by policy: D3 - Hume found it to be specific. Snead found “goods and services” not specific enough. Bonner also found “goods and services” not specific enough. Snead said developers will determine how complete neighborhoods will be and was not sure how City can incentivize. Weimer said it’s achievable to get a developer to provide a well-planned neighborhood. Not enough consensus on the Council. Snead asked that Watkins provide additional detail on the discussion by the Steering Committee on policy D3. Watkins shared that the Steering Committee had concerns that the policy was not fully achievable given the amount of amenities specified and that would only be possible in new, larger developments. D4 - Bonner commented that “housing options” is not specific enough. Community also needs more specificity. Hume asked that Watkins specify in D4 what the definition of community means. Snead commented that he understood it to mean Georgetown. P1 – Snead and Weimer discussed the Ridge neighborhood as an example. Property taxes may become an issue for people being able to stay in their home. Weimer did not agree it was a good policy due to lack of specificity. P2 - Hume said the policy was achievable and specific. Property tax caps for long term residents could be a good tool. Snead said there may be difficultly in administering and to consider changing to “Support owner choice to remain in affordable neighborhoods”. Hume concerned that including “affordability” may detract or limit policy. Snead offered the example of the Brownstones at Rivery. Watkins offered that there are possible considerations that can be put in place to limit to long term residents. Snead asked to change the word “support” to incentivize. P3 – Bonner shared concern that there are neighborhoods where he can’t move in, consider using “character” instead of identity. Promote home preservation to protect neighborhood preservation. Snead said achievability will be difficult; are we creating more HARCs. N. Bonner- consider adding “preservation”. A1 – Snead would like to see “create more”, needs to be more ambitious. Weimer suggested “create more and support existing”. Hume suggested adding an education component. A2 – Agreement Housing Advisory Board Page 4 Minutes March 18, 2019 A3 – Agreement A4 – Agreement A5 - Weimer- Helping Hands is the only organization that has done a point in time count. Include “to include the underserved, working poor, and kids”. J. Update on the 2030 Plan Update process. Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager and Lou Snead, Board Chair Waggoner briefly reviewed the project schedule. Adjournment Motion by Hatchel, second by Bonner to adjourn. 4-0 . Snead absent. The meeting was adjourned at 6:03 pm. __________________________________ _______________________________________ Approved, Lou Snead, Chair Attest, Randy Hachtel, Secretary