HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_04.29.2019Housing Advisory Board Page 1
Minutes March 18, 2019
City of Georgetown, Texas
Housing Advisory Board
Minutes
April 29, 2019, at 3:30 p.m.
Historic Light and Waterworks Building, 406 W. 8th Street
Georgetown, Texas 78626
Members present: Nikki Brennan; Randy Hachtel; Jeannyce Hume; Bob Weimer; Lou Snead, Chair
Members absent: Nathaniel Bonner; Mary Calixtro
Staff present: Susan Watkins, Housing Coordinator; Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning
Manager
Chair Snead called the meeting to order at 3:30pm.
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
B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes from the March 18, 2019 meeting. –
Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator
Motion to approve by Hume, second by Hatchel. Motion approved 5-0.
C. Presentation and discussion of the application process to Williamson County for CDBG
funding for FY19-20. - Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator
Chair Snead asked about using CDBG to acquire land. Watkins answered that land must be
located within an eligible census tract.
Watkins provided the Board an overview of the projects which the City will submit for funding
from CDBG including $75,000 for Home Repair and $325,000 for a sidewalk improvement
project along Scenic Dr. between 17th and Leander Rd.
D. Update on proposed housing policies for the 2030 Housing Element Update. – Susan
Watkins, Housing Coordinator
Watkins provided the Board an overview of the feedback collected from various stakeholders
since the last meeting of the Housing Advisory Board (HAB) in March, including the Planning
and Zoning Commission, the 2030 Steering Committee and the Joint Session of the City
Council/Planning and Zoning Commission.
Snead asked if the survey included a definition of “mid-income”. Waggoner responded that the
survey did not provide a definition.
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Minutes March 18, 2019
Snead asked for additional summary of survey results summarized on page 26 of the
presentation. Watkins responded that additional information is included in the “Housing Input
Report,” which she offered to send the Board.
E. Presentation and discussion on research completed by University of Texas graduate students
on housing policy tools. – Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator
Watkins shared that UT Austin completed initial research on housing tools in Fall of 2018.
Snead asked about “Empowerment Zones” and whether or not Tarrant county participate in
Empowerment Zones.
Waggoner shared that the City has 5 TIRZ, each designed to refund the development of utility
infrastructure. The City does not.
Snead asked, “Does that State law allow a municipality to have it’s own property tax exemption
for low income homeowners?” A low income housing tax exemption or a freeze on property tax
for low income if they meet certain thresholds.
Snead asked how San Antonio is using their TIRZ to bring about affordable housing. Watkins
shared that Dallas has 20 TIF districts.
Snead asked how it works in Dallas. Watkins explained that it is treated like a LIHTC property
where the rental units are maintained at a certain AMI. The TIF provides reimbursement of
capital infrastructure.
Snead asked for Watkins to send a link to the UT Law Toolkit for Community Land Trusts:
https://law.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2018/07/2018-07-ECDC-CLT-Toolkit-D.4.pdf
Snead said, the question is, “How are we going to determine which tools we should study in
depth to move forward. Watkins provided the Board an overview of the method Santa Cruz
developed to analyze tools.
F. Update on the 2030 Plan Update process. – Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning
Manager & Lou Snead, Board Chair
Snead asked staff what they heard from April 23rd. Waggoner responded that he heard there are
procedural improvements (clarifying/reiterating the role of the Steering Committee) and
content/understanding of the policies as drafted including the technical studies, public input
and existing programs. Staff will return to the Steering Committee on 5/16 and provided
background information, intent, how the policies came to be.
Hume asked if Council need concrete examples.
Adjournment
Motion by Weimer, second by Brennan to adjourn. 5-0.
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Minutes March 18, 2019
__________________________________ _______________________________________
Approved, Lou Snead, Chair Attest, Randy Hachtel, Secretary