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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_06.15.2020City of Georgetown, Texas Housing Advisory Board Minutes June 15, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. Friends Room, Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 81h Street Georgetown, Texas 78626 Please note that a quorum of the Housing Advisory Board may not all be present at the same physical location. Some members may instead participate in this meeting from one or more remote locations in an effort to advance the public health goal of limiting face to face meetings and to contain the spread of COVID-19. In addition, there may be occasions when the audio transmission may not be clear or may be interrupted. In those instances, the meeting will continue so long as a quorum is still present. With the Governor's Order, all City Buildings are following these procedures: Masks are recommended Physical distancing; 6 feet between you and anyone not in your household Practice good hygiene and wash your hands If any of these apply, do not visit: known close contact with COVID-I9 Person, fever greater or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, cough, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, chills, headache, diarrhea or muscle pain. Members present in -person: Linda Sloan, Nikki Brennan, Bob Weimer, Wendy Cash, Grayson Smith Members present by phone: Mary Caiixtro (joined during Item D), Lou Snead, Chair (joined during Item C) Staff present in -person: Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator; Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager Staff present by phone: Sofia Nelson, Planning Director The Meeting was opened by Vice -Chair Weimer at 3:40 p.m. 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 February 14, 2020 meeting. Mirna Garcia, Management Analyst Motion to approve Item B as presented by Brennan. Second by Sloan. Approved (5-0). C. Consideration and possible action to confirm the amended bylaws for the Housing Advisory Board relating to membership eligibility requirements - Sofia Nelson, CNU-A, Planning Director Motion to confim the amended bylaws by Cash. Second by Brennan. Approved (6-0). Housing Advisory Board Page 1 Minutes June 15, 2020 D. Nomination and selection of Vice -chair and Secretary for the 2020-21 Board. - Mirna Garcia, Management Analyst Motion to delay the item to the next meeting by Weimer. Second by Snead. Approved (7- 0). E. Discussion and possible action to approve meeting time, date and place for 2020-21 Board. - Mirna Garcia, Management Analyst Motion to approve the third Monday of the month at 3:30p.m. by Brennan. Second by Sloan. Approved (7-0). F. Presentation and discussion of a request for 1) a Resolution of no objection and 2) a Resolution acknowledging the Georgetown has more than two times the average per capita amount of Housing Tax Credit units for KCG Development to apply for Housing Tax Credits for the construction of 206 units of affordable housing for families to be known as Espero Landing, and 144 affordable and market rate units for seniors to be known as Asperanza Heights, located at Sam Houston Ave., and Bell Gin Rd. - Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator In 2016, City Council adopted a Housing Tax Credit (HTC) resolution request review process, which includes both the 4% and 9% LIHTC application types. The Low -Income Housing Tax Credit (LIFITC) program, created in 1986, is a federal housing development program and is the largest source of new affordable housing in the United States. The LIHTC subsidizes the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate -income tenants. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) allocates housing tax credits under a 4% and 9% program, each with different funding sources and application requirements. Rules for the programs are outlined annually in the Qualified Application Plan (QAP). The state approves the QAP each fall and awards for the 9% program are generally allocated the following July. Awards for the 4% program considered on a rolling basis. In order to submit an application for Housing Tax Credits, the developer is also required by the State to obtain a resolution from Georgetown acknowledging that the city has more than two times the state average per capita amount of Housing Tax Credit units. In Texas, there is an average of 0.0097 tax credit units for each state resident. In Georgetown, we have 0.027 units per person, 2.82 times the average amount of statewide units of tax credit. The table below compares the surrounding counties and cities. No county in Texas has more than twice the state per capita number of units. Each year the State releases a Site Demographic Characteristics Report that lists each place (city), their population and number of housing tax credit units, and whether the place has 2x Per Capita. The numbers represented below are from the State of Texas 2020 Qualified Application Process and are the numbers used by the State and City to evaluate the ratio of population to number of housing units. The Site Demographic Characteristics Report 2020 uses the American Community Survey 2013-2017 5-year population estimates. The number of units are from TDHCA's inventory of tax credit developments (as of November 7, 2019 TDHCA Board meeting). Housing Advisory Board Page 2 Minutes June 15, 2D20 Motion to provide a recommendation of approval of both resolutions for both properties by Snead. Motion died from lack of a second. Waggoner asked Chair Snead to table the motion until the applicant had a chance to present. Chair Snead agreed. Chair Snead left the meeting after making the motion. Motion by Calixtro to provide a recommendation of approval of both resolutions for both properties. Second by Smith. Motion by Cash to amend original motion by Calixtro to separate resolutions into two motions (1 for resolution of no objection, 1 for resolution acknowledging two times per capita), 2nd by Sloan. Motion to amend was approved (5-0), Snead absent and Brennan abstained. Motion by Smith to approve the resolutions of no objection, 2nd by Calixtro. The motion was denied 2 in favor- 3 opposed, Snead absent and Brennan abstained. The HAB provided two items for the City Council for their understanding to the recommendation (1) lack of information on property tax exemption -- how the exemption works and (2) who the non- profit partner in the development may be. A representative from KCG Development addressed the Commission and provided more detail regarding their project and positive impact it will have on the community. Motion by Cash to recommend approval of the resolutions of two times per capita, 2nd by Sloan. The motion was approved 5-0, with Chair Snead absent and Commissioner Brennan abstained. G. Presentation and discussion of the Housing Advisory Board 2020-21 work plan. -- Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Staff reviewed the proposed board work plan for 20-21, including housing related actions from the 2030 Comprehensive Plan Implementation Plan listed with a 0-2 year term. There was no action needed from the Board for this item. H. Update from the Housing Advisory Board Chair. Lou Snead, Chairperson No update at this time as Chair Snead as absent. Adjournment Motion to Adjourn by Cash. Second by Sloan. Approved (6-0). The meeting was adjourned at 5:52p.m. rntir�v�-S Approved, Lou Snead, Chair Gad— AV;4' J V H ZOa 2�02-0 Attest, Randy Hachtel, Secretary Housing Advisory Board Page 3 Minutes June 15, 2020