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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_HOUAB_11.19.2018City of Georgetown, Texas Housing Advisory Board Minutes November 19, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. Historic Light and Waterworks Building, 406 W. 81h Street Georgetown, Texas 78626 Members present: Nathaniel Bonner; Nikki Brennan; Mary Calixtro; Randy Hachtel; Jennyce Hume; Bob Weimer, and Lou Snead, Chair Staff present: Susan Watkins, Housing Coordinator; Sofia Nelson, Planning Director; Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager; and Karen Frost, Recording Secretary 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 October 15, 2018 meeting. Karen Frost, Recording Secretary Motion by Hachtel, second by Snead to approve the minutes as amended to correct a typographical error. Approved 6 — 0. C. Presentation and discussion of existing housing diversity. Susan Watkins, AICP, Housing Coordinator Watkins explained the purpose and asked the question does the existing variety meet Goal #1 of the 2030 Plan and what else do you need to understand housing diversity? Balanced land use and a variety of choices are the definitions of the goal. Watkins then explained the 2030 Plan Themes for Quality of Life and Quality Growth. She reviewed different code definitions and mentions of rousing. She explained Special Purpose Districts Policies and the option to provide a diversity of housing as a benefit to offset MUD requirements. She also reviewed housing types in the central Texas area. Watkins asked if these meet the goals. Weimer says he has learned that the multi -family units are booked prior to being built and that this does not meet any future needs. Hume looks at Georgetown in comparison to Austin and Williamson County and Georgetown is lacking affordable housing for renters, because of availability. She is concerned about the use of "luxury" to describe new apartments and how this does not show affordability. Weimer wants to know what the percentage of service workers (work force) who live in Georgetown is. Brennan states her wait list is 2 — 4 years. The concern is that the new apartments are not affordable for work force renters. Waggoner reminds the group that Economic Development has conducted a Work Force study and offered to share that information. Staff will send a link to the board to that online report. Housing Advisory Board Page 1 Minutes November 19, 2018 The Board discussed "diversity" and how to meet that need. The concern is more about the prices of these type of houses instead of the types of houses. There is not enough housing, of any type, to meet the needs of "affordable" to the lower income work force. Also rents go up even when wages do not. There are people that earn $15 an hour that are homeless. Bonner says he wants the city to look at alternative builders and building types. Snead says a lot of the expense is the cost of land. Consider building on smaller lots. The minimum lot size now required by the city is 5500 square feet. Waggoner explains that the 2008 plan did not quantify the diversity or housing types, so staff is looking for board input, which is just one component of the equation. The board has also looked at quantity and costs. D. Update on the 2030 Plan Update process. Nat Waggoner, AICP, Long Range Planning Manager and Lou Snead, Board Chair Waggoner gave a report of the 2030 Plan Update Steering Committee meetings. He explained how the group is taking the information to Council. They have been looking at emerging themes and methodology. He explained the public engagement that has occurred and those results. The majority of the people in Survey #1 lived in 78633 zip code, they liked the small town feel the most about living in Georgetown. Wolf Ranch is the most visited. When asked what should Georgetown look like in 2030, the response was to keep the small town, not Round Rock, effective public transportation, improve Williams Drive, improve traffic flow, more service to Sun City, increased green space, not Cedar Park, more affordable housing and controlled grown. What people loved most is urban design, preservation, and recreation and economic development. Biggest concerns were traffic circulation and housing/affordability. Affordable housing is a recurring theme. These themes will be taken to the Council for confirmation. Then goals will be established, this subcommittee may be working on the affordable housing goals in the next few months. Council will determine who will work on those goals and at which level. Waggoner explains that there will not be a meeting in December and the comments from today's meeting will be considered and taken back to the Steering Committee. Snead also reported that he and Watkins went to a Housing Conference and there is an affordable housing issue with all five central Texas counties that were included at the conference. This is a regional issue. E. Update from the Georgetown Housing Authority, Nikki Brennan, GHA Executive Director The Public Housing Authority is looking at a program where subsidies and grants could be given to repair facilities. It takes your operating funds and moves it to another line, not affectuzg the tenant rents, but giving a possible option of moving to another property at a later date. It is cost neutral for HUD and will give more flexibility for capital improvements to the PHA. It gives options for more stable funding for the PHA. Brennan says they have applied and are going through the inspection process at this time. Snead reports that Merritt Heritage and Live Oak complexes are under construction, also Kaia Pointe. Kaia Pointe is having an Open House on Thursday, October 291h 11-1, and all are invited to support this project. Housing Advisory Board Page 2 Minutes November 19, 2018 EMMEMM A ved, LodSnead, Chair Housing Advisory Board Minutes November 19,2018 AttesA'alho'dy'Hachtel, Secretary Page 3