January 22, 2015 Minutes (City Commission Room)
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MEMBERS PRESENT: |
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Linda Bush, Jenna Coker, Alex Delaney, Jonathan Holley, Steven Koprince, James Minor, Vern Norwood, Travis Weller, Patrick Wilbur |
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MEMBERS ABSENT: |
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None |
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STAFF PRESENT: |
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Danelle Dresslar, Brad Karr |
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PUBLIC PRESENT: |
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Robert Baker (Tenants to Homeowners), John Harvey (Habitat for Humanity), Shannon Oury (Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority)
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Chair Wilbur called the meeting to order at 5:31 p.m.
1. Introductions.
Members introduced themselves.
2. Approval of the January 8, 2015 Minutes.
Wilbur moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from January 8, 2015. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 8-0.
3. Discuss of 2015 HOME applications.
Dresslar explained the HOME administration percentage request from the Community Development Division application. Weller moved to fully fund 13c, City of Lawrence Community Development Division (CDD), HOME Administration at the 10% cap of the received HOME funds. Norwood seconded the motion. The motion passed 8-0.
Bush arrived.
Dresslar explained the CHDO Project Funds which require a minimum 15% HOME funding and the CHDO Operating Funds which are capped at a maximum of 5% of the HOME funds. Norwood moved to fully fund 18a, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH), CHDO Project Funds at 15% of the received HOME funds and fully fund 18b, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. (TTH), CHDO Operating Funds at the 5% cap of the received HOME funds. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 9-0.
Robert Baker, Resource Development Director of Tenants to Homeowners, Inc., spoke about item 13b, the First Time Homebuyers Program-Lawrence Community Housing Trust. The program differs from other communities in Kansas in that the assistance is not a cash down payment, but instead a subsidy that stays with the home. That results in the home being permanently affordable to future income qualified applicants. The Lawrence Community Housing Trust retains the homes as affordable by using a land lease which requires the sale of the home be to an income qualified applicant only, and restricts the amount of profit made by the seller.
Shannon Oury, Executive Director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority, spoke about item 17a, the Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA). The TBRA program is used to house homeless families using a voucher paid to private landlords throughout Lawrence. These are families that do not qualify for the standard Section 8 Public Housing program offered by the LDCHA. In partnership with 12 different service agencies in Lawrence, the families are required to work on the issues that led to their homelessness. The families eventually graduate out of this transitional program into public housing. The amount of funding received directly determines the amount of families that can be assisted, and they always have a waiting list for the program.
John Harvey, Director of Resource Development of Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, spoke about item 19a, foundations for three homes. Habitat has a waiting list of three families that on average wait 18 to 24 months to receive a home. They would like to reduce that waiting list by building more homes, with four homes expected to be built this year. Most of the funding for these homes comes from charitable dollars, including individuals and corporate sponsors. The $45,000 requested on the application would be spread over three homes, which would free up some of the charitable donations to be used toward a fourth house. Weller asked if any other government funding is received for homes in Lawrence. Harvey said no other government funding is received for homes in Lawrence.
Bush asked Harvey about the resell of a Habitat home, if it was sold on the open market with the seller keeping all of the profits. Harvey said yes, but Habitat does have the first right of refusal to purchase back the home, but that almost never happens. Bush asked what the mortgage default rate is on Habitat homes. Harvey said the mortgage default rate is less than 5%. Minor asked the proposed locations of the new homes. Harvey said the homes would all be located on East 17th St, east of Harper St.
Delaney suggested allocating $30,000 to Habitat for Humanity, $60,000 to the First Time Homebuyers program and $180,304 to TBRA. Norwood indicated that she liked that suggestion, but she had some apprehension about the Habitat homes being sold on the open market and not remaining affordable for the next family. Minor indicated that he would like even more funding allocated for Habitat, maybe $40,000. Koprince said he feels the opposite, that funding Habitat at those levels would take too much from the other programs; He thought $15,000 to Habitat would be more in line. Weller said the First Time Homebuyer program consistently produces and retains affordable housing in the community, and he would be hesitant to cut any funding from that program. Bush suggested $15,000 to Habitat, $75,000 to First Time Homebuyers and $180,304 to TBRA. Holley agreed that even though Habitat helps families get into housing, it does not permanently keep the housing affordable for future families.
Delaney moved to fund 19a, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, Foundations for three homes at $15,000. Koprince seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-2.
Weller thought with the remaining amount of $255,304 to fund $70,000 to the First Time Homebuyers program and $185,304 to TBRA. Delaney felt that was taking too much away from TBRA, which he thought was the highest priority of all the requests; He would feel more comfortable with $65,000 to the First Time Homebuyers program and $190,304 to TBRA.
Delaney asked Baker how many homeless individuals used the First Time Homebuyer Program. Baker indicated that no homeless individuals have used the program, but TTH also rents units under the Section 8 voucher program and they have had some homeless enter those units.
Oury added that LDCHA cannot use privately raised funds for the TBRA program, and 100% of the allocation goes to housing homeless families. No administration costs are paid with those funds.
Weller moved to fund 13b, City of Lawrence Community Development Division (CDD), First Time Homebuyers Program-Lawrence Community Land Trust at $70,000 and 17a, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA), Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA) at $185,304. Bush seconded the motion. The motion failed 4-5.
Delaney reiterated his thoughts that in order of priority for funding he felt TBRA was the most important, then the First Time Homebuyer program followed by Habitat for Humanity. Weller said he was not comfortable reducing the First time Homebuyer program below the level it was funded at last year ($70,000). Minor said he felt that since Habitat received no funding last year, they should at least receive funding for one house this year. Bush said maybe the $15,000 to Habitat should not be seen as the minimum amount they could allocate, that a lesser amount could still be utilized. Wilbur said he had a sense that the committee wanted to help Habitat, but not by reducing the funding to the other programs.
Wilbur moved to fund 19a, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity, Foundations for three homes at $10,000, 13b, City of Lawrence Community Development Division (CDD), First Time Homebuyers Program-Lawrence Community Land Trust at $65,000 and 17a, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority (LDCHA), Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA) at $195,304. Holley seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-4.
6. Public Comment.
There was no public comment.
7. Miscellaneous/Calendar.
Norwood apologized for not having the last meeting on her calendar. The next meeting of the CDAC will be on February 12, 2015 and will begin the CDBG Public Service allocation deliberations. Dresslar said she would notify all the Public Service applicants by email.
8. Adjourn.
Weller moved to adjourn the January 22, 2015 meeting of the CDAC at 6:43 p.m. Holley seconded the motion. The motion passed 9-0.
Attendance Record
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Members |
Jan 8 |
Jan 22 |
Feb 12 |
Feb 26 |
Mar12 |
Mar 26 |
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Linda Bush |
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Jenna Coker |
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Alex Delaney |
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Jonathan Holley |
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Steven Koprince |
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James Minor |
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Vern Norwood |
U |
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Travis Weller |
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Patrick Wilbur |
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E Excused Absence
U Unexcused Absence
X Meeting Cancelled – Weather Conditions
- Meeting Cancelled – Committee Vote/No Business
* First meeting after appointment
** Last Meeting Prior to expired term
^ Last Meeting