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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHousing & Redevelopment Authority Minutes 11-18-2004MINUTES PLYMOUTH HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY November 18, 2004 PRESENT: Commissioners Susan Henderson, Steve Ludovissie, Tim Bildsoe, Jenny Flansburg, and Jim Kovach ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Executive Director Anne Hurlburt, Housing Program Manager Jim Barnes, and Office Support Representative Barb Peterson OTHERS PRESENT: None 1. CALL TO ORDER Chair Henderson called the Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting to order November 18, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. Housing Manager Barnes added Item 3C to the agenda. 2. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of the October 21, 2004 HRA Meeting Minutes. B. Plymouth Towne Square - Accept monthly housing reports. C. IOCP/PRISM Housing Week Donation MOTION by Commissioner Ludovissie, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, approving the Consent Agenda items. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. 3. NEW BUSINESS A. Quest Project — Authorize Payment for Water and Sewer Extension Housing Manager Barnes gave a brief update of the Quest project. He said staff has been working with the Builders Outreach Foundation and if the HRA partners with them, the HRA will be financially responsible to get the site ready for building. The closing on the property is scheduled for November 22nd. The seller, Quest Development, is currently installing water and sewer to the site located south of the HRA's project site and has offered to have the contractor install the water and sewer utilities to the HRA's project site in an effort to save money. We consulted with our Engineering Division and they agreed that this would save money. Barnes stated if the project should fall through the HRA would be able to recoup all costs of installation through the sale of the property. Housing Manager Barnes said the cost for the improvements is Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority November 18, 2004 Page 2 35,352. Chair Henderson asked what account the funds will be taken from. Housing Manager Barnes replied it would come from the Affordable Housing Account, which has a balance of 180,000.00. MOTION by Commissioner Bildsoe, seconded by Commissioner Flansburg, authorizing the payment of $35,352 for the water and sewer extension. Commissioner Ludovissie abstained. Vote. 4 Ayes. 1 Abstained (Ludovissie). Motion approved. B. Plymouth Towne Square 2005 Operating Budget Housing Manager Barnes gave an overview of the Plymouth Towne Square budget for 2005. He said that staff has elected not to raise rents this year. Housing Manager Barnes said the market is still soft and they are trying to be consistent what the overall rental market in Plymouth. Expenditures are projected to increase 7%, mainly due to higher personnel and repair costs. Housing Manager Barnes said they would continue to monitor the reserve account. Housing Manager Barnes explained that the HRA subsidy has not increased this year due to a change in the accounting method. Commissioner Ludovissie commented on the 2% vacancy rate and stated that he felt it was okay not to raise rents as long as we monitor them and suggested looking at rents again mid -year. Commissioner Ludovissie said he feels the budget is high on maintenance personnel, but this should reflect in lower repair costs contracted to outside vendors. Housing Manager Barnes said there has been a reduction on services contracted to outside vendors. Commissioner Ludovissie asked if the budget was proposed by Grace Management. Housing Manager Barnes said Grace Management did prepared the draft budget and staff worked with them to refine the individual line items. Chair Henderson commented that some apartment buildings have even decreased rents this year. She said she doesn't feel the repair money will be spent if it is not needed. MOTION by Commissioner Bildsoe, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, to adopt the Plymouth Towne Square 2005 Budget. Vote. 5 Ayes. Motion approved unanimously. C. Willow Creek Apartments Update Housing Manager Barnes presented background information regarding the Project Based Section 8 vouchers. He summarized the Board's previous action back in April with the contingency being that the owner receive approval from HUD for the Mark-Up to Market program, which has been denied by HUD. The HRA staff is currently researching enhanced vouchers, which would be available to all of the project based residents at Willow Creek, provided they remain qualified. As of this date we have not heard from HUD regarding whether we will receive these vouchers. Housing Manager Barnes said we are tying to find out who made the decision to deny the Mark- Plymouth Housing and Redevelopment Authority November 18, 2004 Page 3 Up to Market request in Washington and possibly have our legislators contact HUD to find out why it was denied. Housing Manager Barnes explained the Mark-Up to Market program. Discussion occurred regarding whether the HRA Board wants to direct staff to contact legislators. Commissioner Ludovissie feels that the HRA has made a good effort and does not feel it would help to contact them. Director Hurlburt said we need to contact the legislators immediately and that is what staff will do unless the HRA Board directs them otherwise. Commissioner Ludovissie asked exactly what the HRA would do. Housing Manager Barnes replied that staff would contact the legislators and ask them to contact HUD. Director Hurlburt added that they would be asking HUD to reverse their decision. Commissioner Flansburg said she feels it is the HRA's duty to help the residents. Commissioner Ludovissie wants to know why HUD denied the Mark-Up to Market before directing staff. Chair Henderson said the Board should vote on whether staff should contact the legislators or not. Chair Henderson made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Flansburg directing staff to contact legislators. Discussion followed and Director Hurlburt said staff would follow the original motion by the HRA to pursue the Mark-Up to Market Program. Commissioner Ludovissie does not want to waste staff time pursuing something that possibly would not work. Director Hurlburt said it wouldn't take a lot of staff time to make the calls or send letters. Commissioner Bildsoe reminded the Board about the April meeting, when the Board approved committing $250,000 for an equity loan to the owner to assist these properties in maintaining their Project -Based Section 8 contracts. He stated that at the time he believed it was the right action to take. However, he has struggled with the decision and now he is not sure the HRA should do anything to change HUD's decision. Chair Henderson made a motion to withdraw the previous motion and make a new motion, seconded by Commissioner Kovach, instructing staff not to pursue lobbying legislators to ask HUD to reconsider their denial of the Mark Up to Market Program. Vote 4 ayes. 1 nay. Motion approved. Director Hurlburt presented a brief update on the Section 8 waiting list application process, which took place on November 16th and 17tH 4. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 8:25: p.m. HRA/Minutes/11/18/04