[I. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:13]
THE THIRD IS, UM, OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE MEETING, MEANING IS NOW CALLED TO ORDER.
[II. ROLL CALL]
PLEASE? CAN I CALL YOUR NAME PLEASE, STATE OR PRESENT FOR THE RECORD? FRED HAMILTON, DAN WOOD, GWEN CHAMBERS, MEG, JAMES, PRESENT ON NICOLE.[III. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA]
HAVE THE ADOPTION BEFORE YOU IN THIS ALSO ON THE SCREEN? CAN YOU GIVE, CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? THE AGENDA? I'M SORRY FOR TODAY'S MEETING.LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
[IV. ADOPTION OF MINUTES 1. May 6, 2021]
ALSO LIKE TO, TO ADOPT THE MINUTES FROM OUR MAY SIX MEETING MAY SIX, 2021.I MAKE THAT MOTION, EVERYBODY.
LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE.
ARE THERE ANY, OKAY, THEN WE'LL MOVE TO ALL BUSINESS AND NEW
[VII.1. Neighborhood Assistance Program Budget Update]
BUSINESS AND THAT'D BE YOU VICTORIA.CAN EVERYONE SEE WHERE WE ARE WITH THE DEMO? OKAY.
TOTAL AVAILABLE BUDGET FOR ONE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS 80,000 TOTAL AVAILABLE.
TOM STAFF CONTINUES TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS TO ASSIST INCOME QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLDS IN BLUFFTON.
WHEN THIS REPORT WAS TURNED IN $93,232 AND 97 CENTS HAS BEEN SPENT INCLUDING HOUSEHOLDS IN PROGRESS AS OF MAY 27, 2021, ONE HOME IS ON WORK TO BEGIN.
THREE HOMES ARE CURRENTLY BEING WORKED AND I HAVE TO CLOSE OUT THIS WEEK.
SO OF THOSE THREE HOMES, ONLY ONE IS BEING WORKED ON.
TWO OF THOSE HOMES ARE CLOSED OUT THIS WEEK AND CHECKS WERE GOING TO BE CUT EITHER TODAY OR TOMORROW FOR THE WORK AS I'D MAKE 27, 20 2119 HOMES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR SERVICE THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM DURING THE 2021 FISCAL YEAR.
UM, SO I BELIEVE WE DID PRETTY GOOD DESPITE NOT BEING IN HALF OF THE YEAR.
WE DID PRETTY GOOD TO GET PEOPLE ASSISTED AND HOMES WHERE THEY NEED TO BE FOR LIVING PURPOSES.
SO AS I STATED, 19 HOMES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED THROUGHOUT PROGRAM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2021.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE SHEET? ALL RIGHT.
I'LL TAKE US TO THE ACTUAL GRID SO YOU CAN SEE, UM, EVERYTHING THERE, A BREAKDOWN AWARE OF FUNDS WITH AND HOW MANY HOMES ARE HELPED.
AND I AM ALL EARS FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
UH, TURN IT BACK OVER TO, OKAY.
UM, DO WE STILL HAVE, UM, MR. MEYER WITH US TODAY, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, AND HE GOT THE LINCOLN.
I DON'T SEE HIM WAITING ANYWHERE.
WTTS NO, IF HE'S IN THE WAITING ROOM YET HE'S IN THE WAITING ROOM.
SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND LET HIM IN DARBY.
[VIII.1. Humanities Foundation-- Michael Meyer, Director of Planning & Development]
JUST TO INTRODUCE WHO'S COMING IN, WHO WE'RE WAITING FOR A COUPLE MONTHS AGO,[00:05:01]
WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HUMAN ACE FOUNDATION, WHICH IS BASED IN CHARLESTON.UM, IT TOOK US A WHILE TO GET MR. MICHAEL HERE JUST BECAUSE WE HAD LAST MONTH, WE HAD A DIFFERENT AGENDA.
SO HE IS GOING TO GIVE US A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT HIS PROGRAM ENTITLED ENTAILS AND WHAT THEY DO.
UM, JUST KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT WE WERE QUESTIONING, UM, WHAT THEY PROVIDE, THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE AND, YOU KNOW, MY TYING INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING.
SO MR. MICHAEL, IF YOU'RE READY, WE ARE ALL EARS WAITING.
APPRECIATE THE INVITATION AND FOR THE Y'ALL'S TIME THIS MORNING, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT INSIGHT.
UM, UH, LIKE MS. SMALLS WAS SAYING, I JUST APPROACHED BY, UH, MS. ZELMAN, WHO'S A PROPONENT OF FORDABLE HOUSING IN YOUR AREA.
UM, AND SO I GUESS TODAY, WHAT I'LL, I'LL KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A QUICK OVERVIEW OF HUMANITIES FOUNDATION AND OUR TEAM.
UM, I'LL TRY AND BE AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE TO OPEN UP FOR SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN KIND OF TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THE LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM THAT, THAT, UM, WE PARTICIPATE IN.
UM, SO THE HUMANITIES FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS.
UM, SINCE THE EARLY NINETIES, BOB AND TRACY DORN, UM, ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE COMPANY.
WE ARE A FIVE OH ONE C3 NON-PROFIT, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSING, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING DEVELOPER.
UM, WE TYPICALLY BUILD EVERYTHING NEW CONSTRUCTION.
WE DO HAVE A, AN INTERESTING PROJECT.
THAT'S A REHAB REHAB OF A SCHOOL THAT WE'RE TURNING INTO A 55 AND OVER COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.
BUT, UM, WE'VE DEVELOPED OVER 2,500, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS, UM, ALL APARTMENT STYLE, UM, SINCE OUR INCEPTION, UM, OUR TERRITORY COVERS VIRGINIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND LOUISIANA.
UM, AND SO THE WAY THAT HUMANITIES FOUNDATION CAME ABOUT IS, UH, BOB DORN IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE JAMES DORON COMPANY, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY.
UH, BOB HAS DONE EVERYTHING FROM RETAIL TO OFFICE, UH, MARKET RATE APARTMENTS, UH, GROCERY STORE, ANCHORED STRIP CENTERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO YOU NAME IT, HE'S SEEN IT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, THE HUMANITIES FOUNDATION WAS KIND OF A WAY FOR HIM TO GIVE BACK, USE HIS REAL ESTATE KNOWLEDGE.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY HE AND TRACY, UH, FORMED HUMANITIES FOUNDATION AND HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING, UH, FOR WILES AND EVER SINCE.
AND IT IS NOW, UM, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, AFTER 2007 AND EIGHT, WHEN THE REAL ESTATE MARKET TURNED ON ITS HEAD, UH, SINCE THEN THIS HAS BEEN OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF BUSINESS.
UM, SO WE'VE GROWN EXPONENTIALLY SINCE THEN.
UM, THE, THE PROGRAM THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN FOR SOUTH CAROLINA, UH, IS DIRECTED BY THE SE HOUSING, UH, SOUTH CAROLINA DEVELOPMENT, FINANCE AUTHORITY.
UM, IT IS THE, YOU'LL HEAR THE ACRONYM.
LYTEC LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS.
IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
UM, AND THERE'S, THERE'S TWO SIDES OF IT.
THERE'S A 9% APPLICATION ROUND AND A 4% BOND ALLOCATION ROUND.
UM, SO IT'S, IT'S CYCLICAL, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING IT'S TYPICALLY THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE IN MARCH.
UM, AND YOU HEAR BACK, YOU KNOW, MID-SUMMER, UM, IF YOUR APPLICATION WAS AWARDED, UM, BUT, UH, THIS YEAR THEY DID KIND OF A TWO TIERED APPLICATION.
UH, THE FIRST WAS DUE IN FEBRUARY AND THE SECOND ONE WAS DUE ACTUALLY, UH, LAST WEEK.
SO, UM, AGAIN, IT'S A VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE AN INTERNAL SCORING SYSTEM WITH AN APPLICATION.
THERE ARE CERTAIN DUE DILIGENCE ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE IN ORDER FOR THE SE HOUSING FOLKS TO, UM, KIND OF SCORE AND EVALUATE YOUR DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY.
AND A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO IT, UM, NOT, NOT TO PUT IT LIGHTLY, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE SITE UNDER CONTRACT, UH, YOU KNOW, ZONING HAS TO BE IN PLACE TO BUILD WHAT PROPOSING.
UM, YOU HAVE TO HAVE VERY, VERY CONCEPTUAL ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, HOW MANY UNITS, HOW MANY BUILDINGS IS IT GOING TO TAKE PARKING SPACES? DO YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS? UH, YOU HAVE TO ORDER, YOU PAY FOR AN APPRAISAL, YOU PAY THE SE HOUSING A FEE, AND THEY, THEY CONTRACT THIRD PARTIES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MARKET STUDY, BASICALLY AN ANALYST WILL COME IN AND YOU HAND THEM YOUR BUDGET PROJECTIONS, AND THEY BASICALLY DO A MARKET ANALYSIS FOR YOU TO SEE IF THAT'S THAT DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO BE SUSTAINABLE OR NOT IN THE AREA.
UM, SO AGAIN, A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT AND, AND MONEY CAN GO INTO THESE APPLICATIONS.
AND AGAIN, IT'S VERY, VERY COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THE ONE THING, AND I'M NOT SURE WHERE, WHERE YOUR GROUP IS COMING IN AND YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT, UM, SE HOUSING HAS WHAT THEY CALL A QAP, A QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY THAT RULE BOOK.
THEY'RE ALL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
THEIR SCORING SYSTEMS ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
[00:10:01]
UM, BUT FROM A DEVELOPER STANDPOINT, I KNOW ONE OF THE, THE CAVEATS, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SC HOUSING, UM, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT PROGRAM, UH, THE DEVELOPER MANAGING MEMBER OR GENERAL PARTNER HAVE TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM, NOT NECESSARILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, BUT THERE'S, UM, TWO WAYS INTO THE PROGRAM YOU EITHER HAVE TO HAVE WITHIN THE LAST 10 YEARS, UH, DEVELOPED A LOT OF TECH PROPERTY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, TWO LATECH PROPERTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, OR FOR LOT OF TECH PROPERTIES, UM, IN OTHER STATES.UM, SO THERE ARE SOME HURDLES TO CROSS, UM, BEFORE YOU KIND OF DIVE INTO THAT, UM, THERE'S, I DON'T WANT TO SAY WAYS AROUND IT, BUT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PARTNER UP WITH, WITH A DEVELOPER OR GENERAL PARTNER WHO HAS THAT EXPERIENCE.
UM, AND AS YOU OR YOUR GROUP GAIN MORE EXPERIENCE AND GET THESE DEVELOPMENTS UNDER YOUR BELT, YOU CAN KIND OF MOVE OFF ON YOUR OWN, BUT, UM, THAT WOULD BE KIND OF ONE HURDLE TO, YOU KNOW, BARRIER TO ENTRY INTO THE PROGRAM.
SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE BEEN RAMBLING A LITTLE BIT, BUT ONCE YOU, UH, BE CONSCIOUS OF Y'ALL'S TIME.
SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE, I'M HAPPY TO, UH, HAPPY TO FEEL THEM AS BEST.
I CAN REALLY TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS STAFF ON COMMITTEE OR COMMITTEE MEMBERS PLEASE
UM, WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE, UM, IN OUR SITUATION, THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT I'LL SPEAK TO, BUT, UH, WE OWN A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY AS WELL, SO WE SELF-MANAGE EVERYTHING, UM, IN HOUSE, ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE BUILD, UM, THERE'S A NEW PROGRAM CALLED INCOME AVERAGING.
UH, SO IT KIND OF ALLOWS FOR SOME SCALE OF WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT TEAM HANDLES THAT THERE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND PROVIDE, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR TAX RETURNS, THEIR CURRENT INCOME STATEMENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO KIND OF PROVE THEIR INCOME.
UM, BUT IT CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 30% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME TO 80%.
UM, THE DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE HAS TO AVERAGE 60%.
UH, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A WIDE RANGE OF FOLKS GENERALLY KIND OF WHAT WE SEE IS, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM YOUR HOURLY WAGE WORKERS, UM, YOU KNOW, FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING IN THE LOCAL RETAIL SHOPS, UH, THE GROCERY STORES, UM, THE FOLKS THAT YOU'RE WORKING IN MEDICAL OFFICES, TEACHERS, UH, AND THEN YOUR FIRST RESPONDERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE, THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE TYPICALLY THE, UH, I GUESS TENANT POPULATION THAT WE DO SEE, UH, IN OUR FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, AGAIN, WE DO HAVE 55 AND OLDER RESTRICTED, UM, A LOT OF RETIREES AND, AND FOLKS LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, SO WE SELF MANAGE THAT PROCESS.
UM, THE, UH, TRY, WE'LL TRY TO REMEMBER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO THAT'S, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE OTHER QUESTION? WELL, I, UH, ARE YOU, ARE YOU ONLY MANAGING THE PROPERTIES THAT YOU'VE BUILT? UH, WE, WE HISTORICALLY HAVE, UM, BUT WE, WE RECENTLY SOLD A PROPERTY TO A, ANOTHER NONPROFIT GROUP, UM, HERE IN TOWN.
UH, THE CITY WAS REALLY WANTING TO KIND OF TAKE OVER SOME, UH, IN THAT AREA.
SO WE, WE SOLD TO RECAPITALIZE AND PUT IN SOME MORE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WE COULD DO.
SO WE DO MANAGE THIRD-PARTY FOR THEM.
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY WHERE WE HAVE PROBABLY 80 EMPLOYEES ON OUR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SIDE.
UH, SO WE DO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO MANAGE, UM, OTHER DEVELOPMENTS OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN.
I HAVE A QUESTION, THE, UM, WITH THE MARKET, UM, LAND COST AND EVERYTHING ESCALATING THE WAY IT HAS.
I MEAN, HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT, WHAT YOUR TYPICAL SIZE LOT, OR WHATEVER YOU NEED TO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT MAKES IT, YOU KNOW, QUALIFIABLE AND, UM, W HOW DO YOU FIND THE LAND? SURE, SURE.
UM, THAT'S PARTIALLY A LOADED QUESTION, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER IT.
UM, WE FINALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND BROKERS THAT WE USE AND WE'VE USED FOR YEARS,
[00:15:01]
UM, THAT WE HELPED KIND OF SOURCE THE LAND.WE DO HAVE A DIRECTOR OF ACQUISITIONS ON OUR TEAM, UM, WHO IS A LICENSED REAL ESTATE AGENT.
SO SHE HAS ACCESS TO THE PROPERTIES THAT COME ON SALE.
UH, WE HAVE THE, UM, PARTNERED WITH MASTER DEVELOPMENTS.
UM, WE'VE BEEN REAL SUCCESSFUL IN VIRGINIA.
THEY DON'T DO IT QUITE AS MUCH HERE.
UH, WE'D LOVE FOR IT TO BE A REQUIREMENT, BUT, UM, IN VIRGINIA, UM, A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES WILL REQUIRE IN A MASTER DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE X NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS OR X PERCENTAGE OF THE UNITS HAVE TO BE AFFORDABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR TYPICAL HOME BUILDER OR A COMMERCIAL DEVELOPER EITHER DOESN'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE ON THE AFFORDABLE SIDE OR JUST, OR DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT.
SO WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH THEM, UM, ON THAT SIDE OF IT, AS FAR AS NUMBER OF OUR LAND COST OR, OR NUMBER OF UNITS, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE, WE KIND OF BACK INTO.
UM, AND IN THE ACREAGE, IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE ZONING.
LIKE HOW MANY UNITS PER ACRE CAN WE FIT? UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE JUST CONTINUALLY ADJUST AND PLAY WITH OUR, OUR DEVELOPMENT BUDGETS AND OUR PERFORMANCE, UM, TO REALLY MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES IT DOESN'T WORK OUT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE DOWN IN BLUFFTON THERE CERTAIN POCKETS OF, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND PORT HILTON HAD THAT THE LANCE TWICE AS EXPENSIVE, IT IS EVERYWHERE ELSE.
UM, SO, SO LAND COST CAN BE PROHIBITIVE, CERTAINLY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN'T FIT ENOUGH UNITS TO, TO PAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT, THEN YOU KNOW, THE, THE LAND COSTS, IF THEY'RE TOO HIGH, JUST DOESN'T WORK.
SO AGAIN, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PERFECT MODEL.
WE CAN PAY A MILLION DOLLARS FOR IT, AND WE NEED THIS MANY UNITS.
UM, IT, IT JUST ALL DEPENDS ON THOSE FACTORS OF ZONING, LAND COST, HOW MANY UNITS, UM, AND THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES.
SO, SORRY, THAT'S KIND OF A VAGUE ANSWER, BUT, UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.
OKAY, MICHAEL, UM, DO YOU DO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ALSO? NO, SIR.
WE HAVE TYPICALLY ONLY DONE, UH, LIKE GARDEN STYLE APARTMENTS, BUT WE, WE, WE HAVE HUMANITIES DID SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, UH, BEFORE MY TIME HERE, UM, WHEN THEY FIRST KIND OF STARTED, BUT WE HAVEN'T DONE THEM IN QUITE A FEW YEARS.
ARE THESE ALL RENTAL UNITS OR ARE THEY HOME OR THERE THAT OUR COMPANY HAS DEVELOPED IS ALL RENTAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OPTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU APPLY THAT YOU CAN DO EIGHT HOME OWNERSHIP AFTER, YOU KNOW, SO MANY YEARS, YOU CAN CONVERT IT TO LIKE A CALM HOME OWNERSHIP TYPE, UM, DEVELOPMENT, BUT OURS IS ALL RENTAL.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL, TYPICAL RENT? UM, I KNOW YOU, I KNOW THERE'S A SCALE 30 TO 80, YOU SAID EMI, BUT LET'S JUST SAY, UH, UM, A SINGLE BEDROOM FOR 60 AMI.
WHAT WOULD THAT, WHAT, WHAT DID THAT CAUSE? UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UH, AND I, AND I'M HAPPY TO SEND KIND OF A RENT SCALE, UM, TO YOU GUYS, BUT IF I'M, I'M THINKING KIND OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FIVE AND $700 RANGE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
IT WAS OFF OF A REBILL ROAD AND BEFORE, UM, WE DEVELOPED THAT AND HELD IT FOR ABOUT, UH, I DON'T KNOW, SIX, 15 YEARS, 16 YEARS.
UM, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES WE, WE JUST, UH, SOLD TO A, ANOTHER, UM, NONPROFIT FOR HOUSING DEVELOPER THAT WAS LOOKING TO EXPAND IN THAT AREA.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ANY OTHER FROM THE STAFF AS WELL? MY JOB I'M TAKING, TAKING THE CHAIRMAN QUESTION, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SITES SET IN BUFORD COUNTY TO DO ANY WORK? UH, CURRENTLY ON NOT, NOT ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW? UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING, UH, WE LOVE THE COASTLINE JUST BEING BASED IN CHARLESTON.
UM, BUT, UH, CURRENTLY ON THE BOOKS
[00:20:01]
WE DO NOT.MICHAEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND WE ENJOY WITH WHAT YOU SHARED.
UM, IF, UH, WE COULD, IF WE COULD LEAVE YOUR INFORMATION, UM, FROM FURTHER CONTACT WITH OUR STAFF WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE, UH, I BELIEVE MS. MS. SMALLS HAS IT TOO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO KIND OF PUT IT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW TO FEEL.
YEAH, I'LL GIVE YOU MY, MY CELL NUMBER.
UM, IT'S THIS THE BEST WAY TO REACH ME.
IT WAS KIND OF IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE WITH TRAVELING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, LOOKING AT SCIENCE, BUT MY CELL NUMBER IS EIGHT (433) 364-4863.
AND MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS M MEYER.
SO THAT'S M M E Y E R@HUMANITIESFOUNDATION.ORG.
AND IF THERE ARE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AFTER THIS, UM, YOU KNOW, MR. HAMILTON, MS. SMALL SUE, WHOEVER FEEL FREE TO, UH, REACH OUT TO ME, I'M HAPPY TO PROVIDE MORE INFO ON, ON SE HOUSING AND SHARED THEIR QUALIFYING ALLOCATION.
IT'S, IT'S A DOOZY TO READ, BUT, UH, IT'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PROGRAMS. SO I'M HAPPY TO SHARE ANY ADDITIONAL INFO OR ANSWER ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS AS, AS THEY COME ABOUT.
AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US TODAY.
YOU ALL, YOU ALL ENJOY THE DAY.
I WANTED TO JUST BRING UP FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO LOOK AT, STAFF'S BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO CONCERNING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AS IT RELATES TO TREATMENT PATIENTS.
UM, AS YOU ALL RECALL, I LAST, I BELIEVE SEPTEMBER CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE PROGRAM AND WERE APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL TO ALLOW FOR THE TRIMMING AND REMOVAL OF TREES THAT ARE DEAD OR HAZARDOUS.
UM, AND THAT WOULD BE A DANGER TO, TO A HOME.
SO WE HAD ALWAYS PAID FOR, EXCUSE ME, ROOF REPAIRS WAS ALWAYS A QUALIFYING, UM, REPAIR WORK, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE, UM, AND ALLOW TREE REMOVAL BEFORE IT CREATES A HOLE OR AN ISSUE.
SO THAT IS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
NOW I KNOW THAT WE HAVE, UM, WE HAVE ASSISTED, I BELIEVE TWO FAMILIES AND TWO HOMES WITH THE TREE REMOVAL OR TRIMMING.
AND NOW WE'VE BEEN, UM, POSED WITH THE QUESTION OF, SHOULD WE CONSIDER EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM TO ALLOW FOR TREE MITIGATION FOR PEOPLE WHO OWN CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES, SO HISTORIC CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, UM, AND POSSIBLY REGARDLESS OF INCOME QUALIFICATIONS OR CHANGING THE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS, I SHOULD SAY CURRENTLY THE PROGRAM SAYS THAT YOU HAVE TO INCOME QUALIFY AT 60% OF THE AMI.
UM, SO THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR DISCUSSION WOULD BE ONE, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER AGAIN, EXPANDING THAT PROGRAM TO ALLOW CONTRIBUTING HOMES AND PROPERTIES TO, UM, USE THAT PROGRAM? IF SO, WOULD IT JUST BE HOMES, UH, SINGLE FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY, UM, AND WOULD THERE BE ANY INCOME QUALIFICATIONS? IT COULD BE, UM, ANYWHERE UP TO ONE 20 AMI OR, UM, SO THAT NOT BEING AN INCOME QUALIFYING, UH, QUALIFYING CONDITION.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO BRING UP FOR DISCUSSION.
AND AFTER WE HAVE DISCUSSION, WHAT STAFF WOULD THEN PROCEED FORWARD WITH IS, UM, PUTTING THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES TOGETHER FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR, UM, LEGALS REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT MEETS, UM, ANY REQUIREMENTS WE HAVE, AND THEN ULTIMATELY BRING THAT TO TOWN COUNCIL FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, FOR ANY CHANGES.
SO, UM, AND THEN AGAIN, SOME OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER IS THERE, SHOULD THERE BE A MAXIMUM DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT STAFF CAN IMPROVE AND BEYOND THAT COMES TO THE, UM, THIS COMMITTEE, AS SIMILAR AS WE DO SOME OTHER PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION AND, UM, GET ANY DIRECTION THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
WHAT WAS OPEN'S COMMITTEE TREE MITIGATION, ANYTHING THAT ALREADY FALLS UNDER ANOTHER APARTMENT OF THE TOWN PUBLIC WORKS, OR I GUESS, NO.
NOW, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO REMOVE A TREE, UH, THERE'S CERTAIN QUALIFYING SIZE REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT GOES THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT, GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR REVIEW, AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT THAT TREE REMOVAL PERMIT IS APPROVED.
[00:25:01]
AND IF SO, IS THERE ANY MITIGATION THAT'S REQUIRED? SO THIS HAS COME UP BECAUSE THERE'S, WE'VE BEEN, UH, CHALLENGED, I SHOULD SAY, TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY ASSISTANCE FOR PEOPLE WHO DO OWN HIS CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES AND WHAT A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE IS.I A STRUCTURE, A PROPERTY THAT HAS SIGNIFICANCE, UM, FOR THE TOWN.
SO I BELIEVE THERE'S 84 STRUCTURES CURRENTLY ON THE LIST.
AND PRIMARILY THERE'S A CERTAIN REQUIREMENT OVER 50 YEARS OF OLD SIGNIFICANT, UM, PERSON EVENT, UH, SOME SORT OF, UM, QUALIFYING, UH, REQUIREMENT AND TOWN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THAT CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES LIST AS WE REFER TO IT.
SO OFTENTIMES THERE'S HISTORIC STRUCTURES.
WE'VE, IT'S ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED BY TOWN COUNCIL THAT THOSE ARE, UM, VALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A POSSIBLE POSSIBLE AVENUE TO HELP PROTECT THOSE STRUCTURES.
SO THE TREE MITIGATION, UM, AND AGAIN, TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF, UH, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AGAIN, MEETING CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'D LOVE TO GET YOUR INPUT TODAY, AS FAR AS WHAT THOSE ONE DO WE MOVE FORWARD INTO IF WE DO.
SO, ARE THERE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA THAT THE STRUCTURES WOULD HAVE TO BE? UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE TERMINOLOGY.
I KNOW A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS VERY TOPIC WITH LIKE, UM, SO YOUR ROOF WAS GONNA FALL IN AND, UH, ON A HISTORIC OR CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD MAKE IT SAFE IF NEED BE.
IT WAS DEEMED THAT IT WOULD BE MADE SAFE IN THE, IN THE PUBLIC ARENA, UH, PUBLIC FORUM, UH, AND THEN MAYBE PUT A LIEN OR SOMETHING AGAINST THE PROPERTY.
DID WE EVER FULFILL THAT? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.
SO, UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS WHAT IN THE PAST HAD BEEN, UM, CALLED DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT.
AND WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON IS A PRO AT A PROACTIVE PRESERVATION.
SO A VERSION OF THAT, AND WE'RE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURES LIST AND THE SURVEY.
AND SO THERE'S SOME PIECES AND PARTS THAT HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE BEFORE WE GET TO THAT POINT.
UM, BUT WE'RE VERY CLOSE AND THAT AGAIN WOULD PROBABLY HOW WE ENVISIONED IS YOU'RE CORRECT.
IF THERE'S A HOLE IN THE ROOF, IT'S NOT, UM, DOESN'T MEET THE, THE REQUIREMENTS, HOWEVER THEY'RE APPROVED AND THE OWNER CANNOT, OR DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REPAIRS.
THE TOWN CAN GO IN, MAKE THE REPAIRS AND PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY.
SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, SORRY, I CUT YOU OFF.
AND THEN WITH THIS, WHAT, WHERE, WHAT STAFF IS AT LEAST AGAIN, EXPLORING AND TRYING TO DO SOME RESEARCH IS CAN WE USE THE TREE MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE FOR, UM, AS IT IS NOW TO EXPAND IT, TO INCLUDE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
SO AGAIN, TO OFFER THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS AND PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WANT TO REMOVE TREES, BUT MAYBE CANNOT QUITE DO IT ON THEIR OWN AND THEY MAKE MORE THAN THAT 60% AMI, RIGHT.
I GUESS THE REASON I ASKED THE QUESTION THE WAY I DID, AND I'M JUST TRYING TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH THIS.
UM, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY TO ME, FROM MY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE IN QUALIFIED BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST, IT WOULD JUST BE A RUNAWAY TRAIN IF YOU DIDN'T.
UM, BUT I MEAN, IF YOU OWN A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE AND AGAIN, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE ROOF IS FALLING IN AND WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AT SOME POINT AND DO DEMOS, UH, DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT, WHERE WE CAN HELP PROTECT THE STRUCTURE, HOLD THE LANE, UH, IF THE PERSON IS FINANCIALLY VIABLE, I DON'T KNOW WHY CAN'T WE DO THE SAME.
IF A TREE IS DEEMED UNSAFE THAT STRUCTURE, WE PROBABLY PROBABLY COULD.
WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK INTO THAT AND INCLUDE THAT IN THAT, I MEAN, THERE'S, THERE'S TWO TYPES HERE.
THERE'S THOSE WHO HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND THE WHEREWITHAL TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN, UH, WHO CHOOSE NOT TO JUST LIKE THE ROOF FALLING IN.
AND THEN THERE MAY BE AN INDIVIDUAL OR PARTY THAT OWNS A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL WHEREWITHAL, WHICH WOULD QUALIFY.
AND THEN I WOULD TAKE STAFF AND MAKE THE DECISION AS YOU'RE POINTING OUT, WHETHER IT'S SAFE FOR US SAFE.
WAIT, WHERE ARE WE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, WHETHER WE SHOULD REMOVE TO PROTECT, UM, CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE.
AND YOUR POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN, UH, APPRECIATIVE ON MY
[00:30:01]
END.I ALSO HAVE A CONCERN THAT IF WE ARE TO ASSIST EVEN SOMEONE THAT'S INCOME, QUALIFY ON A CONTRIBUTORS, SQUATTED, THE KNEES TREE REMOVAL, UH, EVEN A BRANCH MOVE.
AND IF THE PATH FORWARD IS FOR THAT HOUSE TO BE REVITALIZED THEN, AND ONLY THEN WOULD I BE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO HELP? I WOULD HATE TO JUST GO AND REMOVE A TREE IN THE HOUSE SINCE THE DOMINANT FOREVER
SO THERE HAS TO BE, IN MY OPINION, THERE HAVE TO BE, UH, A PLAN FORWARD TO, TO IMPROVE THE HOME, UM, AND BRING IT, UM, TO LIVING STANDARDS.
UM, SO WE DON'T JUST SPEND MONEY, UM, UM, THAT, THAT HAS REALLY NO, NO FRUIT TO BEAR.
PARDON HEATHER THERE, YOU STILL THERE, HOW WOULD THE, UM, HOW WOULD THE COMMITTEE LIKE STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS OR NOT MAYBE BRING SOME OPTIONS BASED ON THE COMMENTS? UM, OR IS THERE ANY OTHER, GO AHEAD, DAN? SORRY.
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I THINK IF YOU DID PUT SOMETHING IN WRITING FROM THE COMMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE TO TRY DOWN, SEE IF YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU WERE ABLE TO FILTER IT AND THEN GIVE IT BACK TO US.
AND THEN IF YOU KNOW OF A, UH, IF YOU KNOW OF A CIRCUMSTANCE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU FEEL THAT AS AN EXAMPLE WHERE MAYBE THIS IS IN PLAY, WHETHER YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE, THAT MAY BE LOST TO A TREE.
IF WE, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, YOU MAYBE GIVE US THAT EXAMPLE AS WELL IN THE LOCATION
SO IT SOUNDS, UM, IF I COULD, IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO IS PULL TOGETHER SOME OPTIONS AND A DRAFT FOR MORE DISCUSSION, UM, BASICALLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD FOR OVERALL IMPROVING THAT HOME, UM, TO MEET SOME SORT OF LIVING STANDARD AS SOME SORT OF STANDARDS.
SO AN ADDITIONAL PLAN OTHER THAN JUST SIMPLY TREE REMOVAL OR TERMING, AND THEN STILL HAVE SOME SORT OF INCOME QUALIFICATION, UM, AS PART OF THE PROGRAM.
AND ALSO, I MEAN, AGAIN, GIVE IT BACK TO US AND WE'LL, WE CAN LOOK AT IT, THINK ABOUT IT, BUT AGAIN, IF YOU SAY SOMETHING TO JUST GET YOUR MENTAL TO A HISTORIC STRUCTURE, AND YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANYWHERE WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER, WHETHER THEY QUALIFY INCOME WISE OR DON'T QUALIFY INCOME WISE, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU BRING TO THE COMMITTEE, UH, THAT YOU WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HATE TO LOSE A STRUCTURE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY, UM, THAT BECAUSE OF A TREE FALLING ON IT, WE DIDN'T DISCUSS IT.
THE, THE OTHER CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE IS IF WE, UM, THE TOWN SEE A HARDSHIP CASE, BECAUSE ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THE, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO BE COST PROHIBITIVE FOR A LOT OF FOLKS TO, TO MAKE THOSE KINDS OF IMPROVEMENTS OF THE TOWN, SEE A PATH FORWARD TO FIND GRANTS OR SOME TYPE OF FUNDING, MAKING THEM OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN THAT CAN ASSIST, LET US KNOW THAT TOO, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT IT AS A HARDSHIP AND WE WANT TO, UM, TO FIND ANOTHER MEANS OF SUPPORTING, UH, UM, THE, UH, REVITALATION OF, UM, A REHAB ROTATION OF THAT HOME, WE CAN, WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE THAT AS A HARDSHIP OR SEE THAT AS A,
[00:35:01]
AS A PARTNERSHIP.ANYONE, UM, WANT TO ADD TO ANYTHING DAN, AND I SAID, UH, UH, UH, A BIT MORE CLARITY ON WHAT DAN AND I SAID, SINCE WE WERE THE ONLY TWO THAT HAD SOME ADVICE.
UM, ANY OTHER, UH, WELL, MOST OF THE COMMITTEE DOESN'T KNOW THIS, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH, UM, THE DEVELOPERS FOR THE, FOR THE FILE PROPERTY THAT WE WANT TO, TO DEVELOP.
WE WORKING THROUGH, UM, UM, WITH THE DEVELOPER NOW WITH THEIR RESPONSE AND WE HAVE TO REPLY TO THEIR RESPONSE.
UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DISSECT IT ALL YET, BUT WE DO HAVE A RESPONSE FROM THE DEVELOPER.
HAVE YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? I KNOW, SIR.
I, WE DID RECEIVE IT, SO THAT IS POSITIVE.
UM, BUT I HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO, TO REVIEW THAT OR, UM, I'M TO GET WITH COUNCILMAN HAMILTON DID DISCUSS THAT FURTHER, BUT THERE'S PROGRESS.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, CONCERNS BEFORE WE, WE, WE ADJOURN.
UM, VICTORIA, I LIKED WHEN YOU, WHEN WE HAVE GUESTS THAT CAN SHARE SOME, UM, SOME WISDOM OR EVEN GIVE US FOOD FOR THOUGHTS, FOR HOW WE CAN, HOW OTHERS ARE DOING, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, SO YOU CONTINUE TO, TO PROVIDE US WITH AS MUCH SUPPORT AS YOU CAN.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR OUR WELL COMMITTEE TO, UM, TO, TO, TO, TO, TO FURTHER OUT THOUGHTS AND GIVE US SOME, MAYBE A FOOD FOR THOUGHTS WHEN WE TRY TO MAKE BLUFFTON, UM, MORE OF A MORE ACCESSIBLE TO AFFORDABLE LIVING IN QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING THAT.
IT'S A LEARNING PROCESS FOR ME AND I'M ENJOYING THE, THE, UM, SPECIAL GUESTS AS WELL.
SO IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYONE THAT THEY WANT TO BRING ON BOARD, THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM, JUST LET ME KNOW AND I'LL REACH OUT TO THEM AND GET THEM ON OUR SCHEDULE.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, WHEN WE MEET NEXT MONTH, WE'LL BE IN OUR NEW FISCAL YEAR.
SO JUST, UM, IF YOU KNOW, ANYONE THAT NEEDS SOME HELP SEND THEM OUR WAY SO WE CAN HELP THEM AND ADD ONTO THE 19 THAT WE DID THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO PUT OUR PROGRAM OUT THERE AND GET THE HELP THAT THESE RESIDENTS NEED TO KEEP THEM SAFE.
VICTORIA NINETEENS, A BIG NUMBER.
ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR WEEK MEETING IS NOW.