Housing Commission

4/26/2021 - Minutes I. Call to Order Members Present: Robert Millar, Jessica Bridge, Anna Wageling, Leslie Black-Plumeau, “Deac” Decarreau City Staff Present: Heather Carrington Guests Present: Councilor Jim Duncan Call to Order by: Robert Millar Meeting Start Time: 6:04 PM Minutes Recorded by: Anna Wageling II. Public Comment None III. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes Meeting minutes from 3/22/21 were approved. IV. Council Update As a means of better sharing information between City Council and the policy Commissions, we have added a monthly agenda item for a Council update. Councilor Jim Duncan reported that the airport noise compatibility program pilot project will commence this year with 10 homes, to be expanded to 50 homes for 2022. This work relates directly to housing quality issues in Winooski, and the Commission will be updated on the program as the City receives further information. V. City Updates l City continues to work with CHT on bringing 20 affordable 3 bedroom homes to 32 Malletts Bay Avenue l Staff has been serving as a resource to the Essex Housing Commission. They are basing some of their work on the Winooski Housing Commission as a precedent, which speaks highly of this Commission’s work. l City has hired the new Equity Director, Yasamin Gordon will be starting in the role on May 10th. l Robert Millar provided an update on the CCRPC Convening of the Housing Commissions. Robert shared that the discussion included: 1. Update on the ECOS Plan 2. Significant disparities between BIPOC community and white homeownership. 3. There is a new interest in setting affordable housing production targets by municipality 4. Jim’s notes from the meeting will be shared with staff to be distributed to the Commission. VI. Commission Appointments Appointment terms across all city commissions have been coordinated to expire on June 30th annually, in alignment with the end of the city fiscal year. This year there are four Housing Commissioners with terms set to expire on that date: “Deac” Decarreau, Sean McMannon, Chris Melnyk, and Robert Millar. Chris Melnyk has moved out of Winooski and resigned his  VI. Commission Appointments Appointment terms across all city commissions have been coordinated to expire on June 30th annually, in alignment with the end of the city fiscal year. This year there are four Housing Commissioners with terms set to expire on that date: “Deac” Decarreau, Sean McMannon, Chris Melnyk, and Robert Millar. Chris Melnyk has moved out of Winooski and resigned his position. The remaining Commissioners up for reappointment will be asked to indicate whether or not they are interested in reappointment at the next meeting, with an understanding that all commission appointments are solely at the discretion of City Council. VII. Family Housing Incentives The Commission has identified two policy approaches that may have the greatest potential impact on incentivizing production of multi-bedroom rental units. The two priority approaches are 1) reduction of required parking spaces and 2) creating more effective density bonuses. Both of these policy changes fall under the purview of the Winooski Planning Commission because they are contained within the Winooski Unified Land Use and Development Regulations. The Commission opted to work on parking and making an updated recommendation to the Planning Commission about how to design a possible incentive that would trade a reduced parking requirement for a development that supports Winooski Master Plan housing goals. The Commission approved moving forward with a recommendation for a very focused parking incentive. This incentive would offer a reduced minimum required parking level for projects that have rentals with three or more bedrooms, provided that these units will be affordable to those making 100% or less of area median income. Staff will draft a memo to the Planning Commission for the Housing Commission to review at the May meeting. VIII. Housing Stability Update Over the last year, City Council and staff have been discussing supporting our residents with stable housing during the COVID-19 pandemic, from homeowners to landlords and renters. The Housing Commission reviewed the quarterly report on high level housing stability indicator data provided by staff. The data indicates improving housing stability for both renters and homeowners. IX. Burlington Lead Program The CEDO Lead Program is a housing program within the City of Burlington Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO). Funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Lead Program received its first Lead Hazard Control Grant in 2003. Currently, the Lead Program has $2,900,000 to reduce lead-based paint hazards in pre-1978 homes in Burlington and Winooski, as well as to provide education and outreach to residents to help keep families and households safe from lead poisoning. In this grant cycle, Burlington CEDO estimated that 35 percent of the total dollar amount of awarded federal funding (approximately $1,260,000) will directly benefit Winooski properties. Staff has been working with the City of Burlington to develop more effective outreach methods to enroll Winooski landlords in the program. X. Housing Trust Fund Policy and MOU The Housing Trust Fund Policy and Procedures document will be presented to City Council for approval in May jointly with the Memorandum of Understanding with Opportunities Credit Union. There have been very few changes to the document since it was presented to Council in July of 2019. Most of the changes reflected in the document are in response to City Council feedback. XI. Adjourn Motion by: Deac Second: Jessica Meeting End Time: 7:45 PM Meeting End Time: 7:45 PM