Housing Commission

9/26/2022 - Minutes I. Call to Order In attendance: Chief Audy, Robert Millar, Elaine Wang, Jim Duncan, Jack Commo, Jessica Bridge, Leslie Black-Plumeau, Bryn Oakleaf, Chloe Tomlinson, Connor Daley, Daisy Berbeco, Derek Souza, Julia R, Kaitlin, Liam Johnson, Rose Pedemonte, Taylor Small, Tom Proctor Call to Order by: Robert Millar Meeting Start Time: 6:02 PM II. Agenda Review Approval of past minutes was tabled due to minutes not being provided. III. Public Comment None IV. Approve Previous Meeting Minutes This item was tabled. V. City Council Updates Jim Duncan, City Council Liaison, provided an update on recent City Council activities, including that the position description for a Housing Initiative Director had been approved and would be posted soon; ARPA, TIF and Budget discussions will ramp up starting in October, and the citywide reappraisal is underway beginning in the northwest corner of the City. VI. City Updates The Housing Initiative Director has been posted internally and will be externally available soon. VII. Inclusion and Belonging Commission Ambassador Report and Introduction Due to a scheduling conflict, the I+B ambassador could not be present. VIII. Election of Officers Jessica nominated Robert Millar to serve as Chair, second by Leslie. Robert continues by acclamation. Robert nominated Jessica Bridge to serve as Vice Chair, second by Jack. Jessica continues by acclamation. Current Secretary Anna Wageling was not able to attend the meeting; election of a secretary was tabled until next meeting. IX. Housing Trust Fund Update There have been no new applications for the Housing Trust Fund. Materials for promotion of the Housing Improvement program are being created for use by Code staff. No recent communication from Opportunities Credit Union on Down Payment Assistance program. IX. Housing Trust Fund Update There have been no new applications for the Housing Trust Fund. Materials for promotion of the Housing Improvement program are being created for use by Code staff. No recent communication from Opportunities Credit Union on Down Payment Assistance program. X. Discussion: Prioritization Recommendations - Policy Work on Housing Quality or Eviction Protections Decision: Continue with work on Public Building Registry, but also advise beginning a charter change process related to Eviction Protections that could culminate in a vote in November 2023. Jim provided an overview of discussion to date at Council meetings and why this question has come to the Housing Commission. City Manager Elaine Wang provided more context on the specific challenges inherent in creating the charter change, including legal advising, unintended consequences, and budget implications of implementing should it become ordinance. Chief John Audy provided an overview of the scale of work involved in updating the public building registry, which involves four chapters of code. It will involve several meetings and significant discussion about quality-of-life issues and Housing Commission priorities and values in those areas. A potential timeline is October overview, staff receive input and respond by November 28 meeting, and potentially finishing up in early 2023. Leslie asked whether eviction protections was on the work plan previously. It was not. Jessica acknowledged the work already done by staff and that this is a challenging balance. Tom Proctor, Housing Justice Director for Rights and Democracy, shared that Just Cause Eviction has received legal review in Burlington and the Legislature. Tom shared that there are four states and about a dozen municipalities that already have JCE in some form or another, and he stated there is evidence that it didn’t decrease rental supply. Adjudicating who has been unjustly evicted should be done by the courts, not by the municipal staff or elected bodies. Tom shared general motivation for this policy change, including tightening supply, rising prices, rising inflation, already high cost-burdening for renters’ pre-pandemic. Commissioners asked several questions, illuminating that there is a lack currently of a legal recourse for no-cause evictions; no ordinance language has been drafted in Burlington yet; expectation is that tenant support under Just Cause Eviction would be a burden on the judicial system, not municipal officials; insufficiency of data on no-cause evictions due to lack of recording when uncontested. Taylor Small, Vermont Representative and Winooski resident, shared a personal story of being evicted after complaining about mold and rats to a landlord in Winooski, and the risk renters feel of having an eviction on their record in a tight rental market. Commissioners asked questions of Representative Small, illuminating that the Legislature expects to take up just cause eviction charter changes from several communities as well as a statewide proposal, and that letters of support from Commissions and Councils can add support to that effort. Liam Johnson, a UVM student, shared that he supports eviction protection and maintaining stable housing for students to allow focus on studies. He wants Winooski to join Burlington in advocating for this security. Bryn Oakleaf, City Councilor, noted that the chat was disabled. It was subsequently enabled. Connor Daley, resident and Winooski Planning Commission member, shared that he is the only renter on Planning Commission and support the Housing Commission taking up this issue.  advocating for this security. Bryn Oakleaf, City Councilor, noted that the chat was disabled. It was subsequently enabled. Connor Daley, resident and Winooski Planning Commission member, shared that he is the only renter on Planning Commission and support the Housing Commission taking up this issue. Derek Souza, co-chair of Hoarding Task Force, shared that he works with Seniors and sees seniors at risk of homelessness because of eviction for hoarding/squalor. Commissioners then discussed options for pursuing just cause eviction, including advocacy, working on a different timeline, and how this effort fits into larger statewide efforts. The burden on City staff to support a charter change process culminating in a vote on Town Meeting Day and then implementing the outcome of the charter change was discussed, and the need for the Housing Commission to play a leadership role in development. Commissioners discussed that the agreed work plan for this year has steps and resources to support the housing quality improvements in the public building registry changes. Commissioners opted to move forward with public building registry updates, while also continuing to consider a just cause eviction charter change, but not a timeline for being on the ballot on Town Meeting Day, pending feedback from City Council. Yea: Robert, Jack, Leslie Abstain: Jessica XI. Discussion: Work Timeline The Commission will begin discussion of the public building registry at the October meeting, and hear any further updates on eviction protections and timeline. XII. Adjourn Motion by: Leslie Black-Plumeau Second: Jack Commo Meeting End Time: 7:52 PM