HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-16 CAHAB Minutes
Community Affordable Housing Advisory
Board
Wednesday, April 13, 8:00am, City Commission Chamber – 121 N. Rouse
Ave.
A. Call meeting to order
Sharon Southard – Present
Sean Malony – Present
Mel Howe – Present
Kevin Thane – Present
Hattie Baker – Present
David Magistrelli ‐ Present
I‐Ho Pomeroy – Present
Wendy Thomas ‐ Present
B. Changes to the Agenda – no changes to the agenda
C. Public Comment ‐ no public comment
D. Minutes – March 9, 2016
Kevin Thane moves to approve
Second by Melvin Howe
Kevin Thane suggests changes to the agenda. Wendy Thomas clarifies
08:04:11 AM Kevin Thane states that he’s not sure how grammatically correct we want to be, but
indicates where there are some incomplete sentences. Indicated that we will go back to complete the
sentences.
08:06:08 AM Board approves the meeting minutes with changes.
E. 08:06:19 AM Special Presentation – StoneRidge Apartments, Green
Communities Participation Report.
08:06:27 AM Jen Clary with Encompass begins presentation. Provides background on the program and
an overview of what will be discussed. Provides a checklist of criteria they use when designing projects
to qualify as a Green Community.
08:11:12 AM Shows examples of projects from other areas that have been completed.
08:12:08 AM Kevin Thane questions what “point getter” means. Jen Clary indicates that the checklist
provides mandatory items for each project in addition to a list of items that get the project points to
qualify for the program.
Kevin Thane clarifies that this is different than what is required for funding from the Montana Board of
Housing. Ms. Clary says that he is correct. Kevin Thane questions the cost for the Green Community
certification. Ms. Clary begins to explain the process more and that the cost is becoming lower as the
process becomes more efficient.
08:17:57 AM Ms. Clary begins to discuss the process more and what points were achieved for the
StoneRidge project, and which areas on the checklist allow them qualify for the most points. StoneRidge
received points for location, raised beds, water conservation with shower heads and faucets, added
insulation and air sealing techniques, shared interior walls between units.
08:26:15 AM Kevin Thane questions what blower door score they hit for these projects for air sealing.
Ms. Clary indicates it’s typically a 4.
08:26:44 AM Ms. Clary states that they are very specific about what is being put into the units for max
affordability and energy conservation with few substitutions.
08:27:16 AM Mr. Malony questions if they test the ducts as well. Ms. Clary states that they do test the
ducts.
Ms. Clary indicates that all items in the units are energy star compliant.
08:28:19 AM Ms. Clary discusses the lighting requirements for the projects to be energy star compliant.
Kevin Thane questions why they are required to use the LED pins, not screw in. Ms. Clary states it’s to
force the tenant to use LED vs. going out and purchasing something different that is less energy
efficient.
Ms. Clary continues to discuss lighting and energy requirements.
08:30:48 AM Ms. Clary discusses the low/no VOC requirements for their projects. There are
specifications about what grams/liter are permitted.
08:31:38 AM Ms. Clary discusses construction waste management. There is a log of the waste being
taken off the site. They encourage the builder to reuse a lot of the waste materials.
08:32:55 AM Ms. Clary here is a provided recycling location for all units.
08:33:39 AM Ms. Clary discusses formaldehyde free cabinets, reduced chemicals in wood trim, flooring,
green label certified carpet, etc.
Kevin Thane clarifies who requires these things. Ms. Clary indicates it is the Green Community group
that requires these items, it is not the Montana Board of Housing.
08:36:10 AM Hattie Baker questions where the premium vinyl is going to be. Ms. Clary indicates that it is
in most of the living spaces, with carpet in the bedrooms.
Hattie Baker questions roofing materials. Ms. Clary responds in detail
08:37:42 AM Ms. Clary discusses the use of exhaust fans in bathrooms and the kitchen to get moisture,
etc out of the home, with the goal of mold prevention.
08:39:27 AM Ms. Clary indicates that the project requires a smoke‐free building, even during
construction. No smoking on site.
All of the items put into the units are indicated in a binder and shown to the tenants so that they are
aware of how the building is working for them. She states many clients do not use them though.
08:41:35 AM Kevin Thane questions what would be required to get the clients to use them. Ms. Clary
said she’s not sure of the cost, but does have some ideas on how to incentivize them.
08:43:09 AM I‐Ho Pomery questions the radiant floor. Ms. Clary states it is a good way to heat and very
efficient, but that they have not been able to find an affordable way to do it – the best heating method
was to use a highly efficient furnace.
I‐Ho Pomeroy questions if there is an incentive for using solar. Ms. Clary indicates that there is, but there
is a high cost upfront.
08:45:21 AM I‐Ho Pomeroy states that it sounds like the homes are very efficient and tight with little air
movement.
Hattie Baker questions how long the project takes for planning to completion. Ms. Clary responds in
detail explaining the process. Typically it takes about a year before they are ready to break ground.
08:47:58 AM Kevin Thane states that doing Green Communities are a cost/benefit analysis. He questions
the cost per unit to make them Green Community certified. Ms. Clary responds in detail.
Kevin Thane questions the payback time frame for the Green Community portion. Ms. Clary states that
there isn’t necessarily a benefit for the developer, the benefits are for the tenant.
Mr. Thane questions the savings for the tenant. Ms. Clary states that a guess could be about 15%
savings.
08:52:12 AM Kevin Thane questions if there is a benefit for doing a 100% blower door test or is the 25%
sample adequate. Ms. Clary responds in detail.
Kevin Thane questions where they are with balancing solar and green energy with cost. Ms. Clary states
that tax incentives make those things affordable for the developer.
08:55:09 AM Kevin Thane questions if it would be sensible for us to incentivize individuals who are
requesting affordable housing funds to build Green Communities. Ms. Clary states that she thinks it
would be beneficial.
08:56:39 AM End of Jen Clary’s presentation.
08:56:52 AM Natalie Meyer states that with the blower door testing requirements, it is part of the code
that all units be 100% tested, so that is a cost that is there no matter what.
08:57:25 AM Wendy Thomas states that Natalie Meyer had heard about the project and met with the
architect and builder and made this project a Green Community project. She thought Bozeman was the
right place for a project like this.
G. 08:59:21 AM Action Items
1. City land on which affordable housing could be placed
Recommended motion: I move to recommend that CAHAB begins preparing a list of
City‐owned land parcels which could be used for Affordable Housing to present to the
City Commission
Kevin Thane suggests they table the discussion for next time since it is already 9:00. He
questions why The City was not willing to provide a list of land available for purchase for
building affordable housing.
09:00:05 AM Wendy Thomas responds in detail.
Kevin Thane indicates that he was interested in purchasing the land, not in requiring the
developer to build affordable housing.
Discussion between Kevin Thane and Wendy Thomas about how to move the project
forward with purchasing land.
Decision to put this discussion on a future agenda.
Kevin Thane moves to table the discussion of City owned land for a later date.
Melvin Howe seconds.
No Public Comment on the discussion.
Board unanimously agrees to table the discussion to next time.
H. 09:04:28 AM FYI/Discussion
1. 09:04:50 AM 2016 HUD Income Limits and Affordable Housing Pricing Schedule
– Wendy provides information about the new housing prices based on the 2016 HUD Income
Limits.
Wendy indicates that the new numbers are beneficial for builders and will help the program be more
successful.
Kevin Thane states that this hurts the tenants and homeowners as the rates can increase, but their
income will not.
09:08:17 AM I‐Ho Pomeroy discusses ways to make more affordable homes – based on an article by the
Chronicle. She suggests decreasing the lot sizes to make homes smaller and more affordable.
Wendy Thomas states that they are working to write the Innovative Housing Ordinance, but that the
smaller lots would really apply to more cottage style homes. She stated that they leave the lot size up to
the developer and there hasn’t been a demand for it yet. She states there are tools in place for
developer to request the smaller lots, but there have not been any proposals for this yet.
Discussion between Kevin Thane and Wendy Thomas regarding reasons why they may not been
09:12:18 AM Sean Malony questions if they will have a copy of the Innovative Housing Ordinance.
Wendy responds that they should have a workable draft in a week or so.
Hattie Baker questions if there will be an opportunity for public comment. Ms. Thomas discusses the
options available for public comment.
09:13:35 AM Sean Malony questions if there is a minimum housing size based on cottage size homes.
Ms. Thomas responds in detail. Under the building code, 600 sq ft would likely be the absolute smallest,
they are looking at closer to 800 sq ft being more realistic.
09:15:28 AM Mr. Lameres reads comments submitted by Anders Lewendal since he was not able to
attend.
09:16:49 AM David Magistrelli states that he is going to circulate an invitation for an Open House for a
project they recently built.
09:17:27 AM Sharon Southard states that she was excited about the income limits increasing because it
opens individuals up for being qualified for down payment assistance.
I. 09:19:01 AM Adjournment –
For more information please contact Alicia Kennedy at akennedy@bozeman.net
This board generally meets the second Wednesday of the month at 8:00am
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