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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 9, 2008 Policy Meeting Minutes1 LINKED MINUTES OF THE POLICY MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION BOZEMAN, MONTANA April 9, 2008 ***************************** The Commission of the City of Bozeman met in the City Commission Room at City Hall, 411 East Main Street, on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 from 12-1:30 p.m. Present were Deputy Mayor Jeff Krauss, Cr. Sean Becker, Cr. Eric Bryson, Cr. Jeff Rupp, City Manager Chris Kukulski, Deputy City Manager Ron Brey, Planning Director Andy Epple, City Attorney Paul Luwe, and Deputy City Clerk Cynthia Jordan Delaney. 0:10:36 A. Call to Order - 12-1:30 p.m. - City Commission Meeting Room, City Hall, 411 East Main Deputy Mayor Krauss called the meeting to order. 0:10:38 B. Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence 0:11:22 C. Authorize the Absence of Mayor Jacobson 0:11:25 Motion and Vote to authorize the absence of Mayor Jacobson. It was moved by Cr. Becker, seconded by Cr. Rupp, to authorize the absence of Mayor Jacobson. Those voting Aye being Crs. Becker, Rupp, Bryson, and Deputy Mayor Krauss. Those voting No being none. The motion carried 4-0. 0:11:43 D. Public Comment Deputy Mayor Krauss opened and closed public comment. No person commented. 0:12:26 E. Round Table Discussion (Identifying potential future agenda items arising from the prior City Commission Meetings of the February 19 Work Session, February 25, March 3, March 10, March 14 Joint City-Town/County, March 17, March 24, and April 7, 2008) 0:12:53 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that the main thing to come out of the get together with Three Forks was the agreement to look at local option as something viable for the next legislative session. If we are going to undertake that, we should start early. 0:13:34 Chris Kukulski, City Manager Mr. Kukulski stated the need to start now with the candidates if it is at the top of the Commission's priority list. 3 Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, April 9, 2008 2 0:16:47 Deputy Mayor Krauss Deputy Mayor Krauss stated that is something that should be put on the agenda: legislative issues and local option tax. 0:17:13 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that this is going to be the #1 topic at the May 9 meeting; he wants more agreement of support from the Commission before May 9. 0:17:47 Mr. Kukulski Mr. Kukulski stated that this topic will be part of the Goal-setting Session in late April. 0:19:00 Cr. Bryson Cr. Bryson stated that his issue is finalizing the goal session. This support or coordination of support for the local option sales tax has to come from the completed discussion of priorities and goals. After that, formal meetings can be scheduled for this item. 0:19:50 Deputy Mayor Krauss Deputy Mayor Krauss asked if the Planning Dept. had received an application for a conditional use permit for the halfway house. 0:20:04 Andy Epple, Planning Director Mr. Epple replied that he understands that an application will be turned in next week. 0:20:43 F. Policy Discussion 0:20:49 1. Status Report on Workforce Housing Program (Herron and Epple) 0:20:53 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple introduced Steve Herron, the new Workforce Housing Administrator from Florida. 0:22:24 Steve Herron, Workforce Housing Administrator Mr. Herron began his presentation, Workforce Housing Status Report, and introduced his key topics of workforce housing pipelines, homes planned, milestones, unfinished work, and the marketing plan to developers and builders. 0:28:58 Tracy Menuez, Road to Home Program, Human Resource Development Council Ms. Menuez gave the eligibility requirements, AMI, and price calculation for workforce housing. 0:34:03 Cr. Bryson Cr. Bryson questioned why RSL's (Restricted Size Lots) are continuing to be conceptually required when there is an affordable housing ordinance, when RSL's are not providing for some level of affordability. 0:34:55 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that the RSL was a free market approach, but then the UDO changed and with density the RSL lots could then be 3,000 square feet; it is appropriate to revisit the RSL policy. 4 Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, April 9, 2008 3 0:35:33 Cr. Becker Cr. Becker stated that the Commission should take a look at it and make it a more rational equation (in terms of house size and lot size). 0:56:03 Mr. Herron Mr. Herron discussed his plan to contact all local developers, builders, architects, and lenders to discuss workforce housing. He also wants to impress upon developers and builders that there is an incredible market for homes that cost $200,000 or less. 0:57:37 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that the equation is still driven by what you paid for the land as a developed lot; that's the part of the market that needs to reset itself. 0:58:26 Cr. Bryson Cr. Bryson suggested developing the lottery procedure as soon as possible for people interested in workforce housing. 0:59:33 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple stated that they could present in the next week or so how they envision the lottery system working. 0:59:56 Cr. Becker Cr. Becker stated that interested people have found market rate units they can afford without the deed restriction. He asked if Mr. Herron is attending to that intersection: the market rate, what's going on with the market, and the actual cost of the workforce housing units. 1:01:02 Ms. Menuez Ms. Menuez stated that people may be ready to buy now, but it's not necessarily in Bozeman. 1:01:15 Cr. Becker Cr. Becker asked if they are putting together a GIS inventory of all lots that are available, built on, vacant. How many homes do we have that are R-1? 1:01:39 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple stated that they have just gone through an extensive process of updating their land use inventory. 1:02:24 Mr. Herron Mr. Herron gave the top ten reasons for building affordable housing in Bozeman. 1:05:50 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that Andy and Steve have a good basis here, but we just have to begin and see where it takes us. The marketing is one thing, but the main reason they're building affordable housing is because we make you. People come in and speculate, and we could find ourselves in the same situation as Florida. He'd love not to have the need for the ordinance, to say that the 5 Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, April 9, 2008 4 market is producing affordable units on its own, but people who work in our community have to drive in from Three Forks every day. 1:07:31 Ms. Menuez Ms. Menuez stated that statistics show that for every dollar you save going out (of Bozeman to buy a home), you spend $.77 coming back in. 1:07:36 Mr. Kukulski Mr. Kukulski stated that he'd be glad to talk on the radio about wanting people to invest in Bozeman because it's not a cost savings to live and drive from Three Forks. 1:09:01 Deputy Mayor Krauss Deputy Mayor Krauss stated that we must compete with the outlying market rate homes that don't have deed restrictions. The builders have to think the units are competitive even with the deed restriction. We walk a fine line. 1:10:16 Cr. Becker Cr. Becker suggested that we need to track sales data, and the Gallatin Association of Realtors could help provide MLS data of sales. Mr. Herron could be a member of GAR or get his real estate license to have an MLS subscription. 1:11:20 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple gave data on Restricted Size Lots: to date, we have created 239 RSL's, 122 have been issued building permits, and 64 have been issued occupancy permits. 1:15:06 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple stated that whether or not to keep RSL's is strictly a policy call. 1:15:23 Deputy Mayor Krauss Deputy Mayor Krauss stated that he is not a fan of RSL's, and he thinks the Commission is ready to discuss taking out RSL's. 1:15:48 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp stated that he wants to see the sale's price of these 64 RSL units before he makes a decision on whether to vote to keep them or not. 1:15:55 Cr. Becker Cr. Becker seconded Cr. Rupp's statement. 1:16:23 Cr. Bryson Cr. Bryson said that CAHAB will come back to the Commission to suggest continuing the RSL program. He stated that they gave him information about what it does and what it accomplishes. 1:16:43 Deputy Mayor Krauss and Cr. Rupp Deputy Mayor Krauss and Cr. Rupp suggested that getting that information would be good. 6 Bozeman City Commission Policy Meeting, April 9, 2008 5 1:19:20 G. FYI/Discussion 1:19:22 Cr. Rupp Cr. Rupp shared two safety-related issues: there is a cul-de-sac on the corner of Kagy and 3rd that's a safety turnaround for fire trucks, but it has become a parking lot. It needs to be enforced if it's a safety issue, and the sign has been cut down. At the corner of Grant and Grand, there was a bonfire in the street that burned the asphalt. We know who did it. 1:21:57 Mr. Epple Mr. Epple clarified the comment he made about "zoning gymnastics" when previously discussing the potential disposition of the Story Mansion block and concerns about spot zoning. It might have been construed that it wouldn't be possible. He and senior staff have formally concluded that rezoning that entire block to benefit the community as a whole wouldn't necessarily be spot zoning. He stated that Ron Brey will have a fact sheet for the Commission. 1:24:16 H. Adjournment Deputy Mayor Krauss adjourned the meeting at 1:24 p.m. ____________________________________ Jeff Krauss, Deputy Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ Stacy Ulmen, City Clerk PREPARED BY: ______________________________________ Cynthia Jordan Delaney, Deputy City Clerk Approved on ___________________________. 7