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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-04-07_CAHAB-approved Request for $14,000 for the Allianc_22 Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Cynthia Jordan Delaney, Acting City Clerk Chris Kukulski, City Manager SUBJECT: CAHAB-approved Request for $14,000 for the Alliance for Building Communities (ABC) to conduct a Mobile Home Survey in and around Bozeman MEETING DATE: September 4, 2007 RECOMMENDATION: Listen to the presentation from Alliance for Building Communities (ABC) representative, Lucy Pope. After the Commission discussion, determine whether to grant the funding request. BACKGROUND: On July 28, 2007, the Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board (CAHAB) received a request for financial assistance from Alliance for Building Communities (ABC) to conduct a mobile home survey on the 21 mobile home courts in and around Bozeman. Most of the 1,341 mobile homes that will be in the survey are on prime development property which will likely be sold in the near future. CAHAB feels that the survey is both timely and the logical first step in planning remedies and gathering resources before current residents are displaced. CAHAB voted to recommend the funding be granted to ABC conditional upon securing the other listed funding sources, which are expected to be committed by October 1, 2007. Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development has agreed to be the grantee since ABC has yet to secure its 501(c)3 status. FISCAL EFFECTS: If approved, the $14,000 distributed for the Alliance for Building Communities Mobile Home Survey would be taken from the Community Development Block Grant-Housing Fund. The fund has an available balance of approximately $85,000. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the Commission. Respectfully submitted, __________________________________ ______________________________ Cynthia Jordan Delaney, Acting City Clerk Chris Kukulski, City Manager 360 August 10 2007 Mayor Jeff Krauss and Commissioners City ofBozeman Dear Mayor Krauss and Commissioners The Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board CAHAB received a request for financial assistance from Alliance for Building Communities ABC to do a mobile home study on the 21 courts in and around Bozeman The study would gather information on the mobile homes such as age move ability size owner occupied and demographics on the residents The CAHAB voted to recommend to the Commission that the funding be granted to ABC conditional upon securing the other listed funding sources The CAHAB also suggests that the fund for the study be from the recycled proceeds of the CDBG Housing fund This is an eligible use for CDBG and CDBG is the most restrictive of the housing funds Most of the 1 341 mobile homes that will be in the survey are on prime development property which will likely be sold in the near future At that point the residents will be displaced and a large portion of Bozeman s affordable housing stock will be lost When Bridger View sold efforts to marshal resources to assist the residents were hampered by lack of information regarding the mobiles and their owners The CAHAB feels that the study is both timely and the logical first step in plmming remedies and gathering resources before current residents are displaced Attached is the information that Lucy Pope representing ABC supplied the C AHAB and minutes from the two meetings where the request for funding was discussed The C AHAB also received the following information Since ABC has yet to secure their 501 C 3 they needed a non profit to be the grantee Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development has agreed to be the grantee for a 5 admin fee The other funding sources are expected to be committed by October 1 2007 The survey information will form the basis of a needs assessment and hopefully will be done in time to supply information for the city s new growth policy In a subsequent phase ofABC s proposal which will not be funded with City funds ABC will hold public forums to educate and raise public awareness on mobile homes as a viable housing alternative There is also a need to change the perception ofmobile home residents ABC will also serve as an advocacy group helping to form resident groups to work collectively on mobile housing issues 362 ABC will work with existing mobile home groups and other organizations as the displacement ofhouseholds and loss of affordable housing is a community problem and solutions may take the form ofchanges in public policy The City and the CAHAB can review the survey before it is distributed The surveyors will receive training and the project will be covered by insurance ABC hopes for an 80 return rate on the survey ABC sees preserving mobile courts as a phased project Phase I is informational subsequent phases will research resources and best practices and actively assist residents to develop or purchase resident owned mobile home courts At a future date ABC would like the City to appoint a strategic task force for mobile home court preservation or development The CAHAB feels ABC s preliminary plan to preserve or develop mobile home courts is timely and as presented would provide the City with much needed information Sincerely Brian LaMeres CAHAB Chair 363 Alliance for Building Communities Northern Rockies RC D Area Inc Mobile Housing Survey Inventory Anticipated Fundilll Sourees Amount Date Requested Anticipated Commitment Date City ofBozeman 14 000 6 29107 8 15 07 9 1107 Corporate Giving 1 000 81 107 9 15 07 Im Horne MHOA 4 100 9 15 07 10 1107 Private Foundation 9481 629 07 8 15 07 9 1107 Total Funds 28 581 Anti ipftted Use of Funds By SoURe City of Corporate Private Im Home Bozeman GivillK Foundation MHOA Total Personnel SunJevDesign Entry Ana vsis 4 000 4 000 8 000 Manager 5 000 5 000 Survevors 6 500 1 000 3 770 11 270 Office Supplies 800 200 100 1 1 00 Survey Safety 1 000 850 1 850 Sponsorship Fees 700 661 1 361 14 000 1 000 9 481 4 100 28 581 Milestones 8 Funding Markers Projected Funding markers Project Milestones Completion projectedfor the Phase Qlisuming 9 1 07start City ofBozeman date Start Up Manager contracted 91 2 000 Design Survey tool designed 101 Data Data gathers recruited trained 10 1 9400 Gathering Data gathering completed 111 11 15 2 600 Analysis Data entrylinventory creation 12 1 Reporting Data analysislReport development 12 31 Report distribution 1 st quarter of 08 7 25 07 364 Alliancefor Building Communities Northern Rocky Mountain RC DArea Inc P O Box 5193 Bozeman MT 59717 406 587 6378 ABCBozeman@yahoo com June 28 2007 Bozeman Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board Attn Caren Roberty 32 S Tracy Avenue Bozeman MT 59715 Dear CAHAB Members Re Mobile Housing Project Survey The Alliance for Building Communities is a new organization created to promote affordable housing solutions in Gallatin County We bring to you a request for 14 000 to support a survey of mobile housing in the Bozeman area The loss ofBridger View Trailer Court last year was a shock to many in the community Today another 30 ofthe mobile home spaces in Bozeman stand directly in the path of commercial development Our Mobile Housing Project is driven by the immediate threat to mobile home parks in the Bozeman area This project is designed to bring attention to mobile housing issues give the public an accurate picture of mobile home residents and encourage participation in building solutions Our goal is to create an infrastructure that stabilizes mobile housing as a viable component of Bozeman s affordable housing stock The first step of this work will be to survev the 1 341 mobile homes located in 21 courts within the Bozeman area lbis fall data gatherers will go door to door to collect information from mobile home residents When completed the survey data will allow us to v build a comprehensive inventory of mobile homes located on rented lots including age size moveability and v develop demographic profiles of mobile home court tenants Next year this data will serve a baseline as we create a strategic plan for retention and stabilization of the mobile home inventory Survey results will also be shared through a series of public forums and assist in the development oftenant associations 365 Alliance for Building Communities Page 2 The survey will cost 28 581 for design administration door to door data gathering data entryanalysisandreportsWhileweareseekingfmancialsupportfrombusinessandfoundation sponsors funding from the City of Bozeman would make a very real difference in completing this goal We appreciate your consideration Sincerely Ue Lucille Pope M P A Ph D Co Coordinator 7 GL Attachments Bozeman Area Mobile Home Inventory defining target population Letter from the Northern Rocky Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Area Inc a non profit 501 c 3 tax exempt organization serving as our fiscal sponsor until we have our tax exempt status They will provide technical assistance and financial management while we move through the incorporation process 366 Bozeman Area Mobile Home Inventory of of Vacant of Units In City Park Name Address pads Pads UFor Salell Location Description Babcock Vista 12745 Crab Tree St 90 0 I Off W Babcock behind Gallat ex 11alLiBridgerViewCourt702BridgerDr9206 Celander Trailer Court 2124 N Rouse Ave 9 0 Eldrige Trailer Court 1232 W Babcock Ave 10 0 0 Gallatin Village 1315 E Griffin Dr i38 0 0 Glenwood Meadows 3 Meghans Way 42 0 2 Yellowstone Peaks j8 Sunlight Avenue I35 0 4I1HilandCourti1207EMainSti6210115lNWillsonCourt409NWillsonOIBetween 17th and DursNelsonsTrailerCourt816NIthAveI5801i1ckyCreekTrailerCourt1501BohartLanei181111SunsetTrailerCourt810NthAveI240 W College Court 12405 W College St 58 0 0 Across from Albertsons Wagon Wheel Court j2220 W Main St i132 0 1 Across from Albertsons City To l 627 3 19 of of Vacant of Units Out of City Park Nanfe Address Pads Pads For Sale Location Description Covered Wagon Park 1000 N 17th Ave 206 1 0 Close to the 19th Oak intersectioni Hidden Valley Mobile Estates 890 Hidden Valley Rd JOff Valley Lane behind Casteo12000 King Arthur Mobile Park 5500 Gooeh Hill Rd 2111 0 6 Kountz Court 8628 Huffine Lane 1291 0 6 Reed Trailer Court 3090 Springhill Rd 101 0 01 Reistad s Court 1341 Bozeman Trail Rd 10 11 01 Ponderosa jYerKer Drive 28 01 o Off W Main behind Perkins restaurant IOut of City Total 714 2 12 Map Totals 134 5 31 1 Inventory completed by Bozeman Department of Planning in Aug 2006 by windshield survey of mapped manufactured home communities 367 Northern Rocky Mountain Resource ConservationDevelopment 502 South 19th Avenue Suite 105 Bozeman MT 59718 phone 406 582 5700 fax 406 582 5855 email info@nrmrcd org web www nrmrcd org June 28 2007 Bozeman Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board Attn Caren ROberty 32 S Tracy Avenue Bozeman MT 59715 Dear CAHAB Members The Northern Rocky Mountain RC D Area Inc is a non profit 501 c 3 Corporation serving Gallatin Park and Meagher Counties in Montana The RCD is firmly committed to assisting community organizations such as the Alliance for Building Communities in finding solutions to our affordable housing needs We wholeheartedly support this project and agree to provide fiscal oversight and sponsorship of this effort The RC D s Federal Tax ID Number is 26 0018567 Should you have any questions for the RC D please feel free to call our office at 406 582 5700 At 1 JOi ela lft Coordinator An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer 368 Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board July 25 2007 Meeting Minutes In attendance were Board Members Brian LaMeres Marcia Youngman Mary Jo Nehasil John Barkow and Connie Garrett Also in attendance were Caren Roberty CAHAB staff and Lucy Pope of ABC The meeting was called to order by chairman Brian LaMeres at 842 am The Board had an informal discussion on the progress of the Workforce Housing Ordinance Motion to approve the Minutes from June 6 2007 passed with two minor corrections Lucy Pope with the Alliance for Building Communities ABC answered questions concerning her proposal to inventory mobile home courts She also handed out and explained her sources and uses and project implementation plan She assured the CARAB that the Northern Rocky Mountain RC D could be the grantee and had served in that capacity for other new non profits Board members asked questions on when the other funding sources would be committed Lucy said that all funds were expected to be committed by October 1 2007 However private foundations do not always follow a time frame and she could not guarantee they would commit by October Lucy discussed the need for public policy change Current state regulations only provide for six months notice to terminate a mobile home lease She stated that many ofthe mobile homes arc in substandard condition and the majority are not moveable If the courts close the units would need to go to the land fill which may not have the capacity to take hundreds of mobile homes Some of the courts still have pre 1978 mobiles which do not meet fire codes and are potentially dangerous In addition some of the courts have their own infrastructure which due to lack of maintenance is deteriorating Lucy talked about a community wide process that would look at many options for avoiding resident displacement and loss of affordable housing She hoped the City would utilize the study to form a mobile home court task force Lucy stated that it would be impossible to save replace all ofthe units or mobile home courts However by being proactive the City could save or replace some ofthe affordable units and not displace a large and vital portion of Bozeman s workforce those working in the service industry Amanda moved that the CARAB recommend approval of ABCs funding request conditional upon other funding sources being committed Marcia seconded the motion It wasdiscussed that if not all of the listed funding sources were received the ABC would need to come back to the CARAB with a revised budget and implementation plan 369 Lucy assured the group that the surveyors would be covered by insurance and have a badge that identifies them as part ofthe study She hoped the press would run articles prior to the study so the public would be aware ofthe survey Lucy emphasized to the board that the ABC is an advocacy organization and residents would receive information on starting a residents association Some ofthe owners may feel threatened by the residents in their court organizing She stated that ABC would work with existing resident organizations and other interested groups The CAHAB advised her that the CAHAB would recommend using housing funds only on the survey and resulting mobile home court needs assessment Public funds could not be used for any political or lobbying activities The completed mobile home study could serve as the basis or the Citys housing needs assessment and provide information for the Growth Policy The motion passed unanimously Also on the CAHAB s agenda for the July 25th 2007 meeting was the Aspen Park Major Subdivision review The applicant was unable to attend and had canceled The meeting was adjourned 370 Community Affordable Housing Advisory Board July 11 2007 Meeting Minutes In attendance were Board Members Brian LaMeres Marcia Youngman Mary Martin J an Bergman and Connie Garrett Also in attendance were Caren Roberty CAHAB staffperson Lanette Windemaker Planner Sean Becker City Commissioner and Lucy Pope ofABC The meeting was called to order by chairman Brian LaMeres at 8 32 am Motion to approve the Minutes from July 11 2007 was made by Marcia Youngman seconded by Mary Martin and passed Lucy Pope presented the Alliance for Building Communities request for financial assistance with their mobile housing inventory Lucy stated there are approximately 1 341 mobile homes in and around Bozeman The mobile home courts are on prime release estate for development When the property is sold for development there will be many lower income households without housing and the City looses affordable units ABC proposes Mobile Housing Survey gathering information on the age and size ofthe mobile home rental or owner occupied income level ofowner occupied units and condition of mobile With that information there would be public forums to raise public awareness on mobile home displacement develop tenant associations and public forums to educate the public and negate mobile home biases The information would also be valuable if the City appointed a mobile home task force Mary Martin requested more information on ABCs long term goals Lucy discussed sources offunding such as an organization out ofNew Hampshire for purchasing either a current court or purchase land for anew co operative mobile home court Mary asked that Lucy submit a timeline with milestones for the project Caren asked if ABC was incorporated Lucy explained that the Resource Development and Conservation organization had agreed to serve as the grantee and ABC would contract with them Caren asked for a letter from RC D agreeing to be the grantee The group discussed an undated Housing Needs Assessment and how the request fit in with the City s current housing priorities and needs Concern was expressed regarding finding workers to do the survey and several organizations were mentioned Brain asked if the City would need to do a procurement process for the project Caren agreed to check with City Manager Chris Kukulski 371 Commissioner Becker suggested that Lucy co ordinate with the Gallatin Mobiles Home Association and the Growth Policy Update Caren suggested that everyone who fills out a survey be included in drawings for prizes as that motivates people to do surveys The group asked that Lucy come back with more information on her budget a timeline letter from the grantee and organizations that would be included in gathering information Lanette Windemaker presented West Winds Phases 4 8 Modification to PUD Z 07141 and West Winds Phases 4 8 Major Subdivision Preliminary Plat P 07028 The CAHAB advocates that the modifications still provide townhouses and there be no density reduction They also advise that if the developer does condos he needs to have an FHA inspection and file the plat so that 51 are owner occupied The CAHAB reviewed the preliminary plat and expressed concerns regarding the connectivity of the streets fire protection and resident access to the Park 372