Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHTFMinutes_2017_02_09Brookings Affordable Housing Task Force February 9, 2017 Minutes A meeting of the Brookings Affordable Housing Task Force was held on Thursday, February 9, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. in the Brookings City and County Government Center. Members present: Patty Bacon, Jacob Mills, Kelan Bludorn, Ryan Krogman, Connie Bridges, Mike Lockrem, Al Heuton, and Angie Boersma. City staff and others present: Jeff Weldon, City Manager, Kevin Catlin, Assistant to the City Manager, Mike Struck, Community Development Director, Staci Bungard, City Planner and Dan McColley, Director of Brookings Habitat for Humanity. Chair Bacon called the meeting to order at 1:04 p.m. Heuton made a motion to approve the agenda, Boersma seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion carried. Heuton made a motion to approve the January 12, 2017 minutes, Mills seconded the motion and all voted aye. Motion carried. Next Scheduled Meeting. Thursday, March 9, 2017 at 1:00 pm. Discussion on Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Tax Exempt Bonds. The Task Force discussed the following:  A legislative bill is being proposed that would limit the use of the TIF. Residential development would no longer be eligible to use TIF.  Valley View Addition used the TIF option to provide lower priced homes. The developer fronted the infrastructure costs but was paid back a certain amount as taxes were received from homeowners in the development. This was created as an 18-20 year district but should be paid in about 9 years.  The School District, County, and City do not receive as much tax revenue when a TIF district is implemented.  The City has an adopted policy on how to use TIF.  Valley View did provide lower cost housing than likely would not have been created without the use of TIF.  Another legislative bill is being considered that would tax multifamily development at a residential rate rather than a commercial rate.  TIF is a good tool but it is not a long-term sustainable solution to a community affordable housing issue.  Tax exempt bonds are available through South Dakota Housing Development Authority (SDHDA) for income based multifamily projects. This is a very competitive process statewide and it likely would be difficult to start a local program. Discussion on Housing Resources. Chair Bacon stated the Center for Community Change will be in Brookings on April 19th & 20th, 2017 to discuss housing trust funds. The session on April 19th will include public participation and the meeting on April 20th will be with the Taskforce. Chair Bacon is coordinating with Joy McCraken to have her come to the March 9, 2017 meeting to discuss land trusts. The Task Force continued the discussion on the affordable housing strategies spreadsheet with a focus on determining the costs. The group discussion focused on:  The group decided the costs on the affordable housing strategies would be defined as costs to the community.  The group discussed the costs of various strategies and entered the costs into the spreadsheet.  The spreadsheet needs a column added for State & Federally Funded Programs.  The state revolving loan fund could potentially finance a community drainage study.  Chair Bacon will invite Brenda Schweitzer, Executive Director of BATA and Dan McColley, Executive Director of Brookings Habitat for Humanity to the next meeting.  Al will work on splitting the spreadsheet into categories and start looking at quantifying positive impacts to the community.  Chair Bacon encouraged the group to think about what it would take to start a housing trust fund. A motion was made by Bludorn and seconded by Bridges to adjourn the meeting. All present voted yes and the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m.