Agenda - 11-05-2015 - 6-a - Minutes

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20 1 both the County and with the Towns. She said it is imperative to partner with the Towns in 2 order to be successful at addressing affordable housing. 3 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said mobile homes are included in the options for which 4 proposals can be submitted. She said partnerships are being formed between all the 5 jurisdictions, as well as the non-profit community and other stakeholders. 6 Commissioner Rich asked if the Towns have gone through a needs assessment, as she 7 wants to see the available monies be used as effectively as possible. 8 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said the consolidated plan included the Towns, and 9 participated in the assessments, giving a benchmark to look at needs. She said the discussion 10 is now focusing on solutions and options. She said the land banking was intended as a safety 11 net for mobile homes, but also to address immediate needs. 12 Commissioner Jacobs applauded staff for being creative and proactive. He said it is 13 long overdue. He said once everyone has spoken, he will make a motion to table this item until 14 the work session next month. He said the Board made a determination in its vote that the $1 15 million was for land banking. He said if the monies are going to be used differently, there 16 should be a conversation that will allow for questions, discussion and follow up. 17 Commissioner Dorosin said he likes the ideas that he is hearing this evening. He said 18 he is concerned about the general nature of the criteria, and he would like to see them be more 19 specific in connection with the goals hoping to be achieved. He said he would like to identify 20 areas that need to be targeted and find specific ways to target them. 21 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said she appreciated that she has been able to see a broader 22 picture than the Board has seen. She said the full picture has been studied, including mobile 23 homes, properties near water and sewer, tiny homes, etc. and how all these areas may fit in 24 best with Orange County's needs. She said the full scope of both the challenges and 25 opportunities could be better discussed in a work session. 26 Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciated hearing that the full picture is being 27 considered. He said he would add considering the quality of the closest elementary school to 28 the list of criteria, as well as demographics of neighborhoods. 29 Commissioner Pelissier said the criteria were interesting to her. She said when the 30 BOCC voted on land banking, it did not have the full set of information and perhaps mobile 31 homes are not the biggest need. She said the Board needs to get full information so that it can 32 prioritize the needs more effectively. 33 Commissioner Rich said the Board has been asking for the mobile home park numbers 34 for some time, and she hopes these numbers can be available for a work session. She added 35 to Commissioner Dorosin's comments stating that it is imperative that affordable housing be 36 along public transit lines. She asked if an apartment is designated as an affordable housing 37 apartment and would it always remain as such. 38 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said that would be a part of the award to negotiate the 39 restrictions to preserve it as affordable housing. 40 Commissioner Rich asked if an estimate of the number of people living in mobile home 41 parks could be provided. 42 Audrey Spencer-Horsley said as much data collection as possible has been gathered, 43 and this can be shared with the Board. 44 Commissioner Rich said she understands that flexibility is needed, but that should a 45 mobile home park close, it will be important to have land available to accommodate people that 46 need to move in a hurry. 47 Commissioner Rich said there should be a dialog with Habitat and the Community Home 48 Trust, as they have asked for flexibility with the land banking. She said the Board informed 49 them that the money was not for Community Home Trust or for Habitat, but now alternatives 50 are being considered. She said having transparent dialog is important.