Minutes 09-08-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6 said the Board must be very intentional about meeting the needs of those at the lowest income levels. Commissioner Pelissier said workforce housing for lower level incomes, those with special needs, the homeless and seniors, have all been missed by the Board historically. She wants to prioritize those groups that have not been addressed in the past, as opposed to standard workforce housing. She said the Board should focus on those residents that are here in Orange County, and want to stay here. Commissioner Rich said to also include the creative classes who bring diversity to Orange County. Commissioner Dorosin said the bond money has to serve low-income residents. John Roberts said the bond money will be limited to what is on the bond issue question on the ballot. Commissioner Burroughs said the bond money is limited, and it is important to be focused. Commissioner Jacobs said the Board could consider incentivizing one project, which does not fit into the bond money criteria, and work with the non-profits to make it work. Commissioner Pelissier said the ballot says housing for low and moderate income, up to 80% median of$72,000 for a family of four. Commissioner Dorosin said one of the factors in a matrix could be income range, while others may be a particular population; or access to public transportation, which will limit where you put units; or access to water and sewer; or strategic partnerships. Commissioner Dorosin said this is a living document, and perhaps in the first year priorities a, b, and c are addressed, and in the following year(s) other priorities are addressed. Commissioner Dorosin said there should be a list of questions to put into the prioritizations. Chair McKee said work force housing and parameters of percentages of income were mentioned. Chair McKee asked if the Board wants to indicate a preference for a particular target area, such as targeting work force, with a focus on low income; or target the entrepreneurs such as the creative class. Commissioner Rich said the Board has not even talked about micro housing, and it is important to think outside of the box when making priorities. She said $5 million is not a lot of money, and a matrix for how to use this funding needs to be determined, as well as what to do when this funding runs out. Commissioner Jacobs said one of the handicaps for jobs in Orange County is the lack of public transportation, and the Board should consider the criteria to include in a plan for the usage of the bond money and beyond. He said the funds are for housing, but the overall plan should be bigger than just housing. He said the Board has yet to come to terms with how it wants to do land banking. Commissioner Pelissier said to add land banking to the matrix, allocating points to different variables in proposed projects. Commissioner Jacobs said there could be an incentive for not using public land or money. Commissioner Pelissier said the biggest challenge is targeting income level, and may make it messier in terms of assigning points. Audrey Spencer-Horsley said points can be assigned for serving a particular income level. Chair McKee asked if the Board wants Audrey Spencer Horsley and her staff to come back with a matrix of prioritization areas, with some potential percentages, incorporating comments she has heard tonight.