Agenda - 05-01-2018 8-a - Minutes

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14 o First Half ($2.5 million) Awarded in 2017 1 o 53 Affordable Units Created 2 o FY2018-19 Second Half ($2.5 million) 3 o Request for Proposal Process and Revised Scoring Criteria 4 • 2017 Affordable Housing Bond Projects – chart 5 6 Commissioner Price asked if any changes have been made to broaden who can apply, 7 as she was disappointed with the number of applicants in the first round. 8 Travis Myren said staff is reaching out to the Affordable Housing Coalition, and other 9 provider groups, with as much information as possible. He said the first round had a quick turn 10 around, and several providers did not have projects ready. He said this second round will be 11 widely promoted. 12 Commissioner Jacobs said he is skeptical about spending the remaining $2.5 million 13 next year, and then having no funds for the foreseeable future. He suggested spreading the 14 funds out over a longer period of time, as another bond will not be possible for some time. He 15 said Orange County is leading the affordable housing community to the brink of a cliff, will 16 jump off, and then have no money to do anything else. He asked if these funds should be 17 phased over a period of years. 18 Commissioner Rich asked if the County has a policy to look at minority women vendors 19 first. 20 Jeff Thompson said yes. 21 Commissioner Rich asked if a copy of the policy could be sent to her, and if it is in need 22 of any revision. 23 Chair Dorosin asked if a copy can be sent to the entire Board. 24 Commissioner McKee said he thinks the Board is setting itself up with the perception to 25 the public that Orange County will provide a sizable amount of funds to affordable housing 26 every year. He said he does not believe this will be possible. 27 Commissioner Marcoplos said Commissioner Jacobs’ point is interesting, and asked if 28 he thinks 2018 elections may change funding sources at the federal level. 29 Commissioner Jacobs said yes. He said he talked with Congressman Price and if he is 30 in the majority party, he will be the Committee Chair on housing, and there would be a direct 31 line of communication through him. 32 Commissioner Marcoplos said he would like to consider this proposal, and put it off 33 temporarily to see what happens. 34 Commissioner Burroughs clarified that the suggestion is that, with a more friendly 35 Congress, the County’s money may be able to be used to leverage federal money. 36 Commissioner Jacobs said yes, as is done with Lands Legacy funds. He said it is 37 possible that the tax credit may come back in a future budget, and using these funds over two 38 years, as opposed to one, may allow for some more flexible opportunities to garner federal or 39 state housing dollars. 40 Commissioner Burroughs said it would be logical to hold the funds until January 2019, 41 leaving them in the CIP, and make a final decision at that time. 42 Travis Myren said staff could schedule a check in with the Board of County 43 Commissioners in January 2019, as opposed to just issuing the bonds. 44 Commissioner Price said she is concerned for those who are in need of housing, and 45 asked if staff could find out if all of the units that were built are now occupied. 46 Commissioner Burroughs said only two Empowerment rentals are occupied, and 47 everything else is yet to be built. 48 Commissioner Price said if units are immediately occupied upon completion, she would 49 take this is an indication of the need for affordable housing. She said it is her recollection that 50