AHAB minutes 051419 - Laserfiche WebLink

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McLendon stated that these proposals sound great but has a concern that it will add to the staff's workload. The department's staff members have more responsibilities than the monthly AHAB meetings. It will require a lot of work to plan and coordinate a meeting such as the ministers' meeting. Mr. Cook responded that he has known other boards that regularly meet out in the community. Mr. Cook said that he wants the Advisory Board to become experts on affordable housing and so should regularly talk to professionals about their duties and responsibilities. The County has requested the Advisory Board to do specific things that it is not currently doing. [Mr. Cook read the charge and responsibilities of the AHAB]. He said that at this time, the Advisory Board has not done anything as required by this charge. If the Advisory Board is to increase awareness of affordable housing issues then it has to go out into the community rather than sit in a conference room. Ms. Hampton stated that the County attorney laid out the process to schedule AHAB meetings outside of their regular schedule. Also, she understood that the Advisory Board wants to change the meeting locations as opposed to adding additional meetings to the schedule. Ms. Hampton went over the process that the County Attorney indicated in his email which required that the AHAB petition the BOCC to make the change. A letter has been drafted for the Advisory Board's consideration which includes proposed community meetings to be held at community centers on June 11th, September 10th and November 12th. The August AHAB meeting should be used as a planning meeting for the members to develop an agenda for the community meetings. In addition, the Affordable Housing Coalition and the Local Government Affordable Housing Collaborative have been discussing a possible schedule for a meeting of all area affordable housing representatives and Ms. Hampton will make sure that the AHAB is invited. Ms. Hampton stated that there will now be a full two hour orientation for new members rather than for thirty minutes prior to a regular meeting. All program staff members will be in attendance. A new Community Development Manager position, which includes real estate experience, has been created and once this position is filled this person will attend AHAB meetings. Both OCHA and AHAB members are also invited to the annual landlord and tenant meetings as well as to other meetings and public hearings. The Advisory Board is also regularly sent relevant information that comes to the OCH&CD Department and a follow up section has been added to the Director's report to make sure that there is follow up on information and requests. Departmental funding is being to last year's level but there is sufficient funding allocated for a couple of AHAB members to attend the annual conference. Lastly, Ms. Hampton said that the Affordable Housing Coalition has developed a series of guiding principles for the development of affordable housing and wants to present them to other affordable housing groups and so she has asked them to present them to AHAB at its June meeting. Ms. Hampton also said that the letter to the BOCC requesting a change in its meeting schedule should go before them at their June meeting since they do not meet during the summer. She will follow up on the availability of the community centers and staff will be responsible for the logistics of the meetings. The Advisory Board should create a subcommittee to develop an agenda for these meetings. Page 2