HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-RHAC-2006-04-19Rental Housing Advisory Commission
Minutes from the 4/19/06 meeting
Dave Breeden, David Gersh, Joyce Muchan, Nicole Carrier -Titti, Shane Seger in
attendance.
1. Approved 03/15/06 minutes
2. Discussion of need for more tenant members for the Commission—D. Breeden
will write an op -ed for the Ithaca Journal to try to solicit more tenant members.
3. D. Gersh to contact Planning Commission re: Community Benefits Agreements"
concept to make development projects account to the City of Ithaca. RHAC
endorses the adoption of this concept which may, we believe, promote lower
property taxes and lower rent increases.
4. S. Seger to advise Planning, Economic Development and Environmental Quality
Committee that RHAC wishes to make a presentation about Community Benefits
at one of their meetings.
5. "Affordable Housing Needs Assessment" document available at the Tompkins
County Assessment Dept., 128 E. Buffalo St., 274 -5517.
6. Liaison Report from S. Seger:
A. Planning Dept.'s work plan includes working with RHAC to develop
more affordable rental housing.
B. Shane will invite a member of the Planning Dept. to speak before the
RHAC
C. Current density policy is being reconsidered so as to permit greater
density and more rental housing. This raises questions of how dense,
and where such development could occur. Is there a need to change
zoning ordinance standards to permit more occupants (e.g., current
parking and common area requirements restrict number of occupants
despite availability of legal bedrooms
D. Revisit exterior property maintenance ordinance. Possible revisions
include requiring apt. number on garbage cans to enable
accountability, changing the fine structure so that a warning might be
issued before any fine is given, and changing the amounts of the
various subsequent fines and the term for increasing fines —would it
make more sense to have this term be coincident with the school year
or other period? Additionally, there is a need for public (especially
student) education as to responsibilities (PSA's, the Sun, the Ithacan,
ads, Collegetown Neighborhood Council handouts, etc) regarding
move -ins and move -outs, depositing of trash, etc
E. Building Dept. adopted a 5 -year inspection policy for rental properties,
in past, because of staffing shortages. Now NY State has mandated 3
year inspection cycle.
F. State legislature is considering a bill (promoted by Barbara Lifton)
requiring tenant and buyer notification of known environmental
hazards (e.g., TCE from Emerson Power Transmission on South Hill).
City of Ithaca may announce its support of this bill by a resolution at
the July 2006 meeting of Common Council.
7. Interaction of RHAC with City Hall (D. Breeden)
A. He and Shane met with Mayor Peterson on 4/3/6. She may be able to
attend our public Housing Forum
B. In order to reduce our perceived lack of interaction with Common
Council, we requested that the RHAC be added to mailing lists of
relevant Council committees, etc so that we may be aware of their
agendas
C. Nels Bohn will speak to the RHAC regarding affordable housing on
6/21/06
D. Discussion for need for off - campus Rental Housing Center: each area
has its own needs: CU, IC, downtown. One possibility is a virtual
link, one if a physical center.
8. Announcements (N. Carrier -Titti)
A. INHS will develop low- income project on West Hill between Floral
Avenue and Elm St.
B. INHS starting landlord responsibility classes because many of their
units have rental apartments.
C. N. Carrier -Titti will meet informally with Building Commissioner
Phyllis Radke
D. NY State has excepted from property assessment increases any
improvements to property made in compliance witht the ADA. Has
the City and County adopted thse exceptions. If not, they should. If
so, this information should be widely publicized. Shane will look into
this.
9. Date for our Public Housing Forum is not yet decided.