HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2015-07-10
108 East Green Street
Ithaca, New York 14850
(607) 274-655
MINUTES
IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee
July 10, 2015
I. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 8:33 by Chair T. Farrell. Present were: T. Farrell, K. Graham, T.
Halpert, and L. Truame (staff). J. Cornish (staff) arrived at 8:39. F. deAragon arrived at 9:10.
II. Public comment
None.
III. Review of Minutes – June 2015
T. Halpert moved, K. Graham seconded. Approved as written.
IV. New Business
1. Election of Officers
T. Farrell invited nominations for Chair and Vice‐chair of the Neighborhood Investment Committee.
T. Halpert proposed that the existing officers continue in their current roles: T. Farrell as Chair, K.
Graham as Vice‐chair.
Moved by T. Halpert, seconded by K. Graham, unanimously approved.
V. Old Business
1. Draft Action Plan, Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing – discussion
The committee reviewed a preliminary draft Action Plan, prepared by L. Truame based on comments
made by committee members at the June 2015 meeting. Revisions were discussed and agreed upon.
Susan Cummings arrived at 9:20.
K. Graham left the meeting at 9:30.
There was a discussion of acceptance of Section 8 vouchers locally. S. Cummings stated that the
Ithaca Housing Authority reports no decrease in the number of large landlords who accept their
vouchers; some smaller landlords may have had a bad experience with a voucher holder and then
decided not to accept vouchers any longer, but IHA is not aware of any significant changes in the
number of properties that accept vouchers, other than the loss of Parkside Gardens/Grandview. The
change at Parkside Gardens/Grandview appears to be related to a change in management at those
Ithaca
Urban
Renewal
Agency
properties, not a change in ownership. [Note: a subsequent conversation with the Learning Web
reveals that the properties are now being managed by the owner himself.] S. Cummings observed
that it can be difficult for a landlord to work with TCAction as the voucher issuer, due to a somewhat
high rate of staff turnover and consequent administrative lapses; this could create a barrier to the
acceptance of vouchers by small landlords.
Discussion returned to next steps in development of the draft Action Plan. L. Truame will send out a
revised draft for further review by the committee, and will indicate proposed action items that are 1)
activities the Agency or City is already pursuing and will likely continue, 2) activities the Agency or City
is not currently pursuing, but which could be initiated with relative ease, and 3) activities that would
require a more significant investment of time and/or resources. J. Cornish noted that as the next step
in the Comprehensive Plan process, the City will likely undertake a thematic plan focused on housing.
Some of the research that is proposed in the draft Action Plan might be folded into that thematic
plan.
VI. Motion to Adjourn
Meeting adjourned by consensus at 10:30.