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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-IURANI-2016-07-08 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 274-655 DRAFT MINUTES IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee July 8,2016 I.Call to Order Chair Tracy Farrell called the meeting to order at 8:29.Present were T.Farrell;vice chair,Karl Graham;Teresa Halpert;and Lynn Truame (staff).Fernando de Aragon arrived at 8:33. II.Public comment None. III.Review of Minutes –April 2016 Moved by T.Halpert,seconded by K.Graham.Unanimously approved as written. IV.New Business 1.Election of Vice chair;nomination of Chair T.Farrell nominated K.Graham to serve as Chair in the coming year.K.Graham accepted the nomination.K.Graham nominated T.Farrell to serve as Vice chair.T.Farrell accepted the nomination. 2016 Appointment of IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee Chairperson WHEREAS,IURA By laws provide that the committee membership shall elect its own committee Vice Chairperson and nominate a candidate for committee Chairperson for consideration by the Agency,and WHEREAS,per the Bylaws,an Agency member shall fill either the committee Chairperson or committee Vice Chairperson position,and WHEREAS,officers of each committee serve a one year term,but continue to hold office until their successor is selected or appointed,and WHEREAS,the current Committee Chairperson and Vice Chairpersons are Tracy Farrell and Karl Graham,respectively,now,therefore be it RESOLVED,that Karl Graham be nominated as Chairperson of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee,and be it further Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency RESOLVED,that Tracy Farrell be elected as Vice Chairperson of the IURA Neighborhood Investment Committee. Carried unanimously. V.Old Business 1.Project updates BJM Housing for School Success:L.Truame reported that staff had met with the other core agencies participating in the program to establish specific protocols for moving forward and that two potential families had already been referred by the school.One family had previously applied for housing with INHS and had been denied based on credit score;the same family was approved by INHS as a participant in this program because of the relaxation of credit requirements.A second family has found housing on their own and will not be eligible to participate in the Housing for School Success program. 210 Hancock:L.Truame reported that the IURA loans for the project had closed last week and that construction had begun. A Place to Stay:L.Truame read the following report from Catholic Charities: At this time we have three residents who are all doing quite well working towards their individual goals 2 of them will be moving out in September and the other one will be moving in October.We have one vacant room and are currently interviewing candidates for that room.We did have one resident move into her own housing.In the five weeks that she stayed with us she obtained full time employment and secured a one bedroom apartment in Groton NY.Additionally Catholic Charities was able to help her with the security deposit required for that unit. We have an Americorps member serving as a full time housing assistant,she works 2 10 Tuesday Saturday.We have begun certain weekly activities for the residents such as private yoga instruction on Friday afternoons and movie tickets to Cinemapolis, each of the residents are volunteering in the community about once a week as well. We had a bit of a rocky start with some personality clashes and (loud)conflicts but have worked hard to mediate those issues and it has been a much calmer environment in the past couple weeks.I am feeling very hopeful about the potential of this project and am excited to watch it develop. 2.Discuss options for disposition of 402 S.Cayuga Street property T.Farrell recapped the history of the IURA’s involvement with the 402 S.Cayuga Street site,from the original property transfer from the City and the process undertaken to prioritize site usage and solicit development proposals,through the determination of infeasibility of the selected INHS proposal and subsequent interest in the site from other parties.The committee then discussed the relative need for new home owner vs new rental units in the city and possible development alternatives for the Cayuga Street site,including rental,single family homeowner,and condominium.L.Truame commented on the complex requirements for developing condos in New York State and suggested that if the agency were interested in that product type,it might make sense to solicit an experienced condo developer from outside our local market.L. Truame also noted that the County’s housing study would be completed soon and might help shed light on the type of product for which the greatest need exists.After additional discussion,the committee agreed to delay action on site disposition at least until the County’s housing study could be reviewed.In the meantime,staff was directed to ask Habitat for Humanity to look at the site and seriously consider what they would be able to develop there,knowing that Habitat would not have capacity to undertake another project in the city until they have completed the Third Street and Morris Avenue project. 3.Update on status of legislation regarding property tax assessment for sales price restricted homeowner properties:L.Truame provided the following report from INHS: Legislation passed in both state government houses;it requires local tax authorities to adopt the exemption.Now it goes to the governor’s office for signature,which we hear can take a while.We will start working with all the local municipalities to accept the exemption.Our target is to get all of this done before next March 1 taxable status date. VI.Motion to Adjourn The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 9:30.