MAMMOTH LAKES HOUSING, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, January 5, 2015
6:00 p.m.

Mammoth Lakes Housing Conference Room
587 Old Mammoth Rd.

Minutes

I. Call to Order

II. Roll Call
Members present: Bill Taylor, Kirk Stapp, Larry Johnston, Lindsay Barksdale, and Tom Mazaitis
Members absent: Colin Fernie
Staff: Jennifer Halferty and Patricia Robertson
Town staff: Sandra Moberly and Ruth Traxler

III. Public Comments
There were no comments from the public.

IV. Approval of Minutes from the December 1, 2014 regular BOD Meeting
Larry Johnston made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Tom Mazaitis seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0.

V. Discussion on the proposed changes to transient rental Use Permit requirements in the Town’s RMF-2 Zone
Jennifer Halferty presented the item by reminding the Board that this item was first heard at the December 1, 2014 meeting. At that meeting the Board asked for more information from staff and expressed the concern regarding the potential loss to workforce rental units. She pointed out that gaining 25 single-family homes for transient rentals didn’t seem like an adequate benefit for the potential loss of 175 (of 899) long-term rental apartments. Larry Johnston clarified that the “applicant” was the Town Council and that staff was proposing to approve the amendment. Ruth Traxler, Associate Planner, explained that the Finance Department will have a new system for tracking transient rentals by address and unit, hopefully by February and that the purpose of this amendment is to make the process easier. She related that currently, it is often difficult to deny a Use Permit for transient rental in the RMF-2 zone since so many of the projects in the the zone already allow that use. She went on to explain that she doesn’t believe this is an issue of incompatible land uses, but an issue regarding the potential loss to the long-term rental stock, which staff is willing to look into. Bill Taylor reiterated his concern that 175 units is a large percentage of the rental apartments in town. We are already undersupplied with rental housing for the workforce. Kirk Stapp agreed, saying that by losing apartments we are exacerbating the need. He asked what the negative impacts to this loss might be and how do we pick up the slack. Larry Johnston explained that this proposal seemed to be in direct conflict with Mammoth Lakes Housing’s mission which is to create workforce housing, so that housing can be affordable to those community members who live and work in town. He asked if there is some way to off-set or mitigate for this potential loss. He thinks the proposal needs more substantive evaluation. He expressed quality of life concerns for those community members who live in these apartment units, and hypothesized that this amendment was discriminatory due to the lower-income status of the individuals living there. Bill Taylor suggested that the proposal seemed to be in conflict with the General Plan. Bill Taylor made a motion for staff to draft a letter to the Planning and Economic Development Commission. Ruth Traxler will summarize and express the Board’s very strong concern that this proposal could have adverse effects on the rental housing stock in the staff report. The Planning and Economic Development Commission will hear the item at their January 14, 2015 meeting.

VI. Receive a copy of MLH 2014 Annual Report to the Mammoth Lakes Town Council
Jennifer Halferty presented the Annual Report which she will share with the Town Council on January 7, 2015. Lindsay Barksdale pointed out that she hopes the Town Council is impressed with the work MLH has been doing, specifically diversifying funding sources with the $1 million CalHome award. Bill Taylor expressed that this is a great way to get the word out.

VII. Board Member Reports
Lindsay Barksdale asked for an update regarding The Inn at the Village inclusionary requirement. Jennifer Halferty explained that once a developer comes forward for a building permit, the inclusionary policy in place at the time will apply. The Town is currently working on a consulting contract to start work on a new policy. Lindsay Barksdale also asked for an update on the Shady Rest tract. Jennifer Halferty explained that the Town responded to the application with a list of required items. The applicant has until February 5, 2015 to respond to the Town’s completeness letter with more information.

Larry Johnston reported that the Board of Supervisors will be making new appointments on January 6, 2015. He would like to continue to serve on the Mammoth Lakes Housing Board.

Kirk Stapp mentioned that he read an article regarding affordable housing in San Francisco and that the real estate market in Mammoth Lakes is very similar. He expressed the importance in making comparisons between Mammoth Lakes and other resort communities.

VIII. MLH Monthly Status Report
Jennifer Halferty highlighted some items in the monthly status report. She reiterated that the Town is moving forward with securing a consultant to work on the inclusionary policy. She mentioned that the Strategic Growth Council’s revised draft guidelines for the AHSC program (Cap and Trade) will be available January 9, 2015 and will likely be adopted by the end of the month. She pointed out that home prices continue to rise since 2012.

CLOSED SESSION

IX. Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957, the Board will hold a closed session to discuss a performance evaluation, title: Executive Director

Announcement of action taken during closed session

No action was taken.

X. Adjourn