MAMMOTH LAKES HOUSING, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, July 6, 2015
6:00 p.m.
Mammoth Lakes Housing Conference Room
587 Old Mammoth Rd.
Minutes
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
Members: Bill Taylor, Kirk Stapp, Larry Johnston, Colin Fernie, Lindsay Barksdale, and Tom Mazaitis
Staff: Jennifer Halferty and Patricia Robertson
Public: Dan Holler
III. Public Comments
There were no comments from the public.
IV. Approval of Minutes from the June 1, 2015 regular BOD Meeting
Larry Johnston made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Tom Mazaitis seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
V. Board Member Reports
Kirk Stapp noted that the Fourth of July Parade seemed very successful. It seems as though guests are staying longer. It will be interesting to see what the TOT revenue for July will be.
Tom Mazaitis announced to the Board that he and Jes have made the decision to leave Mammoth. He noted that he will have to resign from the Board sometime in the Fall.
VI. MLH Monthly Status Report
Jennifer Halferty reported that the Aspen Village #H105 unit sold and that the San Joaquin Villas unit #D2 was listed for about 1 week before an offer came in. The unit is in escrow for a local family using down payment assistance through the BEGIN program. She also noted that Tom Mazaitis’ unit has been listed and that there have been two interested families so far.
Jennifer Halferty gave an overview of the Old Mammoth Place Concept Review application, which will likely have a public workshop before the Planning and Economic Development Commission sometime in August or September. The Concept Review is the preliminary review of a Special Plan amendment, Map amendment, and Use Permit amendment. She noted that the project is requesting the removal of the previously required on-site workforce housing.
Bill Taylor noted that there are many projects with Use Permits that require on-site units, which will likely come forward for amendments under the new policy. This will create substantially less units and compound the issue. We are not simply dealing with the impacts created by new development, but the additional impacts that will not be mitigated by entitled projects seeking amendments.
Jennifer Halferty gave an update on her meeting with Jim Tatum, the City Administrator for the City of Bishop. She explained that Jim Tatum has been in his position for about a year, and was getting familiar with the work that MLH does and the contracts between the City of Bishop and MLH. She mentioned that the City owns a mobile home park. There is interest in having a meeting between MLH and the tenants of the park regarding the CalHome Program.
VII. Review the latest action by the Town Council on the Town of Mammoth Lakes Nexus Study/Fee Study
Jennifer Halferty gave a brief recap of the July 1st meeting regarding the Nexus Study/Fee Study. The Council voted 3-2 to adopt the fees as presented. They also gave Town staff direction to bring back an analysis and options to phase in the housing fees which also identifies funding sources to backfill any fees foregone due to the phasing. This item will be back before the Council at their August 19th meeting.
There was a discussion regarding how much housing the fee will actually be able to develop through the partnership between the Town and MLH. There was staff direction to prepare a report and agendize the item for the August 3rd meeting.
Colin Fernie gave a brief recap of the item stating that it was an overwhelming agenda. This item in particular was contentious. Some councilmembers want to send a strong message to stimulate development. Colin Fernie believes that staff brought the fees to a reasonable level and that a 70% reduction does send a strong message. He wants to have a credible fee program and recognized that there are other factors that make development financially difficult. He stated that a moratorium could potentially create more entitlements than put shovels in the ground and explained that affordable housing is a very important part of a sustainable community in the long run. He noted that a push for the reinstatement of Measure 2002A could happen as funds become available. Bill Taylor mentioned that while some political commitments were shaved only slightly, the housing component was disproportionately cut. It would be more equitable if it were spread more evenly.
There was a discussion regarding diversifying the local economy and the concept of the “destination resort.”
VIII. Review and adoption of the Draft Fiscal Year 15/16 Operating Budget
Bill Taylor asked a question regarding the expenditures to the line item “deed restriction retention.” Jennifer Halferty explained that while it appeared that the organization had only spent a portion of the funds allocated in the 14/15 Budget, the rest of the funds allocated to this line item are expressed in the Cost of Sales which MLH has absorbed during the resales of deed restricted units.
Bill Taylor made a motion to adopt the Fiscal Year 15/16 Operating Budget. Larry Johnston seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.
IX. Adjourn