MAMMOTH LAKES HOUSING, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, March 2, 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: Jen Daugherty, Senior Planner; Shields Richardson, Town Council; Dan Holler, Town Manager

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

IV.    Approval of Minutes from the February 2, 2015 regular BOD Meeting
Lindsay Barksdale made a motion to approve the minutes. Tom Mazaitis seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Bill Taylor abstained.

V.    Review and recommendation on the Mountainside Project AHMP
Jennifer Halferty presented the Mountainside Project AHMP. She explained that under the current Interim Policy, the AHMP must meet two requirements in order to be considered: 1) that on site workforce housing is undesirable for the community or infeasible, and 2) that there will be substantial additional affordable housing benefit. She explained that the AHMP did not meet the required finding that on site housing is undesirable for the community due to the size of the units, new construction, as well as its location near a major employment center and transit hub.

Jen Daugherty confirmed that the townhome units were 2,000 square feet each with an attached 2-car garage. The zoning allows for 21 units; however the site is difficult in terms of space for snow storage, etc.

Kirk Stapp noted that the proposed fee of approximately $325,000 can hardly secure one unit of similar type and does not equate to a greater housing benefit required by the ordinance.

Bill Taylor confirmed that the location is desirable based on its proximity to employment, major transit routes, and is a residential neighborhood. He noted that from the community’s standpoint, this would make a good asset in terms of workforce housing.

Kirk Stapp made a motion to recommend that the Town of Mammoth Lakes not accept the AHMP on grounds that it does not meet the findings required by the interim housing policy and recommend that the Town require the provision of the on-site unit and the $9,288.80 in fees as is consistent with the current policy (Option 1). Bill Taylor seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-0. Colin Fernie abstained.

VI.    Review and direction on the Draft Middle Income Workforce Homebuyer Assistance Program Policies and Guidelines
Jennifer Halferty presented the Draft Middle Income Program Guidelines. Colin Fernie mentioned that he thought the starting point of a 10% down payment requirement or $50,000 maximum seemed reasonable. This would allow MLH to help approximately four families with $200,000 from Measure 2002A. Lindsay Barksdale asked about the modesty clause which limits the purchase to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. Jennifer Halferty explained the importance of spending tax payer dollars judiciously. She also mentioned that she would look for some conflict of interest language. Staff will revise the draft and provide a copy to the Town Manager.

VII.    Discussion of upcoming joint meeting with the Town Council and the Planning and Economic Development Commission
Kirk Stapp acknowledged the importance of framing the upcoming discussion with the Town Council and the Planning and Economic Development Commission. He explained that the reality is that we compete with other resorts. He pointed out the community’s success in providing units (MLH, Town, Mammoth Hospital, MCWD, and the business community have all participated in housing). He emphasized the importance of weighing the value of getting housing with the prospect of new development for the Town Council.

Larry Johnston asked if we as a community wanted to be a place like Vail where no one can afford to live or if we wanted to be a thriving, vibrant community where people lived, worked, and volunteered. He noted that new housing policies should have only intended consequences. Kirk Stapp agreed that building a community was not the developer’s prerogative but that sustainability was our issue. Colin Fernie agreed that having affordable housing for people to live in is important as Mammoth Lakes continues to develop.

Bill Taylor pointed out that the General Plan states that a priority for the Town is to increase the supply of adequate housing that workers can afford. Is this still a priority? And if so, how are we going to achieve this goal? Peer resort communities typically have a 1 to 3 ratio of long-term housing units compared to transient units.

Colin Fernie expressed that the concrete numbers and comparisons are useful tools to see how we are doing as a community. He also said that we need to think of more creative ways to house locals.

VIII.    Board Member Reports
Tom Mazaitis noted that he watched the Cornerstone webinar on inclusionary zoning and had concerns over whether and to what extent the Town has three of the five components that make fee-based policies successful: capacity, land, and community support.

Larry Johnston noted that there will be a special Board of Supervisors meeting on March 3rd at 6:00 PM at the Crowley Lake Community Center to discuss issues surrounding the Round Fire recovery efforts.

IX.    MLH Monthly Status Report
Jennifer Halferty gave an update regarding Speaker Toni Atkins Housing Bill which is gaining momentum. The bill proposes four items:

  1. Create a permanent source for affordable housing at the State level through a transfer tax,
  2. Increase the 4% tax credit allotment for affordable apartment developments,
  3. Establish the framework under which the State Department of Housing and Community Development will distribute federal National Housing Trust Fund dollars,
  4. And define a rapid rehousing program funded with savings from Prop 47, which required misdemeanor sentences (instead of felonies) for certain drug and property offenses.

X.    Adjourn