MAMMOTH LAKES HOUSING, INC.
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, October 3, 2016
Regular meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Mammoth Lakes Housing Conference Room
587 Old Mammoth Rd.
Minutes
I. Call to Order 6:00 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Members present: Lindsay Barksdale, Larry Johnston, Jiselle Kenny, Kirk Stapp, Bill Taylor and John Wentworth
Staff present: Jennifer Halferty, Anita Hatter (for Patricia Robertson)
Public: Ruth Traxler, Town of Mammoth Lakes
III. Public Comments
None.
IV. Approval of Minutes from the September 15, 2016 regular BOD Meeting
Moved by Bill Taylor, seconded by Lindsay Barksdale, unanimously carried to approve the minutes of the September 15, 2016 regular BOD meeting.
V. Board Member reports
Jiselle reported that many of her friends were looking for housing, and that there was nothing available, even on the Blizzard website.
Bill Taylor reported that in his neighborhood, a renter across the street from him was renting out a bedroom to friends who could not find other housing.
Kirk Stapp noted thanked John for passing along a letter from Jason Corbin regarding his difficulties in finding housing for the winter season and the impossible financial situation for many young workers.
John Wentworth thanked Jennifer for attending the TOT committee meeting. He noted that he and others were very concerned about the reduction in the available long-term rental base created by the growth of airbnb and VRBO use by second homeowners. He said there was a need for more detailed data about the loss of this housing. He commented on the letter from Kirk in the local paper regarding the potential uses for an Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD). There was discussion of possible ways to encourage more long-term rentals of existing condominiums, including better enforcement of existing rules, improving the GIS database, and the potential formation of an EIFD by either the Town of the County.
Larry Johnston requested that the subject of EIFD be put on a future agenda for discussion.
John Wentworth reported out on the Council discussion on the formation and parameters of the Downtown Working Group, noting that Council had indicated support for leaving the Post Office where it is, continuing to plan for the ice rink at Mammoth Creek Park, and having a municipal/governmental site adjacent to the Courthouse on Main Street. He noted that Councilmembers did not indicate support for changing the current Affordable Housing overlay on the Shady Rest Parcel. With respect to parking and transit, he noted that the focus was on how to deliver visitors and residents to recreational amenities and businesses, and getting people out of their cars. He noted that the LTC was discussing potential changes and improvements to the road to Red’s Meadow, and that there was a possibility that federal grant funds might be a possible source, as the road provided access to Federal recreational lands.
VI. MLH monthly status report
Jennifer reported on her attendance at the Grounded Solutions conference, noting that the legal and enforcement implications of airbnb and VRBO had been the subject of one of the sessions, and that city attorneys were struggling to develop effective policies. She noted that there were workforce housing issues at all of the major ski resorts, with many workers living many miles away from their jobs. She reviewed the information in the report; there was discussion among members of the Board and staff regarding the Cap and Trade grant application for Shady Rest; the recent Hispanic conference, and the formation of an informal group of Hispanic community members to provide advice and feedback to MLH; the benefits of including community gathering places in affordable housing developments; and the obstacles to MLH purchasing one of the local mobile home parks. Lindsay asked that the monthly status report include more demographic information on the individuals who are seeking housing.
VII. Review of agenda items, including a draft agreement for services between the Town and MLH, and other discussion items for the October 19, 2016 joint MLH – Town Council meeting
There was discussion of the draft agreement, including the desire to ensure that the Town would continue to fund MLH at the agreed upon level even when grant funding is successful beyond projections, and the need for clarity and agreement between the Board and the Council with respect to the scope of work and the deliverables in the contract.
VIII. Review, discuss and possibly make a recommendation to the Mammoth Lakes Town Council on the TOML Strategic Alignment Milestones – Competitive Profile of How TOML can Access Housing Capital for Rehabilitating and converting Existing Housing Stock to Affordable Housing & A Competitive Profile of How the TOML can Access Housing Capital for New Construction
There was discussion regarding the need for the community to generate its own funding for affordable housing; the currently unmet needs for suitable land and funding for workforce housing; what the scope of the study session conversation with the Council should include; what is missing from the scope of work and deliverables in the draft agreement, and what should be included; the need to include voices from the business community and worker community in the conversation on housing needs; and the shift away from seasonal housing needs to year-round housing needs; e.g., seasonal workers who are also year-round residents.
IX. Shipping Containers as temporary/transitional homeless housing (information only)
Because of the lateness of the hour, this item was continued to the next regular meeting; John Wentworth asked that the subject of “Tiny Houses” be included as well. Larry Johnston left the meeting at 8:50 p.m.
X. Council Member recap for the Town Council meeting
Not needed, as there is a joint meeting with the Council prior to the next Council meeting
XI. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.