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Agenda and Minutes 2011-08-17 City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee 210 Main Street, City Hall Northampton, MA 01060 Community Preservation Committee DATE: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 TIME: 7:00pm PLACE: City Council Chambers, 212 Main Street (BEHIND City Hall) Contact: Katharine Baker, Chair, Community Preservation Committee bakerkg@comcast.net Sarah LaValley, Community Preservation Planner slavalley@northamptonma.gov (413) 587-1263 Agenda  7:00 - Public Comment  7:05 - Chair’s Report  7:10 - Minutes June 1, 2011 o  7:15 – Eligibility Forms Received  7:25 – Q&A for Applicants  7:35 – Community Gardens Contract  7:40 – King Street SRO Project Affordability Level Change  7:50 – FY12 Reserve Allocations & Financial Update  8:00 – 5-year report to Council  8:30 – Reports from staff Project Updates o Affordable Housing Meeting Recap o  8:35 - Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published  8:45 – Adjourn Next meeting: September 7 For additional information please refer to the Community Preservation Committee website: http://www.northamptonma.gov/cpc/ Community Preservation Committee Minutes August 17, 2011 Time: 7:00 pm Place: City Council Chambers, 212 Main St. Members Present: Katharine Baker, Fran Volkmann, David Drake, Downey Meyer, Jim Durfer Staff Present: Sarah LaValley Katharine called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Public Comment There was no public comment. Chair’s Report Katharine informed the Committee that she attended the grand opening of the Yvonne’s House/Gandara Center project. The CPC was presented with a plaque, which Katharine read to the CPC. Katharine noted that “An Act to Sustain Community Preservation” did not pass in he last week before recess. Katharine informed the Committee that there is an effort underway to repeal the CPA in Northampton by placing a question on the ballot in November, and that signatures are currently being collected. Minutes – June 1, 2011 Jim moved to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by David. The motion carried unanimously. Eligibility Forms Received Sarah informed the Committee that nine Eligibility forms were submitted: CT River Greenway – Northampton OPD, Recreation/Open Space Downtown Greenspaces – Northampton OPD, Open Space Conservation Fund – Northampton Conservation Commission, Open Space Beaver Brook Bridge – Northampton OPD, Historic Preservation Academy of Music Renovations – Academy of Music, Historic Preservation Mineral Hills Bookends – Northampton Conservation Commission, Open Space/Recreation Florence Fields – Northampton Recreation Commission, Recreation Hopkins House – Save the Erastus Hopkins House Committee, Historic Preservation Shaws Motel – Valley CDC, Community Housing Katharine informed the Committee that the Northampton Central Services Department and the Hampshire Council of Governments both missed the deadline for eligibility forms, but expressed interest in presenting Round 2 applications. The CPC agreed that late eligibility forms could not be allowed, but the applicants should be invited to apply in the next round of funding. Q&A for Applicants Tom Douglas, Academy of Music, asked how much money will be allocated to each project category in Round 2. The Committee answered that $700,000 is available each round, but the amount spent on each category varies, depending on applications received. Tom asked about the procedure for bonding. The CPC noted that future CPA revenues be committed to repayment of bonds for specific projects. Councilor Tacy asked about the procedure for expedited project review. The Committee referenced the CPA plan. Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 1 August 17, 2011 Community Gardens Contract Sarah informed the CPC that the contract for the Community Gardens project was not approved by Joe Cook, the City’s Procurement Officer, because it did not contain procurement and prevailing wage clauses. The City’s lease on the property, although a temporary lease with no real ownership interest, is considered ownership for procurement purposes. The CPC questioned this decision, and Sarah noted that it was confirmed by the Department of Labor. Adele Franks, GrowFood Northampton, noted that some of the CPA-budgeted items may increase in cost due to the additional requirements. It could raise the price for water installation, for example, where prevailing wage would be needed. Sarah stated that another CPC vote to approve the contract with an additional procurement clause is needed. Downy moved to approve the amended Community Gardens contract, seconded by Fran. The motion carried unanimously. King Street SRO Project Affordability Level Change Sarah informed the CPC that the King Street SRO project is now complete, and a grand opening was held in July. The project application, and resulting resolution, specified that eight affordable units, restricted to individuals earning less than 50% AMI would be created. Since CPA funds were awarded, the project changed, and the end result is ten affordable units were created: five restricted to individuals earning 60% AMI, two to 50% AMI, and three to 30% AMI. This change was not caught until the affordability restriction was submitted to the City. Katharine approved a memo to City Council explaining the need for the changes. A memo was also provided from the Community and Economic Development Department, noting that the changes will still serve affordable housing needs in Northampton. CPC approval of the memo, and resolution allowing the change is needed. The CPC agreed that the change in unit breakdown is positive, but expressed concern about the project change, noting that grantees must inform the Committee about any need for project changes as soon as possible so the CPC can evaluate their significance and whether they are beneficial. Councilor Tacy noted that he visited the Maple SRO project when it was complete, and was told that the units were not intended to be enhanced SRO as originally presented. Fran stressed that the Maple Street project is not part of the current discussion. David moved to approve the memo and resolution, seconded by Downey. The motion carried, 4- 1. FY12 Reserve Allocations & Financial Update Sarah provided an overview of the budget update, noting that approximately $700,000 will be available at the next round. The FY12 allocation reflects the required 10% set-aside for each category, 5% for administrative, and debt repayment. Fran moved to approve the allocation, seconded by Downey. The motion carried unanimously. 5-year report to Council Sarah provided an outline of the 5-year report to Council that Katharine will present in September. Committee members will provide initial comments to Katharine Reports from staff Project Updates Sarah noted that the Lilly Library Window project is complete. Affordable Housing Meeting Recap Sarah noted that she attended a meeting with the Mass Affordable Housing Alliance, Valley CDC, and surrounding CPA communities, where challenges to affordable housing production with the CPA were discussed. Other Business Not Foreseen When Agenda Was Published Fran suggested that a discussion of signage be added to the next agenda. Sarah will obtain a thorough explanation of why HUD low-income limits differ from CPA low- income limits. Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 2 August 17, 2011 Adjourn On a motion and second, with unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM Northampton Community Preservation Committee Minutes 3 August 17, 2011