12/18/1997 - Minutes COMMUNITY HOUSING TASK FORCE MEETING
Minutes of
Thursday, December 18, 1997
Tigard City Hall
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sheila Greenlaw-Fink, Andy Miller, Councilor Ken Scheckla
and Susan Wilson.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Sharon Fleming-Barret, Cecilia Maciel, Kathy Mattison (for Emily
Cedarleaf), Sally Parks and Dedi Streich.
ALSO PRESENT: David Scott, Building Official, City of Tigard.
The meeting was convened at approximately 1:15 p.m.
I. SELF INTRODUCTIONS:
Introductions were not necessary.
II. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 4, 1997, MEETING MINUTES
The minutes were approved with the following amendments:
In Section III.A. add language to reflect the concern expressed that a purely reactive
program would not be effective in dealing with problems in units where tenants are
reticent to complain, and that the scope of referrals should include self and
interdepartmental referrals to address this. (requested by Greenlaw-Fink).
In Section III.D. that the sentence regarding mandatory licensing not being considered
be changed to state "is not a preferred option." (requested by Wilson).
III. WORK SESSION:
Prior to continuing with the agenda staff shared copies of the Executive Summary to the
August 1996, National Apartment Association's "White Paper on Municipal Apartment
Inspection Programs." The paper contains recommendations which appear to be
consistent with the direction the Task Force is heading. Miller also presented an article
from the 12/18/97 Oregonian regarding rental housing conditions at the Marlene Village
subdivision (rental single-family properties). Miller pointed out that tenant comments
reported in the article reinforce the idea that many tenants are reticent to complain
about health and safety issues in their units.
A. How should the housing program be funded?
Community Housing Task Force Meeting
Minutes of December 18, 1997
Page 2
Staff presented the following options to open the discussion:
= earmark existing business taxes assessed to rental property owners to the
housing program (revenue currently $5,000 - $6,000 per year, based on $55
per owner - 94 owners paid so far in 1997), tax is currently assessed when
more than 3 rental units are owned. The tax formulation could be modified.
= assess monthly penalties against owners who fail to comply with correction
notices in a timely manner, penalties to assess automatically and be
recorded on the property. Staff reported that based upon a pro-rata analysis
with Portland's data, similar to that used to determine the potential number of
housing inspections, Tigard might anticipate $10,00 - $12,000 from this
source.
= assess relatively high fines through a hearing process against owners who
fail to comply with correction notices after some excessive period of time has
transpired.
= assess monthly penalties and fines as described above for failure to comply
on a timely basis with correction notices from the code enforcement officer
(this is an existing program area, the proposal is aimed at generating general
fund revenue to off-set general fund costs associated with the housing
program - the proposal does not anticipate increased code enforcement
activities).
Miller suggested that Tigard may be able to secure Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) funds through the County. Staff will investigate this option.
The Task Force reached consensus that all of the above proposals have merit
and should be explored. Further, the Task Force acknowledged that it is
reasonable for some portion of the housing program to be subsidized by general
property tax funds because of the general community good the program
provides. Wilson commented that it would be her preference to see a direct
correlation between program costs and revenues, but acknowledges that
general tax subsidy may be necessary short of imposing mandatory fees to fully
subsidize program costs. Councilor Scheckla pointed out that the program
should bring indirect financial benefits due to decreased police costs and
increased property values because of improved neighborhoods.
Because of the wide range of options for the penalty and fine proposals, the
potential for changing the business tax formula for rental property owners and
the fact that the property owner constituency was not in attendance, the Task
Force deferred extensive discussion or decision making on the details of these
issues until the 1/8/98 meeting. There was some discussion on the possibility of
having categories of violations, with varying time limits and penalties. Miller
suggested that because the standards are proposed to apply to owner occupied
units that such owners also pay a "tax" or "fee" similar in concept to what the
rental property owners currently pay. The other members present expressed
concern about imposing a new "tax" or "fee" on owner occupied properties. Staff
Community Housing Task Force Meeting
Minutes of December 18, 1997
Page 3
will bring several options for each of the proposals for consideration at the next
meeting.
Staff reported, as was requested at the 12/4/97 meeting, that County records
show 73 entities own 87 properties having 10 or more units.
B. What implementation and program policies should be adopted?
Discussion on this item was deferred until the next meeting.
C. Other.
No other items were discussed.
IV. MEETING SCHEDULE CONFIRMATION:
The previously scheduled future meeting of 1/8/98 was confirmed. The next meeting
following the 1/8/98 meeting was scheduled for 2/5/98. Both meetings will be from 1 PM
to 3PM at the same location. The time lapse between these meetings will allow staff to
report on the seminar on housing program administration and to bring forward any
ideas which hold potential for Tigard's program. It is intended that the task force will
have a draft report for review in late February, with a final report to Council in late
March or early April.
V. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at approximately 3:15PM.
Respectfully submitted,
David Scott
Building Official
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