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ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.
WE'LL GET STARTED WITH THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MEETING FOR MONDAY, AUGUST THE 21ST.
COUNCIL MEMBER COURAGE PRESENT CHAIR ROCHE GARCIA.
HERE, MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM.
WE WILL START WITH THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES
[Approval of Minutes ]
FROM JUNE 29TH, 2020 THREE'S, UH, P C D C, AND YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT.ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CHANGES? NO, I MOVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A BRIEFING ON
[Briefing and Possible Action on ]
THE UPDATE AT FLOODPLAIN MAPS BY THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.AND WE HAVE ERIN CSOS HERE WHO WILL, UH, MAKE THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO I VISITED WITH MANY OF YOU EARLIER ABOUT THE UPDATES IN YOUR DISTRICTS, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE TIMELINE AND JUST REMIND EVERYBODY OF THE PROCESS, UM, THE FLOOD PLAIN MAPS, UM, GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THAT WE NEED NEW MAPS, DEVELOPING THE DATA AND DRAFTING THE FLOODPLAINS, AND THEN THEY GET TO PRELIMINARY FLOODPLAINS, UH, FOLLOWED BY AN APPEALS PERIOD AND THE EFFECTIVE FLOODPLAINS, UM, LOCALLY.
I'M GONNA SKIP AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE AND THEN I'M GONNA JUMP BACK.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COMPLETED THE IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR UPDATES AND THE DATA DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THAT INCLUDED UPDATING THE RAINFALL DATA AND ALL THE MODELS THAT ARE USED TO DRAFT THE FLOODPLAINS.
AND THEN WE'VE DRAFTED FLOODPLAINS, SO IT'S MOVING INTO A PROCESS WITH FEMA.
UM, LOCALLY WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, UH, THROUGH THE BEAR REGIONAL WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION TO LOOK AT MITIGATION PLANNING FOR THE AREAS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THE NEW FLOODPLAINS.
UM, WE'RE STARTING BY CHECKING ALL THE FINISHED FLOOR ELEVATIONS OF THE HOMES, AND WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THEM ON THEIR CURRENTLY PLANNED PROJECTS TO SEE WHERE THOSE ARE ALREADY ADDRESSING THE FLOOD RISK, UM, THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
AND THEN WE'RE MOVING INTO DEVELOPING NEW PROJECTS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS THE REMAINING FLOOD RISK.
UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH, OR LIKE AT THE SAME TIME, UM, WE ARE, UH, WE'VE ROLLED OUT BEST AVAILABLE MODELS FOR ALL OF THE ENGINEERS TO USE, AND AS THEY'RE DOING THEIR STUDIES, THEY, UM, THEY HAVE THESE MODELS AVAILABLE SO THAT ANY OF THEIR CHANGES WILL BE ROLLED INTO THE NEW FLOODPLAINS WHEN THEY COME OUT BECAUSE THE FEMA PROCESS IS TAKING A NUMBER OF YEARS LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED.
SO WHAT FEMA IS WORKING ON IS DRAFTING THE PRELIMINARY FLOODPLAINS THAT'S PUTTING EVERYTHING ON THE PANEL, UM, THAT GETS PUBLISHED.
AND, UM, THEY WILL INCORPORATE ANY LETTERS OF MAP CHANGE.
SO ANY REVISIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED BY LOCAL ENGINEERS WILL GET INCORPORATED INTO THAT PROCESS.
THEN THERE WILL BE AN APPEALS AND A COMMENTS PERIOD.
THEY NEED TIME TO RESOLVE THOSE APPEALS AND COMMENTS AND PUBLIC PUBLISH IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER.
AND, UM, AND THEN IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
WE SPOKE TO FEMA EARLIER THIS SUMMER AND THEY'RE ESTIMATING AFTER THEY GET THEIR CONTRACT, IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER THREE YEARS TO GET TO THE EFFECTIVE FLOODPLAINS AND THEY'RE STILL NEGOTIATING THE CONTRACTS.
SO WE ARE JUST IN A HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL FEMA CAN COMPLETE THEIR WORK.
WHEN IT BECOMES EFFECTIVE, THAT'S WHEN ANY MANDATORY INSURANCE REQUIREMENT TAKES PLACE.
SO THAT GIVES US A NUMBER OF YEARS TO TRY TO GET STUFF FIXED BEFORE ANYONE HAS TO SPEND ON FLOOD INSURANCE.
UH, JUST A REMINDER, UM, THE AREAS IN YELLOW ARE WHERE WE HAVE THE DRAFT FLOODPLAIN MAPS.
WE HAVE, UM, SOME LOWER PORTIONS OF BEXAR COUNTY AND INTO SOME OF OUR OTHER COUNTIES THAT ARE BEING RELEASED IN OCTOBER.
WE'RE REVIEWING THOSE WITH THE CO COMMUNITY TECHNICAL FOLKS, UM, TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE SUBMIT THOSE TO FEMA.
AND THEN SOME OF OUR LOWER BASIN WILL BE RELEASED IN ABOUT A YEAR.
UH, I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYONE OF THE AREAS OF LARGEST CHANGE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE, UM, WORKING ON IN THESE AREAS.
IT'S MOSTLY WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, UH, WORKING ON THE PROJECTS THAT COULD ADDRESS THESE, UM, AREAS.
THE FIRST AND THE BIGGEST IS ALONG CONCEPTION CREEK AND NEAR HIGHWAY 90 GENERAL HEAD NOLL.
UM, THIS FLOWS INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER.
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1,865 HOMES THAT ARE BEING SHOWN AS GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH, UM, CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC WORKS ON THEIR STUDY OF, UH, MITIGATION PROJECT.
AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT THE, UM, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE HOMES.
AND NUM MOST OF THEM HAVE SEVERAL STEPS UP TO THEIR FIRST FLOOR, SO THAT COULD PLAY INTO, UM, THEY MIGHT BE ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY ON LOOKING INTO THAT.
UM, THE SECOND AREA IS ALONG SLICK RANCH CREEK.
UM, IT HAS 635 HOMES GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.
THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS A PROJECT IN CONSTRUCTION SET TO COMPLETE IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR.
SO WELL AHEAD OF THE NEW FLOODPLAINS AND THEIR STUDIES SHOW THE WILL BE REDUCED BACK DOWN OUT OF THOSE HOMES AND PROPERTIES.
AND THEN JUMPING DOWN TO SOME OTHER AREAS THAT HAVE LESS, FEWER HOMES GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.
BUT STILL, OF NOTE IN DISTRICT NINE, WE HAVE THE WHISPERING OAK SUBDIVISION WITH 88 HOMES GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND WE'LL BE STUDYING THIS ONE FOR MITIGATION PLANNING.
UM, A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF THAT IN DISTRICT EIGHT.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF AREAS, UM, IT'S HARD TO SEE, I ZOOM THIS ONE OUT BECAUSE SOME ARE NORTH OF DEZA, ALLAH ALONG THE CREEK, AND THEN SOME ARE SOUTH OF EBNER ALONG THE CREEK COMBINED.
THERE ARE 65 HOMES GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.
THERE ALSO SOME APARTMENTS, UM, COMING OUT OF THE FLOOD PLAIN, UH, KIND OF ACROSS THE CREEK FROM THAT QUARRY.
AND I ZOOMED IT OUT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHOW THAT THERE ARE, THERE'S A QUARRY HERE AND THERE'S A QUARRY NORTH OF THERE.
AND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT, THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY ACCOUNTED FOR.
THEY'RE BIG HOLES IN THE GROUND THAT COULD HOLD A LOT OF WATER, BUT THESE TWO AREN'T NECESSARILY ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE MODELS.
UM, AND MAYBE SOMETHING WE LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE IN DISTRICT FOUR, UM, BY PALO ALTO ROAD, THE COMANCHE CREEK FLOODPLAIN IS WIDENING AND MOVING FURTHER UPSTREAM.
THIS IS DUE TO A REQUIREMENT TO MAP EVERYTHING UP TO ONE SQUARE MILE DRAINAGE AREA.
UH, WE COUNTED ONLY EIGHT HOMES OR BUILDINGS GOING INTO THE FLOODPLAIN, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES, UM, THAT HAVE GONE IN SINCE OUR BUILDING DATA WAS PRODUCED.
UM, AND SO WE'VE TALKED TO THE CITY ABOUT THAT AND THEY'VE KEPT US INFORMED ABOUT THIS AREA BECAUSE THERE'S A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT WITH THAT NEIGHBORHOOD GOING IN AND THEY WILL BE REDIRECTING SOME OF THE FLOW TO THE WEST.
UM, SO THIS MAPPING WILL BE REVISED ONCE WE GET THE DATA FROM THAT DEVELOPER THROUGH OUR LOMA REVIEW PROCESS.
AND THEN THE FINAL AREA I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS IN DISTRICT THREE, WE, THIS IS ROCKWOOD CREEK, IT'S N NEXT TO THE MISSION REACH AND, UM, THE, IT'S NOT A ROAD ON THE, IT'S EAST SIDE, IT'S A RAILROAD TRACK.
THIS AREA, WE DID A, A MORE COMPLEX, TWO-DIMENSIONAL MODEL BECAUSE IT WAS NOT, UM, THE PREVIOUS MODEL WAS NOT REFLECTING THE DIRECTION OF FLOW CORRECTLY.
IT WAS GOING THROUGH CROSSING ROOSEVELT AVENUE WHERE YOU SEE THE BLUE HORIZONTAL LINES.
AND WHAT OUR NEW MODEL SHOWS IS THAT IT'S FLOWING MORE TO THE SOUTH, UH, WITH WHERE THOSE WHITE AND BLUE VERTICAL LINES ARE.
UM, SO THAT ADDS 75 PROPERTIES INTO THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE'LL BE STUDYING TO DEVELOP A, A MITIGATION PROJECT.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE PREPARED, BUT I CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR, YOUR WORK AND, UM, I'LL START OFF BY WELCOMING OUR COLLEAGUE FROM D EIGHT WHO HAS JOINED OUR COMMITTEE.
SO WELCOME COUNCILMAN TO THE HARDEST WORKING COMMITTEE.
SO YOU'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO BE WITH US.
I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT FOR HIM.
UM, AND SO I'LL START OFF WITH SOME QUESTIONS AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE COUNCILMAN COURAGE HAS, HAS SOME QUESTIONS AS WELL.
UM, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE INTO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR EVALUATING, UM, THE, THE FLOOD PLAINS.
SO I THINK THAT, THAT IT'S, UH, GREAT INFORMATION THAT YOU PRESENTED.
QUICK QUESTION, HOW OFTEN ARE THESE UPDATED? THESE ARE UPDATED IRREGULARLY.
UM, IT REALLY, AS THE DATA INDICATES A NEED.
AND SO IN THIS CASE, WE HAD THE ATLAS 14 RAINFALL DATA PRO PROVIDED BY NOAH THAT SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE AND JUSTIFIED, UH, A WIDE SCALE UPDATE.
NOW, THERE ARE SMALLER CHANGES, WE CALL THOSE LETTERS OF MAP PROVISION, AND THAT'S IF A DEVELOPER DOES WORK AND THEY, UM, WANNA REVISE THE FLOODPLAIN, THEY CAN SUBMIT THAT.
OR IF THE CITY DOES A PROJECT THAT REMOVES, THAT REDUCES THE FLOODPLAIN, THEY SUBMIT THAT THROUGH FEMA AND UPDATE THE MAPS
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FOR THAT SMALLER AREA.AND WELL, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE REGULARLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE LOOKING AND ASSESSING THE RISKS.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, TO MONITOR THESE AND JUST OUTLINE SOME PROJECTS IN COORDINATION WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY FLOOD, UM, CONTROL PROGRAMS. I ALSO SEE, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS STRATEGIC, BUT ALL OF US HAVE, UH, UH, ONE IN OUR AREA.
AND SO I THOUGHT, OH, LOOK, LOOK HOW, HOW, UH, HOW FORTUNATE.
UM, BUT THANK YOU FOR SHARING THOSE MAPS.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU SEE WOULD BE THE LARGEST CONTRIBUTOR, UM, TO INCREASED FLOOD RISK? THE CHAIN, THE, THE UPDATE IN THE, THE RAINFALL DATA.
AND THAT'S, UM, THE PREVIOUS DATA SET THAT THEY EVALUATED AND, AND GAVE US DATA FOR WENT THROUGH THE SIXTIES.
AND SO THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT UPDATE.
AND JUST IN THE BIG PICTURE OF HOW MANY YEARS OF RECORD WE HAVE VERSUS HOW MANY YEARS OF WEATHER HAVE EVER BEEN, WE ARE LOOKING AT A REALLY SMALL, UM, SET OF DATA EVEN.
LIKE THAT'S ALL WE CAN DO, BUT IT'S A SMALL SET AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN ALL OF OUR FLOODPLAIN MAPS AND THAT'S WHY A LOT OF THE FEMA MESSAGING IS AROUND IF IT, WHEREVER IT RAINS, IT CAN FLOOD.
UM, AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THEIR FLOOD RISK.
AND I'LL START WITH COUNCILMAN K.
I WOULD JUST WANNA REVIEW A COUPLE OF THINGS.
THE, UM, THE ATLAS 14 RAINFALL, UH, VIEW, WHAT YEARS WERE LOOKED AT IN DETERMINING, UH, THAT PARTICULAR SET OF NUMBERS? SO IT WAS ALL OF THE RECORD AVAILABLE, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW FAR BACK THAT GOES, BUT IT, IT EXTENDED THROUGH.
THEY COMPLETED, UM, JUST AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY IS WHEN THEY CUT OFF AND HAD TO WRAP UP THEIR, I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR THAT WAS.
SO THEN, WAS THAT A STATIC LOOK AT FROM BEFORE UP TO THEN? OR DID THEY ALSO ADD INTO THEIR CALCULATIONS, PROJECTIONS OF MAYBE FUTURE SITUATIONS? IT WAS ONLY LOOKING HISTORICALLY.
SEE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS ME.
UH, I THINK WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS SIX YEARS AGO.
AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE SEEING EVEN DRAMATIC CHANGES RIGHT NOW.
UH, AND I WONDER WHEN IS THEIR PROJECTION TO REVISIT THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS? ARE, ARE THEY FORECASTING AN UPGRADE EVERY TWO YEARS, EVERY THREE YEARS, EVERY FIVE YEARS? THAT IS SOMETHING, UM, CONGRESS HAS DISCUSSED OR THERE HAVE BEEN MOVEMENTS FROM OUR INDUSTRY TO HAVE IT REVISITED MORE FREQUENTLY.
I UNDERSTAND ATLAS 15 IS IN THE WORKS AND THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PROJECTION INTO THE FUTURE.
UM, HOW THAT WOULD CONVERT INTO A REGULATORY PRODUCT IS UP IN THE AIR BECAUSE THERE'S A RELUCTANCE TO REGULATE TO A FUTURE CONDITION RIGHT.
BUT IT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT NATIONALLY.
UH, THE OTHER THING I NOTED IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING IS BEFORE IT'S FINALIZED, IT'S PROBABLY A THREE YEAR, MAYBE THREE AND A HALF YEARS FROM NOW BEFORE IT'S PUT INTO THE RECORD AND IT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
SO IF PEOPLE ARE ASKING ME NOW, WHICH THEY ARE, UH, AM I GONNA HAVE TO GO OUT AND BUY FLOOD INSURANCE OR WHATEVER, I CERTAINLY WOULD RECOMMEND IT TO THEM.
BUT THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT IN PLACE AT THIS TIME AND PROBABLY WILL NOT BE UNTIL THIS IS FINALIZED AS A MATTER OF CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE EFFECTIVE, BUT THE ONES WITH THE CHANGES WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL IT'S OKAY, AS YOU SAY.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
AND THANK YOU ERIN, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, A COUPLE OF GENERAL QUESTIONS.
GIVEN THAT THE COUNTY COLLECTS THE FLOOD TAX, DO WE KNOW WITH EACH OF THESE, UM, AREAS THAT ARE GOING TO BE INCORPORATED INTO, UH, A POTENTIAL FLOODPLAIN, ARE THERE ANY COUNTY DOLLARS COMMITTED TOWARDS ADDRESSING THESE DRAINAGE PROJECTS OR POTENTIAL DRAINAGE PROJECTS? THEY PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS AND WHEN WE PROVIDE NEW, UM, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROJECTS, THEY ARE IN THAT CONVERSATION AND SOMETIMES DO ADOPT THEM INTO THEIR FUTURE PLANNING.
OF THE ONES THAT I SP SPOKE ABOUT TODAY, THEY DON'T PRESENTLY HAVE A PROJECT.
THAT, THAT'S A, A BIT A, A CONCERN AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S MORE OF A, A CONVERSATION AND A COMMENT, UH, DIRECTED TOWARDS THE COUNTY.
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WELL.UM, I, I WANTED TO THANK THE CITY'S PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR, UH, WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICT FIVE OFFICE TOWARDS RESOLUTION AND SOLUTIONS FOR THE OVER 1000 PARCELS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY THIS, UH, POTENTIAL ADOPTION.
UM, WITH THE MAPS AS IS, AS WELL AS N H S D, WE'VE HAD CONVERSATION AND CONCERN RIGHT ABOUT, UH, FOR THESE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THESE PARCELS, WILL THEY QUALIFY FOR HOMEOWNER OR MINOR REHAB? AND HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THAT ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS, UH, HOW CAN WE, UH, PROVIDE ELEVATION CERTIFICATES, RIGHT? UH, FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE THREE STEPS, AS YOU MENTIONED TO, TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE FLOOD ZONE.
SO REALLY GRATEFUL FOR CITY STAFF FOR PRIORITIZING, UH, THE NEEDS AND HOW TO HELP ALLEVIATE THESE CONCERNS IN THIS AREA.
UM, BUT MY QUESTION FOR THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY, IS THERE ANY FUNDING, UH, THAT YOU ALL COULD PITCH IN TO HELP US WITH THOSE ELEVATION CERTIFICATES,
UM, AND WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING, UH, THE FEMA ELEVATION CERTIFICATE FORM I HEARD AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT MY HANDS ON.
THE NEW FORM ALLOWS FOR A LESS COST OPTION FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.
SO THE POINT IS, WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THOSE DETAILS AND THE RIVER AUTHORITY IS, UM, IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITY TO WORK OUT THE BEST PATH FORWARD.
AND, AND ARE YOU ALL AWARE OF ANY FEDERAL, UH, FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES THAT BOTH, UH, SARAH AND COSA CAN GO AFTER TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THESE, UM, CONCERNS? WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
THE ONE THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE BRICK BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
UM, IT HAS BEEN, UM, A CHALLENGE TO APPLY FOR THAT IN THE PAST, BUT IT IS ONE WE'RE EXPLORING.
AND, UH, LAST WEEK I WANNA GO VISIT A FAMILY THAT WAS RECENTLY REDISTRICTED AND THEY'RE VERY UPSET WITH ME, UM, BECAUSE THEY, THEY DON'T HAVE A SIDEWALK.
THEIR, THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD FLOODS, BUT TWO BLOCKS AWAY THERE'S A, A BEAUTIFUL NEW GREENWAY RIGHT.
THAT THEY CAN'T USE, UM, BECAUSE THEIR, THEIR SENIORS AND, AND JUST, THEY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, HEARING THAT THE, THE LEANER GREENWAYS DON'T ALLEVIATE FLOODING CONCERNS WAS REALLY UPSETTING TO THEM.
UM, SO, SO THIS IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ISSUES WITH.
UM, BUT I APPRECIATE AGAIN, CITY STAFF'S WORK AND, UH, SARAH AS WELL FOR THE BRIEFING.
THANK YOU, ERIN, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
AND AGAIN, I WANNA, UH, ECHO COUNCILMAN, UM, CASTILLO'S COMMENTS.
I KNOW, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A CONVERSATION WE NEED TO HAVE, BUT ANY HELP THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY CAN GIVE US IN ENCOURAGING OUR COUNTY TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
BECAUSE I KNOW FOR DISTRICT THREE IN PARTICULAR, IF WE DON'T TAKE CARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DISTRICT EIGHT OR DISTRICT NINE OR DISTRICT SIX, IT'S STILL ALL FLOWS SOUTH.
AND WE GET THAT, UM, IN, IN AND ALONG THE MISSION REACH AND, AND SOMETIMES IT'S VERY, UM, IT'S VERY TAXING TO, TO ALL THOSE THAT WORK DOWN THERE.
UM, IN THE, ON SLIDE 16, ON, UM, THE, THE KEY AREA OF CHANGE IN DISTRICT THREE, UM, I KNOW RIGHT NOW IT, WE'RE IN A DROUGHT, IT'S HOT.
AND I HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH A GROUP ON SATURDAY ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE IN TERMS OF WE CAN'T SEE THAT THE RAIN IS COMING, BUT IT WILL COME AND IT WILL AND, AND IT WILL FLOOD.
SO ARE THERE ANYTHING, UH, IN TERMS OF THE, THE 75 PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN DO HERE AT, AT MY COUNCIL OFFICE OR AT THE CITY AS A WHOLE TO HELP THAT PROCESS WITH THESE RESIDENTS? I KNOW WE ARE HAVING THE, MY OFFICE IS HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE WHO WANNA COME IN AND DEVELOP, AND WE ALL ALWAYS TELL THEM, GO TO THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY AND LOOK AT THAT FLOODPLAIN MAP.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CURRENT PROPERTIES THERE? SO, UM, I WILL SAY WE, WE ARE BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING PROJECT IDEAS FOR THIS AREA.
AND, UM, BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO ENSURE THEIR PROPERTY AGAINST FLOOD RISK, UM, PUT VALUABLE THINGS HIGHER, ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO ELEVATE THE ITEMS YOU DON'T WANT DAMAGED.
AND IF THEY DO HAVE, UM, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GONNA GO BACK AND REVIEW ALL THE FINISHED FLOORS.
SO IF THEY HAVE SEVERAL STEPS GOING UP TO THEIR FIRST FLOOR, THERE'S A CHANCE THEY'RE ABOVE THE FLOODPLAIN.
AND THAT WOULD, UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS FEMA IS EMPHASIZING WHAT THEY'VE SEEN NATIONALLY IS THAT THE HIGHER
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COMPARED TO THE GROUND AROUND IT, THE LESS LIKELY IT IS TO FLOOD WHEREVER YOU ARE IN HOUSTON, HERE IN SEATTLE.LIKE, IT DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS LIKE YOU CAN, 'CAUSE YOU CAN SEE HOW THE WATER HAS SPACE TO FLOOD WITHOUT IMPACTING THE PROPERTY.
UM, AND THAT INCLUDES ANY, UM, H V A C EQUIPMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE ELEVATED.
SO THAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I HAVE RIGHT NOW WHILE WE LOOK ON, LOOK INTO THE MITIGATION OPTIONS.
A LOT OF THE PROPERTIES IN DISTRICT THREE ARE ON PURE AND BEAM, WHICH MAKES THEM A LITTLE HIGHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE THAT YOU MENTIONED, THE HVAC, THOSE THAT HAVE HAD IMPROVEMENTS I THINK HAVE LEFT THEM ON THE GROUND ON A, ON THE GROUND.
AND SO LOOKING INTO THAT AND HELPING WITH THAT.
BUT, UH, THANK YOU AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
NO FURTHER COMMENTS? OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT.
I THINK ALL OF US MAY HAVE OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, ATLAS 14 IS GOING TO HAVE US REVISIT ALL OF OUR FLOODPLAINS AND EVERYTHING, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY, BUT WE'RE ALSO SAYING THAT IT MAY BE THREE TO THREE AND A HALF YEARS BEFORE THIS IS PUT INTO PLAY TO WHERE PEOPLE WILL NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR INSURANCE.
AND I'M AFRAID THAT THIS COULD GET LOST SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, OR A YEAR FROM NOW, OR A YEAR AND A HALF FROM NOW, OR TWO YEARS FROM NOW, TO WHERE PEOPLE, UH, HAD HEARD ABOUT IT, BUT NOTHING WAS HAPPENING AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.
AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN, THREE AND A HALF YEARS FROM NOW, WE MAY BE HEARING A LOT OF OUTRAGE ABOUT IT UNLESS WE DO MORE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT IS COMING, THAT THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, THAT THEY SHOULD BE PLANNING FOR IT NOW.
AND I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US AS A CITY, WORKING WITH THE COUNTY AND WORKING WITH THE RIVER AUTHORITY TO PUT THAT WORD OUT THERE CONSISTENTLY GOING FORWARD.
SO NO ONE GETS SHOCKED OR SURPRISED.
UH, AND SO THAT'S ALL I'D ASK IS THAT THERE BE A, A JOINT EFFORT TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS COMING AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN COURAGE.
SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND SEE, UM, ANY IDEAS ON, ON THAT.
AND I SEE RAZZI, UH, ALSO AGREEING THERE, SO THANK YOU.
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, WHICH IS, UH, BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE SMALL SCALE RENTAL REHAB PILOT PROGRAM.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE PRESENTED BY ERICA RAGSDALE REDEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR N H S D.
GOOD MORNING COUNCIL MEMBERS, ERICA RAGSDALE WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SMALL SCALE RENTAL REHAB PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS A PILOT PROGRAM THAT WE FEEL WOULD ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS AND FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD CURE CODE DEFICIENCIES IN THEIR SMALL RENTAL PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO PRESERVE OR CREATE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UH, THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT REALLY, UH, WOULD FOCUS ON THAT NATURALLY OCCURRING AFFORDABILITY WITHIN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, IMPROVE SAFETY AND LIVABILITY WHILE ALSO SECURING LONG-TERM AFFORDABILITY.
JUST AS BACKGROUND, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WITH THE SUPPORT OF REPRESENTATIVE CASTRO WAS AWARDED A $2 MILLION HUD E D I GRANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE GRANT IN 2022.
THAT GRANT IN SAN ANTONIO WAS AWARDED TO SUPPORT AN EQUITY-BASED HOME REPAIR AND RENTAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
AND THAT PROGRAM IS BROKEN OUT AS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE THE $2 MILLION GRANT WITH 1 MILLION GOING TOWARD OWNER-OCCUPIED REHABILITATION FOR FAMILIES AT OR BELOW 80% A M I.
AND THAT COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE RUN THROUGH SIMILAR TO, UH, OUR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES RENTAL REHAB, I'M SORRY, MAJOR REHAB PROGRAM, UH, USING THEIR APPLICATION POOL AND FOLLOWING, UH, AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE THOSE GUIDELINES.
THE OTHER MILLION DOLLARS IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, THE SMALL SCALE RENTAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM THAT'S TARGETING HOUSEHOLDS AT OR BELOW 60% A M I AND THE CITY RECEIVED THAT, THAT E D I GRANT AND ENTERED INTO A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH SAN ANTONIO AFFORDABLE HOUSING INC.
WHICH WE ALSO CALL SAW FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
IN DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM, WE REVIEWED PREVIOUS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO PROGRAMS. THERE WAS A 2007 MULTI-FAMILY REHAB PROGRAM THAT WE COULD LOOK AT FOR REFERENCE.
UH, WE ALSO LOOKED AT BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH FROM OTHER CITIES, AND WE ENGAGED WITH STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING THE APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS, THE REAL ESTATE COUNCIL, UH, NONPROFIT PARTNERS, INCLUDING OUR CHODOS AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS.
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TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM, THE PROPERTY WOULD NEED TO INCLUDE ONE TO 10 UNITS THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR RENT, UH, AND DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR MAJOR REHABILITATION.THE OWNER SHOULD HOLD CLEAR TITLE AND HAVE CURRENT PROPERTY INSURANCE AND ALSO BE CURRENT ON THEIR MORTGAGE AND TAX PAYMENTS.
UH, THE OWNER WOULD ALSO NEED TO AGREE TO INVEST MATCHING FUNDS, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THOSE FUNDS IN A MINUTE.
UH, AND THE PROPERTY WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE LOCATED, OF COURSE, IN THE CITY LIMITS, BUT SPECIFICALLY IN AN AREA WITH A COMBINED EQUITY SCORE OF EIGHT, NINE, OR 10, WHICH WE CONSIDER A, A HIGH EQUITY AREA.
WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THIS PROGRAM IS FOCUSING ON MAJOR REHAB.
SO THE QUALIFYING REPAIRS ARE SHOWN ON THE LEFT, STRUCTURAL ROOFING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, AND H V A C.
UH, AS LONG AS WE'RE QUALIFYING WITH ONE OF THOSE MAJOR REHAB COMPONENTS.
WE COULD ALSO DO ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP THE HOMEOWNER OR THE, THE, THE RENTER SAVE ON THEIR WATER AND ELECTRICAL BILLS.
AND WE COULD ALSO DO, UH, PAINTING AND LEAD-BASED PAINT ABATEMENT.
IN TERMS OF AFFORDABILITY, WE'RE LOOKING AT PROPERTIES WHERE AT LEAST HALF OF THE UNITS COULD BE RESERVED FOR FAMILIES AT OR BELOW 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME.
AND THE E D I GRANT WOULD ONLY SUPPORT THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
UH, THE PROPERTY OWNER SHOULD INVEST THE MATCHING FUNDS, AND IF THE PROJECT IS ENTIRELY AFFORDABLE, WE'RE LOOKING AT A REQUIRED MATCH OF 10% OF OUR INVESTMENT.
IF, UH, MORE THAN 50%, LET'S SAY, LEMME REPHRASE THAT.
IF LESS THAN A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PROJECT IS AFFORDABLE, SO MAYBE THEY DO HALF OF THE PROJECT AFFORDABLE, HALF AT MARKET, THEN THAT MATCH GOES UP TO 50%.
THE AFFORDABILITY TERM WOULD BA WOULD BE BASED ON CITY INVESTMENT.
SO IF WE INVEST UP TO $50,000 IN A PROPERTY, THEN THE COVENANT WOULD BE 10 YEARS, 50 TO A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INVESTMENT WOULD BE A 15 YEAR COVENANT.
AND ABOVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS INVESTMENT WOULD BE A 20 YEAR COVENANT.
UH, THE PROGRAM WILL FUND UP TO $50,000 PER ASSISTED UNIT WITH ONE EXCEPTION.
IF WE ARE DOING A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL REHAB, UH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THAT COST COULD BE MUCH HIGHER.
SO WE COULD GO UP TO $125,000 FOR A SINGLE FAMILY RENTAL REHAB.
THE FUNDING WILL BE STRUCTURED AS A 0% INTEREST FORGIVABLE LOAN FOR THE TERM.
AND WE WOULD ALSO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP STREAMLINE MONITORING, RECOGNIZING THAT THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROGRAM MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND MIGHT NEED A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THERE.
IF THE HOME IS SOLD PRIOR TO THE END OF THE COVENANT PERIOD, THEN THAT OUTSTANDING LOAN AMOUNT THAT HAS NOT BEEN FORGIVEN WOULD BE RECAPTURED AND REINVESTED INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS. WE ALSO, UM, HEARD INTEREST AND WE'LL INCORPORATE A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL TO ENSURE THAT IF THE PROPERTY SOLD BEFORE THE TERM, UH, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SAW OR THE HOUSING TRUST OR ONE OF OUR CHODOS TO BUY THAT AND CONTINUE THE AFFORDABILITY LONG TERM EXISTING RESIDENTS, UH, WILL BE PROTECTED.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THERE BE NO PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM.
IF A UNIT IS OCCUPIED, THE REHAB CANNOT RESULT IN A RENT THAT EXCEEDS 30% OF THEIR INCOME OR INCREASES THEIR RENT MORE THAN 5% ANNUALLY FOR AS LONG AS THEY OCCUPY THE UNIT.
THE PROPERTY OWNER MUST ALSO COMPLY WITH THE HOUSING VOUCHER INCENTIVE POLICY AND MUST FOLLOW THE CITY'S RESOLUTION ON TENANT'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WELL AS PROVIDE COPIES TO ALL EXISTING AND NEW TENANTS.
AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, UH, SAN ANTONIO AFFORDABLE HOUSING INC.
WILL OPEN AN APPLICATION IN OCTOBER.
WE WILL HELP CONDUCT BROAD OUTREACH THROUGH OUR EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES AS WELL AS SAW NETWORKS.
WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE WITH THE VACANT BUILDINGS PROGRAM AND SEE WHAT VACANT BUILDINGS MIGHT BE ON THAT REGISTRY THAT WE COULD REACH OUT TO AND INVITE TO APPLY TO DO, UH, REHAB THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.
THE SCORING COMMITTEE WILL THEN EVALUATE APPLICATIONS BASED ON AFFORDABILITY, PROJECT READINESS, FUNDING NEED, EXPERIENCE, AND CAPACITY OF THE HOMEOWNER AND LOCATION.
AND OF COURSE, WE WILL CONTINUE THE DIALOGUE WITH THE GROUPS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AS WELL AS, UH, BROADENING THAT TO OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS AND THROUGH YOUR COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
AND I KNOW YOU ALL BRIEFED ME AND I, UH, ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UH, AT OUR INDIVIDUAL BRIEFING MEETING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED SO THAT MY COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE, IS THAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT, UM, SOME PEOPLE THAT MIGHT APPLY FOR THE KIND OF KNOW WHERE
[00:30:01]
TO GO TO GET HELP FROM THE CITY, UM, AND THAT MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY NEED IT.SO, UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE LARGE PORTFOLIOS, RIGHT? THAT WAS ONE OF MY CONCERNS, RIGHT? AND SO I HAVE, UM, I GAVE THEM THE EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE, UM, ONE OF MY RESIDENTS THAT SAID, MY RENTAL, THAT'S GOING TO PUT MY DAUGHTER THROUGH COLLEGE, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S TO ME IMPORTANT, RIGHT? FOR US TO, UM, CONSIDER WHY THEY'RE DOING THAT OVER JUST SOMEONE WHO JUST WANTS SOME ADDITIONAL PROFIT, RIGHT? AND SO, UM, JUST F Y I I WOULD BE CAUTIOUS OF THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE SOLVE FOR THAT, BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING IT UP TO MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, BUT I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT WE'RE GONNA CROSS-REFERENCE THE, THE S T R PERMIT AND THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOME, SOME DUE DILIGENCE IN GENERAL SO THAT WE DO HAVE THE IDEAL APPLICANT.
I KNOW IT'S GONNA BE HARD, UM, BUT I, BUT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THERE.
I ALSO WANT TO, UM, BE AN ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS AND, AND COUNCILMAN CASTILLO AND I SHARE A NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S QUINTANA AND THERE'S A FEW SMALL SCALE MULTIFAMILY PROPERTIES THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM.
COUNCILMAN, YOU'VE ALREADY KNOW EXACTLY LIKE WE HAVE, UM, IN OUR MINDS, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND SO WE'D LOVE TO, UM, MAYBE CONNECT WITH YOU AND, AND SHARE SOME IDEAS FOR THAT.
I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE, UM, NICE FOR THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD TO SEE, UH, THEIR CITY DOLLARS THAT WORK ALSO WITH WITHIN THEIR NEIGHBORS.
UM, BUT I'LL STOP FOR NOW AND I'LL SEE IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY, UM, QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL CASTILLO, THEN COUNCILMAN
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS A, A REALLY EXCITING PRESENTATION.
I'M PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE CITY, UH, AND THE HOUSING TRUST IN SAHA OR OPPORTUNITY HOME WILL HAVE THE, THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND THAT WE'RE ACCOUNTING FOR, UH, POTENTIAL DISPLACEMENT AND WORKING TOWARDS AVOIDING THAT.
UH, I, I, I DID HAVE A, A SIMILAR QUESTION AND CONCERN THAT THE COUNCILMAN EXPRESSED RIGHT ABOUT, UH, ARE THERE ARE GOING TO BE LIMITATIONS ON HOW MANY PROPERTIES A LANDLORD CAN OWN.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US PRIORITIZE MOM AND POP LANDLORDS, RIGHT? THAT, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY HAVE INHERITED AND THEY JUST KIND OF BECAME LANDLORDS, RIGHT? AND DON'T NECESSARILY OWN MULTIPLE PROPERTIES ACROSS THE CITY.
UM, UH, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WITH THE FUNDING AND TERMS AND THE AFFORDABILITY TERM.
VER UH, THAT VARIES ON THE CITY INVESTMENT.
UH, IS, IS THAT STANDARD PRACTICE, UM, WITH, WITH THE 10 YEARS THAT FOLLOWS WITH THE HOME REHAB AND MINOR REHAB, CORRECT.
WE STILL HAVE, FOR OUR MAJOR MINOR REHAB MM-HMM.
UNLESS WE DO A RECONSTRUCTION, THEN IT'S 20 YEARS.
SO WE TRY TO KIND OF MIMIC WHAT THOSE TERMS WERE.
THAT'S HELPFUL FOR MY UNDERSTANDING FOR THE, THE 50 K AND THE 10 YEAR COVENANT.
I, I THINK OF THINGS IN A CHILD'S DURATION IN EDUCATION, RIGHT.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND THE JUSTIFICATION, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR, UH, FROM THE 10 YEAR COVENANT TO 12, UM, FOR THAT FAMILY STABILITY.
AND I UNDERSTAND FOLKS MOVE INTO AN APARTMENT AT DIFFERENT AGE RANGES, RIGHT? BUT I'M THINKING OF ENSURING THAT A KID WHO STARTS FIRST GRADE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO HAVE STAY IN THOSE SAME HOME IF THEIR FAMILY WANTS TO, UM, FOR THE DURATION OF THE 12 YEARS OF EDUCATION.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THIS IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT, UM, WE ARE HELPING PRESERVE THAT, THAT, THAT HOUSING, UH, AND SUPPORTING THOSE MOM AND POTENTIALLY, HOPEFULLY THOSE MOM AND POP LANDLORDS.
UM, BUT WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT AND THE NEXT STEPS, UM, FOR THE CONTINUED DIALOGUE, I, I SEE THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY GROUPS AND I KNOW, UM, WE CAN ONLY LIST SO MANY ON HERE MM-HMM.
UM, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE IF, UM, THE DEPARTMENT CAN MEET WITH TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECTS, HOUSING ARM, UM, TO INCLUDE THEM IN, IN THE PROCESS.
COUNCILMAN CASTILLO, COUNCILMAN VIA GRANT, FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN K.
UH, WELL, MY PARENTS WERE MOM AND POP, UH, LANDLORDS FOR QUITE A WHILE.
AND I WISH THIS PROGRAM HAD BEEN AROUND THEN BECAUSE THEY WERE, THEY HAD A HOME THAT WAS, AND WE LIVED IN IT ACTUALLY THAT THEY TURNED INTO A TRIPLEX BACK IN THE DAY.
UM, UH, IT'S NO LONGER THAT, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DO THAT.
SENIORS ESPECIALLY, THIS IS THEIR RETIREMENT, UH, AND THEY DO WANNA MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND NICE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
THE ONE THING THAT I'M ALWAYS GOING TO KIND OF, UM, IS MAKING SURE, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE GO OUT TO THE NEIGHBORS AND LET THEM KNOW THAT MORE ADDITIONAL UNITS ARE COMING BECAUSE THEY DO GET A LITTLE, UH, SKEPTICAL IF IT'S NOT SOMEONE THAT'S LIVING ON THE PREMISES AND, UM, MAN AND, AND ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE RENTERS.
SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, IS MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE NEIGHBORS, IF THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION IS INVOLVED WHEN WE WE START COMING INTO THAT AND THAT THEY KNOW TO, TO LET THEM KNOW.
THE OTHER THING I'M CONCERNED OF IS THE SHORT TERM, UM, THE AIRBNBS, THE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
[00:35:01]
DISTRICT THREE ARE NOT PLEASED WITH THAT, AND WE'RE FINDING THAT SOME AREN'T REGISTERED.SO I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND THEN THE THIRD THING IS THE PARKING.
UM, PEOPLE NOWADAYS, TEXANS LOVE THEIR CARS, AND I LOVE THAT THEY LOVE THEIR CARS.
BUT IF YOU ARE LIVING IN, UM, UH, A SMALL RENTAL PROPERTY AND YOU STILL WANNA MAINTAIN THAT SPORTS CAR FOR THE WEEKEND, AND THAT TRUCK YOU USED TO GO TO WORK, IT, IT, THIS IS NOT THE LOCATION FOR YOU BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE, WE HAVE PEOPLE PARKING IN THE STREET STREET, WHICH LEADS TO PEOPLE BREAKING INTO CARS, AND IT JUST BECOMES THIS EFFECT.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT EITHER HAVING THAT MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM PARKING SPOTS FOR, UM, THESE, UM, THESE UNITS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND IF THERE'S TWO PEOPLE LIVING IN THERE AND THEY BOTH NEED A PARKING SPOT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT IF IT'S ONE, ONE PERSON OR TWO PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE THREE VEHICLES, THAT BECOMES TROUBLESOME BECAUSE WHERE DO ALL THESE CARS GO? SO THOSE, THOSE ARE THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO, AS, AS YOU'RE APPROVING THESE LANDS, UH, THESE GRANTS THAT SHE MAKE SURE THAT WE ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
UH, I NOTICED AT THE BEGINNING, UH, THE A, THE E D I GRANT IS AN EQUITY BASED HOME REPAIR AND RENTAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES I'VE BEEN HEARING RECENTLY FROM PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CRITICIZING THE CITY ABOUT EQUITY, EQUITY, EQUITY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME? UH, BUT I JUST WANNA RE REASSURE EVERYONE THAT THIS IS A FEDERAL PROGRAM AND IT'S MANDATED THIS WAY.
SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE CITY'S DECIDING WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE EQUITY.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MANDATING CERTAIN, UH, PROCEDURES WE NEED TO FOLLOW TO USE THIS MONEY.
THE EQUITY BASED HOME REPAIR AND RENTAL PRESERVATION PROGRAM IS WHAT WE SUBMITTED, UH, TO RECEIVE A GRANT AND WHAT WAS AWARDED.
UH, AND I, AND BELIEVE ME, I SUPPORTED A HUNDRED PERCENT MM-HMM.
ONE OF THEM IS WHEN WE MAKE THESE LOANS AND THE WORK IS DONE, DO WE FILE ANYTHING WITH THE COUNTY TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE NOTIFIED IN THE EVENT OF A TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP? WE DO, WE, WE FILE, UH, TYPICALLY THREE DOCUMENTS WITH THE COUNTY RECORDS, A LIEN NOTE FOR THE AMOUNT THAT'S DUE AND FORGIVEN OVER TIME, A DEEDED OF TRUST TO SECURE THAT LOAN AND A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.
RIGHT? SO THOSE PRO THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE ON THE PROPERTY FOR ANY FUTURE POTENTIAL BUYERS.
AND I WANT TO TRUST ANY OWNER WHO HAS THE PROPERTY AND THAT THEY'LL LET US KNOW.
BUT HAVE WE ACTUALLY HAD THINGS POP UP THAT WE WEREN'T INFORMED ABOUT AND WE HAD TO TAKE SOME ACTION IN USING THOSE INSTRUMENTS? HI, COUNCILMAN.
THAT HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME, ESPECIALLY, WE DO THE EXACT SAME THING ON ALL OF OUR MAJOR HOME REHAB PROGRAM, AND WE DO GET NOTIFIED, UM, BECAUSE OF THAT RESTRICTIVE COVENANT AND THE LIEN THAT WE HAVE ON THE PROPERTY, WE GET NOTIFIED BY THE TITLE COMPANY, UM, WHENEVER A PROPERTY IS EXCHANGING HANDS, AND THEY CALL US AND WE WORK WITH THE, THE NEW BUYER, UM, TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXTEND THE FORGIVABLE LOAN, DEPENDING ON SOMETIMES IT'S BEING PASSED TO A FAMILY MEMBER OR IF A FULL REPAYMENT IS DUE ON THE UN REMAIN BALANCE.
AND YOU HAVE THAT, AND WILL WE BE, UM, GUARANTEED THAT THESE WILL NOT BE USED AS S STR SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY? IS THAT GONNA BE WRITTEN IN? YES, THAT WILL BE REQUIRED AND, AND IS REQUIRED FOR PROJECTS RECEIVING INCENTIVES.
THE LAST THING I I WANT TO DO IS, IS JUST MAKE A COMMENT.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE SAYING THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND, AND PROVIDE ENOUGH MONEY SO THAT A PROPERTY OWNER MAY ONLY HAVE TO PUT 10%, UH, INVESTMENT IN THAT.
ON THE OTHER HAND, UH, A PROPERTY OWNER MAY PUT AS MUCH AS 50% IN THERE, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A 5% ANNUAL INCREASE IN RENT.
AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IF IF SOMEBODY WERE TO GO AHEAD AND JUST PUT IN 10%, THEIR INVESTMENT ISN'T THAT BIG AND GIVING THEM A 5% EVERY YEAR INCREASE IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, THE RENT COULD GO UP 20, 25% AND THEY ONLY PUT 10% INTO ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS.
UH, I'M WONDERING IF WE MIGHT BE WILLING TO LOOK AT IF, UH, THEY ONLY PUT IN 10% AND WE PUT IN 90%, THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A, A BETTER GUARANTEE ON KEEPING THE INCREASES DOWN TO MAYBE 3% ANNUALLY.
UH, AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT THE COST OF LIVING WAS BEFORE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THE DIRECTION IT'S HEADING IN NOW, UH, JUST ALLOWING EVERYBODY TO SAY 5% EVERY YEAR, I THINK REALLY, UH, ATTACKS THE AFFORDABILITY
[00:40:02]
OF, OF SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES.SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT.
YEAH, COUNCILMAN, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
SO THE 5% IS ALSO IN COMBINATION WITH NO MORE THAN 30% OF THE RESIDENT'S INCOME.
SO THAT'S ONE OTHER FACTOR THAT HAS TO BE WEIGHED AT THE SAME TIME, AS WELL AS THE CAP FOR THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS UP TO 60% OR BELOW, UM, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO US.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THOSE CAPS FOR THOSE AFFORDABLE UNITS.
SO NO GREATER THAN 5% AND 30% OF THAT PERSON'S INCOME, OF COURSE, STAYING UNDER THAT OVERALL CAP.
UM, COUNCILMAN PALAIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, WONDERFUL.
GREAT JOB ON THE PRESENTATION.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS BRIEFING AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE CITY'S HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY.
AND THIS WILL BE, UH, PRESENTED BY VERONICA GONZALEZ.
GOOD MORNING CHAIR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M VERONICA GONZALEZ, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOUSING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
I'M BACK TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY AND PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES.
THIS IS A PROCESS THAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY TWO YEARS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT WITH CITY AND STATE PRIORITIES.
THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PRIMARY POLICY TOOL FOR ENCOURAGING PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.
ALTHOUGH THIS BEGINS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TAX CREDIT PROGRAM IS CARRIED OUT AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE IN TEXAS, T D H C A AWARDS, THE CREDITS TO DEVELOPERS OF ELIGIBLE RENTAL HOUSING.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE'S ALLOCATION PLAN, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF TAX TAX CREDITS, AS YOU'RE AWARE, AND THESE ARE AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS IN THE FORM OF A COMPETITIVE 9% CREDIT.
AND THAT ONE IS INTENDED TO DELIVER UP TO 70% SUBSIDY OF DEVELOPMENT COSTS.
THIS PROGRAM HAS A SINGLE ANNUAL APPLICATION PERIOD.
A NON-COMPETITIVE 4% IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER UP TO 30% SUBSIDY APPROXIMATELY, AND IS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS YEAR ROUND.
THE HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY AND APPLICATION OUTLINES THE SCREENING PROCESS FOR ISSUING RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT OR NO OBJECTION, WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR A DEVELOPMENTS APPLICATION TO T D H C A.
THE GOALS OF THE POLICY ARE TO MAKE THE PROCESS FAIR AND TRANSPARENT TO ENSURE DEVELOPMENTS ALIGN WITH CITY AND STATE PRIORITIES TO ULTIMATELY CREATE MORE LOW INCOME AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY'S RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT, OR NO OBJECTION, ARE WORTH A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS ON T D H C APPLICATIONS.
IF A 9% APPLICATION RECEIVES RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM OUR CITY COUNCIL, THE STATE WILL ISSUE 17 POINTS AND 14 POINTS.
IF NO OBJECTION, 4% DOESN'T REQUIRE RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY ONLY, NO OBJECTION.
IN ADDITION TO THOSE RESOLUTIONS, WE CAN INCLUDE SOME LANGUAGE DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT FOR SOME WAIVERS OR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT ARE VALUABLE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND AS I WAS SHARING EARLIER, WE REVIEW OUR POLICY EVERY TWO YEARS TO ENSURE CONTINUED ALIGNMENT WITH THE CITY GOALS AS WELL AS THE STATE'S RULES.
LAST TIME WE HAD A FULL POLICY UPDATE WAS IN 2021.
HERE'S A QUICK OVERVIEW OF OUR 9% APPLICATION PROCESS.
THE CITY APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS DECEMBER 1ST, AND THE APPLICATIONS ARE TO ARE DUE TO N H S D BY JANUARY 9TH.
WE BRING RESOLUTIONS TO P C D C IN JANUARY, AND THEN CITY COUNCIL TAKES ACTION ON ISSUING THOSE RESOLUTIONS IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS AS THE REGION WILL HAVE APPROXIMATELY ENOUGH TO FUND TWO TO THREE PROJECTS.
FULL STATE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MARCH 1ST, AND OUR AWARDS ARE MADE IN JULY BY T D H C A WITH OUR HOUSING TAX CREDIT POLICY.
WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ALWAYS IN LOCKSTEP WITH THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO ADVANCE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SAN ANTONIO.
THE POLICY, OF COURSE, CONTINUES TO BE A GOOD TOOL FOR SUPPORTING NEW CONSTRUCTION AND REHAB OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE THE SHIP WAS ADOPTED.
WE ARE DIGGING DEEPER INTO RENTAL HOUSING AFFORDABILITY.
WE SUPPORT DEVELOPMENTS OFFERING MEANINGFUL AND FREE ONSITE SERVICE.
RECO REQUIRE SUSTAINABILITY OR GREEN FEATURES TO BE INCLUDED, PROTECT TENANTS AND PREVENT PERMANENT DISPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR DEVELOPMENTS WITH PROXIMITY TO KEY TRANSPORTATION ROUTES, JOBS, OR REINVESTMENT AREAS.
STAFF HAS REVISITED THE POLICY AND THE LAST UPDATE INSURED ALIGNMENT WITH THE SHIP, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED THAT WOULD PREVENT SUCCESS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
SO FOR THIS YEAR, MOST CHANGES TO THE POLICY ARE MAINLY RELATIVE TO ADMINISTRATIVE CLARIFICATIONS AND SUPPORTING EXISTING TENANT PROTECTIONS.
FIRST AND MOST EXCITING IS THE DEVELOPER WILL CERTIFY THAT THEY WILL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECENTLY PASSED RESOLUTION ON TENANTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE, SO IT'LL BE EXCITING TO SEE THIS COME INTO THE APPLICATION.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PROJECTS THAT ARE SLATED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE E T J FROM DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
[00:45:01]
APPLICATIONS ARE NOT GETTING THE SAME FULL POINTS AS A PROPERTY THAT IS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND ZONE CORRECTLY THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE.AND LASTLY, THE STATE REMOVED LANGUAGE IN THE QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLAN REGARDING CONCERTED REVITALIZATION.
SO WE WILL STRIKE THAT FROM OUR POLICY LANGUAGE SINCE IT'S, UH, NO LONGER RELEVANT WITH PC'S CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL TODAY.
STAFF WILL ADMINISTRATIVELY UPDATE THE APPLICATION AND POLICY AND PREPARATION FOR THE CITY'S HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATION PERIOD, WHICH WILL OPEN BY DECEMBER 1ST TO ALIGN WITH T D H A STATUTORY DEADLINES SHARING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, IKA AND, UH, TO IAN AND SARAH ALSO, UH, FOR PRESENTING THE UPDATES TO THE PROGRAM.
AND, UM, OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO SARAH, WHO'S A NEW MOM.
I GOT TO MEET THE BABY LAST WEEK, SO YAY.
THIS COMMITTEE HAD HELPED OUTLINE SOME CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM SO THAT IT COULD ALIGN WITH THE SHIP GOALS.
SO I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IN SLIDE FIVE THAT, UM, WE HAVE ADDED THE, UM, TENANTS, UM, PROTECTIONS, THE TENANTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, UM, ANOTHER AREA THAT THIS COMMITTEE HELPED DEVELOP, UH, WITH COMMUNITY INPUT.
UM, AND I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT, BUT IT WAS FOR THE LAST ONE AS WELL.
SO, UM, LEAST WHOEVER LEFT, TELL THEM THAT I SAID THANK YOU AS WELL.
UM, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I'M, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATION FROM MY COLLEAGUES.
YOU ALL HEARD MY COMMENTS ALREADY AT THE PRE BRIEFINGS, SO I'LL START WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT, WONDERFUL.
SO, UM, WITH THAT WE WILL TAKE AND ACTUALLY, UM, THE ATTORNEY, UH, IN, IN THE ROOM.
LAST, THE LAST ITEM, WE DIDN'T TAKE A VOTE AND WE NEEDED TO TAKE A VOTE ON THE PILOT PROG, NO.
AND THIS ONE IS, BUT THIS ONE IS A VOTE.
SO IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? THERE'S, THERE'S A MOTION.
[Consent Agenda ]
TO ITEM NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS JUST A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.AND IT'S A RE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, OBJECTION FOR THE PALLADIUM, UH, LTDS APPLICATION FOR 4%.
UM, DO, DOES ANYBODY NEED A PRESENTATION? ALL RIGHT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.
THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.
AND WITH THAT, WE ARE DONE AT 10:47 AM THANK YOU ALL.