HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-19-minutes-new-site-proposal2016-12-19 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
COMMISSIONERS AUDITORIUM
SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY 11:30 A.M. DECEMBER 19, 2016
Board members present: Chairman Obie O’Brien; Commissioner Paul
Jewell and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Susan Grindle, Nancy
Goodloe & David Miller from the Homelessness & Affordable
Housing Committee; and 4 members of the public.
SPECIAL MEETING HOPESOURCE PROPOSAL COMMISSIONERS
At 11:36 a.m. Chairman O’Brien opened a Special Meeting to
consider a new site proposal from HopeSource.
Susan Grindle, HopeSource Executive Director, said they have a
signed Purchase & Sale Agreement and is currently in escrow. She
indicated HopeSource has worked over the years with the City,
County, and private citizens and due to their work they are now
receiving frequent calls from private landowners to come out and
look at their property for a possible site for affordable
housing. She said private sellers do not want to wait for a long
process, but rather a reasonable timeframe and was concerned
about not being able to have a process in place that would allow
for the flexibility. They could potentially have between 5 and
7 years of consistent building of units. They are currently
leveraging the $500,000.00 in order to possibly get up to 14
million into the County and the units would assist with
affordable housing. Chairman O’Brien said he would not be
participating in any funding decisions relating to HopeSource.
Commissioner Jewell recommended that Chairman O’Brien not
participate in meetings relating to HopeSource due to any
potential conflict of interest. Chairman O’Brien excused himself
from the meeting and left the room.
Ms. Grindle submitted a project application for Affordable
Housing for the Spurling Court. She said the project was located
within the City of Ellensburg and explained the urgency due to
other available funds including the Low Income Housing Tax
Credits, USDA Rural Development Grants and 811 HUD Housing
Vouchers. As soon as they are awarded funds for the project,
the location will be determined and they will begin working with
2016-12-19 MINUTES 2
the City of Ellensburg on the Conditional Use Project (CUP)
process for density.
Commissioner Jewell explained how the non-profit process is a
little different rather than a private sale. Ms. Grindle said if
they were granted a commitment of the $500,000.00 the funds
would not be utilized until the project has been fully funded.
Commissioner Osiadacz noted how units were basically the same as
the previous project. She believed HopeSource should share the
location of the project with the public as soon as possible so
citizens can have input and voice any comments they may have.
Nancy Goodloe, Homelessness & Affordable Housing Committee
member questioned if the residents of Shady Acres would be able
to qualify to live in the units. Ms. Grindle noted that
Elisabeth Tutsch from the Northwest Justice Project said in her
opinion they could qualify.
Commissioner Jewell said he’d like to review the application &
have the HAHC get together and obtain their thoughts and
feedback. The Board directed Staff to schedule a Special Meeting
for Thursday December 22, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. for further
discussion and possible decision.
Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Julie Kjorsvik Paul Jewell, Vice-Chairman