Minutes of the Housing Committee Meeting of August 13, 2015

Present:  Deb Leary, Kathy O’Neill, Mark Sweetland, Scott Beck, Donna Sarnacki

Draft minutes reviewed and approved with one change. The State Senator who Deb contacted about the Zombie houses is Senator Ranzenhoffer.

Property Report:  381-383 Genesee St:  Demolition meeting 7/23. The owner received a letter with conditions that the owner must comply with by the end of August. Add to agenda for next month.

Other property reports deferred to next month as Bruce Wilder and John DeMott on vacation.  Check status of 257 Barton next month.

Review of mission and goals: 

1. Good relationships established with the NSC. Meetings are held at NSC and Bruce Wilder attends and gives very good feedback on properties being reviewed.

1. Deb has given information on zoning and housing codes through Update 19 and reports to Delegates Council.  Mark also suggested using Location 19.

1. And 4. Communicate with neighbors positively on observed code compliance violations and working with NSC on code enforcement. Both have been done. 

5. Postcards sent to property owners re positive improvements.

6. and 7. NSC does a good job of publicizing loans and grants for the 19^th WARD.

7. and 8.  Publicize the availability of grants and loans and encourage owner occupied housing. The first has been worked on. 

One new goal for consideration: 

1. To communicate to neighbors information on code enforcement and zoning regulations. Get information on available programs have a registry that can be accessed.

Open Door Mission plan for a facility to house homeless women and children. Site to be on Post Avenue. There have been many meetings and discussions with 19^th Ward leadership and the Open Door Mission as well as meetings with the ODM and neighbors. The site plan not been submitted for review. Not expected to happen to earliest date of September.  Then the ODM will apply for variance and the necessary permits.  The 19^th Ward Assn. will review the site plan when available.

The next meeting is September 10^th at 11 am.   Kathy O’Neill