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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999.08.10_City Council Minutes OW ASSO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING Tuesday, August 10, 1999 The Owasso City Council met in special session on Tuesday, August 10, 1999 in the Council Chambers at the Owasso Community Center per the Notice of Public Meeting and Public Hearing called on Tuesday, July 13, 1999, and Notice and Agenda filed in the office of the City Clerk and posted on the City Hall bulletin board at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, 1999. ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Wilken called the meeting to order at 5 :30 p.m. Councilor Bode led in the flag salute. ITEM 2: ROLL CALL PRESENT Mark Wilken, Mayor Denise Bode, Councilor Melinda Voss, Councilor H C "Will" Williams, Councilor ABSENT Mary Lou Barnhouse, Vice Mayor STAFF Jeff Hancock, City Manager Ronald D Cates, City Attorney Marcia Boutwell, City Clerk A quorum was declared present. ITEM 3: PRESENTATION AND OPEN DISCUSSION, INCLUDING PUBLIC COMMENT, AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION #99-05, A RESOLUTION APPROVING OR DISAPPROVING A PROPOSED LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT APPLICATION. Mayor Willken opened the public hearing by explaining that the purpose of the hearing is for consideration of the recommendation to the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority of approval or disapproval ofthe proposed development of Redwood Development Inc. He explained that the issue before the Council is not whether the proposed apartments are appropriate at this location or the impact oftheir construction and occupancy. Rather, the Council must decide whether or not this is an appropriate location for low income tax credit housing, and ifthe application should continue in the OHF A process. Mr Wilken read the following ten guidelines established by OHF A that the Council will be considering: 1, Whether the Proposal meets the adopted comprehensive plan for the City of Owasso; 2. Whether the Proposal meets identified housing needs found in the City of Owasso; 3. Whether the Application and the Market Study accompanying the Application contains errors, inconsistencies or omissions; Owasso City Council August 10, 1999 4. Whether the Applicant or Developer has shown evidence of a commitment to use the tax credits, if allocated, through a syndication commitment, financing commitment or other similar agreement; 5. Whether the Applicant or Developer has shown evidence of neighborhood and community participation in the planning ofthe project; 6. Whether the Applicant or Developer has shown evidence of appropriate zoning, as well as the ability to meet applicable subdivision requirements; 7. Whether the Applicant or Developer has shown evidence of site plan approval if required; 8. Whether the Applicant or Developer has shown evidence ofthe availability of adequate public facilities/services for the development; 9. Whether the Applicant has presented a viable business plan for the proposed development, including therewith information conceming Applicant's financial wherewithal to complete such development, as well as any historical data relating to Applicant's operation of developments similar to the proposed development. 10. Whether the Applicant or Developer have otherwise met and complied with the threshold requirements, selection criteria, financial feasibility analysis, and additional requirements contained in OHFA's Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program Rules. Mr Robert Nichols, attomey for the applicant, presented the application and the reason for the applicant choosing the City of Owasso for the development. The first speaker during the public comment section was Dale Johnson, superintendent of the Owasso Schools. Mr Johnson requested that the public hearing be postponed until such time as all Council members can be present. Mayor Wilken stated that the comment period ends of August 13, 1999, and there will be no opportunity for hearing beyond that date. Mr Johnson then spoke against the use of tax credits for the project. Other speakers who spoke against the project were Carl Bartholomew, Dawn Cindle, Sue Bergwall, Richard King, Allan Baird, John Groth, and Rep Phil Ostrander. Some of the issues cited were the burden on the schools, the burden on city infrastructure, no neighborhood participation in the planning, use of tax dollars, inconvenient location for disabled persons, no elevator shown on building plans, and no answers provided to citizens when questions were asked about the project. Mr King asked if the project meets the comprehensive plan and housing needs. Ms CindIe mentioned a petition from citizens opposing the apartments; however, no petition was presented to the Council nor was any request made that it be entered into the record. David Vines spoke in support of the project, citing that there are no mid- price rentals within the City of Owasso. DUling the rebuttal period, Mr Nichols pointed out that entry-level wages for city workers, teachers, and employees at Whirlpool and WorldCom do not allow those employees to rent apartments within the City of Owasso. Mr Rick Schroeder, owner and developer of the project, stated that he is committed to own and manage the property for 30 years. He further stated, when questioned by Councilor Voss, that he 2 Owasso City Council August 10,1999 manages 60 properties. Twenty ofthose properties are for cities, and none of those properties have been sold. Tim Rooney provided the staff position. He addressed each of the ten guidelines established by OHF A. He said that it appears that the applicant has met all the guidelines contained within the application procedures outlined within OHF A rules. Based on the information contained within the application and a review of the items outlined by the Oklahoma Housing Finance Authority for consideration on the local govemment level, staff recommended Council approval of Resolution #99-05 in the affirmative form. Each Councilor was then given an opportunity to provide any comments they wished regarding this application. At the conclusion of the Councilor comments, Mayor Wilken called the question. Dr Bode moved, seconded by Mr Williams, to adopt Resolution #99-05 in the affirmative, recommending approval of the proposed low income housing tax credit application. AYE: NAY: Bode, Williams, Voss, Wilken None Motion carried 4-0, and Resolution #99-05 was adopted in the affirmative. ITEM 2: ADJOURNMENT Dr Bode moved, seconded by Mr Williams, to adjoum. AYE: NAY: Bode, Williams, Voss, Wilken None Motion carried 4-0, and the meeting was adjoumed at 7:00 p.m. ~~ &~<4~ Mark Wilken, Mayor 3