HomeMy WebLinkAboutAHAB Meeting Summary 11.11.25 November 11, 2025
AHAB Roster
AHAB Members Present in Person (3): Matthew Ferguson, Lynn Nilssen, Alicia Reid
AHAB Members Present Online (6): Holly Meschko, Monica Palmeira, Anna Jefferson, Kyle
Meyers, Mary Towell, Mariela Hernandez,
AHAB Members Absent (5): Todd Orr, MZ K Johnson, Sarah Adams, Andrew Semmes,
Thomas Grastly,
Staff Present (2): Aaron Cohen, Blake Rosser
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"Note to Staff: Please fix Teams Meeting link in Agenda and Calendar invites.
(1) Staff Updates:
0 949 applications for property tax program. Significant increase likely due to
property reevaluations.
o New repair and rehab funds available for aging residents
o Cold weather night shelters have begun, 1 night so far this year.
(2) Planning for 2026
o Consider another community meeting in March in a different part of the county
o Have Planning staff come talk about Land Use Plan
■ Housing Staff will ask if Planning staff can come in January
■ What about Economic Development staff? What is the specific ask?
• Right now, no collaboration between economic development and
housing.
• Can AHAB support fostering some initial connection?
• Are there incentives to consider for businesses locating in the
county? Community benefits?
• Draft Framing Question for Economic Development
o (1) Would love an overview of what the department does
(2) How does the department consider housing needs?
How do you work with businesses in relation to housing?
(3) Are there opportunities for more collaboration between
housing and economic development?
■ Draft Framing Questions for Planning
(1) How does the Land Use Plan address affordable housing
needs? (2) What challenges do you foresee in building
affordable housing? How can we be supportive? (3) Any
specific needs related to Planning Meetings? (4) What's
going on with the Rural Buffer?
■ Could also consider transportation staff?
• April - Complete Housing Bond Project Analysis
• Additional developer session? May TBD
■ This past year we had a good turn out
■ There will be an RFP out next year, need to consider that timing
• Need to put work plan into template and submit to Board of Commissioners
■ Due Friday January 16. Can finalize at January meeting.
■ Presentation to Board in February
• Consider topical discussions at meetings?
■ Are there materials that can help us prepare? Speakers to bring in?
■ One meeting focused just on addressing needs of those at 30% AMI and
below?
• Addressing housing needs
■ There is needs at all levels
■ Are there strategies from other jurisdictions we can bring to Orange
County? Wake and Durham County have a lot more initiatives.
• Challenges with existing tax burden in Orange County (when
thinking about additional measures)
• Fast tracking affordable housing, measures being considered
• Challenges with Section 8 Vouchers and single occupants taking up larger units
■ Little local governments can do? (Locals do have an administrative plan
and perform regular monitoring)
• Capacity challenges for County that AHAB could address?
■ Waitlist for repair and rehab - need recording of outreach visits backlog
that is causing inefficiencies in record keeping
■ HUD has recommended additional staff for HUD, now even more
understaffed
• Engage new association of community land trusts in NC?
■ Interested in Fairview Park neighborhood
• Next Steps: Matthew, Lynn, Monica create draft Work Plan with dates and bring
back in December
■ December, approve work plan. Make it a casual holiday party
■ Monica - Send draft based on minutes
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(3) Approve Meeting Minutes from October Community Meeting - all approve
- Staff will send meeting minutes and PPT to attendees
(4) AHAB Member Updates
- Repair Cafe - County looking for volunteers. Happening Sun Nov 16
- School Board Election, 4 Open Board seats coming up in the Spring. Deadline to file by
Dec 19.
(5) Letter to Board of Commissioners
- Send a report of what we heard, and that it was successful. Lists comments and
questions that were fielded.
- Matthew will update the letter with some additional questions, will seek approval from
AHAB via listsery
Lynn move to adjourn, Matthew second
Meeting Close at 7:17