City of Holland 270 River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423

(616) 355-1330

fax (616) 355-1346

Neighborhood Improvement Committee Meeting Notice The City of Holland Neighborhood Improvement Committee will be meeting Tuesday March 15, 2016 at 4:00 pm in the 2nd floor Training Room at Holland City Hall. Items marked with an * asterisks require formal action and a recommendation to City Council from the Committee and must adhere to the following procedure:

Agenda

1. 2. 3. 4.

Report from Staff Public Comment Discussion from Committee Action/Motion by Committee

1. Call to Order 2. Determination of Quorum 3. Approval of Minutes – February 16, 2016* 4. Public Comment for items not on the Agenda 5. Review of the Housing and Neighborhoods Budget 6. Police call report-Captain Jack Dykstra, HDPS 7. Old Business a. Review of NIC Framework and Strategy b. Review of Review and establish priorities for FY ‘17

8.

New Businessa. Housing and Neighborhoods Annual Report-2015 b. Regional Housing Affordability Maps

9. Report from Workgroups (if needed) A. Communications from Committee Members

10. Adjourn La Ciudad de Holland proporcionará servicios necesarios y ayudas auxiliares, tales como personas que usan lenguaje de señas para aquellos con discapacidad auditiva y cintas de audio de materiales impresos, a las personas con discapacidad, con un aviso previo de siete días de anticipación. Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten servicios de ayudas auxiliares deben ponerse en contacto con la Ciudad de Holland escribiendo o llamando a: Human Relations C/O City Clerk's Office, comunicándose con Anna Perales, Deputy City Clerk [Secretaria Municipal Adjunta], 270 S. River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423, teléfono (616) 355.1301.Documento(s) en traducción disponible(s) a petición. The City of Holland will provide necessary services and auxiliary aids, such as signers for hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials, to individuals with disabilities, upon receipt of seven days prior notice. Person with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids services should contact the City of Holland by writing or calling: Human Relations C/O City Clerk’s Office contacting Anna Perales, Deputy City Clerk, 270 S River Avenue Holland, MI 49423, telephone (616) 616.355.1301.Documents(s) available for translation upon request

City of Holland 270 River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423

(616) 355-1330

fax (616) 355-1346

Neighborhood Improvement Committee Meeting Minutes February 16, 2016 Present: Rick Veenhoven, Marvin Martin, Council Rep. Brian Burch, Jeannette Brownson, Eric Davis, Sharon Beerthuis, Ron Chavez, Dave DeBlock, Amy Alderink, Matt Hefko, Linda Jacobs, Brian Wolthuis, Student RepsMia Marroquin, and Guy Gasper, Absent- Alex Calder, Brooke Anderson, Council Rep. Jay Peters Staff- Joel Dye, Sue Harder, Officer Nicole Hamberg, Tricia Dreier, and Joe Arrevalo 1. Call to Order-The meeting was called to order by chair Rick Veenhoven at 4:05 p.m. 2. Determination of Quorum-A quorum was present a. Approval of Minutes –The minutes from the January 2016 approved as presented

meeting were approved were

3. Public Comment for items not on the Agenda-None 4. Housing and Neighborhoods Budget-Status Report-Staff reviewed the budget status with the committee 5. Staff Report-CDBG Budget Development-Staff reported on a potential CDBG budget for FY 2016. It would include adding a new program to support Home Energy Retrofits for low/moderate income residents. We do not yet know our allocation for next year. Staff is proposing funding Neighborhood Connections from the General Fun 6. Community Police Officer Report-Officer Nicole Hamberg- shared information with the committee on issues she has been working on. 7. Old Businessa. Review and establish priorities for FY 17-Staff reviewed a list of items discussed at the January Meeting. The Committee asked staff to put together a sentence describing each item. They will take up the issue of Committee Priorities next month after reviewing the Neighborhoods of Choice framework. 8. New Businessa.

Discussion on Short Term Rentals-Staff reviewed the City’s policies on short-term rentals. There were members of the public present and Co-Chair Veenhoven invited them to speak on the issue. Here is a summary:

Debra WIlliamson – Westcore District Van Raalte and 17th Street-284 W.17th St. Her experience with Air BnB is different than the other people. Her house has a separate bedroom and bathroom. She is the only person who lives there. AirBnB was founded in 2008 she started using it in 2010. She began renting the room about a year ago. It is a platform for travelers. She and her family uses it throughout the world. Guests and hosts are vetted through AirBnB. It allows people with little money to travel. Closing down AirBnB is not very welcoming.

Kelli Fickel – Owner of 201 W. 13th Street Doesn’t live in the home. She bought a house in Grand Haven and doesn’t want to sell her house in the Holland. She uses AirBnB to rent her home in Holland. This is not new. People use homes as vacation rentals all the time and throughout West Michigan. She has had five different neighbors request to rent her home, especially during the holidays. Herrick District Library rented her home for a visiting author who smokes. Hope College rents it, etc. Scott Page – Central and 22nd Homeowner. (532 Central). Lives outside the City. Rents it through VRBO.com. They do it quite some time. They only rent 30 days and longer. Their guests like being immersed in the neighborhoods. Never had trouble with the neighbors. Liz Hofswell – 343 Pine Avenue Parents have an AirBnB at 173 W. 16th Street. They checked all of the different websites showing over 50 sites in the City. It is a big house and they are booked for the summer. Holland is such a tourist destination, it is beneficial for the downtown and the neighborhood. Kathy Bright-178 W. 35th Street Manages several properties within the City. Have rented to many people who return year after year and connect them with realtors where they end up purchasing a home. If Holland blocks this type of rental then it will miss out on future residents. Marvin Martin moved to keep current ordinance on short-term rentals. The motion did not get support. Brian Wolthuis moved to ask Council to look into the impact of short-term rentals. Matt Hefko supported the motion. The motion passed 11 to 1 with Marvin Martin opposing the motion. 9.

Report from Workgroups (if needed) (Housing, Social, Urban Revitalization District, Planning and Administration, and Transportation)-none

10. Communications and Petitions-From Committee Members-none

11. Adjourn-the meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.

Neighborhood Improvement Projects Budget Status Report FY 2016 3/10/2016 Account Federal FundsHome Repair Program Total Federal Funds

Budget

Planned Complete $Expended Committed $Committed Available Acct. #

$ 281,648

60

34 $ 91,852

6 $

Local Funds Enhancement Projects Neighborhood Projects GeneralNeighborhood Mini Grants Design Assistance Community Promotions Misc. General Misc. Community Events National Night Out Neighborhood Leadership Academy

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

20 2 5 4

9 $ 20,737 2 $ 73,000 2 $ 1,926

12 $

National Night Out Donations Total Local Funds

$ 1,784 $ 167,884

75,000 73,000 8,000 1,000 3,000 500 2,000 1,800 1,800

1 1

33

$

14

1 $

1,704

1 $ 862 15 $ 98,243

$ 4 $

16 $

14,019 $ 175,777 2GB2 & 2GB3 $ 175,777

48,392 $ $ $ 1,000 $ $ $ $ $ $

5,871 6,074 3,000 486 2,000 96 1,800

4M50-ADM-723ENH.01 4M50-ADM-723OUR.A5 101-694-723955.67 101-699-722807 101-699-723880.0 101-699-723955.0 101-699-723955.39 101-699-723955.15 101-699-723955.38

$ 922 49,392 $ 20,249

279-694-723955.15

3/10/2016 http://sharepoint.cityofholland.com/cns/ateam/Shared Documents/Neighborhood improvement projects budget status report 2016 (10)

Neighborhoods of Choice Framework 

 

City Neighborhoods will be safe, attractive, welcoming places for all to live, gather, and invest.   

 Neighborhoods in the City of Holland will possess: 

Neighborhood Values 

 

1.

 

1. Safe  A neighborhood must feel and be safe        2. Attractive  A neighborhood must be physically  attractive        3. Gathering  A neighborhood must offer places for  people to gather and interact as a  community       4. Convenient  A neighborhood must have convenient  access to services, amenities and  transportation      5. Diverse  A neighborhood must be diverse.      6. Worth Investing in  A neighborhood must offer protection of  one’s investment and be worthy of further  investment 

2. 3.

4.

Neighborhood Identity Know Your Neighbors

Master Planning & Zoning Property Maintenance & Management

NEIGHBORHOODS OF CHOICE Building & Site Construction

Good Neighbor Program

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

13. 14. 15.

16. 17.

18. 19. 20.

21.

22. 23.

 

24.

see reverse side for policy recommendations

 

No neighborhood consists predominately of low income  households.  There is housing diversity to accommodate different  household sizes, income levels, housing types, and density.    Owner occupied housing is encouraged; occupancy or  ownership by transient, disrespectful, or non‐investing  individuals is discouraged.  Growth in property values exceeds the growth in property  values experienced by the larger Holland Metro Area.   Investments in personal property are protected by rising  values.   Dwelling unit’s occupancy does not exceed the maximum  design for occupancy.    There are no long term vacant structures.   The “standard” is well maintained properties throughout the  neighborhood.   Design of new construction and alterations complement and  enhance the character of the existing neighborhood.  Public and private open space is appropriate to the scale of  the surrounding neighborhood.     Empowered residents are organized and invested in their  neighborhood.    Neighbors connect with one another at neighborhood  focused events, at neighborhood gathering places and  through electronic media.  The neighborhood is free of environmental nuisances,  including external noise.  People feel safe.  Reasonable traffic patterns and speeds in the neighborhood  do not detract from the neighborhood but ensure safe  travel.   The neighborhood is connected by a series of sidewalks and  pathways to encourage walking.   Public infrastructure is properly maintained and  complements and enhances the character of the  neighborhood.   There are recreational opportunities for all residents.   The neighborhood is adequately served by public  transportation.   Excellent schools and other well maintained institutions  serve as community centers are immediately accessible to  residents.    There are commercial centers to meet the daily needs of the  neighborhood and also provide an identity and gathering  place.   There are opportunities for work within and near the  neighborhood.   Government and civic services are easily accessible to  residents.   Energy efficient and green homes are found throughout the  neighborhood. 

NEIGHBORHOOD IDENTITY

A neighborhood has to mean something. Creating a neighborhood identity will result in pride and ownership in that neighborhood. What good is it to try to attract someone to live in a neighborhood if one can’t state what makes it different from other neighborhoods or subdivisions? To accomplish this task, the City must implement the following actions: • Work with community organizations and residents to formally identify the different neighborhoods throughout the City. • Work with community organizations and residents to develop the story of what makes each neighborhood unique. • Use the story and assets of each neighborhood to create individual neighborhood guides promoting the benefits of living in that particular neighborhood. • Invest in signage for the different neighborhoods, aiding in identification and in letting people know that this area is more than just another group of city blocks. KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

The basic building block of a strong neighborhood is the people who live there. For a neighborhood to feel like home there needs to be a connection between neighbors. To accomplish this task, the City must implement the following actions: • Identify Neighborhood Ambassadors in each of the neighborhoods to serve as a cheerleader and facilitator for neighbor interactions. • Develop a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” folder which highlights the benefits of living in the various neighborhoods. This folder will be distributed to new households moving into each of the neighborhoods and include a narrative of the neighborhood, neighborhood commercial coupons, map of the neighborhood, contact information for neighborhood representatives and the Good Neighbor Brochure. • Establish Neighborhood Social Groups throughout the City and develop a broad educational program for these associations such as building community, marketing your neighborhood, running small organizations, and getting involved in improving your neighborhood. • Work with Neighborhood Social Groups and local institutions to provide the electronic mechanism for NSG’s to network within their Group and to share information and ideas outside of their Group.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE and MANAGEMENT

BUILDING AND SITE CONSTRUCTION

A neighborhood cannot look tired and rundown if it is to bring in new investment and be attractive to new residents. To ensure Holland’s Neighborhoods remain their best, the City must implement the following actions:

Neighborhoods of Choice have recognizable patterns. While not appearing the same, Houses and lots should be sustainable, era appropriate, and compatible in relation to one another when being constructed or renovated. Contemporary compatible alterations and additions are encouraged. To accomplish this task, the City must implement the following actions:

• Update the Property Maintenance Code to extend beyond purely safety concerns to include broader “welfare” issues such as aesthetic concerns, including conditions that suggest disregard for property or neighbors like paint splatter on windows, roofing and siding, prohibiting plywood (T-111) used as exterior siding, prohibiting indoor furniture stored outdoors, require functioning appliances, defining appropriate exterior wall and floor coverings, etc. • Aggressively enforce the new Property Maintenance Code, to require non-complaint based enforcement in addition to complaint based enforcement. Encourage neighbors to report homes in disrepair, and implement Point of Sale Inspections to ensure all residential properties – rental and owner occupied - meet the new Property Maintenance Code. • Ensure that all public property is maintained in excellent condition. Organize neighborhood groups to assist in this effort. • Explore opportunities to encourage and assist property owners in maintaining their homes such as re-establishing a tool lending library. • Review housing code enforcement to ensure service is provided in a userfriendly and helpful manner; change service standards when warranted. For example, provide a list of resources to those homeowners in violation who may not know where to begin. MASTER PLANNING and ZONING

Approach neighborhoods from a holistic point of view. We need nearby options for residents to gather in first-rate public spaces, shop for daily needs, walk or bike to elementary schools, and be willing to eliminate lower quality housing in favor of newer development. To accomplish this task, the City must implement the following actions: • Ensure and promote Public and Private Gathering Places within a 5 to 10 minute walk or bicycle ride of residential properties. • Invest in high quality public projects to make neighborhoods more attractive to new investment. • Provide sidewalks throughout all neighborhoods that connect within the neighborhoods as well as connecting the residents with nearby services and facilities. • Identify and preserve historic and architecturally significant homes while encouraging creative continued revitalization through replacements of other houses. Aggressively identify areas where we should lose lower quality housing in favor of new development.

• Develop a pattern book to highlight compatible designs for new construction and exterior alterations for the different neighborhoods. • Update the Infill Review Ordinance to include exterior renovations to ensure compatible design is achieved during a renovation project. • Develop a pattern book to highlight the use of “green” building practices in regards to construction, renovation and maintenance, site planning, and infrastructure. • Develop a pattern book to highlight opportunities for landscaping and beautification of one’s property. • Provide an electronic mechanism (i.e. blog) that allows citizen-led design help to neighbors.  GOOD NEIGHBOR PROGRAM

A Neighborhood has to be, well, neighborly. There has to be a sense of what behavior in the neighborhood is appropriate and what behavior is not appropriate. To accomplish this task, the City must implement the following actions: • Create a Good Neighbor Brochure that sets expectations of living in the City. This brochure will address several behavioral expectations and provide information on City Ordinances ranging from noise levels to yard maintenance, and from refuse pick up to a guide to City Services. • Distribute the brochure to local realtors to pass on to home buyers during the real estate closing as well as to landlords to pass on to their tenants. • Place the brochure in the “Welcome to the Neighborhood” Folder to be distributed when a new person moves into a neighborhood and incorporate into the Neighborhood educational programs. • Have City Departments including the Police Officers keep copies of the brochure with them to distribute when visiting properties as part of a complaint or general visit.

POLICY LENS FOR URBAN REVITALIZATION DISTRICT   

INITIAL POLICIES FOR URBAN REVITALIZATION DISTRICT   

All existing programs must be re‐evaluated as they relate to this new plan.  

•

•

 

The City must be willing to lose some less desirable housing and redesign programs to gain the  housing they desire.  

•

 

 

•

There needs to be a single commission/committee with a mandate from City Council to be  responsible for the oversight of implementation of this plan and have the ability of cross  department oversight to ensure all components of the plan are equally implemented. 

•

 

•

 

•

•

 

•

•

 

Protect investment. Covenants and restrictions work. 

•

 

This District needs to be biased towards sustainable homeownership, with homeowners having  sufficient financial capacity to meet the vagaries of homeownership.  

•

•

The District will continue to require subsidies ‐ they should be biased towards ending the  conditions that require subsidies, not perpetuating them 

               

Encourage demolition where warranted and provide planning assistance to facilitate the  appropriate reuse of the property.  This might include assembling strategic located properties  for redevelopment by third properties. Or this can include the potential sale of vacant property  to adjacent property owner(s).    

 

•

Create a low interest loan program to allow all homeowners in this district access to funds for  new construction, i.e. such as new family room, additional bedroom, or new garages.     

•

Single Family Homeownership in this district is not for everyone. 

•

The Urban Revitalization District has the oldest housing stock in the city. Significant energy  savings will be found here. Programs to educate homeowners and conduct home energy audits  will begin to make the Urban Revitalization District more energy efficient.   

Create programs that reward what we want, and penalize what we don’t want.    

All future construction in the city and especially in the URD must be green. Develop easy  checklists and education materials for building permit seekers.   

 

•

Expand review within the infill district ordinance to include exterior renovations in addition to  building additions.     

Programs should be designed in such a way that owners quickly become knowledgeable and  improvements are easily transferable from one property to another, such as a landscaping plan  for narrow lots.   Programs should be designed to use the city’s expertise, negotiating power and buying power,  to assist groups of citizens looking to make significant improvements in their neighborhoods.  This can be in the form of  block long landscape blitzes, new garages throughout a  neighborhood, or bulk insulation purchases to weatherize homes. 

•

Through an assessment program expand the current historic district pedestrian lighting (as  should be modified to include LED fixtures) throughout the Urban Preservation District to  complement its current pedestrian environment.    

Investment needs to be defined as improvements rather than simply maintenance. 

•

Create a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ).  A NEZ is an area in the City will property taxes  are frozen for a set amount of years.  To encourage significant private investment, this NEZ shall  be only applicable to new construction and/or additions or remodels valued over $20,000. 

Demolish residences where warranted and create a localized “land bank” that allows the City to  hold the property for an extended period of times (years) until there is a demand for new high  quality homes in the district. Meanwhile, the city might grant adjacent owner(s) an interim  usage easement that allows them to use the property as their own as long as they maintain to  the City of Holland’s standards.     

•

A thorough historic resources inventory should be conducted to identify historic properties  throughout this target area where historic preservation tools and incentives can contribute to  revitalization and where, conversely, other properties shy of any redeeming historic or  architectural quality might be identified as “susceptible” for acquisition, removal and new  construction.    

• •

Provide additional incentives for reducing the number of two family properties in the district.    Develop both a short and long term plan for the 16th and17th street corridor. From Ottawa to  Lincoln/Fairbanks 

Selected Neighborhood Data for the City of Holland for 2015 Improvement from 2014

Whole City Socio-Economic

No High School Diploma High School Graduate (includes equivalency) Some College College Graduate (Bachelor's and above) Median Household Income Percent of Households below Poverty Unemployment Rate

Code Enforcement Data

Weeds Inoperable Vehicles Rubbish Housing

Property Data

Number of Residential Parcels Avg. House Value Percent Change from 2014 Number of Rental Units Rental Units Percent change from 2014 Number of Rental Properties Rental Units Percent change from 2014

Holland Heights

Downtown

Census Tracts 14.8% 31.6% 27.0% 36.5% $44,619 18.9% 5.40%

249

258

252

18.1% 20.1% 26.7% 36.1% $48,267 26.4% 4.9%

22.3% 32.7% 25.3% 19.6% $41,226 17.5% 9.0%

14.8% 23.1% 30.0% 31.1% $40,558 22.1% 2.8%

711 171 264 340

144 39 86 72

263 57 87 93

27 18 21 29

9,948 8% 4,480 3% 1,782 -2.5%

1,181 10% 947 1.06% 535 -4.97%

1,963 9% 778 -3.80% 524 -4.90%

1,499 12% 1069 -0.37% 165 -2%

Regression from 2014

Maplewood 257

322

West End 226

Neutral

South End

326

Park Township

Holland Charter Township

Zeeland Charter Township

Zeeland City

Fillmore Township

5.6% 21.8% 31.1% 41.5% $71,455 4.4% 5.0%

17.8% 32.6% 26.4% 21.9% $55,028 12.0% 4.6%

8.1% 34.9% 32.7% 24.3% $66,326 8.9% 6.4%

11.7% 33.8% 26.6% 27.9% $40,561 15.6% 5.9%

9.3% 46.2% 29.0% 15.3% $51,541 11.0% 3.9%

324

15.7% 7.1% 2.7% 3.6% 24.3% 31.1% 28.9% 20.6% 33.9% 38.3% 29.6% 28.7% 20.5% 24.5% 24.1% 32.3% 28.2% 56.1% 38.0% 13.3% $47,330 $40,927 $72,325 $47,067 $37,981 13.4% 15.8% 1.6% 9.4% 33.4% 5.4% 4.1% 5.1% 3.7% 9.5% Source: American Community Survey 2010-2014 68 36 5 0 3 24 8 4 0 1 14 7 3 0 4 24 13 4 0 10 Source: City of Holland Data 1,922 1,918 1,000 143 289 6% 8% 4% 4% 18% 697 619 86 5 236 13.70% 0.32% 3% 17% 7% 242 104 59 5 128 -2.40% -2% -4.80% -29% 5% Source: City of Holland Data and County Equalization

Note: total enforcements are in first column, other columns are distinct properties

N/A 5.0% NA NA N/A NA

Civic Involvement

Civic Involvement Data

Whole City

Downtown 249

Neighborhood Events/Block Parties Registered with the City

13

Westcore-Central 4

258 11

Holland Heights 252 0

Maplewood 257

322

West End 226

2

Neighborhood Connections Events 3-Sixty-Central Washington School-Central 2 7

South End 326

0

324 0

Heights of Hope-Holland Heights 11

N/A 8.0% NA NA N/A NA

N/A 7.0% NA NA N/A NA

N/A 10.0% NA NA N/A NA

N/A 3.0% NA NA N/A NA

Regional Owner Afffordability

¯

For those earning 50% of AMI AMI=Area Median Income

Legend

11.11%

2.86%

Less affordable

14.52% 5.58%

More affordable

1.23%

0%

11.44%

Census Tracts Source http://egis.hud.gov/cpdmaps/

0%

15.45% 15.83% 9.08%

0%

2.25% 5.58%

Low/Moderate Income Limits

7.58%

17.18% 9.58%

4.84%

1.17%

6.03%

13.43%

3.97% 41.49%

0.9%

9.27%

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Regional Owner Afffordability

¯

For those earning 80% of AMI AMI=Area Median Income

Legend

27.2%

11.07%

Less affordable

30.95% 29.83%

More affordable

8.16%

8.23% 29.74%

Census Tracts Source http://egis.hud.gov/cpdmaps/

31.15% 33.81%

9.69%

32.88%

9.66%

20.88% 32.09%

Low/Moderate Income Limits 4.52%

32.58%

44.94%

36.23%

21.09%

16.48%

23.15%

31.88%

31.46% 69.55%

23.58%

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Regional Rental Afffordability

¯

For those earning 30% of AMI AMI=Area Median Income

Legend

0%

0%

Less affordable

0% 3.67%

More affordable

0%

0%

8.11%

Census Tracts Source http://egis.hud.gov/cpdmaps/

6.67%

0% 2.3% 1.52%

0%

0% 0%

Low/Moderate Income Limits

0%

7.89%

4.26%

6.38% 2.24%

0% 0%

0% 0%

0%

0%

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Regional Rental Afffordability

¯

For those earning 50% of AMI AMI=Area Median Income

Legend

82%

0%

Less affordable

0% 67%

More affordable

100%

80%

100%

Census Tracts Source http://egis.hud.gov/cpdmaps/

60% 74%

54%

19% 32%

100% 65%

Low/Moderate Income Limits

80%

0%

85%

84% 36%

43%

0%

23% 20%

22%

26%

Esri, HERE, DeLorme, MapmyIndia, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community

Regional Rental Afffordability

¯

For those earning 50% of AMI AMI=Area Median Income

Legend

82%

0%

Less affordable

0% 67%

More affordable

100%

80%

100%

Census Tracts Source http://egis.hud.gov/cpdmaps/

60% 74%

54%

19% 32%

100% 65%

Low/Moderate Income Limits

80%

0%

85%

84% 36%

43%

0%

23% 20%

22%

26%

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