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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 - Fair Housing Policy                  To:    Planning Commission  From:  John Hinzman, Community Development Director  Date:  March 25, 2019  Item:  Fair Housing Policy    PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED:    Review the attached draft Fair Housing Policy.  Upon Planning Commission review, the Policy  will be brought before City Council for final action.    BACKGROUND  The Fair Housing Policy attempts to ensure all people feel welcomed, treated fairly, and  provided resources for fair housing when looking to reside in Hastings.   Metropolitan  Council has required adoption of a Fair Housing Policy to be eligible for future Livable  Communities Development Agency Grants.  The proposed policy is modeled after  information provided by Metropolitan Council and other similar cities that have recently  adopted Fair Housing Policies.    Fair Housing Policy Statement:  It is the policy and commitment of the City of Hastings to ensure that fair and equal housing  opportunities are granted to all persons in all housing opportunities and development  activities funded by the City regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation,  marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, national origin, or  disability.  This shall be done through strong external policies that provide meaningful  access to all constituents and fair housing informational and referral services; and internal  practices and procedures do not discriminate and that affirmatively further fair housing.    Policy Details  The policy includes the following:     Recognition that the City of Hastings has limited resources available to solve diverse  fair housing issues, but provides contacts for organizations that can assist.     Creation of Fair Housing information to be posted on the City website along with a  Concern Report Form any fair housing issues.  Planning Commission Memorandum    Designates the Community Development Director as the point of contact for any fair  housing issues and provides direction on the handling of any reporting.     Requires the City to provide fair housing information to all rental licensees.     Requires City Home loan programs and financial assistance to abide by the Fair  Housing Policy.     Review the City Code to identify any potential for disparate impact or disparate  treatment.     Consider the Fair Housing Policy in the review of proposed housing developments.       ATTACHMENTS   Fair Housing Policy – Planning Commission Draft              City of Hastings, Minnesota Fair Housing Policy Planning Commission Draft – March 25, 2019 1. Purpose/Vision The purpose of this policy is to ensure all people feel welcomed, treated fairly, and provided resources for fair housing when looking to reside in the City of Hastings. Our vision is that Hastings maintains a high caliber of respect and fairness while maintaining a positive representation of equity for all people aspiring to be residents of Hastings. 2. Fair Housing Policy Statement It is the policy and commitment of the City of Hastings to ensure that fair and equal housing opportunities are granted to all persons in all housing opportunities and development activities funded by the City regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, national origin, or disability. This shall be done through strong external policies that provide meaningful access to all constituents and fair housing informational and referral services; and internal practices and procedures do not discriminate and that affirmatively further fair housing. 3. External Practices a. Reference Organizations The City does not claim to have all the resources needed to solve diverse fair housing issues therefore the City believes utilizing external organizations along with City resources will provide significant assistance to individuals’ housing needs. If contacted by current or potential residents of Hastings, the City will request the individual to complete the Concern Report Form, the City will access the report, then determine if they could be assisted by the City or by reference organizations. The list below of organizations is not an exhausted list but a starting place for assistance:  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Minnesota  Minnesota Department of Human Rights  Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid  Housing Justice Center  Home Line Minnesota  Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services  Dakota County Community Development Agency b. Meaningful Access i. Online Information. The City of Hastings will have information about fair housing displayed on its website under the category “Housing”. The website will also have links to fair housing resources such as the Mid- Minnesota Legal Aid, Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services, and others. Information on the website will also include the City Staff contact for fair housing concerns. In addition, the City will post the following policies: 1. Hastings Fair Housing Policy 2. Link to the State of Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan ii. In-Person Information. Upon inquiries about fair housing policies, that individual will be directed to the Community Development Director who will provide information about reference organizations and inform them of City practices to ensure fair housing. c. Languages. The City of Hastings is committed to providing information in diverse languages for its residents. Therefore, if requested, the City of Hastings will connect the individual to an organization that can assist with translation of fair housing policies. d. Rental License Program. The City administers a rental licensing program which requires the property owners of rental dwelling units to obtain a license from the City. The City will provide information on this fair housing policy to licensees. The City will also consider hosting a training session for landlords that provides information on fair housing and other relevant landlord/tenant issues. 4. Internal Practices The City of Hastings commits to the following steps to promote awareness and sensitivity to fair housing issues in all its government functions. a. Reporting – If an individual calls or comes to City Hall to voice a fair housing concern, a Concern Report Form that includes the name, contact information, description of the concern and desired outcome will need to be completed. Once the report is completed City staff will connect the individual to organizations that can assist the individual. The Concern Report Form would then be on file at City Hall. Staff will follow-up as needed to ensure the individual has received assistance. b. Home Loan Program – The City of Hastings offers Home Loan Programs available to both owner occupied and rental units. These programs are intended to assist in providing resources for necessary improvements. These loans will be administered in accordance with the City’s Fair Housing Policy. c. Financial Assistance – Developers who seek financial assistance through the City for housing projects must adhere to the City’s Fair Housing Policy. Information on this policy will be provided to Developers at the onset of conversations regarding financial assistance. Developers will be required to execute a financial development agreement that includes language regarding fair housing and this commitment to uphold fair housing practices. d. Housing Analysis – The City will review its housing inventory to examine the affordability of both rental and owner-occupied housing and whether all reasonable actions have been taken to remove barriers to ensure adequate housing choice for all city residents. e. Code Analysis – The City will review its municipal code, with specific focus on ordinances related to zoning building and occupancy standards, to identify any potential for disparate impact or disparate treatments. New ordinances will also be evaluated in context of fair housing. f. Project Planning and Analysis – When reviewing proposed housing developments, The City will consider fair housing issues, including whether potential projects may perpetuate segregation or lead to displacement of protected classes. The City is committed to working with other agencies to remedy any displacement or segregation that may occur. g. Community Engagement – the City commits to ongoing community engagement. Specifically, the City commits to robust conversations with the community regarding potential housing projects, zoning changes, and other land use planning decisions. The City of Hastings will review, and revise if necessary the Fair Hosing Statement and the Fair Housing Plan.