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<br />Mr. Thorne referred to a letter staff wrote to the California Housing Finance Agency <br />(CaIHFA) indicating there is a surge of condominium conversions, and the Housing Commission <br />would consider eliminating the first-time home buyer requirement. He asked if staff needed to <br />send another letter to CalHFA asking for clarification? <br /> <br />Mr. Bocian said the issue was related to the condominium conversion project that <br />recently occurred on Division Street. Staff is now considering the potential of expanding the <br />current definition of "first time home buyer." Staff was particularly interested in providing the <br />information that the State needed to extend the term of the loan as the HELP Loan Agreement <br />expired in the fall of this year. <br /> <br />Mr. Sullivan said he would support staff's recommendation. He noted that Council at its <br />last General Plan Workshop indicated it wanted to conduct a workshop on affordable housing <br />and what would be the most feasible way to spend the City's money and discuss the options. <br /> <br />In response to an inquiry by Mr. Brozosky, Mr. Bocian said the issue is not the first time <br />home buyer; the issue is the cost of the homes are too high and the City needed to expand its <br />pool of people who bump into 120 percent of the median income. Staff is trying to gain a larger <br />pool of applicants who may qualify. The issue related more to people not qualifying, particularly <br />if their combined maximum income was $98,000 and at the upper end, most applicants do not <br />qualify to purchase homes in Pleasanton. <br /> <br />Mr. Brozosky asked why the Housing Commission did not agree to eliminate the first- <br />time buyer requirement altogether? <br /> <br />Mr. Bocian said the Housing Commission adhered to the basic First Time Home Buyer <br />Policy the City had for many years, but believed there was value in this transition issue. When <br />staff presented the idea to the Housing Commission, it recommended removing the first-time <br />buyer requirement. The Commission supported removing the first-time buyer requirement for <br />owners of below-market priced homes that were developed through the Pleasanton <br />Homeownership Assistance Program (PHAP) and carry resale restrictions. <br /> <br />It was moved by Mr. Brozosky, seconded by Mr. Thorne, to approve the <br />modifications to the guidelines for the Down Payment Assistance program to eliminate <br />the requirement for first.time home buyer status for buyers who have owned a home in <br />the past with resale restrictions. <br /> <br />The roll call vote was taken as follows: <br />AVES: Councilmembers - Brozosky, McGovern, Sullivan, Thorne, and Mayor <br />Hosterman <br />NOES: None <br />ABSENT: None <br />ABSTAINED: None <br /> <br />Ms. McGovern asked why the loan payments were deferred to the eleventh year. <br /> <br />Pleasanton City Council <br />Minutes <br /> <br />22 <br /> <br />12/06/05 <br />