Okay, I'm gonna go ahead and call the meeting to order.

This is a meeting of the Syracuse Housing Strategies Corporation Board of Directors.

I will note that proof of notice was provided and is on the second page in our packets.

I'll move.

We've got two looks like two sets of minutes, Michelle.

Uh first one is our June 23rd, 2025 board meeting minutes.

And I will entertain a motion to approve those minutes.

I'll move.

Second.

Any further discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Opposed.

Minutes are approved for June 23rd.

We'll move to the minutes of the August 4th, 2025 Board of Directors meeting.

And it's again I will entertain a motion to approve.

Second.

Okay.

Any further discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Carry.

All right.

Looks like we have one item of new business.

And I will turn it over to Michelle to introduce it.

Uh thanks, Mayor.

So uh the main item that we wanted to uh formalize today were the amendments to the block challenge program eligibility terms that we had discussed at the governance committee meeting last week.

Um so there was just a couple things that we wanted to kind of clear up in terms of uh ineligible expenses that we wanted to just make sure it was clearly uh called out for applicants uh that way that that was um something that we were being transparent about prior to accepting an application.

Obviously, if we don't have anything uh explicit explicitly numerated as a uh ineligible expense, it's something that we have to accommodate.

So um the ones consider, yes.

Um the items that we had uh uh discussed uh last week's meeting that were based off of uh just a combination of things that I think are would be considered kind of um in line with other policy objectives that we have related to things kind of like urban tree canopy, um things of that nature, uh as well as just a couple other kind of design considerations and they're also in line with um uh the terms of programs and other communities where we have been modeling this off of.

So um the main ones being uh in the event that uh a homeowner is looking to do uh actually if you look at page 13 uh in your packet, these are all called out kind of in order.

Um so the first one being uh we would not consider cost to enclose a front porch that is currently open.

We would not allow a porch removal without an in-kind replacement, so you can do a porch removal, you just need to put it back comparably.

Um in the event that you were looking to remove a tree on your private property, uh we would consider that, but we would look for some additional documentation to kind of substantiate that number one, it's something that's visible from the right of way, and then number two that there's a opinion from a qualified uh arborist or landscape professional that uh kind of ascertains that it is either a hazard to the immediate property surrounding uh or um uh disease tree itself uh that needs to be removed.

And then uh additionally uh chain link fencing uh with in a in a front yard fence.

I think I thought that we had landed on no chain link fence in the front yard.

But if I got that incorrect, that is fine, and we can scrap it.

Okay.

Yeah.

And what a what um and I'm sorry, I I didn't I missed this one, but um the enclosure of the front porch.

Um why is that a something that we wouldn't do?

Uh I think the idea there being that uh if your front porch is currently open and kind of walling off, it just separates you further from the street in a way that kind of sends a signal that is uh not necessarily the signal that we're trying to send, right?

So if your porch is already enclosed, obviously you're looking to do new windows or something like that.

You got it like that.

That's that's fine.

But I think just in terms of kind of new work like that, something in the front yard, um, it's just something that looking to avoid for right now, understanding the scope of there's many other things that we would consider allowable.

So what about the reverse?

So if someone already has a closed and portion want to open it up.

That's fair, game.

All right, so yeah, uh I do recall counselor Caldwell mentioning chain link fences and um as you know that's something that people opt for.

So I think we we were not able to achieve any consensus on that one.

So I think we agreed that we were just gonna leave that off of the list.

There were so anything goes.

So I heard no fences.

I heard some fences, but not chain link.

And I heard chain link is okay too.

So um, do you want you want you want me to call it to vote?

Sorry, it's not anything goals.

I just think we have to come to a consensus because a fence is a fence.