City/County Drainage Board seeks volunteer

The City of Colorado Springs and El Paso County are seeking a volunteer builder representative to serve on the City/County Drainage Board.  Applicants should be actively engaged in the construction and sale of housing in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

The City/County Drainage Board acts as an advisory board to City Council and the Board of County Commissioners regarding (1) subdivision codes and regulations relating to the drainage and control of flood and surface waters and (2)administration of the Subdivision Storm Drainage Funds. The Board also works closely with the City Engineer and the County Engineer.  Meetings take place the first Thursday of each month at 3 p.m. at Colorado Springs City Hall.

Send letters of interest and resumes before Friday, June 22, 2012 to mdevine@springsgov.com or mail to City Council; Attention Marti Devine Sletta; P.O. Box 1575; Colorado Springs, CO 80901.

Or, fill out the Application for Appointment to a City Board, Committee or Commission, which can be found at www.SpringsGov.com by clicking on “Commissions and Committees” on the homepage.  (The application cannot be submitted online at this time.  Please send to the e-mail or physical address above.)  For questions or more information, please call (719) 385-5453.

Legal Tips on Industry-Related Subjects Now Available Online

A new benefit for NAHB members is our “Legal Tips” section on www.nahb.org that includes regularly updated postings from our Legal Research Program.  During its 37 years of continuous operation, the Legal Research Program has responded to thousands of our members’ legal questions covering a wide range of subjects related to residential construction and business operations for home builders, remodelers and associates.

The program strives to provide accurate legal information in plain language that is easily understood. Current topics include:

• Website images and copyright infringement
• Voluntary Affirmative Marketing Agreements
• Immigration law compliance and subcontractors
• Cancellation requirements for home improvement contracts
• Pre-contract language for protecting plans submitted with bids

Please note that the responses appearing in “Legal Tips” have been modified to protect the identity and privacy of the members making the original requests for information.  NAHB members can access “Legal Tips” by visiting www.nahb.org/legaltips.   For more information on “Legal Tips,” or to make individual requests for legal information from the Legal Research Program, contact David Crump at 800-368-5242 x8491.

William Mutch named Government Affairs/Public Policy Director

Today, the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs is pleased to announce the addition of veteran government relations executive William Mutch as the Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy.

Mutch brings over fifteen years of government relations and political experience to the position.  His background includes government relations work with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver as well as previously holding the Government Relations position with the Colorado Association of Home Builders.

William’s career has ranged from handling legislative issues for Colorado Senate President John Andrews, managing press and communications for former Colorado Congressman Bob Schaffer, as well as campaign and District Director responsibilities for former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.

Mutch was also the Executive Director for the pro-business association Colorado Concern for three years, before moving into finance and working in public finance investment banking for Piper Jaffray, and also held a financial position with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Montana, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the School of Business and Public Management at the George Washington University.

“We are extremely excited to have William joining our team.  His background and experience will, without question, elevate the HBA’s already effective regulatory, political, and policy section.  The extensive search to find the right person has been well worth the journey.  We have found an enthusiastic and effective advocate for our members whose primary mission is to provide the dream of home ownership in the Colorado Springs community!”  said Renee Zentz, Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs.

Call to Action: Congress Must Extend Conforming Loan Limits

Congress Must Extend Conforming Loan Limits

Call Your Members of Congress at (866) 924-NAHB (6242)
Write Your Members of Congress at www.capitolconnect.com/builderlink

On October 1, 2011, the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will be lowered. The disruption that would occur with the lowering of the current loan limits would further damage the already fragile housing market and impede the economic recovery of our nation.

The housing finance system is under a cloud of uncertainty. The federal government, through the GSEs and the FHA, is currently accounting for nearly all mortgage credit flowing to home buyers and rental properties. Lowering the loan limits will only further restrict overall mortgage liquidity in the marketplace and place further downward pressure on home prices.

Talking Points: 

• Urge your members of Congress to support immediate efforts to extend the current loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the FHA;

• A drop in these mortgage loan limits would reduce home prices in major markets all across the country;

• This is not the time to reduce housing demand and exacerbate the current housing downturn.

Two Ways to Act:

• Call Your members of Congress at (866) 924-NAHB (6242);

• Write your members of Congress at www.capitolconnect.com/builderlink.

If you have any questions or feedback on this issue, please email BuilderLink@nahb.org.

For more information about this item, please contact Brooke Fishel at 800-368-5242 x8061 or via email at bfishel@nahb.org.

Implementation of the 2011 PPRBC

Effective August 1st the 2011 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code (PPRBC) will be implemented within the jurisdictions of the City of Colorado Springs and unincorporated El Paso County.

• All plans submitted on or after August 1st must be submitted to the 2011 PPRBC in full (commercial and residential).
• Any permits NOT requiring plans (reroof, water heaters, etc.) will be permitted to the 2011 PPRBC effective August 1st.
• Plans that have been submitted under the 2005 PPRBC prior to August 1st will have until February 1st 2012 (6 months) to be permitted under the 2005 PPRBC, Section RBC 106.6.

These criteria are applicable only to the City of Colorado Springs and unincorporated El Paso County, not Fountain, Green Mountain Falls, Manitou, Palmer Lake and Monument.

This can be viewed at:  http://www.pprbd.org/codes/PPRBC_Notice.pdf

Help Defend the Mortgage Interest Deduction With These Resources

As we have previously reported, policymakers are increasingly casting a critical eye on key housing incentives within the tax code, including the mortgage interest deduction (MID), which is a cornerstone of the nation’s housing policy and something that much of the American public believes is essential for advancing homeownership.  NAHB has developed numerous resources to help you learn about this issue and engage your community in the dialogue about the MID. We’ve put those resources at your fingertips at www.nahb.org/MIDresources. Here you’ll find background documents, analyses, press releases, links to NAHB’s MID social media communities and more. For example, check out the following items:

• The Mortgage Interest Deduction: Background and Statistics
• MID Banner Ads for Websites
• SaveMyMortgageInterestDeduction.com Website

We encourage you to share these resources with your fellow members and make your voice heard by visiting Facebook.com/SaveMyMID. In addition, for up-to-the-minute news and analysis of the MID issue, follow Twitter.com/SaveMyMID or subscribe to Eye on Housing, NAHB’s blog on economics and housing policy. If you have questions about any of our MID resources, click here to e-mail NAHB Public Affairs, or call 800-368-5242, x8447.

Support The Career Building Academy

The Career Building Academy, a 501(C)3 non-profit, is a school within a school, designed to introduce students to a wide spectrum of career choices in the construction industry. The Career Building Academy combines the benefits of an academic public education with a hands-on vocationally oriented program providing a practical education to participating students.  Students participate during their elective class schedule and are transported to The Career Building Academy for training and education.

Philosophy of The Career Building Academy
The Career Building Academy was created to provide high school students, through a planned sequence of hands-on experiences, insight into the many career opportunities in the residential and commercial construction industries. Students who complete a basic two-year program will gain fundamental skills and knowledge in approximately 20 trade areas common to the construction industry. Students will also be offered the opportunity to specialize in one of four trades, (framing, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical). This unique specialization aspect of the program will provide the student a jumpstart on a future career in the construction industry. Students will work with a professional craftsman in their chosen trade, gaining hours of knowledge and skill training that will allow the student to transition from high school graduation directly into the job marketplace.

The Career Building Academy bridges the gap between the student and subject matter that is meaningful to the student. The Career Building Academy Model is a hybrid approach, combining vocational training with applied academics. TCBA students actively participate in a comprehensive home building curriculum with job site mentoring by construction professionals and follow an applied curriculum in math, science, and communications.

Who Benefits?

• TCBA benefits students by providing career opportunities upon high school graduation.
• TCBA addresses the shortage of skilled workers entering the workplace through exceptional training.
• TCBA promotes a partnership between students, the high school, parents, and the construction community.
• TCBA benefits the community by preparing responsible workers and citizens.

How You Can Help

Drop off your donation at the HBA office at 4585 Hilton Parkway, Suite 100, Colorado Springs, CO  80907 with any of the following items:

Tool Wish List
Clothing Wish List

House Passes Key NAHB Supported Legislation, Fight Moves to Senate. Action Requested.

After much urging by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the House of Representatives just passed H.R. 6191 aimed at making home construction loans eligible for the recently signed small business lending fund.    At NAHB’s request, the House voice-voted approval of the legislation clearing the bill for Senate action later this week.  As the Senate is expected to adjourn on Thursday, continued pressure from our grassroots will be crucial to accomplishing this goal in this shortened work period. We will need all of your help reaching out to your Senators to deliver the message that H.R. 6191 will allow the newly signed small business lending fund to extend credit for housing production loans and help promote the sustained growth and vitality of the nation. With this language having been stripped from the final bill approved by the Senate earlier this month, this is the Senate’s opportunity to support the housing sector and the lack of credit currently impacting our industry.

Senator Michael Bennett

local phone:  719-328-1100
DC phone:  202-224-5852
email through website: bennet.senate.gov

Senator Mark Udall

local phone:  719-471-3993
DC phone:  202-224-5941
email through website:  markudall.senate.gov

Say NO to Amendment 60, Amendment 61 & Proposition 101

Don’t let them trick you. Amendments 60 and 61 and Proposition 101 are too good to be true. A citizens group in Montrose urged voters not to support the three ballot issues, comparing them to onions. “The more you peel them back, the more you want to cry.”

They promise tax relief, but the fine print delivers a reckless package of deceptive job killing proposals that will increase class sizes in schools across Colorado and hammer our small businesses.

Seventy thousand jobs will be lost in our sputtering economy, pushing Colorado deeper into recession. More than half the job losses will come from private businesses, the rest from critical public service functions in state and local government. That’s why the Denver Post warns these proposals “might be tempting for some voters. But they would be devastating for Colorado.”

At least 8,000 classroom teachers could get pink slips driving up class sizes everywhere. Nowhere will the damage from these ill-conceived proposals be greater than in our schools. The chief financial officer of D-11 in Colorado Springs said, “We don’t have a way to make payroll.” And the Boulder Daily Camera points out, “The truth is that K-12 education funding will be decimated and schools will have nowhere to turn.”

Small businesses will be hammered. Our small businesses are the job creation engine that drives Colorado’s economy. Many of these companies will not survive if we drive Colorado’s economy deeper into recession by passing these proposals. Those that survive will be even smaller.

www.donthurtcolorado.org

Pass Small Business Jobs Bill with AD&C Lending

Call Your Representative at (866) 924-6242 and tell them to include construction lending!

On September 16, 2010, the Senate modified and passed H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010.  In June, the House version of the bill was altered (through an amendment offered by Representatives Brad Miller and Joe Baca) by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 418-3, to allow lending institutions to also extend credit for housing production under the legislation.  With the addition of that amendment, NAHB fully supported the House-passed bill.

Unfortunately, despite NAHB’s unyielding lobbying efforts, the Senate chose to strip out the language passing a version of H.R. 5297 that does not make construction loans eligible for the $30 billion in funding provided.  With the election rapidly approaching and time in session dwindling, the House is being pressured to pass the Senate version of H.R. 5297 this week with no amendments or changes.

Call To Action:

• Call your Representative by dialing 1-(866) 924-6242.
• Write your Representative at www.capitolconnect.com/builderlink.
• Urge your Representative to amend the Senate-passed bill with similar language to the Miller/Baca amendment.
• Tell your Representative to oppose the H.R. 5297 if the Miller/Baca amendment language is not in the final version of the bill.

Let us know what you are hearing from your Representative by filling out the Congressional feedback form, by emailing us at builderlink@nahb.com.