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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06A Minutes - Housing Commission 03/03/2021PALM DESERT HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 2021 (VIRTUAL MEETING) 3:30 P.M. CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Buller called the meeting to order at 3:32 p .m . II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Commissioner Donna Ault Commissioner Gregory Ballard Commissioner Juan Mireles Commissioner Melody Morrison Vice -Chair Dennis Guinaw Chair Jann Buller cr;✓m A~ptbYed av Hous1NG AuTHoR1rv oN 5"-1;,.iou veR1F1eo ev: M0S / 0 rs , Also Present: Or!~inal on file w~th City Clerk's Office 1 1 / I) ~\f t,S: ttOrhi~ ,Jo W~etr) "1 tsi\nde,Gturrtru1;lla.,,~ "'e y NO 117 : N D \f\e:, ' Todd Hileman , Executive Director Kathleen Kelly , City Council Member Liaison Andy Firestine , Assistant City Manager Ryan Stendell , Director of Community Development Jessica Gonzales , Senior Management Analyst Veronica Tapia , Senior Management Analyst Teresa Vakili , RPM Company Melinda Gonzalez , Recording Secretary Ill. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Senior Management Analyst , Jessica Gonzales , advised the comm1ss1on no comments or inquiries were received by email or voicemail , nor were any requests for public participation received for the meeting . Mrs . Gonzales provided a formal introduction of the City 's new City Manager and Executive Director, Todd Hileman . MINUTES REGULAR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING – VIRTUAL MARCH 3, 2021 2 IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Virtual Regular Housing Commission meeting of January 6, 2021. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Commissioner Ballard, second by Commissioner Mireles, and a 6-0 vote of the Housing Commission the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: Ault, Buller, Ballard, Guinaw, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). V. ACTION ITEMS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to recommend approval of the Palm Desert Housing Authority Proposed Budget for FY 2021-2022. Chair Buller introduced the item before the Commission. Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales, introduced Senior Management Analyst, Veronica Tapia, who provided a presentation on the item. Ms. Tapia provided a brief introduction of herself to the Commission. Ms. Tapia acknowledged the budget memo and report before the Commission. She shared that currently, estimated revenue for the Palm Desert Housing Authority (PDHA) properties is approximately 7.25 million dollars and estimated total operational expenditures are 6.29 million dollars, leaving a net operating income of $957,000. In addition to the operational budget, funds have been set aside for capital improvement projects and replacement costs. Based on a thirty year reserve study, this year approximately 2.9 million dollars will be set aside for these costs. Ms. Tapia advised if approved, this item will go before the City’s Finance Director and the Housing Authority Board for review during the upcoming budget sessions. Approval from the Housing Authority Board on this item will be requested in June 2021 so that it can be implemented in July 2021. Ms. Tapia concluded her presentation and invited questions and comments from the Commission. Upon inquiry from Commissioner Mireles, Ms. Tapia confirmed some of the smaller PDHA properties are subsidized by the net operating income provided by the larger PDHA properties. She explained the smaller properties costs are similar to that of the larger properties, however, the smaller properties do not have the same ability to generate income to cover expenditures due to the different revenue structures. Commissioner Mireles inquired about the time frame redevelopment funds would expire. In reply, Ms. Tapia advised that currently we do not receive direct revenue from redevelopment funds. However, there are funds that have been set aside which includes approximately four million dollars in bonds and approximately ten million dollars for capital improvements and replacement costs, both of which are finite amounts. Because there are no funds to replace these monies, staff is very diligent and thoughtful about the allocation and use of these funds in combination with net operating income for the Authority properties. MINUTES REGULAR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING – VIRTUAL MARCH 3, 2021 3 Commissioner Guinaw inquired as to why attrition would result in a projected increase in revenue for Authority properties. Vice President of RPM, Teresa Vakili, responded the increase in projected income is not only through attrition but also re-certifications. This year the 2020-2021 area median income (AMI) limits increased significantly due to the thriving economy in 2019. This has directly impacted the rental rates for the year, resulting in increases for re-certifications which have been processed. Additionally, the current number of units occupied by extremely low and lower income households is over the prescribed number stipulated. Therefore, through attrition, units previously occupied by extremely low and lower income households are being reassigned to moderate income households per the stipulation. In response to inquiry provided by Commissioner Guinaw regarding projected net operating income for Authority properties, Ms. Vakili stated the current projections are very close to accurate, and at this time are better than projected due to insurance reimbursements. Commissioner Guinaw further inquired about the possibility of remaining net operating income being carried over into the next fiscal year. Ms. Vakili replied there are numerous projects in the works, so it is unknown at this time whether there will be remaining income available. In response to further inquiry by Commissioner Guinaw, Ms. Tapia advised income for capital improvement projects are encumbered and carried over into the next fiscal year when necessary. However, operational funds are zeroed out and begun anew for the following fiscal year. Commissioner Guinaw asked about the possibility of the State reinstituting redevelopment agencies or other affordable housing programs that could assist with revenue. Ms. Tapia advised the City and the Housing Authority continually monitor legislation and funding packets provided by the state to see if there are any available funding opportunities. Hopefully, as the issue of funding becomes more prevalent across the state, more opportunities will be presented. Ms. Tapia added since the dissolution of the Redevelopment Agency, staff has been very diligent about scrutinizing and minimizing all costs associated with the Housing budget to ensure funding remains as long as possible for these programs. Upon a motion by Commissioner Mireles, second by Commissioner Ballard, and a 6-0 vote of the Housing Commission the request to recommend approval of the Palm Desert Housing Authority Proposed Budget for FY 2021-2022 is approved as presented (AYES: Ault, Buller, Ballard, Guinaw, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). VI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Commissioners Reports and Remarks None MINUTES REGULAR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING – VIRTUAL MARCH 3, 2021 4 B. Commission Reports Chair Buller proceeded to the next item of discussion. Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales, provided a reminder to Commissioners that an email was sent to them containing information regarding Form 700 by the City Clerk. Upon inquiry, Mrs. Gonzales advised Commissioners their Statement of Economic Interest Form 700 was due by no later than April 1, 2021. She further advised the Form 700 should be emailed to the City Clerk or she could receive them at the front door of the Development Services building during business hours and she would provide it to the City Clerk on their behalf. Mrs. Gonzales also reminded Commissioners to email their completed member update form so we have their most current contact information on file. Ms. Gonzales moved onto the next item, the summary of City Council and Housing Authority Actions, and provided an oral summary to the Commission advising the Authority Board approved the previous Housing Commission minutes. Mrs. Gonzales also shared with the Commission a development lease for one of the Authority’s undeveloped properties was terminated. Therefore, new proposals will be sought for this property in the future. C. RPM Company Monthly Reports for November and December 2020 RPM Company Vice President, Teresa Vakili, acknowledged the RPM reports provided to commissioners for the months of November and December 2020. Ms. Vakili reported currently the occupancy rate is at 99.1% for Authority properties. She stated RPM staff completed 72 re-certifications in the month of November, and from November to date a total of 358 re-certifications have been processed. She further reported in the month of November 2020 RPM staff contacted 472 individuals on the interest waitlist and added 138 individuals to the waitlist. From November 2020 to the current date there have been 60 move-ins and 37 move- outs for the Authority properties collectively. Ms. Vakili acknowledged the Housing Authority Properties Projects report for the months of December 2020 and January 2021. She reported 335 service requests were completed during the month of December 2020. Ms. Vakili shared the Southern California Gas Co. project, replacing eleven boilers at One Quail Place Apartments, has been completed and prompted the Commission to view the pictures provided with Agenda packet which included before and after photos of the replaced boilers. D. Update on the Home Improvement Program ACTIVITY December 2020 and January 2021 December January Inquiries (Calls, Walk-Ins, Emails): 1 4 Applications Provided: 1 3 Applications Received: 0 0 MINUTES REGULAR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING – VIRTUAL MARCH 3, 2021 5 Applications being processed: 0 0 Eligible (Possibly meets criteria): 2 2 Ineligible (Does not meet criteria): 0 0 Energy Savings Assistance Programs Referrals: 0 1 (JHC Construction – SCE/Gas Co) Mrs. Gonzales provided a summary of the Home Improvement Program activity for December 2020 and January 2021. She reported a slight increase in the number of inquiries for the program during the reporting months. She further reported the two applications which are being processed are the same noted in the previous month. Chair Buller invited additional comments. Commissioner Guinaw thanked staff for the inclusion of the article in the Brightside newsletter regarding the 14 Self-Help lots which are under development. Ms. Gonzales advised the Commission a study session regarding the Housing Element update would be held on March 25, 2021 and noted an email with the information on the study session would be sent to Commissioners so they can view the meeting live. VII. ADJOURNMENT With Commission concurrence, Chair Buller adjourned the meeting at 4:05 p.m. Melinda Gonzalez Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary