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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - Housing Commission 09/04/2019c�N CITY OF PALM DESERT PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 — 3:30 P.M. NORTH WING CONFERENCE ROOM 73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE, PALM DESERT, CA 92260 CALL TO ORDER Chair Gregory Ballard called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Commissioner Donna Ault Commissioner Jann Buller Commissioner Dennis Guinaw Commissioner Arthur Katz Commissioner Melody Morrison Vice -Chair Juan Mireles Chair Gregory Ballard Also Present: Lauri Aylaian, Executive Director Andy Firestine, Assistant City Manager Kathleen Kelly, City Council Member Liaison Ryan Stendell, Director of Community. Development Jessica Gonzales, Senior Management Analyst Teresa Vakili, RPM Company Melinda Gonzalez, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Commissioner Katz stated he has been approached by several residents inquiring about the possibility for the installation of electrical hookups for mobility scooters and golf carts on housing authority properties. He asserted the properties have lighting in the car ports which would allow availability for this type of amenity. He further stated that concerns for increased cost of electricity could be mitigated by adding a surcharge of five dollars for anyone who wanted use of the amenity. Upon a motion by Commissioner Katz, second by Commissioner Ault, and a 6-0 vote of the Housing Commission the request to add an Agenda item regarding the installation of electrical hook ups to Housing Authority properties for the Housing Commission meeting of October 2, 2019 was approved (AYES: Ault, Ballard, Guinaw, Katz, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: Buller). MINUTES PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 Commissioner Morrison inquired about possible State and Federal grants available to Housing Authority properties for earthquake preparedness. She stated a local Del Webb community receives $14,000 annually for training and supplies to assist with earthquake preparedness. Commissioner Morrison informed they have members who have completed the CERT program and are in the process of getting a group together to check on people in their community. She stated it would be helpful to have funding for training and supplies to assist with their efforts for earthquake preparedness. Ms. Gonzales noted staff would need time to look into possible State or Federal grants available for this purpose. Upon a motion by Commissioner Morrison, second by Commissioner Ballard, and a 6-0 vote of the Housing Commission the request to add an Agenda item regarding availability of State and Federal grants for earthquake preparedness for Housing Authority properties for the Housing Commission meeting of October 2, 2019 was approved (AYES: Ault, Ballard, Guinaw, Katz, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: Buller). IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Housing Commission meeting of July 10, 2019. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Commissioner Mireles, second by Commissioner Ballard, and a 6- 0 vote of the Housing Commission the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: Ault, Ballard, Guinaw, Katz, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: Buller). V. NEW BUSINESS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to reject all proposals for pool and water feature maintenance and repair services at the Palm Desert Housing Authority residential rental properties, Contract No. HA39040. Jessica Gonzales, Senior Management Analyst, acknowledged the staff report before the commissioners and noted staff is requesting to reject all proposals for pool and water feature maintenance and repair services at the Palm Desert Housing Authority residential rental properties, Contract No. HA39040. Ms. Gonzales explained staff has solicited services for regular maintenance and repairs that may arise for all Housing Authority properties throughout the year. She informed the commissioners the proposals received were incomplete hence, the request for rejection of the proposals and approval to resolicit for these services. Commission Ballard inquired as to what was missing from the proposals. In response, Ms. Gonzales stated both proposals failed to provide the bonds for the project which is an important element of the proposal packet. 2 MINUTES PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 Upon a motion by Commissioner Guinaw, second by Commissioner Mireles, and a 6- 0 vote of the Housing Commission the recommendation to reject all proposals for pool and water feature maintenance and repair services at the Palm Desert Housing Authority residential rental properties, Contract No. HA39040 was approved as presented (AYES: Ault, Ballard, Guinaw, Katz, Mireles, and Morrison; NOES: None; ABSENT: Buller). VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS None VII. OLD BUSINESS None VIII. REPORTS AND COMMENTS A. Commission Reports Ms. Gonzales reference an email that was sent to commissioners regarding a fire incident at one of the housing authority properties. She informed commissioners the incident occurred at One Quail Place Apartments and began in one unit. Ms. Gonzales explained the fire spread to an adjoining unit and caused water and smoke damage to three additional units. She further reported electricity was shut down as a safety precaution. Additionally, Red Cross and property management staff were onsite to assist residents in the 16 unit building. Eight units were accommodated for the night at a local hotel. She noted electricity was reestablished in most of the units later in the evening on the same day, allowing some residents to return home. Due to sustained damage, seven residents were relocated to another unit onsite at One Quail Place. Currently, personal items and other debris are still being removed from the damaged units. Ms. Gonzales stated the final report has not yet been received, adding seven units will require renovation and that number may increase by an additional two to four units. She reported all repairs and improvements will be covered by insurance. Commissioner Morrison inquired as to whether a cause for the fire had been identified. Ms. Gonzales replied a cause for the fire has not been declared and is still under investigation. Ms. Gonzales acknowledged the copies of Resolution No. HA-93 and Ordinance No. 861 which were mailed to commission members with their Agenda packet for review. She explained Resolution No. HA-93, the Housing Authority Bylaws, were amended to reflect the new meeting day, the first Wednesday of the month. She prompted the commissioner's attention to the second page of Resolution No. HA-93, noting this section provided a description of the actions which would come before the Housing Commission. Ms. Gonzales explained items such as negotiations, purchasing, sales, staffing for the properties management company and emergencies situations would go before the Housing Authority board, not through the commission. Ms. Gonzales added in emergencies situations, such as the fire incident, commissioners would not be 3 MINUTES PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 immediately notified, but, would be given an update on the matter at the next housing commission meeting. Ms. Gonzales introduced the City's new Assistant City Manager, Andy Firestine, to the members of the commission. B. Summary of City Council and Housing Authority Actions A memo provided by Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales summarizing approved action items from City Council and the Housing Authority Board meetings was provided to commission members for review. Ms. Gonzales commented there are no Agenda items to report and all items listed on the summary which went before City Council and the Housing Authority Board at the meeting held on July 10, 2019 were approved. C. RPM Company Monthly Reports RPM Company Vice President, Teresa Vakili, acknowledged RPM's monthly reports for June, including the Monthly Occupancy Status Report, Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Summary, Report #1 Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Statement, and Report #2 Monthly Net Operating Income and Statement. Ms. Vakili reported current occupancy for the properties is at 98.6%. She informed the Average Rent Summary sheet reflects approximately 89% of residents in the low, very low and extremely low income range, with 6.7% of residents in the moderate income range. D. Update on Housing Authority Properties Ms. Vakili acknowledged the Palm Desert Housing Authority Project Report provided by RPM Company for July. She reported there have been numerous A/C units replaced on the properties through the use of the Energy Savings Assistance program (ESA) offered by Southern California Edison (SCE). Ms. Vakili stated several renovations are still being conducted, some of which are due to the age of the properties. She stated renovation work includes replacing cabinets and countertops and repairing plumbing issues. E. Update on the Home Improvement Program ACTIVITY (June 2019) Inquiries (Calls, Walk -Ins, Emails): 1 Applications Provided: 0 Applications Received: 0 Applications being processed: 0 Eligible (Possibly meets criteria): 2 Ineligible (Does not meet criteria): 0 Energy Savings Assistance Programs Referrals: 1 (JHC Construction — SCE/Gas Co) 4 MINUTES PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 Ms. Gonzales reported there have been a few inquiries from residents needing assistance with their A/C unit. The residents were referred to SCE for the Energy Savings Assistance program to help them repair or replace their A/C unit. Ms. Gonzales further reported two applications are eligible and are in the final stages, retrieving required documentation and other items to complete processing. F. Housing Tour Ms. Vakili handed out invitations to commission members and staff present at the meeting for the upcoming Housing Tour of the Palm Desert Housing Authority properties. Ms. Gonzales commented it has been a couple of years since the last tour of the properties and encouraged all invitees to attend. She noted the tour is scheduled for October 30, 2019 and will be primarily a bus tour, with a stop at two of the communities. She stated the tour will provide information on the properties and explain the individual characteristics of each community. IX. ADJOURNMENT With Commission concurrence, Chair Ballard adjourned the meeting at 3:52 p.m. Melinda Gonzalez, Recording S #etary 5