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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-10 HC Regular Meeting MinutesCITY OF PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES APRIL 10, 2019 CALL TO ORDER Juan Mireles, Housing Commission Vice -Chair, convened the meeting at 3:31 p.m. IL ROLL CALL Present: IU Juan Mireles, Vice Chair Donna Ault Jann Buller Arthur Katz Melody Morrison Others Present: Kathleen Kelly, City Council Member Liaison Janet Moore, Director of Finance Ryan Stendell, Director of Community Development Jessica Gonzales, Senior Management Analyst Veronica Tapia, Senior Management Analyst Teresa Vakili, RPM Company Patty Leon, Recording Secretary ORAL COMMUNICATIONS APPROVAL OF MINUTES MINUTES of the Housing Commission meetings of: Absent: Greg Ballard Dennis Guinaw A. MINUTES of the Housing Commission meeting of December 12th, 2018. Motion was made by Commissioner Jan Buller to approve the minutes of the Housing Commission meeting of December 12th, 2018. Motion was Iseconded by Commissioner Donna Ault and carried by 5-0 vote (AYES: Ault, Buller, Katz, Morrison, and Mireles; NOES: none; ABSENT: Guinaw and Ballard). Housing Commission Minutes April 10, 2019 B. MINUTES of the Housing Commission meeting of March 13th, 2019 Motion was made by Commissioner Melody Morrison to approve the minutes of the Housing Commission meeting of March 13th, 2019. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Jan Buller and carried by 5-0 vote AYES: Ault, Buller, Katz, Morrison, and Mireles; NOES: none; ABSENT: Guinaw and Ballard). V. NEW BUSINESS VI. CONTINUED BUSINESS VII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMISSION REPORTS Jessica Gonzales reminded Commission members to complete and file the Annual Statement of Economic Interests Filing — Form 700 provided to all members by the City Clerk in March. Deadline to file the form was April 15t however, for new members the deadline was extended to April 12th B. SUMMARY OF CITY COUNCIL, SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND HOUSING AUTHORITY AGENDA ITEMS A memo summarizing the approved action items from the City Council and Authority Board meetings was provided to the Commission for review. Jessica Gonzales provided a brief explanation of the summary memo provided monthly that show a follow up on action items recommended by this Commission to the Housing Authority Board for approval. She noted that the memo also includes agenda items related to housing activities but not purview to this Commission, as informational only. C. RPM Company Monthly Reports for February • Monthly Occupancy Status Report • Report #1 - Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Statement • Report #2 - Monthly Net Operating Income Statements The Commission reviewed the Reports for February. G9HOUSINGTatty Leon\Housing CommissfonWinutes12019\410-19.doc Housing Commission Minutes April 10, 2019 Teresa Vakili reported that the properties are 99% occupied with 3 vacant units available. There were 37 move -ins and 29 move -outs in the month of February. Staff completed 45 re -certifications and contacted 347 applicants from the interest list. Commissioner Melody Morrison asked for clarification of traffic qualified and non -qualified. Ms. Vakili explained the industry term "traffic" means prospects that walk in to a leasing office and whether they qualify to be placed on an interest list. D. HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES UPDATE An update on the Housing Authority Properties was provided to the Commission for review (March) Teresa Vakili summarized the report highlighting that staff completed 337 service requests. i t Pictures of a leak that required emergency repair at Carlos Ortega Villas were provided to the Commission. The leak to the water line was connected to the fire sprinkler system. Commissioner Juan Mireles asked if there was contingency monies to do the repairs. Ms. Vakili replied that monies are available in the current property budget to complete emergency repairs. Pictures of a sewer pipe leak repair that took place at Laguna Palms were also displayed. Pictures of the Stair Top Handrail Replacement project at One Quail Place were displayed. This project replaced all the stair top handrails with a wooden rail treated with a polyurea coating. The protective coating provides UV protection to the wood as well as textured finish to the handrail. Councilmember Liaison Kathleen Kelly asked if the residents at One Quail Place have provided any comments on the handrail replacement project. i Ms. Vakili replied that the project had just started and therefore no comments have been received as of yet. 3 GMOUSING\Patty Leon%Housing CommissionWinutes@019\4-10-19.doe Housing Commission Minutes April 10, 2019 Commissioner Jann Buller asked about the Smoking Policy that took effect April 15' and if there were any reactions from the residents. Ms. Vakili stated that residents are complying by smoking at the designated smoking areas. However, there was one resident who was served a 3-day Notice to perform for smoking. Ms. Vakili noted that she will provide updates concerning the Smoking Policy from time to time. F. Authority Home Improvement Program (HIP) Update (Janet) ACTIVITY (March 2019) Inquiries (calls, walk-ins, emails): 1 Applications Provided: 1 Applications Received: 1 Application being processed (received June 2018 & March 2019): 2 Eligible (possibly meets criteria): 0 Ineligible (does not meet criteria): 0 'r Energy Savings Assistance Programs Referrals: 0 (JHC Construction - SCE/Gas Cc) Janet Moore summarized the Home Improvement Program stating that the program has subsided from previous years. In most cases, residents are utilizing other programs such as the Energy Savings Assistance Programs from SCE. In previous years, the program provided assistance for landscape improvements to homeowners under the Street Beautification Program which is no longer available. Currently the Program is minimal and only assist homeowners with emergency issues such as roofs, air conditioners, etc. Afthis time, Commissioner Arthur Katz referred back to the rental properties interest list and commented that the length of time to wait for a rental unit is way too long. He inquired if the City is considering alternatives to meet that need. Councilmember Liaison Kathleen Kelly stated that the City is aware of the interest list and how it tears at their hearts knowing a need for housing rental is high. As mentioned by Teresa Vakili, as they go through the ,list, there are applicants who find other housing options. Ryan Stendall stated that the City has been diligently working on creating more housing options and in fact housing has been 4 G:IHOUSING1Patty LeWHousing CommissionWinutes@019\4-10-19.tloc Housing Commission Minutes April 10, 2019 updated in the general plan as a critical importance. Zoning standards have been placed in certain areas to encourage multi family developments. In addition, private developers are given 'carrots' (incentives) who are willing to do affordable projects. An upcoming development known as the Sands Apartments will provide 20% of their multi -family units as affordable. The Sands project is anticipated to start construction in a couple of months. Additionally, there is a vacant parcel near San Pascual and Santa Rosa adjacent to Sagecrest Senior community that will go out to RFP for the construction of a 100% affordable community. Jessica Gonzales reported on the 14 Self -Help Single Family Affordable Housing Development project stating that an RFP was solicited and Coachella Valley Housing Coalition was the only response received and staff is recommending negotiating a contract. The project will be a 'sweat equity' project where the homebuyers will be required to contribute a minimum of 40 hours of the labor used in constructing the homes. Councilmember Kelly also mentioned that the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition schedule tours of their developments throughout the Coachella Valley if any of the members are interested. Ms. Gonzales reported that the Housing tour previously scheduled for spring was rescheduled to the fall. VIII. NEXT MEETING DATE — May 8th, 2019 Jessica Gonzales commented that at the last meeting there was a discussion to change the Housing Commission meeting dates to a different Wednesday of the month. She asked the Commission to submit any input/conflict regarding meeting on a different Wednesday as this item will be placed on the May agenda for consideration. Councilmember Liaison Kathleen Kelly mentioned the fourth Wednesday conflicts with her calendar. IX. ADJOURNMENT With Commission concurrence, Vice -Chair Mireles adjourned the meeting at 4:06 p.m. to May 8th. vil� Patty Leon, Recording Secretary G tHGUSINGiPatty Lean\Housing CommisslonMnutes= 9%4-10-19 Coc