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Home My WebLink About2022-07-13 HC Regular Meeting Minutes PALM DESERT HOUSING AUTHORITY PALM DESERT HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING PRELIMINARY MINUTES WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2022 (VIRTUAL MEETING) 3:30 P.M. CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA I. CALL TO ORDER Honorable Chair Guinaw called the meeting to order at 3:32 p.m. Mrs. Gonzales introduced Niamh Ortega, Deputy City Clerk, who was present in the meeting. Mrs. Ortega orally introduced Mr. Blair Armstrong, newly appointed Housing Commission member. After introducing Mr. Armstrong, Mrs. Ortega proceeded to conduct the Oath of Office for Mr. Armstrong to memorialize his new position. II. ROLL CALL Following Mr. Armstrong reciting the Oath of Office, Mrs. Gonzales continued by introducing Richard Cannone, Deputy Director of Development Services, who was also present during the meeting. Mrs. Gonzales then continued and provided an update on the changes to the roll-call attendance record. She directed the commissioners to review the memo included in the agenda packet and its’ attached attendance spreadsheet. The updated information is an update to changes to the Municipal Code by the City Clerk’s office at the direction of the City Council of overall attendance of all commissioners, committee, and board members. Mrs. Gonzales confirmed with the commissioners that in the present meeting and in every housing commission meeting moving forward, an attendance record summary would be provided for their reference and record. Commissioners Current Meeting Fiscal Year to Date Present Absent Present Absent Dennis Guinaw, Chair X 11 Greg Ballard, Vice Chair X 6 5 (2 excused) Jann Buller Melody Morrison X X 11 10 1 Blair Armstrong X 1 PRELIMINARY MINUTES VIRTUAL HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING July 13, 2022 2 Also Present: Kathleen Kelly, City Council Member Liaison Jessica Gonzales, Senior Management Analyst Teresa Vakili, RPM Company Vice President Celina Cabrera, Management Analyst Martin Alvarez, Director of Development Services Richard Cannone, Deputy Director of Development Services Niamh Ortega, Deputy City Clerk Stephanie Estrada, Recording Secretary III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales advised the commission no comments or inquiries were received by email or voicemail, nor were any requests for public participation received for the meeting. IV. CONSENT CALENDAR A. MINUTES of the Regular Housing Commission meeting of June 1, 2022. Rec: Approve as presented. Upon a motion by Commissioner Armstrong, second by Commissioner Morrison, and a 5-0 vote of the Housing Commission the Consent Calendar was approved as presented (AYES: Buller, Morrison, Armstrong, Ballard, and Guinaw; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). V. ACTION ITEMS A. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to recommend awarding Contract No. HA- ________ for the design-build of the Taos Palms Trellis and Entrance Structure Rehabilitation to ________ of ________, California, in the amount of $ _______ (Project No. 813-21). Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales acknowledged the staff report before the Commission and provided an oral summary on the item. Mrs. Gonzales stated this action item would repair the structure of the entrance to Taos Palms and replace trellis’s in and around the property. Mrs. Gonzales explained to the commission that a proposal was received which outlined the rehabilitation cost and design details of the project. Mrs. Gonzales advised the commission that this item would be continued to the next Housing Commission meeting scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 13, 2022. Further revision of the budgetary proposal will be conducted. PRELIMINARY MINUTES VIRTUAL HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING July 13, 2022 3 Upon a motion by Vice Chair Ballard, second by Commissioner Buller, and a 5-0 vote of the Housing Commission, to continue agenda action Item A, the recommendation to award Contract No. HA-______ for the design-build of the Taos Palms Trellis and Entrance Structure Rehabilitation to be considered during the Wednesday, September 13, 2022, meeting. (AYES: Buller, Morrison, Armstrong, Ballard, and Guinaw; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). B. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to recommend approval of an amendment to Contract No. HA-40360 with Southwest Protective Services, Inc., for courtesy patrol services at the Palm Desert Housing Authority (“Authority”) properties in a total amount not to exceed $138,580. Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales acknowledged the staff report before the Commission and provided an oral summary on the item. Mrs. Gonzales stated this action item is an amendment to the pre-existing Contract No. HA-40360. Mrs. Gonzales advised the commission that Southwest Protective Services, Inc. (“Southwest”), is the Palm Desert Housing Authority (“Authority”) provider of courtesy patrol at all the Authority’s properties. Mrs. Gonzales explained that the amendment would allow an extension to the current term of the contract for one more year, totaling 12-months beginning September 1st, 2022, through August 30th, 2023. Mrs. Gonzales further explained to the commission that an increase to the current compensation was requested by the Southwest due to the changing demands and high gas prices. She continued to explain that the nature of Southwest services require commuting between all 15 properties and the request was acceptable. Upon a motion by Vice Chair Ballard, second by Commissioner Buller, and a 5-0 vote of the Housing Commission, the recommendation to approve an amendment extending the current terms of Contract No. HA-40360 with Southwest Protective Services, Inc., for one year, a total of 12-months for courtesy patrol services at the Palm Desert Authority’s properties was approved. (AYES: Buller, Morrison, Armstrong, Ballard, and Guinaw; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). C. REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION to recommend approval of the named vendors of the Palm Desert Housing Authority (“Authority”) by streamlining the bidding process and granting an exception to the bidding requirements. Senior Management Analyst, Jessica Gonzales acknowledged the staff report and directed the commission to review the list provided to them in the agenda packet which names all the vendors of the Palm Desert Housing Authority (“Authority”). Mrs. Gonzales explained to the commission of the Authority’s procurement policy and how the vendor list was established. Mrs. Gonzales emphasized the importance to this policy which allows for a streamline process in soliciting services PRELIMINARY MINUTES VIRTUAL HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING July 13, 2022 4 or work from a vendor on the list that in most responsive in a case of an emergency or availability at that moment in time. Commissioner Buller addressed the commission with a comment on this item. Commissioner Buller expressed her contentment to learn that more than half of the list include local vendors, in addition to a significant number of the vendors being from the City of Palm Desert. Commissioner Buller was happy to see that the bidding process has allowed for this significant representation of local vendors. Upon a motion by Commissioner Buller, second by Vice Chair Ballard, and a 5-0 vote of the Housing Commission, the recommendation to approve the named vendors of the Authority by streamlining the bidding process and granting an exception to the bidding requirements was approved. (AYES: Buller, Morrison, Armstrong, Ballard, and Guinaw; NOES: None; ABSENT: None). VI. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. Commissioners Reports and Remarks • Housing Commission Chair Report Chair Guinaw invited Councilwoman Kelly, who also serves as the Housing Commission’s liaison, to address the commission. Councilwoman Kelly orally welcomed newly appointed Commissioner Armstrong to the Housing Commission. She stressed the importance of the Housing Commission and its impact to its residents. Councilwoman Kelly explained how critical the Housing Commission is to the structure of the City of Palm Desert because of the importance of housing people. Councilwoman Kelly closed by emphasizing that the housing commission plays a big part in achieving the City’s goal of providing a quality of life and helping Palm Desert citizens be the best possible contributor to the community they can be. Chair Guinaw added by remarking that if a survey were to be taken to see how many people are impacted by the housing commission, the number would be in the thousands. Chair Guinaw continued and provided an update summary of the homelessness taskforce meeting. The taskforce planning session set out three major goals and focus areas which include mental health, substance abuse, and health services. An important piece of information to remember is that addressing homelessness issues is not housing issues, it’s addressing the roots of their homeless issues. The next alternative focus areas are housing alternatives, short term, long term, and emergency housing. The last alternative focus area are non-elective services. The County of Riverside in collaboration with the city attorney, public defenders, and sheriffs’ office’s goal is to bring people into a court environment who are on probational, homeless, and have a criminal record. Those who participate in this project will have their probation removed and into permanent housing. PRELIMINARY MINUTES VIRTUAL HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING July 13, 2022 5 B. Commission Reports • Memo – Annual Regular Scheduled Meetings for FY 2022-2023 Mrs. Gonzales provided a summary of the agenda items that were presented during the City Council and the Palm Desert Housing Authority Board (“Authority”) on June 9th, 2022. The Authority heard and passed the housing commission annual schedule meetings for FY 2022-2023 to the second Wednesday of the month. • Housing Commission Members Update Information Form Mrs. Gonzales explained to the commission why the information update form was being requested. On an annual basis, the Housing Commission staff requests the information form in order to collect the most up-to-date contact information from the commissioners. Mrs. Gonzales provided an update to the commission on the official income limits that were published by the state which generates the eligibility for the residents of the Palm Desert Housing Authority. Mrs. Gonzales made mention that a copy of the income limits would be included in the September 14, 2022, housing commission meeting agenda packet. Mrs. Gonzales provided a final update to the commission regarding the city’s board/committee/commission meetings and the goal to go hybrid by our next meetings scheduled on September 14, 2022. The City Council’s goal is to be fully hybrid for the August 25th, 2022, council meeting. A follow-up to these changes will be provided as information is updated. • RPM Company Monthly Reports for April 2022 • Monthly Occupancy Status Report • Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Summary • Report#1 – Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Statement • Report#2 – Monthly Net Operating Income Statement • Palm Desert Housing Authority Project Report for May 2022 RPM Company Vice President, Teresa Vakili, acknowledged the RPM reports provided to commissioners for the month of April 2022. Ms. Vakili currently reported the occupancy rate is at 98% for Authority properties. She reported in the month of April 2022 RPM staff contacted 584 individuals and added 166 individuals to the interest waitlist. Ms. Vakili further reported RPM staff completed 65 re- certifications. Ms. Vakili acknowledged the Housing Authority Properties Projects report for the month of May 2022. Ms. Vakili reported that currently, routine maintenance such as plumbing issues and slab leaks have been repaired. Replacement of sewer lines at Santa Rosa are currently underway. The completion report on these PRELIMINARY MINUTES VIRTUAL HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING July 13, 2022 6 projects will be provided during the September meeting. She reported 311 service requests were completed during the month of May 2022. • Update on the Home Improvement Program ACTIVITY May 2022 Inquiries (Calls, Walk-Ins, Emails): 2 Applications Provided: 1 Applications Received: 1 Applications being processed: 0 Eligible (Possibly meets criteria): 0 Ineligible (Does not meet criteria): 0 Energy Savings Assistance Programs Referrals: 0 (JHC Construction – SCE/Gas Co) Mrs. Gonzales provided a summary of the Home Improvement Program activity for the month of May 2022. She reported there were two inquiries. One inquiry related to the program itself. The caller was provided information and application details. The second inquiry the process of sending an application over once completed. Instruction were provided to caller. VII. ADJOURNMENT With Commission concurrence, Honorable Chair Guinaw adjourned the meeting at 4:23 p.m. Stephanie Estrada Stephanie Estrada, Recording Secretary