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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Housing Commission 11/112/2014PALM DESERT HOUSING AUTHORITY INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: RACHELLE KLASSEN, CITY CLERK FROM: PATTY LEON, RECORDING SECRETARY DATE: December 11, 2014 SUBJECT: HOUSING COMMISSION MINUTES Attached is the following Housing Commission Meeting Minutes approved at the regular Housing Commission meeting held December 10th, 2014 as follows: (x) Meeting Minutes for November 12th, 2014 Please submit to the Housing Authority Board. Thank you. AWAVIed16---4)BY HOUSG AUTH O�>> .. VERIFIED BY:rI Original on file with City Clerk's OfficE G \HOUSING\Patty Leon\Housing Commission \Miscellaneous\Memos'Memos to City Clerk HC\HAC - Minutes doc CITY OF PALM DESERT REGULAR HOUSING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 12, 2014 I. CALL TO ORDER Natalie Russo, Housing Commission Chair, convened the meeting at 3:30 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Present: Absent: Natalie Russo — Chair Jane Turner — Vice Chair Gregory Ballard Mike Lewis Robert Nevares Wade Tucker Joy Whitehurst Others Present: Jean Benson, Councilmember Liaison Janet Moore, Director of Housing Patty Leon, Recording Secretary Teresa Vakili, RPM Company Deborah Schwartz Glickman, Management Analyst 11 Heather Buck, Project Coordinator III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS IV. AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, AND APPOINTMENTS A. Recognition of the Housing Commission Members Councilmember Liaison Jean Benson thanked all members for their time serving on the Housing Commission. She presented them with a gift card stating that it is a token of appreciation for making Palm Desert a better place to live. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1 Housing Commission Minutes NOVEMBER 12, 2014 MINUTES of the Regular Housing Commission meeting of October 8, 2014: Motion was made by Commissioner Mike Lewis to approve the minutes of the October 8, 2014 meeting. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Wade Tucker and carried by 6-0-1 vote (AYES: Ballard, Lewis, Nevares, Tucker, Whitehurst, and Russo; NOES: none; ABSTAIN: Turner). VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Laundry Services for the Palm Desert Housing Authority properties California Villas and Las Serenas (WASH) Janet Moore summarized the staff report, stating that both California Villas and Las Serenas are the only two properties currently on a month to month contract with a different laundry company (Coinmach) than the other properties (WASH). Staff would like to enter into a lease agreement with WASH for all new water efficient front loading washing machines and dryers as well as provide improvements to the laundry rooms. Teresa Vakili stated that the laundry room's ventilation system at California Villas is in much need of repair and once it is repaired it should eliminate complaints of dryers not drying properly. Re -venting is included in the renovation price. Wash and dry prices will now be consistent at all the properties. Motion was made by Commissioner Mike Lewis to forward a recommendation to the Palm Desert Housing Authority to authorize RPM Company to enter into a lease agreement with WASH Multi Family Laundry Systems LLC, in order to provide laundry services to the Housing Authority properties known as Las Serenas and California Villas. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Jane Turner and carried by 7-0 vote (AYES: Ballard, Lewis, Nevares, Tucker, Turner, Whitehurst, and Russo; NOES: none). B. Housing Program Buy -Down Subsidy Housing Bond Proceeds Funding Agreement Janet Moore summarized the staff report stating that the former redevelopment agency identified a program in the 2007 Housing Bond documents to provide subsidy on several developer projects to "buy -down" affordability. The only way to utilize these monies is to have an agreement with Successor Agency to the former Redevelopment Agency. This has been delayed for approximately 3 years, due to the elimination of redevelopment; however priority projects will be completed first such as Carlos Ortega Villas. Staff is also currently in negotiations with prospective 2 Housing Commission Minutes NOVEMBER 12, 2014 developers that will include low and moderate income units within those developments, depending on the number of units in the project. She mentioned that the Oversight Board to Successor Agency of the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency approved this recommendation at their November 3rd meeting. Expenditures for this purpose are listed on the ROPS and will be reimbursed after January 1, 2015 contingent upon approval from the Department of Finance. Upon question, Mrs. Moore mentioned a few of those developments as The Regent (formerly San Tropez), The Vineyards, Canterra, and Villas on the Greens. Motion was made by Commissioner Mike Lewis to forward a recommendation to the Palm Desert Housing Authority to Approve Resolution No. HA_ and A Resolution NO. SARDA a resolution approving the execution of a Housing Program Buy Down Subsidy Housing Bond Proceeds Funding Agreement between the Successor Agency to the Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency and the Palm Desert Housing Authority and taking certain related actions. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Joy Whitehurst and carried by 7-0 vote (AYES: Ballard, Lewis, Nevares, Tucker, Turner, Whitehurst, and Russo; NOES: none) VII. CONTINUED BUSINESS VIII. REPORTS AND REMARKS A. COMMISSION REPORTS Deborah Schwartz Glickman reported on the proposed artwork for Carlos Ortega Villas (COV). She mentioned that out of 32 interested designers 3 were selected as finalists. Each finalist was given a $1,000 honorarium to prepare the design and then they presented their artwork to Art in Public Places Commission that included input from Councilmember Jean Benson and Rosemary Ortega. A ranking method was used to determine the final artwork for COV. All three finalists' designs were distributed to the Commission for review. At this time, Chairman Natalie Russo announced she will be resigning as a member of this Commission due to relocation of residency; her last meeting will be in December. Commission members thanked her for her outstanding service and wished her well. Janet Moore noted that the Council will recognize her at a future City Council meeting. 3 Housing Commission Minutes NOVEMBER 12, 2014 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 meeting of October 9th was provided to the Commission for review. C. MONTHLY OCCUPANCY STATUS REPORT The Commission reviewed the Monthly Occupancy Status Report for September. D. REPORT #1 — MONTHLY OCCUPANCY AND AVERAGE RENT STATEMENT The Commission reviewed the Monthly Occupancy and Average Rent Statement for September. Janet Moore reported on a fire incident that took place at Las Serenas. The initial cause of the fire started in a closet where the water heater is stored. Although this incident is under investigation by the fire department it was believed that the tenant stored personal items in the water heater closet. The tenant sustained minor injuries and was transported to the hospital. Those tenants with possible smoke damage to their units were relocated to nearby hotels. Teresa Vakili stated that inspections are conducted twice a year and tenants are reminded not to use the water heater closets as storage on numerous occasions. Commissioner Wade Tucker commented that he as well as others store personal items such as pots/pans and tools in the closet due to no space in the units but that his items are nonflammable and kept on shelves, well away from the water heater on the other wall. Mr. Tucker also commented that he tried to assist the tenant with the fire and was disappointed to see spigots on the water valves locked. He felt it was a liability issue for the property. It was explained that not all properties have individual spigots. Tenants at properties that do have them tend to use water for things such as watering plants, washing sidewalks and patios which is now restricted by the water district. As a result of this, stucco was damaged; algae grew in planters; and standing water on the walkways deteriorated the concrete. The Fire Department was not concerned nor did they identify a fire hazard capping off the spigots since they only use fire hydrants during emergencies, they reiterated that tenants should ensure their own safety away from the fire and call 911. RPM maintenance staff is able to remove those spigots in the event of emergencies. In efforts to conserve water, Ms. Vakili mentioned there has been 4 Housing Commission Minutes NOVEMBER 12, 2014 water theft at the properties and therefore all individual spigots were capped off. Mrs. Moore noted that the fire department arrived within minutes to the scene. For safety of the tenants, staff and the fire department prefer emergency situations to be handled by them and not tenants. Fire extinguishers are placed between buildings and accessible if they are needed. E. REPORT #2 — MONTHLY NET OPERATING INCOME STATEMENTS The Commission reviewed the Monthly Net Operating Income Statements for September. F. HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTIES UPDATE An update on the Housing Authority Properties was provided to the Commission for review. Teresa Vakili summarized the report. Commissioner Mike Lewis inquired on the landscape reseeding at the properties. Mrs. Vakili stated that most properties are desert-scape with the exception of the entry areas. Upon question, Mrs. Janet Moore stated that the final design of the demolition of the ponds project is currently in second review and anticipates going out to bid the first of the year. G. AUTHORITY HOME IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM UPDATE An update on the Home Improvement Program (HIP) was provided to the Commission for review. IX. NEXT MEETING DATE — DECEMBER 10, 2014 X. ADJOURNMENT With Commission concurrence the meeting was adjourned at 4:36 p.m. to December 10, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. TaTl 1 tty Leon, Rbcording Secretary 5