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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-13; Housing Commission; MinutesMinutes of: HOUSING COMMISSION Time of Meeting: 6:OO P.M. Date of Meeting: October 13,1994 Place of Meeting: CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Scarpelli, called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The pledge of allegiance was led by Commissioner Rombotis. ROLL CALL: Present: Absent: Chairman Scarpelli, Commissioners Avis, Calverley, Escobedo, Noble, Rombotis, Rose, and Wellman Commissioner Sato Staff Present: Evan Becker, Housing and Redevelopment Director Debbie Fountain, Sr. Management Analyst Reggie Harrison, Housing Program Manager Leilani Hines, Management Analyst Clint Phillips, Senior Management Analyst Dennis Turner, Principal Planner COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE ON ITEMS NOT LISTED ON THE AGENDA: There were no requests to address the Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ACTION: VOTE: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Motion by Commissioner Rombotis, and duly seconded, to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of September 8, 1994, as submitted. Chairman Scarpelli, Commissioners Avis, Escobedo, Rombotis, Rose, Wellman Commissioner Calverley Commissioner Noble 6-1 -1 Commissioner Calverley stated that she could not vote to approve the Minutes because they did not contain enough information to satisfy her. NEW BUSINESS: 1, FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY (FSS) PROGRAM - Request for approval to award the contract to administer the FSS Program to Lifeline Community Services. Prior to the staff presentation, Commissioner Wellman requested permission to make a procedural motion, which was duly seconded, that the Housing Commission establish a subcommittee, consisting of two members, to work with staff to review proposals for administering the FSS Program. The subcommittee would review the written proposals, conduct a personal interview with each applicant, and submit a report of its findings and recommendation to the Housing Commission at least five days prior to the next meeting date. HOUSING COMMISSION October 13, 1994 PAGE 2 Evan Becker, Housing and Redevelopment Director, responded that it is common practice throughout the City for staff to make a thorough review of responses to RFPs, summarize the proposals in a staff report, and make a recommendation to the appropriate Commission. He is comfortable with this approach and is comfortable with the staff recommendation being made with regard to the FSS Program. After discussion, a vote was taken on the procedural motion and it tied 4-4. Those voting in favor of the motion were Commissioners Escobedo, Rombotis, Rose, and Wellman. Those voting against the motion were Chairman Scarpelli, Commissioners Avis, Calverley, and Noble. Reggie Harrison, Housing Program Manager, then presented the staff report. He reviewed the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program and stated that it is a mandate of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The FSS Program was designed to enable unemployed, underemployed, or undereducated very low-income families achieve economic independence from welfare and rental assistance. Participants receive assistance in removing barriers that prevent them from engaging in job-training programs, educational programs, and/or employment opportunities. Administration of the program requires assignment of a case manager to meet regularly with each FSS program participant in order to monitor their progress and resolve problems which could prevent the achievement of goals. The case manager also networks within the community to form a collaborative effort with other social service providers. On June 9, 1994, the Housing Commission approved a recommendation to appropriate $30,000 from the operating reserve account of the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program in order to distribute a Request for Proposals for contractual services to administer the FSS Program. Two respondents submitted proposals within the established deadlines to administer the program: Lifeline Community Services and The Salvation Army. While both proposals have merit, staff felt that Lifeline presented a more detailed proposal, currently provides many of the required services, and appears ready to implement the program immediately. Lifeline also scored higher in the pre-established criteria for evaluating proposals. Both respondents indicated that $1 5,000 per year was inadequate to provided the required services but, nevertheless, they would both perform the required services for that sum. The Salvation Army indicated that they would locate an office in Carlsbad to administer the program. Lifeline would administer the program from their existing offices currently located in Oceanside and Vista. Staff has had no negatiave experience with either agency. Mr. Harrison stated that in addition to the $30,000 which has been appropriated to administer the program for a two-year period, the Housing Authority has submitted an application to HUD for $24,180 to support the administration of the FSS program in future years. If Carlsbad is successful in obtaining funds from HUD, excess funds would be returned to the Section 8 Rental Assistance Program operating reserve fund. The Commission and staff discussed the various aspects of the proposals to administer the FSS Program. Commissioner Wellman feels strongly that the Commission should be more involved in meeting with the respondents to discuss the issues before the Housing Commission makes a recommendation to the City Council. ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Rose, and duly seconded, to adopt Housing Commission Resolution No. 94-001 3 recommending to the Housing and Redevelopment Commission approval to award the contract to administer the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program to Lifeline Community Services. Chairman Scarpelli, Commissioners Avis, Calverley, Escobedo, Noble, Rombotis, Rose, VOTE: 7- 1 AYES: NOES: Commissioner Wellman ABSTAIN: None - HOUSING COMMISSION October 13,1994 PAGE 3 2. HOUSING AUTHORITY ACTIONS - Summary of actions taken by the Housing Authority since the Housing Commission meeting of September 8, 1994. Reggie Harrison, Housing Program Manager, stated that since the last meeting of Housing Commission on September 8, 1994, the Housing Authority: - Submitted an application to HUD for funds to administer the Family Self-sufficiency Program, and Submitted an application to HUD for 50 Section 8 Certificates in support of the Family Unification Program. No action by the Commission is required. In response to questions, Mr. Harrison replied that Carlsbad currently administers 530 Section 8 certificates and vouchers. Approximately 75 participants live outside Carlsbad city limits. There are currently 1,500 applicants on the waiting list, with an average wait being 3-5 years. He added that new HUD regulations will soon become effective which will change the way the waiting list is administered. Staff will be making a presentaiton of the new HUD regulations at a future meeting. 3.1993-94 ANNUAL HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRESS REPORT - Request for approval of a recommendation to the City Council to accept the 1993-94 Annual Housing Element Progress Report for the City of Carlsbad and to submit it to the appropriate state departments for final review. Dennis Turner, Principal Planner, gave a slide presentation on the background of the Housing Element and the numerous programs which the Element comprises. He stated that an annual Housing Element progress report is required by State Law to be submitted to the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) and the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The purpose of the progress report is to provide the basis for tracking the success of the City's implementation of numerous specific programs designed to achieve the 1991 -96 Housing Element goals and objectives. The 1993-94 progress report indicates that the City has made a considerable amount of progress over the last year, as well as in the one year prior to this reporting period, in implementing various programs and adopting ordinances/policies which set the regulatory and incentive stage for construction of affordable housing. The data in the report indicates that 134 housing units were constructed last; these were for-sale units and custom homes which exceeded the price thresholds for very low, low and moderate income households. Although the City was not able to achieve its housing goals for the lower and moderate income households during the reporting period, construction of affordable units will result from the City's policy initiatives within the next couple of years. It is important to note that the housing projects constructed during the reporting year were not obligated to build affordable housing units under the City's lnclusionary Housing Program due to the timing of their original approvals. In future years, the inclusionary housing projects will be the principal means by which the City will achieve progress on its objectives for construction of housing affordable to lower income households. Evan Becker, Housing and Redevelopment Director, concluded the staff report by reviewing the program goals and objectives of the Housing Element as it pertains to affordable housing in the City of Carlsbad. Staff recommends that the Housing Commission recommend to the City Council that the report be accepted and submitted to the appropriate departments within the State of California. HOUSING COMMISSION October 13, 1 994 PAGE 4 ACTION: Motion by Commissioner Rombotis, and duly seconded, to adopt Housing Commission Resolution No. 94-001 4 recommending to the City Council to accept the 1993-94 Annual Housing Element Progress Report for the City of Carlsbad and to authorize staff to submit the report to the appropriate departments within the State of California. Chairman Scarpelli, Commissioners Avis, Calverley, Escobedo, Noble, Rombotis, Rose, Wellman VOTE: 8-0 AYES: NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular meeting of October 13, 1994 was adjourned at 8:44 p.m. Respectfully submitted, EVANBECKER Housing and Redevelopment Director BETTY BUCKNER Minutes Clerk