Convene

The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Rosa met in regular session at 1:31 p.m. on the 28^th day of February, 2011, in the Council Chamber, City Hall, 100 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, California

Roll Call

Present:  Chairman Lemke, Commissioners Herrera-Castro, Arnone, Evans, Olsen, Harris (arrived at 1:32), and Gonzalez.  Absent:  None.  Also in attendance Economic Development and Housing Director, David Gouin, Deputy Director-Parking Cheryl Woodward, Economic Development and Housing Managers Nancy Gornowicz and Carmelita Howard, Program Specialist Rebecca Lane-Basler, Legal Counsel Molly Dillon, and Recording Secretary Shirley Stevens.

Public Appearances

1:31:54 PM

None

Acknowledgements and Announcements

None

Statements of Abstention

None

Approval of Minutes

Moved by Commissioner Arnone, seconded by Commissioner Olsen, carried 7-0-0-0, to approve the Minutes of January 24, 2011, as submitted.

Chairman/ Commissioner Reports

None

Committee Reports

None

Consent Items

1:32:56 PM

Moved by Commissioner Evans, seconded by Commissioner Castro-Herrera, carried 7-0-0-0, to adopt and waive the reading of the text of the resolution in Item No. 9.1 as follows:

Item No. 9.1

ADOPTION OF HUD MANDATED AGENCY PLAN

The Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998 requires any housing authority that administers the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program and/or any public housing units to adopt a Public Housing Agency (PHA) Plan with two components: the five-year Agency Plan and the Annual Plan updates.  The City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority submitted its Streamlined Five-Year plan in 2010; the current plan is an annual update for Fiscal Year 2011-2012.  The PHA Plans must be reviewed by a local Resident Advisory Board (RAB), and any comments by the RAB must be submitted with the PHA plan.  The RAB requirement for the City of Santa Rosa is satisfied by the service of two Tenant Commissioners on the Santa Rosa Housing Authority who represent the interests of those served by the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.  Adoption of the PHA Plan appoints any and all Housing Authority commissioners who are also Housing Choice Voucher program participants as the RAB. 

RESOLUTION NO.  1507  ENTITLED:  RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE STREAMLINED ANNUAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 AND ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP OF THE RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD

Item No. 10.1

1:33:55 PM

ESTABLISHMENT OF A HUD-VASH SECURITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FUND

Rebecca Lane-Basler made the staff presentation.  The City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority has received a total of one hundred ten (110) Housing Choice Vouchers designated for homeless veterans under a joint effort between the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program combines Housing Choice Voucher rental assistance with social and clinical services provided by the VA.  Veterans participating in the program are often chronically homeless and may be referred for rental assistance before VA financial benefits are in place.  As a result, VASH participants are experiencing difficulty securing funding for security deposits and rental application fees, delaying their successful lease-up.  The City of Santa Rosa Housing Choice Voucher program currently has sufficient administrative program reserves, which can only be used for affordable housing activities, to establish a VASH Security Deposit Assistance Fund of $50,000.  These funds will be used to pay security deposits on behalf of VASH participants and rental application fees for VASH participants who have zero adjusted income.  The security deposits will be paid directly to the landlord and returned to the Housing Authority upon the veteran’s vacating the rental unit.  Providing security deposit assistance will help ensure the Housing Authority achieves maximum utilization of the HUD-VASH vouchers. 

Moved by Commissioner Castro-Herrera, seconded by Commissioner Gonzalez, carried 7-0-0-0, to adopt and waive the reading of the text as follows: 

RESOLUTION NO.  1508  ENTITLED:  RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ESTABLISHING A HUD-VASH SECURITY DEPOSIT ASSISTANCE FUND

Item 10.2

1:51:18 PM

FUNDING AGREEMENT – NEW RAILROAD SQUARE

Cheryl Woodward made the staff presentation.  Governor Brown’s Budget Summary, released Monday, January 10, includes a proposal to eliminate all local redevelopment agencies and dismantle tax increment financing as part of an effort to close the State’s $25 Billion budget deficit. 

On February 7, 2011, the City Council and Redevelopment Agency held a joint meeting to approve eleven (11) funding agreements to obligate and preserve funds for specific projects benefitting the local community.  The Council and Agency received information regarding available appropriations and reserves for each redevelopment project area and provided direction to staff to prepare funding agreements for the B Street Trunk Sewer Line and the New Railroad Square Project, including assistance with affordable housing and on-site infrastructure improvements. 

This item brings forward the recommended funding agreement between the Redevelopment Agency and the Housing Authority to support the development and construction of affordable housing as part of the New Railroad Square Project. 

David Grabill, Sonoma County Advocacy Group, redevelopment funds need to be used for all age housing, not just for seniors; encouraged the Authority not to rush into contracting funds; wait for Governor Brown’s plan for funds. 

Chairperson Lemke responded that this is a measure to safeguard these funds for the City. 

Moved by Commissioner Arnone, seconded by Commissioner Evans, carried 7-0-0-0, to adopt and waive the reading of the text as follows: 

RESOLUTION NO.  1509  ENTITLED:  RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA APPROVING A FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA FOR ADDITIONAL ALLOCATION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Written Communications

2:05:11 PM

Commissioner Arnone commented that he liked the expanded report on the projects and the economic impact.

Adjournment

2:06:32 PM

With no other business to come before the Housing Authority, Chairman Lemke adjourned the meeting at 2:06 p.m.

_______________________________

 Shirley Stevens, Recording Secretary