MINUTES
OF THE
CITY
OF
HOUSING
COMMISSION
Meeting of June 19, 2003
1. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting called to order by Chair Parry at 4:40 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Commissioners Present: Bird, Gerwitz, Malfer, Parry, Steele, Tainsky
Commissioners Absent: None
Commissioners Late: Emile (Arrived 5:03)
Also Present: Bob Moncrief, Housing &
Redevelopment Manager
Ron Barefield, Housing Administrator
3. PUBLIC INPUT (For Items not on the Agenda)
No members of the public asked to speak.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of May 15, 2003
Motion - Tainsky: That the Minutes of May 15, 2003 be approved.
Second - Gerwitz
Aye - Gerwitz, Malfer, Parry, Steele, Tainsky
Nay - None
Abstain - Bird
Absent - Emile
Motion Passed
5. ONGOING BUSINESS
A. Update, Discussion, and Possible Action
concerning Civic Center Specific Plan
Housing Manager Moncrief provided background for a discussion about various approaches to achieving quality design resulting in a buildable development for the Village component of the Civic Center Specific Plan (CCSP). Housing Administrator Barefield updated the Commission on the progress of the CCSP and introduced Ryan Layman and Lawrence Scarpa of Livable Places, and Michael Pyatok of Pyatok Architects, Inc. Layman, Scarpa, and Pyatok presented their views on the best approaches to conduct a competition for teams to design and develop the Village. The consensus of all three presenters was that the architect in any development team must have a strong presence, so that the best possible design is achieved, but the developer must also be involved throughout the process for cost considerations. Questions and discussion followed.
B. Review
of the Enabling Legislation for the Housing Commission and the Duties of the
Commission
Continued to July 17, 2003.
6. New Business
A. None
7. CHAIR/COMMISSIONERS/COUNCIL
LIAISON/HOUSING MANAGER REPORT
Housing Manager Moncrief announced the appointment of Ron Barefield to the position of Housing Administrator. He also announced that there are two vacant Senior Administrative Analyst positions in the Housing Division. One of these will be lost due to the City's current budget crisis. Donna Rickman, Senior Administrative Analyst, Environmental and Public Works Management, will be transferring into the remaining position.
The letter to state government regarding the Housing Assistance for Needy Families Act of 2003 (HANF), which the Housing Commission requested at the last meeting, will be drafted and sent out within a week.
The Housing Authority's lease on their Cloverfield Office was extended for five years. The floor space of their office will be increased under the new lease.
City staff continues to vigorously defend affordable housing in the wake of some unfounded statements connecting the presence of affordable housing in the Pico Neighborhood with the recent shootings. Mr. Moncrief pointed out that the problems in the area predate the existence of affordable housing there and that preliminary figures indicate fewer police calls in City-funded affordable housing than in similar buildings that have not been financed by the City.
Commission members urged staff to disseminate a strong message to the community that affordable housing is not the root cause of the area's current problems.
8. Adjournment
Chair Parry adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
_________________________________ ______________________________
Steven R. Goldmaker Jason Parry
Secretary Chair