MINUTES OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

HOUSING COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING     

February 21, 2008

 

 

1.  CALL TO ORDER:      Meeting called to order by Chair, Richard Gerwitz at 4:38 p.m.

 

 

2.  ROLL CALL

Commissioners Present:    Mueller; Edwards Bird; Gerwitz; Gutierrez; Parry; Tainsky

Commissioners Absent:      Steele                                                                      

 
 
Commissioners Late:                                            

Commissioners Leaving Early: 

 

      Also Present:

Andy Agle, Director, Housing and Economic Development

      Jim Kemper, Acting Housing Administrator, Housing Division

     Lin Finer, Housing Commission Secretary, Staff Assistant, Housing Division

         

     Speakers:

      Mike Strader, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Housing Division

      Danielle Nobel, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Human Services Division

 

 

3.     PUBLIC INPUT (For Items not on the Agenda that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Housing Commission).

Marlene Gomez and Esther Schiller, both from S.A.F.E. (Smokefree Air For Everyone) spoke regarding their proposal for a smokefree living environment.  Two other individuals spoke in favor of this proposal, and one individual spoke in opposition.

 

4.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Motion –   Commissioner Tainsky, that the regular minutes of the January 17, 2008 meeting of the Housing Commission be approved as amended.

 

     Second -    Commissioner Mueller

     Aye -         Edwards Bird; Gerwitz; Gutierrez; Mueller; Parry; & Tainsky      

     Nay -        None                                       

     Absent -     Steele                   

Abstain -    None

Motion -     Approved

 

 

5.  ACTION ITEMS

A.              1616 Ocean Avenue - long term lease and rehabilitation of this city-owned property for affordable supportive housing for long-term Santa Monica homeless persons and possible discussion, comments and action.

 

Mike Strader presented the staff report regarding recommendations from staff about creating affordable supportive housing at this site or at another undetermined site. 

Two members from the public and residents of 1616 Ocean Avenue spoke in support of the Daybreak Center program.  A verbal recommendation followed in the form of the following motion:

Motion – Commissioner Parry, to support the staff report recommendation and to explore other sites and opportunities that would increase the total number of homeless people served.

 

Second - Commissioner Edwards-Bird

          Aye -      Edwards Bird; Gerwitz; Gutierrez; Mueller; Parry & Tainsky         

          Nay -      None                                              

          Absent - Steele                          

     Abstain -  None

Motion -  Approved

 

 

6.        DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.  Annual Review of Plan to Address Homelessness – update on the City’s Annual Review and Plan to Address Homelessness, particularly the Service Registry project, and possible discussion, comments and action.

 

Danielle Noble updated the Commission on the City’s Annual Review and Plan to Address Homelessness, particularly the outcome of the Service Registry project that occurred at the end of January.   

 Key points of the presentation included:

·         A homeless registry was developed as projected at the end of January 2008.

·         A January 31, 2008 Service Registry Creation Fact Sheet, by Common Ground for the City of Santa Monica was distributed.

·          

Motion – Commissioner Parry, The Housing Commission recommends that Council pursue policies that achieve immediate, permanent supportive housing for Santa Monica's most vulnerable homeless population, including the proposed research and study process.

         

          Second - Commissioner Edwards-Bird

          Aye -      Edwards Bird; Gerwitz; Gutierrez; Mueller; Parry & Tainsky         

          Nay -      None                                              

          Absent - Steele                          

     Abstain -  None

Motion -  Approved

 

 

7.  CHAIR/COMMISSIONERS/COUNCIL LIAISON/HOUSING MANAGER REPORT

Information on new and ongoing Housing Division programs and future agenda items.  Updates on recent or future City Council actions, other City Commissions, and developments affecting housing in the region or in the City of Santa Monica.

Council Liaison, Kevin McKeown expressed his desire to continuously be kept aware of all new housing projects in the pipeline, and articulated the need for convalescent homes in Santa Monica.

 

Andy Agle updated the Commission on the following announcements:

 

·         The leveraging of redevelopment set-aside revenue, via a line of credit with a bank, is scheduled for City Council consideration in March.

 

·         Per the Housing Commission’s request, staff provided a copy of the case list from the City Planning Division of projects in the pipeline.

 

·         The Civic Center Village project is scheduled to be considered by the Planning Commission on April 2, 2008.

 

·         The appointment of a new Housing Division Manager is anticipated within the next two weeks.

 

·         Staff will be coordinating a special meeting of the Housing Commission in March, due to scheduling conflicts, for consideration of the draft Housing Element

 

 

8.  ADJOURNMENT

Ø      Housing Commissioner Chair, Richard Gerwitz adjourned the meeting at 6:15 P.M.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_________________________________          ______________________________

Lin Finer                                                         Richard Gerwitz

Secretary                                                       Chair, Housing Commission