MINUTES OF THE

CITY OF SANTA MONICA

HOUSING COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING     

March 19, 2009

 

 

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

 

2.  ROLL CALL

Commissioners Present:   Edwards Bird, Gerwitz, Gutierrez, Mueller, Parry, Steele, Tainsky

Commissioners Absent:                                                          

 
 
Commissioners Late:                                                

Commissioners Leaving Early:

 

      Also Present:

Kevin McKeown, City Council Liaison

Barbara Collins, Housing Manager

     Julie Lansing, Housing Authority Administrator

Stacy Rowe, Human Services Administrator    

         

         

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

 

Public Comment:  Ms. Catherine Eldridge expressed concerns regarding residents at Village Trailer Park.

 

 

4.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Motion – Commissioner Tainsky moved to approve the minutes from the

February 19, 2009 Housing Commission meeting.

 

     Second -   Vice Chairperson Edwards Bird

     Aye -         Edwards Bird, Parry, Gerwitz, Gutierrez, Mueller, Steele, Tainsky

     Nay -        None                                       

     Absent -    None                    

Abstain -    None

Motion -    Approved

 

 

5.  ACTION ITEMS

      A. Housing Authority Annual and 5-Year Plans – recommendation to adopt the Plans with the staff clarifications and recommend that the City Council also adopt the Annual and 5-Year Plans.

 

Barbara Collins, Housing Manager, presented a one-page overview of proposed changes to the plans with clarification on the waiting list priorities.  Staff recommended that the Housing Commission adopt the Santa Monica Housing Authority 2009-2010 Annual and 2009-2015 Five Year Plans.  On April 14, 2009 this item will go before Council and on April 15, 2009 it will be submitted to Housing and Urban Development for their approval.

 

Motion – Commissioner Parry moved to adopt the Plans with a recommendation that the City Council approve the Housing Authority’s Annual and 5-Year Plans.  The Commission and public comments will be included in the Annual Plan as an Exhibit.

 

Second -         Chairperson Gerwitz

     Aye -         Edwards Bird, Parry, Gerwitz, Gutierrez, Mueller, Steele, Tainsky

     Nay -        None                                       

     Absent -    None                    

Abstain -    None

Motion -    Approved

 

 

6.     DISCUSSION ITEMS

A.   Homelessness Plan Update – Update on the status of the City’s efforts to address homelessness.

Stacy Rowe, Human Services Administrator, responsible for overseeing the Human Services Homeless Team, discussed the City’s Action Plan to address homelessness and present the 2009 Santa Monica homeless count results.  This item is scheduled on the March 24, 2009, City Council agenda.  Ms. Rowe invited comments on the Plan.

 

7.        HOUSING MANAGER REPORT

Barbara Collins provided the following announcements and updates:

 

·         On February 17, 2009 Sue Keintz, Community Corporation of Santa Monica sent a letter updating the City on the status of two developments, High Place East and High Place West.  (included in packet)

 

·         RSVP deadline of March 23, 2009, for the Boards and Commissions Dinner on

March 30, 2009.

 

·         March 23, 2009, The Lofts Open House on 20th Street and Olympic Blvd.

 

·         It is the 20th Anniversary of the Santa Monica Housing Authority.

 

·         On March 26, 2009 Step Up On Fifth is hosting an Open House event.

 

·         The Mountain View Mobile Home Park infrastructure improvements are progressing, and when complete a BBQ event will be provided for residents.

 

·         The City of Santa Monica is in a hiring freeze with a reduction in budget expenses from 3% this fiscal year to 5% for next fiscal year. Vacant positions will remain frozen/vacant to try to assure no job loss of city staff.

 

 

 

CHAIR/COMMISSIONERS/COUNCIL LIAISON

Information on housing issues, recent or future City Council actions, other City Commissions, and issues affecting housing in the City of Santa Monica.

Councilmember/Commission Liaison McKeown provided the following announcements and updates:

 

·         May/June 2009 Council will address department issues regarding budget cuts.

 

·         Sales tax, hotel occupancy, and auto sales revenue are down.

 

·         Increasing loss of senior supportive housing including convalescent homes and assisted living care homes.

 

·         The City’s commitment to customer service in “Doing The Right Thing Right” is more important than ever before.

 

·         On March 24, 2009, the Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) meeting is scheduled to take place in downtown Los Angeles. Lisa Luboff, Sr. Administrative Analyst will be attending on behalf of the city.

 

 

 

8.  ADJOURNMENT

·         Chairperson, Richard Gerwitz adjourned the meeting at 6:45 P.M.

 

·         The next Commission meeting will be April 16, 2009 at the Ken Edwards Center.

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_________________________________ ______________________________

Lin Finer                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Richard Gerwitz,

Commission Secretary                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Chairperson, Housing Commission