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05-20-21 Minutes

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA
May 20, 2021

As permitted under the Governor's Executive Order N-25-20, dated March 12, 2020 due to concerns of COVID-19 ("Executive Order"), the members of the Board of Commissioners will participate in the meeting via a teleconference connection at locations that may be located outside of the Agency's jurisdiction. Such locations shall not be publicly disclosed, nor shall such locations be open to the public as is expressly authorized by the Executive Order.

The Board of Commissioners of the Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara met in regular session on May 20, 2021 via teleconference. Chair Pearson convened the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Upon roll call the following Commissioners were present: Christian Alonso, Robert Doyle, Lisa Knox-Burns, Henry Mercado, John Lizarraga, and James Pearson. 

Also present were Bob Havlicek. Secretary/Executive Director, Jackie Bordon, Executive Secretary, Irene Melton, Director of Finance, John Polanskey, Director of Housing Development and Sanford Riggs, Director of Operations, Irene Vejar, Director of Human Resources and Nancy Wesoff, Director of Contract Administration and Compliance.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
No public comments were received.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Doyle to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April, 2021. All voted aye. Motion carried.

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 
The Executive Director offered to answer questions related to his written report. He announced that our agency was awarded 123 emergency vouchers; we will be collaborating with the City of Santa Barbara Housing Authority and Continuum of Care to get these vouchers utilized as soon as possible. Commissioner Burns asked if these vouchers are portable; Nancy Wesoff confirmed that they are portable.

The Executive Director reported that a meeting was held at Depot Street with the Mayor, the Santa Maria Police Department, Service Providers and our staff to address the recent problems at the site. We plan to set up an office at the location for SMPD; we currently have hired an armed guard to patrol the site and we are purchasing a license plate reader to help us find out who is coming and going from the site. The incidents have not been created by residents, but by others coming to the site.

Commissioner Doyle noted that we have had the same type of problems at Rancho Hermosa; since we have the same service providers for both locations, he asked if it was a background check issue. The Executive Director stated that we have had discussions with our service providers about making sure that they refer "housing ready" clients.

APPROVAL OF OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT REPORTS
MOTION by Commissioner Alonso second by Commissioner Mercado to approve the operation and management reports. All voted aye. Motion carried

APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES
Resolution No. 2914 - Approval of Expenditure List as submitted, including meeting expenses. MOTION by Commissioner Mercado, second by Commissioner Doyle to adopt Resolution No. 2914. Irene Melton answered several questions to the satisfaction of the Board. All voted aye. Motion carried. Irene Melton stated that her department is working on the ACH Report for Mortgage Payments and expects to have a report available next month.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
All written communications were noted.

COMMISSIONERS' ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no Commissioners' oral communications.

NEW BUSINESS

Resolution No. 2915 - Authorizing Application for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program. MOTION by Commissioner Alonso, second by Commissioner Doyle to adopt Resolution No. 2915. All voted aye. Motion carried.

Resolution No. 2916 - Authorizing the Executive Director to take all needed actions necessary for Central Plaza Apartments Resyndication LP. to acquire Central Plaza Apartments from the Authority, obtain debt and equity financing, assume existing Regulatory Agreements and assume HAP Contracts. MOTION by Commissioner Doyle second by Commissioner Mercado to adopt Resolution No. 2916.

Resolution No. 2917 - Authorizing Issuance of Multifamily Housing Revenue Notes in an aggregate principle amount not to exceed $40,000,000 for Central Plaza Apartments, Santa Maria, Ca. Motion by Commissioner Alonso, second by Commissioner Doyle to adopt Resolution NO. 2917. All voted aye. Motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Board, MOTION by Commissioner Mercado, second by Commissioner Alonso to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m. All voted aye. Meeting adjourned.

James E. Pearson
Chair

Robert P. Havlicek, Jr.
Secretary/Executive Director