Fresno Housing Authority (7/25/23)

July 25, 2023 — Fresno Housing Authority Boards of Commissioners

Documented by Ramiro Merino

Here’s what you need to know

• At the July 25 Fresno Housing Joint Board meeting, Commissioner Sabrina Kelley was recognized for her service with the Housing Authority as she is leaving the board. 
• The 2024 Agency Plan was presented to the Board of Commissioners, which informs the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) and the public of the Public Housing Agency (PHA) policies, operations, funding asset management and program activities in place or planned for meeting local housing needs and goals. After the plan is presented to the board, it is made public. 
• The board voted to award the General Contractor/Construction Manager (GCCM) contract to ProWest Constructors for the construction of ParkSide Inn and to Brown Construction for the Cordillera Commons. 

Follow-up questions

• Are the agenda and the activities for the board retreat shared with the public? 
• What is the process like for people interested in signing up for a unit from the new housing projects, ParkSide Inn and Cordillera Commons? Are people who signed up on previous lists notified first? 

Notes

• Board Chair Adrian Jones, representing the city of Fresno, called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. 
• Board Chair Cary Catalano, who represents Fresno County, also called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. 
• There were two public comments.
  • Eric Payne, executive director of the Central Valley Urban Institute, said the institute had selected students who attended a Historically Black College and University as interns. Student Jordan Jackson, a freshman at Morgan State University studying telecommunications and originally from southwest Fresno, will work on a Housing Authority project in which they had partnered with ABC 30 and Fresnoland.org. 
  • “Hopefully he will come back to work with the Housing Authority,” he said.
  • Resident Brandi (no last name given) said “I posed this question in the past. Can community meetings be offered to shelters? The people that reside in these housing units have a voice as well.” 
• There were no potential conflicts of interest mentioned before the meeting continued. 
• During the governance matters portion of the meeting, the CEO’s report and Commissioners’ report were shared.
  • Tammy Townsend provided the CEO’s report on behalf of Tyrone Roderick Williams, who was out on vacation. She introduced two new commissioners, Emma Nelson and Paul Idsvoog. She noted that the board retreat is scheduled for Aug. 11 and 12, which will kick off with dinner Friday night, followed by activities on Saturday. 
  • “We had the review in June and the results came in. In 2017, we had 11 findings, which results can be findings, concerns or suggestions. This time, we had 0 findings and nine suggestions or concerns,” she said.
  • Jones shared the commissioners’ report, then honored outgoing Commissioner Sabrina Kelley.
  • “Thank you Commissioner Kelly for your lifelong commitment. You have contributed ideas to eight new housing units.”
  • She noted that Kelley started her term during the middle of the pandemic.
    • Catalano said he has known Kelley for more than three decades. 
    • “Your kindness is appreciated. You are always looking out for the ones who do not have a voice,” he said,
    • Commissioner Joey Fuentes said “You are not afraid to speak your mind. You are brave.” 
    • Commissioner Isaian Green said “Your name carries weight in the community. I hope we can continue to be agents of change moving forward.” 
    • Commissioner Sharon Williams said “We seem to be showing up to the same functions. Thank you for caring for our community. I know you are not going to go home and kick your feet up because that is not who you are.” 
    • Kelley said “Thank you to the commissioners and esteemed colleagues. We weathered the storm of how we were going to house everyone. We also weathered together during the pandemic. Serving on this commission was full-circle for me. My family immigrated from Canada and from the south. We changed the face of public housing.” 
  • Payne said “This is difficult. Our organization has seen three different CEOs, we have had organizational highs and lows. The work from Commissioner Kelley has centered community and community first. It is difficult for black women; she has been resilient. She has been a bold voice for the community. We know you are highly respected outside this dais. We know you are an anchor for housing and community development.” 
• The meeting moved to the information item portion of the meeting.
• 2024 Agency Plan Update.
  • Yolanda Keiser, housing choice voucher manager, provided an overview of the 2024 Agency Plan Update. She said the agency plan “informs HUD and the public of PHA (Public Housing Agency) policies, operations funding asset management and program activities in place or planned for meeting local housing needs and goals. The administrative plan is specific to the regulatory and discretionary policies governing the administration of the HCV (Housing Choice Vouchers) program. 
  • “The Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) is specific to the regulatory and discretionary policies governing the administration of the LIPH program. At this stage, we are (presenting) the proposed changes to the board for feedback prior to posting for public comment.”
  • She said that the 45-day public comment period begins on July 28, and the 2024 Agency Plan will be posted on the website for the public to view.
  • Melissa Ortiz, senior quality assurance analyst with the Housing Choice Vouchers Program, provided an overview of the administrative plan. This includes the recommended regulatory and discretionary changes.
    • HUD Mandated
      • Chapter 1: Statement of Policies and Objectives
      • Chapter 6: Income and Rent Determinations
      • Chapter 7: Verification Procedures
      • Chapter 11: Payment Standards and Rent Reasonableness, and Owners Rents
      • Chapter 2: Reexaminations
      • Chapter 16: Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program
      • Chapter 28: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
    • Staff Recommendations
      • Chapter 2: Applications and Interest List
      • Chapter 3: Selection from the Interest List for Admission
      • Chapter 4: Eligibility for Admission
      • Chapter 6: Income and Rent Determinations 
      • Chapter 7: Verification Procedures
      • Chapter 8: Voucher Issuance and Briefings
      • Chapter 9: RFTA and Contract Execution
      • Chapter 10: Housing Quality Standards and Inspections
      • Chapter 19: Reviews, Hearing and Other Appeals 
      • Chapter 21: S8 Homeownership 
      • Chapter 27: Targeted Programs 
  • Aurora Ibarra, assistant director of the Housing Choice Vouchers Program, provided an overview of the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP).
    • HUD Mandated
      • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
      • Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) 
    • Staff Recommendations
      • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
      • Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act (HOTMA) 
      • Chapter 6.22
      • Chapter 9: Introduction
      • Chapter 9 
• Housing Choice Vouchers (HVC) update.
  • Brandy Woodard, chief of the Housing Choice Vouchers Program, shared the turnout for the interest list opening.
    • 26,568 applications received
    • 2,281 applicants served in the lobby
    • 16,415 phone calls received 
    • 9,602 emails received 
  • For the Voucher Incentive Program, 117 families were in the pipeline and $158,373 has been invested.
    • 50 families moved into a unit 
    • 13 families have turned in paperwork for a unit to be inspected
    • 30 new units have been added to the program 
    • Nine new owners are in the program
    • 102 households have attended the Resident Education program
• Overview of the Financial Results for Mixed Finance Properties.
  • Finance Manager Crystal Cox explained that mixed ordinance properties are properties owned by a limited partnership. 
  • “This was originally sponsored and developed by the Fresno Housing Authority. The mixed finance means that several funding sources were used to develop the properties,” Cox said. “Silvercrest, Inc. is the managing general partner of the limited partnerships, and is responsible for the ongoing operations of the partnership. The agency and its subsidiaries have a vested interest in the properties, which fulfill the agency’s mission to create and sustain affordable housing.”
  • The major goals of the 2022 budgets were to leverage well-performing assets to provide maximum benefits to lenders, partners and stakeholders; meet stabilization requirements for newer properties; maintain and modernize properties, as needed; and provide resident services. 

Actions/Discussions/Public comment

• The board voted unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.
  • (A) Governance: Consideration of the Minutes of June 27, 2023
  • (B) Vehicle Allowance Policy
  • (C) Cal Card Use Policy
  • (D) Consideration to Award GCCM Contract
  • (E) Consideration to Award GCCM Contract
  • (F) Consideration of Approval to Submit Funding Application to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee
  • (G) Approval of 2023-2025 Operation and Maintenance Funding Contract for Parlier Migrant Center
• With no further discussion, Jones adjourned the meeting at 6:52 p.m. 

Conversation highlight

• “The work from Commissioner Kelly has centered community and community first. It is difficult for black women; she has been resilient. She has been a bold voice for the community. We know you are highly respected outside this dais. We know you are an anchor for housing and community development,” said Eric Payne, executive director of the Central Valley Urban Institute. 
• The board’s next meeting will be Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.