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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-5-2007 CHA MINUTESCaldwell Housing Authority Minutes of "Regular" Meeting February 5, 2007 Board Members Present: Estella Zamora, Andy Rodriguez, Dana Schuck, Patricia Benedict, Jim Blacker Staff Present: Mike Dittenber, Ayde Cortina Members absent: Sid Freeman Guests: None Location: Creekside Grill In order of business: Roll call and call to order at 12:00pm Estella called the meeting to order at 12:00pm noon. 2 Review of November minutes Mike indicated that Sid Freeman had a correction to the minutes. Sid wanted the minutes to reflect his comments more accurately; That there was a trend toward "hands- free" farming as a result of bio- technology. Mike indicated that he made those corrections. Patricia noted there was a spelling error and suggested replacing the word "were" with "where ". The correction did not change the context of the minutes. Estella asked that the minutes be corrected to reflect her concern that the recent newspaper article misrepresented the waiver granted by RD, and that the farm -labor waiver was only granted for one year, ending September 2008. Estella also wanted the minutes corrected to clarify the necessity for Mike to receive training during the winter months because of busy Spring and Summer months. Patricia asked that the minutes include an explanation that SWDH was moving into the office vacated by Terry Reify Health Services. Estella asked for "New Business" to be placed on the agenda going forward, At 12 :10, Patricia made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected, seconded by Andy, and unanimously approved by those present. Financial Report Ayde provided the board with a detailed explanation of the budget for the year ending December 2007. She started by explaining CHA's income for the month of December and the year ending. The budget report indicated that CHA collected $73,493 less in rent than anticipated in the budget. CHA did collect $28,098 more in non -rent income including laundry and income, among other sources. Ayde also reported that CHA collected $40,107.00 in tenant charges, nearly $23,000 more than the previous year. Estella had asked why there was such a difference between tenant charges collected in 2006 and 2007. Mike indicated CHA was doing a better job of collecting for property damaged by tenants, during their tenancy rather than waiting until they leave and deducting it from their security deposit. Estella was concerned about the appearance that we may be too heavy handed with the tenant charges. Jim and Patricia both expressed the need to charge tenants for damages as soon as we notice the damages. Patricia asked what CHA was charging per hour for repairs. Mike indicated CHA charged tenants the cost of the item plus $15.00 an hour for repairing damages caused by tenants. CHA does not charge tenants to repair property broken as a result of daily use or "normal wear." Mike also indicated a I -hour minimum is charged on all repairs. Patricia commented that $15.00 an hour was a great deal considering most people would be lucky to pay $40 or $50 an hour for repairs. Andy had questions about the way the budget was presented. He noticed that many of the actual line -items were over budget, totaling $175,000. Mike indicated the budget the Board reviews from month to month is only a projected "paper" budget and that CHA can only make payment with the money collected from the rent, and that CHA consistently operates in a positive cash flow basis and does not incur debt to pay for any of the cost of operations. Andy wanted to make sure CHA was not carrying a deficit on the books. At 12:10, Patricia made a motion to accept the financial statement, Dana seconded and the budget was unanimously approved by those present. 4 Directors Report Mike started his report by notifying the Board that IHFA deferred $77,663 of the loan payment for the masonry units. He indicated that IHFA also sent a new loan and regulatory agreement that de- regulated 29 of the 112 units and removed the "farm - labor" requirements from the eligibility criteria. Mike thought that was a move in the right direction, but indicated his disappointment that IHFA did not consider de- regulating more units. CHA had asked IHFA to de- regulate 80 of the 112 units. IHFA turned down CHA's proposal, but said they would be willing to de- regulate 29 units of housing. Mike asked the Board to pass a resolution allowing him to sign the new loan and regulatory agreement while continuing to work with IHFA for greater leniency. The Board unanimously indicated that it would be better to_continue negotiations with IHFA and not sign the loan and regulatory agreement until such time as an amicable agreement had been reached. Jim commented that this was likely a normal negotiation process where CHA asked for maximum leniency and IHFA offers the minimum leniency, but the solution lies somewhere in the middle, and that CHA should make the first recommendation in the middle ground. Mike concluded by saying the CHA will likely have the upper hand during these negotiations because the masonry units are not marketable and IHFA does not want to foreclose on the units and then be responsible for management. Mike asked if he could use $18,000 of the IHFA deferred payment to address some of the needs at the masonry units. The Board agreed although there was no official resolution to that effect. Mike told the Board that CHA lost the Rosa Salcido eviction suit and that Mr. Ed Schiller did not represent CHA very well. Estella said she was at the hearing and that Mr. Schiller did not display the courtroom presence CHA will need to uphold evictions in the future. Mr. Schiller seemed to have a hard time hearing the testimony and putting it in context with the facts of the case. Andy reminded Mike of Boards commitment to hire local businesses and that it was Mike's decision to hire an attorney that best fit CHA's needs, and that the Board would not want to get involved in that process. Mike spoke briefly about ongoing law enforcement efforts to catch the people responsible for the gang graffiti and the Sheriff's Office increased presence at Farmway Village. Mike evicted a tenant and that tenant called Estella to register her complaint against Mike. Estella did not return the phone call and Mike was able to resolve the issue with the tenant. Mike notified the Board that several units have had frozen pipes and that two units had substantial damage and were undergoing major rehabilitation. Mike also mentioned that Head Start had a frozen water pipe from a swamp cooler that was not properly winterized. CHA billed Head Start $100 for the damages. Mike informed the Board that he would be attending waste water training February 12 – 15 and drinking water training February 19 — 21. Mike is scheduled to take the drinking water exam on Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Old business None 6 New Business Estella had 3 items to add to "New Business." They are: CHA legal representation; snow removal; and planning meeting for the masonry units. Since CHA's legal representation was discussed under the Directors Report, there were only two items of new business —snow removal and the planning process. Estella wanted to know what the Housing Authoritv was doing about the snow. Mike indicated that all of the roadways were plowed and all common area sidewalks were cleared. Individual patios were the responsibility of the tenant, unless they were elderly or infirm, in which case CHA would clear their patio and apply de -icing agents. In January, Mike sent Estella an e-mail indicating the need to have a planning meeting to decide what to do with the masonry units. Estella asked Mike to explain what he had in mind. Mike wanted to meet with staff, tenants, and Board Members in a full day planning session to decide what can be done to make the masonry units safer and more enjoyable to live in. Some discussion followed and all agreed that was a good idea. Mike indicated he would come back to the Board with some recommendations for proceeding. 7 Power Point presentation Mike showed a slide show presentation relating to the masonry unit. In the presentation Mike demonstrated the size of the units and the necessity to modify and make some handicap accessible. Mike also showed how CHA might modify other units and make them larger so a more diverse population might be housed. After several minutes of discussion, Andy said the Housing Authority should be moving ahead with making those units marketable. 8 Adjourn:l:35pm At 1:35pm Estella made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Andy seconded.