November 23, 2021
1 (NOT APPROVED)
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
HOUSING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES
NOVEMBER 23, 2021
A special meeting of the Santa Monica Housing Authority was called to order by Chair Himmelrich at 10:10 p.m., on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, via teleconference pursuant to Assembly Bill No. 361 signed by, Governor Gavin Newsome at City Council Chambers, 1685 Main Street.
Roll Call: Present: Chair Sue Himmelrich
Vice Chair Kristin McCowan
Commissioner Phil Brock
Commissioner Lana Negrete
Commissioner Oscar De La Torre
Commissioner Christine Parra
Absent: Commissioner Gleam Davis
Also Present: Secretary David White
Interim Authority Attorney Joseph Lawrence
Authority Clerk Denise Anderson-Warren
CONVENE On order of the Chair, the Housing Authority convened to a special joint meeting with the City Council at 10:10 p.m., with Commissioner Davis absent.
REPORT ON MEETING
COMPENSATION
Pursuant to State law, Authority Clerk Anderson-Warren announced that members will receive $50 in compensation for meeting as the Housing Authority.
STAFF
ADMINISTRATIVE
ITEMS:
HOUSING VOUCHERS
8.A. Emergency Housing Voucher Implementation, was presented.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Housing Authority Board approve the proposed revisions to the Housing Authority 2021-22 Administrative Plan (Attachment A) to implement the new Emergency Housing Voucher program, incorporate minor revisions supporting opportunities for longerterm residents and people experiencing homelessness, and clarify policy regarding reasonable accommodations, voucher size reductions, and moving.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the FY 2021-23 budget November 23, 2021
2 and position changes described in the Financial Impact and Budget Action section of this report, to provide support for the administration and operation of new and existing affordable housing programs.
Members of the public Lynn Cervini, Olga Zurawaska and Denise Barton spoke to the recommendation.
Questions asked and answered of staff included: is there a dedicated American Disabilities Act (ADA) staff person to handle citywide issues; if a housing applicant has an ADA issue, would the ADA staff person in Finance assist the applicant; within the Housing staff, are people trained to assist people with related ADA issues; can a list of all of the affordable units in Santa Monica be placed somewhere online and available for the public, or a list of who is on the list and where applicants fall on the list; would it be possible to rehire staff that was previously laid off, and would that expedite the employment process; by hiring full-time employees, is it going to expeditiously increase the time people are on the waitlist; what are the specific duties of this position, and how is it going to help expedite the list; any idea how this is going to look cost wise, even though it’s using Federal funds; is there any possibility if there is an increase in GSH funds, that a new permanent Administrator position could be added; is it effective to go from having one Housing Manager to combining the role into Human Services; are we able to do everything we need to do under the current management structure; does the Federal government require a dedicated ADA Coordinator in housing; do we have a person on the Housing Authority who meets the houseless, homeless requirement; does that person who meets the continuum of care requirement have an opportunity to express their issues to the City Council; is there data to show that most of the housing vouchers are steered into the Pico neighborhood; would we get more vouchers, if we set different standards; what’s the average tenure of a voucher holder; and, should there be a homeless person on the Housing Authority board.
Considerable discussion ensued on topics including, but not limited to, that it would be helpful to have frequently asked questions posted online showing the services the Housing division provides.
Motion by Vice Chair McCowan, seconded by Commissioner Negrete, to approve the proposed revisions to the Housing Authority 2021-22 Administrative Plan. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Commissioners de la Torre, Brock, Negrete, Parra, Vice Chair McCowan, Chair Himmelrich, HAB Tenant
Representative Cochran
November 23, 2021
3 NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Davis, HAB Representative Brown
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, seconded by Councilmember Negrete, to approve the FY 2021-23 budget and position changes described in the Financial Impact and Budget Action Report. The motion was approved by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Parra, Negrete, Brock, de la Torre, Mayor Pro Tem McCowan, Mayor Himmelrich
NOES: None
ABSENT: Councilmember Davis
ADJOURNMENT: On order of the Chair, the special Housing Authority meeting was adjourned at 11:07 p.m., with Commissioner Davis absent.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
Denise Anderson-Warren Sue Himmelrich
Authority Clerk Chair