[00:00:04]
[CALL TO ORDER]
THIS IS THE JANUARY 10TH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS WE OVERCAME A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING OUR COMMISSIONERS ONLINE AND ON CAMERA.
FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS TO TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS WHO ARE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE SPEAKER, I WANNA CALL THE ROLL.
SO TO BE CLEAR TO STAFF WHO WAS HERE AND WHO WAS HERE, UH, ON WEBEX.
CHAIRMAN WANNI, VICE CHAIR, POP.
I SEE COMMISSIONER GARCIA WAVING HER HAND.
MR. GARRETT, COMMISSIONER GARRETT, COULD YOU INDICATE THAT YOU'RE PRESENT? YOU COME BACK, MR. SLOAN? I SEE COMMISSIONER SLOAN WAVING.
COMMISSIONER TOLLIVER, COMMISSIONER WOODS, AND COMMISSIONER WOODS IS WAVING OUR NEWEST COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER HERARD PRESENT.
LOOKS LIKE OUR SPEAKER IS BACK.
[PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL]
GOOD EVENING.CHAIR, POP, AND HELLO TO ALL THE COMMISSIONERS.
UH, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SHOW UP IN PERSON AND OF COURSE, TO ALL THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE TO KEEP THIS FORUM OPERATIONAL.
I'M HERE UNDER ODD CIRCUMSTANCES, AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, I TYPICALLY SERVE AS CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION, BUT TODAY I'M NOT ATTENDING IN THAT CAPACITY.
IN FACT, I'M NOT ATTENDING THE MEETING AT ALL.
BARRING THIS PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
ON DECEMBER 15TH, WE HAD A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE CDC, WHICH HAD BEEN TWICE POSTPONED TO ACCOMMODATE ELECTIONS.
AND WHY DID WE HAVE THAT SPECIAL CALLED MEETING SO LATE IN THE YEAR SO WE COULD DO BUSINESS SO THAT THE WORK THAT WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO DO COULD BE DONE IN THE GOOD FAITH THAT WE PROMISED TO DO IT.
DURING THAT MEETING, A GUEST PRESENTER, A PROFESSOR FROM THE LBJ SCHOOL, A PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK NO LESS, WHO'S DEDICATED THEIR CAREER TO THE STUDY OF HELPING OTHERS, CAME TO SHARE ON A PROPOSED INTERGENERATIONAL CENTER FOR SENIORS LOCATED DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO A LOW INCOME HOUSING COMMUNITY FOR SENIORS OR UN, WHERE THERE'S UNSURPRISINGLY A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SENIORS WHO COULD USE THE CENTER.
NOW, THIS WAS THE CENTER THAT INVOLVED SOME OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF THE MOST CARING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXIST IN THE CITY.
THAT DISCUSSION AMONG OTHERS IN PREVIOUS MONTHS RELATED TO THE SAME ISSUE, WAS MET WITH AGGRESSIVE NEGATIVE LANGUAGE IN DEC CHORUS BEHAVIOR AND VIOLATIONS OF ORDER BY ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONERS.
IN FACT, ON THAT SAME DAY, WE HAD AN AGENDA ITEM DEDICATED TO DECORUM AND RESPECT AND FOLLOWING ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, WHICH EACH OF US HAS SWORN TO, UH, ADHERE TO.
IN ANY CASE, THE COMMISSION WAS ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH THAT DISCUSSION AND TAKE A VOTE.
IMMEDIATELY UPON COMPLETION OF THAT VOTE, THIS SAME COMMISSIONER CLEARLY EXPRESSING FRUSTRATION AND ANGER IMMEDIATELY AND CONSPICUOUSLY PACKED THEIR BELONGINGS AND LEFT THE MEETING BREAKING QUORUM AND EFFECTIVELY ENDING THE MEETING, LEAVING THIS COMMISSION AND ALL STAFF MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE WORK, WHICH WE HAVE AGREED TO DO IN GOOD FAITH.
IN THE CONFUSING AFTERMATH THAT AFTER THE SUDDEN
[00:05:01]
MEETING ENDING, REMEMBER WE HAVE REMOTE ATTENDEES HERE.A STAFF MEMBER CAME BACK TO TELL ME THAT OUR GUEST SPEAKER, UH, HAD RETURNED BACK TO THE ROOM BECAUSE SHE WAS, SHE FELT THREATENED.
AND, UH, THAT STAFF MEMBER RE UH, SUGGESTED TO ME THAT WE GET A SECURITY ESCORT.
ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD SPOKEN WITH, UH, THE GUEST SPEAKER, AND THAT THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS VISIBLY SHAKEN.
I AGREED WITH THE STAFF MEMBER WHO CALLED FOR THE SECURITY ESCORT, AND BOTH MYSELF AND THAT STAFF MEMBER ESCORTED ALONG WITH SECURITY, OUR GUEST SPEAKER, OUT TO CATCH HER RIDE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T FEEL SAFE TO DO SO BECAUSE, UH, OSTENSIBLY THE OTHER COMMISSIONER WAS STILL IN THE VICINITY.
WHEN I WENT OUT, WE WERE MET WITH LAUGHTER AND COMMENTS FROM THAT COMMISSIONER AND THEIR GUEST.
ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, I SENT AN EMAIL COPYING STAFF LEADERSHIP REQUESTING AN INCIDENT REPORT AND INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT OCCURRED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY OF ALL STAFF, VOLUNTEER COMMISSIONERS AND GUEST SPEAKERS, UH, COULD BE ASSURED.
I FOLLOWED UP SHORTLY THEREAFTER ONLY TO FIND THAT NOT MUCH IF ANYTHING HAD OCCURRED IN THE WAY OF MY REQUEST.
AFTER VARIOUS MEETINGS THAT I THINK WERE WELL INTENTIONED, THAT WAS EFFECTIVELY MET WITH RESPONSES FROM STAFF THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN DOESN'T HAVE AN INCIDENT REPORTING PROCESS, THAT THIS PROBLEM IS THE PURVIEW OF THE CITY CLERK AND THAT THE ONLY RECOURSE WAS REALLY LIKELY FOR THIS COMMISSION TO VOTE THAT COMMISSIONER OFF IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
ANOTHER OPTION THAT WAS OFFERED WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDED SECURITY WHO MIGHT BE PRESENT AT THE ACTUAL MEETING, WHICH I AGREED WOULD AT LEAST BE A POSITIVE STEP WHILE THE INCIDENT OR POTENTIAL SAFETY CONCERN WERE AT LEAST EXPLORED AND INVESTIGATED LATER, I HEARD THAT THERE WERE NOT SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO HAVE A SECURITY PRESENCE ONSITE IN THE MEETING, BUT WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE OPTION TO RUN OUT AND GET SECURITY IF AN INCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, UH, WHICH I THINK WAS THE SAME AS STATUS QUO.
IN SHORT, I'M HERE TO ASK ALL OF US, CAN'T WE DO BETTER AS COMMISSIONERS, AS STAFF? IF YOU WERE A STAFF LEADER AND YOU HEARD THAT A GUEST SPEAKER FELT THREATENED ENOUGH TO REQUIRE A SECURITY ESCORT TO HER RIDE, WOULD YOU NOT FOLLOW UP AT LEAST WITH A GUEST SPEAKER TO OFFER SOME COMFORT? MAYBE LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED? WOULD YOU NOT HAVE SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY AT FUTURE MEETINGS, EVEN IF WE WEREN'T SURE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, OR AT LEAST ENSURING THAT A RISK IF THERE WERE A RISK MIGHT BE MITIGATED? WOULD YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE TO INVITE A GUEST SPEAKER TO SHARE ABOUT INITIATIVES AT THIS COMMISSION HERE AT THIS COMMISSION, KNOWING THAT THEY MAY BE SUBJECT TO DIATRIBES AND INSULTS AND BULLYING THE VERBAL LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE AND BODY LANGUAGE OF VIOLENCE? AGAIN, THOUGH I'M CHAIR OF THIS COMMISSION, I AM HERE ONLY FOR THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION TODAY, AND I'VE REQUESTED THAT SECURITY ESCORT, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THEM ACCOMPANY ME TO SHOW THE ABSURDITY OF HAVING TO DO BUSINESS THIS WAY, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE BEND OF THE FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREASONOUS ATTACK ON OUR NATION'S CAPITAL.
THAT SHOWS THE SAME KIND OF DISRESPECT FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS IN ORDER THAT ALTHOUGH IMPERFECT ARE WHAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH TO MOVE THE NEEDLE FORWARD ON EQUITY.
IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY CITY STAFF RESPONSE ON WHETHER A SECURITY OR SAFETY RISK EXISTS OR HAS BEEN MITIGATED IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL SPEAKERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ENTER THIS FORUM WITH AN ASSURANCE THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ATTACKED OR BULLIED OR MADE TO FEEL UNWELCOME TO EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS, I ALSO WILL NOT ATTEND TODAY'S MEETING.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE, UH, AND DOING THE WORK.
[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
ON THE AGENDA IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.UM, I WAS LOOKING AT THE MINUTES MYSELF AND THEY, UH, CONTRADICT MY RECOLLECTION OF OUR MEETING, UM, AS I RECALL, AND I WANT THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS TO SEE IF THEY REMEMBER THIS SAME WAY.
THE CHAIR ALREADY KIND OF TESTIFIED THAT HE DID THAT.
WE DISCUSSED VARIOUS METHODS FOR, UM, KEEPING SPEAKERS FROM GOING ON AND ON BY ADEPT ADOPTING A TIME LIMIT OF THREE MINUTES PER ITEM, PER PERSON.
AND THE GENERAL CONCEPT THAT WE SHOULD BE ROBERT'S RULES CALLS IT DEC CHORUS IN OUR MEETINGS, THAT WE ACT WITH COURTESY TOWARDS OTHERS, THAT WE LET THEM SPEAK AND THAT IT'S MY RECOLLECTION THAT WE TOOK ACT, THAT WE WENT AROUND THE ROOM AND EACH PERSON STATED WHETHER THEY AGREED WITH THAT, THOSE TWO PRINCIPLES OR DIDN'T AGREE WITH THEM, AND THAT WE VOTED.
[00:10:01]
WHO MADE A, WHO MADE A MOTION OR WHO SECONDED THE MOTION.CAN I SPEAK? UM, I MADE THE MOTION AND IT WAS SECONDED BY CHAIR UHHUH
SO THAT DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE MIN SILENCE.
THERE'S NO RECORD THAT MINUTES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO LISTEN TO THE RECORDING AND GET THE TEXT OF THE MOTION THAT WE MADE.
AND THE, THAT COMMISSIONER GARRETT MADE THE MOTION AND THAT IT WAS SECONDED BY THE CHAIR.
DOES THAT SEEM REASONABLE TO THE COMMISSION AND STAFF? YOU CAN DO THAT.
STAFF'S INDICATING THAT THEY CAN.
[2. Conduct a public hearing to receive input on the draft HOME-ARP Allocation Plan (Max Horstman and Chris Duran, HPD staff)]
UH, ITEM TWO, WE ARE SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE INPUT ON THE HOME, A R P ALLOCATION PLAN.AND WE HAVE TWO CITY STAFF, CHRIS DERAN AND MAX HORSEMAN, WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO PREP US ON WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE STEERING IS.
SO I'D LIKE TO CALL ON WHICHEVER ONE OF THE STAFF IS, UH, FIRST, EXCUSE ME IF I CHAIR JUMPING THAT NEXT ITEM.
I JUST WANTED TO, UM, ALSO POINT OUT IN THE DRAFT MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 15TH MEETING THAT I WAS NOT IN ATTENDANCE REMOTELY.
CAN YOU ALSO CHANGE THE ATTENDANCE TO REFLECT THAT COMMISSIONER SLOAN WAS NOT PRESENT? YES.
UH, I GUESS THE PERSON WE HAVE PRESENTING ON THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CHRIS DORAN.
HI, UH, MY NAME IS, UH, CHRIS, UH, DERAN.
THANK YOU, UH, FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION.
UM, MY COLLEAGUE, MAX, ACTUALLY, UH, WILL NOT BE HERE TONIGHT, SO SEE ME.
UM, AND I DO WANT TO APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY CHOPPY CONNECTION.
I'VE GOT A BIT OF A CHOPPY CONNECTION ON MY END, SO SORRY ABOUT THAT.
BUT, UM, I'M, UH, RELA I'LL INTRODUCE MYSELF VERY QUICKLY UNDER NEW ON STAFF.
UH, AS I SAID, MY NAME'S CHRIS BROWN.
I'LL BE TAKING OVER, UM, MAX HORSEMAN'S RESPONSIBILITIES.
UM, SO I'LL BE BEFORE YOU, UH, PARTICULARLY, UM, AS, UH, GOING THROUGH THE YEAR, UM, WHEN, UH, WE HAVE DIFFERENT GRANTS, UH, THAT ARE NEEDING YOUR INPUTS OR YOUR APPROVAL, UM, ACTION PLANS, UM, OTHER FEDERAL REPORTING THAT WE DO, UH, PERTAINING TO, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND I'M, UH, HERE TODAY, UM, BECAUSE WE DO, UM, HAVE A, UH, REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN A 15 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, UH, FOR WHAT'S REFERRED TO AS THE HOME A R P, UH, GRANT.
IT'S A REALLY, UM, A VERY UNIQUE GRANT BEING THAT IT IS NOT A ANNUAL GRANT THAT WE'VE DONE, UM, FOR MANY YEARS.
AND I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU TOO MUCH BECAUSE I, I, I DON'T WANNA RE-EXPLAIN ANYTHING TO ANYONE.
I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BEFORE YOU, I BELIEVE, TWICE BEFORE.
AND SO, UM, REALLY WE'RE HERE BECAUSE IT'S A QUITE A UNIQUE, UH, GRANT.
IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT WAS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.
SO IT'S NOT A GRANT THAT WE SEE EVERY YEAR, UH, FOR DECADES, LIKE C D B G OR HOME.
AND, UM, JUST HIGH LEVEL, IT'LL BRING, UH, A LITTLE, UH, ROUGHLY 11.4 MILLION TO THE CITY, UM, FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS, TENANT, UH, BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UM, THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UM, WE'RE HERE TO, UH, HAVE A, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UM, FOR ANYONE THAT HAS, UH, COME TO GIVE ANY INPUT.
I CAN ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANYONE ON THE COMMISSION.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS? IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR HOUSING PROGRAMS. I'M READING IT.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING? DO JUST A CHAIR? TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS DIRECTED TO ME OR OTHER STUFF, BUT, UM, I DO SEE A COMMISSIONER WITH THEIR HAND.
[00:15:01]
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN LIKE SORT OF, UM, NOT NECESSARILY ALLOCATED, BUT SORT OF TARGETED TOWARDS A PROJECT, IS THAT CORRECT? SO THE, UM, THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT THE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TOWARDS, IF YOU WANTED MORE INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL SPECIFIC PROJECTS, I COULD FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.UM, THE REASON I ONLY HAVE THOSE HIGH LEVEL KIND OF TENANT-BASED RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROVISION OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES IS BECAUSE FOR THIS GRANT IN PARTICULAR, WE PARTNERED WITH STAFF IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES DIVISION, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY UNDER AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH.
UM, SO I CAN'T SPEAK TO ANY SPECIFIC, UM, SPECIFICS WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAMMING.
UM, I KNOW IT MIGHT BE LIKE, OKAY, WELL THEN
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP THAT.
IS THERE A MOTION TO CL OH, COMMISSIONER SLOAN, THANK YOU GUYS, SIR.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS REPORT.
I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO READ THROUGH IT, BUT WHAT I DID, UM, WAS REALLY WELL DONE AND I APPRECIATE IT.
UM, QUESTION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR GRANT AND THE TIMELINE OF UTILIZING FUNDS AS THIS HAS COME UP WITH THESE SORT OF LIKE, UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES IN RECENT HISTORY.
UM, IS THERE A TIMELINE ONCE THIS ALL GOES THROUGH, THAT THESE FUNDS WOULD HAVE TO BE SPENT? UM, AND PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NON CONGREGATE SHELTERS AND THINKING THAT THAT IS A GREAT AND, AND SORT OF LONG-TERM PROJECT, UM, WHEN WOULD THE FUNDS HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, REPORTED BACK AS HAVING BEEN UTILIZED? YOU KNOW, SO BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A UNIQUE PROGRAM, THAT IS SOMETHING I'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU ON JUST BECAUSE, UM, WHEREAS WITH C B B G AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT, OR GRANTS THAT COME OUT ANNUALLY EVERY YEAR, AND THEY HAVE THOSE REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE KIND OF AWARE OF, UM, THIS IS A BIT OF A UNIQUE, UM, A UNIQUE ONE.
AND WE'VE ACTUALLY EVEN, UH, WE'VE BEEN RUNNING UP AGAINST DEADLINES THAT HAVE BEEN MOVED.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S A BIT OF A UNIQUE PROCESS.
SO I APOLOGIZE THAT I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER RIGHT NOW, BUT I'LL ABSOLUTELY
TO CONQUER AND THAT WE WANNA HAVE, UM, THE BACKING FOR IT AND THE SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY IN THE TIME THAT IS NEEDED.
YEAH, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I DO THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE WITH THESE KIND OF GRANTS, I DO KNOW THAT OFTEN THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS DO REQUIRE THAT IT BE SPENT BY A CERTAIN TIME OR THERE IS A CLAW BACK.
SO, UM, YEAH, DEFINITELY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
AND, UM, YEAH, I'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, IS THERE A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? I MOVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE, UH, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT CHRIS STERN AND THANK YOU CHRIS, FOR PROVIDING THAT INFORMATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? NEXT SECOND.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER THOMPSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARRETT THAT WE, WAS THAT A HAND COMMISSIONER GARCIA? THAT'S A YES.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COMMISSIONER THOMPSON AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER GARRA THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
OH, ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? UNANIMOUS.
[3. Briefing regarding upcoming CDC term expirations in February 2023 (HPD Staff)]
ITEM IS A BRIEFING ON UPCOMING CDC TERM EXPIRATIONS IN FEBRUARY.THIS IS A PRESENTATION FROM STAFF
[00:20:03]
COME ON.WE REALLY DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION.
WE DO HAVE, UM, I THINK IT'S PART OF YOUR PACKET, UM, INFORMATION C UH, SHEET, UM, FOR THE C D C TERM END DATES PER THE BYLAWS, UM, IT'S BASICALLY STATING THAT A RECENTLY, AN AUTOMATED EMAIL NOTICE WAS SENT, UM, BY THE, UM, VERONICA'S SYSTEM TO ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSION MEMBERS TO HAVE A, UH, THE TERMS ENDING FEBRUARY 28TH, 2023, UM, OR SOONER.
IF A MEMBER IS INTERESTED IN BEING REAPPOINTED, THEY SHOULD REAPPLY, MEANING UPDATE THEIR APPLICATION.
UM, WHILE THIS IS GENERALLY TRUE, IT MAY MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY ACCURATE FOR ALL MEMBERS.
UM, WE CREATED A SPREADSHEET, UM, FOR ALL THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE C D C UM, UM, BOARD, UM, AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, UM, ON WHO NEEDS TO REAPPLY.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE COMMISSIONER THAT REACHED THEIR EIGHT CONSECUTIVE YEARS,
UM, AND SO, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH, WITH, WITH ALL OF YOU ONE-ON-ONE, AN EMAIL.
YOU'LL CALL YOU AND LET YOU KNOW, UM, IF YOU NEED TO REAPPLY OR IF YOUR TERM IS UP.
UM, YOU'VE REACHED YOUR EIGHT YEARS.
ANY COMMENTS, COMMISSIONERS, THE EMAIL CAME OUT OF SEVERAL WEEKS AGO.
I KNOW BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS OR WINTER HOLIDAY BREAK, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU IF, IF YOU ALL RECEIVED THAT EMAIL OR NOT.
UM, DID EVERYONE RECEIVE IT? OR COMMISSIONER THOMPSON ORLI? I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
SO WHAT I, BASED ON WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU TO BE SAYING WAS I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT DISCUSSED THIS, OR IF I, IT DIDN'T APPLY TO ME, WOULD I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE EMAIL? NOW THAT I DO NOT KNOW.
UM, I DON'T RECALL RECEIVING ANY EMAIL THAT DISCUSSED MY TERM LIMITS.
OR ANYTHING, OR ANYTHING THAT INDICATED THAT I MAY BE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK
BUT, UM, YEAH, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I'M GOOD.
IF NOT, I'M COOL WITH THAT TOO.
SO STAFF WILL CHECK IN ON THE STATUS OF THOSE EMAILS CONCERNING EXPERT EXPIRING AND RENEWING TERMS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
[4. Presentation on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) (Angel Zambrano, Manager, Neighborhood Services Unit, Austin Public Health)]
ITEM.THESE ARE DISCUSSION ITEMS. UH, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM SAN WHO'S MANAGER OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE UNITS IN AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH ON THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
UH, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.
UM, GO OVER, UH, THE JANUARY 10TH PROGRAMMATIC AND FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT.
I'M THE NEIGHBOR SERVICES UNIT.
UH, I WELCOME THE, THE NEW COMMISSIONER, COMMISSIONER ARD.
I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT.
UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES UNIT IMPROVES THE LIVES AND HEALTH OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING POVERTY, PROVIDING PUBLIC HEALTH.
ITS SOCIAL SERVICES IN CONNECTING RESIDENT, THE AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES NEEDS PREVENTED HEALTH TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING PROGRAM, UH, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, UH, HELPING PEOPLE GET BACK INTO THE WORLD OF WORK AND THROUGH EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS AS WELL.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE ONE OF, UM, BACKUP, YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE EXPENDED A TOTAL OF 64% OF OUR BUDGET FOR 2022, REMINDING OF ONE YEAR AND THE NEW COMMISSIONER THAT, UH, OUR, MY REPORT GOES THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH OR TWO, TWO MONTHS BEHIND WITH THE DATA ON TO PAGE NUMBER TWO.
UM, WE ARE HAPPY TO, TO SAY THAT WE GOT TO BE MORE TRANSITIONS SINCE LAST TIME WE PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS OR OUR, WHICH IS OUTTA POVERTY MEASURE.
PRETTY AMAZING GIVEN COVID AND ALL THE, UM, SITUATIONS THAT OUR CLIENTS DEAL WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.
HOPING THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MORE CLOSER TO THAT GOAL OF 43.
AND TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS PAGE, UM, THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2022, WE WERE ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE AVOID EVICTION ABOUT 1,051 INDIVIDUALS.
UM, OUR TARGET WAS, UH, 400, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME EXTRA FUNDING, UH, ERA A FUNDS
[00:25:02]
IN, UH, LATE SUMMER, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HELP OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THAT FUNDING.WE LOOK DOWN HERE, I LET A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS.
OUR, UH, SERVICE FOR UTILITY PAYMENTS, ALMOST 300, UH, UTILITY PAYMENTS FROM IT OR PLUS ONE PROGRAM.
IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SEE EVERY, EVERY YEAR FROM AUSTIN ENERGY, BUT IT DOEST MAKE AN IMPACT ON LIFE OF A LOT OF FOLKS BEING ABLE TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON.
UH, SO DISTRIBUTION, 5K SERVICE FOR THE STATE, 30,000, UH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SERVED SO FAR THROUGH NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, UH, TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR FAMILY TOP FOUR HOPE PROGRAM IN OUR MARKET DAYS, A LOT MORE VOLUNTEER HOURS.
I THINK IN 2021 WE HAD A ON ZERO DUE THE COVID, SO LIKE, I KINDA LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT TOO.
FORMER NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS TO, TO THE AGENCY 1900.
SO SINCE WE REOPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN, UM, MARCH OF THIS PAST YEAR, UH, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS BACK.
UH, SOME PROGRAM ADVOCATE ADMINISTRATIVE UPDATES ON THIS PAGE.
UH, YOU SEE NUMBER ONE THERE, JUST REMINDING EVERYONE HERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, I SHOWED DISMISS SPOKE A MINUTE AGO.
WE, WE ACTUALLY BE OPEN TO THE 2022.
UH, NUMBER TWO, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE, FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM STRONG.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE FOOD BANK.
THEY'RE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES RECEIVING FOOD, UH, AS WELL SOME, UH, SUPPLY CHAIN AND ISSUE.
WE ARE STILL ABLE TO, TO HELP OUR FOLKS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AT ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, OUR HOME DELIVERY PROGRAM.
UM, WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM VERY QUICKLY, UM, AND WE WERE ABLE TO, TO DATE MADE OF 18,000 DELIVERIES AS THEY STARTED THE PROGRAM.
WE'VE EXPANDED, UH, TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK, FOUR WEEKS OUT OF THE MONTH.
WE STARTED WITH TWO DAYS A WEEK.
I THINK WE'RE STICKING DELIVERIES PER DAY.
IN NOVEMBER ALONE, WE WERE ABLE TO ASSIST 2022 HOUSEHOLDS, ALMOST 6,000 INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE FROM BOXES LIMITED TO THEIR DOORSTEP, TO OUR COLLABORATION WITH, UH, AMAZON AND, UM, THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK.
SO, BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF AND TO THE FOOD BANK AND AMAZON.
I SAID 18 THOUSANDS MADE THESE FAMILIES SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED.
I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT NUMBER FIVE, OUR EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE, UH, PROGRAM AND FUNDING FROM AUGUST 15TH TO DECEMBER 31ST.
THIS IS THE EXTRA FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED, 674 PEOPLE AND 248 HOUSEHOLDS WITH ACTUALLY USING THESE FUNDS FOR A TOTAL OF, OF $200 IN, UM, RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO OUR CLIENTS.
MY BIGGEST BRIGHT SPOT TODAY IS ACTUALLY NUMBER SEVEN, OUR NSU PUBLIC NURSING SERVICES.
I WROTE DOWN HERE, UM, THAT IN NOVEMBER, AFTER A THOUSAND DAYS OF BEING REASSIGNED TO THE COVID AND THE MONKEY POT RESPONSE FOR NURSES CAME BACK.
SO I'D LIKE TO LET THAT KIND OF SINK IN ALONE THOUSAND DAYS THAT THE NURSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SERVICES, WE WERE NOT WITH US, THEY WERE FULL TIME ON THE COVID, MONKEYPOX APPLIANCES, A LOT OF WORK, HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS OF VACCINES, TEST KITS, EDUCATION, UH, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, AND IT'S NOT OVER YET THAT THEY ARE BACK IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS, PROVIDING SOME, LIKE THE NURSING SERVICE, UNDERSTANDING THOSE UP.
AGAIN, IT'S A BIG CHALLENGE BECAUSE THEY WERE GONE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, TWO YEARS.
UH, I'D LIKE TO BRING MORE, MORE DATA AND STORIES BACK TO THIS COMMISSION, AS I USED TO DO BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SUCCESS STORIES KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT THEY DO TO, TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH MANAGERS, WELLNESS, PROMOTION, UH, STANDING UP A NEW DIABETES CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS SOMETHING VERY
WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE NURSES HAVE CASELOADS AND REALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE MORE INTENSIVELY TO ADDRESS HER DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND THE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.
SO THAT IS THE END OF MY REPORT THERE.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, LET ME KNOW.
THANK YOU ALL FOR LETTING ME SHOW THESE, THESE GOOD NEWS.
[00:30:01]
FOR THIS SPENDING, DOES THAT END CALENDAR YEAR OF 2022? UH, DOES GOOD QUESTION.THAT IS CALENDAR YEAR, BUT WE ALWAYS, NOT ALWAYS, BUT MOST OF THE YEARS, WE ASK FOR AN EXTENSION TO MARCH 31ST.
SO, UH, WE KIND OF HAVE AN EXTENSION APPROVED THIS YEAR AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO CARRY OVER THESE FUNDS.
AND DO YOU EXPECT TO SPEND THEM ALL BY MARCH 31ST? UH, GUESS QUESTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONERS ITEM FIVE,
[5. Briefing and discussion regarding eligibility monitoring for reduced-rent units created through the density bonus program (HPD Staff)]
BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION REGARDING ELIGIBILITY MONITORING FOR REDUCED GRANT UNITS CREATED TO THE BONUS PROGRAM CONVERSATION WITH STAFF BY DENSITY BONUS PROGRAM.WE'RE REFERRING TO PROPERTIES THAT GOT INCENTIVES, LIKE REDUCED PARKING OR GREATER HEIGHT IN ORDER TO BUILD, UH, RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND THE INCENTIVES.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INCENTIVES IS THAT THEY PROVIDE A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSING, USUALLY 10% OF HOUSING THAT'S AFFORDABLE TO PEOPLE BELOW MEDIAN INCOME.
UM, MANY UNITS ARE BELOW ARE 60%, SOME ARE AT 70 OR 80%, AND IF YOU DRIVE DOWN SOUTH LAMAR OR UP NORTH LAMAR OR UP BURNETT, ALL THOSE NEW APARTMENTS, IT'S A LITTLE KNOWN FACT THAT 10% OF MOST OF THOSE UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AT 60 OR 80% A MEETING FAMILY INCOME.
AND IT'S INCREASINGLY AN INCENTIVE THAT ACCOMPANIES NEW CONSTRUCTION.
SO IT'S, IT'S AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM IN THAT RESPECT THAT IT'S GROWING.
THERE ARE 1900 UNITS IN THE DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS, UH, ON THE GROUND RENTING THE TENANTS OR IN THE PIPELINES WITH THEIR PLANS APPROVED.
SO PRETTY LIKELY THEY'RE GONNA CONTINUE AND GET BUILT.
SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM, AND YET IN THE PUBLIC, IT'S NOT ALWAYS, UM, KNOWN HOW IT WORKS.
AND SO RUMORS, UH, GENERATE ABOUT HOW THE UNITS ARE ALLOCATED.
AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE USEFUL IF WE TALKED TO STAFF AND WE'RE MORE FAMILIAR WITH HOW IT WORKS AND, AND THE THINGS THAT WE WANNA DO TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER.
UM, MY NAME IS JAMIE MAY, I'M THE, UH, SORRY.
NEW TITLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE, UH, UH, HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
UM, UNDERNEATH, UH, MY, UH, WITHIN MY PORTFOLIO, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR DENSITY BONUS AND DEVELOPER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, UM, WHICH INCLUDES, UH, SMART HOUSING AFFORDABILITY UNLOCKED, UH, OUR DOWNTOWN DENSITY BONUSES, VARIOUS, UH, UM, DENSITY BONUSES THAT ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY CONSTRAINED.
UM, IT'S AN, IT'S AN ENTIRE ALPHABET SOUP OF, UH, DENSITY BONUSES THAT, UH, THAT WE MANAGE.
SOME OF THEM OVERLAP AND SOME OF THEM DON'T, UH, BUT THEY ALL HAVE THEIR OWN SPECIAL, UH, TWEAKS.
UM, FOR EXAMPLE, UH, SMART HOUSING IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT MOST DEVELOPERS U UH, KNOW THE MOST.
UH, IT IS THE MOST WIDELY USED, AND IT'S KIND OF A GATEKEEPER, UH, UH, PROGRAM FOR SOME OF OUR OTHER, UH, FUNDING PROGRAMS. UH, IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, YOU HAVE TO BE SMART CERTIFIED.
AND WHAT THAT GIVES YOU AS A DEVELOPER IS, UH, IT WAIVES SOME OF YOUR FEES.
SO YOU'RE PERMITTING FEES AND YOUR, UH, UH, UM, FEES AND LOO, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, IN EXCHANGE, AS THE COMMISSIONER, AS THE CHAIR, UH, POINTED OUT, UH, THE DEVELOPER WILL COMMIT TO ENSURING THAT A CERTAIN PROPORTION OF THEIR UNITS ARE AFFORDABLE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF AFFORDABILITY.
UM, FOR OUR FUNDED PROGRAMS, WE WILL ONLY INVEST IN DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE A, AT LEAST 10% OF THE UNITS, UH, AFFORDABLE BELOW 50% OF THE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME.
UH, FOR A HOUSEHOLD OF FOUR, UH, IN 2022, THAT WOULD BE $55,000 PER YEAR.
SO IF YOU'RE MAKING LESS THAN $55,000, YOU WOULD QUALIFY FOR ONE OF OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES, UM, THAT WE HAVE, UH, INVESTED INTO FOR, UH, SOME OF OUR DEVELOPER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, AS THE CHAIR POINTED OUT, THAT, UH, AFFORDABILITY LEVEL IS MAYBE A LITTLE HIGHER, UH, FOR SOME OF THEM, AND THEY MIGHT BE 80%, SOME MIGHT BE 70%, SOME MIGHT BE 75%.
UM, THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S A FUN JOB TO HAVE TRYING TO TEND, UH, CORRAL ALL THESE SHEEP, ALL THESE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UH, UM, FOLLOWING THE PROGRAMS, MONITORING THE, UH, UH, THE UNITS AS THEY ARE, UH, INTENDED TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, AND WHERE THERE IS NOT, UH, WHERE THERE IS NON-COMPLIANCE, UH, THEN WE WILL, WE WILL TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS FUTURE COMPLIANCE.
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UH, THE QUESTION, UH, IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR MONITORING SYSTEM.SO, TO GET THERE, FIRST, I'D LIKE TO D UH, DISCUSS HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION ON THE FIRST IN, UH, FIRST TENANT.
SO, UH, THE FIRST, UM, TENANT IN A FUNDED PROGRAM, UH, THE PROPERTY MANAGER MUST SUBMIT WHAT'S CALLED A TENANT INCOME CERTIFICATION.
AND THAT'S HOW WE VERIFY THAT THAT INITIAL TENANT, UH, MEETS THE INCOME QUALIFICATIONS FOR THAT UNIT.
AND WE CAN ALSO COLLECT INFORMATION SUCH AS DEMOGRAPHICS, UH, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, UH, VARIOUS OTHER, UH, UH, DATA POINTS THAT WE USE IN ORDER TO, UM, ENSURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE, ARE MEETING THE NEED THAT THEY HAD, THAT THEY'RE DESIGNED FOR, FOR OUR INCENTIVE INCENTIVIZED PROGRAMS, WE DON'T COLLECT THAT DATA, HOWEVER, WE DO REQUIRE THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGER MAINTAIN THAT DATA ON SITE.
UM, JUST LIKE WITH OUR FUNDED PROGRAMS, WITH OUR INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, WE WILL, UH, MONITOR AND GO ONSITE, UH, ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.
NOW, UH, WE HAVE A PORTFOLIO, UH, THAT IS LARGE AND GROWING.
UM, I THINK, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR AFFORDABILITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING INVENTORY RIGHT NOW TO DETERMINE EXACTLY HOW BIG IT IS WE TRANSITION TO A NEW PLATFORM.
ANYWAY, THE, THE POINT IS THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF UNITS THAT WE NEED TO MONITOR.
UH, THAT PORTFOLIO IS DIVIDED INTO THREES SO THAT, UH, EVERY THREE YEARS, YOUR DEVELOPMENT, YOUR PROPERTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR MONITORING.
WE THEN TAKE THAT THIRD OF THE PORTFOLIO AND THEN TAKE A SELECTION OF 10% AND GO OUT AND MONITOR THOSE.
AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK, THE FILES ON SITE TO ENSURE THAT THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WERE COMMITTED TO BE AFFORDABLE ARE ACTUALLY, UM, OCCUPIED BY INDIVIDUALS THAT MEET THAT AFFORDABILITY LEVEL.
UH, WE WILL ENSURE THAT ANY OTHER REGULATIONS THAT THOSE, UH, UH, INCENTIVE PROGRAMS CARRY ARE ALSO MET.
UH, AND THAT IS ALSO THROUGH PAPERWORK, UH, THROUGH DOCUMENTATION THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGERS MUST MAINTAIN ON SITE.
AND WE'LL ALSO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY ITSELF TO ENSURE THAT, UH, THE, IN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE HAVE EITHER FUNDED OR INCENTIVIZED IS IN GOOD REPAIR.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF, UH, INSTANCES WHERE A MONITORING STAFF HAS GONE OUT AND HAVE IDENTIFIED SERIOUS CONCERNS, WHETHER IT'S A, A FOUNDATION CONCERN OR, OR WATER POOLING, UH, SOMEWHERE.
UM, AND THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PROPERTY MANAGER.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WHERE A PROPERTY IS NOT IN COMPLIANT DURING THAT MONITORING PERIOD.
UH, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF, UH, OF RECOURSES FOR OUR INCENTIVIZED PROGRAM.
SINCE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY IN THE DEAL, UH, WE CAN'T CLAW ANY MONEY BACK.
IF WE PUT MONEY IN, THEN, UH, YOU WOULD, IF YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE, YOU WOULD BE, UH, IN DEFAULT OF YOUR LOAN.
SO WE COULD SAY THAT YOU OWE US THE $3 MILLION THAT WE INVESTED INTO YOUR PROPERTY, WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT.
UM, SO WE WILL WORK WITH A DEVELOPER TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH OUR INCENTIVIZED PROGRAMS. WE WILL EXTEND THAT AFFORDABILITY PERIOD.
SO IF, UH, WE SHOW UP, UH, TO MONITOR A PROPERTY AND THEY ARE NOT IN COMPLIANT IN COMPLIANCE FOR THIS CYCLE, THEN WE WILL EXTEND THEIR AFFORDABILITY, UH, PERIOD FOR AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR AND PUT THAT, UH, PROPERTY BACK INTO THE NEXT YEAR FOR FURTHER MONITORING UNTIL THEY ARE BACK INTO COMPLIANCE.
SO WE WILL SEE THEM EVERY YEAR UNTIL THEY'RE IN COMPLIANCE.
AND AS LONG, LONG AS THEY FAIL THAT COMPLIANCE, WE'RE GONNA KEEP PUSHING OUT THAT AFFORDABILITY PERIOD FOR, UH, SOME OF OUR, UH, SMART HOUSING CERTIFICATIONS.
THAT COULD BE A FIVE YEAR, UH, AFFORDABILITY PERIOD THAT QUICKLY TURNS INTO 10 15, DEPENDING ON, UH, HOW LONG THE, UH, PROPERTY MANAGER CHOOSES NOT TO COME INTO COMPLIANCE.
UM, AND IT DOES, THAT DOES HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON, UH, THE OVERALL OPERATIONAL BUDGET FOR THE PROPERTY.
UH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, A, UH, UM, A FAIR MARKET OR A, A MARKET RATE, UH, UNIT RENTING AT $1,600 A MONTH.
UH, AND THEN WE SAY, YEAH, BUT YOU COMMITTED TO, UH, 50% AFFORDABILITY, SO NOW THAT'S ONLY EIGHT, $800 A MONTH.
UH, THAT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR THE DEVELOPER.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T WANT TO BE OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH US.
UM, BUT WE DO, UH, AS I SAID, WE DO MEN, WE DO TRY TO MONITOR, UM, ALL OF OUR PROPERTIES AT LEAST, UH, EVERY THREE YEARS, OR AT LEAST EVERY THREE YEARS, EACH PROPERTY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO BE MONITORED.
AND THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE IF I ANSWERED THE QUESTION, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER ALIAS? YES.
UM, IS THIS DATA PUBLIC? UH, LIKE THE NON-COMPLIANCE, THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, ALL OF THAT? SO THE, UH, UH,
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THE, OUR INVENTORY IS PUBLIC.OUR INVENTORY IS ON, IS ONLINE, AND YOU CAN, UH, ACCESS IT THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ONLINE SEARCH TOOL OR A HOSTS.
UM, THAT INCLUDES NOT JUST PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE INCENTIVIZED AND INVESTED, BUT ALSO, UH, PROPERTIES FROM THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES, UH, AND ANY PROPERTY THAT, UH, WAS, UH, FUNDED THROUGH THE LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS. UM, AS FAR AS THE DEMOGRAPHICS, WE, I, I WAS HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE CHAIR, UH, JUST BEFORE THE MEETING.
UM, WE CURRENTLY COLLECT THE DEMOGRAPHICS ON THAT FIRST, UH, UH, TENANT FOR A FUNDED PROPERTY.
UH, PROPERTY MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION DURING MONITORING OR FOR REVIEW DURING MONITORING.
HOWEVER, WE DON'T HAVE A, A RESERVOIR OR A POOL WHERE WE'RE COLLECTING ALL OF THAT DEMOGRAPHICS.
UM, WE DO COLLECT THAT INITIAL TENANT, BUT AFTER THE FIRST YEAR, THAT DEMOGRAPHIC DATA IS EXPIRED.
AND, UM, AS FAR AS THE, YOU SAID THAT YOU, YOU HAVE THE WHOLE DATA ON ALL THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LIKE THE, THE A HOSTS THAT YOU SAID? YES, SIR.
UM, CAN YOU BREAK THAT DOWN BY WHAT'S, UH, FUNDED AND WHAT'S INCENTIVIZED AND, OR CAN YOU GET ANY, CAN YOU GET THAT DATA? UM, WE CAN GET THAT FOR YOU MM-HMM.
UM, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE ABOUT THE CAPABILITIES OF THE A HOUSE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE CAN PULL THAT, THAT SPECIFIC INFORMATION FOR YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
I HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF DATA, IF YOU HAVE IT, OF THE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE VERSUS THOSE THAT ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE? SO FOR LIKE, OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR LAST 18 MONTHS, IS THERE ANY DATA THAT YOU COULD JUST SHARE WITH ME? WE C I CAN SHARE OUR, UH, OUR MONITORING REPORTS.
UH, I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR DEVELOPERS ARE IN COMPLIANCE.
WITH THEIR, UH, WITH THEIR AFFORDABILITY COMMITMENTS.
AND HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE VA? VAST MAJORITY, LIKE 75% OR MORE? UH, OR ARE WE TALKING 45%? I, I'D SAY, OR, OR 50% I GUESS WOULD BE MAJORITY.
SO IF I WERE TO SHOOT IN THE DARK YEAH.
SHOOTING WITH OUR, WITH MY BLUNT, WITH MY EYES CLOSED, NO WORRIES.
UH, AFTER SPINNING AROUND FOUR TIMES, I'D SAY IT'S WELL OVER 50%.
BUT MAYBE NOT QUITE AS FAR AS 75%? MAY I NOT, MAYBE NOT.
I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO THAT.
I JUST WAS TRYING TO GET A FEEL FOR, UM, IS THIS SOMETHING I NEED TO BE AWARE OF OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IS KIND OF, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, ROUTINE RIGHT.
BUT IT DOES SOUND LIKE THERE ARE THOSE THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING 85 TO 90% IN COMPLIANCE.
SO, BUT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO ANOTHER WORRIES HAVING NOT LOOKED AT IT.
UM, BUT I CAN LET YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SHARE WITH THAT.
YOU CAN GO BACK, UH, DEFINITELY FOR THIS YEAR MM-HMM.
UM, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO BACK A COUPLE YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW FAR BACK YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK.
HAS STAFF IDENTIFIED POSSIBLE LOOPHOLES THAT THE DE DEVELOPERS COULD MAXIMIZE IN ORDER TO CIRCUMVENT SOME OF THE POLICIES OF THE CITY AND MORE OR LESS GET AROUND THE OVERALL ESSENCE OF THE, OF THE, OF THE POLICY OF THE, UH, OF THE AFFORDABILITY? UM, IN TERMS OF, IN OTHER WORDS, THEY TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE INCENTIVES, BUT THEN ARE NOT QUITE AS ROBUST MM-HMM.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE DO THE MONITORING, BUT, UM, AND THAT'S WHY WE GO OUT AND LOOK AT THE PAPERWORK AND, UH, WE WILL INSPECT THE, THE FILES TO ENSURE THAT IF A DEVELOPER SAYS WE HAVE 15 UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE BELOW 80%, WE WANNA SEE 15 FILES THAT ARE, THAT HAVE DEMOGRAPHICS AND, UH, INCOME CERTIFICATIONS THAT SHOW THAT THAT HOUSEHOLD IS BELOW 80% OF MFI.
UM, THEORETICALLY
THAT'S A LOT OF EFFORT FOR NOT MUCH GAIN, BECAUSE THEY WOULD, WE WOULD STILL ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RENT ROLES TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE CHARGING THE APPROPRIATE RENT.
UH, BECAUSE, UH, HAVING AN UNIT OCCUPIED BY AN APPROPRIATE HOUSEHOLD OR BY AN INCOME, UH, QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
THEN WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROPERTY MANAGER'S FOLLOWING THE REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, CHARGING THE APPROPRIATE RENT, UM, HAVING THE, UH, LEASE ADDENDUM, UH,
[00:45:01]
IF ONE IS REQUIRED, HAVING THAT, UH, ALSO SIGNED IN THE FILE, UM, AND THEN OTHER, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE EITHER, UH, REQUIRED AS PART OF THAT FUNDING OR REQUIRED AS PART OF THAT INCENTIVE.I, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM, UM, UM, ACUTELY AWARE, OR I WANT TO BE AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE DEVELOPERS, BECAUSE I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE, UM, OFFER CAN LEAD TO A POSSIBLE MISUSE.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THOSE THAT IS INTENDED TO HELP.
YEAH, THE, UH, REPORT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH COMMISSIONER THOMPSON, IS THAT SPLIT BY A DEVELOPER? THE COMPLIANCE MONITORING REPORT? UM, I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ONE FILE PER, UH, UM, PER PROPERTY THAT WE VISIT.
SO, AND THEN IT'S AGGREGATED AT THE END.
YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, NOT KNOWING MUCH ABOUT IT, IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO AGGREGATE THE DATA AND, AND HAVE LIKE, UH, SURE.
UM, SEE WHICH DEVELOPERS ARE IN COMPLIANCE, AND ESPECIALLY IF THAT WAS PUBLIC, I THINK THAT WOULD BE INCENTIVE ITSELF.
COMMISSIONERS OTHER QUESTIONS? QUESTION? YES.
IS THERE ANY, IF, IF WE HAVE REPEAT OFFENDERS, IS THERE ANY PENALTY FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS? NOT JUST, NOT JUST THE, YOU'RE GONNA GET ADDITIONAL TIME, RIGHT? BUT IS THERE EVER A, YOU KNOW, WHAT GUY, YOU OR GAL, YOU'RE NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR THIS DISQUALIFICATION OF A PROGRAM? UH, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THAT WE, UH, I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE EVER ACTUALLY DISQUALIFIED ANY DEVELOPER FROM USING ONE OF OUR INCENTIVES.
UM, FOR THE FUNDING, UH, SIDE, IT IS A LOT EASIER, UH, BECAUSE WE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR THREE YEARS IN A ROW, YOU ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE.
YOU'RE STILL FLOUTING THE RULES.
WE ARE GOING TO PUT YOU INTO DEFAULT AND NOW YOU NEED TO PAY THE FUNDS BACK.
UM, AGAIN, WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
UH, CUZ THAT'S A, THAT'S A BIG LIFT.
UM, AND WE'D MUCH RATHER HAVE THE UNITS ON THE GROUND.
ONE OF THE, THE REASONS THAT I WANTED THIS TO BE UP FOR DISCUSSION IS FOLLOWING A, A CONVERSATION WITH A COUNCIL AID WHO SAID THAT THEY'D HAD PROBLEMS WITH A PARTICULAR DEVELOPER ON MM-HMM.
YOU COULD LOOK AT, UH, THE, THE WORK THAT THEY'VE SUBMITTED THROUGH, UH, THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, WHETHER THEY'VE PARTICIPATED IN OUR PROGRAMS IN THE PAST OR NOT.
UM, THE, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE IF, UH, ANY OF THE DEVELOPERS, UH, IN, OR IF, IF THE DEVELOPER THAT THAT CONSULATE SPEAKING OF, UH, UH, HAS ANY COMPLIANCE ISSUES, UH, WITH OUR PROGRAMS. UM, BUT I CAN EXPLORE.
YEAH, I DON'T WANNA NAME NAMES, RIGHT.
AND WE, WE CAN, UM, WE CAN FIND SOME INFORMATION, UH, IF, IF ANY EXISTS, WE'LL LOOK IN OUR H I.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN.
[7. Briefing and discussion on the HPD Displacement Prevention Navigator Pilot Program (Cara Bertron, HPD Staff)]
THANK YOU.AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION.
UM, I AM BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY AT, MY NAME IS KARA BEK.
SAID TO TALK ABOUT THIS EXCITING NEW PILOT PROGRAM.
AND THIS IS SORT OF A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE, WE'RE, UM, FLUSHING OUT NOW, STILL DEVELOPING, AND WE'LL, UM, PLEASED TO SHARE ADDITIONAL UPDATES WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT WE'LL COVER.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, I THINK IT'S BACKGROUND THAT Y'ALL WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH,
[00:50:01]
UM, TALKING THROUGH THE BASICS OF THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE, SOME QUICK NEXT STEPS, AND THEN ANY QUESTIONS SLIDE PLEASE.SO, SO Y'ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR, UH, WITH THE EXACT NUMBERS ON THE LEFT, BUT YOU, EVEN IF NOT, YOU CERTAINLY KNOW THE TREND THAT OUR MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS NOT KEEPING PACE WITH RISING HOUSING COSTS, AND THAT'S CREATING ENORMOUS DISPLACEMENT PRESSURES FOR BOTH GRAND SHARES AND HOMEOWNERS, UM, SHUTTING MANY POTENTIAL HOMEOWNERS OUT OF, UH, THE MARKET.
AND THOSE NUMBERS ON THE LEFT DON'T INCLUDE, UH, HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN PRICED OUT OF AUSTIN TO NEARBY COMMUNITIES OR FARTHER AFIELD.
SO, IN RESPONSE TO THIS ALARMING TREND, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO CREATE A PILOT PROGRAM, UH, FOCUSED ON DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION NAVIGATORS, UM, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
THEY ALLOCATED A BUDGET OF $360,000 FROM THE HOUSING TRUST FUND FOR THE PILOT PROGRAM.
I THINK THIS IS HELPFUL TO INCLUDE BEFORE DIVING INTO THE PROGRAM DETAILS.
UM, BASICALLY THESE ARE PLANS THAT YOU'RE HAVE PROBABLY READ OR, OR KNOW ABOUT, UM, THE CITY'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
IMAGINE AUSTIN, THE FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO SUPPORT IMAGINE AUSTIN, AND THEN OUR STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT ALL SUPPORT THE IDEA OF KEEPING PEOPLE IN PLACE AND SUPPORTING, UH, ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS AND STAYING IN PLACE.
SO, THE PROGRAM ITSELF, UM, IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
BASICALLY, WE'RE LOOKING TO HIRE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, UM, BASICALLY TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION CHALLENGES AND, AND TO PREVENT THAT DISPLACEMENT.
SO NAVIGATORS WILL, UM, CERTAINLY INFORM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ABOUT RESOURCES, BOTH PRACTICE AND HOMEOWNERS THAT CAN HELP THEM STAND THEIR HOMES.
UM, BUT I THINK THE, MAYBE THE KEY POINT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HELP THEM TO, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM APPLY.
SO IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THIS IS KNOWN AS THE LAST MILE.
SO LIKE, HOW TO GET PEOPLE FROM ONE ABOUT A PROGRAM OR DOING ABOUT TEAM PROGRAMS. YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, RECEIVING THAT ASSISTANCE, UM, OR BEING ALIGNED TO RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE IF THERE'S A WAITING LIST.
BUT JUST LIKE MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE RESOURCES.
UH, WE'RE DOING THIS AS A ONE YEAR PILOT PROGRAM RUN BY THE DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION OFFICE OF THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS WHERE I WORK.
I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
UM, NEXT SLIDE TO START, WE'RE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF PRIORITY COMMUNITIES.
WE KNOW THAT THE, THE NEED IS CITYWIDE.
UM, AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR OF HOPEFULLY EVERLY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.
AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE DETAILS RIGHT.
WE'RE FOCUSING ON A COUPLE OF COMMUNITIES FOR THIS TYPE PROGRAM.
UH, IN COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE, WE'RE PHOENIX COLONY PARK COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO DOVE SPRINGS.
YOU CAN SEE SOME FIGURES AROUND AFFORDABILITY, UM, AND HOUSEHOLD INCOME.
THE MEDIAN VALUE OF HOMESTEADS IN BOTH OF THE, THE PROPERTY PILOT COMMUNITIES IS, UM, SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT OF AUSTIN AS A WHOLE, MAKING THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO, UM, OR MORE OF A TARGET FOR REDEVELOPMENT FOR BOTH FOR DEVELOPERS OR OTHER FOLKS TO COME IN AND BUY LOW AND REDEVELOP AND SELL HIGHER.
IT'S A MUCH HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF COST BURDEN RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN COLONY PARK, BUT ALSO IN DOVE SPRINGS COMPARED TO THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
UM, IN BOTH PILOT COMMUNITIES HAVE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF LONG-TERM RESIDENTS, UM, THAN THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
NEXT SLIDE IN TERMS OF WHO THE NAVIGATORS ARE, WE'RE WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO, WHO WANT TO TAKE ACTION, WHO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, UM, 10 TO 15 HOURS A WEEK KIND OF AT THE, THE HEIGHT OF OUTREACH AND, AND ASSISTANCE IN THE PROGRAM.
UM, HOPEFULLY FOLKS WILL BE CONNECTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS WORKING IN AND AROUND THOSE COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE, WE'LL HAVE, UM, YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP WOULD BE PREFERRED AND ALSO DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH DISPLACEMENT, GENTRIFICATION.
AND WE'LL BE HIRING 20 PEOPLE FOR THIS PILOT COHORT OF ONE YEAR.
IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PROGRAM LOOKS LIKE, IT'LL BE A MIX OF WORKSHOPS AND FIELD WORK.
SO THE WORKSHOPS, WE'RE LOOKING AT HIGHLY INTERACTIVE, UM, SESSIONS WHERE, WHERE THE NAVIGATORS CAN BRING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND
[00:55:01]
EXPERTISE TO THE ROOM, UM, AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A REALLY GOOD BACK AND FORTH.UM, CITY STAFF AND COMMUNITY EXPERTS.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS WILL, WILL, UM, PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES AND HOW, UH, HOUSEHOLDS CAN APPLY FOR THOSE AND REALLY WORK WITH NAVIGATORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE, UH, PROVIDED THE FIELD WORK WILL BE THE DIRECT ASSISTANCE ITSELF, AS WELL AS OUTREACH, UM, SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE.
AND IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO USE THE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, THEN HOPEFULLY THEY'RE, UM, A STEP CLOSER TO CONNECTING PROGRAMS THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THE BOOK PROGRAM, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE MOVING PRETTY QUICKLY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS, IT'S AN EMERGENT ISSUE.
WE'RE PLANNING TO LAUNCH NAVIGATOR APPLICATIONS IN MARCH.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE ARE DOING A LOT OF THE BACKEND WORK OF REFINEMENT PROGRAM DESIGN AND, AND DEVELOPING THE, THE MATERIALS, THE DESIGN AND WORKSHOPS LINE, THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FIELDWORK.
WE WILL BEGIN WORKSHOPS IN JUNE, WHICH ALLOWS US LITTLE TIME TO HAVE A, A GOOD APPLICATION WINDOW.
UM, WE'D LOVE YOUR HELP GETTING THE WORD OUT WHEN WE DO LAUNCH THOSE APPLICATIONS.
UM, AND THEN TO SELECT THOSE PARTICIPANTS.
SO WE'LL START THE WORKSHOPS IN JUNE AROUND INTO THIS SUMMER, AND THEN BEGIN FIELD WORK IN SEPTEMBER AFTER THE WORST OF THE SUMMER HEAT, WORST OF THE SUMMER HEAT.
THE FIELD WORK WILL LAST WITH SOME INTERMITTENT WORKSHOPS, NOT AS INTENSIVE AS, AS OF THE BEGINNING INTERMITTENT WORKSHOPS, UM, FOR ABOUT NINE MONTHS UNTIL MAY OF 2024.
AND AFTER THAT, WE ARE BUILDING IN TIME TO ASSESS THE PROGRAM WITH THE PARTICIPANTS, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE SERVED AND TALK ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT.
UM, SO VERY QUICKLY, RIGHT, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, UH, WORKING WITH EXISTING PARTNERS AND REACHING OUT TO NEW PARTNERS TO SAY, HERE'S THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PLANNING, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO BETTER? WHAT WE, WHAT HAVEN'T WE THOUGHT OF? UM, WE'RE HOPE, HOPING TO WORK WITH A SPREAD OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARTNER, CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, UM, OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, RESOURCE PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND, AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS.
AND MAKING SURE THAT WE, WE ARE AS PREPARED AS WE AS WE CAN BE IN THIS PILOT, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'LL NEED TO ADAPT, UH, ALONG THE WAY.
THEN AS I I MENTIONED IN MARCH, WE'LL RELEASE THE NAVIGATOR APPLICATIONS AND, UM, IN TIME WE ARE ALSO DEVELOPING THOSE, UH, SUPPORT MATERIALS FOR NAVIGATORS.
SO AGAIN, UM, THIS IS A VERY BRIEF OVERVIEW ABOUT A NEW PROGRAM.
I THINK WE ARE, IT'S BETTER NEEDED.
WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO TRY TO, UM, TO TAKE SOME STEPS TOWARD CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH RE RESOURCES THAT EXIST AND ALSO TO HEAR ABOUT RESOURCES THAT NEED TO EXIST.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE AS DISPLACEMENT PREVENTION OFFICE STAFF FOR VERY INTERESTED IN THAT AND INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSING AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO SEE, UM, IF THERE ARE, ARE PARTS OF THE PROGRAMS OR PARTS OF APPLICATION PROCESSES THAT CAN BE STREAMLINED.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PARTS THAT CAN BE STREAMLINED, BUT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THOSE, UM, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP PARTNERING WITH NAVIGATORS AND HEARING MORE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES MEMBERS.
SO THAT IS, THAT IS THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS NOW, BUT PLEASE ALSO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH, UM, AFTER THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.
I DID WANNA ASK IF THE NAVIGATORS WILL BE ABLE TO ASSIST, UM, FOLKS IN WITH COMPLETING APPLICATIONS OR, UM, RIGHT, SOMETIMES THEY MIGHT KNOW ABOUT A PROGRAM, BUT THEY DON'T, UM, NEED HELP WITH THE ACTUAL APPLICATION PROCESS OR, UM, CONNECTING TO THE RESOURCES UNDER THAT RESOURCE ITSELF AND SORT OF ALREADY CAPPED THAT CAPACITY.
LIKE HOW ARE WE SORT OF CONNECTING THOSE, UM, THOSE DOTS OR THAT CONNECTION? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE GOAL IS, YES, TO HAVE NAVIGATORS BE ABLE TO DIRECTLY ASSIST PEOPLE WITH APPLICATIONS IF THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WOULD LIKE.
UM, I THINK ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES WITH THE, A PRETTY GOOD ARRAY OF RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE THAT IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
SO I AS A HOUSEHOLD MIGHT KNOW, WELL, YEAH, I CAN HERE 20 SURGEONS AND I, I CAN APPLY FOR, BUT WHERE DO I START? SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER REALLY IMPORTANT THING THAT NAVIGATORS CAN HELP WITH, IS HELPING TO PRIORITIZE ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM SCALE, ACCORDING TO THE HOUSEHOLD NEED, ACCORDING TO THE, UM, WHETHER THE NEED IS ONGOING OR ONE TIME.
UM, SO TO HELP PEOPLE THINK THROUGH THAT AND WHERE, WHERE TO BEGIN, EVEN IF THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN HAVING NAVIGATORS
[01:00:01]
ACTUALLY HELP THEM WITH THE APPLICATION.UM, I DO WANNA MENTION A RESOURCE THAT, THAT I RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT THAT I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TO START, WHICH IS, UM, CONNECT ETX.
IT'S A RESOURCE WEBSITE THAT UNITED WAY HAS PUT TOGETHER AND UM, IT IS A, A REALLY USER, USER-FRIENDLY DATABASE OF RESOURCES TO MEET A, UM, A WIDE VARIETY OF NEEDS.
SO Y'ALL MAY KNOW ABOUT THAT THROUGH VARIETY OR THROUGH VIRTUE OF, OF BEING ON THIS COMMISSION AND YOU'RE WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES.
BUT I THINK THAT WILL BE A MAJOR TOOL THAT WE USE AND THAT WE, UM, ARE ABLE TO PASS ALONG TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEN, AND THEN WORK WITH THEM TO SAY, OKAY, HERE ARE THE 20 PROGRAMS YOU QUALIFY FOR.
WHERE OR SHOULD WE BEGIN? DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YOU'RE MUTED.
OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONERS? WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK WE'LL WANT TO HEAR HOW IT PROGRESSES.
[WORKING GROUP/COMMITTEE UPDATES]
UH, ITEM NINE IS UPDATE FROM THE AUSTIN TRANSIT.THESE ARE OUR WORKING GROUP COMMITTEE UPDATES AND THE FIRST ONE IS THE AUSTIN TRANSIT PARTNERSHIP COMMITTEE.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMMISSIONER MBS, I DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATE.
I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST MEETING.
AND THEN ON THE HOUSING IN INVESTMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE, COMMISSIONER GARRETT, UM, I DO HAVE AN UPDATE, BUT IS IT OKAY IF I SEND IT OUT OR REPORT ON, UM, THE QUARTER ONE AND THEN IDEALLY MAYBE QUARTER TWO OF THE NEXT MEETING NEXT MONTH.
AND FOR OUR NEW COMMISSIONER, COULD YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THIS COMMITTEE DOES? SURE.
UH, THE HOUSING INVESTMENT RE RE RE THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, THE HERC, UM, IS A GROUP OF FIVE, UM, REVIEWERS, UM, TWO FROM THIS COMMISSION, AND THEN THREE, UM, PRIVATE, UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO APPLIED, UM, TO BE REVIEWERS.
AND WE REVIEW RHODA AND OTA, UM, RENTAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION, UM, APPLICATIONS AND OWNERSHIP AS WELL THAT ARE GOING, THAT ARE SEEKING CITY FUNDS, UM, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND SO WE REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND WE SCORE THEM.
AND THEN PART OF, UM, THAT REVIEW PROCESS ALONG WITH THE SCORING FROM THE CITY IS TAKEN TO, UM, HOUSE AND HOUSING FINANCES CORPORATION TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IF THIS SCORE FINDING ENOUGH AND ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING.
THE UPDATE FROM THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD.
UM, THIS IS THE, THE MAIN FOCUS OF THAT COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAS BEEN THE, THE FUTURE OF THE STATESMAN PUT ON DECEMBER, I THINK IT WAS EIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AVERSION AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATION.
UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PART DIDN'T CHANGE VERY MUCH.
IT SEEMED FOR QUITE A WHILE THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE SOME PROGRESS ON GETTING INSIGHT UNIT ONSITE UNITS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION HAD SUPPORTED.
BUT, UM, THERE WAS, PEOPLE WERE UNSURE ABOUT WHETHER THE ONSITE UNITS WOULD SERVE LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND THERE WAS A COMPETING DEVELOPMENT ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF OR TWO MILES AWAY THAT, UM, FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES AND THE MARY LEE FOUNDATION ARE WORKING ON.
AND IT HAS EXCELLENT TRANSIT CONNECTIONS.
IT HAS AN EXCELLENT SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT STARTS AT ZILKER ELEMENTARY AND GOES TO OTHER POPULAR SCHOOLS AND IT, THERE ARE A LOT OF JOBS IN THE AREA, SO THAT, THAT'S A DEFINITELY HIGH OPPORTUNITY AREA.
IT'S NOT ONSITE, IT'S NOT NEARBY, BUT IT'S PRETTY CLOSE.
SO THAT WAS, I THINK, KIND OF A, A DISTRACTION FROM THE IDEA OF DOING ONSITE AND THE WAY THAT WE GOT OUR FORMULAS SET UP.
IT, THEY WERE MEANT TO ENCOURAGE ONSITE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEY KIND OF GOT INTERPRETED AS, UM, A DETERRENT TO THE NUMBER OF UNITS THAT WE WOULD GET UNDER FEES AND LIEU OR ACTUAL UNITS NOT UNDER FEES AND LIEU, BUT UNDER ACTUAL UNITS BECAUSE THE PRICE PER UNIT IS TAKEN AS, AS HIGH.
THE IDEA WAS THAT THE DEVELOPER WOULD HAVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND BE ABLE TO
[01:05:01]
PRODUCE THE UNITS MORE CHEAPLY THAN THE THE HIGH IN LIEU FEE WAS SET AT.BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF NOT QUITE WORKING THAT WAY.
THERE ARE THAT THE STATESMAN TRACKED IS THE LARGEST PIECE OF LAND IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER TRACKS AND DEVELOPERS COME IN FOR WHAT THEY CALLING THE FIRESTONE PUD.
THERE'S A FIRESTONE TIRE SHOP THERE.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S NOW ON TRACK TO BE REDEVELOPED.
SO THAT'S, UM, KIND OF THE NEXT THING UP FOR THE COMMITTEE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER TO DO A TAX INCREMENT FINANCING ZONE, WHICH WOULD, UM, PROVIDE A REVENUE SOURCE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE'S CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHETHER THAT IS REPLACE SUPPLANTING CITY TAXES, THAT CITY TAXES WOULD BE DEVELOPED.
WOULD, UM, FROM THAT GENERATED FROM THAT AREA, WOULD A BACK THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT SHOULD BE FINANCED BY THE DEVELOPER, NOT BY THE CITY, AND THAT THE TAX REVENUES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE WHOLE CITY IMMEDIATELY AS OPPOSED TO BEING A AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO THAT DEVELOPING AREA.
I'M NOT EX I'M SURE I'M EXPLAINING IT CLEARLY, BUT THE COUNCIL DID PASS THAT.
SO THERE'LL BE MORE STEPS AND THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES IN THOSE STEPS TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDED.
THE, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER TOVO, WHEN SHE REPRESENTED THAT DISTRICT PUSHED TO GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO BE AN ELIGIBLE USE OF THE TERRORS DOLLARS.
BUT THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS ARE SO HIGH, WE MAY NOT GET TO, WE STILL MAY NOT GET TO USE THE MONEY FOR HOUSING.
WE MAY STILL HAVE TO FIND SOME OTHER VEHICLE TO GET HOUSING IN THAT AREA.
AND IT'S HARDER WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STATESMAN.
I, I THINK WE HAD DISCUSSED THAT THE NUMBER OF UNITS WAS 4% AND IT STAYED, IT, IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE STAND ON THAT COMMISSIONER ALIAS.
UM, ARE THERE, I GUESS LIKE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE STATE SPEND PUT THAT, I GUESS THAT THIS COMMISSION CAN, YOU KNOW, LOOK TOWARDS WHEN SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP, LIKE YOU SAID THE FIRESTONE PUT OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES? THAT, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT, UM, THE COST OF THE ONSITE UNITS AND WHETHER WE'RE GETTING WHAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING OUT OF THAT.
THE FIRESTONE PUTT, I BELIEVE HAS PROMISED TO ADHERE TO THE VA NEW RULES, WHICH ARE 10% AFFORDABLE AT 60%.
SO THAT'S A LOT MORE UNITS THAN 4%, AND IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE.
THE UNITS THAT ARE COMING ON THE STATESMAN POD, WERE PRICED AT BEING AFFORDABLE AT 80% MEETING FAMILY INCOME, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE EVERY EVERYTHING ELSE COMING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM IN SOUTH AUSTIN IS 60%.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER PUTTING ON THE AGENDA FOR A FUTURE MEETING.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE SOUTH CENTRAL WATERFRONT ADVISORY BOARD REPORT THAT COMES TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA?
[FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
SO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I THINK WE'VE HEARD ONE, AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT YOU COMMISSIONER ALIAS IN PUTTING THAT UP.I THINK WE'LL WANNA WORK WITH STAFF ON HOW WE STRUCTURE THE DISCUSSION.
UH, UH, AND ALSO, WHEN DO WE, DO WE PUT IT FOR THE NEXT AGENDA OR IS THAT ON STAFF TO LET US KNOW WHEN, WHEN IT'S BEST? WELL, WE CAN ASK STAFF.
DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON WHEN THE STAFF COULD HELP US REVIEW HOW WE COME UP WITH OUR ONSITE NUMBERS AND OUR, UH, IN LIEU FEES? I KNOW THAT THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF OUR, UH, UM, UH, DENSITY BONUSES AND FEES IN LIEU.
UM, IF I, I WOULD ASK THAT WE WOULD, UH, PUSH THAT TILL MARCH IF, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, JUST SO THAT STAFF HAS SOME TIME TO, TO GET A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED.
SO WE'LL LOOK AT THAT FOR MAY MARCH.
AN, AN INITIAL CONVERSATION, IF THAT'S OKAY.
[01:10:02]
AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA THAT, UH, FLOWS FROM THAT FLOWS FROM THE MOTION THAT WE PASSED LAST MONTH THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN OUR DRAFT MINUTES.I'M, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY HOW TO WORD IT, BUT SOMETHING LIKE, EVALUATE HOW OUR POLICY ON, UM, I'M, I'M TRYING TO WORD IT AND I'M NOT, UH, EVALUATE HOW OUR POLICY ON, UM, THE QUORUM OR OUR POLICY ON, UM, LIMITING SPEAKING TIME IS SERVING US SO THAT WE CAN KEEP IT IN FRONT, KEEP THE ISSUE IN FRONT OF US, AND TRY TO RESOLVE THIS.
I, I THINK IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE WHAT HAPPENED LAST MONTH, AND I WASN'T HERE IN PERSON, SO I DIDN'T SEE IT, BUT I, I BELIEVE THE ACCOUNTS THAT PROF, THE PROFESSOR WAS, UM, SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENED OR INTIMIDATED AND THAT SHOULDN'T, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T COME TO CITY HALL AND THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.
SO I'D LIKE TO PUT, PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA TO KEEP THAT IN OUR DISCUSSIONS SO THAT WE CAN FALL BACK ON IT.
I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE THE OPTION IF A COMMISSIONER IS OUT OF ORDER TO, AND TO STATE A POINT OF ORDER AND, AND ASK TO MAINTAIN DECORUM IN THE MEETING.
BUT I, I, I THINK I HAD TO FIGURE THAT OUT FROM READING AND READING AND READING THE ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER, AND IT'S JUST A LITTLE PARAGRAPH AND IT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL.
SO ANY SUGGESTIONS? UH, DOES ANYBODY ELSE WANNA PURSUE THAT OR, I, OKAY.
SO I DIDN'T, UH, LAY IS THE WORDING SUFFICIENTLY LAID OUT TO CAN STAFF WORK WITH THAT? OKAY, GREAT.
I'M, I'M SEEING AFFIRMATIVE HEAD NODS,
UH, ANY OTHER FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? I JUST WANNA ASK TO GO BACK TO, UM, MR. GARRETT? YES.
UM, TO THE PREVIOUS, UM, AGENDA ITEM, TEACHER, AGENDA ITEM ON, UM, IS, IS THIS YEAR THE TIME, AND THIS MIGHT BE A QUESTION FROM JAMIE MAY, THAT THEY WOULD BE REEVALUATING THE, UM, I GUESS SORT OF THE EQUIVALENT COSTS PER UNIT TOWARDS THE AFFORDABLE POLICY PROGRAMS SENSE.
I'M SORRY, THE LIKE, UM, SORT OF EQUIVALENT COSTS, LIKE IF YOU WERE TO FEE LOW OUT AND YOU WOULD PAY SORT OF THE EQUIVALENT, IT WOULD BE COST TO CONSTRUCT A UNIT.
UM, BUT THAT SHOULD BE REEVALUATED THAT, UM, COST PER UNIT ON AN EVERY THREE YEAR BASIS, I THINK.
BUT I WANTED TO KNOW IF THIS YEAR WAS THE YEAR THAT THEY BE, WERE REVIEWING, UM, HAVE A CONSULTANT THAT WOULD BE REVIEWING, UM, THOSE COSTS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS, IF THIS IS THE THREE YEAR DEADLINE FOR THAT OR IF, UH, OR IF WE'RE JUST TAKING IT IN THE INITIATIVE.
UM, I KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S IN MULTIPLE DIVISIONS.
SO OUR, MY STAFF MANAGES THE, UH, UM, IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT, OF THOSE PROGRAMS. UM, WHEREAS OUR PLANNING STAFF KIND OF WRITES THE ORDINANCE.
UM, SO THEY TELL US WHAT THE RULES ARE AND THEN WE ENFORCE THE RULES.
UM, SO THAT CONVERSATION IS GOING, HAS BEGUN, UH, UM, AND WILL CONTINUE TO KICK OFF, IF THAT'S A PHRASE.
UM, IT'S, UH, UH, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE ARE ABOUT, I THINK 19 OR 20 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, THE RECALIBRATION THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT, UH, THAT EVERY THREE YEAR RECALIBRATION.
I THINK THAT'S, UH, UM, SEPARATE FROM THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW AROUND, UH, WHETHER THE, UM, THE BASELINE IS CORRECT.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR DENSITY BONUS PROGRAMS. UM, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHEN THAT RECALIBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE THOUGH.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMISSIONER GARRETT? NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION IS ADJOURNED.