The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1993-03-24 HAC MIN . . . MINUTES HOUSING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Wednesday March 24, 1993 3:30 p.m. Conference Room 2 Public Services Building 276 Fourth Avenue, C.V. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chairman Joe Casillas, Allen King, J.R. de Jesus Chantengco, Cecilia Delgadillo ABSENT: Dan Dennison (excused), Margaret Helton (excused) STAFF: Community Development Specialist Harris, Housing Coordinator Arroyo GUESTS: Merritt Hodson EX-OFFICIO: Diana Flint (absent) Mitch Thompson (absent) 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MSUC (King/Chantengco)(4-0-0) to approve minutes of February 24, 1993 with two amendments. 2. CHULA VISTA HOUSING AUTHORITY FORMATION Mr. Arroyo announced that the Council approved the formation of a Housing Authority on March 2, 1993, and that staff will be providing the Council with monthly reports on the progress we have made. It will be at least 2 months before the Authority holds its first meeting. Bylaws, a mission statement and goals need to be drafted and officers will be elected. Staff is working on an actual ordinance to establish the Housing Commission with 7 members (2 of whom need to be tenants from the Section 8 program). Staffis negotiating with the County to release some certificates which are coming due; this will enable tenant representation on the Housing Commission. Mr. Arroyo invited HAC members to participate in the negotiations. The Section 8 administrative fees are an issue. Mr. Casillas asked about the City's negotiating position. Mr. Arroyo reported that the County currently administers about 1100 certificates and vouchers. Once the City Housing Authority is in operation, the City will be applying for housing certificates. Until the City has 200 certificates, the City will need to contract with the County (or National City) to administer them. Ms. Delgadillo asked how Authorities compete for certificates. Mr Arroyo replied that each Authority makes a case for their share of certificates based on the City's needs and demand for the rental assistance program. Mr. King pointed out that in changing the HAC status into . Commission status that 2 existing members will need to be eliminated. Mr. Arroyo stated that a full discussion of the draft ordinance will be held at the next HAC meeting and that will include the membership issue. Mr. Casillas suggested that a letter be sent to the City Council that the City pursue 200 certificates now and insist that the County give them to use. He has already talked to two council members about this. Ms. Delgadillo added that it is better to start negotiating with 200 even if we end up with less. Mr. Arroyo stated that he was comfortable with that position. Mr. Casillas emphasized that we need the Housing Authority to integrate the philosophy of the housing element (i.e. balanced communities), especially as it affects development in the eastern communities. Mr. Chantengco mentioned that CCDC has been successful in addressing housing needs in downtown San Diego; the City needs to be in a good position to take advantage of housing opportunities. This will be easier to do with a Housing Authority in place. He urged staff to go after the 200 certificates now and bring aboard new staff incrementally. Mr. Arroyo replied that this is one of the objectives which can be brought before the Housing Authority. He is meeting next Tuesday to lay the groundwork with the County; he will try to get access to the waiting list for Chula Vista, find out more about how their system works, and discuss the portability issue (in which the city at the point of origin keeps 20% of the fee and the new jurisdiction gets 80% of the fee). . Mr. King asked if staff has contacted anyone in San Diego to get copies of their Housing Authority goals and objectives. Mr. Arroyo replied that we have copies from many cities. Mr. Casillas asked why should staff wait for the first meeting of the Housing Authority to go after the 200 certificates. Ms. Delgadillo agreed with this, especially if negotiations are starting now. Mr. Arroyo said he with bring the issue up right away in negotiations with the County. The members asked if staff will draft a letter to this effect and have the members sign it. MSC (Chantengco, Delgadillo) (4-0) to send a letter to the City Council requesting that the City negotiate for 200 certificates from the County now so that the City can start-up the Housing Authority; and, to include this letter in the monthly status report to the Council. 2. VETERANS HOME PROPOSAL . Mr. Arroyo explained the background of the proposal for a Veteran's Home on the Agency owned property in the Lower Sweetwater Valley. The Governor's Commission on site selection issued a new RFP last year and received 40 reponses. The City proposed the site then but did not include the land as a donation (which the Committee was looking for). Barstow was elected last year but Chula Vista is being considered this year. The City introduced a conceptual proposal last month which includes donation of the 14 acres owned by the Agency and 6 acres owned by IPG. The initial response was positive and the Committee will meet tomorrow in Imperial Beach and then visit the site. The Veteran's Home is expected to be good for the local economy, creating about 200 jobs. This site has a controversial history and it is not known how the neighborhood will react. The conceptual plan has includes recreation and open space, which has been identified as a preference by the community. . . . Last night, the City Council approved, on a unanimous vote, the conceptual proposal for donation of the land, however, they stated they would like to see some ball fields and other facilities open to community use. Some of the issues on the site include access, noise mitigation, and the special planning study (to determine zoning). A General Plan Amendment will probably be required. Mr. Casillas said the one issue with the Mobilehome Relocation Park proposal was noise from the freeways; freeway walls were proposed as a mitigation. In addition, access from 1st Avenue is currently limited to emergency vehicles. Mr. Arroyo stated that the Governor's Committee will make a recommendation by May to the Governor and he will make a decision by June. IPG is willing to donate 6-8 acres in exchange for zoning concession. Ms. Delgadillo asked who is representing the City in the proposal. Mr Arroyo answered that Mayor Nader and Ron McElliot are. Mr. Casillas opined that the recreation issue is a red herring, that the residents really don't want any development. MSC (King/Chantengco) (4-0) to support the donation of Agency-owned land for the Veterans Home project in the Lower Sweetwater Valley. 3. PROJECT UPDATES Mr. Harris reported that South Bay Community Services reduced their request for acquisition of the short-term housing facility by $60,000 and is no longer seeking operating funds from the City. The City Council approved conceptual funding in the amount of $618,000 and SBCS will be applying for a Conditional Use Permit soon. Mr. Harris also reported that the City has issued an RFP for a non-profit housing corporation interested in acquiring and operating the Bayscene Mobilehome Park. These RFPs are due by April 2nd. In order for the HAC to review the proposals and provide input, staff suggested moving up the next HAC meeting one week to April 21st. MSC (Chantengco/Delgadillo) (4-0) to hold a special meeting of the HAC on April 21st 1993 at #:30 P.M. and cancel the regular meeting on April 28, 1993. Mr. Harris announced that the first phase of the Sanibelle project is completed and invited HAC members to a special reception next week. He also announced that construction in complete on the Park Village Apts. and tenant selection is underway. 5. STAFF COMMENTS - None 6. MEMBERS COMMENTS - None 7. ADJOURNMENT - at 5:00 p.m. to the special meeting scheduled for April 21, 1993 at 3:30 in the Public Services Building. , f/;: ~. / /A.', ;Ai/f/ '!-/tfl1{/j/ David Harris, Recorder