LAKEWOOD HOUSING AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, October 25, 2004
5:30 P.M.

Members Present: Robert Sandridge-Chair
Joan Smith - Vice Chair
Sandra Maben-Commissioner
Gari Westkott-Commissioner
Minoo Poorteymoor-Resident Commissioner

Staff Present: Tami Fischer - Executive Director
Sabrina Pierre-Louis - Deputy Executive Director
Bill Lunsford - Development Manager
Carl Musso - Housing Accountant
Garnette Hardesty - Administrative Assistant

CALL TO ORDER

The Chair, Robert Sandridge, called the regular meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with roll being called by the Administrative Assistant. The Chair stated a quorum was present.

CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS TO AGENDA

Sabrina Pierre Louis had one agenda item to add to the Housing Manager Report.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Gari Westkott, seconded by Joan Smith to approve the minutes of the September 27, 2004 regular meeting. The vote of the Commissioners was as follows:

Robert Sandridge :aye
Joan Smith :aye
Sandra Maben :aye
Minoo Poorteymoor :aye
Gari Westkott :aye

The motion carried.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Revenue and Expenditure Reports

Carl Musso reported that the financial audit preliminary work would begin November 15, 2004.

Carl referred the board to the financial narrative for some explanation of the revenue report. Carl reported the variance in the administrative fees for Section 8. This is a result of the changes HUD has done as far as what they are willing to pay Housing Authorities. HUD is no longer paying Housing Authorities one flat amount for every voucher that is leased every month which is $46.10. This is the same amount posted for the 2005 budget.

Carl also spoke to the board regarding the rents on Public Housing. The totals reflect a number just under what was budgeted. Some of the units are off-line due to rehabilitation of the units.

Request for resolution allowing the Housing Authority to approve the signing of Form HUD-52574 requesting HUD Operating Subsidy Funds

Carl Musso requested a resolution allowing the Housing Authority to approve the signing of form HUD-52574 requesting HUD operating subsidy funds for Public Housing for 2005. A motion was made by Sandra Maben, seconded by Minoo Poorteymoor to approve the resolution as requested. The vote of the Commissioners was as follows:

Robert Sandridge :aye
Joan Smith :aye
Sandra Maben :aye
Minoo Poorteymoor :aye
Gari Westkott :aye

The resolution carried.

Investment Report

Sandra Maben referred to a new line, "Weighted Average including Continuum A/R" was included in the Investment Report and could not have been calculated correctly. Carl Musso stated that this comparison was for internal purposes and not intended to be on the report.

HOUSING MANAGER REPORT

Request for Resolution to Amend the Annual Contributions Contract (ACC) DEN-2002

Sabrina Pierre-Louis requested a resolution to amend the ACC DEN 2002 to decrease the number of Public Housing Units by 50 units from Vance Terrace. A motion was made by Gari Westkott, seconded by Sandra Maben to approve the resolution as requested. The vote of the commissioners was as follows:

Robert Sandridge :aye
Joan Smith :aye
Sandra Maben :aye
Gari Westkott :aye
Minoo Poorteymoor :aye

The resolution carried.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

Upcoming Schedules for the LHA Board

Tami informed the board that there would be no meeting in November.

There will be a short meeting scheduled Thursday, December 16th at 5:30 p.m. to approve the budget. The December 27th regular meeting of the LHA will be cancelled.

The LHA Retreat has been rescheduled for Friday, January 21, 2005 immediately following a regular meeting of the LHA Board at 8:30 a.m. at the Cason Howell House, 1575 Kipling Street in Lakewood. This will replace the regularly scheduled meeting of Monday, January 24, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. (At 12:30 p.m., the LHA board will recess for lunch with staff at the Heritage Center, Orchard Room before reconvening for the afternoon session of the retreat.) (Side note: For Joan only - you are to be there at 8:00 a.m.)

Housing NOW! Conference Report

Tami attended the Housing NOW! Conference in Steamboat Springs. The Lakewood Housing Authority was nominated for an Eagle Award. Rodger Hara won the Individual Eagle Award and the People's Choice Award.

The Company Award was won by the Housing Assistance Corporation.

The Project Award was won by Coalition for the Homeless for the YMCA project downtown.

Tami provided Bill with information from Energy Outreach Colorado which gives grants for new construction to become more energy efficient. There may be interest for the grant money for the property at 17th and Pierce.

NAHRO UPDATES

Gari shared the political points of the NAHRO conference with the other board members and staff; Larry Sobato did an analysis on the election. The Community Redevelopment Act raises the threshold of banks that have to participate in the program. It may eliminate some of the smaller banks.

There was also an amendment to a senate bill that would not allow housing authorities to register people to vote. The amendment did not pass. Predictions say that the state of Ohio will be the determining state of how the presidential voting goes. The votes may end up being closer than originally anticipated.

Sandra Maben mentioned that Sobato stated that during the 1980 - 2000 elections the voter turnout was predictably 50 %. Sobato feels that this year the turn out will be between 55-60%, closer to 60%. Sobato also resized states by their electoral votes.

Gari and Sandy shared the information they received from attending the various workshops at the conference. Sandy would like to have a better understanding of payment standards and portability, absorbing incoming and outgoing vouchers according to portability and rent calculations.

Bill Lunsford attended the Family Self-Sufficiency portion of the conference and stated he has more of an appreciation of what Derek Kuykendall does. Bill learned that of ten families that are involved with Public Housing and Vouchers nine of them have no outside network to help them.

Various discussion took place between staff and board members regarding the topics of the conference.

The Habitat for Humanity Open House at Newland Square took place this past Sunday. A total of 11 families from the Lakewood Housing Authority received keys to their new homes at Newland.

Bill Lunsford attended many of the development tracts at the conference and he mentioned that they were very ill attended.

Gari Westkott announced that the Lakewood Housing Authority and its staff and the executive director are the ones that other housing authorities need to model.

Sandra Maben stated that many housing authorities do not implement term limits so many of their commissioners have been on their boards for 25 years or more which allows the housing authorities to become stagnant which does not allow diversification.

Sandra left some information on a study of the long-term effects of housing assistance on children.

The number of people in attendance at the NAHRO conference was way down from years past. Many felt this was due to budget costs across the board.

Tami asked the board what they wanted to accomplish during the LHA retreat. Tami will be sending the board an e-mail with some ideas.

· Education piece - rent calculations/Housing 101
· Goal setting
· Public Awareness / Media / Housing Authority

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER REPORT

Request for Resolution - Approval of a Land Acquisition for Colfax West

Bill Lunsford distributed an aerial view of the property just north of Colfax and just east of Youngfield to board and staff. The property has a unique view. The piece near Colfax is zoned for office and the rest of the property is zoned for single family and duplex.

The Housing Authority owns the properties at 1530, 1540 and 1550 which are duplexes. Access is a challenge because there is no access allowed off Colfax at this time. The City has talked with CDOT as part of the property was owned by CDOT and sold to the Lewis family. At the time the Lewis family purchased the property from CDOT, it was sold with the restriction that there wouldn't be an access off Colfax. The City's traffic department believes there may be a way to access off Colfax. This would allow a way to get into the property without going into the existing neighborhood off Youngfield.

If the Housing Authority has to seek access through the neighborhood, it may reduce the chances of getting the zoning changed.

Bill is asking the board to approve the purchase of approximately 2.5 acres of land near the intersection of West Colfax and Youngfield for a purchase price of $350,000. The planning, zoning and pre-development will be at least a two-year process and will involve significant expense.

There could be some complications with the neighborhoods should the housing authority want to put affordable housing into this development area.

The property will cost $350,000 to purchase. An additional cost of approximately $200,000 will need to be spent through the development process. It may be necessary to purchase the single- family property at 1510 Youngfield to access the property if it cannot be done off Colfax. Bill also mentioned the possibility of one more access through the Blue Star Memorial Park. Preliminary discussions have taken place with Community Resources and CDOT regarding the surrounding area of Blue Star Memorial Park.

Robert Sandridge, Chair, asked Bill what the estimated construction costs would be. At this time, Bill said they haven't gotten to that point. Bill said they are looking at 50-70 units. This would be a limited property and special.

Sandy asked if the project would be mixed income. This could mean some would be non-tax credit and some tax credit. Bill mentioned that the project would definitely be a tax-credit project, most likely at 9%. Construction costs would be approximately 10 million if the project were 70 units. The units would be larger than the units at Willow Glen. Value could be added once confirmation of access has been approved.

Sandra Maben made a motion to purchase the 2.5 acres of land near West Colfax and Youngfield for $350,000, seconded by Joan Smith. The vote of the commissioners was as follows:

Robert Sandridge :aye
Joan Smith :aye
Sandra Maben :aye
Gari Westkott :aye
Minoo Poorteymoor :aye

The resolution carried.

Staff and Board continued further general discussion. Joan Smith thought it would be a good idea to recruit some development partners.

Development Updates

Bill mentioned that he is still working with CHFA on Pierce Street and still hopeful of getting all the reservation done yet this year.

Kings Row is preceding and Bill will have Bob sign an extension of the loan so the tax-credit deal can be closed in about one month.

Cedar is giving the housing authority a difficult time as the rehab is going to cost more than originally thought due to roof problems. Funding has been lined up to help with the cost overage.

Adjournment

There was no other business of the Lakewood Housing Authority. The regular meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Lakewood was adjourned at 6:57 p.m.

Robert Sandridge - Chair, Lakewood Housing Authority
Sabrina Pierre-Louis, Deputy Executive Director

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