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Home My WebLink About2024/10/09 - ADMIN - Minutes - Human Rights Commission - RegularMEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBER ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: RESIDENT PRESENT: MINUTES St.Louis Park Housing Authority St Louis Park,MN Wednesday,October 9,2024,5 p.m. Commissioner Reynold Burrowes,Commissioner Catherine Courtney, Commissioner Thom Miller,Commissioner Richard Webb Commissioner Paul Beck Marney Olson,Nicole Randall,Angela Nelson Barb Patterson,4300 block of Wooddale Ave 1.Call to Order -The meeting was called to order at 5:01 p.m. 2.Approval of Minutes -Minutes for the August,2024 board meeting were reviewed.A motion to approve was made by Commissioner Courtney and seconded by Commissioner Burrowes.Motion passed 4-0. 3.Hearings: a.Housing Authority (HA)Five-Year Agency Plan and Annual Plan,Resolution No.761 Public hearing opened:5:11 p.m.Closed:5:16 p.m. Ms.Olson reviewed the updates of the Five-Year Agency Plan (2025-2029)and Annual Plan for public housing.The 2025 Annual Plan is a new requirement because the HA exceeds the threshold of 550 combined vouchers and public housing units.The only change is adopting HOTMA provisions from HUD which impacts rent determination. Sixteen residents attended the resident advisory committee meeting and no comments were made about the Agency Plan after goals were presented. Ms.Patterson is with the St.Louis Park community housing team eviction prevention. She is looking to: •increase the funding available to those facing eviction •Increasing communication with tenants about their rights;similar to the SPARC communication with landlords •Increasing the funding to Kids in the Park program •Receive funding for copying and mailing costs.The community Housing team is a voluntary organization. There was no further public comments. Motion to approve was made by Commissioner Courtney and seconded by Commissioner Webb.Motion passed 4-0. b.Housing Authority 2023-2027 Capital Fund Five Year Action Plan,Resolution No.762 Public hearing opened:5:21 p.m.Closed:5:22 p.m. Ms.Olson updated the board on the revised Capital Fund Five Year Action Plan.The rolling plan of projects is basically the same as the previous year's plan.Funds were added for a capital needs assessment to plan for the switch to a fixed action plan in the future. Commissioner Burrowes asked about the snow tractor expenditure at Hamilton House. Ms.Olson explained that we currently have an aging snow tractor.Purchase of one is included in the Plan so funding is available in the future to replace it. Motion to approve was made by Commissioner Courtney and seconded by Commissioner Webb.Motion passed 4-0. 4.Presentation -None. 5.Unfinished Business -None 6.New Business a.Amendments to the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Plan (ACOP),Resolution No. 763 Ms.Olson reviewed the ACOP and agenda item 6.b,the Administrative Plan. Extensive changes are due to HUD requirements.For both the ACOP and Administrative Plan,the main changes are related to Housing Opportunities through Modernization Act (HOTMA)and are required by HUD.The compliance date for implementation will be moved back by HUD.The changes identified include the HOTMA changes that will not be implemented until HUD provides a date.The Housing Authority is still required to adopt the plans by January 1,2025. HA will continue to communicate with tenants as to income calculation changes.Non- ACOP related changes almost exclusively reflect the switch to a new software system. Commissioner Burrowes asked if tenants that have a rep payee (third party payee)have we had any issues?Ms.Olson said we have not heard of any issues from tenants or their rep payee. Motion to approve Resolutions 763 and 764 was made by Commissioner Burrowes and seconded by Commissioner Courtney.Motion passed 4-0. b.Amendments to the Administrative Plan for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, Resolution No.764 See discussion and approval in agenda item 6.a. c.Approval of Housing Choice Voucher Payment Standards,Resolution No.765 Ms.Randall reviewed the 2025 payment standard changes for the 0,1,2,3 and 5 bedroom units effective January 1,2025.The increase in FRM this year is 2-4%.HUD requires payment standards be set between 90-110%of the FMR.There is no increase to the 4 bedroom payment standard. Motion to approve was made by Commissioner Courtney and seconded by Commissioner Webb.Motion passed 4-0. d.Statutory commission discussion with council City council is holding a study session on October 28 at 6 p.m.with the statutory commissions.At least one representative from each statutory commission has been requested,preferably the chair,if available.All commissioners are invited to attend. Commissioner Miller confirmed that he will attend. Ms.Olson stated the two discussion points with council are: 1.What has each commission been working on in 2024?What has been completed and what is yet to come? 2.How can city council support boards and commissions in the future? Ms.Olson looked at past agendas for 2024 to create the list of accomplishments for 2024.For the rest of the year,the HA will meet in November for flat rent,utility allowances and a primer on new state rental assistance program,called "Bring it Home". In December the HA will meet for a deeper discussion regarding the design of the Bring it Home program.It is different from the voucher program in that it is a state funded program and only portable within St.Louis Park.It is estimated that St.Louis Park will receive 40-60 vouchers based on the number of residents and the ratio of the number of residents to number of vouchers. Ms.Randall explained that the State of MN permits the following options to design this new program: 1.Adopt your HCV program 2.Adopt the HCV program with some modifications 3.Create a whole new program (we could mirror Kids in the Park Program} Responding to the commissioners'question about the format of the meeting and how it went for the advisory commissions,Ms.Olson stated that it is a round table discussion; not PowerPoint.She understood that at the advisory commissions responded to how council can support the boards saying:(1)more interaction with council and (2)more guidance (because they do not have the statutory requirements that this board has). Responding to Commission Burrowes,Ms.Olson said the meeting will not be live- streamed.Study sessions are no longer live streamed. In response to how council can support,Commissioner Courtney stated that she does not feel the need for additional guidance because the HA has state statute that guides it, and council provides guidance on specific programs.She would prefer more interaction from council not necessarily with the council.She would like council members to come to HA meetings so they have a better understanding of the HA's statutory authority and limitations that are unique compared to other boards. Commission Courtney asked how the round table discussion of the statutory boards will run.Ms.Olson said it will be facilitated by the Community Engagement and Administration group.It will be the two questions,but she is not sure the order. Commissioner Miller stated he will qualify any answers that will be his point of view and not the HA.In general,he believes council does not take advantage of the commissions. He would like to see council ask the HA to discuss housing topics and make a recommendation or suggestion like the planning commission.For example,he pointed out that agenda items do not go to city council until the item has been through the planning commission. Ms.Olson noted that the HA is doing the oversight of the programs due to statute.The advisory commissions do not have such guidelines.Commissioner Miller provided the example of the 30-day tenant eviction notice.He thought it would be helpful if council had asked the HA for guidance/recommendation. Commission Courtney stated that the HA is a statutory entity -its own separate governmental entity with a list of powers in state statute.The HA is not,under state statute,an advisory board to a different governmental entity (like the city).She would want to be careful about making recommendations because it must fall under the HA's powers under state statute.The council needs to understand HA's statutory role. Commissioner Miller noted the Environmental &Sustainability Commission put together a set of recommendations to council that were adopted.He stated that what he envisions is more on the advisory commission side and maybe there could be a separate housing advisory commission. Commissioners prefer more information regarding the format before the meeting. 7.Communications 8.Other 9.Adjournment Commissioner Webb moved to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Burrowes seconded; the motion passed 4-0.The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m. Respectfully submitted,