02-13-1996 I MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF
2 THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY
3 OF LAS CRUCES BOARD HELD ON
4 FEBRUARY 13, 1996
5
6 The Board Meeting of the Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces was held at 6:14
7
8 p.m. at 926 S. San Pedro, in the City of Las Cruces, State of New Mexico.
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10 1. Roll Call.
11
12 The meeting was called to order by Lorraine R. Gutierrez, Chairperson.
13
14 MEMBERS: Lorraine R. Gutierrez, Chairperson
15 Daniel V. De La 0, Commissioner
16 Trevas Y. Ryan, Commissioner
17 Alice E. Holmes, Commissioner
18
19 ABSENT: Mike Flores, Vice Chairperson
20 (excused)
21
22 OTHERS: David J. Roberts, Executive Director
23 Caroline Velarde, Executive Secretary
24 Mary Torres, Attorney
25 Robert Sanders, F. T. James Corp.
26 Ronald Campbell, McCormick & Assoc.
27 Mathew Nugent, McCormick & Assoc.
28 Tom Hassell, Modernization Manager
29 Sam Encinias, Planner/ Grant writer
30 Andrew Holguin, Housing Mgr./Dep. Dir.
31 Delbert Ortiz, Maintenance Manager
32 Cruzita Herrera, Bookkeeper/EEO
33 Jeff Collins, Maintenance Laborer
34 Adrian Lucero, Maintenance Laborer
35
36 2. Discussion regarding limited personnel matters.
37 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to go into closed session at 6:30 p.m. So
38 moved by Commissioner De La 0. Seconded by Commissioner Ryan. Chairperson
39 Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
40 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
41 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
42 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
43 Motion carried.
44 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to reconvene into open session at 7:02
45 p.m. So moved by Commissioner De La 0. Seconded by Commissioner Ryan.
46 Chairperson Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
47 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
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48 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
49 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
50 Motion carried.
51 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to go into closed session again at 7:55
52 p.m. So moved by Commissioner De La 0. Seconded by Commissioner Ryan.
53 Chairperson Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
54 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
55 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
56 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
57 Motion carried.
58 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to reconvene into open session at 8:45
59 p.m. So moved by Commissioner Holmes. Seconded by Commissioner Ryan.
60 Chairperson Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
61 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
62 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
63 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
64 Motion carried.
65 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to approve the managerial requests of both
66 Misters Holguin and Ortiz and that they proceed with the filling of the vacancies as
67 presented to the Board and report at the next meeting on how they arrived at their
68 decisions. So moved by Commissioner De La 0. Seconded by Commissioner Holmes.
69 Chairperson Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
70 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
71 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
72 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
73 Motion carried.
74 * 3. Approval of the Minutes of a Regular Board Meeting for January 9, 1996.
75 * 4. Approval of the Minutes of a Special Board Meeting for January 22, 1996.
76 * 5. Approval of Payments for January 1996.
* consent agenda 4
77 * 6. Financial Reports for the period ending December 31, 1995.
78 * 7. Vacancy, Eviction, Personnel and Maintenance report for the period ending
79 January 31, 1996.
80
81 *8. Resolution No. 539 - A Resolution to Revise the Procurement Policy for the
82 Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces.
83
84 * 9. Resolution No. 540 - A Resolution to Authorize an Expenditure from the
85 Section 8 Retroactive HAP (Section 8 New Construction) for the Purpose of
86 Upgrading the HACLC computer system.
87
88 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion to approve the above consent agenda. So
89 moved by Commissioner De La 0. Seconded by Commissioner Holmes. Chairperson
90 Gutierrez took a vote for approval:
91 Commissioner De La 0 voted in favor.
92 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
93 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
94 Motion carried.
95 10. Presentation by the F.T. James Corporation for the Development of a Tax
96 Credit Project.
97
98 In a previous meeting, Mr. Roberts had discussed the development of a tax credit
99 project in partnership with a contractor. Mr. Roberts explained that the tax credit for
100 Low Income Housing is a program to provide tax credits for owners and investors in low
101 income rental housing. The tax credit is a fixed percentage of certain costs of
102 development or property acquisition. An annual tax credit is provided for a project each
103 year for 10 years. Low income housing benefits from the tax credit primarily when the
104 developers of a project sell the tax credits to investors who contribute equity to the
105 development in exchange for an ownership position which allows them to use the tax
106 credits and other economic benefits arising out of the project. The equity contributions
107 that are generated by the tax credits reduce the amount of other financing that is
108 needed to develop the project, thereby reducing the amount of income that the project
109 must pay in order to satisfy its debt service. This reduction in debt service reduces the
110 amount of rent that must be charged. Mr. Roberts stated that he has reviewed the
111 proposal which he received from Mr. Robert Sanders of F.T. James Corporation. Mr.
112 Roberts went on to say that in his review he discovered the following:
* consent agenda 5
113 a. This proposal would require the HACLC to create a non-profit corporation
114 to enter into a partnership with the recipients of the tax credits. The
115 Housing Authority would be the General and Managing Partner in the
116 Limited Partnership formed solely for the purpose of developing the
117 project.
118
119 b. The Housing Authority would act as the project developer, and would be
120 entitled to the developer's fee. ( Mr. Roberts has found that in most cases,
121 the contractor becomes the developer and benefits from this developer's fee
122 and not the non-profit.)
123
124 c. The non-profit that is formed by the partnership would be required to
125 control the land that would be used for the development.
126
127 d. The limited partnership would derive its return solely through the use of the
128 tax credits.
129
130 Mr. Roberts asked the Board to give the proposal some consideration. Mr. Roberts
131 further stated that Mr. Sanders was prepared to discuss the project with the
132 commissioners. Mr. Sanders went into a detailed discussion of the development of a
133 tax credit and explained the procedures for setting up such a project. Mr. Sanders
134 along with Misters Campbell and Nugent showed the Board a set of drawings of what
135 the units may look like. The subject was discussed at great length as questions and
136 concerns were answered and addressed. There was no decisions made as to whether
137 or not the Board would allow the HACLC to proceed further with the tax credit project.
138 11. Public Participation.
139 There was no public participation.
140 12. Executive Director's Report.
141 a. Letterhead
142 Mr. Roberts informed the commissioners that the HACLC is experiencing some
143 technical difficulties in adapting the new letterhead into the computers and will continue
144 to keep them informed on the progress.
145 b. Mesilla Valley Business Journal
146 Mr. Roberts stated that a short article about the Housing Authority Youth Trainee
147 Assistants has been published in the Mesilla Valley Business Journal. Copies of the
148 journal were included in the board packets for the commissioners' information. Mr.
149 Roberts explained that this particular grant funded program is geared to helping the
150 HACLC youth find employment training in the community while exposing local
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151 businesses to the talents of the youth.
152 c. Dropout Rate
153 Mr. Roberts advised the Board that the HACLC has calculated the dropout rate for the
154 youth who live in HACLC owned housing. The drop out rate for the 1994-1995 school
155 year has been calculated at 8.8% which is lower than the Las Cruces Public School
156 District rate of 9.6%. The HACLC also calculated the dropout rate for the first
157 semester of this year. It has been reduced to 8.1%. The Community Activities staff has
158 also been involved in the following activities:
159 0 Girl Scout Hike - 1/3
160 0 Youth participated in KNIGHTS of COLUMBUS basketball contest -1/20
161 0 Cookie baking at Valley - 1/8
162 0 Field trip to learn about race cars
163 0 Girl Scout service unit meeting - 1/11
164 0 Girl Scout cookie training - 1/11
165 0 Attended high school basketball games - 1/12
166 0 Desert run/walk - 1/13
167 0 Skating at Tommy's Roller rink - 1/10, 1/24 and 1/31
168 0 Opened Community Center at 791 Taylor
169 0 ASSIST Conference in Albuquerque - 1/23
170 0 Field trip to Farmer's Market and antique shop - 1/27
171 0 Setup and attended interviews w/youth training program
172 9 Participated in winter break activities at Meerscheidt Recreation Center
173 0 NMSU Extension on Food and Nutrition Program - 1/13 and 1/25
174 0 AGGIE Basketball games - 1/13
175 0 Movie showings at 3-2 on 1/27 and 1/31
176 0 Field trip to Natural History museum - 1/4
177 0 Weekly truancy home visits
178 0 Girl Scouts at all three (3) community centers
179 0 Movie tickets donated by ALLEN THEATERS
180 0 Weekly computer updates on activities and move-in/outs
181 0 Weekly staff meetings Tuesdays at 1:30
182 0 Furnished 791Taylor community center and purchased supplies
183 0 Supervision and paper work on work study students
184 0 Movie showings at Valley community center on 1/19 and 1/26
185 0 CHAPTER ONE at 1-A Mon- Thurs.
186 0 ASSIST meeting on cigarette control 1/10
187 0 Truancy report check on youths
188 0 Tutoring at all three community centers M-F
189 0 Meetings on smoking issues for the youth 1/3
190
191 d. Office Remodel
192 Mr. Roberts stated that the HACLC received only one (1) bid for the remodeling of the
193 administrative office to meet ADA standards. Mr. Roberts explained that the bid was a
194 valid one, however, being the only one received, the agency felt that it was not
195 competitive. Mr. Roberts continued to say that the HACLC will be rebidding the ADA
196 work in order to attract more bidders, and hopefully to reduce the cost of the work.
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197 Currently, the HACLC should have approximately $58,378 available for the
198 rehabilitation work made up of the following funds:
199 0 1993 CGP Funds $5,185.64
200 0 1994 CGP Funds $40,596 (approx., currently the agency is contracting two jobs:
201 the door replacement at project NM3-1 B and the window replacement project at
202 3-2. If both of these projects finish without change orders this money will be
203 available for a budget revision.)
204 1995 CGP Funds $12,596.37
205
206 Total of funds available from the Comprehensive Grant Program for the remodeling are
207 $58,378.01. Mr. Roberts further explained that since the bids will probably come in
208 somewhere approximately around $75,000, the HACLC will need to supplement these
209 funds with another source. In this case, the HACLC is going to ask that this shortfall be
210 supplemented with Section 8 Retroactive HAP money in the amount of $16,621.90
211 (approximately depending on the bids), leaving a balance in the retroactive HAP
212 account of$57,947.01. Mr. Roberts referred to Resolution #540 ($74568.91 minus
213 $16,621.90 = $57,947.01). Mr. Roberts stated that the HACLC will be seeking the
214 Board's approval once the bids are received and closed.
215 e. Housing Authority Family Self Sufficiency Program (pg. 74)
216 The Housing Authority Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program has received a letter of
217 commendation from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A copy of the
218 letter was included in the board packet.
219 13. Recommendations and Comments by Board Members.
220 Commissioner Ryan announced that she is the new Director for the Teen Court
221 Program. The commissioner stated that it is an excellent program. The commissioner
222 noted that many of the defendants reside in housing neighborhoods. Commissioner
223 Ryan commented that she would like to get in contact with the HACLC's Truancy
224 Officer as well as getting in touch with the "Safe Schools Program." The commissioner
225 further stated that she will be sharing information with the staff on a lot of resources
226 that she has come across.
227 Commissioner Ryan explained that Teen Court is handled by the teens themselves
228 (i.e., defense attorneys and prosecutors). Every one dealing with Teen Court is a
229 teenager and no one interferes with the proceedings. The purpose of the program is to
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230 get the young people to develop the ability to ask probing questions, cross examine, to
231 look at issues. It is interesting to see how they learn how to solve problems. The
232 hearings are held every other Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the new
233 District Court building.
234 14. Other Business.
235 a. Resolution No. 541 - A Resolution to Revise the Personnel Policies and
236 Procedures Manual for the Housing Authority of the City of Las Cruces.
237
238 Mr. Roberts stated that he prepared the resolution as requested and faxed it to Ms.
239 Torres earlier in the day. Ms. Torres made a few changes and sent it back to Mr.
240 Roberts. The Board decided to table the issue until the next month's regular meeting
241 before taking any action.
242 15. Adjournment.
243 Chairperson Gutierrez entertained a motion for adjournment. So moved by
244 Commissioner De La O. Seconded by Commissioner Ryan. Chairperson Gutierrez
245 took a vote for approval:
246 Commissioner De La O voted in favor.
247 Commissioner Ryan voted in favor.
248 Commissioner Holmes voted in favor.
249 Motion carried.
250 Adjournment 8:50 p.m.
251 SEAL APPROVED BY,
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252
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254 =y V ?1C.r I Il f/C�o� �,'�
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255 �••,,�! ^ �.••�' L rraine R. Gutierrez, Chairperson
256 "'•• " "
257
258
259
260 SUBMITTED BY,
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262
263
264
265 Andrew T. Holguin, Interi Executive Director
266
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