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DRAFT MINUTES
SUNNYVALE Housing & Human Services Commission
september 20, 2006
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The Housing & Human Services Commission met in a regular session in the West Conference Room at 456 W. Olive Ave., Sunnyvale City Hall, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 on September 20, 2006 at 7:05 p.m. with Chairperson James Callan presiding.
ROLL CALL
Commission Members Present: Chair James Callan, Commissioners Ann Andersen; Micki Falk; Charles Keeler; Patrick Meyering; Timothy Persyn
Commission Members Unexcused Absent: None
Commission Excused Absent: None
Staff: Ernie DeFrenchi, Affordable Housing Manager; Katrina Ardina, Housing Programs Analyst and Victoria Chambers, Senior Office Assistant
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
CONSENT CALENDAR
- Approval of the August 23, 2006 Minutes
Commissioner Meyering stated that his comment on page three was misinterpreted and felt that the following language "Commissioner Meyering inquired about a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Release Funds required by HUD that was published by the City" should be replaced with "Commissioner Meyering asked staff to forward copies of all legal notices regarding Housing issues to the Commission."
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Commissioner Keeler made a motion to approve the Draft Minutes of August 23, 2006 as amended. Commissioner Andersen seconded. |
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Motion carried 6 – 0 with Commissioner Kali absent. |
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
None.
PUBLIC HEARINGS/GENERAL BUSINESS
A. Consideration of Revisions to Council Policy Governing Boards and Commissions – Presentation by Robert Walker, Assistant City Manager
Assistant City Manager Robert Walker made a presentation on the draft Report to Council: Consideration of Revisions to Council Policy Governing Boards and Commissions.
The Charter language formerly stated “Any person appointed to a Board or Commission shall be immediately eligible to serve on a different board or commission.”
A technical error had been made in the policy: the language was incorrect in one section. The Council Policy was contradictory to the Charter by stating “No member of any board, commission or committee, chartered or otherwise, may serve on more than one body at the same time. Should a member be appointed to another commission role, a letter of resignation must be submitted at the time the new role is assumed.”
The necessary change to the Charter was made by the Office of the City Attorney and was submitted to the State. The Charter is currently amended, but an additional issue was raised as a result of the original finding.
Council asked staff to investigate the possibility of requiring board and commission members to fulfill their terms before moving to another board or commission. The further staff reviewed the language in the Charter, the more apparent it became that language must be clarified. Staff broached the issue to the City Attorney and it was revealed that the language was wrong; a clerical error had been made. The language that went to the voters stated that no member of any board or commission shall be eligible to serve for appointment to any other board or commission until expiration of that member’s term.
Staff clarified the Charter language with the Ad Hoc / Charter Review Committee. The Charter language was amended to currently read that no member of any board or commission shall be eligible to serve for appointment to any other board or commission for two years after the expiration of the full term.
Commissioner Kali arrived at 7:16 PM.
The second issue that Council asked staff to investigate is the merging of two boards and commissions. The Board of Building Code of Appeals has only met three times in the last fourteen years. Council asked staff to explore the possibility of merging that board with another existing board or commission. Staff felt that there were two possible commissions: the Housing and Human Services Commission and the Arts Commission. After further review, staff is recommending not merging any two of the commissions. The law does not require that the City have a Board of Building Code of Appeals. However, it requires that there be an independent body to serve this function if needed.
The Commission had various questions for Mr. Walker regarding the Charter and Council Policy language.
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Commissioner Meyering made a motion to defer the discussion of a commission member’s eligibility to leave a board or commission to be assigned to another board or commission. Rather, this could be added to a general list of study issues by staff at the end of the year to allow the Commission opportunity for a comprehensive review of the subject. The motion was not seconded. |
No additional motions were made.
Mr. Walker asked the Commission to provide feedback as to why no motion was made, to explain this to Council. Commissioner Keeler stated that this is confusion in the Commission’s minds as to why there is a bar on not being able to join another Commission until the term is expired, even if one resigns.
Commissioner Persyn asked for clarification on what exactly the Commission is being asked to do. Mr. Walker stated that the Commission should give feedback to the Council on whether the Charter should go back to the Charter Review Committee for revision, or should it remain as it is. Also, what would the Commission like to suggest to the Council on whether the Board of Building Code of Appeals should be combined with another board or commission or not.
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Commissioner Keeler made a motion that the Commission recommend to Council that the Board Building Code of Appeals and the Housing and Human Services Commission not be combined. Commissioner Andersen seconded the motion. |
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Motion carried 6-0, with Commissioner Meyering abstaining. |
Commissioner Kali expressed that the Ad Hoc Committee is essential in reviewing the issues such as those brought up by Commissioners Keeler and Meyering regarding the language they felt was vague in the Charter and Council Policy.
Mr. Walker left the meeting at 7:50 PM.
B. Review and Approval for Submittal to HUD of the FY2005-06 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)
Katrina Ardina introduced herself and gave a brief presentation on the CAPER.
The City, as a grantee, is required to report on accomplishments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The CAPER is organized in sections, and summarizes the City’s assessments, notes key highlights, provides an update to the Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice document and shows the accomplishments made by the Community Development Department.
The information is provided in narrative form and chart form for clear understanding. Information is provided on expenditures made in FY0506 with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds. The report is due to HUD on September 29, 2006; any input, comments or questions to be incorporated should be directed to Ms. Ardina prior to that date.
The Commission had various questions, to which Ms. Ardina responded. Mr. DeFrenchi asked that if the Commission thought of further questions or additional comments after the meeting that those questions be sent to either Ms. Ardina or Ms. Chambers by the following week.
Ms. Ardina left the meeting at 8:12 PM.
C. Discussion for Development of Study Issue Papers
1. Peterson Middle School Site
The Commissioners were provided with a copy of RTC 06-169: Preliminary Findings to Explore Neighborhood Options for Purchasing Property at Peterson Middle School Site – Study Issue. Mr. DeFrenchi stated that he would be happy to answer any questions that the Commission have on the Peterson Middle School Site project. Discussion ensued regarding the ownership of the property, who is responsible for maintenance of the property and what the current uses of the property are. Commissioner Keeler asked if the City owns 9 acres of the 48-acre property. Mr. DeFrenchi stated that staff would look into the matter and let the Commission know.
2. Consensus on Support of Study Issue Ideas
Mr. DeFrenchi clarified the timelines of the FY06/07 study issues. Any new study issues identified by the Commission are to be drafted by staff and submitted to the Office of the City Clerk by Friday, September 22.
Commissioner Keeler felt that the issue of suicide may be a problem for the population of Sunnyvale and would like a study to be conducted to research whether or not Sunnyvale does have a problem with people suffering from depression, who could be helped, if it was apparent that the problem existed. Commissioner Keeler had difficulty finding statistics on suicide in Sunnyvale, and felt it should be determined whether it is a growing problem or a non-existent problem.
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Commissioner Keeler made a motion for the problem of suicide in Sunnyvale to be examined, and whether or not anything can be done to help these people because of economic and stressful conditions. |
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Commissioner Keeler amended his motion for the City to examine the question of suicide with an aim to preventing suicide for the citizens of Sunnyvale. Commissioner Persyn suggested expanding the motion to request a study be conducted on whether or not mental health issues, including suicide, are being addressed in Sunnyvale. |
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Commissioner Keeler made a motion to have the City examine whether or not mental health issues are being adequately addressed including areas such as suicide. Commissioner Kali seconded the motion. |
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Motion carried unanimously, 7-0. |
Commissioner Persyn would like Study Issue CDD-40 to be revised to be more comprehensive. He felt that the study could include more tools to develop affordable housing, as opposed to just marketing tools.
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Commissioner Persyn made a motion to revise CDD-40 to focus specifically on developing tools to increase opportunities for non-profit housing developers in Sunnvyale to include land use, finance, marketing, public/private partnerships and if CDD-40 cannot be revised and a new study issue need to be made, then a new study be made on the same topic. Commissioner Keeler seconded the motion. |
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Motion carried unanimously, 7-0. |
After voting, Commissioner Kali asked to be excused and left the meeting at 8:45 PM.
Chair Callan asked if the Commission had further study issues ideas. There were no further comments from the Commission.
Mr. DeFrenchi gave a reminder that next month the Commission would have the opportunity to review and rank all study issues to go to the Council.
NON-AGENDA ITEMS AND COMMENTS
Chair Callan asked if the Commission would like to visit any non-profit agencies in the area to look more in-depth at issues of priority to the Commission. He asked if anyone would like to pursue this option. The Commission had no comments.
Chair Callan also stated that when a proposal made by the Commission is brought to Council, a Commission member should attend the Council meeting to give a report back to the Commission.
· Staff Comments
Mr. DeFrenchi stated that three Below Market Rate (BMR) First-Time Homebuyer workshops are being held (hosted by Project Sentinel) in the next two weeks, and that if any Commission member is interested in attending to contact staff for further information.
INFORMATION ONLY ITEMS
None
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Callan adjourned the meeting at 8:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ernie DeFrenchi
Affordable Housing Manager