SUBJECT
Title
APPROVE REAPPOINTMENT OF FRANCISCO PENALOSA AND APPROVE APPOINTMENT OF WILMA BONDS AS HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TENANT COMMISSIONERS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (Housing Authority) Board of Commissioners consists of the five members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and two tenant commissioners. The tenant commissioners, as voting members of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, provide a formal mechanism for participant involvement in the interpretation and enforcement of policies and procedures of housing programs administered by the Housing Authority. The term of the current tenant commissioners of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners expires on May 31, 2021.
Today’s action requests that the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approve the reappointment of one tenant commissioner and the appointment of a second tenant commissioner to serve two-year terms commencing on June 1, 2021. This action is in accordance with the California Health and Safety Code Section 34290 (b). Today’s action supports the County’s Live Well San Diego vision by enabling the Housing Authority to administer programs that provide safe and affordable housing opportunities.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Waive Board Policy A-74, “Citizen Participation in County Boards, Commissions, and Committees” and re-appoint Francisco Penalosa to serve as Housing Authority of the County of San Diego tenant commissioner for a two-year term commencing on June 1, 2021.
2. Appoint Wilma Bonds to serve as Housing Authority of the County of San Diego tenant commissioner for two-year terms commencing on June 1, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2021-23 Housing Authority of the County of San Diego Recommended Budget. If approved, this request will result in costs and revenue of $50 per diem compensation for each Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting attended by the tenant commissioners in Fiscal Year 2021-22 and Fiscal Year 2022-23. The tenant commissioners’ per diem compensation will result in annual costs of approximately $500. The funding source is federal funds provided for the Housing Authority’s program administration. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The Housing Authority of the County of San Diego (Housing Authority) administers the Housing Choice Voucher (or Section 8) program, the Public Housing program, and a number of rental assistance programs for special needs populations throughout the unincorporated areas of the County, and 13 of the 18 cities within San Diego County. Through its programs, the Housing Authority provides direct rental assistance to approximately 11,000 households. Participants in these programs include working families, veterans, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
The Board of Commissioners is the governing body of the Housing Authority. As the governing body, the Board of Commissioners is responsible for approving program activities, such as the Public Housing Authority (PHA) Plan, the annual budget, requests for funding, changes in program administration and implementation of new housing programs. The California Health and Safety Code Section 34290 (b) outlines the appointment of the tenant commissioners:
• Two tenant commissioners shall be appointed.
• Tenant commissioners must be tenants of the Housing Authority i.e., participants in either the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher or Public Housing programs.
• At least one of the tenants shall be over 62 years of age.
Additionally, the two-year terms served by the tenant commissioners do not coincide with the beginning of the Housing Authority’s fiscal year. The following provides an overview of the recommended actions.
Approve Reappointment of Francisco Penalosa
On May 12, 2015 (11), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the appointment of Francisco Penalosa to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, commencing June 1, 2015. Mr. Penalosa was reappointed for subsequent terms on April 25, 2017 (12) and April 30, 2019 (10). Based on his exemplary performance, today’s action requests the Board waive Board Policy A-74, section D.1.b, which limits membership on a County of San Diego citizen committee to two consecutive terms and approve reappointment of Mr. Penalosa to serve an additional two-year term, commencing on June 1, 2021. Additionally, reappointment of Mr. Penalosa also fulfills the California Health and Safety Code requirement to have at least one tenant commissioner being over 62 years of age.
Approve Appointment of Wilma Bonds
In order to obtain a qualified candidate to serve as tenant commissioner, the Housing Authority sent out a recruitment announcement, fact sheet, and application via email blast to our Section 8 participants and public housing residents. The same documents were posted on our website. The documents were in English, Spanish, Arabic, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
The recruitment for tenant commissioners for the new term starting on June 1, 2021 resulted in 20 applications. Ten applicants met the initial eligibility requirements and were offered an interview. Three applicants participated in the interview process and were evaluated based on relevant “lived experience”, pertinent knowledge of business administration, and interest in serving the community. Based on the interview, further evaluation and background review, Housing Authority staff has determined Ms. Wilma Bonds is qualified to serve as a tenant commissioner and is recommending Ms. Bonds for appointment as tenant commissioner. Today’s action requests that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Bonds to serve a two-year term as tenant commissioner, commencing on June 1, 2021.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed actions support the Operational Excellence, Sustainable Environments, Thriving and Living Safely Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan because programs administered according to the PHA Plan provide affordable housing opportunities for approximately 11,000 low-income households in the jurisdiction of the Housing Authority of the County of San Diego.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
N/A
AGENDA ITEM INFORMATION SHEET
REQUIRES FOUR VOTES: ☐ Yes ☒ No
WRITTEN DISCLOSURE PER COUNTY CHARTER SECTION 1000.1 REQUIRED
☐ Yes ☒ No
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PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOARD ACTIONS: April 30, 2019 (10), the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of two tenant commissioners to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners commencing on June 1, 2019; April 25, 2017 (12), the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of two tenant commissioners to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners commencing on June 1, 2017; May 12, 2015 (11), the Board of Supervisors approved the appointment of two tenant commissioners to the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners commencing on June 1, 2015; October 4, 1977 (103), the Board of Supervisors directed that the Housing Authority Board be increased from five to seven members by adding two tenant commissioners. |
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BOARD POLICIES APPLICABLE: Board Policy A-74 |
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BOARD POLICY STATEMENTS: N/A |
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MANDATORY COMPLIANCE: California Health and Safety Code Section 34290 (b) requires the governing body of a housing authority to appoint two tenants of the authority as commissioners. |
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ORACLE AWARD NUMBER(S) AND CONTRACT AND/OR REQUISITION NUMBER(S): N/A |
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ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Health and Human Services Agency |
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OTHER CONCURRENCE(S): |
N/A |
CONTACT PERSON(S):
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David Estrella |
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Nicholas Martinez |
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Name |
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Name |
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(858) 694-8750 |
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(858) 694-4802 |
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Phone |
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Phone |
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David.Estrella@sdcounty.ca.gov |
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Nicholas.Martinez@sdcounty.ca.gov |
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E-mail |
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E-mail |