Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) Transcript – 12/14/2023 Title: ATXN-1 (24hr) Channel: 1 - ATXN-1 Recorded On: 12/14/2023 6:00:00 AM Original Air Date: 12/14/2023 Transcript Generated by SnapStream ================================== Please note that the following transcript is for reference purposes and does not constitute the official record of actions taken during the meeting. For the official record of actions of the meeting, please refer to the Approved Minutes. [10:42:01 AM] without objection, we will recess the meeting of the Austin city council at 10:42 A.M, and I will call to order the Austin housing finance corporation [10:43:01 AM] housing finance corporation board of directors meeting. It's December 14th, 2023 at 1043. We are meeting in the city council chambers at Austin city council and, I'll ask staff to please make a presentation. >> Yes, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Madam vice president, board of directors, my name is Jamie may. I'm the housing and community development officer with the housing department. This morning , you have a relatively light agenda with three items and, I will be reading from the correct agenda this morning as opposed to last time. The first agenda item is approval of the minutes from the November 9th. Meeting of the board of directors. Second agenda is the authorization of a contract with the housing authority of the city of Austin for the management of our tenant based rental assistance program. This is a program to provide to provide, rental subsidies for individuals exiting homelessness for up to 24 months. Over the last three years, this program has exceeded its its targeted goals and served over 100 people. We do expect to serve a 100 people again this year. The third item on your agenda is the [10:44:03 AM] third item on your agenda is the authorized action of the purchase of a property from the economic development department. This is a 0.3 acre parcel, located at 400 east Wansley drive, in district four. And, we are purchasing this property from economic development for the sum of $10,000. And that is a deep discount. We do expect to develop this property into our community, Austin community land trust in the coming years. I would be happy to answer any questions from members of the board. >> Do you have any questions? All right. Okay. We have a we'll take this up as a consent agenda . And council director pool moves adoption. Let me let me ask before I do that. Is there anyone wishing to pull something from the consent agenda? All right. Council member pool moves adoption of the consent. >> Mayor, we have a speaker. >> Okay. Is there a second to the motion? Second, by, director harper- madison. Let's listen to the speaker. Thank you. >> Zenobia Joseph. >> Thank you. [10:45:03 AM] >> Thank you. >> And thank you, mayor directors. I'm Zenobia Joseph. My comments are specifically related to the homelessness assistance tenant based rental assistance program. I would just ask you to have a work session item where you actually discuss all of the different types of resources that are available for people who are needing rental assistance. I want you to recognize the mayor specifically . Section 551.050. The municipal governmental body place of posting. Notice the notice was not posted once again in the city hall for the Austin housing finance corporation on the left side of the kiosk, it said public health committee, and on the right it had your regular meeting, municipal, governmental body shall post notice of each meeting on a physical or electronic bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in the city hall. As a result of our difference of opinion as it relates to the interpretation of the open meetings act, I have [10:46:03 AM] the open meetings act, I have written to the attorney general's office and hope that they will clarify. I do believe we need to post the notice in the lobby as it relates specifically to the rental assistance. I want you to recognize that these funds are going to the landlord, but under the treasury rules, it specifies that the emergency rental assistance, it must be paid to the tenant. And so I would just ask you to recognize that if you're using or in the past have used in whole or in part, any of the money from treasury to comply with guidelines that specifies that grantees are required to allow tenants to apply directly for assistance, even if the landlord or owner chooses not to participate. It says, shall, but it is not permissive. It is a mandatory requirement and you continue to pay the landlord directly, which actually disenfranchizes individuals who are in need of the rental assistance. Those are my comments and I would ask you to just comply with the treasury rules. This one was updated may [10:47:03 AM] rules. This one was updated may 7th, 2021. If you have any questions, I'll gladly answer them at this time and we'll tell you that you have the notice of 72 hours on your own website. Thank you, thank you. >> That concludes all the speakers. >> Thank you. Members that concludes all of the speakers. We have a motion. And a second. Is there anyone wishing to be shown abstaining from the consent agenda of the Austin housing finance corporation board of directors meeting anyone wishing to show themselves recoup, being recused from a vote on the ahrq board. Anyone wishing to be shown voting no, I'd like to be shown voting no on item two. >> Please. Thank you. >> Council member Kelly. Director Kelly will be shown voting no on item number two. Anyone else any further discussion without objection, the consent agenda for the Austin housing finance corporation meeting. Board of directors is approved with council with director Kelly being shown voting no on item number two and director Ryan [10:48:05 AM] number two and director Ryan alter being absent. There being no further business to come before the Austin housing finance corporation board of directors at this regularly scheduled meeting. Without objection, the board of directors meeting is adjourned at 10:48 A.M.