Okay, thank you. Moving on to approval of the agenda as presented, or any comments or suggestions on the agenda. Okay, can I get a motion to approve the agenda? So for a second Penny, I'm hoping you can second from the corner.
I need you to second the approval. Sorry, I thought I said a second. Oh, I didn't hear sorry. Thank you. All in favor. Aye, all right. Agenda is approved on to our third item, approval of the minutes from the regular and closed session meeting for August, 22 2024, and there's also a correction to the approval of resolution number 3259,
commissioners. At the last board meeting, there was a reading and approval of the ask me contract, and it was so approved. However, within the minutes was the approval for the closed session. So at the correction, we just wanted to denote that there was this humble board did approve the executive director or deputies to approve the ask me contract.
Thank you. Any questions on the or comments on the approved minutes or the correction for resolution number 3259, okay, could I have a motion to approve both special, the regular and closed session meeting minutes for August 22 as well as the correction as presented?
So moved you
can I get a second? You All in favor? Aye. All right, we will move on to public comments on the agenda action items. There will be two opportunities for members of the public to provide comments to the board. First opportunity is now when any member of the public may comment on agenda action items. Comment is limited to three minutes for individuals and five minutes for group representatives, to ensure speakers timeless, the timekeeper will give a One Minute Warning for persons with a three minute comment period and a two minute warning for persons with a five minute comment period this morning will by will be by means of a tone. When the speaker's time is up, the timekeeper will disconnect the call. Later, there will be an opportunity for public comment on matters unrelated to agenda, action items. Members of the public must sign up in order to address the board during either public comment period. If you are appearing at the meeting virtually, you'll be able to sign up by calling the number specified on the DHC website or by raising your hand and identifying yourself within the Zoom app during the public comment, all other persons may sign up if they are able to appear in the room, provided their sufficient space to accommodate those who care to make a physical appearance. A person representing a group must identify him or herself and the group. Please note that speakers may not pool their time nor yield time to another speaker. Persons who have called to in to sign up to speak during the public comment period will be recognized first in the order which they signed up, then all others who have raised hands. Your name is called if you are in the room, please stand state your name in a clear and audible tone. If you are appearing via zoom when your name is called, please respond clearly and audibly after your microphone is unmuted. Do we have any folks signed up tam for public comment? Okay. Are there any public comments in the room for agenda action items.
Okay, we will move on that.
So on to our first DHC action item approval to executive change order. Number one, for additional time and funding to contract. 4005, resolution. Number 3260,
who's going to put something I will Michael Edwards, new to DHCS.
Can we allow just a couple minutes for Mr. Michael to go over his background and his years of experience here at DHC? He's a new hire. We kind of found him in June, July, and he finally accepted our proposal. Economies going out. Hi
Mike, welcome. Thank you. I have a
long background of residential and some commercial experience, started at Michigan State Building Construction Management started working with polti homes for 14 years. Also, I work with Toll Brothers and construction. And just a little bit please, work for Toll Brothers and Pulte Homes, two of the top five builders in America for a total of 20 plus years. I've done my own general contracting for years, and I have 30 years of experience in construction, so I hope to bring that experience and skill set to the DHC and make some improvements. Welcome. Thank you. So back to the approval. We identified a need for additional funding associated with contract 4005, for the 10 digs homes during the demolition phase, we found that there were structure was it's used due to both termite damage and damage due to flooding. There was also delay because of the permits being held up due to the Blight tickets. It took a total of four months. And so this change order is a request to DMC consultants and the amount of $44,786 to make those changes and update the contract. Well, Mike's
only been here f a month, so
to the commissioners, we should grill him
about not even 20 days,
counting the days, taking over and projecting, you know, this administrative work, but he's in the field type of guy. We want to get him back in the field so we can turn units, which is experience. So this is just for time extension, as well as for just 44,000 because of the termite just what they found on the floorboards, which was not expected.
Okay, any questions for the team on resolution, 3260, okay, can I get a motion to approve?
Thank you.
Thank you all in favor. Aye. Motion approved. Thank you on to agenda. Action Item number two, resolution 3261, approval to execute change order number one, for additional funding. Contract 4027, with the Michigan consulting and environmental for ongoing environmental services throughout the entire DHC portfolio. Yes,
good afternoon or morning. It's been that kind of day already, right, Commissioner, so we currently have environmental scoping and work being done closely with the city of Detroit and Egle with MCE consultants on a couple major developments as we work with Egle and trying to develop a good response activity plan. Additional testing has been done, and we want to make sure we get in front of possible things that may find a possible additional testing, as opposed to Russia, as we used to do. We want to just get in front of this. So we still have a little funding left on the contract. You know, about 100,000 of their 250 that you gave them previously. We want to extend that we already had the years, but we want to extend it for another 250 because they work well with Egle. They're helping us move forward with our project. And we don't want to have to change vendors in the middle of work, and we expected this to take us all through the next fiscal year. Now, just as a footnote, we are going to do a RFP, and we'll introduce our new procurement department, which we're really pleased of. Again, we actually start searching, and in July, we identified eight candidates who joined us in September. So we'll we'll introduce those individuals shortly as a way to get in front and start really setting our timelines and meeting what we need to do. We're just trying to make sure that we have all our documents in order and we have the right partners and vendors that can do the work again in the future, we will extend a RFP for project management, for environmental because we know we have a portfolio that we're going to rehab. We got to make sure that we have people who check the work, who write our scopes. But for now, Egle is really comfortable with these vendors, as well as with the city of Detroit, and they're doing a good job, and we have a renowned geo physical person who in the area is well known because it's not too many of them. And so we want to make sure that we continue or continually on this major two projects we're working on that we could, you know, keep it going so
um, well, why don't we start with a motion, and then we can go to discussion, and Commissioner Jose, maybe you want me to yield back to you
now. Okay, go get it. I'll move it support. Any comments, questions.
Sorry, this is across the portfolio, absolutely. So everything with obviously, we've had ongoing discussions like booster in particular, as being absolutely additional support, and need to get that over the line. Okay, so that's good. Do we when we do scope changes like this, because it's doubling the size of the base contract? How do we think about sort of evaluation of services rendered? I have any complaint here, as long as you're happy, but I think particularly with sort of doubling the size of the contract be good to know. Do we feel like we undersized it originally, or is this really change of scope because of the work that we did with Egle?
So if you can recall back this humble board approved a million dollars in contracts being awarded to four different environmental companies at the proposal of the prior regime, what we have found for the work that we need to do, particularly on the repositioning and the continuation on Brewster, that the knowledge and know how is this particular vendor. So we have been using this vendor because they've been working well with Egle and with the city of Detroit, and they definitely are recognized specifically the people I go to, the people Neil's very, very strong pivot in the community, and is well known for his scientific abilities, and so because of that, we feel we should utilize him, and also for the continuation, because Brewster and other developments as we work with Egle to push the work through. Because once we get through the environmental phase, then we can do the RAD applications, all the fun can really begin. So I would say that utilization over utilization of a known well working vendor is being properly recommended so that we Don't waste limited funds that we currently have.
Questions All in favor, aye, thank you. Resolution, 3260, is approval.
I'm sorry. I six. The next is three, two contractors, plan number 989, to NAC housing. So yeah, we put out in December.
Responses because
none administration for responses, none of them
both the committee back together and review the main response and based on the comments and qualifications responder the city goes, just pick up a little please say that one the committee chose MHT housing okay to inform to become a proposed partner that area. Some of the comments that came out about MHT, where it was pretty positive. They the developers like good one shot document organization, their visa standard range throughout the organization. Developer, it did incorporate details of the existing sites.
They also have a finance organization. They have strong experience,
and right now we have to work with current partners in other areas, and they have pretty positive
underlying the items that our team leader, thank you. Good lessons. I shared, I think this is a request. I don't know why proposals or do you have a good good track is an opportunity we'd like that to share a few words of their own as we begin opening negotiation lead to a contract to all they can say.
We should allow mission of the board. You should allow a proponent to share a little bit about their departure, what they'd like to get down on tonight.
Well, good morning, friends. Chairman commissioners, good morning, Mr. Jameson, morning. My name is Van Fox. Thank you for having me here today. I am here with Miss Jackie G Leon. I'm here with Luke and I'm here with Jimmy friends. We're here to recognize the redevelopment the hopeful completion of the garden view project. In doing so, how we're going to get there, it's easy. We have a proposed timeline, and I'm going to share with you what we're going to be bringing to the table. Our organization is purchasing right now, 123 bedroom section eight homes. Jimmy is working with a number of resources, with the city of Detroit, nishta and other for the first time, home buyer, Section eight home buyer assistance to purchase these section eight homes. We are concluding the HUD 2530,
transfer.
HUD secretary, retired madam fudge is our general counsel with Team Taft, who has represented us for a many number of years. We are organizing the sale of these homes, and then in return, we are going to take that section eight contract, known as an eight BB,
to the new
proposed site plan to work in conjunction with the DHC team to build new to maximize The appropriate density, recognizing the community communication, to recognize that these 120 homes are in a combination of district one Mr. Tate's district, along with being in the same district as the Southfield and joy Garden View development. So our team is going to provide all of the pre development dollars. We are going to be providing 100% of the guarantees. We are going to be providing the section eight contract, a new 20 year contract for building out the new construction, garden view, Phase Five, phase six, our proposal is to start working immediately with Team DHC on the site plan to recognize the communication with the city for zoning, Site Plan pilot. We are not asking to get into the deep, deep pockets of the DHC. We're looking at submitting an April 1 tax credit submission with full readiness to proceed. We're recognizing an approval date on eight one, we're recognizing a two, 126, closing, and then a three, 127, completion. Now you can say, Yeah, okay, well, we're doing nine new construction, starting now through the end of first quarter next year, separate from the existing five that are underway, separate from all of the rehabs we're doing, we have the full complete infrastructure. We have the full readiness to proceed on our end, with our team, we would be so eager to give the commissioners and other team. DHC tours of what to expect, when expecting we're taking what we're proposing here at the new garden view, we just recently did it in Royal Oak, Michigan, at the old star elementary on 13 in Woodward, we're able to share and show how we're going to manage 100% Enterprise Green Communities. We're going to recognize that the DHC team has a waiting list to prioritize. The DHC wait list to move into the garden view. We're recognizing the new school. We're recognizing that there's already infrastructure in place. We're recognizing the neighbors that are in place. Team DHC and MHT are going to collaborate, and we're going to move like NASCAR, to coordinate the zoning, Site Plan density already subject to the approval here. This is part of a long laundry list that I'm doing with the mayor's office next week in the bowling alley and EAC, where there's privacy and no shenanigans, hopefully some blue light yellow like donuts. But we're going to be proposing the plan here, along with other plans within the city. So we're totally stoked to get into the grind. We're stoked to bring in our infrastructure. We're not asking Ms Burris for any PB, DS, we are wanting to grow your development experience, your 86 oh, nines, your 2530 we're going to let the world know that DHC is up and redeveloping its old housing stock, not looking to go after the fair cloth, not looking to go after any of your internal resources. We have it with the eight BB, we have it with mishta, and we have it also through our CDFI. Okay, so there's a lot there to share show. So our team is totally scoped, ready again to move like NASCAR to get going on garden view, because this eight BB opportunity can be carried forward to the DHC, with our training and our communication to you for your single family homes and how we can create home ownership. Jimmy and Luke will be able to communicate to you basically, these $70,000 homes that we are purchasing and not increasing to market above 100 how we're going to be selling as is, knowing that it will be completely code compliant. How we're going to create complete affordability for Section eight residents to own their own home and not, you know, swallow them up with a regulatory agreement or other we're here to share. Show how the eight BB that we're doing here can also happen within your portfolio, if of interest. So again, we are probably going to be putting at risk probably about $500,000 architectural engineering, environmental survey, legal personnel, etc, but our timeline that we're going to successfully map out together as one, we're eager to take you down to miss Jackie G's ninth floor office on the corner of Seward and Woodward, where we have Yo yo, Miss Jones the M center. What we're going to do there and introduce you to more of the team. You're going to be tickled pink. We've never had a default, a foreclosure, a deed in lieu. We've never restructured a partnership, and we are totally stoked for this opportunity with DHC to move lightning fast. I already know how we're going to manage the zoning, the site plan. I already know how we're going to manage and I'm eager to get it out. I used to work with this Thundercat when he was at the city, promises made, or all caps, okay? And we know how to just boom, boom, you know, get to the bottom, work our way up to the top. Not start at the top, work our way down. I like to go low and then bring it up, and we're going to be moving exponentially to get to that April 1 submission. Okay, any questions? Oh, come on.
So vote any questions, comments. So
yes,
I got you, man, I'm going to just restate it, because again, like sure public understands what we're talking about. So so this resolution is authorizing the executive to enter into functionally, a development contract for vacant land that the DHC owns. Current correct? That's correct. How is the land currently held by DHC? We have a simple fee interest. Is it in the public housing system? Is it not is it we just own a fee we're unrestricted simple, fee simple ownership, correct? So we're not restricted in the public housing side at all. We're doing this in fee simple. This is new unit production. So we are not talking about the demolition or any other sort of disturbance of any other garden view units. I'm just, I got, like, just saying that
absolutely appropriate for the public background.
Van. Your your comment on the using the eight BB. Can you just a little bit on that? How? How are you not tapping DHC resources? How are you bringing the vouchers in place to make this work? Can you say it again?
Our organization is purchasing these 120 homes. We are going to then sell these homes at cost. We are going to create the down payment assistance through Jimmy and the communication putting people through our centers for home ownership needs, how to manage your water, sewer, gas, electric, insurance. We're going to be bringing in the appropriate lenders, ie mishta in Detroit and the
National faith owns. Chase, you're
going to speak up. Jimmy sales,
liberty, you stand
so far, spoken with national faith homebuyers Chase liberty, to a couple other banks that that we've talked to come to and read again.
So we're in process of bringing in the mortgage company, the title company, to create home ownership that will all be completed by end of first quarter next year, freeing up the eight BB. I do the eight BB routinely from Lucas County, that white license plate state Ohio, and bring it to the great blue license plate state of Michigan. And we do the eight BBs in Flint. We do it elsewhere, and we take those contracts new construction. And here we're going to take that contract to Garden View
Mr. Fox, just for clarity, and ABB transfer. It's taken section eight vouchers from one place, yep, and moving them to another. Well, that's new section eight vouchers to new to the project, 20
year contract. You're going to put in for 9% yes, or a floor nine, actually, four nine. Okay, you're gonna do a 4%
and a 9% combo. You're gonna fund the equity through the credits, and they're going to use the APB vouchers to do the homeownership work, so that at the end of the tax credit expiration period, you've got the amount of payment, then you flip to ownership. No,
we're going to flip the homes now between now and end of first quarter next year. Then we're going to warehouse that contract and earmark it to garden view.
New garden view. Okay, that was the part I was confused. Okay, I think for our staff, I just quickly finish your considerations. You want to just state when we say this contract will be funded through section 18 proceeds. You want to just give us just two minutes on what that means for DHC. The
Can you repeat that? So
in the resolution, says this contract will be funded through section 18 proceeds. What
does that mean for DHC? For DHC, based upon what we've heard Mr. Van say, and also the bid zero, we really should have zero other than the staff, other than staffing, pause, okay? And then maybe legally are legal. So for Section 18, we will use legal fees. We'll pay the legal fees to review the contract, okay,
go to my questions and we have a RFP, um, going out for legal or tax structures or development deals. So that should be hitting them for very soon again. We have a fully staff procurement team that we're happy with. We'll introduce them a little later. So we're anticipating, through mister jimerson's leadership, of really moving to development you actually
did. Just remember, so would we expect to see this deal back? Like, once you get a 9% award? What's the plan ownership structure here? And I assume, are we
going to see this back? You're going to see it back? Yeah, I think we the great news developers organization goes away that all the ingredients were great, particularly present. And I think the experience is there. We got to mix it into the proper, proper mixture to get it in front of Misha or FDA, FDA funding ground. So it'll be another presentation.
And before we sign anything, as we always do, we'll bring it to this humble bond. So this, I
mean, this kind of just function, like getting us to the tax credit application phase, is that right?
He did the first
249, deals
in the state of Michigan. Would be reverend Dr Holly and with the Archdiocese of Detroit, both were new construction developments along Woodward. We're going to be working with the team here on proforma. We're going to be working on, you know, a whole laundry list of exhibits together as one municipal meetings. I'm not going anywhere without DHC participation for the zoning, for the site plan, for the equity, etc. So we're linked together,
just for clarity, to the extent that we have legal costs section 18, the first of the proceeds,
mostly for the public, right? Like, what are we talking about? So legal fees, bans frontier mhcs fronting pre development cost world legal fees. We'll get a tax credit award figures cross, and then we'll see this again. Perfect.
Thank you everybody. Thank
you for your time. I think we have other comments questions. All in favor, aye,
favor. Oh, yes, I sorry.
Thank you.
I was taking notes and I couldn't.
Yes, we have our resolution, 32634, point fireside, development company board members,
commissioners. So as you know, we are in the process of advancing the development of the Parkside project. Part of that, we have a special purpose entity for Parkside development company that exists in so far as the executive director is in charge. What needs to happen, though, is it needs to be a full board example so that it can actually serve its proper purposes as part of the redevelopment project. It's going to be comprised of about five board members, and I'll be serving as the field we've got, nominated by us to serve in those positions, named in the resolution that you have, I'll come back around to a quick issue here. Creation of this board is an essential part of our ability to move forward with the code redevelopment of Parkside. And so for that reason, we're asking the board's approval for us to establish, reestablish this organization, and a panel the board members recommended there was one legal thing that we wanted to highlight, general counsel for the board ask that question. I'm sorry, were there any things you wanted to highlight before the board members Planning Commission was
a dark side at that time, and villages of dark side at that time, and we're going to fireside developments bylaws, if there's which were changed, I think back in 2022 there is there's correct right now, there's one person board who automatically is the executive director, And so the executive director makes recommendations to this board to appoint other individuals to the board of Parkside, and so that's what they're requesting right now, is to to make those people are named in the resolution as members of the Parkside Development Corporation board. Parkside, at Parkside Development Corporation is now, is the is an instrumentality of the Detroit housing commission that was back in 1996 right was created by the city of on behalf of the Detroit so, just for some background, so it is an actual entity that has a parent of the two villages of Parkside, which are also owners of those villages, which are the LLCs. So in order for Parkside culture, there's some days that we wanted to
maintain property. So that's why this is being requested. Also just state when we do the annual corporation. So that's why this is being requested. That's it. I
so move those questions I do have to is, is Parkside Development Corporation currently in good standing, or we need to get it up and
currently in good standing? But it will be as of October one. The the new annual report is due, so, so we'll update it for right,
the additional, okay, uh, second
question, so this is a wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary of the public housing authority. Do, do the public body requirements over meetings, act, etc, translate down to the subsidiary or is this only bound to the by the nonprofit statute?
Actually, CDC is bound by the obligation you speak up a little bit, please. Sorry. PDC is bound by the obligations of DHC. They have the same they have the same requirements, and that's pursuant to HUD regulations. So would
we assume, then that we will, as part of the regular board meetings? We'll adjourn and then convene this one, and we'll sort of build them into these meetings, or, we think, and we'll have specials.
That is the decision the PDC board. PDC is a separate entity all itself. It can have this board meetings on whenever it wants to, but it does. It does not exist as part of this board, a separate my preference
would be to probably try to link them up. Just for convenience sake. We have to do special probably come up, if we can. And then finally, is PDC and its directors going to be covered by the directors and officers policy that we have with our carrier? Or does it need to be added?
I think they have their own.
Can we, just before we have the first meeting, can somebody confirm that we have the DNO policy there? Yes, okay,
I will.
Could you please check that for this first reconstituted
meeting? Okay, are
those being subjects at all? Yes, they
are this. This particular team was created by the city Detroit. So there's a there, there's a question of whether or not, but with this PDC, there are, they are subject to the opening
Meetings Act, and what's the history? Last 20 years, I had officers on the board or process. Well,
there have been officers on the board. The board has been made up of members of the administration of Detroit housing commission in the past, they were all and from I'll say administration administration, the changes have been different based upon the leadership titles as well as people moving on.
I just didn't remember any reports back from PDC for the last two years, there
have been a few meetings, but they have not been able to support so
it'd be nice to understand what's going on somewhere. Why? Just
like, let's just like, let's just link them up at this meeting, because we gotta meet, open meetings. Act
anyways. We might as well just there
hasn't been any
time there needed to be anything we separated from, um, from
strangers, DHCP, which DHCP is The agent? Yeah, so we're all DHCP as well.
I P as well,
right? And so were they on this board? Or Yes, they were managing members, which was the manager of the project, right?
Created pH business, right? Okay, and
so once pH teachers left, formidable was ready to go. So that's where we are right now. We just gotta figure out what we're going to do with DHCP. But it's not, I don't think it's at this particular point discussing this with outside counsel.
That's not
finance. Some
other closest comments, Commissioner Jose,
I just want to give you an opportunity to take my spot, if you would like. You need another border. We
of our commissioners on the board, and we can know what's going on, and I I'm going to commit to the board, or the first meeting, DC will show an org chart and describe all the benefit. But our council described now important. They also a map of works is a little more available right after.
Thank you so much. Any trust in his comments? Oh, yeah, absolutely, I would like to attend and be
I mean, we'll all be notified the date place,
and our goal is to link up this meeting with that meeting. So it'll be particularly charity, be here. Yeah, see, separate enough organization that doesn't matter where China and plus, it already be a public meeting. So,
right? So we can notice at the same time and yeah, I think for every segment, yeah, make sure
how much we could even as public comment as the committed or this is all public,
just comments. All in favor Aye green 263 is approved. Looks like next we have property management services. Reading, year
terms. Um, staff is recommending the adoption of 3264, which authorizes us to execute your contract with an option to renew for the management of the Detroit publication, properties
for homes for Park bids, scatter sites, East, West and Central, along with Smith homes Greenbrook and
I we are
recommending at this point, we went through the procurement process. There were a couple of different respondents, so we went through the procurement process, and it was recommended that we utilize MHT housing slash continental management. They have been a great partner in that for us for the last several years, and they are currently matching or managing multiple of our sites. So this just ties in with the partnership that we already have with MHT slash Continental. I
I hear a little bit of overview of what actions look recommended today. It was, I think folks know we from our team programmatic indicators, we are working hard to achieve a high level. 5% according to the board, we need to be in the high 90s. Rent collections and research you me the leadership of the folks and realms led by Bridget at this time. And of course, strategy is to encourage resources to people who are providing that property management first through the contract with the unionized routine that's ratified this body before, through support for the non unionized staff that we've already put in place as well. This is a third step I'd like to give you noted that step of adding property management support to our work was taken after computation with staff and leadership, an attempt to use waiver to support the work, and then a later decision that we're going to actually achieve the things that we Need to achieve for our key programmatic indicators to have a supplemental staff, and went out to bid as was described, and we have a good vendor who could add that the way this contract is documented and structured in the vote we provide not to exceed numbers, we're expecting some sites to have a lot of support from vendors, and other sites to have Joe little, but it allows us to use the vendors as much as necessary on those sites over the terms that are outlined here. We think that this additional contractor, due course, is brutal for us, iters, and we believe that if you make our indicators wise and from a red collection standpoint, but more resources to do more work in the coming fiscal year, I might do want to ask if you are operating off for me, if there's anything I've missed in explaining the broad strategy
No, I think you did a wonderful job. It's a hybrid solution. It's not. The oversight will continue to be with the DHC management team, and we're just leveraging the talent of the MHC continental team to help, like you said, supplement, which is different from what we're doing at so these are 858 units only. That was formally just 100% managed by DHC. We tried to use other vendors to help with temporary labor, unsuccessfully, not only in property health and property management side, but also on the tech side. So the union employees need not be in fear that this is some attempt to take their jobs away in order to have another company come in and oversight them. It's an attempt to help supplement the work so that we can get the 700 units occupied by the end of this fiscal year, or at least 90% of
is there considered. I that very helpful. Thank you. Call for a motion so moved.
Any questions, comments,
I will only say and I like, I get your point, and I do have a lot of like concern for our people, etc, but there is such a stark difference. If you look at our rent collection trends, if you look at our recertification trends, look at our occupancy trends over I mean, what is greater than period? At this point, we have plateaued. We are not improving. And like you know, it is hurting us. It is hurting our central office, and it's, it's just, like, not acceptable. It's just not acceptable for us to be at, like, low performing management. I'm not trying to beat any Bridget, but like, we we have to do something different. Is not fair to our residents who are paying rent, who are filling out the certifications to have these low performing numbers. And I think, like, internally, I I feel like we have done what we can do. So I'm not surprised that you're going outside for additional help. But like, this situation cannot continue. We must improve our occupancies, our recertifications and our collections, because it's hurting us across the entire business, and it is not fair to our residents who are living in those places. So so, you know, I I want to end the word like, I want aggressive action here, and I do want our staff to also hear that we have to do better than we are doing today. And, you know, we're kind of out of excuses here. Covid is long behind us. We've got third party management that is double digit outperforming our own staff. So, like, that's just not okay. So that's how I feel about it. I'm getting irritated by this now, as you can tell, because we have, like, gone on long enough with this, my patience is Edna, but yeah, like, the status quo
and monetarily is costing us $4.5 million right? Right?
We have a lot of a lot of needs for $4.5 million in this portfolio. Yes,
no. Notice that none of the senior buildings,
I mean, we live a
little bit longer, you know, but none have been mentioned at all in this whole report.
And then notice that down,
we gotta do something here. That's my, my rant. And
so just kind of following up the process with the senior abilities
there as well. So it's a systemic problem across the portfolio, but the problems that we see at the non senior or non elderly designated we see at the senior so it's a systemic problem across the whole podium. And so what being addressed is bringing in some additional health we were having bi weekly meetings. We're, you know, we're really pushing. And happy to say that, you know, the wait list is open. We were putting to task a lot of these property management to turn these unions a little more faster. It's costing us things, finances. Spend more money. That's why procurement is so critical, because we need to really be smart with the money that we have left, because we just can't spend it. But also, we have inspired infections going on, so the level of a standard are being brought up, and it's unfortunate that it couldn't happen over time, that it had to happen all at once, and so that's what we're dealing with right now. But I think the story, I know the story, would
be different by the end of this cover, the coverage senior buildings. It's, they have a separate solution.
It's all part so that it's all part of the same solution that or help is being brought in, even with the A and manage sites. Um, that's why Dan has, for example, Miss Jackie there, and also Deanna. A lot of the work. You know, we, for example, the boiler system without that share, right one of them? Right one of them. And we have a doe to fix that at the same time concurrently, because of years of low maintenance. Now, the firm right? And so we're constantly working on this. And I'm happy that you like really, because it's not really impacting, you know, because we're getting in front of stuff versus reacting. We're getting in front of it. And with the help of of the management team, this is great, same conversation about MCU, the environmental we're trying to get in front of stuff versus reacting. And it's all happening all at the same time. And so we need to bring in help and resources in the Calvary, because you can't, you know, it's insanity just to expect the same results. You know, we're smarter, we're working smarter, but unfortunately, we're like, we're running against, you know, things that had not been done in many, many years. Not an excuse. We're, we're providing solutions, and we're trying to bring the right people to the table to do it, and I would say Mr. Jameson, have been very, very supportive and proactive as well. So damn, I'm piggying back on procurement because we gotta get great contracts in place so that we can also align with great partners to work with. We're not working with the same old people we've been working with for many years that have not been performing. But for those who are listening, who have been performing, thank you very much, and please bid on the current stuff that that's about to be out. Thank
you. Thank you. Fine. Any other comments, questions? Hearing? None. All in favor. Aye.
Sure so for just informational items, we just want to be cognizant of what our his home body has asked on accounts receipt for I think we understand the path going forward and what we're trying to do. Miss Bridget has payment agreements out. Some are in a way, some are not. If you can look in the monthly report for the CFO, we make sure now that tables are included with the history. And so really, here is just the ongoing work of with the occupancy that will be going up because we're opening up the waiting list. We're happy to say that 12,000 people that was pregnancy on there from 2022 is less than 3000 now, and most of them the wait list for the AME site, continental and for Woodbridge are exhausted, and so Tuesday, it's going to be open and it's going to start working. So we should see some some movement. Great. So in working with legal to make sure you know residents who didn't sign up for a payment plan, who are not trying or not responding to the research documentations. You know, we'll file have to follow that path. Unfortunately. On the second note on the Choice Neighborhood Initiative,
yes, so commissioners are pleased to report that last Thursday, at the Board of conference being voted by mishta, presented by the city and DHC, with a check for $500,000 for the for our application, choice, neighborhoods, initiative, planning, brand competition. Don't know choice is public housing. Um, the chance to re envision it as part of neighborhoods and so withdrawing with the city. This commission made an application to HUD in their funding round to receive this money. It was that that request was honored, and so now we're going to combine those funds with other fall under the city. And the Commission have to complete a planning process for the Diggs property, the family property at Charles big and the fourth part property, one at one family, one senior. As you know, those properties are very close to Detroit, part of the neighborhood in that area, close to lots of new things, like winter covid and Eastern Market, and we're really excited about the opportunity to rethink that entire part of the city planning grant, and then hopefully I have the same success cities enjoy in its application for choice, which was given in in the Corktown neighborhood associated with the board June so in that spirit, want to make everybody heard about that. And here's in moving forward on this. So that's Choice Neighborhoods in a nutshell, and we can answer questions about that information we wanted to cover.
Denise, maybe can give a resident engagement update, as Mr. Secret has asked for every month to provide an update. Yeah, so to even continue with Arca was talking about with the Choice Neighborhood, so I some of our next steps. Is actually the resident engagement piece. So talking to the residents, what have you to see, what they want to happen in that community is our next big step. Um, also, as you all know, we've noted before that we were awarded another youth Bill grant. So everything's moving along. Great with that, and so at the forefront of resident services, at the forefront of the agency, is home ownership, and we are utilizing all of our workforce development funds to gear residents towards homeownership. We currently have a great long list of people that are interested in homeownership, not just HCV participants, but many of our public housing residents are looking to take their FSS funds, or they want to work in jobs plus and utilizing their savings to help them move up them
about so that's our engagement
moving forward,
kind of the the the process in the past and and how are we achieve that success, particularly with the home ownership program.
So we I'm building a team. So you guys are going to see over the next 60 to 90 days, resident services moving from nine people staff to about 25 and a big part of that is the homeownership. So I'm in process right now. I've just interviewed some people for homeownership managed to help manage the whole department, and then provide them with some support staff. So that's at the forefront of what I'm building up right now. And with that is the FSS program is tied to that, all of our workforce development program, plus the FSS section three, because all of those you know, our funding sources helping people to go to work. And so what we have utilized, along with the communication campaign that I can, I will, we have testimony from residents that that has really helped change their mindset, and they really believe that they can, you know, purchase homes, go to work. And so those are some of the push, push, push. Things that we're doing
keep us updated on kind of the successes, the changes needed, where we could be helpful as it was more a program, but it wasn't kind of geared towards success or something we were achieving. Things so how you or she
and we are, I do want to emphasize that we are working collectively across the agency. So HCV, our compliance department, we're all working together to create our SOPs for that, for the home
teamwork elements. With permission, commissioners, I'd like to just make it make an addendum. Please feel free to have a seat. So we had a discussion last week to follow up with about resident services, field office in Detroit and headquarters talk about the importance of resident services and how we work, how we were managing and meeting with residents to provide the services. Also want to highlight an example of the way that we are doing that. Last night, we had a meeting out at the Parkside bell with with resident was led by our development partner for the development of Parkside dinasco and their architecture and design team going through with resident series of important choices about what kind of what scale of housing they'd like to be part of the new development that is going to begin the process of redevelopment Parkside, everything from they want townhouses to flats to talking about the way they like the landscape and roadway connections to work. We had a very well attended and both supported engagement last night, which was an example of the kind of report we're doing and that we noted. Anything else you'd like to add? No
wonderful update. Thank you. Applause.
The next one is just an update about the MOU this humble board approved for us to transfer properties back and forth between the Detroit Land Bank Authority and DHC to further enhance affordable housing. We had an application that has been lingering for about a couple years to transfer over 37 properties into Detroit Land Bank, which is needed to support their residents from the silo project or other things that they're working on in the development world, because they're developing as well. Well, one of the things that HUD required us to do was to do like kind for like kind, meaning dollar for dollar, and so as a result, they just didn't want to, didn't want to accept the MOU because they know we're transferring properties back and forth. We know that there are future developments around, for example, Smith homes, and there's a lot of parcels that is owned by the land bank. So we're going to do a sales slash purchase agreement so that in the future, once that project take off, we can also take the properties around that surrounding areas to extend that rehab. But in exchange, we'll give those 37 properties, and it's now in the tune of giving away 102,000 value, and we're going to get $106,000 in value once that Smith home redevelopment happened. And also want to say the city of Detroit was a part of that as well. And initial stages. Last year, we had some preliminary meetings, because what they're doing for the Choice Neighborhoods around forest parks and digs, they want to do the same thing in the, you know, around Smith home. So this is all planning to the bigger picture that the city, as well as, you know, under our agenda leadership and the board, which tagged us to do more rehab so we position on our property, but we're just making sure that, from a HUD perspective, we're checking the box that we're just not, you know, giving away property, but they understand that there will be an exchange. We just wanted to update the board on that.
Questions right into department on monthly reports. Do
there,
as we begin departmental monthly reports, so I privileged you to ask our new current director, Dawn Gaines, to say a few words
before I'm Yolanda Kane, excited to be here. Just want to give a quick history of my background over the last 30 years. So I look like I'm saying I look like I'm 30, but over the last 30 years, I have spent many years in the city of Detroit in procurement, many years at the land bank and procurement Sheriff, I remember, and many years with the name US Navy and procurement finance. Here recently, I just came from the hearing board where I was responsible procurement finance
and HR, so
I'm happy to be here. I'm also excited that I came to a team. We have Colleen here, Mohammed here from Gary, Indiana, many years of HUD experience, many years of inspection experience. And also Karen. We're excited we have Susan Clark, who came from the the Ambassador Bridge project. So she's she's excited to be here. I believe Susan started about four weeks ago. I've been here about three weeks, and Clint has been here four days. So we're just excited. We also have Erica, who's been with our team. She's been here prior to us. Erica, I think she's been here about two years. Erica is amazing, and I just want to give her, she's not here right now, but I just want to give her a kudos. Everything is going on. We're moving fast. We know it's a lot. There are a lot of needs that need to occur, and we're working on, I think I've made with almost each department head already, to find what those emergency needs are, what we can do to move this forward. And we're just excited anything we can do. I welcome you all to reach out to me directly. Anything we can do to help with this board is going to be great. Talk about your strategy, please. So one of the things that I initially thought about when I first came here is like, what are the areas that we really need to hone in on quickly? One of those things I thought about not I think I included in the monthly report. But one of those things is, how can we, number one, get more bills? How can we get multiple contracts for one service? I think it's a disservice to us and the citizens. If we don't have we don't have readily available contractors. If I need a landscaper, I don't need just the one, and then they monopolize everything that they're not available. We need multiple so that's one of the things we're doing. How am I doing how am I doing that? Well, one of the things we need to advertise, we need to not just put it on our website or BitNet. We we now using legal news. I'm using Detroit Free Press. Detroit News. Those areas actually require us to do.com also. So now it's hitting social media. You know, it's hitting the internet as well as the paper. So that's one of the things that we're doing. Another thing I'm looking at is making sure that we're in compliance. We have our procurement compliance officer. We're looking at everything. Why is this like this? Why are we doing this? Is it okay? It's not saying that we should be doing this. So that's another thing we're looking at. So there are multiple initiatives here that we're trying to work on all at the same time, but it has been going well this three weeks, and I feel like I've been here in about three months. How many
heart PS, have you gotten out in your three weeks? So
in the last three weeks, I think we've we've released three. I think we're going to use another two or three this week. Environmental is one of it's just so much going on and so fast, and we're creating waterfalls. We're looking at expired country. We're trying to get our arms and our head around what happened in the past, and how can we move forward? That's what we're trying to do. And this and it's working. We're collaborating with the other departments. Everybody has been so warm and welcome, and I just call Hey, what happened? Give me the story. How can we move forward? How can I help you? So that's our goal here. How
many vendors have you talked to and talk they pricing down? So
that's another thing. You know, I believe in negotiating. And my husband said, Honey, you are not at work. You cannot do this when we go out to the regular store. I'm always trying to figure out, I mean, if you don't ask, you don't know, give me your best and final offer. If you really want my business, how can you work with us? And I always will say, like, Listen, this is money that we're using. We're trying to do we try to spread this money. We can't spend it all on you. I'll just tell the contractor that. So I've talked to a ton of contractors. I've also leveraged my relationship to the city. I'm calling the city. I I've talked to former people. I need you to send me a list of contractors. So now we're emailing contractors we can't rely on. Hopefully they'll go bidding that we need to be able to tap into these contractors other ways. I'm hoping that we can develop relations that we need so they know, and then possibly, maybe one day, we'll have an opportunity to have them come in. Hey, this is how you doing. Let's share what's happening and write that narrative. So people are like, Wow. I didn't know how this was going on. I'm shocked at the stuff that's going on. That's great at DHC. I was like, Wow. I didn't know it myself. So I'm excited, and I'm happy to be able to report that to the to the future suppliers. And we just gotta just keep you know, I always say, be consistent in the book, and
remember this is not about do
you remember that this is, this is my loved one. Maybe your loved one, your family member. We're going to help the people live in nice homes, safe homes, so that's what I'm here for. And I've had it again.
Great, correct?
Just want to say that felicia's team, Felicia, can you tell us where your research are at? Because this has been we've gotten beaten up, but we know we deserved it, and so it's time to morning, board and staff and guests. I just want to report, and I start preface with we are not where we want to be, but we are just making exponential strides in our program. Right now, our reporting is that 94.3 we're almost at 95 the Board gave us a mandate to say, this is what we want to see happen with your program, and we took it seriously. Our staff is working hard every day, and we are meeting the metrics that you all have placed on our shoulders, and we accepted graciously, because we know at the end of the day, it's about the families we serve. So we are just excited to say that we are just continuing to move on. We are every month we want our numbers to be better than they were last month. We are working on professional development. We are working on SOPs, yes, yeah. We're working on desktop SOPs to make sure that our staff is have everything they need to continue to be successful. Because when they're successful, that equates to the families that we are serving an experience they're getting under the HCD program. So I just wanted to let you all know we heard you, and we took it seriously, and we are moving forward, but not looking back. We have goals that we're meeting for 24 we have goals for 25 and we only want to make this customer experience better for our fans, our voucher. And I just want to take time to thank the commissioners for all your support, all the help that you have, all the suggestions calling us, allowing the budget to be approved, because she went from 12 people to 28 in her budget, and it made a difference. And, you know, not utilizing outside services to do the research, I think she said it, give me the people I'll do it. And so just thanking this humble body for your constant support. Thank
you, perfect. Thanks. We have general public comments. I have a script, but it's a this
opportunity for public comment
matters is that the right one that
he was waiting this opportunity for public comment on matters unrelated to agenda. Actually, I was commented as limited to three minutes for individuals and five minutes for group representatives to assure speakers adhere to the time limits, the timekeeper will give a One Minute Warning for persons with a three minute the warning for person with a five minute comment period this morning will be by means of a tone, the speaker's time as well. Sometimes people will disconnect the call. If you are appearing at the meeting, virtual meeting virtually, you will be able to sign up by calling the number, specifying the DHC website and or by raising your hand I identify yourself, considering the roommap all of the persons, they try not if they will appear to unify their accommodate those who make a physical appearance, person represented in a group, identified themselves as a group with calling. Please know the speakers may not hold their time and give time to another speaker, first speaker we recognize. First the order of all others who have raised hands your name is called. If you are in the room, please stand. If you are able to state your name in a clear audible tone. If you are hearing by zoom and your name is called, please respond clearly and audibly after your mic proposes on YouTube.
Thank you. Dr Fletcher,
Blair, Dr Blanton, muted.
We set up to process they can see it.
Can we manually unmute? No,
difficulty so and we'll move to the next version,
Sanders.
Kimberly Sanders,
Good morning. Hello, everyone. My name is Kimberly Sanders. I am the Operational manager here at France a Parkside established in 1991 friends of Parkside is a resident led organization created by the residents for the residents, our team members include Parkside residents. I would like to provide a few updates on the Friends of Parkside has accomplished since the last August DHC Commissioner meeting, we have paused our monthly community newsletter and our monthly Parkside food distribution due to funding. However, we provided emergency food boxes to our residents and individuals from the United Way, 211, we have continued to host our Parkside bingo game. Tuesday, from one to 145 we launched our bright future after school program. We have held our monthly Parkside community meetings. We conducted a computer class for both residents and the general public. Last night was so important for the friends of Parkside that we made sure the DHC and genosco community meeting was attended heavily by residents. So we made sure that we informed the residents by doing text messaging action alerts, phone calls and face to face reminders. We also been working with the DHC resident service coordinator Ms Johnson and taking the seniors to Walmart. We have a staff that will ride with them to help them with their groceries and help them bring them back home as they are seniors. In closing, I wanted to thank you the DHC commission, commissioners and the staff for your continued support and to listening to our concerns again. Thank you so much. We appreciate You guys. Thank you Thank
you.
Any others jump over to Commissioner comments.
I just have one on the Human Resources report. The chart goes January to January. I'm not sure what that means that January 23 to January 24 or not sure what I'm what I'm seeing here, yeah, we'll
provide an updated calendar. It's just projection, but we will provide an updated one. Okay, yeah, it's just projection
understood, and we've got lots of it, including an HR director. We've got lots of vacancies. So yeah, I think maybe next meeting, I'd like to hear how that's going. We got a lot of key personnel rights out. I very much appreciate the interim work. I want everybody here that I really appreciate those who are new, the folks who are kicking on interim roles. But obviously there's some critical positions in here. Yeah, you get an update on where we're at on these and if we're having problems in the recruitment, I think I'd like to know that.
So next time, yeah,
we'll put it in informational updates.
Commissioner Evans
financial report.
So absolutely, we can do a financial report. We can so our Neva, are you on the call? If not, I can do it. So just financially, if you just take a quick glance, and we're happy to show year to date, and we're, I'm on page number, and neither you can jump in if you like, who's our controller. But just for the sake of time, on page 40, if you look at overall, our actuals were treading $786,000 unfavorably, but we feel that this will be a tiny difference. We did get noticed today from part of a reconciliation. They don't over a million. There you go. Neva for the REM program and then also for HCD. We always have to ask for reserves to pay, which they want us to fully you utilize to pay for the outflows that exceeds the inflows, and so that negative balance will be taken away as well. So overall, from a timing perspective, we do expect next month to show positive, favorable results. And by the you know we're treading to definitely to be within budget, not carry over funds. We're going to be close to the net because we're spending a lot of money trying to make the resident experience better, especially on inspire Neva. Would you like to add anything? Or was that good?
Yes. So HUD has went back 2020, 2021, and 22 years, and did the reconciliation based on their cash management procedures. So the total that we're going to receive is 76,874 for operating subsidy. That's all I would like to add. Yep, and
that's it to zero, but we know we're going to go back for HCB as well and do a draw from our reserves, as we did. This is normal practice that we did last year as well. Correct? Neva,
yes, it's just a timing issue. You
Hey, Be.
okay, any staff comments for a motion to adjourn, so moved four, all in favor Aye. job
