I. Call to Order
Commission President Millard Larkin called the Thursday, March 13, 2003 meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.
II. Announcement
Commissioner Larkin read the Sunshine Ordinance aloud and welcomed everyone to the meeting.
III. Roll Call
Present: Commissioner Millard Larkin, Commissioner Bobbrie Brown,
Commissioner Louise Jones, Commissioner Kim Nguyen
Not Present: Commissioner Willie Kennedy, Commissioner Enola Maxwell
Commissioner Ronald Person
Staff Present: Robert Bryan, Deputy City Attorney; Toye Moses, Exec. Dir. SECFC;
Annette Price, SECF Commission Secretary.
Before beginning the meeting, Commissioner Larkin extended his appreciation to the outgoing Commissioners Heidi Hardin, Malik Looper, and Atilfae Tofaeono for their time, energy, support, and dedicated service to the Community. "You have served us well."
He also welcomed the three new commissioners replacing them -- Louise Jones, former Asst. Superintendent of Elementary Instructional Support/Operations; Willie Kennedy, former member of SF Board of Supervisors; and Ronald Person, Director Office of AIDS Administration in Oakland. He stated their ability coupled with their experience as well as the other commissioners sitting on this Commission will ensure that we meet all of the challenges put before us.
IV. Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Jones seconded to accept the minutes of Thursday, February 13, 2003. Motion passed to accept minutes as presented.
V. Public Comment
There was no public comment.
VI. Communications
The Executive Director reported that two letters were generated by staff: First being a draft letter to Barbara Brown of United Council in support of her efforts to buy 2 parcels of real estate in her efforts to help the homeless. The second draft letter is to Supervisor Sophie Maxwell inviting her to a future commission meeting to address parking issues and car abandonments. Once these letters are approved by the Commission, they will be forwarded to the recipients.
Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Nguyen seconded that both letters be sent in final form.
VII. New Business
a) Commissioner Larkin stated the Commission priority/recommendation list of agenda items for the 2003 calendar year is open for discussion by commissioners. This is a list of individuals/organizations the commission and community would like to come before the Commission to discuss certain concerns they have. After discussion among the Commission, it was decided to prioritize the list as follows: 1) Light Rail, 2) Friendly invitation to Mayor Brown; 3) Invitation to Trent Rhorer; 4) Invitation to Tax Assessor Mabel Teng; 5) Invitation to Acting Dir. John Arntz, Dept. of Elections; 6) Invitation to Lennar; 7) Invitation to Ed Smeloff; 8) Invitation to Dean Hunnicutt.
b) The Executive Director stated as instructed by the Mayor, we have reduced our budget by 10%, which will impact our four childcare centers greatly. This budget cut will go before the SF Board of Supervisors Finance Committee in the near future and we will need all the support of the community to urge the Board to overturn the decision. I will make the community aware when the date is set.
Commissioner Brown questioned what impact the budget cut will have on the daycare centers? The Executive Director responded that funds will be extremely limited when the centers request service from other departments, i.e., DPW for plumbing problems, carpentry, sheet metal.
Commissioner Larkin opened the floor to the community.
Shirley Jones, Executive Director of CAHEED Daycare Center questioned whether every daycare will be allocated a certain amount of money or whether the funds will be combined? The Executive Director responded yes, all funds are combined at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Mr. Francisco De Costa, San Francisco resident in the Southeast sector and member of Environmental Justice Advocates stated that the Southeast Community Facility was built as a mitigation measure by the SFPUC in consideration for the sewage treatment plant expansion. He expressed concern that the sewage treatment plant today is taking 80% of raw sewage from all over the city and 100% from Daly City, Brisbane, Burlingame and who knows which other areas. Mr. DeCosta stated it is only fair as a mitigation process that SFPUC contribute something toward the education of BVHP children. With all the budget cuts happening, we must come up with innovative ways to help ourselves.
Commissioner Larkin responded by informing Mr. DeCosta that the Commission is in the process of forming an advisory group to deal with the mitigation issue. We are ensuring that we have the appropriate documentation to go forward to success. Within the next several meetings, that group will be appointed and will be made public.
VIII. Presentations
Commissioner Larkin welcomed Reverend Arnold Townsend who will be speaking on affordable housing in the BVHP community. Reverend Townsend thanked the Commission for the invitation to speak to the Community.
Reverend Townsend explained that there has been an ongoing loss of homeownership by African-Americans in the BVHP community and that he and associates wanted to do something to curtail that. Rev. Townsend stated he is in partnership with three other individuals, Martin Dalton, UPC Holdings, Atty Tim Tosta, and Rev. Arelious Walker of True Hope Church of God in Christ. Together they have come up with an idea to create a four-step strategic model for Bayview Hope Housing. It will consist of a 22-unit affordable housing development on True Hope Church of God in Christ's parking lot. The units will sale anywhere from $250,000 to $280,000 or no more than 33% of one's income per month. Rev. Townsend stated this project was made possible by the Spear Street project.
In exchange for allowing the development to be built on True Hope's parking lot, the church will make a profit of $35,000 to $50,000 per unit, which will go to support its ministry. Developer Dalton will also benefit by satisfying a portion of his exclusionary requirement, which requires that any new residential development with 10 units or more set aside 10% of those units for affordable rental/for-sale housing. Rev. Townsend also stated that Height Street Mortgage Co. for the last year conducted credit seminars in the BVHP community to educate first-time homebuyers on certain standards needed in order to qualify, i.e,. clearing up credit problems, paying off credit card debt, running credit reports, etc.
In closing, Reverend Townsend asked that the Commission support his efforts in providing affordable housing to the Community.
Commissioner Jones inquired as to the selection process for qualified buyers? Rev. Townsend responded that his group is working with the Mayor's Office of Housing for some of the units and one criterion that has been suggested is a lottery. Other criteria is the zip code the individual resides in, when the individual first became involved in the process.
Commissioner Nguyen questioned where the funding to build such a large project would come from? Rev. Townsend responded the developer will fund the entire project. The benefit to the developer being units he would have to make affordable downtown will be selling at the market rate.
Shirley Jones, BVHP resident, questioned whether Reverend Walker is donating his land or being paid for his land. Rev. Townsend responded the land is Rev. Walker's contribution. Ms. Jones also inquired as to whom the lender will be for the homebuyers. Rev. Townsend responded that City Group and also Wells Fargo are interested. Ms. Jones also followed up with whether environmental studies have been performed to determine what effect this new construction will have on parking conditions. Rev. Townsend stated a new parking lot will be constructed beginning next week right behind the church to replace the lost parking that will occur from the new construction.
Commissioner Larkin stated the design looks very good and the way the financing will occur is extremely nice. However, I personally would like to see floor plans, square footage of these units, a list of organizations that you'll be working with, the contractors and consultants from this community that you will be using. Rev. Townsend responded those will be provided at the next commission meeting. He also added that this project will also give subcontractors in the community the opportunity for employment. This partnership has promised to use all YCD subcontracts.
Commissioner Larkin concluded by thanking Rev. Townsend for an outstanding and very informative presentation. He added that in order to support this venture, one of the commissioners would need to place it under new business as a discussion/action item. As a body that represents the community, we are charged with making sure that the concerns the city might have for housing are addressed. Therefore, I will charge staff with finding out what those concerns are, unless that's something that you can share with them. So that when you come back in front of us again, we'll have had an opportunity to see the floor plan and amenities that come along with the new construction.
Commissioner Jones also asked that documentation of various community meetings that have taken place relative to this venture be provided. Commissioner Nguyen also requested a more clear-cut strategy of how this venture will integrate certain job opportunities into the community. Commissioner Larkin asked that a packet with everything asked for be sent to the Commission in advance of the next commission meeting so that we'll have read everything. Again, thank you very much for your presentation.
IX. Directors Report Dr. Moses reported that:
a) As you can see, the window blinds have been temporarily removed in the Community Room. The SFFD came today and stated unless we had clearance that the blinds were fire resistant, they could not give a recommendation for approval. So the blinds were removed temporarily until it could be determined that they were fire resistant, which ultimately they were.
b) The four childcare centers are doing well. I met with Dennis Yee of MOCD last week. They are in receipt of some money to renovate two of the childcare facilities, EPM and MLK, which are badly in need of repair.
c) Regarding the 10% budget cut, there is no new news to report.
d) Regarding the Entertainment permit, we are scheduled for a hearing on March 19, 2003, located at the Hall of Justice, Rm. 551 at 1:00 p.m. Please come and advocate to ensure approval.
X. New Business
Commissioner Larkin requested that the following items be placed under New Business for the next commission meeting:
_ Idea of how to create a program that residents of 94124 could benefit sponsored by Commission Nguyen
_ Dinner welcoming new SECF Commissioners and saying farewell to retired SECF Commissioners with the understanding that no past, present, or future commission business will be discussed at this dinner.
XI. Announcement
Commissioner Larkin thanked the Commission/Staff for the wonderful wreath that was sent to his father's wake. It really touched my heart and heart of my family. I also want to let Commissioners know that Reginald Smith lost his father a couple of days ago and that on behalf of the Commission, I gave him our condolences. The Chair will entertain motion for adjournment.
XII. Adjournment
Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioner Jones seconded to adjourn the SECF Commission Meeting in a moment of silence in memory of Commissioner Larkin and Mr. Reginald Smith's father. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________
Commission Secretary
