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Meeting Information



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MINUTES

Wednesday, September 24, 2003
6:00 P.M.

1800 Oakdale Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94124

I. Call to Order

Commission President Millard Larkin called the Wednesday, September 24, 2003 meeting to order at 6:17 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 Willie Kennedy,
Commissioner Ronald Person

Not Present: Commissioners Kim Nguyen (excused)

Staff Present: Robert Bryan, Deputy City Attorney; Toye Moses, Exec. Dir. SECFC;
Annette Price, SECF Commission Secretary.

IV. Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Kennedy moved and Commissioner Jones seconded to accept the minutes of Thursday, September 11, 2003. Motion passed to accept minutes as presented (5-0).

V. Communications
The Executive Director stated the following correspondence letter has been sent:

    _ Letter of Invitation to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman re: School Budget Cuts

VI. Presentation
Commissioner Larkin announced that Public Comment VII will be heard after each presentation and comments will be limited to three (3) minutes in length.

Commissioner Larkin welcomed and introduced Dean Veronica Hunnicutt, CCSF Southeast Campus, who will update the Commission on CCSF's biotechnology program.

After distributing informational flyers to the Commission/community, Dean Hunnicutt reported the biotechnology program is a partnership between CCSF and San Francisco Works. She stated there are two training programs, On-Ramp Biotech and Bridge to Biotech. Dean Hunnicutt went on to describe the On-Ramp Biotech Training Program, which will begin its 3rd cycle in November, as an
8-week program geared to helping students hone basic math/reading skills while introducing them to biotechnology. Once students complete the On-Ramp program, they are rotated into the advanced Bridge to Biotech program where they are exposed/trained in life sciences focusing on three integrated courses: math/language/practical biotech lab courses.

The Dean stated that 50% of students in the last cycle were offered internships and that 75% of the program's enrollment was from 94124 (BVHP) and 94134 (Visitation Valley) areas. Ms. Marlene Walker, Dean Hunnicutt's assistant, stated statistically entrance testing for the second cycle of the biotech program totaled 231. Of those tested, many placed with advanced scores that required enrollment in the advanced Bridge to Biotech program.

Commissioner Larkin requested that statistics of students referred to the advanced biotech program specifically for 94124 be provided when available. He then opened the floor up to the community.

Mr. Jeffrey Shaw congratulated Dean Hunnicutt on her success with the biotech program and announced that he will be working in conjunction with Dean Hunnicutt to sponsor a youth forum on October 2nd, 2003 here at Southeast from 6:00 - 8:00.

Commissioner Larkin introduced Juan Monsanto, Planning Director of the San Francisco Housing Authority (SFHA) who will give an update on the Release of Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Mr. Monsanto reported that several sites of Authority-owned land are in a condition of blight and decay. Because HUD has reduced the Authority's budget, which has affected capital fund programs, the Authority came up with the idea to create a series of revitalization efforts throughout the City to enable communities to become more progressive and self-sufficient. Hence, the "RFQ" was developed, modeled after the Hope VI Program, with a goal of maximizing the development potential of 18 existing Authority-owned sites and increase affordable housing for San Francisco residents.

On August 20, 2003 the Authority released the "RFQ" for individuals, development teams, community-based organizations, and citizens of San Francisco to come together and identify ways to increase the availability of affordable housing, e.g., infill housing, first-time homeownership, habitat for humanity opportunities, etc. The deadline for qualification submittal will be September 30, 2003.

Mr. Monsanto concluded by stating this "RFQ" was not developed as a means for relocating tenants but to redevelop and improve the community by providing quality housing and services. He then opened the floor for questions.

Commissioner Person questioned whether relocation notices had been issued by the Authority to public housing tenants. Mr. Monsanto stated the only relocation notices issued were for Valencia Gardens but noted if illegal activity has occurred on SFHA-owned land, SFHA as landlord is obligated to remove/evict persons for the safety of the community.

Commissioner Kennedy requested statistics of 94124 developers who had received the "RFQ"? Mr. Monsanto responded although he did not have any statistics, he stated 80 "RFQs" were requested from SFHA. Commissioner Kennedy questioned whether layoffs would occur once private property management companies took over the management of Authority-owned land. Mr. Monsanto responded the newly hired property management companies would be exclusively for the 5 or 6 sites under SFHA and stated he is unaware of any layoffs that have resulted from the assignment of new property management.

Commissioner Larkin asked what guarantees of return are given to families who are displaced after construction is complete; and what percentage of the security workforce will come from the BVHP area? Mr. Monsanto responded displacement is not an issue at this point because there is little interest in the BVHP community. Once interest increases and there is demolition by developers, families will be provided first-right to return. A relocation plan will also be prepared and made available.

Commissioner Larkin closed questions from the Commission and opened the floor to the community.

Many community members were very disturbed that no outreach efforts were made on the part of the Authority to inform BVHP residents of the "RFQ" release and were displeased that the release occurred in such a surreptitious manner, which prompted the following questions to Mr. Monsanto:

    _ Why weren't BVHP residents notified of this "RFQ"? SFHA did advertise in several newspapers. However, SFHA did not want to raise expectations of BVHP residents that redevelopment would occur until it was determined how much interest there would be.

    o Why are many public housing units boarded-up? The cost to rehab each unit is $7,000. Due to budget cuts, SFHA does not have the financial means to make necessary repairs. SFHA's main priority is to provide a safe living environment to those residents that currently occupy habitable units.

    o Will residents own their own property? Residents would own only the improvement, not the land, which will be renewable after 99 years.

    o If the Section 8 voucher program is reduced next year, what will happen to its participants? If the voucher program were cut, public housing would be the only source for low-income families.

Ms. Maria Wilson of Soul'd Out Productions, a BVHP nonprofit organization that provides free services to community residents, distributed copies of a 30-day Notice to Vacate improperly served from SFHA (letter dated 9/2 - tenant to vacate 10/1). Mr. Monsanto promised to follow-up with Ms. Wilson.

Ms. Esther Blanchard voiced concern specifically with the ambiguity of language in the "RFQ". She stated that the community deserved to give input and to ask questions regarding the "RFQ" prior to its release. Mr. Monsanto responded that the language in the "RFQ" was drafted by the Authority's contract department and noted that SFHA needed to be specific when qualifications were requested.

Mr. Bozeman asked that the "RFQ" be reopened to allow BVHP involvement/input since there has been very little interest in BVHP by outside developers. Mr. Monsanto stated it might be possible to reopen the "RFQ"; however, the final decision would rest with the Executive Director.

Commissioner Larkin closed questions and commented the community does have several alternatives in dealing with the release of this "RFQ" and should consider what their next step should be. He thanked Mr. Monsanto noting that although he caught a lot of anger, he hopes that he will take back with him all the concerns voiced by the community and report those concerns to his superiors.

VII. Directors Report

    a. Exe. Dir. Moses reported: Due to limited parking spaces available in SECF parking lot, installation of an electric gate will begin very shortly. We will keep you updated.

    b. A public address system will be installed at SECF to allow easy broadcast to SECF tenants in case of emergency.

    c. Director Moses announced that Reverend Sampson of New Hope Baptist Church would be the newly appointed SECF commissioner to replace the late Commissioner Enola Maxwell. The Mayor will swear in Reverend Sampson on October 8th, 2003 at 4:30.

Commissioner Brown moved and Commissioners Kennedy seconded to accept the Director's report. Motion passed to accept report as presented (5-0).

Public Comment
Mr. Ulysses Montgomery asked what amount of rental income does Decorative Plant generate and requested statistics of 94124 hires over the past 10 years? Director Moses responded that although the Commission approves and/or rejects Decorative Plant's lease, PUC Department of Real Estate prepares and oversees the lease and sets forth conditions of compliance. Dir. Moses advised Mr. Montgomery to contact staff if more information is needed and he would be happy to comply.

VIII. Introduction of New Business
Commissioner Brown requested that staff pre-schedule a meeting with SFHA before the end of the year. Commissioner Larkin instructed staff to schedule a return date for October 9, 2003.

IX. Announcement
Commissioner Kennedy reminded that the Motown Revue would take place on September 26, 2003 from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. at the Marriott Hotel, 55 Fourth St., SF CA. Tickets will be $85.00.

Mr. Andrew Bozeman announced that on Thursday, October 2nd, 2003 at Shekinah Christian Fellowship Church, 2650 San Bruno Avenue there would be a mayoral debate sponsored by ROSES from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

X. Adjournment

Commissioner Kennedy moved and Commissioner Brown seconded to adjourn the SECF Commission Meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.


                Respectfully submitted,


                _____________________

                Commission Secretary