07-01-2021 Special Joint Meeting City Council Housing AuthorityMINUTES
SPECIAL WORKSHOP SESSION CITY COUNCIL
AND THE SCHERTZ HOUSING AUTHORITY
July 1, 2021
A Special Workshop Session with the Schertz Housing Authority was held by the Schertz
City Council of the City of Schertz, Texas, on July 1, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. in the Hal
Baldwin Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building #4,
Schertz, Texas. The following members present to -wit:
Present: Mayor Ralph Gutierrez; Mayor Pro -Tem Jill Whittaker; Councilmember
Mark Davis; Councilmember David Scagliola; Councilmember Allison
Heyward; Councilmember Tim Brown
Absent: Councilmember Rosemary Scott; Councilmember Michael Dahle
City Staff. Assistant City Manager Brian James; Assistant to the City Manager Sarah
Gonzalez; Deputy City Secretary Sheila Edmondson
Attendees: Cristi LaJeunesse, Executive Director; Debbie Villarreal, Deputy Director;
Cindy Mackechney, Public Housing Manager; Len Weinand, Chairperson;
Brian Edgington, Vice Chairperson; Dana Eldridge, Commissioner; John
Meyer, Commissioner; Valinda Brooks, Commissioner
Call to Order
Mayor Ralph Gutierrez called the meeting to order at 8:30 am and recognized Schertz
Housing Authority and Chair Len Weinand.
Chair Len Weinand thanked the Mayor and City Council for the opportunity to have this
Joint Workshop Session with the Schertz Housing Authority. Chair Weinand wanted to
introduce the Schertz Housing Authority and share with the City Council what they do
and what they bring to the community. He stated that his first introduction to the Schertz
Housing Authority was when Schertz Mayor Michael Carpenter asked him to serve on the
board years ago, and he has been there since. Chair Weinand thanked the City for their
support asked the Schertz Housing Authority Board to come to the podium and introduce
themselves.
Schertz Housing Authority Board of Commissioners:
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Mr. Brian Edgington, Vice Chair, thanked the City Council for this opportunity to have
this joint meeting. He wanted to let the City know how appreciative the Schertz Housing
Authority is with the City's support and partnership. Mr. Edgington is looking forward to
growing together to make the city better.
Ms. Valinda Brooks, Commissioner has been with the Schertz Housing Authority for the
last year and seven months. She has learned so much about the housing needs of the
community. Ms. Brooks is a retired businesswoman and nurse and wants to serve the
community. Ms. Brooks looks forward to working hand in hand with the City to make this
a better place.
Mr. John Meyer, Commissioner is newly retired and is a full time real estate investor. He
has been on the Schertz Housing Authority Board for almost three years. Mr. Meyer
appreciates the City working with the Schertz Housing Authority Board to make the city
better. He is happy to be part of the community and looking forward to helping out.
Mr. Dana Eldridge, Commissioner has served on the Schertz Housing Authority Board for
approximately six years. The Schertz Housing Authority has done so many good things
since he has been on the Board.
Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse, Schertz Housing Authority introduced herself and
her staff:
Deputy Director Debbie Villarreal, Schertz Housing Authority
Public Housing Manager Cindy Mackechney, Schertz Housing Authority
Hearing of Residents
This time is set aside for any person who wishes to address the City Council. Each person
should fill out the speaker's register prior to the meeting. Presentations should be limited
to no more than 3 minutes.
All remarks shall be addressed to the Council as a body, and not to any individual
member thereof. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks
while addressing the Council may be requested to leave the meeting.
There were no residents to speak at this time.
Workshop
o Discussion regarding the Schertz Housing Authority Mission and Goals
Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse gave a Powerpoint on the Schertz Housing
Authority's Mission and Goals.
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Funding for the Schertz Housing Authority comes from: Operating Subsidy, Capital
Fund Program Subsidy (CFP), Rents, Total PHA, Funding /Cost Per Unit Per Month
and Section Housing Funding.
The Public Housing Expense 2020:
Administration- $160,099- 28%
Maintenance - $240,062 -42%
Contracts- $86,563 -15%
Utilities - $84,549 -15%
Public Housing Demographics
• Elderly / Disabled Property
• 76 public housing units
f 82 public housing residents
. Age Range -31 to 92 yrs
*Income range (annual) $1,785- $24,205
o Tent Rent- $50 -605 per month/ Collections avg. 99%
Section 8 Demographics
• Total Voucher available: 153
• Currently leased: 147
*Incoming Portable Vouchers: 8
* Outgoing Portable Vouchers: 2
• Total family /members served: 305, 137 are dependents
• Average income: $13,432
• Range of Tenant Rent: 041,282
• Range of Rent Paid to Owner by Housing Authority: $92 42,411
Mayor Pro -Tem Whittaker asked about if the persons who are applying with the
Schertz Housing Authority live in Schertz or want to live in Schertz. Executive
Director Cristi LaJeunesse explained that if someone who lives in New York can
apply with the Schertz Housing Authority and if they receive a voucher, they are
committing to live in Schertz for a year. If an out -of -state person has a voucher, they
can "port" or bring their voucher to live in the city. The Schertz Housing Authority
works with Universal City, Converse, Cibolo, Schertz and Selma to find available
housing.
Waiting List Public Housing Program
• One Bedroom -80 families
• Two Bedroom -9 families
Average move outs in last 12 months -7 families. This has been higher than
previous years due to COVID.
Average move outs in last 12 months for Yoakum -10 families (94 units)
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Average move outs in last 12 months for Kennedy -24 families (72 units)
These are properties of similar size and are mixed population,
elderly /disabled and families
Waiting List Section 8 Voucher Program
e 3 8 families
« 6 of these families have been offered vouchers to find housing
e The waiting list will open in mid -July for one month for the Section 8 program
o We anticipate over 200 applications during that time.
Eligibility
* Annual Gross income at our below low income level
e, Determined at County or Metropolitan area
9, Low income limit 80% of meidan income
e Very low income limit 50% of meidan income
• Extremely low income limit is 305 of median income
• https / /www.huduser.gov /portal /datasets /il.html
• US Citizenship or eligible immigrant status -one member must qualify and have
social security number
• Elderly, disabled and family- elderly and/or disabled qualify for additional
allowances
Must prohibit admission(24 CFR Part 5.854 - 5.857)
• Member evicted from federally assisted housing withing the previous three years
• Currently engaged in illegal drug use
• Members abuse alcohol interferes with the health, safety, or right to peaceful
enjoyment of the others
• Lifetime registered sex offender
Suitability! Not the Same as Eligible
• Past rental history
• Credit history
o Additional criminal screening criteria
Public Housing/ Low Rent
• Local Government Entity -owned and operated by Housing Authority
*Applicant Income may not exceed 80% of meidan income
*Housing Authority may have local preference setting income limit lower
• PHA is the landlord and enforces the lease
Housing Choice Voucher
• Income typically may not exceed 50% of median income for area
• Family portion of rent may not exceed 40% of monthly adjusted income at move
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in
• Choice! Portable voucher
• Housing Authority does not own the unit (typically)
• Owner or managing agent enforces the lease
Income? What Counts
Rent is determined by total gross income received less allowable deductions
s Elderly/ disabled family ($400)
• Dependent deduction ( $480)
• Medical expense (Elderly/Disabled family only)
• Disability expense
• Childcare
Contracting Costs
Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse stated that one of the largest challenges the
Schertz Housing Authority has is with the system of hiring a contractor in the City of
Schertz. Current building codes require a licensed contractor for certain work, and
they would prefer to use their maintenance staff to do the repairs to save money.
Chair Len Weinand wanted the City Council to understand that the little money
Schertz Housing Authority has, they would like to spend it on the residents, not on
contractors.
Coming Soon: The Schertz Housing Authority will be creating a Public Facility
Corporation that will eventually be a non - profit organization in the future.
Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse wanted to thank the City Council for their
support and appreciates Councilmember Mark Davis for being the Schertz City
Council Liaison.
Mayor Gutierrez thanked Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse for her presentation
and opened the meeting up to City Council.
Mayor Pro -Tem Whittaker asked City Staff, what is the ordinance that prohibits the
use of the Schertz Housing Authority maintenance staff to do the work themselves?
Assistant City Manager Brian James stated that the Building Codes do allow some
exceptions for maintenance staff to do work on their properties. He would like to
have a sit down meeting with the Schertz Housing Authority and City Staff to
discuss their concerns and the current building codes and identify what work could
be done by their maintenance staff vs. a contractor
Councilmember Mark Davis felt it was very important that the City Council and
Schertz Housing Authority Board meet. He wanted the City Council to have a good
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understanding of the Housing Authority's roles and responsibilities. Councilmember
Mark Davis asked Assistant City Manager Brian James if the requirement for a
resident to have a licensed contractor to do a repair, is the government entity held to
the same requirement?
Assistant City Manager Brian James stated these governing agencies do have to
follow the building codes, however the codes have provisions for maintenance staff
of facilities that employ licensed personnel that can do the work in- house. Once we
sit down with the Schertz Housing Authority, we can distinguish what work will need
a licensed contractor and what work does not.
Councilmember Mark Davis asked for clarification if the Schertz Housing Authority
chose a licensed contractor that isn't registered with the city, what would the
requirement be for the licensed contractor to work in the city.
Assistant City Manager Brian James explained the city would verify the contractor's
license with the state, show proof of the insurance requirements and then that
contractor can pull the proper permits.
Mayor Ralph Gutierrez and City Council stated they appreciate everything the
Housing Authority and the Board does for the community. Mayor Ralph Gutierrez
was thankful for all the information provided in the PowerPoint which was quite
informative.
Topics that Schertz Housing Authority would like to discuss include:
• Work that requires a licensed contractor vs. work that can be done by the
Schertz Housing Authority Maintenance Staff
State Insurance requirements: Licensed contractor's insurance, the Schertz
Housing Authority's insurance
. Current Building Codes concerning General Contractor requirements
• Clarification: City's licensed contractor list vs. a preferred contractor list
Assistant City Manager Brian James believes a meeting with the Schertz Housing
Authority will help answer specific building code questions they may have and
address all the concerns they brought up today.
Mayor Gutierrez again thanked Executive Director Cristi LaJeunesse and the Schertz
Housing Authority Board for making a big difference in our community.
Adjournment
Mayor Gutierrez adjourned the meeting at 10:07 am.
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ATTEST:
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Sheila Edmondsdi, Deputy City Secretary
ph , u ierrez, Mayor
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