HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2013 - City Council Adjourned Meeting - City Council Special Meeting - Joint Study Sessions - Housing Authority1
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR ADJOURNED MEETING/STUDY SESSION AND
SPECIAL JOINT STUDY SESSION WITH THE COSTA MESA HOUSING
AUTHORITY
DECEMBER 10, 2013
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1A at
Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California.
ROLL CALL (00:00:24)
Present: Mayor Righeimer, Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger, Council Member Leece, and
Council Member Genis,
Absent: Council Member Monahan
Officials Present: Chief Executive Officer Thomas R. Hatch, City Attorney Thomas
Duarte, Assistant CEO Rick Francis, Economic and Development Services Director
Gary Armstrong, Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz, Senior Planner Minoo
Ashabi, and City Clerk Brenda Green.
Mayor Righeimer recused himself stating he was on the board of Mercy House.
(00:00:45)
PUBLIC COMMENT (00:01:24)
Mayor Righeimer stated he was on the board of Mercy House and spoke regarding
community support for the project. (00:01:43)
Flo Martin, Costa Mesa, spoke on the weekly potluck picnic; armory shelter; and
supports a facility for the Costa Mesa homeless. (00:02:28)
Kathy Esfahani, member of the Costa Mesa Affordable Housing Coalition, supports the
proposal for a facility for the homeless; and stated the coalition will work in support of
this proposal. (00:03:52)
Phil Eyskens, Pastor of the Lighthouse in Costa Mesa, supports the proposal for
supportive housing project; spoke on volunteers providing services for the homeless;
and shared homeless individual stories. (00:05:25)
Linda Tang, Costa Mesa Affordable Housing Coalition, spoke in support of the
supportive housing project; and working in partnership with the City. (00:07:39)
Beth Refakes, Costa Mesa, supports the supportive housing project; expressed concern
on community support based on property location; spoke on motel conversions; and
homeless from other cities. (00:09:13)
Minutes — Special Joint Study Session Meeting — December 10, 2013 - Page 1
Becks Heyhoe, Costa Mesa, spoke in support of efforts to help the homeless; creation
of housing units; and pledged community support. (00:11:38)
Phil Morello, Costa Mesa, spoke on past services provided for the homeless; expressed
concern on the property location on the Westside; and the negative impacts homeless
have on a neighborhood. (00:14:32)
REGULAR ITEM (00:16:12)
1. HOMELESS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT: DEVELOPMENT MODEL
OPTIONS
Rick Francis, Assistant CEO, spoke on the Homeless Task Force and Homeless
Supportive Housing; introduced Celeste Brady, Legal Counsel, Kathe Head from Keyser
Marston, Larry Haynes, Executive Director of Mercy House, Ken Souder, representing
Wakeland Development, and Muriel Ullman, Housing Consultant; and requested
direction from Council to make this goal happen. (00:16:18)
Larry Haynes, Executive Director of Mercy House, spoke regarding the citizens safety
concerns; community impacts; network of services; and permanent supportive housing.
(00:21:01)
Kathe Head, Keyser Marston, gave a slide presentation on the 9 goals from the
Homeless Task Force; spoke on Goal #6 Homeless Supportive Housing; spoke on
funding issues; project scenarios; alternative options; and provided a financial analysis.
(00:25:38)
Mr. Francis spoke regarding the overview of potential sites: Lion's Park; Senior Center
parking lot; community gardens; Dog Park; Civic Center Park; and requested Council's
input. (00:53:03)
City Council provided feedback regarding the priority recommendations and secondary
recommendations.
Priority Recommendations
1. Pursue the new construction of an "integrated" affordable housing project on
property owned by the City of Costa Mesa (City). Approximately 50% of the
units in the project would be rented to homeless residents and 50% of the
units would be rented to very -low income households earning less than 50%
of the Orange
County median income; and
2. New construction of a supportive housing project that is rented exclusively to
homeless residents. The project would be constructed on property owned by the
City.
Minutes — Special Joint Study Session Meeting — December 10, 2013 - Page 2
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Secondary Recommendations
1. Acquisition of an existing motel and converting it for the supportive housing
project;
and
2. Acquisition and rehabilitation of small apartment projects on scattered sites for
rental to homeless tenants; and
3. The creation of a tenant based rental assistance program that provides rent
subsidies for homeless tenants to be used at market -rate apartment projects.
COUNCIL MEMBERS' REPORTS, COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS (00:58:35)
Discussion ensued between Council Member Leece and Ms. Head regarding the project
operation; funding sources and operating reserves. (00:58:38)
Mr. Souder, Wakeland Development, spoke on 55 year city land leases; operating
subsidy; and corporate tax credits. (01:02:24)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Souder regarding his
previous projects. (01:03:50)
Discussion ensued between Council Member Leece and Mr. Francis regarding site
direction; timeline; and informing the community and neighborhood. (01:10:11)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Francis regarding
deadline and financial risks; and community outreach time frame. (01:12:35)
Discussion ensued between Council Member Genis and Mr. Souder regarding resident
services; homeless supportive services; site GPA and zoning; and site change.
(01:18:49)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Haynes regarding
overflow and transitional housing; intake process; and creating boundaries. (01:23:11)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and CEO Hatch regarding the
different options provided; smaller units throughout the community; decision needing to
be made by the end of February 2014; and funding sources. (01:28:39)
Discussion ensued between Council Member Leece and Mr. Haynes regarding length of
permanent supportive housing; and mental health services regarding MAHA financing.
(01:32:16)
Minutes — Special Joint Study Session Meeting — December 10, 2013 - Page 3
Discussion ensued between Council Member Leece and Mr. Francis regarding staff
needed for this project; and the responsibilities of Mercy House and Wakeland.
(01:34:45)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Haynes regarding the
role of the churches consortium in this process; CSUF Department of Social Work
volunteers; future housing projects; and future costs. (01:36:14)
Discussion ensued between -Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Francis regarding the
number of staff involved in this issue. (01:40:08)
Council Member Leece stated she would like staff to bring this issue to the Council so
they can decide what to do. (01:41:20)
Discussion ensued between Council Members regarding the Civic Center Park as a site
recommendation. (01:43:18)
Discussion ensued between Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger and Mr. Haynes regarding the
urgency of making a decision now, and site money available from other sources.
(01:46:10)
Discussion ensued between Council Member Genis and Mr. Haynes regarding the
necessity to begin community outreach as soon as possible. (01:47:54)
Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger stated this is a monumental decision; Civic Center site is the
logical site; expressed concerns with transitional housing; spoke on motel options; and
homeless housing. (01:49:26)
Council Member Leece spoke on the mental health issue; and supportive housing; and
would like to move forward and deal with any opposition from the community. (01:53:05)
CEO Hatch spoke regarding moving forward with the project. (01:55:03)
The Mayor Pro Tem Mensinger adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
tlAla*.��
Stephen Mensinger, Mayor
ATTEST:
Brenda Green,- C . -Clerk
Minutes — Special Joint Study Session Meeting — December 10, 2013 - Page 4