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MHA Meeting Minutes October 21, 2020

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE MCALLEN HOUSING AUTHORITY REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL - The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the McAllen Housing Authority was held Wednesday, October 21, 2020 via teleconference. Chairman Ronnie Cruz called the meeting to order 3:35 p.m. at present and attendance for roll call were:

Present:

  • Chairman, Ronnie Cruz
  • Vice-Chairwoman, Elva M. Cerda
  • Commissioner, Eliseo "Tito" Salinas
  • Resident Commissioner, Jesus Borrego
  • PHA Attorney, Isaac Tawil

Absent:

  • Commissioner, Rodrigo "Rudy" Elizondo

Staff:

  • Executive Director, Rodolfo "Rudy" Ramirez
  • Deputy Director, Daniel Delgado
  • Maintenance Director, George Dismuke
  • FSS Coordinator, Maria Loredo
  • HCV Manager, Elena Saucedo
  1. Call Meeting to Order- 3:35 p.m.

  2. Public Comment - No Public Comment

  3. Appointment of New Board of Commissioners to the Housing Authority of the City of McAllen and its Instrumentalities. Place 5. PHA Attorney, Isaac Tawil administered the oath to appoint Mr. Jesus Borrego to Place 5

  4. Action Item:
    1. Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Resolution No. 22020-08; A Resolution of the McAllen Housing Authority Adopting the 2021 Payment Standard for the Housing Choice Voucher (HVC) Program. Deputy Director, Daniel Delgado stated that HUD requires payment standards be set for (HVC) program between 90% and 110% of fair market value, max amount of rent subsidy that landlords can be paid under the program. Currently, for 2020 it is set at 110%, and has been working well. Deputy Director, proposing to keep it at 110% for the year 2021, payment standards would take effective January 1, 2021, with 30-day notice. Chairman Ronnie Cruz entertained a motion to approve Resolution No. 2020-081 Vice­Chairwoman Elva M. Cerda made a motion to approve; seconded by Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas. All approved; motion carried.

  5. Non-Action Items:

    1. Executive Director's Report
      Envision Center GAP Analysis is being worked on, outreach to the City of McAllen and STC has been made to get their support. Zoom meeting with Anjanette Garza who works with the McAllen School District and does community outreach. They are interested in reconnecting, and possibly entering an MOU in order to collaborate, and expand endeavors to better serve our children. This partnership would be part of EnVision Center working with a federal agency such as the Department of Education in order to share data and coding to better assist our kids in the education process. EnVision Center would serve not only our residents, but our community. Green Jay logo proposed draft was previously approved by Elisa and Arnold, but can be amended. Committee would like to see it revised with more colors and more focus on the bird, updates to be presented at a later date. Caesar Chavez building should be ready by mid- December. Staff will take a drive to Brownsville EnVision Center in order to gather more information.

    2. Staff Update: Employee Introduction - Maintenance Director
      Recently moved from Corpus Christi, Superintendent for Magellan Corporation, retired pilot for Southwest Airlines, and served 21 years in the Air Force. Started as a technician with the agency.

    3. Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Update
      Between July and August, there were 25 active residents in the program. Currently at 29, numbers are slowly increasing. There will be a PCC Meeting next week on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. Some of the partners that will be present at the meeting are: Frost Bank, Driscoll Health Plan, Affordable Homes of South Texas, Region One Education Serve Center, BBVA USA, a well as an HCV and Public housing participants for the FSS Program. Mass outreach through email in order to let those in the program know of the opportunities we have. We have had some workshops with BBVA for Homeownership, they are being informed and have had participation for those in the program.

    4. Veterans & Supportive Housing (VASH) Application Update
      Currently there are no updates, agency checks in once a week for status.

  6. Adjournment - Chairman Ronnie Cruz called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Commissioner Eliseo ''Tito" Salinas; second by Vice-Chairwoman Elva M. Cerda. All approved; motioned carried. Meeting adjourned at 4:00 p.m.

Rodolfo "Rudy" Ramirez, Executive Director

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