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

Thursday, November 19, 2020

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL - The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the McAllen Housing Authority was held Thursday, November 19, 2020, via Zoom teleconference.

Vice Chair Elda M. Cerda called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m. Present and attendance for roll call were:

Present:           
Vice Chair Elva M. Cerda
Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas
Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego
PHA Attorney Isaac Tawil

Absent:
Chair Ronnie Cruz
Commissioner Rodrigo "Rudy" Elizondo

Staff:
Executive Director Rodolfo "Rudy" Ramirez
Deputy Director Daniel Delgado
Finance Director Jose Garcia HVC Manager Elena Saucedo
Administrative Assistant Adriana Rosas
Maintenance Director George Dismukes
FSS Coordinator Maria Loredo
Resident Service Specialist Daniela Granados

Guest:Milnet Architectural Olivia Curry

1)      Call the meeting to order- 3:00 PM

2)    Public Comment - None

3)     Action Items:

a)      Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Meeting Minutes of Regular Board Meeting September 17, 2020 and October 21, 2020. Vice-Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained a motion to approve Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas made a motion to approve; seconded by Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego. All approved; motioned carried.

b)      Consideration and Possible Action to Award RFQ No. 2020-1; Architectural/Engineer Services. Vice-Chair, Elva M. Cerda made recommendation to table item, would like back up of top 3 and time to review. Executive Director, Rodolfo "Rudy" Ramirez stated we would bring it back in December. PHA Attorney, Isaac Tawil recommended we stay within procurement timeline and to take appropriate steps in case the agreement needs to be extended. Vice-Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained a motion to table item (RFQ No. 2020-1): Commissioner. Eliseo "Tito" Salinas made motion for approval: seconded by Resident Commissioner. Jesus Borrego. All approved: motioned carried.

c)      Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Resolution MCAHA 2020-09; A Resolution of the McAllen Housing Authority of the City of McAllen to enter new agreement with Texas Coalition of Affordable Power (TCAP). Deputy Director Daniel Delgado stated this resolution was to enter into a new agreement with Texas Coalition of Affordable Power (TCAP) under their new strategic hedging program. This program is able to negotiate electricity rates 2 years in advance from service, market is tested in order to give us favorable  rates. Rates in the past have not gone over 4.25 cents per kilowatt hour, with this new program we will see the possibility of more savings. If  the program were currently in place, there would have been a savings of $649.28 in 2018, $1,182.00 in 2019 and $923.00 in the current year; numbers can be seen on pg. 29 of board packet. Recommending approval to go into this program, we would have the option to sign up for 1 year to see how the market would perform, Harlingen Housing Authority is currently under the program. Vice-Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained a motion to approve Resolution MCAHA 2020-09: Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas made a motion for approval: seconded by Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego. All approved: motioned carried.

4)    Non-Action Items:

a)      Executive Director Report

• Hibiscus Village - Closing was rescheduled from Friday, November 20, 2020 to Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
• Envision Center-Application was submitted this week and are currently waiting to hear back.
• HUD CARE Fund -Additional funding received, in the amount of $493,000.00
• Finance Department- Internal audit preparations have begun and all of the  financials are being gathered in order to be prepared for submission and meet HUD deadline of March 31, 2021.
• Nelrod currently working on annual utility schedule, and will be presented soon.
• Thanksgiving Giveaway- Staff has received numerous donations for our Thanksgiving give away. We will be distributing some turkeys, but mainly gift cards are being distributed alongside food bags donated by the RGV Food Bank. Planning to give out donations on Monday and Tuesday of next week at the FDC Building. A total of $2,500 was gathered in donations.

b)      Staff Update: New Employee Introduction - Resident Service Specialist

• Daniela Granados- Currently has been with the agency for 3 weeks, had previously worked at Edinburg Housing Authority and has some experience with HUD, Public Housing, and the Voucher Program which has been helpful with transition.

c)    Veterans & Supportive Housing (VASH) Application Update

• Anticipating on receiving 11 new VASH Vouchers. Currently, we are still pending final approval, but we are very confident those vouchers will get approved. This will help us serve more Veterans.

d)      Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Update

• Currently there are 30 residents in the FSS Program, 7 residents from Public Housing and 23 are from the Housing Choice Voucher Program. We are pending changes to the FSS Action Plans and those should take effect in January 2021 or February 2021. Resident, Veronica Cano will be graduating from the program in January 2021, she has been with the program since 2015 and has achieved all her goals. We are 5 residents ahead of the minimum and anticipate our number to  grow before the end of the year.

e)      Financial Report as of 09/30/2020

• Income Statement Low Rent (fund 1), no longer source of revenues other than operating subsidies to subsidize the FDC and Caesar Chavez building. The significant portion of the money received from HUD for subsidies is gone, now very minimal related to those buildings. Focusing on cost allocation on some of the expenses, Vine Terrance transfer out and now were left with very little income there's a cost build up related to old allocations, $98,000 loss for the 3 months ending in 9/30/20. Going forward this not favorable, but it is due to lower revenues and allocation of funds as a result of Vine Terrance transfer out. Other than that all other number remained flat in this fund. Income Statement fund 7 some adjustment need to be made to this fund as a result of staff learning curve $494,000 not to be seen as a positive, but relatively flat number. Increase in administration cost and increase in money related to COVID for those tenants that are having hardship meeting rent, assistance provided $500,000 as of 9/30/20. Corrections will be made and send out within the first week of Dec. As a whole the agency was relatively flat we had some adjustments due to Vine Terrance transferring in and out, but as a whole flat on earnings, CARES Act money that will be reflected as income related in next quarter, $36,000 in public housing and $346,000 in Sec 8. Executive Director asked board for recommendation as to full financial reporting on a periodic basis. Discussed ensued and Vice Chair Cerda recommended full quarterly financial reporting should be acceptable with monthly summary of main financial points. A template will be provided to Finance Director for inclusion in future meetings.

5)    Executive Session: Closed Session Under Government Code 551Sections

a)      Update on Pending Litigation Matters

• ROFA Architects, Inc.

b)       Personnel Matter

• TWC Claim - Rocio Guerra vs. The McAllen Housing Authority

Vice-Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained a motion to enter Executive Session, Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas motioned: Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego seconded that motion. All approved: motion carried. Commissioners entered into Executive Session at 3:38 PM.

6)    Reconvened to open session; Action if any on: Consolation with PHA Attorney 551.071

Vice-Chair Elva M . Cerda reconvened the meeting at 4:07 PM

a)      Litigation matters; ROFA Architects, Inc.

• PHA Attorney, Isaac Tawil recommended the  board entertain a  motion  ratifying the authority discussed in Closed Session. Vice Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained motion ratifying the authority discussed in Executive Session, Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas motioned: Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego seconded that motion. All approved: motioned carried.

b)      Personal Matters; TWC Claim - Rocio Guerra vs. The McAllen Housing Authority

• No action was taken on item and therefore, no action needed in open session.

7)    Board Agenda Requests for December 2020 Board Meeting

• Workshop for Thursday, December 17, 2020 - RFQ No. 2020-1
• HR Policy updates

8)    Adjournment. Vice-Chair Elva M. Cerda entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Commissioner Eliseo "Tito" Salinas: seconded Resident Commissioner Jesus Borrego. All approved: motioned carried. Meeting Adjourned at 4:12 PM.