Title
September 27, 2018 Minutes
Body
1. Call to order: the meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m.
Vice-President Chilcott called the meeting to order. Cheryl Harawitz, the newest member of the Board, introduced herself and shared her background in social work and her interests. Board members introduced themselves and each provided a brief overview of their background.
Roll Call: Audrey Hyman (President), Christine Chilcott (Vice-President), Cheryl Harawitz, Jennifer Hastings, Kale Jenks, Claudia Medina
Absent: Mark Sorensen
2. Approval of minutes
Jenks made the motion to approve the June 28, 2018 meeting minutes. Hastings seconded. The June 28, 2018 minutes were approved 5-1 as presented. Harawitz abstained given that she was not a member of the Board during that meeting.
3. Agenda Items
3-A Presentation Establishing a local Census 2020 Complete Count Committee
Lia Bolden, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, provided a brief overview of the history and purpose of the Census. Bolden said that the Census has always had a hard time counting the 313 million people in the United States living in approximately 100 million housing units. She explained the mission of the Census and the mandate to count the population every 10 years. Several million dollars in funds go back to local communities due to the Census.
Bolden said that the Census has been challenged with declining response rate and distrust in government. With increased diversity and continued mobility of the population, it makes it harder to count, and the goal is to “count only once and in the right place.” There are lots of job opportunities currently available with the Census, and there is a great need to hire local residents, especially those that speak the languages in their communities. The census is available in 12 major languages and is translated in a total of 59 languages. The official count is the one submitted to the President on December 31.
There is $90.3 million in funding for California to carry-out census work. Bolden encourages local jurisdictions to work with their County’s Complete Count Committee. Alameda County just hired a full-time staff for its Complete Count Committee and appropriated $1.5 million in funds. Bolden discussed the process of forming a Complete Count Committee locally.
Bolden was asked about the citizenship status question that will be added on the 2020 census. She responded that the Department of Commerce decided to add this question and it is currently under litigation.
3-B Housing Authority Rent Stabilization
Jennifer Kauffman, Management Analyst with the Housing Authority, presented the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Rent Stabilization Annual Report. She asked the Board for their support in helping residents of Alameda know about the rent stabilization program and their rights as tenants. Kauffmann highlighted some key findings in the report, including the following: there are 31,408 households in Alameda, 50% are renters, and 13,389 units are subject to rent stabilization; 45% of renters spend at least 30% of their income on rent; 62% of units subject to the rent stabilization policy are owned by landlords with more than 5 units. Before the ordinance, the monthly rent percentage increase was over 8% per year, which went down to about 5% after the ordinance. Kauffman also provided an overview of program-specific outcomes in mediating landlord and tenant cases.
Kauffman stated that rent stabilization policies are unique to each city. She announced that there is currently an open position in their Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC), the body that hears the cases about rent increases. She asked the Board to help get the word out about the opening.
Kauffman fielded the following questions from the Board and responded as follows:
• How does the Housing Authority monitor illegal units such as renting out the garage or other non-legal units? Answer: the Housing Authority does not have purview over enforcement of illegal units.
• What is the timeline to get cases heard through the RRAC? Answer: generally about 4-6 weeks before the case is heard from the time submitted due to the administration of the sunshine ordinance and completing the paperwork.
• Does the ordinance apply to all rentals with 5 or more units or are there exceptions? Answer: There are some exceptions on what units are not covered, such as a mobile home. Alameda does not have a carve-out.
3-C Discussion about the Homeless Action Plan Workgroup and coordination of future projects:
Hyman stated that with the recent resignation of Board member Sherice Youngblood, there is a vacancy on the Homeless Action Plan Workgroup that needs to be filled. She asked Bagtas to provide a report on the projects for the homeless.
Bagtas provided an update on the projects and initiatives happening in Alameda and talked about possible role for SSHRB, including researching the feasibility of implementing best practices and evidence-based programs to support the homeless in Alameda and advancing policy recommendations to the City Council.
Harawitz volunteered to serve on the Homeless Action Plan Workgroup.
3-D Nomination of SSHRB Officers:
Chilcott nominated Audrey Hyman for President. Audrey Hyman accepted. No other nominations were put forward for President.
Hastings nominated Chilcott for Vice-President. Chilcott accepted. No other nominations were put forward for Vice-President.
4. Staff communications
5. Workgroup Reports
• Human Relations Workgroup-Chilcott / Sorensen / Medina: Chilcott reminded the Board that the Community Service Awards is scheduled on November 8 and asked members to help with the set-up and breakdown on the day of the event. Chilcott will remind the Board as the date gets closer. Nomination packets have been sent to the judges and are due back on October 8.
• Assessment and Awareness Workgroup-Hastings / Jenks: Jenks reported that they have not received any new requests for presentations. He thanked Board President Hyman for doing the presentation at the Community Services Luncheon. Jenks said that he and Hastings can put together a summary of the issues brought up in the survey, after which, the workgroup may be put on hiatus until new projects are identified.
• Homeless Action Plan Workgroup-Hyman: no report
6. Staff Communication
Hyman requested to move the October meeting to another day due to scheduling conflicts. The meeting was changed to Wednesday, October 17. As is practice in previous years, the November and December meetings have been combined and is scheduled for November 29.
Bagtas requested that a Certificate of Recognition be presented to Sherice Youngblood for her service to SSHRB. President Hyman will contact Youngblood and invite her to a SSHRB meeting to present the certificate.
7. Oral Communications
• Medina announced the AUSD Speakers Series starting on November 1 with marijuana and its impact on the brain, mental health and suicide prevention on November 15, and screenagers on a date to be announced.
• Hyman announced that Ruby Bridges Elementary School is having a STEAM night. Everyone is welcome.
8. Adjournment: Chilcott made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Medina second. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.