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Meeting Name: HOUSING AUTHORITY Agenda status: Final
Meeting date/time: 3/12/2019 1:30 PM Minutes status: Final  
Meeting location: City Hall, Room 301B, 200 East Wells Street
Published agenda: Agenda Agenda Published minutes: Minutes Minutes  
Meeting video: eComment: Not available  
Attachments:
File #Ver.Agenda #TypeTitleActionResultTallyAction DetailsVideo
     The mission of the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee (HACM) is to foster strong, resilient and inclusive communities by providing a continuum of high-quality housing options that support self-sufficiency, good quality of life, and the opportunity to thrive.    Not available
     Call to Order

Minutes note: Meeting called to order at 1:45 p.m.
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     Roll Call    Roll call Not available
   A. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA    Not available
     CONSENT AGENDA – ITEMS RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL (All items listed under the Consent Agenda will be enacted by one motion unless a Commissioner requires otherwise, in which event, the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately.)    Not available
R13034 01.MotionApproval of the minutes of the regular meeting held on February 6, 2019APPROVEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
R13035 02.Housing Authority ResolutionResolution approving the execution of a Reciprocal Access and Parking Agreement relative to Westlawn Gardens and authorizing the Secretary-Executive Director to execute the Reciprocal Access and Parking Agreement on behalf of Westlawn Renaissance, LLC, WG Scattered Sites, LLC and Victory Manor, LLCADOPTEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
R13036 03.Housing Authority ResolutionResolution approving a Co-Developer and Representation Agreement between the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee and Travaux, IncorporatedADOPTEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
R13037 04.Housing Authority ResolutionResolution approving an Amendment to the Cooperation Agreement for the receipt and furnishing of services, materials and equipment between the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee and Travaux, IncorporatedADOPTEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
R13038 05.Housing Authority ResolutionResolution approving an amendment to contract No. 18-023 with Hero Plumbing, LLC for annual plumbing maintenance services at various housing developments This amendment will increase the contract price by an amount not to exceed $100,000 for a total contract amount of $256,701.ADOPTEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
   B. REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS    Not available
R13039 01.Housing Authority ResolutionResolution commending Ms. Sue Kenealy for 44 years of service to the citizens of Milwaukee, including 13 years of service to the City of Milwaukee and the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee

Minutes note: Mr. Pérez likened Ms. Kenealy to a force majeure - a major force - that has impacted both HACM and the City of Milwaukee, including the Department of Administration and the Community Development Grants Administration, from which HACM was able to secure Ms. Kenealy. Ken Barbeau, Director of Community Programs and Services, and Maria Rodriguez, Youth and Family Services Manager, read commendations from both HACM and the Common Council of Milwaukee, as well as a Proclamation from the Office of the Mayor which designated Wednesday, March 12th, 2019 as Susan M. Kenealy Day. Steve Mahan, City of Milwaukee Community Development Grants Administration (CDGA) Director, noted that Ms. Kenealy was invaluable to Milwaukee, even before her employment with the City; that he remembered she was a big part of setting the stage for the development of Safe & Sound. He added that during her time at CDGA, she set up systems that are still in place and her impact continues as she trained so many current staff. Sharon Robinson, City of Milwaukee Department of Administration Director, spoke of Mayor Barrett’s directive to pursue increased grant funding, and Ms. Kenealy’s critical role in the City’s pursuit of 2009 stimulus funding. The City was able to bring in $300 million in large part through Ms. Kenealy’s efforts. She continues to volunteer her time with Ms. Robinson, exemplifying the content of her character. Ms. Kenealy thanked everyone in the room. She said it had been a privilege to work for the City and HACM and encouraged the Commissioners to remember the quality of staff and the passion they bring to serving its residents and Milwaukee.
ADOPTEDPass4:0 Action details Not available
R13040 02.CommunicationUpdate on the Jobs Plus Grant at Hillside

Minutes note: Ken Barbeau, Director of Community Programs and Services, provided some background and an update on the grant. The Jobs Plus grant is part of Ms. Kenealy’s legacy, as she was the lead on the application. In addition to the information provided in the attachment about the model of the grant and its core components, Mr. Barbeau noted that five new employees, three new Job Coaches and two new Community Coaches, are starting on Monday. They will be assisting residents with case management, and performing outreach to the community regarding the grant. The HACM iteration of the grant is called Hillside Works! It is a four year, $2.3 million dollar grant. Outcomes of other grant recipients have showed modest improvements; HACM is hoping to exceed them by being very focused on getting the message out to the community.
    Action details Not available
R13041 03.CommunicationReport from the Secretary-Executive Director

Minutes note: Mr. Pérez asked Mr. Barbeau, Director of Community Programs and Services, to speak on the recent news of the demise of Unison. Even though no charges were brought, the appearance of impropriety caused the downfall of this nonprofit. As for Unison’s work with HACM, it had contracted with eight HACM resident organizations to provide service coordination through ROSS grants, and Unison itself had recently won a grant through HUD for Hillside. There is money unspent with these grants at the moment, and the continued need for services. Since HACM was notified of Unison’s end, HACM has been working to salvage those services. HUD has decided that the grant directly awarded to Unison will have to be recaptured. HACM (as the ROSS grant administrator) is working out an agreement with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) to present to the resident organizations. LSS provides similar services in multifamily buildings, and this will be their entré into public housing. The expectation is that Unison staff would transition to LSS and maintain continuity within each building with no break in services. The local HUD office has been very helpful and understanding of the situation. Mr. Pérez noted the value the service coordinators provide to the residents, by building relationships over time, allowing the residents to continue living independently and assisting where HACM cannot. They are truly difference makers. LSS also hopes to learn from the success of Unison’s staff in those public housing buildings. Mr. Pérez and Mr. Barbeau spoke about a new HUD pilot grant, brought about due to a bipartisan bill sponsored by Congressman Duffy of Wisconsin, among others. The grant is focused on increasing mobility for Housing Choice Vouchers by ensuring that voucher holders are well informed about neighborhoods of opportunity and are well prepared when deciding on where to deploy their voucher. The pilot grant is very new, so it is still being looked into, but the Commissioners may hear about it at industry gatherings and about the original research by Professor Raj Chetty. Mr. Pérez thanked Commissioner Diaz for his foresight in having HACM join the Housing Authority Insurance Group (HAIG) in its earliest days. HACM recently received correspondence from HAIG that they will again be sending out a dividend. Those funds are an avenue that allows HACM to offer programs like the scholarships mentioned in the attachments. HACM is also pleased that Fernando Aniban,Chief Financial Officer, and Kaylin Nuss, Director of Strategic Initiatives, serve on various committees of the board. HACM appreciates their work keeping it involved, current and learning through their participation. Mr. Pérez shared that HACM recently met with the Election Commission and counsel regarding voter registration efforts. Some of the efforts suggested had already been undertaken for some time, there are some that will be reviewed, and there are some that cannot be done, due to federal rules which cover the public housing buildings. Mr. Pérez discussed a recent presentation made to Alderwoman Milele Coggs about the capital needs of Hillside, RAD and its rejuvenation. Mr. Pérez recently asked Alderwoman Coggs and Commissioner Daniels for their attendance at any ad hoc gatherings that may occur with residents and stakeholders regarding Hillside’s rejuvenation. And Mr. Pérez mentioned again that HACM has no intention of selling Hillside, although HACM continues to be regularly asked by residents and others if it is being considered. Commissioner Diaz noted the recent announcement of the Democratic National Convention taking place in Milwaukee in 2020 and suggested that the staff or board may want to consider what policies and ideas should be considered or proposed to address issues likely to be raised when that national focus is brought to Milwaukee.
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     Adjournment

Minutes note: There being no further business, Commissioner Diaz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:10 p.m. Commissioner VandeBerg seconded the motion. There being no objections, the motion carried.
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     Upon reasonable notice, efforts will be made to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities through sign language interpreters or auxiliary aids. For additional information or to request this service, contact the Housing Authority ADA Coordinator, Patricia Schmidtknecht at 286-5100, (FAX) 286-3456, (TDD) 286-3504 or by writing to the Coordinator at 650 West Reservoir, Milwaukee, WI 53212.    Not available
     Persons engaged in lobbying as defined in s. 305-43-4 of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances are required to register with the City Clerk's Office License Division. Registered lobbyists appearing before a Common Council committee are required to identify themselves as such. More information is available at http://city.milwaukee.gov/Lobbying.    Not available