20200429 VHC MINUTES (SPECIAL)MINUTES
VERNON HOUSING COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020
COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4305 SANTA FE AVENUE
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Gavina called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
FLAG SALUTE
Chair Gavina led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Frank Gavina, Chair
Steven Froberg, Vice Chair(via remote access—arrived at 6:25 p.m.)
Ronit Edry, Commissioner(via remote access)
Jorge Nevarez Jr., Commissioner
Marlene Ybarra, Commissioner(via remote access)
Melissa Ybarra, Commissioner
STAFF PRESENT:
Carlos Fandino, City Administrator
Dan Wall, Public Works Director(via remote access)
Lisa Pope, City Clerk
Arnold Alvarez-Glasman, Interim City Attorney (via remote access)
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
MOTION
Commissioner Melissa Ybarra moved and Commissioner Nevarez seconded a motion to
approve the agenda. The question was called and the motion carried 5-1, Vice Chair
Froberg absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
Special Vernon Housing Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 2
April 29, 2020
NEW BUSINESS
1.COVID-19 Emergency Rent Relief Options for Tenants of City Owned Housing
Recommendation:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act ("CEQA") review, because it is an administrative activity that will not result
in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute
a"project" as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and
B. Consider options for emergency rent relief in response to financial impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic and direct staff to proceed with a plan for rent forgiveness and/or
rent repayment.
City Administrator Fandino and Public Works Director Wall presented the staff report.
City Attorney Alvarez-Glasman explained the proposed rent forgiveness.
Public Works Director Wall indicated there was $500,000 budgeted for housing.
Dora Douglas asked if rent forgiveness could start from March 2020.
City Clerk Pope read the comments submitted by Bill Davis and Leticia Lopez.
The Commission discussed options for rent forgiveness and concurred that total
forgiveness was untenable.
MOTION
Commissioner Marlene Ybarra moved and Commissioner Nevarez seconded a motion to:
A. Find that approval of the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental
Quality Act ('`CEQA") review, because it is an administrative activity that will not result
in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute
a"project"as defined by CEQA Guidelines section 15378; and B. Directed staff to proceed
with implementation of the Vernon Housing Commission Temporary Rent Repayment
Procedures for Existing Tenants Experiencing Hardship due to COVID-19 Emergency.
The question was called and the motion carried unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, Chair Gavina adjourned the meeting at 6:47 p.m.
FRANK GAVINA, Chair
ATTEST:
P
LISA POPE, City C erk
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