You okay.

I was just being sure I didn't see us there.

Um we're calling to order the uh housing human uh welfare committee meeting.

This is our last meeting uh with the current council as it stands.

Uh so it's relatively light agenda.

Um it is October the 20th.

The time is 6 35 p.m.

Uh first start with the roll call starting with Alderman Huntley.

Present and Alderman Shandelmeyer.

Present and myself, Alderman Gay.

Um I'll then move on now.

Move on to the approval of the agenda.

Is there a second?

Second.

Or is there a motion?

Second so moved.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, none.

Next item on the agenda is approval of the amendments.

Uh last meeting was 910 25.

Is there a motion to approve the amendments from the last meeting?

So moved.

Uh second.

Oh, second.

Sorry.

No problem.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Uh next item on the agenda is reappointments and appointments starting with AP 5625 appointment of uh Ms.

Janine Tasker to the Human Relations Commission.

Is Ms.

Tasker uh joining us this evening?

I do not believe so, and I don't see uh a screen coming forward.

So what we'll do is uh make a motion to approve AP 5625 uh for the full council and uh next Monday if there is an opportunity for questions um or concern at that point, then we can pull it from the agenda.

But I'd rather keep it going than hold it in a null and void spot.

So is that fine?

Uh well actually, Mr.

Chair, before we make that motion, um there there must have been some issue with the uploads because uh Ms.

Tasker's resume was not attached to the um AP link, at least on Legistar.

Um perhaps on Granicus it was, uh, but I have not been able to access it.

Uh same thing with Miss Britton here, yeah.

On Gernicus, it is available.

Um both the application uh and I believe the resume.

I'm trying to scroll here quickly.

The resume is able to access the application, but not the resume for both our applicants tonight.

And that's not me calling their qualifications into doubt.

I just I can't see the resume.

No, you know, you're correct, and I stand correct.

It is just the uh application, the resume.

It it it just says please uh answer here or attach your resume.

So I'm assuming they attach the resume and uh the ombudsman's office keeps their resume on file.

And so um I I know in the past that is sometimes available, but we can have that sent over.

So what we did in um economic matters for a meeting where an applicant did not show up, but because we did not want to hold it up, is we made no recommendation and then just asked for a um request for them to come to the full council meeting be made.

And especially considering um they are not here and I cannot see their resume.

While I'm very sure and confident they are qualified, I don't feel comfortable making a positive recommendation without at least seeing the resume in front of me.

Um so I cannot in good consciousness vote in favor of a five favorable recommendation just because of that.

Um do any of my colleagues share my uh sentiment or uh Alderman Huntley.

I get where you're coming from.

Um I did read through their responses beforehand, uh, which delve into a lot of their qualifications.

Um explaining what kind of work they currently do and their education.

So I don't feel like there's a ton of marginal difference with getting the resume, but if you would prefer to wait, then I'm fine to defer to you.

Well, here's what we'll do uh for the case of AP 5625.

Uh I will allow for uh it to move forward with no recommendation.

I'm I I'm not gonna put a request that she show up to a uh or the applicant show up to a council meeting.

I don't know if that is even um feasible uh um for the applicant.

So what we'll do is just uh Caitlin, if you could make note then that we uh ask Ms.

Raftovich to get us the resume or ask the applicant to attend if the if she you know doesn't have a prepared resume.

Is that fine?

Yeah, I'll look into that because it should be attached.

Okay.

I will take a look at the paper, her um appointment tomorrow to make sure that it was scanned through correctly.

Okay, and I don't want to jump ahead, but on AP5725, is I know that the resume, for example, for Mrs.

Uh Bonham, I know that the resume is attached because it says upload a resume, and I I can see that she's uploaded you know her document.

Uh and so that's why I'm thinking like the resume would uh if it would have to just be printed separately.

And I can all parts of that what happens is is that is redacted from Hillary Miss Ramdovich redacts it.

So there could be a miss up with this the paper that I have, you know, the one she gave me that I scan in for you all and upload it to Legistar, but I can check that tomorrow.

Okay.

I am also not able to access Ms.

Bonham's resume, just her application.

But Ms.

Bonham is here, so I um I'm much more uh excited uh amendable to going forward on recommendations for her when we get to that point.

Um but so Mr.

Chair, if if we'll entertain it, I'd like to make a motion for uh no recommendation on uh shoot.

I just accidentally deleted the uh I'd like to make a recommendation for no recomm uh a motion for no recommendation on AP 5625.

Second.

All those in favor?

Aye, aye, opposite, no fantastic.

And either we'll get you the resume or uh we'll have Ms.

Rosovich reach out and we'll clear that up.

You guys have it before Monday.

Okay, thank you.

Next item on the agenda is AP 5725, uh appointment of Mrs.

Valerie Bonham to the Commission of Aging.

And Mrs.

Bonham is present tonight.

It's true, I am present.

Thank you for joining us again.

Uh and uh uh I appreciate you for um you know applying to uh serve on this commission.

Um we have here your uh just a brief background of uh explaining why you're interested in serving on the board of of commissions.

I won't ask you to repeat that verbatim, but if you you know just like to briefly sum something up, um, and then I'll uh entertain questions from the committee.

Sure thing.

So first, thank you all so much for your time this evening.

I appreciate it.

Second of all, so my name is Val Bonham.

I was actually born in Annapolis when the hospital was still downtown in 1969, and I grew up here, and then I spent a fair amount of time over in the Bethesda area.

Then my husband and I moved back here about five years ago.

Now, the reason why I am interested in serving on this commission is because my background, my professional background is actually medical ethics and uh medical ethics and law.

My youngest child is a high school senior this year, which means I like to envision a world in which I have a little bit more free time.

And um, my uh sort of again motivating force is um integrating ethics and law and trying to support people.

And while my professional focus is on children, um I have a personal interest in um older folks as well.

My father lived with us here in our house until he passed at 88 uh earlier this year.

So my whole reason to want to do this is it's it is strictly um um I I can't think of a of a not aggrandizing term, so just forgive me.

You know, it's been a long day.

Strictly out of like wanting to do a good thing.

It's altruistic.

Thank you.

I knew there was a word for what I was searching for.

Thank you, kindly.

So it's pretty much strictly altruistic again.

My husband's not convinced that I'm gonna have more time in my life, but I am and so um, so it just seems like a good time in someone's antibiotics, and happy to answer any questions you might have.

First and foremost, incredibly sorry for the passing of uh thank you.

I didn't mean to make you sad.

I was very lucky that he lived here.

I lived with him for a long, long, long time.

Very, very lucky.

And I will tell you, as somebody who is exceptionally picky about healthcare providers, those folks on um milkshake lane were just so great.

I mean uh anyway, but the last time the last months of his life.

Yeah, I know exactly what's supposed to be talking about.

And yeah, just wanted to extend those condolences uh there, obviously.

And um, I see Alderman Shandemai has a question, so I'll turn it over to him.

Thank you.

Um thank you, Ms.

Bonham.

Um, so thank you again for joining us and your interest in this position.

Um so unfortunately, because again, uh the weird tech issues with the resume access.

Uh I fortunately can't see some of your um professional background.

If you wouldn't mind giving like three professional highlights that you're comfortable sharing with us and the public that you would like to highlight for someone who uh cannot see your resume, but you're really proud of on it.

Yeah, not a problem.

So um I went to Rice University in Houston, Texas.

I majored in medical ethics.

I went to the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.

Um I major in law.

And um I um have worked in the area of healthcare law and ethics for my whole career, which is give or take 30 years.

And I did spend a couple years there as the executive director for President Obama's bioethics commission, the first executive director of that commission.

Um, so so again, I I there used to be this New Yorker cartoon.

I live in that space between law and medicine, but that's that's pretty much what I do.

And I I believe um that I bring a practicality to trying to find solutions and speaking relatively plainly with folks.

Um, as I said, you know, I'm older now than I used to be.

Uh by which we all are every day.

Um, but you know, I I'm pretty passionate about individuals' rights and individuals' rights and the healthcare system can be especially complex and challenging.

And and look, to be fair to healthcare provider, again, I represent healthcare providers today.

I I work at children's.

And um, it's hard.

There's a lot of things about contemporary society and day to day that are tough, but I believe pretty strongly in um trying to look out for folks who who um I'm just gonna loosely say elderly folks for lack of a better word, um in the issues that they face near the end of the life, near the end of life, or before then, hopefully, many decades before then.

Um before I went to law school, I worked um as a research assistant to um this sort of famous lady in medical ethics world, maybe not famous for the whole world, and she was a geriatrician, right?

So she she worked with people later in in life, and she wrote all these books about end-of-life um decision making and um denying uh food and hydration and and various things like that.

And um I just I you know, I don't know.

I'm sort of that was a very moving opportunity for me before I went to school.

And I think that there's a lot, I happen to believe in the idea that individuals can make a big difference, particularly if they get in the game of any particular challenge, maybe before it gets worse.

Um so that's that's longer than three highlights, but hopefully it gives you a sense of my background and interest.

I appreciate details.

So thank you very much for that um that run runner.

Fantastic.

I appreciate that as well.

Alderman Hunley, did you have any questions?

No, I'm I I read the materials ahead of time, and um it was really just just from the little bit that's on here, I was very impressed.

And uh, so I'm absolutely ready to make a motion to approve second.

Fantastic.

And uh again, Miss Bonham, we appreciate you uh joining this commission.

I think uh in particular with the population of Annapolis, um an active older population.

I think uh, you know, this commission in particular uh could be a a strong um uh in a vocal point for them.

And so um look forward to the participation there.

And uh there's been a motion, a second.

I'm calling for a well, actually, we're just making a favorable recommendation.

So uh is there is all in favor, say yes.

I oppose no.

Thank you.

Ms.

Bond, we appreciate it.

If you wish to join us next Monday in person, you can.

Thanks so much.

I really appreciate you all and all that you do as well.

Take care.

No problem.

Thank you.

Yep.

I um just wanted to be clear that there was a motion for a favorable recommendation.

I'm sorry.

Next item on the agenda is general discussion starting with ID 14625.

This is just a closing out overview of uh all things going on with Hacka.

Um as uh we close out uh our year.

Isn't Ms.

Maddox Evans is with us.

Actually, um Miss Maddox Evans, before you start.

If we just really wanted to, because some of our guests are just here for ID 14725, which is the Affordable Housing and Community Equity Development Commission.

Uh if we could carry that first, I don't know.

Caitlin, is it do we have to make a motion to do so or it's just general discussion?

Can I just move that?

I think you can exercise your chair's prerogative.

I was just about to say you can exercise your chairs priority.

Probably all get it, I'll get it.

Can you even say it right in and do that?

Fantastic.

Okay, we'll just do that quickly.

Um I just obviously wanted to um extend a sincere thanks to uh the committee members of uh or the commission members of the housing um or affordable housing community equity development commission, uh, which was previously our joint commission, we worked with them uh and voted together uh up until about three years ago.

Um and then things uh uh kind of you know had this had to set we had to part ways, you know, due to the law.

And uh, but I I just wanted to extend a a sincere appreciation uh to you all for your work on affordable housing.

Uh you know, it may seem you know at times that the work seems unnoticed, but it's uh really really a difficult uh sacrifice of Tom Crunch and trying to put ideas together um and policy together for council that you're just not sure really you know sometimes how they're feeling on uh housing affordability.

And so uh uh you you all have done a lot.

Um, and in particular to me, what means a lot is uh the housing affordability task force, obviously, um, which I thought uh at the time really shifted the conversation and helped us uh pinpoint a lot of holes in housing.

And so uh to you, Miss Britton, for joining and jumping on it and and and being fantastic in that transition.

And Ms.

Ruffin, who uh joined uh later on um uh through her role with our Office of Community uh development uh or housing and community development.

So uh just again, sincere thanks to you both.

Um please pass that on to the rest of the team.

And if any of my colleagues would like to say anything as well, please now some.

I think they may see you again soon.

So Alderman Chandelmeyer.

Yeah, thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Um I just want to say thank you to Haka and the commission.

Um tackling housing issues in this city is hard.

Um anytime you try to disrupt the status quo, it brings people up in arms, but you guys come to work every day, roll up your sleeves and try to make this city it's a little bit more of an even place for our working families.

And um we see the work that you do.

Uh the folks in the neighborhood see the work that you do and they appreciate it.

They may not have time to come to city council meetings, but they know and appreciate it, and they know you're trying and working hard.

I don't think I can say better than that.

Yeah, I I guess um to kind of echo some of what Alderman Channelmeyer just said.

Uh I talk a lot about this distinction between what people say when they come to you and what people say when you go to them.

And um uh housing is the issue that we really see that discrepancy on where the people who are uh who come to you um don't have the same needs on housing as the people who you have to go to.

And I mean that's true empirically, right?

We have all sorts of evidence to show that that's a fact, but uh just I think it can make things very dispiriting that you feel like uh too often you hear about how we don't need any improvement.

And in fact, uh when you go out and actually talk to people, they'll tell you about all of the things that are impacting them.

Um Shadow Meyer could left less than a half dozen heart wrenching examples of people who desperately need uh additional housing that they can afford.

So uh yeah, I really can't say it much better than him, but I appreciate the effort that all of you have put in and I really hope that uh too much for now.

I'll be sitting around talking with you some more.

Yeah, and so uh uh Miss Britton, Ms.

Ruffin.

If you uh wish to speak, you can you can as well.

Well, now that I'm off mute I was making comments before and I was completely on mute.

Of course I'll miss you.

I love working with you right from the lighthouse all the way through now.

Um I uh the whole the whole commission, the whole committee, everything you guys do.

So we will keep working and look well now that I find out we really can work together.

Is that what you're telling me?

Well, this the we don't know the uh committee assignment.

And so uh this yeah, this is our last meeting uh with this group uh all together.

And also let me extend uh and we'll wrap this up quickly because I don't want to hold Miss Matdox Evans uh for too long either.

But also I want to extend uh um um uh gratitude to Miss Tierney, who served on this commission for uh and you know, gave her all uh from board one and also Alderman Rodriguez um uh was here and he actually uh was uh you know a main sponsor and making sure that the uh affordable housing and community equity development commission could stand along uh alone and had teeth.

And so um I also want to uh send um um some gratitude to them and please Miss Britton and Miss Ruffin.

I'm sorry.

No, oh good.

I I'll let um Denise talk, but I just want to say great job.

I I hope that we can work with whoever's the new members in the future and and be a little bit more action-oriented this time.

I mean, it's tough out there to get things done.

Absolutely, and that's why we are banking on some things, Ms.

Ruffin.

Gotcha.

I just want to say thank you.

This is Teresa Teresa Wellman ran this committee, and I was just the support behind her.

So I have to attribute most of what this committee has done to her.

Absolutely.

And she's made me understand a lot about Annapolis, and you can really see the need out there.

I think that people just walk through with blind design and they just don't want to see the real need of the constituents, your constituents here in Annapolis.

And I think this upcoming year, and I'm so looking forward to Miss Maddox Evans and her redevelopment of housing.

And I'm a hundred percent behind her.

I'm a thousand percent behind her what she's trying to do because I've been in this business a long time, and I see how changing of the bricks and the mortars change people's outlook on where they're going and where they're heading in life.

That's my comment.

Thank you for inviting us.

No problem.

Thank you all very much.

And feel free to stick around if you'd like to hear Miss Uh Maddox Evans' presentation.

Uh, but if not, I I totally understand.

And again, we uh really, really appreciate you all in.

Uh we'll see see you uh in the future as well.

All right, I'm definitely listening in.

I'll get off camera and I'll mute myself and try not to talk through it.

Well, I mean, thank you guys.

We'll move on to our next item on the agenda, ID 147.

I'm sorry, ID 14625 hack of overview starting with the somatic sevens, who we're also uh incredibly grateful for.

And uh I'll turn the floor over to you um to uh kind of walk through um uh any main points you'd like to share with us.

Um and we appreciate you joining us tonight.

Thank you for inviting me back uh to speak with you, and it is great to be able to share some really positive things that have been happening in the past few months.

Um, but before I get into that, I just want to extend personally extend a sincere uh uh gratitude uh towards you, uh Alderman uh DeWan Yeah um for really being a um a a steadfast advocate for Haka and really all affordable housing communities because I I do not think without your uh determination that we would be able to you and along with your fellow commission members, um Alderman Shandemar and Alderman Huntley, um particularly this commission was the most uh had the most strongest advocacy for our needs and I think understanding of the challenges that our organization has had and really a lot of affordable housing or organizations have had.

So I look forward to um meeting the new commission members and um getting to know Ms.

Britton and others, and um, of course, it's always a pleasure working with Denise as the liaison.

Um, she serves as a great liaison um between HACA and the city.

I can always rely her on her to tell us the truth of what needs to be happening either way, and she's incredibly um supportive, which I think uh is a preface to the updates I want to provide is really key that there be a mutually supportive relationship between um the city of Annapolis and between the housing authority of the city of Annapolis, and uh because the challenges of of affordable housing are so vast and deep, and they require uh a great deal of collaboration in order to see uh some progress.

Um on the development end of things, I'll give you a brief overview.

Um we are happy to be recently awarded a 9% tax credit award from the state for a Robinwood neighborhood.

And along with a 4% tax credit application, we're gonna apply for a twinning um project for Robinwood, which means that there will be the possibility of adding some density.

We had um our goal was to add at least 50 or so new units, hopefully um up to 70.

We know there may be some issues with current zoning, but you know, that's a little bit far away, and there'll be some things that we can, more projects we can work on to get to the zoning goals, but we have some incredible leg room funding wise to be able to add density.

Why adding density is so important is because in order for an affordable housing portfolio to be financially sustainable, it must be supplemented by various income ranges within that portfolio.

And historically speaking, HACKA has not had the benefit of having that mixed income portfolio, which has led to there being long-term challenges in keeping the properties up, keeping the rents where they need to be, so we can sustain the properties, etc.

So, but with that funding, along with uh we have a 1.5 million dollar dedication from the state uh to rebuild the community center at Robin Wood.

So we look forward to utilizing that.

And of course, all of all of the other um investments from the county and the city, so on.

So we're in the process of solidifying the financing for um Robinwood.

We're also in the process of solidifying the financing to uh uh upgrade Bloomsbury Square, even though it's one of our newest properties, it's still uh ageing because it was built in 2003.

And so we're in the midst of applying for a four percent 4% tax credit for that project.

We hope to close on both projects either by the end of next year or the beginning of 2027.

Once we close, that's when all the renovations begin and or new construction begins.

So we anticipate that starting um those spaces starting somewhere in 2000, mid-2027.

Um for uh Eastport Terrace in Harbor House.

We have uh just introduced the select the selected development team, um, which is Genesis and Monotnock, and um who are also using local architects with the Winsec group and also local builders, the Hamill builders to tackle the Eastport Terrace Harbor House um project, which we also intend to apply for choice neighborhood funds.

So we're very excited.

We had a first resident meeting a couple weeks ago at Harbor House, and this year we're also uh doing the work of solidifying the financing, and we'll hopefully close on that project also 2027.

So we're we'll be simultaneously moving three major projects um at one time, which is uh awesome.

And that's that's our future path and what we're working towards right now.

So I'll answer any questions about that.

Thank you for any of those projects.

So much, Ms.

Madison.

That that's uh I'd be clearly fantastic work and why I've been a uh huge huge supporter.

Uh my one question density obviously impacts how much you are financed, correct?

Correct.

And so with the uncertainty and you know the city zoning code uh and how are you shoring up the financing in particular for project like Eastport Terrace and Harbor House?

I'm not sure if we've gotten to the point, at least I don't recall where planning has come to us and have asked for uh specific changes for a project like that or something.

And so is that I mean, obviously that'll be something that you'll need in the in the next uh council, correct?

Correct.

And those are great questions.

Um the under the current zoning limits, we can increase density up to 626 units.

We would like we can build more, and that's and for our choice neighborhood criteria, we needed to hit around the 62 range, which is why we wanted to incorporate the Spa Road site to build additional units to help offset.

We we designed that project, uh, not assuming we could get any zoning changes.

Fantastic.

But with that in mind, we're all we will also there are always variables and there are things that change and needs that change as we go about doing the project.

But that's the initial planning uh set projected, utilizing two different sites to build the overall project.

Thank you for that.

Uh on the Michael Myers.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Uh so Director Maddox Evans, um, just want to make sure it understood.

So you'd said we uh have finalized uh a builder, a developer for the Eastport Terrace and Harbor House renovation.

Yes.

Oh, that is wonderful news.

Uh can you repeat what they are?

Genesis.

Genesis.

And um the information is on we the city is helping us with a website.

It's called Esport CNI.org.

And we posted all the information about the developers on that page.

So you can review we even posted a couple of their presentations that they've given so far.

Um you said we're I'm sorry.

Now you said we're going with local builders, local architects.

Um, are we trying to recruit local labor as well, or are we just going you guys know what you're doing?

You have added that's absolutely part of actually our solicitation when we select developers is evaluating their ability to hire locally for many of the trades that are involved in uh and apprenticeships that could be uh uh perform during our project.

So, yes.

Prevailing wage.

Mm-hmm.

I'd like to hear that.

There we go.

Okay, cool.

J just a second.

I have a not that I disagree, but my question, because the the are there federal does uh the the feds have do they cap that in any of that because this would be a federal federally funded project.

We do have we do have Davis Bacon requirements um that are associated, but I will say because this is a multi-use multi-phase project, the fend the funding and requirements may be slightly different per phase in what's included in that phase, and so how much residential versus commission commercial building, whether some of the commercial aspect will be a separate phasing.

So we haven't gotten quite there with regards to um identifying the type of structures that are going to go in each phase, but because there's going to be a variety of mixing, all of the requirements that are attached to those different types of housing and or commercial build will have to be attached to it.

So whatever state or federal requirements are.

So uh Director Maddox Evans, when you get the opportunity, I would love to find time to uh do a virtual meeting or a phone call or an in-person meeting with you to talk a little bit about um those wage requirements, etc.

Uh, but I won't hold up the meeting for that here.

Thank you.

No problem.

That's a fantastic point, Aldemish undermeyer.

Um something that I know you will focus on in this project.

Uh, as well as I think what's important is that there's often language signed into contracts as a that says yes, we will hire local.

And one thing that I noticed in particular on, and I don't want to bash the project, but yeah, I'm on my way out.

You know, uh they there was it, you know, there were require requirements to hire local, but when we say local, I mean like residents of Eastport Terrace and Harbor House, finding them the appropriate uh program and and grant funding uh necessary early on enough so they can they can take the courses to have the skills necessary to actually be hired on these projects.

Um in Elder Michael, I know that's something that's really close to your heart, and I know that you have great relationships, and so um I I'm I'm glad that you were able to uh uh to to ask that question.

One of the great parts about prevailing wage and apprenticeship programs is people get paid to learn skilled trades.

Amen.

I've been taking some of our colleagues and future colleagues out to tour some of the wonderful schools that the hardworking men and women of organized labor have around their wonderful state.

And I'm happy to take uh the director out to any of the schools if she's interested as well.

They love to show them off their good work.

Fantastic.

Can I chime in here for a minute, you guys?

Um one second, Miss Ruffin.

I see uh the alderman uh has his hand up from where one.

I couldn't find the hand put up, so that's why I spoke up.

I'm sorry.

Miss Ruffin has something time sensitive, but I'm I don't mind letting her go first.

Well, uh in my experience of the redevelopment, I just wanted to share what my experience has been where when we redevelop a lot of the housing in Baltimore, and I know it's been many years, but I watched them actually set some residents up in businesses.

I've watched them hire residents to work, train them, and so I'm almost certain that under this choice neighborhood initiative that there will probably be probably be similarities.

And so what um Melissa and Brooks is concerned about, I think that that will probably, I'm hoping it will be part of this redevelopment project.

And it really was successful because it gave people opportunities to have jobs.

And I know about four or five residents, actual people that were living there, set up businesses and continued after the development was over.

So that's fantastic.

I appreciate that very much.

Um and um again, I think some stuff that makes all of these uh our team special is that there's lived experience um in all capacities.

Alderman Huntley.

Director Evans, I just have two questions for you, but they're both super broad.

Um two buckets, uh, I think let's take them one by one.

The first is for all these projects.

Uh, how are we thinking about uh well, first of all, let me say really excited about these projects and and they're great.

Um but how are we thinking about mixed uses, right?

I love that we're doing mixed income.

My philosophy to put in a slogan is all of our development should be mixed income and mixed use.

And so um wonderful to have more people.

I don't want a situation where we end up with 600 people and they they got nowhere to go and nothing to do.

So um whether that's a more public amenity like a recreation center or a more private amenity like a grocery store.

Could you just tell us a little bit more about for each one of these?

Maybe you want to think of it as two, or maybe you want to think of it as three developments.

So we're talking about how are we factoring in that aspect of what are the people who are going to live here going to do?

Sure.

Especially considering that a lot of them don't have cars.

Sure.

Those are very those are great questions and ones in which we contemplate when we um think of and plan for these redevelopment projects.

So for Robin Wood, we are uh, of course, going to build a community center, but it's going to be also served as a multi-purpose center, um, where we're hoping there could be different organizations that are housed within uh that structure and that they be organizations that serve the community.

Um we have long-standing relationships with particular organizations.

We with the boys and girls club, uh uh Pastor Menendez group, a several other groups also um who are very interested in having more of a permanent space there.

We are also interested in commercial aspects and are exploring what, if any, uh could be performed at Robinwood, whether it be even a child care center or some other type of amenity that's not already provided within the area.

Definitely not a gas station.

But for Eastport Terrace and Harbor House, we're doing the same.

We actually have already begun relationships with the, for example, the Y Head Start program.

We began a pilot program, which launched this year.

We allowed them to convert part of the community center with the hopes of that they will also join us in the overall redevelopment project to build a much larger Y Head Start Center that can serve the local community.

We know the site's not suitable for a large scale supermarket, but some sort of um convenience store uh that would be helpful to the residents.

We've also um the residents have also expressed a need for some sort of health clinic, health center.

And so we are all all in communications with all of these various entities, including the school district.

We're in communication with uh uh uh Annapolis and Rundle um public uh school system as well to see what we can envision going forward.

It could be a local training center for adults, you know, for example, or something that we work with with the um workforce development um organizations.

Uh the possibilities are really endless, but that is what is incorporated in our overall plan to try to introduce various elements that are needed recreationally, health-wise, education, job training.

So those are some of the core categories.

And now is the time in which we are uh forging those relationships to see who would like to join us when we go into those uh various phases.

So we also welcome suggestions and input.

So if you know of an organization or business entity that might be interested, please give us their contact information.

We'll reach out to see if there's synergy there.

Um, if their ideas work well, you know, with the community.

Um, we're always open.

And so, but those are just a few of the ideas so far.

Thank you.

No, that's uh very interesting for Sharon here.

The other question I had for you, and you started to allude to this most in your most recent answer and previously is about zoning and the requirements in the code, and obviously we had a bill before us on a week ago uh that dealt with zoning and density.

So I wonder if you can just speak to sort of how the current state of our zoning impacts has shaped these projects.

Uh, what will or will not have to change based on the changes for Monday and any future changes you might be interested in with the city zoning codes.

Well, thank you for that.

Um, I think under the recent proposed changes, um, I think we at Robin Wood, we can increase our density by 35 additional units.

We were sort of targeting about in the 70 range um for Robin Wood.

And so I'm sorry, Director Evans.

You mean with what passed or with what was originally proposed?

Because we did have that amendment.

Um what so I believe with what passed, that was last week, right?

Last Monday, right?

I think with that um increase 35 additional, and in addition to the we have we're zoned for 150.

So we were trying we're trying to get to at least like 226 is sort of the sweet spot.

And there was a uh, and I'm so sorry to cut you off, uh Director Um Evanson, and I'm sorry, Alaman Huntley, but just point of clarification here.

There was an unintentional error that contributed to the additional density not being included.

Um, that's something that will either be fixed uh before we leave or hopefully after we leave.

Um just you know, point of clarity there.

Um, but please continue.

I'm sorry.

Sure.

Looking forward to hearing more about that.

Yeah.

So our sweet spot is about 226 in terms of units for Robinwood and what we think uh the neighborhood and house currently uh decide designed can um can bear and what would meet the market need.

Um we will we will continue to monitor and hopefully work towards that.

Obviously, if we can't get to that number, if it's a little less, um, we will continue, we will work with what we have.

Keep in mind within that 226 number, we are adding uh including um home ownership.

Um so we are in each of our new phases, you know, and also uh because we're we receive the 9% tax credits, we're able to consider some some different things in the overall project.

And all of us want uh uh homeownership options that could be a natural progression for our residents or new families coming in that you know they're somewhere to go once you reach certain income limits because we what we don't want is the disincentivize people to increase their income, and then they're sort of phased out of housing.

Right, and then they have to move out of their neighborhood, and it that's a lot, and so uh having another option uh that's affordable within the homeownership realm is important because it's such a huge leap to go from affordable housing rental to homeownership or even private rental market.

I was gonna say, yeah, it's supposed to go from uh market rent rental to home ownership.

Almost a mortgage in and of itself, some of our rents here.

But I also wanted to briefly mention to you, give you a report on the progress we made based on the grant that you all worked so hard for us to get last year of $500,000.

Um so far we've expended um all we have fully expended $307,000.

We have an outstanding invoice with the city of $393,000, with about 53,000 remaining, of which we plan to send another invoice in very soon too.

So all of the grant funds will be uh utilized, and how it's improved our operations.

We were able to hire a management team, allegiance management to help with the day-to-day maintenance and management issues of the site, uh Bayview construction services to help oversee our contractors and give guidance to our maintenance crews.

Um we're about 90% occupancy uh for our public housing units overall.

Um we are 100% licensed at Bloomsbury Square, Robinwood, um, Eastport Terrace, and we're about I would say 96% license at Harbor House, um, which is uh phenomenal compared to what it was even prior to receiving um uh those funds.

We have a great uh relationship with the city, um, with the uh inspections team, is Jeanette Roder does an outstanding job with the uh inspections, communications, and particularly helping residents understand uh their part in providing that education as well.

Um we are uh 94% uh complete with our recertifications for public housing for our HCV program.

We're 100% uh caught up for all outstanding research of uh prior to 2024 and prior, and we're about um I would say 80, 88% done with 2025, which means we're on we're on target.

And um with regards to our court proceedings, we have become more successful in gaining judgments.

We've had over 70 judgments so far, um, which is increasing responsiveness with regards to residents in terms of paying rent, and um, and although it's still a challenge, uh, I think the message is getting out that uh HACA uh is able to take these matters to court, we could not before because we had difficulty receiving the licenses, and you can't file in court without a license, and you can't lease a unit for an unlicensed unit.

And so the licensing issue was sort of the key in trying to figure out that piece uh because it impacted everything.

Our ability to lease up, our ability to force our lease, and so uh, but handling uh addressing that has really helped us out.

We wouldn't have been able to do it without the funding, the funding to prepare the units and the funding to uh uh continue the monitoring.

It's still a work in progress.

There's still a lot of work to be done, there's still units that need to be dressed, still a lot of resident education that needs to happen in terms of the collaboration, but things are vastly improving.

So I wanted to let you all know that that your um contribution in uh assisting us in uh receiving those funds has has been um uh remarkable in terms of our progress.

Yeah, it is uh all of this is seemed like very, very good news.

I know that uh the housing seems you know, the news is not often good, but this is uh fantastic.

I have uh just two quick questions, then I'll turn it over to Alderman Hotley.

My first, if a unit was unlicensed and a tenant was living in the unit and they can't be charged, I just need clarity on that.

So is the judgment from pre is the judgment from what was from when the license was unit?

So let's just, for example, the license could was on um, you know, from January through March, and then let's say it was unlicensed from March through, you know, like October, and then it's licensed now, November through December.

Are they being only charged for let's say the uh January through March when it was licensed and they may have missed rent then?

We can only file on months that the unit was licensed.

Okay.

We cannot file for unlicensed months.

We would have to remove that from the filing.

And I don't want to turn this into court, but do uh who is monitoring that or checking that because some units have been offline for for you know longer than others, and so when a tenant is taken to court, you know, one thing I I've learned from uh from uh uh State Senator Shanika Henson that she put out in her uh literature is that 99% of the time a tenant doesn't have a lawyer, and so if they don't have a lawyer saying, hey, you know, my tenant was offline actually during these times.

How is that?

Could you just clarify um and not getting yourself into too much?

How is that um handled?

So we usually um they may not have a lawyer, but there's usually a legal aid representative that is um stationed at the courthouse.

So if at any point during a proceeding, a judge will all will always ask the resident, do you want representation even before we you really get into the hearing and say yes, everything is continued and stayed until that person gets representation.

And so, but if for whatever reason they want to go on their own or they don't access legal representation, um we have to conduct almost a near audit on every file before we even file, because of the stringent rules that are in the Maryland courts with regards to the notices, um, the method of notice, like what needs to be mailed first class certified items that need to be literally fixated to the doors um at different stages of the um uh ejectment process or termination process, um, coordination with the sheriff's office, the type of uh information that needs to uh be provided from their office and our office.

There's there's a there's a lot that has to be right in order to for a judgment to even be considered, let alone awarded.

So, and in that we have to parse out all of the months that a unit isn't licensed, and which is why one of the things we also did was hire a um rent uh rent coordinator or rent court coordinator.

All the person that person does review the files to see if they're proper for filing in court on our end.

Okay.

That's their whole, and it is a full-time job to do that because you could have, like you said, a resident have several different periods where there was compliance or not in terms of the rental license.

And so um so that's that's but yeah, it is it's highly technical um requirement.

I just I felt that that was important just because I get that question, and I I've actually just recently emailed you about that.

I get that from constituents all the time.

Um, and I think just having you know this explanation out for the general public is good, and knowing that uh and also yes, there is process for you to you know for for those things, those concerns to be handled.

Yeah.

And one thing I think that is it also prudent for residents to understand too, we can file for all those months, but also we can file for just one month at a time.

And so if you were late with last month's rent, we might be only filing on just last month's rent.

And so just there might not be transparency there.

Um, but hey, I I didn't want to turn this, you know, make you put you on the on the defense.

I just wanted clarity there because you had mentioned that um, you know, there's been an uptick in in those cases, and obviously that's a huge consistent services thing, and the city will be asked about that.

Just uh really quickly again.

You mentioned also with the Robinwood development, the gas station, obviously.

Um, I know that's been a hot topic.

The remediation, and I'm sure you haven't maybe gotten that far, but I know with the spy road site.

That was a huge cause for concern.

And so um, I'm not telling you something you don't know, but I just I I'm wondering, you know, at what point will I I know it costs a lot uh when we were considering spy road.

And so at what point does that come into consideration there?

Well, really we'll be uh we would be awaiting the results of the assessment.

I think the city was pursuing a grant to engage in a further study of the area, and that would better inform how viable an option the spyro site really is.

We we don't know.

We know that needs to be some remediation.

We don't know the extent, and we don't know the feasibility, but that was for I'm sorry, for public clarity.

That land was signed over in a lease from the city to the resilience authority to handle uh the cost associated with that project just for public clarity.

So we would probably have more of an idea maybe sometime next year or once the study is performed, or the work of the resilience authority is performed.

That phase is completed, that part, then the information from that will inform um how we proceed or not with spa road.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

Um Alderman Huntley.

Well, I gotta be honest with you.

Uh you guys chatted long enough that my question went out of my head.

So I'll pass.

Okay.

I I I appreciate that.

I um any other questions from the committee uh in regards to uh that were uh I think Alderman Huntley's your question uh hand may have whatever we were discussing uh the properties and licenses.

Oh yeah, yeah.

So this will take a long answer, uh, but director Maddox Evans, my question is just it almost seems like a miracle that you guys have been able to get so many of these properties licensed from a time when they were not in if I have a resident ask me about that and and maybe think that they're skeptical, we're cutting corners or something.

Um I trust you we're not, but it you know, that's the kind of question I might get asked in just a couple sentences.

How would you explain to someone how we were able to take such a dramatic jump in the percentage that was licensed?

Funding.

Okay, there we go.

That's a short answer.

So we needed funding to pay contractors to repair units and to pay our maintenance team to keep the units up.

And with an influx of funding, I can send maybe 10 to 12 contractors at one time to work on a number of units at different sites at the same time, as opposed to working on single units here and there as funding allows.

So we can bring online maybe 10 to 12 units a month as opposed to a quarter or half a half a year, six months, period, with only a handful of uh contractors to be able to assist.

So that's the difference.

We receive funding from the state, from the county, from the city, and we're utilizing all of it to repair our properties.

Okay.

I'll take it.

Thank you.

Yes, and you can both add to um add to your public comments.

You your your committee sponsored the catalyst of funding there.

Okay.

It was the 500,000.

Then it was the 1.5 million from our partners.

And so you know, make sure you advertise that ultimate hunting and Alderman Shandemaier as you go about your business and your personal capacity, if you know what I mean.

I'm sorry, Alderman Shandemaier.

Any other questions for Mrs.

Maddox Evans?

No, Mr.

Chair.

Um I think we pulled out of the spiral and um things are looking up.

I'm very excited with the work and the progress that our director here has made.

And I'm very happy at the small role that we and the committee played a part of uh under your leadership.

Absolutely.

Alderman Huntley.

Nothing more from me.

Fantastic, Miss Maddox Evans.

Well, thank you all very much again for your commitment um to our families um and our uh communities.

And so we wouldn't be able to do this work without your support.

So we are uh appreciate your service greatly and wishing you well, um, Alderman Gay and your future endeavors.

Fantastic.

I appreciate it very much.

And uh I will definitely be seeing you around.

So uh thank you very much for coming this afternoon.

All right, bye-bye.

Uh Alderman Huntley.

Oh, I was waiting goodbye.

Oh, okay.

Um uh I forget what was your dog's name again?

I'm sorry.

My dog?

It's Kobe.

Oh, is she in the background there?

For the uh good of the order.

Yeah, he'd like some supper.

Um chair, yes, sir.

For the good of the order, um, I just want to say thank you for the hard work that you've put into this committee.

I know you put blood, sweat, and tears into it.

Um, these issues aren't academic to you, it's personal, your constituents are impacted by housing issues and everything surrounding them on the daily, and um you don't just talk, you walk the walk here, and uh whether it's bringing in uh property managers for failing to maintain their properties adequately and actually threatening subpoenas to finally get them to sit down with us or deep diving into the issues around um affordable housing redevelopments in Haka.

Um you were like a dog hunting the bone to use the Hobie metaphor, which we all know and your constituents certainly know.

So thank you for your service, Mr.

Chair.

We're gonna miss working with you.

For the third time tonight, I'll say that I can't say it better than Alderman Chandelier, but in short, Mr.

Chair, dozens and dozens, maybe hundreds of people are sleeping issue tonight because of your work.

I greatly greatly appreciate that.

And it's been fantastic working with you both, working uh with this and everybody that's on uh right now, and looking forward um to seeing you all next Monday.

And so uh is there uh we don't really need a motion towards one, but is there a motion to rejoin the meeting?

So moved.

Second, all those in favor say aye.

Aye, awesome.

I will see you on Monday.

Thank you all so much.

See you folks.

Thank you.

Thank you for having us.

Have a good one, everybody.

Awful tragedy.

Um, Tamar was a regular at this site, someone who spent many hours here doing what he loved best, doing new tricks, filming videos, and making video montages.