Standing committee meeting on today, Thursday, March 19th.

Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Councilmember Letitia Johnson.

Present.

Councilmember Gabriela Santiago Romero.

Present.

Council President Pro Temporal Komene Young the second.

Pro Tempera Young did indicate that he was running a little behind this morning, but he's on his way.

Clerk was so note.

Madam Chair, you have a corn present.

Thank you.

Having a quorn present, we are now in session.

Good morning, Member Santiago Romero.

Is there a motion on the minutes?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve the minutes.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And good morning.

Good morning.

We are going to move into general public comment.

If there's anyone joining us in person or virtually who'd like to make a public comment, public comment, we'll be cut off in one minute at 9 0.

I'll say 9 09.

Uh, if you'd like to make a public comment, please raise your hand prior to 909, and we would love to hear your comment.

Good morning, Ms.

Great.

We don't have any hands in the committee of the whole.

How many hands do we have raised virtually?

Good morning, madam chair.

We currently have six hands raised for virtual public comment.

All right, thank you.

We're gonna give everyone a minute and a half this morning.

We can get started with the first caller.

Our first caller is Samsung SMG991U.

Caller, you have a minute and 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning.

May I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Yes, I'm calling in regards to the land bank slash the city on property that I'm in and taken care of for since 1999 when my neighbor's husband passed.

She told me she didn't want the house.

I came downtown to get child to go through the procedures.

I never heard nothing from them.

Land bank came in at 2014.

I got emails and everything.

I went down to see them.

I haven't heard nothing from them until maybe 2019.

And they're talking about they're gonna move my stuff out of there.

No, I already went to that deed for uh meeting with uh councilwoman at large Mary Waters and I talked to Ted Phillips.

They need to stop harassing me, council people, because none of nobody wanted this house.

I was only it was only two people left on my street, period.

Two, and you know who took care of this block?

Me and one of my neighbors.

We did everything.

I took care of the house, I took care of grass, lots on both sides of me and all that.

So I wish you tell them to please leave me alone at time.

They're gonna come out next week and they're gonna have me move my property.

Well, I'm gonna get back with count with uh Ted Fillers with the housing coalition again because I was there at that meeting.

I'm sick of being harassed by somebody that didn't care about nothing, nothing at all.

The city, the land bank, none of them.

And I have ex land bank people that work there that told me that they would him, her and another person was working with for me to get the property, but the land base.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Next caller is William M.

Davis.

William M.

Davis, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning, young ladies.

Can I be heard?

Good morning, yes.

Okay, just looking at 5.2 on the agenda.

I think more needs to be done as relates to lowering the threshold for community benefits ordinance.

Uh also I think it need to be some, you know, like I said, I think you could lower it over a number of years, be it you know, four or five years or what have you.

Uh also separately, I think more needs to be done to uh claw back.

Y'all have no problem about clawing back our savings from the safety trade retirees to claw back, the you know, the ones that gets these developments to get these, you know, get these monies uh that they if they don't live up to their agreements.

One example is uh Gilbert in the Hudson building, but you know, there's a lot of opportunities to do more so that more could be helping people in the community and not just helping millionaires and billionaires.

So I look forward to y'all making more changes to improve what's going on and to make it more inclusive for community groups.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Betty A.

Varner.

Betty A.

Varney, you have a minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Uh, good morning to all within the sound of my voice.

I'm Betty A.

Barner, president of the Soto Elsewhere Black Association.

Uh, if you are a uh person who needs help at your home, you need assistance with your chores, you need a caregiver, whatever, and you are not eligible for Medicaid.

Please contact D Triple A Detroit Area Agency for the Aging at 446, 4444, 313, 446, 4444, and ask for the My Choice waiver program.

The MI Choice waiver program.

When you call, ask to speak to someone in regards to that program.

If you're not eligible for Medicaid, they have a program that allows you to earn 2900 a month and be eligible for Medicaid.

They come out, do an assessment at your home, and you can start receiving the services that you need to assist you to keep you in your home.

This program is a federal government program set up to keep you out of a nursing home or assistant living.

I'm in the program.

It works.

If you call, I'm uh people are saying they can't get through, they're not getting return calls.

When you call a couple of times, document your call who you speak to, have teleoperated.

You want to speak to a supervisor.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Cunningham, you have a minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Cunningham.

Good morning.

Are you there?

Well do honorable body, everyone on the sound of my voice.

Good morning.

313 444 9114, 313, 444, 9114.

313 4449114.

I really thank God that I've been homeless for 10 years and depression and all the things that I've been through that you couldn't tell unless I told you.

And if you think it's over, just look at my life.

You still can be used.

God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness.

D.

Improve still.

I'm hearing a lot from the people, and they don't even feel like putting in the complaint because they think it's not going to do anything.

The pressure needs to be on.

So I give out handwater's gloves and bus tickets at the bus stops.

And I take time out to do advocacy.

You can look up Patreon, Brother Cunningham.

Folks are giving five dollars, 10.

It allows me to take time off to do things like this.

Also, I'm asking for your prayers.

Me and Transit Writers United will be in Pittsburgh for transit advocacy training.

Hopefully, I don't fall asleep during some of the sessions.

Um, but thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is caller ending in 039.

Caller ending in 039.

You have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Are you sitting up there with the liar?

One that lied about the findings on the allegations of voter fraud by not in the citizen report saying she read it on May tonight.

But I'm sick and tired of all y'all.

So I gotta do what I gotta do to get Mimi what she wants, ask for it and request it.

Now that 29,000 has been replaced over Spring Garden, but this Conrad Mallet and it's David Bell character, David Bell, Building Safety Engineering, and Comrade Mallet, General Corporation Council.

I want my money that I had to spend to replace everything that got stripped off that house, and you acting kind of funky.

Now you know somebody that's been knowing me for over half a century, 50 years, and they will tell you that I'm real, but you been dodging me.

So now I'm getting ready to play my game.

For real, for real, for real.

And I'm young blood on the Brewster Project in 1980.

Check the record, and I'll stand up 100.

Thank you.

The next caller.

Our next caller is Tyson Gersh.

Tyson Gersh, you have a minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Hi, can you hear me?

Yes.

Great, thanks.

Um, I guess I just wanted to comment on uh item where to go.

Um 6.1.

You know, it's funny.

Uh with the Northern Landing Project, like not a single person except Quincy Jones who sold property for the development itself.

Other than him, not a single person that lives anywhere near the proposed project wanted it anywhere near them.

Um it's a bad design, it's a bad project, but all of these people who live nowhere near us, like Patricia Dockery, who's over a mile away, managed to show up at every single hearing and chime in in support of it.

And of course, she's getting hooked up by the city.

77 grand now uh well, I'm sorry, whatever 168 minus 77 is, and now she's getting an additional 77 grand.

And you know, it just makes you like it's like why everybody's so frustrated because anytime the city wants something to happen, they find a bunch of people who aren't affected by it, and they come in to try and drown out the voices of the people that are affected by it, and the city promises them things in exchange, you know, and it's just a broken engagement process.

Um, and yeah, I've only supported Patricia's thing because it doesn't affect me and let her do what she wants.

She lives over there, but she shouldn't be coming in and chiming in and trying to drown out my voice.

Thank you.

The next caller, Madam Chair, our last caller is owner papa.

Owner Papa, you have one minute, 30 seconds for general public comment.

Good morning, ladies, and through the chair may I be heard.

Good morning, yes.

Um, I'm I'm inquiring about the uh housing choice voucher.

Is this section eight?

And how has it changed?

I've never known the section eight to um assistant home ownership.

Um, but is this something new for section eight and have all of the legacy people been eliminated because of the court system?

I think I think the court system should not hear any landlord that is not in compliance, and that should be made clear to 36th district court.

Um this this 100% CDBG funding for home investor loan portfolio.

You're using our community development block grant and our neighborhood stabilization pro uh program.

That you know that was developed so that you we've got money from our C D BG funds to you know do a roof, do windows, uh do a porch, and now our uh properties are falling down, especially in the aviation subdivision because you guys don't we get absolutely nothing for our federal tax dollars that we send to Washington, nothing comes back to the people in the aviation subdivision except for uh gentrification.

I can I can see where it's going, but um what you smelling happening.

Uh we getting ready to I I have people flying ISIS flags around my neighborhood.

Um that that is unacceptable to me and to my neighbors.

Thank you.

All right, thank you.

That now concludes our general public comment, and I do just want to say to Miss Riley, um, I think it is a good idea if you speak with someone from UCAC um and ask for them to provide some representation for you to address that issue with the Detroit Land Bank Authority.

Uh, in regards to Ruben Crowley's comment, my chief of staff, Mr.

Gary Gray, who has known you for nearly half a century, uh, did visit the property that you referenced and worked with you um to understand what the issue was and assisted you uh on behalf of my office and Miss Carol Hughes, the housing choice voucher is Section 8, a section eight voucher.

Um, I believe it has been able to be utilized for homeownership for some time.

Um the local, if you will, um, entity, the Detroit Housing Commission, uh, that is the ability to identify or determine whether or not they are allowing that program to be utilized.

Um, and so we're just encouraging and asking that they do so, recognizing how much of a benefit it will be to uh the residents to be able to own a property.

All right.

Member Santiago Romero, any additional feedback?

No, I don't have anything.

All right, thank you.

All right, that moves us now back to the agenda and unfinished business beginning with line item 5.1.

Line item 5.1 is the status of council member Letitia Johnson submitting memorandum requesting LPD to draft a resolution regarding the housing choice voucher home ownership option.

The resolution is attached to line item 6.4.

Is there a motion to receive and file line item 5.1?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 5.2 status of council member Mary Waters, submitting memorandum relative to the nuisance abatement suit request for the Leland House apartments.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

Discussion.

Thank you, Members Hantiago Romero.

Attorney Anderson, is there an update?

Through the Chair Graham Anderson Law Department.

We were in mediation all day yesterday.

I haven't heard a report of the outcome yet.

Um but I'm sure we will have one shortly for this body.

I would ask for a two-week bring back on 5.2.

All right.

There's a request for a two-week bring back.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 5.2 back in two weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 5.3.

Status of Councilmember Letitia Johnson submitted memorandum relative to Hance Farms LLC purchase agreement.

Is there a motion to discuss?

Discussion.

Thank you, Member Santiago Romero.

Is there anyone here from the administration or Mr.

Trung?

Ms.

Great, do you see?

Okay, never mind.

We see them.

Good morning.

Good morning through the chair.

This is John Trong with the Housing Revitalization Department of the Real Estate Division.

Good morning, Mr.

Trung.

I know we've been trying to determine who might have access to additional information above and beyond what was shared by the Detroit Land Bank Authority, and I'm not sure if you have an update.

Okay, thank you.

To the administration, do we have Ms.

Sullivan or Mr.

Washington on the level of increased awareness that morning through the chair?

Good morning, Mr.

Washington.

If you can please assist in connecting with the law department who may have additional information about this line item, we would certainly appreciate it.

I know Mr.

or Attorney Goldman was on the line and shared a little bit of information a couple maybe two or three weeks ago when we originally talked about this.

Um he alluded to maybe having access to some additional information because he was around and perhaps involved in the negotiations, but we have not been able to secure any information about additional land that was part of a purchase agreement for Hans Farms.

Yes, we'll do a matter of trial work on that with the law department.

All right, thank you so much.

Um so we will bring this back in two weeks to allow for uh that to happen and uh see where we go from there.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

There's a motion to bring line item 5.3 back in two weeks.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Line item 5.4 status of civil rights inclusion and opportunity department.

This is the community benefits ordinance or comannual report for future of health.

I was able to meet with the developer to get an update on the CLT.

Is there a motion to receive and file line item 5.4?

Motion.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

And I'm glad to say that things are progressing with the CLT.

So I was getting asked.

So I was getting I'm really looking for that entity because they were able to receive not only land but financial resources to assist in standing up a community land trust and having it be primed for a development project.

They are making great progress, albeit a little slow, but I think you know it's is worthy of the time to go slow to get it done correctly and to be able to do development projects that meet the need of the residents in that particular community.

And so glad to say that they are moving forward.

But we'll we'll certainly continue to connect with them just as progress is being made and intercede where we need to.

All right.

Moving on to new business in line item 6.1.

Line item 6.1 is contract number 6006558-a two 100% ARPA funding.

Amendment number two to provide an extension of time increase of funds for development of public facility rehabilitation accessibility upgrades.

Contractor Stafford House contract period through March 31st, 2026, or sorry, can't amended contract period is through June 30th, 2026.

Contract increase amount 77,267 and 50 cent.

Member Santiago Romero, I'm not sure if you have any questions about this line item.

I'm very familiar with it.

Um, but would like to turn the floor over to you if you have any questions or if there is a motion.

Um motion to approve with discussion.

Discussion, member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Just want to confirm that this is for two addresses, correct?

For Sir Metro, it looks like, and for Stafford House, and understanding that this is for ADA accessibility.

Just want to confirm that's what this is for.

And we have several folks that are joining us for this line item.

I'm not sure if any one of you would like to raise your hand to respond to the question.

I'm not sure that we need all five people.

Good morning, Mr.

Catronar.

Please introduce yourself for the record.

And it looks like the chair, Larry Catchware from the Housing and Refundization Department.

Good morning.

Morning.

And I who do we have joining us?

Morning through the chair.

This is John Salvatore in the Housing and Revitalization Department.

Good morning.

Morning.

Yeah.

Uh, through the chair to Council Member Santiago Romero, I believe the question was um if this just relates to the Stafford House project or Sierra Metro also.

This is just related to the Stafford House location, and it is for accessibility uh improvements.

And there were some um construction issues, structural issues that were identified during the construction when the construction work began, and it's to add funding to um allow and reimburse for those additional costs that were incurred in this project.

Okay, thank you.

Just wanted to confirm because this is ARPA funding.

Um, and I figured that some folks had questions.

Uh so thank you for that.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um other questions from me.

Thank you.

Member Santiago Romero, since you all are here, um, I know in during a previous discussion there were questions about an elevator.

Um, and seeing that this is for accessibility upgrades.

Do you all know if the elevator is being accommodated within the use of these funds?

Through the chair, my understanding our our scope of work that we were involved with are just accessibility improvements to the main floor of the building for the um to to help serve the the clients of you know it's that they're serving in that building on the first floor.

So they're entryway improvements and um some flooring improvements to to help with accessibility and mobility on the first floor.

I do not believe that there was an elevator that was part of the scope of work that I'm aware of.

Okay, if you can just please look into it.

I know there was some discussion about an external elevator um to be able to meet ADA accommodations for utilizing the um apartment units that I believe are on the second floor.

If you can look into that.

And then I am wondering if these are reprogrammed ARPA funds that are being utilized and provided for this project.

I'm not sure if either one of you are aware of that, or if Ms.

Clifton.

Yes.

Yes, through the through the chair.

The um there was a larger budget amount uh appropriated for ARPA improvement for these accessibility improvement projects.

And this this is really dollars that were not utilized by other projects that were able to be completed a little bit under budget.

So we're able to remove move those funds to this project to help fill uh the gap that was identified during the construction process.

Okay, thank you.

And just to be clear, you're indicating that these funds were already provided to HRD for housing projects.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

I don't have any additional questions.

There was a motion to send line item 6.1 to formal with the recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you both.

Moving on to line item 6.2.

Line item 6.2 is contract number 600 7474-a2.

This is a lease agreement, rental rate amendment number two to extend and expand the right to mine minerals from properties owned by the city of Detroit contractor, Detroit Salt Company, contract period through December 31st, 2055.

Is there a motion to discuss discussion?

Discussion.

Thank you.

I'm interested in the information that you'd like to share.

Yep.

Uh to Madam Chair.

Uh I'm also joined by the Detroit Salt Mines with uh George Davis, uh, Yesir Anwal and Anna Um Fishman.

I don't know if they can be elevated as well.

Okay.

We will work on that.

Anna Fishman, George Davis, and I'm not sure the third name I heard.

Yeah, it was uh Yasir Anwar.

I think should be joining us.

He's the general manager of operations there.

All right.

And if you all can raise your hand if you are not being ported over to join us as a panelist.

Oh, they're all together.

Okay.

All right.

Sounds good.

Please introduce yourselves for the record.

Uh I'm Anna Fishman.

I'm our senior corporate counsel at Detroit Salt.

Uh, yes, and we're general manager at uh the Detroit Salt Company.

Uh George Davis, director of public relations here at Detroit Salt Company.

Thank you all.

Mr.

Trump, you may proceed to.

So this is uh the second lease amendment with the Detroit Salt Company.

The city of Detroit's been in an active lease with them since 1999.

Um this is to extend it for another 30 years, as well as add uh properties with excuse me, uh mining potential to kind of give uh you know everybody background and the audience and and members there.

There's two revenue streams that we've traditionally received when it comes to the salt mines.

If you can imagine, you know, a map of the city of Detroit and um if Detroit Salt Company needs to chime in.

Imagine that map mirrored 1100 feet below us, maybe 11 to 1200 feet below us, uh, you know, as a salt basin.

As I understand it, there's you know, imagine a chunk of 99% or 98% pure salt that I think stretches as far as Grand Rapids.

You know, that's the salt that you see on the road salt used today during the winter.

It's you know critical important to not only our city, but across the state of Michigan, and I think there's other users as well.

And so for the salt mines, you know, they've they're they're down there mining almost in a grid.

And I think uh, you know, I'll have them chime in if I'm you know, misquoting numbers.

I think it's about a 40 by 40 grid.

And so, you know, imagine again this 11, 1200 feet below us, all mining activities down there, you know, they go in certain directions, northeast, you know, south.

Uh, and then so they mine in a grid.

And so traditionally back to the revenue streams for us is one for um lease payments.

So you've got to pay to access these underground roads, right?

And so you've got not only the the actual you know mine or salt itself that you're getting revenue from, you know, there you've also got to they've also got to pay, you know, folks, whether it's us or other um owners of the land, you know, to get back and forth.

And so this lease right now, right now the city's still in an active lease from 1999.

We've amended it um uh a first time in 2006.

Uh right now we're only getting uh lease payments as um you know all the all the salt that the city owned, you know, 1200 feet below us had been mined already.

And so this right now uh sets us up uh for another 30 year lease.

We'd uh you know, we'd get revenue from uh the roads back and forth.

We'd see uh increases on there as well as mining potential for actually getting paid for the the road salt that we owned underneath us, you know, close to nine million dollars over the next 30 years.

I know that's a lot right now, so I'll take a pause for any questions or concerns or uh if the salt mines needs to correct me on any of those ballpark figures.

No correction from the uh Detroit Salt Company.

You did great.

Thank you, Mr.

Trung.

I don't have any questions relative to the revenue aspect of it, but thank you for pointing out that the salt under the city has already been mined.

So essentially they're providing um revenue to the city to still be able to access that tunnel, if you will.

Correct.

And also um access more uh you know underground salt that we do own, and so there's gonna be additional revenue there.

If this doesn't continue, let's say if this this amendment weren't approved, I think the revenue stream for us is you know a couple thousand years just for rent.

But right now, if you look at the 30-year spread, where you know we'd be basically selling them the road salt that we own underneath us on city assets, you know, we'd be getting uh about 8.9 million dollars.

All right, thank you.

The the question that I really had that I wanted to ask is how do you all ensure that there are no foundational issues for land above the salt mine?

Yeah, of course.

Uh so uh uh good morning, uh good morning, council uh members, uh Madame Chair.

Uh I guess uh uh the best way to answer this is uh a proven history of 120 years of mining uh under the city of Detroit.

Uh we've always been there for the city.

Uh we've always operated and we've always uh uh been there.

Uh I guess a perfect example is this past winter.

Um we do monitor our operations uh uh continuous.

We are federally regulated through uh uh the mines safe and health administration.

Uh so uh through those uh administrative uh measures and stop gaps, uh we ensure sustainable uh mining operations throughout the city.

Uh we're under a lot of uh infrastructures uh out of uh uh for an example uh roads uh and and for for many many many years uh we've proven that our method uh is sustainable and it's proven not to cause any disturbance to surface.

Uh best way to describe it is the uh uh the uh uh freeze and thaw cycle that uh Detroit and uh Michigan and extend experiences has more impact uh to infrastructure than we would ever do.

But can can you give an explanation of what it is that you do?

Yeah, of course.

Uh so uh the Detroit Salt Company, uh we've existed since 1906.

Uh we're mining under the city of Detroit, uh about 1100 feet below ground.

Uh it's a uh uh a historically proven method of mining.

Uh it's called the room and pillar mining method, uh, where we extract road salt, uh, we process the road salt, and um uh we've uh uh we we provide the uh what I would call the Hanolul blue uh road salt that everybody is accustomed to here uh within the city of Detroit.

Yeah, uh the pillars are left behind uh from uh uh structural uh stability standpoint.

Uh the mine has gone through a lot of evolutions throughout its history, and most recently we are using continuous miners uh for as our mining method, uh best in class mining method that uh that that exists in the industry uh that has basically no surface impact, we do not blast and we do not uh cause any disturbance.

Okay, thank you.

Um and can you just share who inspects the um not the work that you do as it relates to mining, but just to ensure that there are no foundational challenges that are created as a result of the work you do.

Uh sure, ma'am.

Um that is usually done through uh um public works division, they take uh measurements.

Uh the city engineers have been here in the past to just inspect to make sure things are solid and there are no uh subsidence uh issues here in the city.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Member Santiago Romero.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Through you to our presenters, good morning.

I just want to share um that a good portion of this is under District 6, it's under Southwest Detroit specifically.

And as someone that has lived there my whole life, I remember when they used to use explosions.

Um, it was very disruptive.

It was not a fun time in the neighborhood, and that has changed.

Um, my team and I recently visited the SALT mines.

Thank you for having us.

We wanted to see firsthand how these things operate because we do have those same questions and concerns, right?

I mean, we did see the continuous machine, it's essentially just a rolling pin that drives into the salts, and then they gather it.

It's pretty cool.

I highly suggest to anyone in the city that is able to to see how it works, and if they welcome you to do so, if they can, just for you to see firsthand um that it is safe.

Um, the jobs it creates, um, also learned about the jobs.

Uh, highly encourage anyone uh to look to to work in in in this field.

It's a very good um, it's a very good field to go into.

It's a special field.

You are essentially a mole, you are underground for a long time.

But if you are okay being underground, getting paid well, um getting taken care of for for for your work.

This is a field to go into.

Um, so just wanted to share that that we've seen the evolution of of the salts mine and and how they do their work here in the city.

We had those same questions and concerns, um, but this is very, very, very deep underground.

It's pretty terrifying.

Um, but um I am actually happy to to see us um being able to um receive more as a city uh for for for the work being done.

Um but just wanted to share that, madam chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

I don't have any additional questions.

Is there a motion on line item 6.2?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to send line item 6.2 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you all so much for joining us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Line item 6.3 is contract number 6007575, 100% CDBG funding to manage the loan servicing and collection for the home investor loan portfolio, community development block grant, and neighborhood stabilization program notes.

This is a replacement contract, contractor revella Inc.

contract period through June 30th, 2027.

Total contract amount 240,138.

Is there a motion to discuss line item 6.3?

Discussion.

Discussion.

Um, I believe we have Kyle O'Fori, Rebecca Labove, and Elizabeth Ayana Johnson who will be joining us.

If we can move them over as panelists, I do have a couple of questions.

Good morning.

Please introduce yourselves for the record.

Good morning, Rebecca Labove, Housing and Revitalization.

Good morning, Kyle O'Fori, Housing and Revitalization Department.

Good morning, Elizabeth Ayana Johnson, Office of Contracting and Procurement.

And I'm working to fix my camera.

Good morning.

Thank you all.

Um, so can someone please share with us uh there is an indication that this is a replacement contract.

Uh, can we talk about why the contract?

I guess the previous contract is being replaced.

Yes, I can speak to that.

So this is more of a an administration and administrative switch of the company.

We have worked with Mino Lending Solutions for the past several years.

This contract was approved in 2022.

And at the time, Mino had a company called Ravella that developed the software that we use to service our more than 150 loans with borrowers around the city.

Okay.

Mino Lending has decided to go ahead.

Sorry.

Mino Lending has decided to focus more specifically on lending and has asked to transfer the contact or the contract to Ravella.

The both companies are fairly small.

We at the department have been in regular biweekly contact with originally representatives from both, but in the past few months, just the representatives from Ravella to talk about the ongoing loan details and changes like that.

So from a day-to-day perspective, this is a very small change that will just allow the company that we're working with to be Revella rather than Mino.

Anything additional the chair nothing from me.

Okay.

Um so I believe we had a contract that came before us not long ago.

Is this and and I was trying to figure out what contract it was, if I could come up with the contract number and all of that, because I recall um a CDBG um, I don't want to say oversight contract, but um Miss Lebeau, do you know what I'm referring to?

And I'm wondering, is this the same contract that Mr.

O'Fori just spoke to, or was that something different?

To the chair, I believe the contract you may be referring to was our technical assistance provider.

It was a contract with uh gatehouse solutions who advise us on how to ensure that the use of our HUD funds um from you know home to CDBG to C D B G DR to NSP is in alignment um with the regulations, and when we get into thorny questions about eligibility, they assist us with those and resolving any past findings from prior use of funds.

Um that is a separate contract uh from this.

This is really regarding collecting the program income um for repayments on the loans that we make.

We don't collect a huge amount of of money from these contracts, but it uh in total we're now collecting with this loan servicer about 400,000 a year, and that's money that we can use directly to invest back into other affordable housing projects.

So it is an important service, and it also keeps our borrowers accountable uh to the city.

Okay, thank you.

Um I just really wanted to understand the difference between the two contracts because my mind recalled um the previous contract and just wanted to ensure that um there was a difference in the services that were being provided.

Thank you.

Any any additional questions seeing none?

Is there a motion on line item 6.3?

Motion to approve.

There's a motion to approve line item 6.3 and sent to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

Thank you.

And now line item 6.4, submitting resolution authorization urging the promotion of the housing choice voucher home ownership program.

This is the resolution.

Is there a motion to send line item 6.4 to formal?

Motion.

There's a motion to send line item 6.4 to formal with a recommendation to approve.

Hearing no objections, that action shall be taken.

That brings us to member reports.

Member Vice Chair Santiago Romero.

Negative report.

And I do not have a report either.

If there is nothing further to come before this committee, we shall stand adjourned, noting that our 10 o'clock budget hearing will take place in about 10 minutes.

This motion this meeting shall stand adjourned.