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January 18 2023 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

Date Posted: 01/18/2023
Category: Board Minutes

I. Regular Meeting
Chairman James Cloar called the regular meeting of the Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners to order at 8:38 a.m. Other Board members present were Bemetra Salter Liggins, Ben Dachepalli, Sul Hemani, and legal counsel Ricardo Gilmore. Commissioner Parker Homans participated by phone and Commissioners Lorena Hardwick and Billi Johnson-Griffin were not present nor available by phone.

The Chair began by asking everyone for a moment of silent prayer and/or personal meditation; those in attendance were also asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance; recital of the agency's mission statement followed.

II. Minutes
A motion to approve the Minutes of the regular Board Meeting of October 19, 2022 was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Hemani: 

Commissioner Homans - Present
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Present  

III. Public Forum (3 minutes limit allotted per speaker)

  • None to come before this forum

IV. Employees of the Month

  • Administration - Gladynel Alamo-Soto
  • Properties - James Lumpkins

V. Special Recognition (Geraldine Barnes Award)

  • Recipient - Allesha Marshall

VI. Resolutions
Sr. VP/COO, Mr. Leroy Moore presented resolutions 2022-4248 to 2022-4255: 

  • 2022-4248: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa, Florida to execute closing documents for the sale of lots 5 and 12, Encore, a subdivision located in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Hemani and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Abstain

  • 2022-4249: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa, Florida to execute loan closing documents for the co-development of property located at 4003 Manhattan Avenue, Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida ("casa bel mar development") with Bel Mar Partners, LLLP.

A motion was made by Commissioner Hemani and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

  • 2022-4250: Resolution authorizing the President/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of The Housing Authority of The City of Tampa, Florida to execute closing documents for the sale of parcels T7 and T8, West River, located in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.

Mr. Moore continued presenting the rest of the resolutions from 2022-4251 to a walk-on resolution 2022-4255. 

  • 2022-4251: A resolution authorizing the president/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of The Housing Authority of The City of Tampa, Florida to execute closing documents for the sale of lot 1, block 1 West River T5 (f/k/a Parcel T5.3), located in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.

A motion was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

  • 2022-4252 Leroy Moore: Resolutions approving the Boulevard Tower 1 permanent loan closing.

A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Hemani:

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

  • 2022-4253 Leroy Moore: Resolutions approving the Boulevard Tower 2 permanent loan closing.

A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Hemani: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

2022-4254 Leroy Moore: Resolutions approving the Boulevard Tower 3 permanent loan closing.

A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Hemani: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

  • 2022-4255 (WALK-ON): A resolution authorizing the President/CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa (THA) to enter into an agreement(s) with the City of Tampa, a municipal corporation of the state of Florida (city), effectively conveying ownership of certain infrastructure constructed by THA to support West River development needs to the City of Tampa. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Dachepalli and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins: 

Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes

VII. President/CEO's report

Finance and related entities
Sr. VP/CFO, Ms. Susi Begazo-McGourty, presented the agency's three main programs, beginning with the RAD properties, highlighting Robles Park which had not yet been relocated, thus had continued to earn tenant revenues and HAP payments. The second of three main programs was the Assisted Housing Program, the CFO updated the Board on the administration portion, which had a net income rather than a net loss as originally projected. The third main program was the North Tampa Development Corp. program, currently undergoing a rebid while also going through many changes with HUD. NTHDC's director was in DC with a group of other housing authorities finding out more to prepare the agency regarding this very competitive rebidding process.

Ms. Begazo-McGourty provided updates regarding the THA audit, auditors were currently on-site working on finalizing the audit. Other updates included West River's T4 Phase 2 development that was underway, the agency received $4.4 million for the sale of a lot at West River, as well as a master budget not finalized yet but to be brought to the Board at the next meeting. HOPE VI Belmont I and II recapitalizations, a conversion to RAD resulted in $1.5 million in distributions. Belmont III will also go through a recapitalization process, a conversion to RAD. Lastly, THA was in the process of purchasing the Oaks at Riverview property, expected to close at the end of November.

At this time, Chairman Cloar mentioned the December meeting, and it was agreed that this meeting will be cancelled.

Operations and real estate development 
Sr. VP/COO, Mr. Leroy Moore first provided updates on ENCORE! There was recent great news coverage and public acceptance for the project design of Lot 10, to build a hotel and market rate units, expected to close in January. Lots 5 and 12 were scheduled to close in December or January next year. Lots 8 and 13 are both under contract for market-rate residential. All five lots mentioned were scheduled to close within the next 6 to 9 months, lot 13 will be the last to close. These remaining lots will bring close to $35 million in sales proceeds.

Other ENCORE! updates included mention of last month's board approval of a $7 million expansion of the Chiller Plant and a search for a potential operator for St. James Church. 

West River updates included the confirmation of the Performa and financing for the second half of the Canopy at West River site, T4 Parcel, expected to close mid-year next year. The only thing left was to develop the workplace parcel. At Robles Park, THA froze mid-leasing and was still waiting for HUD approval. THA needs to speak with HUD to begin the relocation process, the earliest to begin is January 2023. Commissioners received flash drives with digital copies of the PHA Plan. This plan was now available for public comment through December and will be presented to the Board in January 2023. 

Lastly, Commissioners received the agenda for the annual THA business meeting scheduled for December 2nd, at the Tampa Convention Center.

The Director of Human Resources, Mr. Kenneth Christie informed Commissioners that THA offices were closed on November 10th due to tropical storm Nicole. In honor of Veterans Day, THA offices were also closed on November 11th. The director addressed the importance of remembering those who served our country. Mr. Christie mentioned that THA's annual mammogram screening was held on November 1st. On November 8th, a bus tour and orientation were held for the agency's staff, the next tour will be on December 13th.

On behalf of Director of Program and Property Services Ms. Brown-Gilmore, FSS Program Manager Ms. Janice Damanze and Project Coordinator Mr. Carlos Blake addressed the Board with a presentation regarding a youth program sponsored by the Office of Justice; THA was very honored to be a recipient of this grant worth $488,000. Young ages 7 to 17 were the beneficiaries of the program, that aims to prevent them from getting involved in gang violence and fights. As part of the program, youth also receive after-of-school time, academic enrichment, recreational activities, and summer programs.

Their goal is to provide a safe and positive environment for the children and teach them about the positive aspects of law enforcement. They are thought the importance of communicating with officers in the community, requiring parental and community involvement. 

VIII. Legal Matters

  • None to come before this forum.

IX. Unfinished Business

  • None to come before this forum.

X. Notices and Updates

  • None to come before this forum.

XI. New Business

  • None to come before this forum.

XII. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before this Board, the Chair declared this meeting of the THA Board of Commissioners adjourned at 10:04 a.m.

Approved this 18th day of January 2023.