6.5.24 HHSC Meeting Minutes

City of Chandler — Regular Meeting (2024-09-11)

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MINUTES 
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION 
NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES DEPARTMENT 
235 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ 85225 
Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 6:00 p.m. 
 
 
CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL   
Commission Chair Heather Mattisson called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. 
 
Commissioners present: Heather Mattisson, Ryan Magel, Sharyn Younger, David Gonzalez, Aimee 
Griffith-Johnson, and Jeff Reynolds. 
 
Commissioners absent: Cecilia Hermosillo, Lisa Loring, Tony Alcala, Frank Dichoza, and Karen Tepper. 
 
Staff present: Riann Balch, Community Resources Senior Manager, Amy Jacobson, Housing and 
Redevelopment Senior Manager, Karin Bishop, Community Development Senior Program Manager, 
Dylan Raymond, Management Analyst Senior, and Elizabeth Garcia, Community Development 
Coordinator. 
 
Public present: None. 
 
SCHEDULED/UNSCHEDULED PUBLIC APPEARANCES/CALL TO PUBLIC 
Members of the audience may address any item not on the agenda. State Statute prohibits the Board 
or Commission from discussing an item that is not on the agenda, but the Board or Commission does 
listen to your concerns and has staff follow up on any questions you raise. 
 
ACTION AGENDA 
1. 
Kingston Arms Designation 
Approve Resolution No. HO180, Authorizing the Submission of a Certification to the US 
Department of Housing and Urban Development for its desire to renew the Designations 
of Kingston Arms Apartments, 127 N. Kingston St., for Occupancy by Elderly or Near 
Elderly Families. 
 
Chair Mattisson called on Amy Jacobson, Housing and Redevelopment Senior Manager to present 
the item. Ms. Jacobson explained the City’s Housing and Redevelopment Division, as the Public 
Housing Authority, assists 303 families in public housing. Since the inception of the City’s Public 
Housing Authority, the apartments located at 127 N. Kingston (Kingston Arms Apartments) have 
been designated for people who are elderly or near elderly. Elderly is defined by HUD as a person 
62 years of age or older and near elderly is defined as a person 55 years of age or older. Staff 
recommends approval of Resolution No. HO180 authorizing the submission of a certification to 
the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to renew the designations. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Jeff Reynolds made a motion approve Resolution No.HO180 authorizing 
the submission of a certification to the United States Department of Housing and Urban 
Development to renew the designations of 127 North Kingston Street (Kingston Arms Apartments)

For occupancy by elderly or near elderly families. Commissioner David Gonzalez seconded the 
motion.  
 
Discussion: None. 
 
Results: The motion was approved 6-0. 
 
2. 
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Action Plan 
Approve Resolution No. HO179, Authorizing the City of Chandler Housing and 
Redevelopment Family Self-Sufficiency Action Plan Effective July 1, 2024, and Certifying 
Compliance with the related US Department of Housing and Urban Development 
Regulations. 
 
Chair Mattisson called on Ms. Jacobson to present the item. Ms. Jacobson explained that the FSS 
program is a voluntary program designed to assist low-income families participating in Public 
Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs (HCV) in achieving economic independence and 
self-sufficiency through goal setting and specialized case management. Goals may include 
education and job training, money management, career advancement, improved life skills, and 
preparation for homeownership.  Participants are considered self-sufficient and able to graduate 
when goals are accomplished and/or their income exceeds rental subsidy program limits, 
including being off welfare cash assistance for a minimum of 12 months. FSS is up to a five-year 
program, including two one-year extensions. Currently, there are a total of 120 participants 
enrolled in the FSS program, with 60 participants from Public Housing and 60 participants from 
The HCV program. 
 
Motion: Commissioner Reynolds made a motion to recommend Resolution No. HO179 
authorizing the City of Chandler Housing and Redevelopment Family Self Sufficiency Action Plan 
Effective July 1, 2024, and certifying compliance with the related US Department of Housing and 
Urban Development regulations. Commissioner Sharyn Younger seconded the motion.  
Discussion: Commissioner Reynolds commented that it’s a great program. Commissioner Gonzalez 
asked if 120 participants were the maximum capacity and if there was a waiting list for the program. 
Ms. Jacobson responded that the program Is currently at capacity but may have the ability to expand 
in the future. The program does not have a waiting list but instead an interested party list. 
 
Results: The motion was approved 6-0. 
 
3. 
Maricopa County Head Start Lease 
Approve Resolution No. HO181, Authorizing the Eleventh Amendment to the Lease 
Agreement between the City of Chandler and Maricopa County for space in the 
Recreation Building for use as a Head Start Facility at 660 S. Palm Ln. 
 
Chair Mattisson called on Ms. Jacobson to present the item. Ms. Jacobson explained that Maricopa 
County has operated a Head Start preschool program in the Public Housing Recreation Building, 
located at 660 S. Palm Lane, since 1993.  In 1993, the County contributed $60,000 towards the

remodeling of the existing building to better accommodate Head Start’s licensing needs. The 
original amended and restated lease with the current terms, conditions, and rent amount was 
executed in 2017.  The current three-year term of the amended renewal lease with Maricopa County 
Head Start ends June 30, 2024.  The current lease amount is $3,999.96 per year.  The existing lease 
includes an option to extend the lease for a two-year period at an annual rate of $3,999.96 per year.   
Maricopa County is requesting to exercise the option for a two-year lease extension under the same 
terms and conditions outlined in the current lease. The Head Start Program serves both the Public 
Housing residents’ children and neighborhood children.  Head Start is a valuable resource that 
better prepares low-income children for a school environment. 
Motion: Commissioner Gonzalez made a motion to approve Resolution No. HO181 authorizing 
the eleventh amendment to the lease agreement between the City of Chandler and Maricopa 
County for a two-year lease extension for space in the recreation building at 660 S. Palm Lane, 
Chandler, Arizona, for use as a Head Start Facility. Commissioner Aimee Griffith-Johnson seconded 
the motion.  
 
Discussion: Commissioner Gonzalez asked how many children the program was serving. Ms. 
Jacobson responded that she would get back to him with the information. 
 
Results: The motion was approved 6-0. 
 
4. 
Maricopa County Head Start Lease 
Approve Resolution No. HO182, Authorizing the Two-Year Lease Extension Agreement 
between the City of Chandler and Maricopa County for space in the Recreation 
Building for use as a Head Start Facility at 130 N. Hamilton St. 
 
Chair Mattisson called on Ms. Jacobson to present the item. Ms. Jacobson explained that 
Maricopa County has operated a Head Start preschool program in the Public Housing 
Recreation Building, located at 130 N. Hamilton Street, since 1991. In 1995, the County 
contributed $70,000 towards the remodeling of the existing building to better accommodate 
Head Start’s licensing needs. The original amended and restated lease with the current 
terms, conditions, and rent amount was executed in 2017. The current two-year term of the 
amended renewal lease with Maricopa County Head Start ends June 30, 2024. The current 
lease amount is $3,999.96 per year. The existing lease included an option to extend the 
lease for a two-year period at an annual rate of $3,999.96 per year. Maricopa County is 
requesting to exercise the option for a two-year lease extension under the same terms and 
conditions outlined in the current lease. The Head Start Program serves Public Housing 
residents’ children as well as children from the surrounding neighborhood. Head Start is a 
valuable resource that prepares low-income children for a school environment. 
 
Motion:  Commissioner Younger made a motion to approve Resolution No. HO182 authorizing 
the tenth amendment to the lease agreement between the City of Chandler and Maricopa County 
authorizing a two-year lease extension for space in the recreation building at 130 N. Hamilton 
Street, Chandler, Arizona, for use as a Head Start Facility. Vice Chair Magel seconded the motion.

Discussion: None 
 
 Results: The motion was approved 6-0. 
 
MEMBERS COMMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS 
 
CALENDAR 
5. 
HHSC Regular Meeting, Wednesday, July 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m. 
 
INFORMATION ITEMS 
Karin Bishop, Community Development Senior Program Manager informed the Commission that 
the city has started work on the next Five-Year Consolidated Plan to develop priorities for 
Community development funding and staff will be sending out a survey to collect public input. 
  
ADJOURN 
The meeting was adjourned at 6:29 p.m. 
 
Dated: _____________________________ 
 
__________________________________ 
Chair Heather Mattisson 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Recording Secretary Elizabeth Garcia