City Hall, Council Chamber  
100 Santa Rosa Avenue  
Santa Rosa, CA  
City of Santa Rosa  
Housing Authority  
Regular Meeting Minutes - Final  
Monday, March 25, 2024  
1:30 PM  
1. CALL TO ORDER  
Chair LaPenna called the meeting to order at 1:30PM.  
2. ROLL CALL  
6 -  
Present  
Chair Thomas LaPenna, Vice Chair Jeremy Newton, Commissioner  
Angela Conte, Commissioner Wayne Downey Ph. D, Commissioner  
Jeffrey Owen, and Commissioner Andrew Smith  
1 - Commissioner Doug Shivananda Friedman  
Absent  
3. STATEMENTS OF ABSTENTION  
NONE  
4. STAFF BRIEFING  
4.1  
HOUSING AUTHORITY FY 2023/24 QUARTER 2 FINANCIAL UPDATE  
This Staff Briefing summarizes Housing Authority (“Authority”)  
expenditures and funding for July 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023.  
Kate Goldfine, Administrative Services Officer, provided information  
and answered Commissioner questions.  
Megan Basinger, Director, assisted in answering Commissioner  
questions.  
Public Comments:  
Duane De Witt made comments regarding housing projects in  
Roseland.  
Caroline Spencer requested information regarding the breakdown of  
financial and housing assistance provided for low income residents.  
5. STUDY SESSION  
NONE  
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS (ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS)  
Duane De Witt presented information regarding city centered growth  
and how it affects outlying neighborhoods in Santa Rosa.  
Caroline Spencer made comments regarding the SAY closure and  
its affect upon the community.  
7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
7.1  
Draft Minutes - February 26, 2024.  
Approved as submitted.  
8. CHAIRPERSON/ COMMISSIONER REPORTS  
NONE  
9. COMMITTEE REPORTS  
NONE  
10. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORTS/ COMMUNICATION ITEMS:  
10.1  
PENDING DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE UPDATE Provided for  
information.  
Megan Basinger, Director, provided information regarding the  
Pipeline Update and answered Commissioner questions.  
Public Comments:  
Caroline Spencer made comments regarding the differences in how  
the term affordable is defined.  
Duane De Witt made comments regarding the Lantana project and  
the funds that are dedicated to similar projects.  
Olma Nunez made comments regarding the building projects  
currently being constructed in Santa Rosa and the lack of aesthetic  
appeal, safety features, and parking for low income housing.  
11. CONSENT ITEMS  
11.1  
RESOLUTION - RESCINDING HOUSING AUTHORITY RESOLUTION  
NUMBER 1534 AND ADOPTION OF A NEW RESOLUTION  
DELEGATING APPROVAL AUTHORITY TO THE EXECUTIVE  
DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE FOR CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY RENTAL  
AND OWNERSHIP HOUSING AGREEMENT MODIFICATIONS  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and  
Community Services Department that the Housing Authority, by  
resolution rescind Resolution Number 1534 and approve the delegation  
of approval authority to the Executive Director or designee on certain  
multifamily rental agreements and single-family ownership housing to  
approve modifications and term extensions, in order to achieve  
administrative cost savings and streamline the review process for items  
traditionally brought forward to the Housing Authority for consideration  
and action.  
Public Comments:  
Duane De Witt made comments opposing the consent items on the  
agenda using Belview Ranch as an example of a similar resolution  
that was passed by the Housing Authority.  
Caroline Spencer made comments regarding the Housing Authority  
Commissioners giving up power and opposed the resolutions.  
Angela Morgan, Program Specialist, responded to Commissioner  
questions.  
Megan Basinger, Executive Director, assisted in answering  
Commissioner questions.  
Ethan Walsh, Housing Authority Counsel, assisted in clarifying the  
resolutions in the item.  
Nicole Del Fiorentino, Manager, assisted in answering  
Commissioner questions.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Owen, seconded by Commissioner  
Smith, to waive reading of the text and adopt CONSENT ITEMS.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
5 -  
Yes:  
Chair LaPenna, Vice Chair Newton, Commissioner Downey Ph. D,  
Commissioner Owen and Commissioner Smith  
1 - Commissioner Friedman  
1 - Commissioner Conte  
Absent:  
Recused:  
12. REPORT ITEMS  
NONE  
13. PUBLIC HEARING  
13.1  
PUBLIC HEARING - APPOINTMENT OF RESIDENT ADVISORY  
BOARD AND ADOPTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL  
PLAN FOR FY 2024-2025  
BACKGROUND: The Public Housing Agency Plan (PHA Plan) is  
required for Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) administering the Section  
8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. It is made available for  
review to the public and by participants in the HCV program appointed  
as the Resident Advisory Board. The purpose of this item is to appoint  
any and all existing Tenant Commissioners on the Board of  
Commissioners to serve concurrently as the Resident Advisory Board,  
and review and approve the Annual Plan for Fiscal Year 2024-2025.  
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by the Housing and  
Community Services Department that the Housing Authority, by  
resolution, appoint any and all Housing Authority Commissioners who  
are also Housing Choice Voucher program participants as the Resident  
Advisory Board to represent the interests of those served by the  
Housing Choice Voucher Program, and adopt the Public Housing  
Agency Plan (PHA Plan) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 as required by the  
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)  
for local administration of the Housing Choice Voucher program.  
Rebecca Lane, Program Specialist, gave a presentation and  
answered Commissioner questions.  
Chair LaPenna opened the public hearing at 2:56PM and hearing no  
public comments it was closed at 2:56PM. Duane De Witt  
requested to make a comment and made comments regarding how  
helpful the resident board is to the community.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Owen, seconded by Commissioner  
Smith, to waive reading of the text and adopt:  
RESOLUTION 1771 ENTITLED: RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSING  
AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA ESTABLISHING MEMBERSHIP  
OF THE RESIDENT ADVISORY BOARD AND APPROVING AND ADOPTING  
THE PUBLIC HOUSING AGENCY ANNUAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR  
2024-2025.  
The motion carried by the following vote:  
6 -  
Yes:  
Chair LaPenna, Vice Chair Newton, Commissioner Conte,  
Commissioner Downey Ph. D, Commissioner Owen and  
Commissioner Smith  
1 - Commissioner Friedman  
Absent:  
14. ADJOURNMENT  
See no further business, Chair LaPenna adjourned the meeting at  
2:59PM.  
Approved on:  
_______________________________  
Steven V. Brown,  
Recording Secretary