>> DR. HOLT: Good morning,
everyone.
We are here for Bond Oversight
Committee meeting.
It is the 7th of March.
Don't start recording yet.
I will give you the cue.
I know Allan is on his way.
At least I anticipation it.
I haven't heard from Annalise Or
Steven Green.
We'll give others the chance to
join us.
We'll start at 9:35.
>> I don't think Annalise is
joining us.
She is on maternity leave.
>> SUSAN: That's exciting.
>> DR. HOLT: Congratulations to
Annalise.
Get some tea.
That sounds like a great
strategy.
So we'll go in just a couple of
minutes.
Thanks, everybody.
>> Our new Director Helmi will
join us at 10:00.
She is not on the agenda.
But if there is a natural break
once she joins the meeting, I
think she would like to
introduce herself and add some
brief remarks.
>> DR. HOLT: That would be so
perfect.
Normally we have a director's
update, so it would be
appropriate to have that moment.
>> She'll be joining likely
around 10:00.
It might be after Angel's update
and before the presentation.
>> DR. HOLT: Okay.
If you could do me the favor
of -- I can't tell who is in the
space.
I can see bodies in the space,
but once she is in the room, you
could either direct chat me or
you can highlight it when we are
transitioning, whichever works
easiest.
>> All right.
Thank you.
>> DR. HOLT: Oh, yeah.
Thank you.
>> DR. HOLT: It is 9:35 and
today is the 7th of March.
If you can believe it.
2024.
Welcome into the Bond Oversight
Committee Meeting.
I'm Dr. Steven Holt with Try
Xcellence and we need to start
recording.
[ Recording in progress ]
>> DR. HOLT: Welcome into a
hybrid meeting.
Most of us are used to hybrid
meetings now.
The in-person or Zoom world or
Google or some form of being
able to capture people who are
present in the space and those
who are in the virtual arena.
So thanks for being in this
meeting.
Here are some protocols to go
through.
You can read them.
I want to highlight a few.
It is so important in this
moment we have our cameras on
when we are talking.
We have our camera on and our
mic is on and we are speaking
clearly and even at a good pace.
Being careful not to speak too
rapidly or too slowly helps us
to be able, whoever is
listening, to be able to capture
what you are communicating.
Be thoughtful as you
communicate.
Also, make sure that you're on
mute when you're having
conversations that are side
conversations or that you are
interacting around something
else because it bleeds into the
moment and makes it difficult to
capture voices when others are
speaking.
The way the systems are created,
they are trying to capture
everyone's voice, so if there
are multiple people speaking at
the same time it is difficult.
It is helpful when you introduce
yourself when you are speaking
so people know who is
communicating.
For those of us part of the Bond
Oversight Committee we are
familiar with each other and
each other's voices, but
everyone else is not necessarily
so.
Be thoughtful to do that.
Lastly, utilize the chat for
tech questions and for those who
are participating through public
testimony.
So thank you very much.
And if we could have our next
slide.
I'll go over what we are doing
today and I will do roll call.
So.
I have introduced myself and let
you know who I am.
There will be a moment for
public testimony.
Many of your have heard me say
this before.
This is a meeting that is open
to the public.
It is not a public meeting.
What I mean by that is it is not
a meeting for the public to come
and share their concerns,
thoughts, ideas about a variety
of topics that aren't related to
the specific agenda items or
that aren't related to Portland
Housing Bureau work.
The public is invited to
participate, listen in, observe,
and share in regard to the work
of the Bond Oversight Committee
as it relates to the Portland
Housing Bureau.
So if you have testimony, you'll
have an opportunity for two
minutes and we'd like you to
have that testimony directly
about the items on the agenda.
If you have concerns that are
not necessarily on the agenda,
it isn't that we don't want to
hear from you.
We encourage you to interact
with the Portland Housing Bureau
staff.
If we can go away from this
particular view for a moment and
go to gallery view.
See everyone's face.
Technology is great when it
works.
Is there a way to get a gallery
view so we can see everyone so I
can identify the staff members
who are in Portland Housing
Bureau?
Thank you very much.
All the Portland Housing Bureau
staff, if you could have your
cameras on, please.
Amazing.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
So if you have questions and
want to engage around items not
on the agenda, we encourage you
to reach out to the Portland
Housing Bureau staff.
You saw several of them wave.
Thank you very much.
While we are still in this view,
we will do roll call.
So of the Bond Oversight
Committee members.
I will begin with you, Allan.
>> ALLAN: Thank you, Dr. Holt.
I'm Allan Lazo, I use he/him
pronouns.
I'm a Bond Oversight Committee
member.
>> DR. HOLT: Susan.
>> SUSAN: Susan Emmons, she/her
pronouns, Bond Oversight
Committee member.
>> DR. HOLT: Todd.
>> Good morning.
Todd Struble, thank you very
much.
Bond Oversight Committee member.
>> DR. HOLT: We can go back to
the presentation menu.
Our agenda is as you see.
We are going to have some
updates from our bond and talk
about the bond finance update.
Then there is a project team
presentation, the future
conversation of Bond Oversight
Committee, what is going to
happen and then closing remarks.
We may have a moment to be
introduced to the new director.
Bureau director has been
selected and invited in.
Provided she has an opportunity
to get into the meeting, we will
get a chance to be introduced to
our bureau director.
With that being said, let's go
to our next slide.
Public testimony.
To sign up in person or Zoom
chat, you are given an
opportunity for verbal or
written testimony and there is a
two-minute time limit.
Do we have anyone in the space
signed up for testimony?
I don't know who I'm asking that
question to.
>> I don't believe so, Dr. Holt,
although people may have signed
up since I checked the
registration report.
If you would like to provide
testimony, maybe raise your
hand.
>> DR. HOLT: I'm not seeing any
hands raised.
Are you?
>> Nope.
We're good here.
>> DR. HOLT: Wonderful.
We will continue in our agenda.
Our first item, then, are the
Portland Housing Bond updates.
I believe that is Danell Norby.
>> DANELL: I'm on the room mic.
Can you hear me okay?
Yes?
Okay.
Wonderful.
I did want to introduce myself
to those of you who I have not
met before.
Danell Norby, I am transitioning
out of the role of finance
creditor and into Jill Chen's
former role of the housing
investment and preservation
team.
I'm excited to be stepping into
that role.
I am here to provide the updates
Jill would have given on the
status of our projects and
overall picture of our bond
progress.
So next slide, please.
So I believe you are all
familiar with our progress map.
Just to give a quick recap of
the $258 million invested by
taxpayers, all funds have been
allocated.
We have exceeded our unit goal
by 43% and will be created 1,860
units with 1,200 units that are
currently open and the total
count includes 774 deeply
affordable units for house holds
earning up to 30% AMI.
399 permanent supportive housing
units with additional services.
And 835 family sized units.
We have three projects currently
in construction, Alder 9,
Frances & Clare Place and
HollywoodHUB is anticipating
closing this fall.
Next slide, please.
Just to go into a few
considerations and issues.
We know there is a continued
need for closer alignment with
OHCS to ensure our pipelines
projects are recognized as local
priorities for resource
allocation.
For the Portland Housing Bond
this is mainly impacting
HollywoodHUB, which did not
receive private activity bond
preservation therefore does not
have 4% low-income housing tax
credits.
This project has a complicated
schedule.
There are intricacies between
TriXcellence work and bridging
housing projects.
We are trying very hard to keep
it on track.
Our current understanding is it
is recognized as an important
project for the city and Trimet.
Our understanding is they are
working on a potential award
this spring to allow the project
to stay on track.
Other issues of note.
Cost escalation and interest
rate hikes have been a real
challenge over the last couple
of years.
That is not expected to impact
the Portland bond project
significantly.
Hazel Ying Lee and Frances &
Clare Place are set to complete
construction within the next two
months and in terms of
HollywoodHUB, we have been
underwriting and looking at the
project to ensure the project
can close and complete
construction successfully.
We are aware of continued
operational issues that are
placing some stress on the
projects that are in -- that
have been leased up.
Things like really large
increases in insurance costs,
issues retaining property
management companies and high
acuity of PHS needs at our
projects.
So I don't have answers on all
of these at the moment, but it
is something we are tracking.
We will be looking ahead to
close out of the Portland
Housing Bonds as we track
through these last few projects.
Next slide, please.
These next few slides are just
an overview of the specific
projects.
I think you are all aware of the
fact that we had five projects
that opened in 2022, Crescent
Court, Cathedral Village, The
Starlight, Hayu Tilixam and Las
Adelitas.
Totaling 583 affordable units.
In 2023, there were four
projects that opened.
Or that completed -- that
opened.
Emmons Place, congrats to the
team.
Grand opening is scheduled for
Monday and we will have a
presentation later in the
session about the project.
The Aurora, Anna Mann house and
The Joyce.
441 units.
Looking forward to our last four
bond projects.
Hazel Ying Lee is targeting May
2024 temporary occupancy.
230 units.
Frances & Clare Place which is
1% PHA units.
July 2024.
And Alder 9, 159 units of
intergenerational housing was
initially targeting fall of this
year for TCO.
It has now slipped to
approximately August of next
year.
They had some challenges getting
out of the ground in terms of
some unexpected challenges
related to soil and foundation.
But the project team reports
that the budget is being managed
to accommodate for that
slippage.
And then HollywoodHUB, which is
the largest bond project at 222
affordable units, of which 149
are funded with the Portland
bonds is currently in
predevelopment and targeting
September for closing, provided
that we can continue to work
with OHS to make sure the
resources are available.
That's it for me.
Any questions?
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you very
much.
That is exactly where we're
going.
We will go through each bond
member one by one.
We will begin with you Allan.
Any questions?
>> Thank you, Dr. Holt.
What is the funding gap for
HollywoodHUB?
Would the funding from OHCS,
like you said, allow it to
close?
>> DANELL: Yes.
It is a large portion of the
project budget because what they
need is the private activity
bond and the 4% housing tax
credits and the equity from
those credits is a very
significant piece of the project
budget.
So there is not really a path
forward for the project to close
without those resources.
It is our understanding that the
state's committee that oversees
allocation of the private
activity bonds has a meeting
scheduled for April.
So we are working on making sure
PHB is communicated with OHS
about how important this project
is, trying to advocate ahead of
the project.
All messaging is positive, OHS
is trying to do what they can to
make this come together.
>> Thank you.
>> DANELL: Yes.
>> DR. HOLT: Susan, any
questions or comments?
>> SUSAN: What is the address of
the HollywoodHUB?
>> DANELL: I don't know the
exact address.
It is right by the Hollywood
Transit Station.
>> SUSAN: Oh.
>> DANELL: It is where the -- I
apologize I don't know the
address.
>> SUSAN: That is a great
location, transit oriented and
stores.
Is there a developer?
A potential owner?
>> DANELL: Yes.
It is a branch housing project.
>> SUSAN: Oh.
>> DR. HOLT: Questions,
comments.
>> TODD: Are these unit counts
or the number of people housed.
There is an asterisk.
Can you explain how the Metro
Bond is interfacing with this?
>> DANELL: Sure.
On this particular slide it is
the number of people anticipated
to be housed.
The units in HollywoodHUB, 224
units of which 222 are
affordable and then there's two
managers units.
149 are funded with the Portland
Metro Bond.
And that leaves 73 -- I'm sorry,
149 funded with the Portland
Housing Bond and 73 with the
Metro Bond so there is no double
dipping between the two sources.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you very
much.
One other question that I have
in terms of the Hazel Ying Lee.
Was there a naming moment that
happened that I just completely
missed?
>> DANELL: Apology.
I don't have very much
background on the naming.
It seems like it happened within
the last few months.
Yes.
It did.
>> It happened probably within
the last couple of months and I
sent a notification to the Bond
Oversight Committee members
letting you know when that
happened.
I don't have the exact date, but
there was a notification that
went out.
>> DR. HOLT: Wonderful.
Thank you very much.
Thanks for the report.
We will move forward on --
>> Helmi has joined us, so this
might be a good opportunity for
Helmi to say hello and introduce
themselves to the committee
members.
>> DR. HOLT: Fantastic.
>> HELMI: Great, hello,
everybody.
Good morning, Dr. Holt and
committee members.
Really glad to be here.
So I'm Helmi Hisserich, the new
director after the Portland
Housing Bureau.
I know the bond funds are
expended and the work is
underway and I'm coming in the
tail end of this.
Congratulations to all of you
for the hard work you've done
with the bond.
I have heard nothing but
positive reviews about the work
of the -- the work that was done
with the bond.
So, you know, I am really
looking forward to seeing the
projects come out of the ground
and also to meeting each of you
individually.
I think if you are sitting on an
oversight committee you are an
important stakeholder in the
housing conversation in Portland
and I look forward to talking
with each of you.
Just, you know, I'm happy to
share a little bit about myself.
Prior to coming here to
Portland, I spent -- I'm a
person who has worked in the
public sector for many years.
I have spent 25 years working in
the City Of Los Angeles in a
variety of roles.
I ran several TIFF districts.
I was the deputy mayor of
housing and homelessness under
Mayor Villaragosa in the early
2000s.
I spent about 12 years
overseeing the Housing
Development Program in the city
of LA.
I will share with you what
prompted me to come to Portland
because you probably wonder
somebody who spent so much time
in LA, why come to Portland?
What is the draw?
First of all, it is a beautiful
city.
I'm delighted to be in The
Pacific Northwest and to be
here.
In 2015 I started to see the
system we have in place for
solving houses crisis is not --
it actually won't work.
It is incapable of solving the
housing problem.
I started to explore other
ideas, specifically I was
awarded a fellowship that
allowed me to look around the
world at housing systems that
were working.
I left the City Of Los Angeles
to join a form that was doing
educational programs for housing
leaders on world's best
practices.
I was particularly interested in
a model in Vienna, Austria, they
have a very broad housing supply
for lower-income households and
middle income.
They provide really stable
housing for middle income.
So I have spent a lot of time
researching and focusing on
that.
I have been an educator for the
last two and a half years taking
delegations of people to Vienna.
For personal reasons I decided
it was time for me to stop
traveling quite so much.
When I saw the opportunity to
come to Portland, it really was
a couple of thoughts.
One is, you know, I've worked
for so many years implementing.
It is one thing to be sort of
talking about big ideas.
It is another thing to actually
try to make them happen, try to
bring ideas to new places and so
I really wanted to kind of flex
my implementation skills again.
And then secondly, I was just
looking for a city that would be
creative and thoughtful that was
kind of willing to do -- willing
to do or think outside the box
and is really on the move.
I could really sense that
Portland is deeply committed to
resolving the housing issues,
particularly the homelessness
crisis and was open to a
dialogue about the future.
So that was what brought me
here.
And I'm really, really looking
forward to getting to know
folks.
I'll just say I have a lot of
knowledge on the housing sector,
but I'm learning -- I'm getting
to know the people and the
places of Portland.
And so I welcome anybody's input
on how best to engage here
locally and really listen to
those of you who have been
actively involved in housing.
So that's who I am.
And yeah, that's about it.
>> DR. HOLT: Well, thanks,
Helmi.
Great introduction.
Appreciate that.
I would like to give a moment to
each of the Bond Oversight
Committee members if they want
to ask a question or respond.
Susan, I will start with you.
>> SUSAN: Yeah.
Welcome.
I would love to spend some time
with you.
My husband and I were lucky
enough to spend one year living
in Vienna.
We worked for international
organizations.
We were impressed with the
housing.
We had twin sons.
The year they were 4, we went
back.
That is an interesting model to
look at.
That are underlying values in
that culture I don't believe we
have in our culture.
So we had volunteers board
members who offered to send me
to study social housing and
other cultures.
I thought it was a great
opportunity.
But you have to live somewhere
where people believe that.
So I would love to discuss that
with you.
Welcome.
I think we are lucky to have
you.
There is a lot of opportunity
here.
We have a lot of challenges.
So, yeah.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you.
Todd.
>> TODD: Hi, hello, welcome as
well.
Appreciate you making the time
to be here.
I don't have any questions.
Just a little background.
I was appointed to this
oversight committee by the late
Commissioner Fish.
Part of the idea was
representing the voices east of
82nd avenue and 205.
So I guess I would just kind of
share that I think that is an
area of interest for me
personally and a lot of the
groups that I work with at Apano
In East Portland.
Trying to reiterate advocacy for
the folks who are a big part of
the city and farther from
downtown.
Thank you.
>> DR. HOLT: Allan.
>>
>> ALLAN: Welcome, Helmi.
I know we only have an hour,
hour and a half left in our
meeting, but I'm curious about
the statement you made why our
current housing system isn't
working.
Is there a kernel at the root of
why you think that in just a few
minutes.
>> HELMI: There is an analogy I
like to use that I think is
helpful, which is related to
COVID.
When COVID -- when the COVID
crisis first happened, we all
focused on the first responders.
We were -- remember, we were out
there, I don't know if it was as
much in Portland as in Los
Angeles, but we were banging
pots and pans and celebrating
the nurses and doctors and
firefighters and everyone on the
frontlines of COVID.
But what we weren't really
focused on is the fact there was
a whole team of people working
on a vaccine worldwide.
There was this worldwide
conversation taking place,
getting rid of patent laws,
changes things and thinking
differently about how to solve
that problem at a scale.
If we had only ever focused on
the first responders, we would
still be in a COVID crisis.
And I think it is very much the
same way in housing.
We have a tendency to focus on
homelessness.
That is the human crisis that we
are clearly our attention needs
to go there and focus on that.
But if we only focus on that, we
are never actually going to
address the fundamental root
causes of housing crisis.
Most people are homeless because
there is not enough housing that
is affordable.
And so really looking at the
overall housing supply and
understanding that we actually
need to create a team of what I
call the vaccine team or a group
of people that are going to
think more about the system
itself.
And that is actually why I look
to Vienna.
They did that.
They had a homelessness crisis
100 years ago with about 60,000
people living in makeshift
shelters in the city.
It was a response to that,
creating a large supply of
middle-income housing, also
housing for the poor, for people
that are impoverished.
It is really middle people they
are focusing in on.
Their ability to create a supply
of stable, permanently protected
from market fluctuations housing
has stabilize that city.
That is the conversation that
will help us think through a
larger strategy.
So that is kind of my thought
process on housing.
How do we talk about, you
know -- how do we talk about the
larger system while at the same
time responding to the human
crisis that we see with
houselessness.
>> Allan: You are speaking my
language.
>> HELMI: Great.
>> DR. HOLT: Great.
Thanks, Helmi.
Good to meet you.
Look forward for the engagements
going forward.
>> HELMI: Thank you all for your
service.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you.
Let's go back to the agenda and
we are going to get our bond
finance update from angel.
>> ANGEL: Thank you, Dr. Holt.
Next.
Thank you.
For the record, my name is angel
Landron Gonzalez, I'm the
finance and Accounting Manager
for the bureau.
My pronouns are he/him and I am
Latino.
The bond funds are fully
committed as Danell said.
The expenditure report
highlights as of December 2023
are the following.
Expended versus committed
amounts have continued to
increase compared to the
previous quarter's report.
The expenditures is $211 million
and the project spending has
increased by $10 million, or 5%
2%.
The committed funding for this
period is $50.4 million,
decreasing by approximately the
same amount of $10 million or
minus 16.7%.
Compared to last quarter's
report.
After that, I give it back to
Dr. Holt.
>> DR. HOLT: Thanks, Angel.
Questions?
Todd?
>> TODD: No.
Well, I do have a question.
Is this the first graph where
everything is 100% expended?
>> ANGEL: No.
I think in the last two or three
reports everything has been
committed.
When we have been seeing is the
amount of commitment has been
decreasing so we are continuing
to spend it.
>> TODD: Thank you.
>> DR. HOLT: Susan.
>> SUSAN: I don't have any
questions.
Thanks.
>> DR. HOLT: Allan.
>> ALLAN: No questions from me.
Thank you very much.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you, Angel.
Straight forward report.
The committed dollars are
becoming the expended dollars as
the projects are coming to
completion.
That is good news.
Our next item on the agenda is
our project team presentation
around Emmons Place.
Project team.
I don't have the specific name
of who is leading this portion.
>> We have Destin and Baker here
to present.
You can unmute yourselves.
We're getting there.
>> BAKER: Good morning.
Thanks for inviting us to share
about the Emmons Place
development.
My name is Baker Lyon.
I'm a project manager with
northwest Housing Alternatives
and I'm joined by Destin Ferdun,
our manager for real estate
development.
Thank you to the city and the
voters who put $19 million into
the Emmons Place development.
Which we completed over the last
year.
That created 146 affordable
units in the northwest alphabet
district.
This is the completed building
here on 18th between 40th and --
thank you to one of your
colleagues who lended her name
and inspiration for this
development here.
The building you see on the Roth
there is the Emmons Place south
building, which provides 48
units of permanent supportive
housing for seniors and case
management services through the
supportive Housing Services
Measure.
Those services are provided by
Northwest Pilot Project.
On the left-hand side of your
screen, the taller building is a
workforce building, six stories,
that was completed just about
two months ago.
If you wouldn't mind advancing
the slides.
And feel free to jump in with
questions, comments, thoughts at
any time.
The same for Destin.
If you want to jump in, feel
free.
So north West Housing
Alternatives was the sponsor and
developer of this project.
We are working with our partner
Northwest Copilot Project
providing the case management
PSH to the south building.
There is also a resident
coordinator who works on site
with all the residents in the
buildings.
We have a great partnership with
Lift Urban Portland providing
food security services at the
building, which has been
wonderful.
To learn more about their
programming, you can see the
community's based there and
creating lots of events and
great relationships with the
residents.
These buildings were constructed
by Bremik Construction, designed
by Carlton hart.
Managed by IPM.
The buildings came online, the
south building, the PHS building
is occupied, save a couple of
units in turnover.
The northern building is 50%
occupied.
We are looking forward to
celebrating at the grand opening
event this coming Monday.
Would you mind advancing the
slides.
So this is 146 units of new
housing.
It is all Studios except for two
staff unit.
One staff unit per building.
The bulk of the units are 30%
AMI units.
78 of which 48 include permanent
supportive housing services
funding and also vouchers from
Home Forward to support those
residents.
The remaining units are at 60%
of AMI or restrict at 60% of AMI
and are targeted toward a
workforce population in the
north building.
We have some great amenities in
this building.
Including a nice outdoor
courtyard in the south building.
Onside laundry facilities in
both buildings, bike storage,
movie rooms and lounge and the
onsite resident services From
Northwest Pilot.
This was an exciting development
along history.
It took the existing building in
the middle, that white building
that you saw, which is about a
100-year-old -- building.
We did adapt reuse.
We built the addition on the
south to create the new south
building and the building on the
left is completely new
construction ground up as well.
And the team at Carlton Hart did
a great job achieving earth
advantage platinum, energy
efficiency.
All units have efficient
sleeping and cooling.
It has a lot to work to in terms
of groceries and services and
other needs around it, but has a
lot of transit as well.
The Carlton Hart team did a
great job of universal design
and trauma informed design here
at the building.
Some examples are choices of
colors in the building, using
natural wood in a lot of the
common areas also.
They brought in natural light
where they could, particularly
to the hallways and made sure
that the hallways had a lot of
wayfinding kind of -- and
orienting aspects.
Like in the south building the
corridors wrap around that
central courtyard.
So you always have a view into
the courtyard, which is nice,
and helps you understand where
you are in the space and where
you are going.
And then there are a lot of
thoughtful acoustic treatments.
We did above code treatments
between the units to try to keep
noise down.
And then in the common areas as
well, add some acoustic panels
which try to make those spaces
quieter as well.
Next slide, please.
So in terms of, as I mentioned,
the south building is leased up
and the north building is 50%
occupied at this point.
So we are in the middle of our
lease-up on that north building.
The south building being PSH,
all of those referrals came from
the joint office and their
coordinated access list in
collaboration with Northwest
Pilot Project and area surface
partners that were referring and
working with the residents as
they moved in there.
And so in addition to that, on
the north building we have been
working to outreach to BIPOC
communities.
There are a number of different
means.
Those include outreach to a long
list of partner agencies that
NHA works with, having open
house onsite and making the
building generally available to
interested parties, to their
case managers, to anybody that's
walking by.
We try to do outreach through
culturally specific newspapers
and media to reach people
speaking other languages than
English.
We have been doing in-person
canvassing, really amazing work
by the property managers there
onsite getting out in the
neighborhood, getting to know
businesses, just walking the
neighborhood, handing out
information to try to catch
people that might really benefit
from a good place to live
nearby.
And then prior to all of this
lease-up work, we tried to
incorporate feedback and input
from both our NHA resident
advisory committee who
represents residents across our
portfolio from a variety of
backgrounds and experiences and
also working with NAYA and
Northwest Pilot to get feedback
on what the residence might be
in terms of culturally specific
things, general design for aging
and formerly homeless residents
as well.
Next slide, please.
Here are preliminary
demographics for our residents.
As I said, we are still in the
process of leasing up.
You can see where things are
falling in terms of who has
moved into the building.
Not representative on these two
charts here, we do have about --
our residents have an average
income of about $13,500.
67% of our residents are
disabled.
15% of the residents don't have
any income, thanks to the Home
Forward vouchers that made this
an opportunity for their
housing.
And lastly, 8% of residents
identify as Hispanic.
Next slide, please.
>> TODD: Can you say that one
more time?
What percentage identify as
Hispanic?
>> BAKER: 8%.
A little bit about our
contracting which was led by the
Bremik team.
We were able to achieve over 33%
in our hard cost contracts to
DMWESB contractors and 80% of
professional services and soft
costs driven by Carlton Hart
identifying as an ESB at the
time of contracting.
In operations, we don't have our
2023 numbers out yet, so the
number we are reporting here is
from 2022.
But is an NHA-wide outcome for
that and I would be happy to
circle back once we have our
2023 numbers calculated and
available.
Bremik did note in order to
achieve these numbers, they
worked hard pretty early on in
the project, prior to bid, to
get a lot of phone calls out and
a lot of open houses to meet
with subcontractors and interest
them in the jobs, presenting
both at OAME and PBDG in order
to get the word out and work
with contractors.
Also because this was two
buildings, they worked to
actually split the contracts for
subcontractors so that
individuals could choose to work
on one building and not both if
that worked better in terms of
their availability or staffing
and labor availability to try
and make it more accessible to
other and additional firms.
Next slide, please.
And continuing on in the
successes that we've had.
You can see here the percentage
of the apprentice and journey
level hours they had achieved on
the property.
And the project.
And they attributed this to a
lot of early outreach.
And that concludes our
presentation here.
Are there any questions or
comments or thoughts?
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you so much.
Appreciate it.
We will go one by one.
Susan.
Questions, comments, thoughts.
It is your namesake.
>> SUSAN: It is a beautiful
building.
I got a chance to tour it with
baker and the director.
And the architects.
One thing that struck me, it is
Brian Carlton, right?
He has been doing this for 30
years.
So he said over that time
they've really learned a lot
about, you know, what to put
into a building.
And everything they have
learned, trial and error and the
whole thing about moisture and,
you know, the outside of the
walls and everything, they put
into this project.
So I think it has become more
standard now, but I'm just
delighted there are heat pumps,
which means a Studio apartment,
they are going to have air
conditioning in the summer,
which, you know, typically we
didn't have years ago as we were
building these buildings.
There is, as baker said, there
is wonderful light in the
building.
That is important to me that
people have that light.
So, yeah.
Northwest Pilot Project filled
the south building.
Permanent supportive housing and
the target was chronically
homeless people.
So to fulfill that goal in our
community.
And they have case managers
onsite.
So, yeah, I'm excited about it.
I've lived in my apartment for
44 years In Northwest Portland
and to -- I never wanted a
building that was named after
me, but if there was ever a
building, I'm very happy it is
this one.
To think that there are other
seniors who are going to be able
to live in this beautiful
neighborhood where so much has
been gentrified, so much is
expensive.
Yeah.
It is all good.
Yeah.
>> DR. HOLT: Awesome.
Thank you very much.
Todd.
>> TODD: Just a question about
the bilingual service providers.
Can you tell me more?
What language are they providing
services in?
It looks like the biggest slices
were Native and I think that was
it.
I'm trying to recall the slide.
If you can tell me a little more
about that relationship, that
would be great.
>> BAKER: Our property manager
is bilingual, Spanish and
English.
>> TODD: Okay.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you very
much.
I don't know, Baker, was there
any more to go with that?
>> BAKER: I couldn't tell you
about the multilingual services
actually onsite.
I know documents get translated
when there is a need, but I
couldn't speak to the actual
case managers language
proficiency.
>> TODD: I didn't have anything
else.
Just a comment, yeah, it is a
beautiful project.
Thank you so much for all the
hard work.
>> DR. HOLT: Allan.
>> ALLAN: Thank you, Dr. Holt.
I have one specific question
about the project and a general
comment.
The specific question is I
noticed the piece where you
switched out the PSH provider
from NAYA to -- oh, gosh, it
just slipped my mind.
Who did you switch your PSH
provider to?
Northwest Pilot Project of
course.
I'm curious, if there have been
any differences in that aspect
of the project when you switched
those two partners out?
>> BAKER: So thank you.
So Northwest Pilot and NAYA were
going to both be providers and
going to split the residents
they were working with in the
building, I think it was
two-thirds and one-third.
Northwest Pilot has always been
involved in the project.
I think it was Susan And
Northwest Pilot that involved
NHA from the beginning in this
piece of land and the
development.
So they had been integral from
the beginning.
Then after and throughout the
lease-up process, NAYA decided
to step back from the project
and Northwest Pilot was able to
bring in additional staffing to
cover those households in
addition to the ones they were
going to work with originally.
>> ALLAN: Thank you.
It seems Northwest Pilot is the
natural provider.
I didn't know the history.
I appreciate that.
The other general point I will
make is related to the DMWESB
contracting.
Former Commissioner Hardesty.
I appreciate you pointing out
Carlton Hart is the major soft
cost provider.
You point out they have been in
the industry for 30 years.
They are a fantastic provider.
I think there is value in us
disaggregating when we are
trying to reach the kind of
goals related to particularly
moderator and women contractors.
We see the impact of that in the
next slide when we talk about
workforce diversity and
specifically people of color in
those programs and women in
those programs.
Very much more targeted about
what we are trying to accomplish
there in some ways.
That is a general comment, not
necessarily your project, but
overall how we disaggregate that
information.
Thanks.
>> DR. HOLT: Thanks, Allan.
Appreciate your point.
Appreciate your presentation.
There are no more questions from
this team.
Good work and excited about what
it is going to provide for in
the future.
>> BAKER: Thank you all for your
time and support.
>> DR. HOLT: Yeah.
Thank you.
Back to our agenda, we need to
talk about the future of the
Bond Oversight Committee.
All of the projects are
outlined.
All of the monies are committed.
So what does this mean going
forward?
Gena, I think you are going to
help us think through that.
>> GENA: Thank you, Dr. Holt.
My name is Gena Scott, she/her
pronouns.
Risk analysis compliance
manager.
My team, the bulk of our work is
to monitor the ongoing
compliance with the projects,
that includes tenant compliance,
making sure that tenants are
under the income limits required
for the projects.
And that the rents are lowered
to what they need to be.
We look at property compliance
and financial compliance for any
projects that have loans on
them.
We collect resident service data
because we want to know about
the programs that are run each
year and how the successes and
challenges of those programs.
So I'm coming to you today to
see what the future of the Bond
Oversight Committee looks like.
All of the funds have been
committed.
We exceeded our unit goals by
43% and we are at a point where
we are moving forward and I
wanted to explore whether having
the quarterly bond committee was
still necessary.
So go to the next slide, please.
So the bond Oversight Committee
charter and protocols says the
bond Oversight Committee's role
is the monitor revenue,
expenditures and program/project
implementation in accordance
with The Framework Plan.
Review programings -- program
priorities, spending and
financial plans.
Oversee the administrative
financial aspects of the bond
assistance from the OMF, city
attorney and PHB.
Track metrics in the
implementation of the bond
against PHB equity plan.
Next slide, monitor utilization
of DMWESB to support community
benefits.
If needed, make recommendations
to city council to refine the
policy framework plan.
Oversee annual financial and
performance reporting to be used
to provide data for an annual
community forum and provide an
annual report to city council.
Next slide, please.
So I thought we could open up
the room to the Bond Oversight
Committee members to have a
discussion.
First question is, have these
eight items been satisfied to
your mind?
Are there any concerns about
disbanding the BOC?
Are there any program or project
updates that would be useful
after disbandment and at what
frequency?
My team monitors the ongoing
compliance.
It would be very easy for us to
provide documentation or reports
or something on a smaller level.
And then are we ready for a
motion to disband the BOC?
>> DR. HOLT: Gena, can I take us
through each one and give us a
moment to dialogue?
Excellent.
Let's look at the first one.
Have these eight items been
satisfied.
Allan, Todd, Susan, what say
you?
You can unmute, interact.
>> TODD: Sure.
I guess to my thought, it is
just like, yes, things have been
satisfied.
I guess I'm going strictly to
what is the worst case scenario,
where it seems like there is one
project in predevelopment or
development and a few in
construction.
So if what happens if we find
out -- not expecting this, but
like the lease-up process or
construction is not meeting the
targets or racial equity plans
for lease-up, the stages that
are still yet to happen.
I feel like we have limited
influence on that even -- I
guess we would hear a projects
report and that's it.
Happy to do that from that
context.
So, yeah.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you.
Thank you.
Susan.
Your thoughts?
>> SUSAN: Yeah.
I mean, I just want to apology
for being absent over the last
year and explain to Todd and
Allan.
I missed the February meeting
because I had a death in my
family and had to travel.
Basically I'm the co-chair of
this metro oversight committee
for the supporting housing
services and we have abundant
meetings.
I'm missing a meeting today to
be here.
They are on Thursday.
I said over the summer I was
going to have to regretfully
resign from this committee
because of the conflict of the
meeting schedule.
It is like having a halftime job
I'm not being paid for.
I'm not complaining.
I will volunteer.
I don't feel I'm as well
situated to answer these, but
they wanted me here, you know,
so you had quorum in case you
decided it would be appropriate
to have a motion to disband.
But to continue, you would have
to replace me.
I'm sorry to say that.
I think it has been a great
committee.
>> DR. HOLT: Appreciate that.
Allan, your thoughts.
>> ALLAN: A couple of things,
Susan.
There is no way we can replace
you so we are not going to try.
You provided the definition for
retirement, working like a
halftime job and not getting
paid for it.
That is the definition of being
retired.
I want to go back to what Todd
said also.
I agree with what Todd said.
The answer to the eight is yes,
the question is to what extent
have we met some of these?
We have the project updates and
financial updates.
So some of my questions are
around 2 and 4, the program
priorities and particularly
those of us who have been
involved since the early
community stakeholder group.
Have we met those priorities
that came forward from the
community stakeholders?
My sense is, yeah, we have.
It has been great hearing from
the project team and the work
they are doing to meet those
goals.
It would be nice to see it
quantified over time.
Same with number four, how do we
compare with the racial equity
plan?
Yeah.
I'm all for not meeting
quarterly.
I did have the same concern as
Todd, particularly about
HollywoodHUB.
If it doesn't get funded, do we
have to get the band back
together and figure some stuff
out or what?
I don't know if that makes a
difference or not.
I otherwise feel pretty good
about where we are and just
continuing updates, particularly
on how we are meeting some of
the goals would serve what I
think is needed from here moving
forward.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you very
much.
So let's go right to it.
Do we feel like we are ready for
a motion to disband the BOC?
Todd?
>> TODD: Sorry.
>> ALLAN: I'm sorry.
It is Allan.
One more thing.
The one thing I wasn't sure
about, would there need to be
continued annual reports to city
council if we disbanded this
committee or is that part of the
bond and would we need to be
involved in that?
I don't know about that specific
aspect.
>> DR. HOLT: Gena, I think that
would be to you.
>> GENA: Angel has his hand
raised, so maybe he wants to
answer it.
>> DR. HOLT: I couldn't see.
We can go to the gallery view.
>> ANGEL: I'm not going to
answer the question.
I just want to share a thought
that as part of the Bond
Oversight Committee it is
important to be stewards of how
the money is being spent and we
are still spending it.
As part of that, we are our own
audits.
And I think that we should keep
the oversight committee
communicated about the outcomes
of the spending of the entire
bond.
So I think -- I don't know how
frequent it should have the
meetings, but I think it is
important to make sure that as
soon as the bond is fully spent
is when the Oversight Committee
should be completed their
responsibilities.
>> DR. HOLT: I appreciate that,
Angel.
Do we have a projected idea
around that completion date?
Is it going to be within the
next quarter?
Do we think two quarters out?
Do we know?
I know that the HollywoodHUB is
a contingency that is hanging in
the air.
>> DANELL: Oh, sorry.
Stay on one microphone.
In terms of final spend out,
HollywoodHUB gets underway in
September.
They are tracking for late 2026
completion.
Final release of our funds
sometime in 2027.
It is a little ways out still.
>> DR. HOLT: Appreciate that.
Thank you very much.
>> GENA: Let's circle back to
Allan's question, next step
would be talk to Commissioner
Rubio and we would probably
continue with the annual report.
What that looks like, I know we
have had committee members help
present that report.
So what it looks like will be to
be seen.
And then like Angel said, we do
have a continued bond audit and
there have been no findings
through the years.
It has just been some
recommendations for improvements
and so it has been positive
audit for the last two years.
>> DR. HOLT: Susan, your hand.
>> SUSAN: Did the staff have a
recommendation about whether
they think we should put a
motion forward to disband?
Is there a staff opinion about
this?
>> GENA: We all have our own
opinions.
We don't have a collective
opinion.
I wanted to kind of leave it up
to you, the cheat, to see what
your desires are, Susan, you
said you clearly can't continue
if the Bond Oversight Committee
continues.
You would have to resign.
And I know Allan just retired,
so , you know, like to free up
some of his time.
It is completely up to the
committee.
We all have our opinions, but
you are leading the show on
this.
>> SUSAN: I guess I could say
that if Todd and Allan feel like
the committee doesn't need to
meet as frequently, but does
need to continue a while longer
to see resolution on
HollywoodHUB and if I knew far
enough in advance, I could try
to be at the meeting.
I don't know about Annalise's
feature.
Steven Green, does he attend or
intermittent?
>> DR. HOLT: Great question.
He is intermittent.
We had a dialogue about the
inconsistency and he expressed a
desire to continue to Molly, the
Interim Director.
>> SUSAN: I could try to be
there to provide a quorum.
If it wasn't quarterly and I had
a lot of advanced warning I
could tell the Metro folks.
>> HELMI: I could provide input.
We have been asked to look at
all of our boards and
commissions.
I think we are going to make
some recommendations in
anticipation of the way the
government is being sort of
changed in Portland, overhauled.
But by June.
So I would anticipate by June we
are going to start to see some
recommendations.
So there might be a natural
timeline for dissolution by
midyear.
If that is helpful.
>> DR. HOLT: That is helpful.
Thank you.
Todd.
>> TODD: Yeah, I guess I want to
be sensitive to Angel point, it
is going to be a while when we
are spending this money down.
I don't think we need to meet
quarterly.
Do we have to do council updates
annually while these are being
spent?
Do we know the answer to that?
If we don't, I guess -- if we do
have to do it, I propose we meet
annually to prepare even for
like a half hour or an hour to
give that update to the city
council and that way we can have
at least a touch point of how
is -- how have the racial equity
goals been followed?
So that is kind of my thought
off the top of my head.
I definitely don't think we need
to meet quarterly anymore.
>> DR. HOLT: Well, when you said
annually, I saw Allan give a
thumbs up.
>> ALLAN: I would say the same
thing.
Infrequency like annually.
It is such a long period of
time.
The other thing we could is stay
together as a group and then if
the bureau needs to call us
together to say something has
come up and we need to be
together, we could also do that.
I don't know if our charter or
bylaws allow us to meet by
email, for instance.
If you needed some input on
something that was going on or
wanted to update us on what was
going on and wanted to have that
pathway available.
>> DR. HOLT: So, are we ready to
entertain a motion around an
approach?
Understanding that as the city
is being revamped, there may be
an adjustment that happens.
It is kind of given to the
committee.
In the meantime, as things
stand, is there a motion on the
floor that someone wants to
recommend?
>> TODD: I move to annual check
ins advance of council reports.
>> DR. HOLT: Okay.
Moved.
Any second?
>> ALLAN: Second.
>> DR. HOLT: All right.
It has been moved and seconded.
Those in favor of going to an
annual reporting please indicate
by saying I agree.
Susan.
>> SUSAN: I agree.
Awesome.
Todd.
>> TODD: I guess I agree.
I want to confirm, Susan, an
annual timeline will be okay
with your schedule?
>> SUSAN: Yeah.
I'll make it work.
As long as I have advanced
notice.
>> TODD: Aye.
>> DR. HOLT: Allan.
>> ALLAN: I agree.
>> DR. HOLT: Awesome.
We will transit to an annual
point of connectivity.
Sounds great.
Thanks, Gena, anything else on
this?
>> GENA: No.
I just want to say if you want
any specific information on the
properties, as I said, we
continue to monitor them every
year so between my team, the
communications team and the data
team, we can kind of pull any
datasets you want and reports at
any time.
So just --
Gena.Scott@PortlandOregon.gov.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you very
much.
Todd, I see your hand up.
>> TODD: I have been meaning to
ping Allan and Susan.
One thing I have been having an
idea around is writing an op-Ed
to describe our experience on
this oversight committee and the
bond as a whole.
I think we get a lot of media
around things going wrong in
housing in our public projects.
I share Susan's sentiment, I
think this was a well run
project or well run civic
project that I think Portlanders
should have pride and we can
still do hard things.
And, you know, it feels like
swimming upstream most days, but
I think -- so I will just leave
it there.
I will invite Allan and Susan
and Annalise and Stephen and
putting it out in the world with
support of PHB.
>> SUSAN: I think that is an
excellent idea.
I would be happy to sign on.
I remember one year, it wasn't
last year because I didn't
participate, but it might have
been the year before where four
of us, Annalise, Todd, Allan, we
each bit off a part of what we
were going to report.
I was always more the human
side, the voice of the people
who we were serving.
Because you guys understood the
technical issues.
I made the comment it was the
best committee I served on.
Commissioner Ryan was quite
taken aback.
I said it was so transparent,
the information between us
citizens, what we asked, and
what PHB staff responded.
I remember asking at one point,
one of Shannon or Stacy or
Tanya, are we asking too many
questions are we those pestering
people?
No.
It is great Todd and Allan are
so well informed and they drill
down.
Yeah.
I think it has been an
excellence experience.
I won't say in public what the
experience has been in the Metro
Oversight Committee, but it has
been vastly different.
This has been a very focused
group, and those of you part of
the original stakeholders and
that framework and what Allan
and Todd kept referring back to
the framework and that was so
helpful to me.
So, yes, I think that is a great
idea.
>> ALLAN: Thanks for bringing
that forward, Todd.
I agree.
A couple of things would be
interesting to think about in
the context of that.
One is will there be another
Portland Bond Measure or -- bond
measure?
We don't know that.
There might be context to think
about, would it be in support of
something that is next.
Another piece of context for us
to think about, how much, for
lack of a better word, noise out
there as things aren't going
well, as you said.
In particularly, and I think a
lot of citizens don't have the
ability to not conflate those
things together.
They don't know the successes of
the HPB Affordable Housing Bond
Measure about those not faring
as well.
Bringing our forces would
clarify that or conflate it
more?
It is always worth tooting the
horn.
>> DR. HOLT: Excellent.
I agree.
The story needs to be told for
sure.
Oh, Todd, your hand.
>> TODD: To put a point on next
steps.
I was thinking about the
mechanics of this.
I think it would be helpful to
have support from PHB's
communications team to get the
word out.
I don't want to lose sight,
going back to Allan's point of
what's next.
I would want to focus on the
success of this project and the
civic nature of having --
institutions rather than setting
us up for future bonds.
I'm happy to work -- I want to
be sensitive to, like, you know,
there might be future bonds as
well.
So just thinking that off the
top of my head.
Thank you.
>> DR. HOLT: Thank you.
Thank you.
Any other closing thoughts?
Staff?
PHB.
>> TODD: Does that work.
>> DR. HOLT: I see a hand in the
room.
>> This is Megan.
I just did want to touch base.
We will present the bond annual
report likely in May this year.
I will be in touch with the
committee members if you are
looking to participate or how
you would like to participate.
Dr. Holt, you were part of that
last year as well.
So I will be in touch about that
presentation to city council.
>> DR. HOLT: Awesome.
Question from Todd to PHB's
communications team is that
request a doable?
Is that a connecting
possibility?
>> Yes.
I can make that connection for
you all to Gabriel.
>> DR. HOLT: Awesome.
Angel.
>> ANGEL: I just want to say
that being part of this team
recently, less than two years,
I'm really proud about all the
work that we have done.
It is so beautiful, all the
buildings we have been building
up.
I know the need is so big, but
what we are doing is changing
lives for good.
Yeah.
And we should continue doing it
in the best way we can.
I just want to point out I'm so
proud about the Oversight
Committee and also for the staff
in the bureau and because the
work we are doing, everything,
it is so beautiful.
>> DR. HOLT: Yeah.
Thanks for that comment.
Appreciate it.
I get an opportunity, I guess,
to wrap up our time together.
I have had the privilege of
being a part of the entire
development.
The onboarding in this process
and doing some of the strategic
work to help stand up the work.
And be supportive in the in
between.
It has been an interesting
journey.
We started, there were some
rickety spaces and some
challenges.
We had to define some things to
get to a point of rhythm and we
did hit stride.
That is what is so amazing about
what happens.
What a true testimony to how
things work that the beginnings
are always full of their own
nuanced challenges.
But if you stick with it, stay
committed, there is a great
possibility of getting to a
place, not only meeting goals
but exceeding them.
To think about exceeding the
numbers by 43% is pretty
amazing.
It really, really is amazing.
And to do it within budget and
the timeline.
I want to express appreciation
to PHB staff and their
responsiveness and take on and
be in uncomfortable spaces
because they have had to do
both.
And the Bond Oversight
Committee.
It has been good working
together.
With that being said, everybody,
take care of yourselves.
Enjoy your Thursday and we'll
see you soon.
Or in a year.