Laserfiche WebLink
Mr. Bocian stated that Kottinger Place's wait list has approximately 50 individuals and is <br /> currently closed but is opened either annually or biannually. He estimated the average age to be <br /> in the high 70s and said no one has ever been rejected for accessibility issues. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio asked when a person's eligibility is established. Mr. Bocian explained <br /> that an initial eligibility check is performed when a person is placed on the waiting list and a <br /> more comprehensive one performed when they are offered a unit. He noted that a significant <br /> number of new Kottinger Place residents have little to no income, a situation that requires a <br /> length process to verify. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio asked how often a person on the waiting list no longer needs an <br /> apartment for any reason. Mr. Bocian could not confirm specific numbers but said it does <br /> happen on occasion and usually because they have waited several years and found housing <br /> elsewhere. She questioned and confirmed with Mr. Bocian that the average wait time is 2 years. <br /> Mr. Fiedler said that Pleasanton Gardens last opened its wait list for 16 office hours in June <br /> 2005. He said that of the 142 applications requested, they received 80 back. He said an open <br /> lottery was then used to select 50, 15 of whom are still on the wait list. He stated that the list is <br /> purged once annually and that vacancies have averaged 1 per year for the last few years. He <br /> offered a conservative estimate of 1,000 inquiries annually. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio asked if anyone has ever been rejected because of disability related <br /> issues. Mr. Fiedler said it would be illegal to reject a person based on disability but that persons <br /> with certain mobility impairments would be unable to use the facility. He said the project was <br /> designed for an average age of 62 which is significantly lower than the current average age of <br /> 78. 5 and noted that it also lacks fire sprinklers and air conditioning. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio asked if a resident has ever moved out because of mobility or <br /> accessibility issues. Mr. Fiedler said that some residents have had to move on to a higher level <br /> of care or to stay with family as their situation changed. He said that it may have been directly <br /> related to accessibility for some individuals. He stated that the building's bathrooms and <br /> kitchens are not ADA compliant and cannot be made so without a full demolition to remove <br /> bearing walls. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio said she understood the advantages in moving the 31 Section 8 units to <br /> Kottinger Place and asked if it would be possible to increase that number. Mr. Bocian explained <br /> that the financing plan does anticipate efforts to increase that number. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio asked if the assumption of Pleasanton Gardens' Section 8 units is <br /> simply intended to relieve the City of a certain amount of paperwork. Mr. Bocian said that the <br /> existing units are needed and that more would certainly like to be acquired. He explained that <br /> the transaction can be complex but that generally, HUD is open to replacing a public housing <br /> project with newer units by providing some Section 8. <br /> Vice -Mayor Cook Kallio said she is considerably impressed with the foresight of those who <br /> established Pleasanton Gardens initially as well as the continued work of its board. She said it is <br /> a lovely place, credited much of that to Mr. Fiedler, and asked what would happen to the site of <br /> the City chooses not to act on this. <br /> Mr. Fiedler explained that Pleasanton Gardens has a staff of less than 2 and said that its <br /> upkeep has taken considerable effort and assistance from the City, volunteers, community <br /> City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 December 1, 2009 <br />