Laserfiche WebLink
Mayor Thorne opened the item for public comment. <br /> Milly Seibel, Executive Director of TVHOC, said the funding request is cover old recurring debt, much <br /> of it lingering from the inability to sell the commercial property during the economic downturn. TVHOC <br /> had fully anticipated selling at least a portion of the property within a year of acquisition and, while the <br /> market has been slow to recover, they are confident that with a new realtor and the changing <br /> economic climate they will be able to do so. She introduced Board members Randi DeHollander and <br /> Becky Dennis. She reported that TVHOC provided financial education, homebuyer education and <br /> foreclosure recovery services to more than 100 Pleasanton families and shared the story of one <br /> woman who was ultimately able to keep her home with the assistance of TVHOC. She said the <br /> funding request would allow TVHOC to restructure its debt and continue on the path towards <br /> sustainability. She also noted that thanks to a grant writer funded through the Cil:y of Livermore, they <br /> received two grants at the end of 2012 and expect to be strong contenders for more throughout the <br /> year. <br /> Councilmember Brown asked what level of success they have experience with home retention. <br /> Ms. Seibel said they assisted 106 families with foreclosure loan recovery in 2012 and only 2 or 3 <br /> actually experienced foreclosure. <br /> Councilmember Brown asked if TVHOC would be able to sustain itself if the City elected not to offer <br /> the other two legs of the funding request. <br /> Ms. Seibel said it would be much more difficult and they may have to throttle back on some services, <br /> but that they also intend to exponentially increase outreach and fundraising efforts in 2013. <br /> Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio asked Ms. Seibel to discuss how citizens typically come to learn of their <br /> resources. <br /> Ms. Seibel said TVHOC provides a homebuyer education class, the next of which is at Las Vacitas <br /> College on January 261". The full day course costs $49 per household, includes sessions on budgeting <br /> and lending and is an excellent resource for people in any stage of the home buying process. She <br /> noted that the class is not limited to Tri-Valley residents and that as an HUD approved counseling <br /> agency, they are able to fulfill HUD's homebuyer education requirements and provide attendees with a <br /> certificate that many lenders and affordable housing groups look at with preference. <br /> Mayor Thorne closed public comment <br /> Vice-Mayor Cook-Kallio said they are fortunate enough to live in this kind of community, but that the <br /> citizens who need TVHOC's services are often invisible. TVHOC has done a wonderful job of reaching <br /> to identify those in need and she thanked them for providing such a well rounded and valuable service <br /> to the entire community. <br /> Councilmember Brown concurred, said she fully endorses the program and noted that TVHOC also <br /> provides free tax service. <br /> 26. MOTION: It was m/s by Cook-Kallio/Pentin to approve and authorized the City Manager to <br /> execute a Loan and Governance agreement with Tri-Valley Housing Opportunity Center and <br /> approved an approbation of $51,667 from the Lower Income Housing Fund and a $155,001 loan <br /> and governance agreement to the Center to meet existing debt; authorized the City Manager to <br /> negotiate with the cities of Livermore and Dublin and the TVHOC regarding additional requests for <br /> financial assistance and other matters related to TVHOC operations and finances. Motion carried <br /> by the following vote: <br /> City Council Minutes Page 11 of 13 January 15,2013 <br />