[0:16] My name is Ralph Avila.
is now exiting.
[0:45] Morning, I'd like to welcome you to all
to this morning's meeting of the Mohave
[0:48] County Public Housing
Authority Board of Directors.
[0:52] Uh
Clerk, would you run us through roll
[0:54] call, please?
[0:56] Good morning, Supervisor Breault.
Present. Supervisor Lattman. Present.
[1:00] Supervisor Martin.
Here.
[1:04] Supervisor Gould. Here. Chairman
Lingafelter.
[1:08] Here.
Board member Linda Sadler. Here. And
[1:11] board member Ralph Avila.
I don't see him on Teams. Um a number
[1:17] just dropped off, so hopefully he'll
jump back on.
[1:21] We do have a quorum, though. We do. All
right.
[1:25] Item number two, discussion possible
action approval of the March 17th, 2025
[1:30] meeting minutes. Mr. Chair, I move for
approval of the minutes of March 17th.
[1:34] Supervisor Lattman, do I have a second?
Second.
[1:37] Heard that motion and second. Any
additional discussion?
[1:40] Hearing none, all in favor, please say
aye. Aye. All opposed?
[1:44] Ayes appear to have it, do have it, so
ordered. Thank you. Chairman, Uh could
[1:47] we do the pledge?
Uh it's not listed on our
[1:52] our agenda.
>> that, but it's it is a public meeting,
[1:56] and and personally I'd like to see us do
the pledge.
[2:02] Um
sure, we can do the pledge. Does anybody
[2:05] have a
a problem with with doing the pledge?
[2:08] It's
Would you like to lead us in the Pledge
[2:10] of Allegiance, Supervisor Martin?
>> Pledge of Allegiance. Absolutely.
[2:17] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to the
[2:22] republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[2:29] justice for all.
[2:34] Um [clears throat] Ralph Avila
is now joining.
[2:40] Okay, perfect timing. Um
item number three in our agenda this
[2:43] morning is welking welcoming uh the new
Board of Directors tenant member Ralph
[2:48] Avila for a four-year term. Yes.
That's correct.
[2:54] Thank you for
for joining us today, Mr. Avila.
[2:58] Did we already
Thank you.
[3:02] Yes, we did.
[3:05] » [clears throat]
>> Okay, we're moving to item number four,
[3:07] everyone.
Report from the director, Director
[3:10] Smith, good morning.
Morning, Chairman Lingafelter, board
[3:13] members.
>> [clears throat]
[3:15] » So, I just wanted to uh
I went through most of this stuff
[3:18] already,
uh but I just wanted to go through it
[3:21] one more time. Uh
[3:25] » [clears throat]
>> One of the updates that I had uh
[3:28] recently was contacted
um by WICOG, and there's some
[3:32] interesting opportunities where we
um
[3:36] uh in a partnership, um and that'll be
coming at a later date. We'll be
[3:39] bringing something back to the board,
but I I did want to share that. That was
[3:42] an interesting thing that there was some
allocation of resources that possibly
[3:46] may be able to be directed in Mohave
County for some housing projects and in
[3:50] working with different developers. Um
additionally, uh within Community
[3:54] Services Department, uh we have a
meeting scheduled in April,
[3:58] uh where we're going to bring uh I'm
sorry, May. In in May, where we're going
[4:01] to bring in uh local contractors, uh
discuss building options and in
[4:06] different uh capacity, as well as that
relates to the CDBG home grants and the
[4:11] SSP grants as well.
>> speak up just a little bit, Director
[4:14] Smith? Thank you.
>> Sure.
[4:16] » [clears throat]
>> So, in regards to
[4:18] the the SSP grants, the the special
state project grants and things of that
[4:22] nature, we'll be bringing contractors to
make sure that they're aware of the
[4:25] opportunities within Mohave County and
providing that to them as well, as well
[4:29] as trying to make sure that they're
aware of the
[4:32] work for Arizona at work, the
opportunities to partner with us in
[4:36] apprenticeships, as well as other
opportunities uh for for workforce,
[4:40] right? So, what are those options, as
well as options to be a a county uh
[4:45] uh uh
a contractor with the with the county as
[4:49] well, so we can we can do that. So,
those are just a couple little
[4:52] initiatives that that we have going
within the Community Services
[4:55] Department. Want to touch on that. Um
and then just really jump into uh the
[5:00] vouchers. Um I believe at the last
meeting I sta- stated it was it was 247
[5:05] for for our HCV, it's actually 243.
Uh our veteran uh
[5:10] tenant base is is 200, mainstream is 115
for a total of 558.
[5:15] Um we have emergency housing vouchers,
17 active, those will be falling off at
[5:19] the end of the year. It ends December
31st uh this year.
[5:24] Uh family self-sufficiency, there's 40
active, and the CDBG program that we
[5:28] have four contracts there. And that's
all I have for my uh director's report
[5:32] at this time.
Any questions for Director Smith?
[5:39] Thank you, Supervisor Gould. Thank you,
Chairman. Um
[5:42] Director,
uh explain family self-sufficiency
[5:46] program, or refresh my memory, please.
Sure. So, the family self-sufficiency
[5:50] program, we can have up to, I believe
it's 50 individuals on that program. Um
[5:55] I I believe that's the number is 50.
There's a set number that we can have.
[5:59] And then basically what happens is the
participants come in, and they go
[6:02] through uh education, right? So, part of
that is is they get uh literacy,
[6:06] financial literacy, and then they set
goals of how they move through the
[6:09] program so that they can become
self-sufficient at the end and and
[6:13] really
uh
[6:16] it's just a process of going through the
program, but I financial literacy,
[6:19] things of that. And then I would just
note that through those programs and
[6:22] those trainings, uh if I didn't touch on
it last time, was that we had uh I
[6:27] believe we had five success stories uh
that you gradually over the past year
[6:32] went on and purchased a home.
And that's the same program that would
[6:35] qualify them for some government
financing incentives on mortgages.
[6:45] Is that another program? I I believe
that's another program, Chairman.
[6:49] Chairman.
Supervisor Gould, I believe that's
[6:51] another Thank you, Director Smith. Mr.
Chair.
[6:53] » Thank you, Chairman.
Supervisor Lattman, do you have a
[6:55] question? Director Smith, I had a
question going through administrative
[6:58] plan, and just a brief one, and
the answer should be brief, too.
[7:03] The Public Housing Authority, I was just
a little confused on how you determine
[7:08] eligibility to go on the list on the
waiting list.
[7:12] And what role did veteran status and
disability play in that? It
[7:16] there was a lot of material to read, and
that wasn't clear to me. Sure, Chairman
[7:21] Lingafelter.
Supervisor Lattman.
[7:24] Uh so,
we we can open the waiting list uh when
[7:28] the waiting list gets to a certain
number, right? We we need to make sure
[7:31] that there's people on that list. Uh
after it's open, there are different
[7:34] priorities uh that are are given uh in
regards to the points uh as well. Uh but
[7:40] you know what?
What I'm going to do at this time is I'm
[7:42] going to ask my housing manager to come
up, who actually runs that part of that,
[7:46] and she can give a detailed explanation
on that as well. Okay?
[7:51] Um Jamie Bernier is the housing manager.
Thank you.
[7:53] » Keep this brief,
cuz I know it's I know it's complicated.
[7:57] Um and we'd be happy to provide
additional detail later on to you,
[8:00] Supervisor, if
[8:11] Disability and veteran status is on
there as a list of preferences. They're
[8:15] categorized in priority um on a number
system. And then there is a breakdown of
[8:19] that. So, to answer your question, yes,
those are eligible preferences. They
[8:23] pre-qualify at the time of eligibility,
we do bring them in. We go over that
[8:27] information, we verify veteran status,
disability status, whatever that
[8:31] preference identified is, and then from
there we move forward with eligibility.
[8:35] So, we can provide further information
in an email if you'd like.
[8:38] » No, that was a good answer. I I guess my
question is uh the list is constructed a
[8:42] year ago. Um new people go onto the
waiting list, and can they jump over the
[8:48] people based on their eligibility
status, including veteran and
[8:53] disability? Can they actually move up
the chart ahead of others who have been
[8:56] on the waiting list? That wasn't clear
in reading the material.
[9:00] Uh
to simplify it, they can based on their
[9:04] preferences changing after they're on
the wait list.
[9:07] So, if their circumstances, say they
weren't previously homeless, and they do
[9:11] report to us that they now become
homeless, then their preference will
[9:14] change, and they will move up higher on
the list.
[9:16] Okay.
>> common, but it does happen.
[9:19] Thank you.
Any other questions?
[9:23] Thank you.
[9:26] Director Smith, I would have just have
one question for all of these
[9:30] differing housing vouchers, do we give
preference to those that have
[9:34] military service?
Chairman Lingafelter, members of the
[9:37] board, I can say that there's never been
a veteran that's come
[9:40] to Mohave County and not received, if
they're eligible for the program,
[9:44] received housing through the through the
Community Services Department. And
[9:48] you'll see that later on here, there's
another
[9:50] request for five vouchers as well, so to
make sure that we provide that. So, yes,
[9:54] the answer is yes.
Any other question?
[10:00] Right. We'll move to item number five.
Discussion possible action authorize
[10:03] Mohave County Housing Authority staff to
submit funding application form HUD
[10:08] 52-515
to receive five additional HUD VASH
[10:12] vouchers which will bring Mohave County
Housing Authority's total allocation to
[10:16] 205. HUD VASH vouchers administered.
Director Smith, you want to give a brief
[10:22] overview on this? Sure. So, this came to
us a while back and we applied for a
[10:25] letter of intent to make sure that HUD
gives these to cross the board across
[10:30] the country.
And if there's a need within the
[10:32] community, we go ahead and apply. We
submit the letter of intent. We
[10:36] submitted the letter of intent. They
couldn't tell us how many vouchers would
[10:38] be available but but said that you know
they would move this forward.
[10:42] After that they gave us a letter and
said if you'd like to you know
[10:46] request these and have the opportunity
here. We also worked with our VA
[10:50] partners and asked them about this as
well. Because the the process really
[10:54] starts with the VA. So, the when the
veterans identified, they go over to the
[10:57] VA and then the VA has a counselor case
manager that works through them and then
[11:01] we facilitate the financial component of
this as well.
[11:05] Great.
Discussion. Supervisor Wateman, thank
[11:08] you. I'm going to make a motion to
authorize the Mohave County Housing
[11:12] Authority staff to submit funding
application form HUD 52-515
[11:17] to receive five additional HUD VASH
vouchers. Second. With that motion
[11:21] second, any additional discussion?
Hearing none, all in favor please say I.
[11:26] I. All opposed? I. I just appear to have
it and do have it. It's ordered.
[11:32] Item six financial report for the period
April 2025 through March 2026.
[11:38] Director Smith.
Thank you Chairman member of the boards.
[11:43] So, [clears throat] here with this here
I would just note that you can see from
[11:46] the the number of of families assisted
across the board and it really just
[11:51] breaks it down by city and we also have
Colorado City and then the total for the
[11:55] county as well. And I'll answer any
questions if there are.
[12:00] Any questions related to the financial
report?
[12:04] Otherwise I'd entertain a motion.
[12:08] Oh, there's no there's no action
required on this. Excuse me.
[12:14] Item number seven open public hearing.
Questions and comments from the public
[12:18] pertaining to the Mohave County Housing
Authority. Is there anyone in the
[12:21] audience wishing to provide public
comments to the Board of Directors at
[12:24] this time?
[12:29] Seeing none.
Under the next item.
[12:34] Right.
Reminder to close the public hearing.
[12:39] I will close the public hearing on item
number seven. Thank you Attorney Smith.
[12:42] Attorney Davis, appreciate that. Item
number eight discussion possible action
[12:46] approval of the Mohave County Housing
Authority
[12:49] A revisions to Mohave County Housing
Authority's administrative plan summary
[12:53] of changes listed on exhibit A table of
contents chapters 4, 9, 10 and 16.
[13:01] Thank you Chairman members of the board.
So, really some of this was was verbage
[13:05] updates linking the the CFRs HUD forms
just going through it high overview
[13:13] revise a few sentences for grammar few
things of that nature. The things that I
[13:17] would would note
uh
[13:19] would be if we go to page 91 on page 91
is really just limiting informal
[13:24] hearings to one per family type. That
was one of the things that was a major
[13:29] change. Additionally
on page 100 families out of compliance
[13:35] on repayment agreements cannot
effectively move to another unit. So, if
[13:39] they already have a an issue of paying
we're not going to go ahead and approve
[13:43] that
to make that happen. And then families
[13:45] are not eligible of
the next one on page 101 families are
[13:49] not eligible for a second repayment
agreement for the same period for the
[13:53] violation. So, those are just a quick
highlights of the changes that we made.
[13:57] And do you want to provide an update on
the annual PHA plan fiscal year 2026 as
[14:01] well? There are no current updates on
that at this time.
[14:06] All right. I'd open it up to the Board
of Directors for discussion. Mr. Chair.
[14:11] So, I had a question back on page 10-4
about elective moves and I didn't know
[14:16] you could elect to move once you're on
you're receiving vouchers from the
[14:20] county and some of the language in this
definitely is constricting that. By the
[14:25] way, for reference it's on page 10-4.
[14:31] So, reasons that the MCH policy I
I guess would prohibit an elective move
[14:37] and it talks about if the family's out
of compliance on a repayment agreement
[14:41] or owes their current landlord money
or if the family has violated the same
[14:45] family obligation or program requirement
two or more times in the past 24 months
[14:50] from the month of request. Does this
happen very often?
[14:56] » [clears throat]
>> Chairman Lincolnfelter Supervisor
[14:58] Wateman, this doesn't happen often but
but there are opportunities or these
[15:02] things do happen for the repayment. I
believe when we when we went through the
[15:07] process of evaluating the past year of
where we were at I believe it was less
[15:14] than 5% of of of all the participants
that were on the program where there was
[15:18] an issue and then a repayment plan was
was worked through. Okay. So, you're
[15:22] going to block an elective move if
they're behind on their payments. That
[15:26] would be That's a good idea. I really
like that revision.
[15:29] » Supervisor Wateman, that is correct.
All I have.
[15:34] Any other discussion?
[15:38] Supervisor Wateman. I'll go ahead and
make a recommended motion we approve the
[15:42] revisions to the Mohave County
Housing Authority administrative plan
[15:46] table of contents and chapters 4, 9, 10
and 16 as outlined in exhibit A in the
[15:51] annual Public Housing Authority plan.
Thank you for that. Do I have a second?
[15:55] » Second. With that motion and second, any
additional discussion?
[15:59] Hearing none, all in favor please say I.
I. All opposed? I.
[16:04] I just appear to have it and do have
Item number B annual PHA plan fiscal
[16:07] year 2026. You just gave did
Do you have anything else to say about
[16:11] that Director Smith or not? Not at this
time, Chairman. I'd open it up for
[16:13] discussion or possible motion.
Chairman. Supervisor Wateman.
[16:19] I'll make a recommended I'll make a
motion adoption of resolution 2026-046
[16:25] authorizing the submission of the Mohave
County Housing Authority's 2026 annual
[16:30] plan
the certification of compliance
[16:33] certification by state or local official
of the Public Housing Authority plans
[16:38] consistency with the consolidated plan
for the fiscal year 2026
[16:42] and authorize the Chairman of the Board
of Directors to sign the attached
[16:46] affirmation aforementioned
certifications. Thank you, sir.
[16:50] Do I have a second? Second.
Any additional discussion?
[16:54] Hearing none, all in favor please say I.
I. All opposed? I. I just appear to have
[16:58] it and do have it. It's ordered. Thank
you, Board.
[17:00] Discussion possible action adoption of
resolution 2026-046
[17:05] authorizing submission of Mohave County
Housing Authority's annual PHA plan
[17:10] PHA certificate of compliance
certificate of the state office of PHA
[17:13] consistency with the consolidated plan
for fiscal year 2026.
[17:18] Do you have an update on that? Director
Smith.
[17:23] There's nothing to be This is just a
typical process. There's nothing to be
[17:27] updated.
>> Any discussion?
[17:29] Otherwise I'd entertain a motion.
I think I just made that motion. Oh, I
[17:33] did. I did. I just Oh, you did you just
did that one. Okay. Yes. It's passed.
[17:38] We need to go back to 8B then. I don't
know if we
[17:42] if we uh
approved annual PHA plan.
[17:45] » not.
So, I'd open it up to
[17:49] 8B annual PHA plan fiscal year 2026 for
motion. Okay. So, Mr. Chair I'll make an
[17:57] motion for approval of the revisions to
the Mohave County Housing Authority
[18:00] administrative plan table of contents
and chapters 4, 9, 10 as outlined in
[18:05] exhibit A.
Second.
[18:08] Okay.
All in favor please say I. I. I. All
[18:12] opposed? I. I just appear to have it and
do have it. It's ordered.
[18:15] Thank you.
Just confused also. Yes.
[18:18] Um
Call to the public.
[18:22] Anyone here any have any generalized
comments for the Board of Directors at
[18:25] this time?
[18:28] Seeing none, we'll go to announcements.
>> An inquiry?
[18:32] An inquiry?
Mr. Avilla?
[18:36] Yes. There's I just like to make an
inquiry on
[18:40] what was the motion for our last meeting
uh
[18:43] uh
uh being objected to and we could no
[18:48] longer can
uh continue with the meeting.
[18:52] Sir, it was my it was our understanding
that the that the meeting was not
[18:55] properly noticed and so we had to we had
to
[18:58] adjourn the meeting
and in order to allow for the proper
[19:02] time to publicly notice the meeting and
that's why we're meeting today. Okay.
[19:07] Okay. Thank you.
Thank you.
[19:09] Any announcements?
[19:13] Seeing none. That's the last item on our
agenda so we are adjourned.
[19:19] Thank you.
[19:40] And Ralph fight