CHC 02-10-05MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CUPERTINO HOUSING COMMISSION
February 10, 2005
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Cupertino Housing Commission was called to order at
6:35 p.m. by Chairperson Frances Seward
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Frances Seward, Housing Commissioners Richard. Abdalah,
Sarah Hathaway-Feit, K_im Mosleh,lVlahesh Nihalan_i and Planning Commissioner
Taghi Saadati
Absent: None
Staff present: Vera Gil, Senior Planner
3. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
None
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. Approval of October 28, 2004 and January 13, 2005 minutes
Action: Motion by Commissioner Abdalah, seconded by Commissioner
Nihalani, Approved. 5-0
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
7. NEW BUSINESS
a. Selection of New Chair and Vice Chair
Chairperson Seward nominated Commissioner Nihalani for Chair and
Commissioner Mosleh for Vice Chair, Commissioner Abdalah seconded the
motion. Approved 4-0.
b. Teacher Housing Assistance Program
Staff explained that although the Teacher Housing Assistance program has
been in existence since February 2003, no teachers have been received loans
from the program. Both City staff and the staff from Neighborhood Housing
Services Silicon Valley, the agency administering the program on the City's
behalf, believe the requirement that the applicant's home must be located
within the City limits has caused teachers not to take advantage of the
program. J.R. Wheelwright of Neighborhood Housing Services, stated that
his staff has interviewed many of the teachers that expressed interest in the
program. The teachers often stated that they did not think they could find a
decent townhome in Cupertino for the amount of money they could afford to
pay. They also felt that the loans were not sufficient to off set the higher
Cupertino housing prices. Many teachers believe they can purchase a nicer
unit for the price in a neighboring community.
Staff presented the Housing Commission with the district boundary maps for
Cupertino Union and Fremont Union High School Districts. Mr. Wheelwright
presented information on the pricing of homes listed on the Multiple Listing
Service within the school district boundaries. It appeared that the homes
listed in the area were still priced too high. The Housing Commission
discussed providing more funding to each loan recipient by providing fewer
loans at higher loan amounts.
Commissioner Abdalah made the motion to divide the $200,000 available by
three loans instead of the previously approved four loans. Motion was
seconded by Chairperson Abdalah. Approved: 5-0.
The Commission also wanted the City Council to know that the Commission
would revisit expanding the boundaries of the program in May when more
homes would be on the market for sale.
8. COMMITTEE MEMBER REPORTS
None
9. ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
10. ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. to joint meeting with the CDBG Steering
Committee on March 10, 2005.
SUBMITTED BY:
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Vera Gil,
Staff liaison to the Cupertino Housing Commission