Housing Authority approves consent items and policy updates including insurance and utility allowances

At its Oct. 26 meeting the Housing Authority Board approved a set of consent items and two action items by roll-call votes.

Consent agenda: the board approved meeting minutes (Aug. 24 and Sept. 29), and a resolution authorizing the chief executive officer to execute an amendment to contract number 22-002-2 to extend Paul Edwards Management LLC’s term by one year and add $7,000,000, bringing the contract total not to exceed $14,000,000 for administration of certain HCV functions.

Action 10A — insurance: General counsel Linda Mason asked the board to authorize execution of a commercial general liability insurance policy not to exceed $468,620 covering the administrative building, ground leases and Sunnydale mega-phase units. Mason said last year’s premium was $745,152 and the policy carries a $25,000 deductible; the board approved the resolution by roll call.

Action 10B — utility allowances: Housing Operations Director Kendra Crawford presented updated utility allowances for low-income public housing effective Jan. 1, 2024. Electric allowances increased roughly 9–11 percent compared with Jan. 2023, yielding dollar changes of about $7–$17 per month depending on bedroom size (example: Plaza East two-bedroom allowance rising from $130 to $142); the board approved the resolution by roll call.

All motions during the meeting passed on unanimous recorded "Aye" votes.