May 08, 2024 Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education

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41. WE WILL BE STARTING IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE. WE WILL BE STARTING ABOUT ONE DAY. COUNCIL WOMAN.

LIKE THIS.

GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS REGULAR COMMUNITY AFFAIR. SO EXCUSE ME. OK? THIS IS THE REGULAR

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[Roll Call]

COUNCILMAN. COREY IS NOT HERE QUITE YET, BUT HE WILL BE HERE. GOT A NUMBER? UH ANDREW ON COUNCIL MEMBER, THERES JUNIOR CO COUNCIL MR PARK. UH, COUNCILWOMAN BETSY. TODAY WE HAVE A SPECIAL DISCUSSION IN I THINK SAID. EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND WE HAVE ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT. AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SPECIAL DISCUSSION WITH GLOBAL METRO HOUSING. AND THEN, UH, COUNCILMAN OR MONSTER SPEAK ON THE HOUSING TRUST COMPANY SO I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE AT THREE O'CLOCK BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER MEETING. BUT STUART, UH, COUNCILMAN STUART BENSON WILL BE HERE TO TAKE OVER FOR THE TABLE WHERE WE TABLE THE HOUSING TRUST . OK SO EVERYBODY OK WITH THAT? I DID. THAT HERE HE COMES IN THE DOOR. YOU CAN ASK HIM WHICH WHAT DO YOU WANT? HE WANTS TO DISCUSS IT. RIGHT, UH, ARE YOU? ARE YOU LOOKING TO VOTE ON IT TODAY? I JUST DISCUSSED IT. THE HOUSING TRUST. YOU HERE. SO WE COULD DO A HOUSING AUTHORITY CONVERSATION, AND IF WE HAVE TIME WE CAN GET TO IT. WELL, SHE DIDN'T RETIRE, RIGHT? I DID THAT. I YEAH, OK. OK? OK, SO WE'RE GONNA BE DOING NUMBER FIVE FIRST, OK? UM WHAT CAN YOU GIVE US THE RULES? YOU HAVE THIS? SIX IN COUNCIL R FA YOU READ IN FULL THANK YOU. CAN'T WE GET YOU TO READ NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE ITEM FIVE THE REST OF US FOR SO TO

[5. R-041-24     A RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO THE CAPITAL AND OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCES APPROVING THE APPROPRIATION TO FUND THE FOLLOWING NONCOMPETITIVELY NEGOTIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR LMPHW CONCERING A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC HEALTH EMPLOYEEES (THE ASSOCIATION OF STATE AND TERRITORIAL HEALTH OFFICIALS $140,000.00). Action Required By:  October 2024 Sponsors: Barbara Shanklin (D-2) ]

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[1. ID 24-0147     PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND CHANGES – Elizabeth Strojan, Louisville Metro Housing Authority ]

BUT AGAIN. I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 100 DAYS. KEITH'S BEEN HERE A MONTH. I THINK WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS. UM, BUT THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE MORE TO COME. SO WHAT WE'LL COVER TODAY WE'LL DO A QUICK OVERVIEW OF L MH A CAN YOU ALL SEE THIS? THE PRESENTATION. YES, SIR. YEAH.

OH, GREAT. OK SO WE'LL GO OVER A QUICK OVERVIEW OF L MH A. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE STAFFING AND RESTRUCTURING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. WE'LL GO THROUGH WHAT WE'RE CALLING OUR LEGACY SITE STABILIZATION PLAN, AS WELL AS LONG TERM PLANNING FOR THOSE SITES I WANT TO IF WE HAVE TIME, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SECTION EIGHT AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD. SO L MH A IS AN AUTHORITY. WE ARE FEDERALLY FUNDED AND JUST LIKE ANY TIME YOU GET FUNDING, THERE ARE STRINGS ATTACHED TO THAT. SO A LOT OF OUR RULES. MOST OF OUR RULES COME FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. WE ARE STATE CHARTERED AND LOCALLY CONTROLLED . SO THAT IS A COMPLICATED STRUCTURE. AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU NEED PEOPLE IN THESE SEATS THAT ARE GOOD GOVERNMENT AND BELIEVE IN GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO DO. UH, WE OPERATE PUBLIC HOUSING, WHICH IS HOUSING THAT WE OWN AND MANAGE OURSELVES. WE OVERSEE MIXED FINANCE PROPERTIES, WHICH INCLUDE PARK, DEVAL BEECHER TERRACE, LIBERTY, GREEN AND SHEPHERD SQUARE. WE UH ADMINISTER ABOUT 11,000 HOUSING

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SO WE'RE DEFINITELY UNDERSTAFFED . AND YOU ALL PROBABLY SEE THE IMPACTS OF THAT IN YOUR CONSTITUENT WORK WERE UNDERSTAFFED ON AT THE LEVELS THAT INTERFACE DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS AND VOUCHER HOLDERS. SO ON THE SECTION 18 AND ON THE MAINTENANCE TEAM, WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED. WE'RE ALSO VERY LEAN ON THE LEADERSHIP SIDE OF THINGS. SO WHAT HAD HAPPENED? THIS HAPPENS A LOT. IN PLACES THAT ARE UNDERFUNDED. WE'VE HAD POSITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN COMBINED OR ELIMINATED, AND SO IT WAS MY OPINION, AND I THINK KEITH AGREES. MANY PEOPLE AT L MH A AGREE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH LEADERSHIP. WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH STRUCTURE TO THE TEAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WE'RE WORKING ON, AND I HAVE AN UPDATE ON THAT IN THE COMING SLIDE. WE ALSO HAVE VERY LOW MORALE AT L MH J. I MEAN, YOU ALL WATCH THE NEWS. YOU PARTICIPATE IN THESE NEW STORIES. YOU UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE LIKE THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD. AND THEIR JOBS ARE HARD AND WE JUST KIND OF BEEN BEATEN UP IN THE PRESS, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CLEAR COMMUNICATIONS AND THE CLEAR RESPONSES. THERE HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT TO BUILD THE KIND OF TEAM MENTALITY THAT WE NEED. THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE POPULATIONS THAT WE SERVE. PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES TRADITIONALLY SERVE PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES. UH, WE ARE FINDING THAT WE ARE SERVING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY MENTAL DISABILITIES , AND THAT IS A DIFFERENT POPULATION TO INTERFACE WITH, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STAFF IS TRAINED AND THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF SERVICES. WE NEED TO APPROPRIATELY SERVE THAT POPULATION. WE ALSO HAVE AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, AN AGING PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK, SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL OUR LEGACY SITES. THAT'S DOSER MANOR. AND DON'T WORRY, WE'LL. WE'RE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT OSCAR MANOR AVENUE PLAZA AND PARKWAY PLACE. ALL OF THOSE SITES ARE EXTREMELY OLD AND HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF UNMET CAPITAL NEEDS. WE ALSO, UH, HAD AS SOON AS I WALKED IN THE DOOR, A SLEW OF SERIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM WHICH LED US TO DIG DEEPER THERE, AND WE'VE UNCOVERED SOME THINGS THAT I'LL WALK THROUGH THERE AND I. I THINK ALL OF YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ME SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, OUTLINING SOME OF WHAT WE UNCOVERED IN THE SECTION EIGHT DEPARTMENT AND WE'VE ALSO HAD A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY. IN SOME OF THAT, I THINK IS REALLY FUELING THE FRUSTRATION THAT YOU ALL FEEL THAT OUR RESIDENTS FEEL AND THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC FEELS AND WE HAVE SOME PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE ALLOWED TO LAPSE. SO ALL OF THIS IS NEGATIVE. ALL OF THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED. WE NEED TO WORK ON.

AND I'LL JUST SAY THIS IN DEFENSE OF THE LM A TEAM. WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF VERY SMART AND VERY DEDICATED EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR LIFE TO MAKING THINGS BETTER FOR PEOPLE SO I DON'T FEEL DEFEATED OR OVERWHELMED BY ANY OF THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO HELP AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO DOING THINGS BETTER. WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON HIRING PEOPLE TO COME IN AND US WITH THIS. SO ON THAT NOTE, UM WE'VE MADE SEVERAL KEY HIRES. IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. KEITH GREGORY IS HERE. WE'VE ALSO WE WILL CONGRATULATIONS. UM NEXT WEEK, WE WILL WELCOME A DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR LEASED HOUSING. UH, THAT PERSON STARTS ON TUESDAY. WE CAN'T WAIT . YOU'LL ALL SEE A MEDIA

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OK? SO LONG TERM PLANNING. AT AVENUE PLAZA, WHICH IS A 224 UNIT, HIGH RISE SERVING SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. UH, WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING PARTNERS FOR MAJOR REHABILITATION. OF THAT BUILDING , SO WE JUST RELEASED THIS MORNING A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS TO HELP FIND FINANCING AND DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS. UH, THAT BUILDING IS STILL HAS GREAT BONES, BUT IT NEEDS NEW PLUMBING RISERS. IT NEEDS ROOF REPAIRS. IT PROBABLY NEEDS A NEW STRUCTURE FOR HOW WE HANDLE TRASH, ETCETERA, SO WE ARE IN PROCESS OF FINDING PARTNERS TO HELP IMPROVE THAT BUILDING. AT PARKWAY PLACE. UH THERE ARE 638 UNITS OF FAMILY HOUSING, AND WE WILL SOON, UH, ENGAGE IN A PROCESS TO FIND PARTNERS TO HELP US WORK WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND WITH RESIDENTS TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE THERE. AND OSCAR MANOR. HERE WE GO. SO THE CURRENT SITUATION. I DON'T THINK I HAVE TO CONVINCE ANY OF YOU THAT THERE ARE POOR PHYSICAL CONDITIONS IN THE THREE HIGH RISES THAT MAKE UP OSCAR MANOR. THERE'S ALSO A POPULATION THERE IN DESPERATE NEED OF MORE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. TASKER MANOR WAS CREATED FOR SENIORS.

UH, SEVERAL YEARS AGO, HUD TOLD US WE CAN NO LONGER HAVE THAT SENIORS ONLY DESIGNATION, SO WE WERE TO TAKE, UH, A MIX OF PEOPLE THERE THAT INCLUDES SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES PHYSICAL AND MENTAL. AND IN THE LAST FEW YEARS L MH A INSTITUTED A HOMELESSNESS PREFERENCE, SO WE NOW ALSO HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRANSITIONING FROM HOMELESSNESS INTO HOUSING. ALL OF THOSE POPULATIONS HAVE SERIOUS DISTINCT SERVICE NEEDS.

AND, FRANKLY, L MH A HAS NOT DONE A JOB OF GETTING THOSE MET. SO WE'RE WORKING TO CORRECT THAT NOW, UH, BOTH AMONGST OUR STAFF AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS TO BRING MORE CASEWORKERS ON SITE. UM, IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ACCESS INTO THE BUILDINGS INTO SECURE THE SITE. SO IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OSCAR MANOR, YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S LIKE DOORS EVERYWHERE. AND SECURING THOSE BUILDINGS. IT'S NOT JUST HAVING SECURITY GUARDS. IT'S ALSO REQUIRES A LEVEL OF VIGILANCE FROM STAFF AND RESIDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EXITS AND ENTRANCES AREN'T COMPROMISED. SO IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT SITE TO SECURE UM, THE POLICE RECENTLY TOLD US THAT THEY'RE AT A TACTICAL

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UNLESS THEY CHOOSE. YOU COULD CHOOSE TO PAY MORE WHEN YOU LEAVE OSCAR MANOR, BUT NOBODY'S RENT IS GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE OF THIS MOVE. UM AND I GUESS I'LL JUST ADD TO THAT WE WILL WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AS WE'VE DONE MANY TIMES TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR OPTIONS ARE . UM WE WILL SHOW THEM VIDEOS. WE WILL SHOW THEM PICTURES. WE WILL TAKE THEM ON TOURS. WE PROVIDE MOVING EXPENSES AND STIPENDS. ALL OF THAT IS A THE REMIX. UM ALL OF THAT IS, UM, A REQUIREMENT UNDER THE UNIVERSAL RELOCATION ACT PLANNING PROCESS, SO ALL OF THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED RESIDENTS RIGHT AND AGAIN. THIS IS ALL IN THE PLANNING PHASE. IS THERE ANYTHING WE SHOULD ADD TO THAT? HAVE A QUESTION FOR ME ON THE SPOT. UM ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL HERE IS THAT THE FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING IN OUR UNITS NEED TO HAVE THE HIGHEST AND BEST QUALITY HOUSING THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THEM AND ULTIMATELY, I THINK THAT'S OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STEP THAT WE TAKE LEADS US TOWARD THE PROVISION OF THE BEST AND MOST HIGH QUALITY HOUSING AVAILABLE TO ANY OF THESE FAMILIES IN THE LONG TERM. YEAH. SO AGAIN. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT MUCH MORE TO COME. UH THE TEAM IS AT OSCAR MANOR THIS WEEK, ADMINISTERING RESIDENT SURVEYS. SO AS OF THIS MORNING WE'VE ADMINISTERED ABOUT 100 SURVEYS. SO THAT'S ABOUT 20% ALMOST 20% OF THE POPULATION OF DOSER MANOR. WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE WHAT THEY, UH NEED OR THEIR HOUSING NEEDS MET ARE THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS MET? UM, WHAT DO THEY NEED IN TERMS OF SERVICES AND AMENITIES? DO THEY WANNA MOVE? IF THEY WERE TO MOVE WOULD THEY WANT TO COME BACK? WHAT KIND HOUSING DO THEY PREFER? SO WE'RE STARTING THOSE NEEDS ASSESSMENTS NOW, UM, THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE, UH, FOCUS GROUPS SO TALKING MORE WITH PEOPLE SO WE CAN INFORM THE FUTURE PLANNING PROCESS OF DOS C AS WELL AS VERY SPECIFIC RELOCATION MEETINGS TO TALK ABOUT. UM, YOU KNOW WHAT OPTIONS ARE WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. WHAT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES PEOPLE HAVE IN THIS PROCESS SO MUCH MORE TO COME. SO THAT'S RELOCATION PLANNING, WHICH IS A LOT AND AGAIN. WE'RE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. WE'LL BE WORKING WITH RESIDENTS WORKING WITH HUD, COMMUNICATING WITH YOU

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LIKE I SAID, WE'RE DOING THE RESIDENT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS NOW. UM, WE'LL START RELOCATION MEETINGS. END OF MAY AND WE'RE STARTING WITH THE A BUILDING. THE A BUILDING IS THE BIGGEST BUILDING THERE. UM, IT'S GOT IT. IT'S IN THE WORST SHAPE OF ALL THREE BUILDINGS. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE STARTING THERE. IN OUR PLAN. OUR THOUGHT IS TO START WITH VOLUNTEERS. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MOVE WHO ARE READY TO MOVE AND THEN GO FROM THERE. UH, WE'LL DO RELOCATION SURVEYS, WHICH ARE MUCH MORE SPECIFIC THAN THE KIND OF GENERAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEYS WE'RE DOING NOW. THIS IS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT DO YOU HERE? YOU KNOW, HERE ARE THREE OPTIONS. WHICH ONE? WOULD YOU PREFER KIND OF CONVERSATIONS. WE'LL HAVE FOCUS GROUPS, UM, AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS. AND WE DO ALL OF THESE STEPS BECAUSE PEOPLE GIVE AND RECEIVE INFORMATION IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. SO SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY COMFORTABLE COMING TO A LARGE COMMUNITY MEETING AND SHARING THEIR OPINIONS. UM AND WE WILL HAVE SPACE FOR THAT. AND SOME PEOPLE NEED THE KIND OF ONE ON ONE INTERACTION. SOME PEOPLE NEED TO DO IT ANONYMOUSLY. SO WE HAVE A VARIETY OF WAYS FOR PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN THE PLANNING PROCESS AND TO GET AND RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM US. OH, I'M GONNA SWITCH TO SECTION EIGHT NOW. THAT'S OK, I. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS AS A ABRUPT OF A TRANSITION AS IT WAS IN THE PRESENTATION, BUT I'M SURE YOU GUYS WILL HAVE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT I'VE COVERED SO FAR. BUT I DO WANNA TALK ABOUT THE SECTION EIGHT ISSUES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ALL SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND. YOU GET A LOT OF CALLS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SECTION EIGHT DEPARTMENT UM, WE HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF VERY LATE RECERTIFICATION EVERY TWO YEARS. EVERYBODY ON THIS SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM HAS TO RECERTIFY THAT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM , UM, RESUBMIT THEIR INCOME INFORMATION, AND WE FELT VERY FAR BEHIND. ON OUR END OF THAT. AND AS A RESULT, UH AND THIS CAME BECAUSE OF STAFFING SHORTAGES. AT ONE POINT, OUR HOUSING SPECIALISTS WERE 50% VACANT. COVID OBVIOUSLY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR EVERYBODY. UM IT WAS VERY TOUGH TO TRANSITION FROM MOSTLY IN PERSON SUPPORTS TO LIKE PHYSICAL MALE PROCESSES. AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POST OFFICE DURING COVID. WE GOT VERY BEHIND. AS UM, IN AN ATTEMPT TO KIND OF CATCH UP. WE UH, INCORRECTLY TREATED INCOMESN, UH, HOW WE WERE RECERTIFYING THINGS JUST TO KIND OF GET PAYMENTS TO LANDLORDS GOING VERY QUICKLY. UM WE ALSO YOU KNOW, LEADING TO THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE INCONSISTENT AND INADEQUATE TRAINING ON THE TEAM. WE HAVE HIGH TURNOVER AND LOW MORALE ON THAT TEAM AND INCREASING CUSTOMER SERVICE COMPLAINTS. SO ALL OF THIS KIND OF CAME TO A HEAD FOR ME. I WAS GETTING A LOT OF INFORMATION. Y'ALL AND FROM OTHERS ABOUT ISSUES. PEOPLE COULDN'T GET THEIR CALLS, ANSWERED, ET CETERA, AND WE STARTED PEELING BACK THE LAYERS OF THE ONION, AND THERE'S REALLY A LOT THERE. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'VE CHANGED LEADERSHIP. WE NOW HAVE, UH, TWO PEOPLE TEMPORARILY RUNNING THAT DEPARTMENT AS WE AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF OUR NEW DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SECTION EIGHT NEXT WEEK. WE ARE RESTRUCTURING THAT DEPARTMENT TO FOCUS ON, UH, MOVING THINGS MORE QUICKLY AND BRINGING THINGS INTO COMPLIANCE. WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF AN AUDIT THAT WE REQUESTED WITH A THIRD PARTY GROUP TO HELP US IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES AND PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO FINE TUNE. WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY CONTRACT, UH, WITH A VENDOR THAT HELPS US THAT'S HELPING US CATCH UP MORE QUICKLY ON THE PAPERWORK WE'RE BEHIND ON AND WE'RE LASER FOCUSED ON CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE NOW HAVE A CENTER SET UP SO THAT YOUR CALLS WILL BE ANSWERED WHEN YOU CALL, AND, UH IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED TO HOPEFULLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ON THE SPOT, AND IF NOT, THEY CAN GET YOU DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE WHO CAN. AND WE'RE BACK IN PERSON. SO NO MORE REMOTE WORK IN THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM. UH, NO MORE PEOPLE COME IN. AND THEN YOU'RE TOLD TO GO HOME AND MAIL SOMETHING IN. WE HAVE PEOPLE PHYSICALLY IN THE OFFICE WHO CAN MEET PEOPLE FACE TO FACE AS THEY COME IN. SO LOOKING FOR WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT. THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON. UM AT L MH A, UM, LOOKING FORWARD, UH, WE ARE WORKING TO REPOSITION OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PORTFOLIO SO THAT IT'S ON BETTER FINANCIAL FOOTING FOR THE FUTURE AND THAT WE'RE FULLY STAFFED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THAT UM, WE, UH, NEED TO HAVE BETTER OVERSIGHT OF OUR MIXED FINANCE SITES. THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER. LIBERTY GREEN SHEPHERD

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I'VE BEEN A THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE BUDGET MANAGER SO I'VE HELD A LOT OF ROLES, UH, IN DIFFERENT HOUSING AUTHORITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. UM BUT I KNOW YOU HAD ANOTHER PART OF THAT QUESTION ONCE THE GUY OH, AND NOW, RIGHT, UM SO CURRENTLY MY ROLE IS TO OVERSEE OUR OPERATIONS SIDE. SO THAT INCLUDES OUR PUBLIC HOUSING THE DOER MANNERS OF THE WORLD. THE PARKWAYS, UM SO I DO THAT I OVERSEE ALSO OUR OUR KIND OF HIDDEN DEPARTMENTS. THE HUMAN RESOURCES, OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT, UH, MAINTENANCE AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OF THE PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS THAT I OVERSEE. OK UM SO WOULD YOU, YOU KNOW, HAVING THIS BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING, HAVE YOU, UM HAVE YOU? I KNOW I'VE SEEN YOU AT THE COMMUNITY MEETING RIGHT? BUT HAVE YOU TAKEN THE TIME TO VISUALLY, UH, GO TO OSCAR IN ANY OF THE UNITS ANY OF THE FLOORS AND HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU DONE THAT SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS ROLE? YES MA'AM. SO I, A LOT OF I. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT. SOME OF THE UNITS SPEAK WITH SOME OF THE RESIDENTS. I'VE BEEN ON SITE MULTIPLE TIMES, EVEN BEYOND SOME OF OUR OUR PUBLIC EVENTS. I'VE BEEN ON SITE AND WE ACTUALLY ENDED UP ON SITE LATE WHATEVER NIGHT. THAT WAS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WHERE THERE WAS A FIRE AND A SPRINKLER AND TRACKED UP 11 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS. SO IT KIND OF GOT YOU KNOW THAT FUN WORKOUT. UM BUT YEAH, SO, I, I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND NOT JUST A DOCTOR. I'VE ALSO BEN BENNETT PARKWAY. BENNETT SHEPHERD BENNETT SOME OF ALL OF THE SITES THAT WE HAVE AND GOTTEN A SAMPLING OF WHAT THE UNITS LOOK LIKE WHAT THE STAFF ARE EXPERIENCING TALKING TO THE RESIDENT COUNCILS, GETTING A SENSE FROM THE RESIDENTS TO WHAT THEIR FIELD IS FOR THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS. WHAT THEY WANNA SEE AND THOSE THOSE REQUESTS ARE NOT UNIFORM. IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE LIVING AT DOSER HAVE CERTAIN NEEDS AND CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OUT OF THEIR COMMUNITY. BUT THE FAMILIES THAT SAY, UH, A SHEPHERD SHEPHERD SQUARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS TO REALLY GET A FEEL FOR THE RESIDENTS PERSPECTIVE ABOUT WHAT THEY

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UM I GREW UP AS A YOUNG WOMAN IN CLARKSDALE. SO A LOT OF THOSE RESIDENTS, YOU KNOW FOR ME, IT'S PERSONAL. OK FOR THIS TO, UH, FOR THESE TENANTS THAT ARE LIVING IN UNSAFE UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS. UM IT'S BEEN WELL. IT'S BEEN OVERLOOKED WAY TOO LONG. THIS WAY. UM AND I. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE TRAVELED, UH, THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THESE CONDITIONS AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. OK AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT, UH, WE HAVE SOME. YOU KNOW YOU GUYS DID HAVE CAN'T JUMPED ON BOARD. UM AND I WOULD JUST HOPE THAT YOU LOOK AT IT AS IF, UH YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE YOU ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, UM, IN A DIFFERENT SET OF LENSES. UM BUT I WANNA KNOW GET GET TO MY QUESTION ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION . YOU KNOW, ELIZABETH, WHERE ARE WE AT IN THE INVESTIGATION. AS FAR AS THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM. AS FAR AS THE, UM THE FIRE WAS CONCERNED, UM, THAT I WAS CONTACTED ABOUT. YEAH, I DON'T I DON'T. I HAVEN'T HEARD AN UPDATE. I THINK THAT THAT'S ONGOING, BUT WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE WAS A FIRE.

UM SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. IT WAS A WEDNESDAY NIGHT, UM, ON THE 11TH FLOOR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. OUR SPRINKLER SYSTEMS WORKED GREAT. THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS, UH, THAT KNOCKED OUT THE ELEVATORS. THE E. THE CIRCUITS ON THE ELEVATORS WERE FLOODED. WE JUST CAN'T CAN'T GET AHEAD OF IT. SO YEAH. UM I'M I'M STILL NOT SURE THE SOURCE OF THAT FIRE. UM, BUT THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY IT IS SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO MANAGE OSCAR MANOR, AND IT'S INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO MANAGE DOSER MANOR AS IT IS, SO OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM WILL SHOW UP.

THEY HAVE THEIR ORDERS FOR THE DAY THEY HAVE THEIR THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO ACCOMPLISH. BUT INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO ATTEND TO THOSE WORK ORDERS THOSE NEEDS THEY MIGHT BE CLEANING UP FROM AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THEY'RE GONNA BE WET BACKING AND ELEVATOR. THEY'RE GOING TO BE PICKING UP TRASH THAT PEOPLE THREW OVER THE TERRACES LIKE IT'S. IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. IT'S UNTENABLE. OH II. I DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND IS SECURITY NOT CANVASSING. ARE THEY JUST STAYING? UM IN ONE SPOT, SO WE HAD WHEN I GOT HERE, WE HAD ONE SECURITY GUARD PER BUILDING AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE PER SHIFT. WE NOW HAVE TWO PER SHIFT, AND ONE IS SUPPOSED TO BE UH, ROAMING WE ALSO HAVE INDEPENDENT POLICE FORCE SERVICES. UM WE SPEND OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR WE SPEND JUST SHY OF $1.2 MILLION A YEAR AND ON ON THE SECURITY SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVE AND TRUTHFULLY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN YOU KNOW, KIND OF SECURING THE BUILDING AND ALLOWING PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE. WE DO SEE THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL NEEDS SECURITY WISE. WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO SECURE THOSE DOORS THAT MR MENTIONED, UH, YOU KNOW THE N A BUILDING WHERE IT EXITS TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GOING WITH OUR OUR ALARM SYSTEM COMPANY TO WORK THROUGH MEANS TO SECURE THE STAIRWELLS. UH, MEANS TO SECURE THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING AS WELL. SO WE'RE WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT AT KIND OF WAYS TO DO THAT, BUT IT CONTINUAL, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CONSTANT CHASE, RIGHT? THERE'S WE MAKE A WE MAKE A NEW SYSTEM.

SOMEBODY FIGURES OUT A WAY AROUND IT. WE KIND OF CHASE THAT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT ANOTHER SYSTEM. BUT WE WILL CONTINUE THAT THAT EFFORT AS WELL. OK I'LL GET BACK IN THE QUEUE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE ASK A FEW QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU, UM SHORTLY AFTER I STARTED YOU CAME IN, AND I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA WANNA TALK ABOUT THE OSCAR WHICH YOU DID A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU REALLY HELPED RAISE THE ALARM BELLS FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON IN OUR SECTION EIGHT DEPARTMENT AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE WE FOUND A LOT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH,

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I'M REALLY PROUD OF HIM AND THE WORK HE'S BEEN DOING ALREADY. YOU PROBABLY SAW SOME RECENT REPORTING ABOUT YOUR LEAD DISCLOSURE FORMS. I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE BUILDINGS THAT YOU OWN AND OPERATE. THE PERCENTAGE OF RESIDENTS THAT HAVE SIGNED THOSE FORMS SO FAR. YEAH. UH I SHOULD HAVE COME PREPARED. I FIGURED THAT WE WOULD GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT REPORTING. UM BUT I, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER. I CAN GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. BUT TO I'M SORRY. OUT OF HOW MANY. HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE LINE DISCLOSURE. YEAH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER AT OUR FINGERTIPS, BUT WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THANK YOU, OUR RESIDENTS BEING EVICTED FOR REFUSING TO SIGN THOSE LEAD DISCLOSURE FORMS. NO THEY'RE NOT. AND THAT WAS, UM THE REPORTING WAS ACCURATE.

THERE WAS, UNFORTUNATELY, A FLYER PUT UP THAT THREATENED THAT. UM PEOPLE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNING THAT, AT LEAST UP. AND OR RECERTIFICATION. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS PEOPLE CAN COME IN TO THE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO GET INFORMATION. EACH OFFICE HAS ALL THE INFORMATION FOR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BUILDING. WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE UNIT? ANY PREVIOUS REMEDIATION EFFORTS, THINGS OUTSTANDING. UM, AND THEY CAN SIGN THE FORM AT THAT TIME, BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THAT ON FILE THAT THEY'VE READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DISCLOSING TO THEM, THEY WILL DO IT AT THE NEXT RECERTIFICATION AND RECERTIFICATION, UM, IS REQUIRED. SO IF YOU DON'T IF YOU TO RECERTIFY IF YOU FAIL TO, YOU KNOW, RE VERIFY THINGS THAT COULD LEAD TO AT LEAST TERMINATION. UM, BUT THAT WAS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON THOSE FLYERS. AND CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT RESIDENTS WILL NO LONGER BE THREATENED TO BE EVICTED? BECAUSE OF THOSE DISCLOSURE FORMS? YES, THE SIGNS ARE DOWN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET AS JUST UNDER A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. CAN YOU GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THAT'S FOR? YEAH SO A LOT OF MOST THE MAJORITY OF THE FUNDING WOULD GO TOWARDS SOCIAL SERVICE SUPPORTS FOR DOSER MANOR AND AVENUE PLAZA. UM AND I THINK EVEN BEFORE I STARTED, YOU HAD ELEVATED THE NEED FOR MORE SOCIAL WORKERS AT THOSE SITES.

UH, SO THAT'S GONNA BRING ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS ON SITE AND THE WAY THAT THE PROGRAM IS SET UP, AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE INFORMATION ON HOW THE PROGRAM THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN L MH, A AND THE OFFICE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS WOULD WORK. UM, WE'RE GONNA OFFER A VARIETY OF LEVELS OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SO SOME PEOPLE COMING IN MIGHT JUST SAY I NEED HELP.

WITH MY MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY FORMS, BUT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT COME IN AND SAY I NEED THEY MIGHT NEED A MORE LIKE CASE MANAGEMENT INSTEAD OF JUST THAT KIND OF CONNECTING THING, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, LIKE A SUITE OF OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE. UM AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF THE FUNDING WILL BE FOR PEST CONTROL. BECAUSE THAT IS A SERIOUS COMPLAINT THAT WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE AND THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY DRIVE YOU CRAZY TO HAVE PETS IN YOUR HOME. AND IT'S A CONSTANT, UM, THING THAT WE HAVE TO BE VIGILANT ABOUT, AND WE IDENTIFIED THAT OUTSIDE SERVICES TO HELP US BOLSTER OUR PEST EXTERMINATION EFFORTS WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. WHEN WE'VE TALKED TO YOU SAID THERE ARE FEDERAL RESTRICTIONS ON CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY. BECAUSE YOU VERY BRIEFLY EXPLAIN THOSE RESTRICTIONS. YES MOST OF OUR FUNDING TO OPERATE OUR PUBLIC HOUSING COMES THROUGH SECTION NINE PUBLIC HOUSING, CAPITAL OR PUBLIC HOUSING, OPERATING AND WHEN SOMETHING IS DESIGNATED A SECTION NINE PUBLIC HOUSING, THERE ARE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT SOURCES CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE THE CAPITAL OF THE BUILDING.

ONCE WHEN I TALK ABOUT REPOSITIONING PROPERTIES, WHAT WE MEAN IS TAKING SOMETHING OUT OF SECTION NINE AND PUTTING IT INTO SECTION EIGHT, WHICH IS, UH, ANOTHER HU PROGRAM. THESE ARE JUST TERMS FOR WHERE THEY EXIST IN THE HOUSING ACT. UM BUT THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS IN THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM, IT CAN STILL BE OWNED AND OPERATED BY L MH A. UH BUT THAT ALLOWS US TO LEVERAGE. OTHER SOURCES SUCH AS CITY CAPITAL IF WE EVER WERE TO GET TO THAT POINT LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDITS TAX EXEMPT PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS. OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT. DID I GET IT RIGHT? OK SO THAT'S THAT. SO FOR OSCAR MANNER, WE CAN'T COME TO YOU GUYS AND SAY WE NEED $200 MILLION TO FIX THESE BUILDINGS UNLESS WE WERE TO REPOSITION.

THE PORTFOLIO. UNDERSTOOD I'LL ASK ONE MORE QUESTION. GET BACK IN THE QUEUE. I KNOW RESIDENTS ARE BEING SURVEYED THIS WEEK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THOSE WHAT YOU SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND ADMINISTERING THOSE SURVEYS. ABSOLUTELY HOW LONG WILL THE TURNAROUND BE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE TO COMPLETE A REPORT AND THEN PUBLISH THE RESULTS OF THOSE SURVEYS. SO I THINK WE'D SAID, UH, LATER IN THE MONTH. UH, MAY I WANNA SAY MAY 20TH OR 21ST. WE SHOULD HAVE THE RESULTS. BUT SINCE THEY'RE SINCE THEY'RE IN A TABLET, IT SHOULD BE MUCH QUICKER TO TABULATE THE RESULTS. THANK YOU. I'LL BE BACK. UH, COUNCILWOMAN DOWN AT PURVIS.

[00:45:04]

YOU'RE ASKING IF VOUCHER HOLDERS DON'T RECERTIFY. YES, YOU HAVE TO RECERTIFY TO, UH, SHOW THAT YOU'RE STILL ELIGIBLE. UM, AND THAT'S WE ARE. WE DROPPED THE BALL AND MAKING SURE WE WERE GETTING THE INFORMATION IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR PEOPLE ENTERING IT INTO THE SYSTEM, SO THE INCORRECT TREATMENT THAT WE WERE DOING IS WE WERE JUST WE WERE BEHIND. LANDLORDS WERE NOT BEING PAID SO OUT OF AN EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS COULD STAY HOUSED. WE WERE ENTERING OLD INCOME INFORMATION. WHICH IS NOT OK. SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WORKING TO. GET AHEAD OF NOW. SO I RAN INTO, UM, ONE OF THE TENANTS AT ONE OF THE OTHER FACILITIES, AND SHE WAS EVICTED WHILE SHE WAS AT WORK, AND SHE WAS THINKING IT WAS RENT, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY RENT DUE AND SHE WAS ONE OF TAMMY'S COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS, CONSTITUENT, BUT SHE FOUND OUT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH HER RECERTIFICATION. OH, YOU'RE TALKING. I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE. I BELIEVE THE , UH, PERSON YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS IN A PUBLIC HOUSING SITE. UH, YES, MA'AM. I UH, A TEMPORAL SPEARS. YES MA'AM.

YEAH, YOU HAVE TO RE CERTIFY, UM IN PUBLIC HOUSING. EVERY FEW YEARS. AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, THAT'S YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE STILL ELIGIBLE.

SO SAYING THAT SHE HAS UM CAN SHE APPLY AGAIN? WILL SHE BE PUT BACK ON A WAITING LIST? YEAH, LET'S UM LET'S TALK AFTER THIS AND WE'LL WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION. AND I. I THANK COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS. AS LONG AS YOU KEEP IT SHORT BECAUSE SHE JUST WANTS TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT WE'VE GOT SO SHE HAD THAT YOU HAVE THAT I SENT YOU THAT YOUNG LADY'S NAME, BUT I THINK THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT, UM TO MAKE SURE THAT TENANTS DON'T CONTINUE TO GET DISPLACED. UM EVEN IF THEY CANNOT RECERTIFY, UM, RECERTIFICATION COMES WITH HAVING THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT THAT ENTAILS. AND A LOT OF, UM THOSE TENANTS, UH, ALWAYS DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND LM AJ HAS

[00:50:11]

SET OUT, UM, WITH NO REGARDS TO ANYTHING. UH ALKIE DIDN RECERTIFIED. UM, BUT HAD SHE HAD SHE WAS ON ALL TYPE OF MEDS AND EVERYTHING. UM YOU KNOW, NO ONE JUST REACHED OUT AND SAID, HEY, MAYBE SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GO OUT HERE AS A SOCIAL WORKER. AND WHEN I DID RAISE THE QUESTION, THEY SAID THAT IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH SOCIAL WORKERS THAT, UH, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. JUST BECAUSE L MH A DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH SOCIAL WORKERS, WE THROW SOMEBODY'S STUFF OUT. AND WE VICTIM AND NOW I'M THAT YOUNG LADY IS, UH, HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THEY THREW AWAY ALL OF HER LIFE SAVING MEDICINES IN THE DUMPSTER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY THREW AWAY ALL OF HER STUFF IN THE DUMPSTERS, EXCEPT FOR THE STUFF THAT THEY WANTED. HM? OKAY? THAT WE WILL ANYTHING YOU WANNA SAY ABOUT THAT. THE ONLY THING I WOULD I WOULD ADD AS A RESPONSE. NOT THAT THERE'S ANYTHING I'M GONNA SAY THAT'S GONNA MAKE THAT ACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE YOU KNOW, ON OUR END, THERE'S A THERE'S A COMMUNICATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE WITH RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE AWARE THAT YOU HAVE A RECERTIFICATION COMING UP AND YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE GOING OUT AND WE'RE SITTING WITH PEOPLE AND WE'RE TALKING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS. IT IS A LOT OF PAPERWORK, AND IT'S A DAUNTING PROCESS FOR ANYONE TO HAVE TO SIT THROUGH AND IT'S AND IT'S A STACK OF PAPERWORK ABOUT THAT THICK. IT'S NOT A SMALL AMOUNT OF PAPERWORK, AND I RESPECT THAT. FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN BE A JUST A VERY DA TASK. SO FOR ON OUR END, WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEVEL OF COMPASSION THAT ALLOWS US TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE KIND OF MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AND HELP THEM TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. SO THAT FALLS ON US. WE DO ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE RISKS ARE IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE RECERTIFICATION SO THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY HAVEN'T DONE ENOUGH OF IS JUST GOING TO THE RESIDENCE AND SAYING LOOK, THESE ARE YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS WELL. THERE'S TWO SIDES. THERE'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. BUT WE HAVE TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT THEY UNDERSTAND IT AND REALLY, TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS AND WE ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND WE'RE AVAILABLE TO THEM AT ANY TIME TO HELP THEM THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES. SO I. I AGREE. IT'S A IT'S A MATTER OF COMPASSION AND HOW WE HOW WE WORK WITH PEOPLE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS. SO SITUATIONS LIKE THIS ONE DON'T OCCUR AGAIN IN COMMUNICATION, BETTER COMMUNICATION WITH RESIDENTS AND YOU KNOW WHAT I? I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AT THE BEGINNING ABOUT THE STAFFING NEEDS AND THE RESTRUCTURING. UM AND I THINK THAT THE APPROACH AND ATTITUDE HAS BEEN WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE MORE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE MORE. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE MORE. BUT YOU REACH A POINT WHERE IT'S LIKE WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE THE APPROPRIATE STAFF. TO WORK WITH THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THANK YOU, UH, COUNCILOR AND ONLY THANK YOU.

CHAIR APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. UM, SO MY QUESTION KIND OF WHAT? YOU WERE JUST SAYING, UH WE CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF VERSUS WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO. THAT'S PART OF MY QUESTION. I WHILE I KNEW THAT L MH A WAS NOT BEING RUN. WELL, I WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN APOLOGIST. BECAUSE I WHAT I KEPT SAYING TO PEOPLE WAS AS A COUNTRY. WE HAVE UNDERFUNDED PUBLIC AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UNDERFUNDED HUD FOR DECADES, SO WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? IF THEY'RE GIVEN IF THEY NEED $100, AND THEY'RE GIVEN 60 EVERY YEAR BY HUD TO DO MAINTENANCE? IS IT? IS IT A SURPRISE TO ANYBODY THAT THE PROPERTIES ARE IN THE CONDITIONS THEY'RE IN? SO WITHIN THAT CONTEXT, WHAT I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING YOU IS HOW AND I DON'T WANT TO LET YOU ALL OFF THE HOOK. I REALLY DON'T. BUT HOW MUCH? WE'RE FINE. IF YOU WANT TO LET US OFF. THE THING THIS IS TOTALLY FINE IS IT POSSIBLE WITHIN I WANT OUR EXPECTATIONS TO BE REASONABLE. SO WITH IS IT POSSIBLE TO RUN A HOUSING AUTHORITY? THAT IS ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS RESIDENTS. WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE HUD FUNDING. AND I SAY THAT FROM RECOGNIZING THAT AN OPERATING BUDGET IS DIFFERENT THAN A CAPITAL BUDGET THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN A MAINTENANCE BUDGET, RIGHT AND OPERATING. I MEAN, STAFF AND PERSONNEL AND THAT SORT OF THING, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR KIND OF FEEL ABOUT THAT NUMBER ONE. SO WE HAVE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE REASONABLE . UM BUT NUMBER TWO, SO WE CAN KIND OF RECOGNIZE AND I DON'T WANT TO THROW THE LAST REGIME UNDER THE BUS, BUT I JUST WOULD LIKE TO GET A LITTLE CONTEXT. I

[00:55:01]

I MEAN, THE WORK IS HARD. IT'S HARD. YOU'RE PROVIDING HOUSING, WHICH IS AN EXTREMELY POLITICAL ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR PEOPLE OF MODEST MEANS, OFTEN WHO HAVE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO THE PRIVATE HOUSING MARKET. IT IS HARD WORK, EVEN IN THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT WHAT WE SEE RIGHT NOW AT L MH A IS THAT IT'S AN AGENCY THAT'S BEEN THROUGH A LOT OVER THE DECADES IN IN THE NINETIES IS WHEN WE STARTED SEEING THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, CAPITAL AND OPERATING GO WAY DOWN. UM AND I COVID WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I MEAN, IMAGINE RUNNING A HOUSING AUTHORITY THROUGH COVID. THAT'S THAT'S HARD. SO ALL OF THOSE SYSTEMIC ISSUES. ALL OF THOSE SOCIETAL ISSUES ARE IN PLACE, BUT IT'S NOT MY JOB TO LAMENT THAT. IT'S NOT MY JOB TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT OR TO THROW ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT L MH A IS DOING BETTER AND POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT UM, PUBLIC HOUSING, CAPITAL AND OPERATING WILL EVER BE RESTORED AT A FUNDING LEVEL THAT ALLOWS US TO APPROPRIATELY MAINTAIN AND REDEVELOP USING THAT PROGRAM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER HUD PROGRAMS THAT ARE MUCH MORE FINANCIALLY STABLE. THE SECTION EIGHT PROGRAM IS MUCH MORE STABLE. UH THAN THE SECTION NINE PUBLIC HOUSING CAPITAL AND OPERATING AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE WHAT'S CALLED THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE, DEMONSTRATION OR SECTION 18 DEMOLITION DISPOSITION TO MOVE THOSE PROPERTIES OUT OF THE YOU KNOW, UNDERFUNDED BUCKET INTO A MUCH BETTER FUNDED BUCKET. SO THAT'S WHERE IT DOES THAT. ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. IT DOES. ACTUALLY THAT'S I. I AGREE WITH YOU THAT I DON'T THINK THE IT'S THE REALITY IS, I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO HUD'S BUDGET IS NEVER GONNA BE THE TOP OF ANYBODY'S PRIORITY. IT JUST ISN'T AS A COUNTRY UNLESS SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGES. SO ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IS IMPORTANT. AND I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT. BUT WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY MORE AND MORE. IT USED TO. I'M SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF. BUT YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN A MOMENT WHERE IT'S NOT JUST ONE SECTOR OF SOCIETY THAT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING. I MEAN, THIS IS BEING FELT BY ACROSS THE SPECTRUM ACROSS THE BOARD. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. OF THE LACK OF HOUSING THAT WE NEED . AND SO THIS IS A MOMENT WHERE WE COULD LINK ARMS AND CALL FOR CHANGES. WE COULD DO THAT, AND WE ARE DOING THAT. WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT WITH OUR WITH OUR AD HOC LAND USE COMMITTEE AND OTHER PLACES, BUT SO BUT I JUST I. I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE HOUSING AUTHORITIES OUT THERE THAT ARE MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL THAT ARE MORE CREATIVE THAT ARE THAT ARE TAUGHT THAT ARE USING SOME OF THE RESOURCES WITHIN HU AND OTHER PLACES THAT ARE MORE STABLE. I'M JUST I. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER AND THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS ARE OPEN TO LOOKING AT THINGS AND THOSE THINGS AND TRYING TO BRING THOSE TO BEAR ON OUR ON OUR PORTFOLIO. ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT WE'VE KIND OF SAID IS THAT WE NEED A YEAR. HOPEFULLY NOT MORE THAN THAT, BUT WE NEED A YEAR TO STABILIZE OPERATIONS AT L MH, A UH, WE ALSO WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT YEAR TO PASS BEFORE WE ALSO DO BIG THINGS AND MAKE BIG CHANGES. BUT UH, I SAY THAT WE NEED ONE YEAR TO STABILIZE AND A YEAR TWO.

[01:00:01]

UM SO OK, NEXT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE THEN. UM OK, I'VE GOT A SPECIFIC THING IN MIND OF A CONSTITUENT WHO WAS ADVOCATING FOR HER SON WHO NEEDED TO GET NEW SECTION EIGHT HOUSING AND WE STRUGGLED FOR MANY MONTHS JUST TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD A NEW VOUCHER FOR THE LARGE FOR THE LARGER RESIDENTS. AND THEN SHE'S LOOKING AND LOOKING AND LOOKING AND TRYING TO FIND HOUSING AND THE VOUCHER RAN OUT BEFORE SHE COULD FIND SOMETHING. WE ARE SEEING THAT HAPPEN MORE AND MORE. AND THAT, UM THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT. UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS JUST A LACK OF SUPPLY OF HOUSING THAT THE VOUCHERS WE PAY FOR BECAUSE WE ARE LIMITED IN HOW MUCH WE CAN PAY. SO ON SECTION EIGHT PEOPLE PAY 30% OF THEIR INCOME TOWARDS THEIR RENT.

SECTION EIGHT MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE, BUT WE'RE CAPPED IN HOW MUCH WE CAN PUT TOWARDS THAT BY HUD. UM SO WE NEED MORE HOUSING. THAT CAN BE PAID FOR BY SECTION EIGHT. WE NEED MORE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE. WE KNOW THAT, UM THE OTHER IDEA THE NUMBER OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ULTIMATELY FAILING TO FIND THE HOUSING THAT THEY NEED. UH I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU WHEN WE GET BACK AND DIG INTO IT, OK, OK. THANK YOU. VERY, UH, ONE LAST QUESTION, OK, TRAINING. FOR YOUR PEOPLE ON THE PHONE. I KNOW YOU. YOU NOTED THAT MORALE AND TRAINING. ARE UH, BIG ISSUE AND I KNOW TRAINING AND BEING ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND DEAL WITH THINGS THAT'S GOING TO CERTAINLY POSITIVELY AFFECT MORALE. UM, IS THE TRAINING YOU GETTING THE TRAINING IN THAT THESE FOLKS NEED THAT THEY'RE BETTER ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS. I KNOW YOU GOT MORE PEOPLE. NOW THAT'S A BIG STEP. THEY CAN ANSWER THE PHONE. ARE THEY GETTING THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE MORE EFFECTIVELY NOW. I BELIEVE SO. UM AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TRAINING NEEDS TO GO INTO THAT ONE IS THE TECHNICAL TRAINING, HOW TO ACCESS AND INPUT INFORMATION. ANSWER PEOPLE'S TECHNICAL QUESTIONS. THERE'S ALSO A CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT. SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, LIKE HOW DO YOU APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO SOMEBODY? AND UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON. IN OUR FOCUS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE AGENCY IS YOU KNOW HOW TO BRING IN TRAUMA, INFORMED CARE, TRAINING AND DEESCALATING TRAINING BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU'VE NEVER HAD TO NAVIGATE. LM H SECTION A DEPARTMENT BUT ALL OF US PROBABLY HAVEN'T EXPERIENCE WHERE WE'VE HAD TO NAVIGATE SOME BIG SYSTEM AT A TIME. THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. SO YOU'RE DISPUTING A MEDICAL BILL OR YOUR GOT A CONTACT SOMEBODY ABOUT YOUR TAXES LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU. YOU EASILY GET FRUSTRATED. UM AND SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. GET THEM THE ANSWERS THEY NEED AND RESPOND IN A WAY THAT HE THAT IS CALMING AND HELPFUL AND NOT ESCALATING THE SITUATION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF TRAINING NEEDS THERE, BUT WE'LL GET THERE. OK,

[01:05:04]

SECTION EIGHT VOUCHERS ON THE PUBLIC HOUSING SIDE. UM WE HAVE, LIKE 3000 PEOPLE ON THE WAY 3800 ON THE WAITING LIST, SO THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING TO BE HELPED BY L MH A SO WE NEED MORE RESOURCES. DO SO. WE'VE TALKED A LOT TODAY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING TO IMPROVE OUR OPERATIONS. BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER. WE JUST NEED A LOT MORE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO HELP A LOT MORE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU LEAVE. I'VE GOT SOME PAPERWORK. I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT BECAUSE A YOUNG MAN A YOUNG MAN STOPPED ME JUST THE OTHER DAY AND HE HAS A PROBLEM. HE FOUND OUT THEY WERE OVER. HE WAS GETTING PAIN OVER THE AMOUNT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, AND THEY DID REFUND HIS MONEY AND I HE'S HE SHOWS WHERE THEY REFUND HIS MONEY. BUT THEY TOLD HIM HE HAD TO COULD ADD DEPARTMENT. SO HE'S GOT. HE GOT BIG BECAUSE THEY OVERPAID HIM. I MEAN, HE PAID OVERPAID THEM AND THEY HAD TO GIVE HIM HIS MONEY BACK. OK WE'LL LOOK AT THAT. YEAH, I JUST NEED SOMEBODY TO LOOK AT AND ONE OTHER THING IS THE PHONE SYSTEM.

I GET CALLS ALL THE TIME. PEOPLE GO CALL TRYING TO GET A QUESTION OR WHATEVER. WHOEVER'S ON THE PHONE. Y'ALL NEED TO REPLACE THEM. THIS. YOU NEED TO REPLACE HIM. I'VE CALLED AND HOURS AND YOU CANNOT GET THROUGH DOWN THERE. SO I THINK SOMETIME WHEN YOU'RE IN A JOB SO LONG, THEN IT GETS TO THE PLACE THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, DO THE JOB YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. SO I DO HAVE A FEW MORE PEOPLE, UH, COUNCIL FOR HAWKINS, COUNCILMAN ARTHUR AND COUNCILMAN OWEN, BUT SHE DOES HAVE TO LEAVE AT THREE O'CLOCK, SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO STAY WITH ONE QUESTION INSTEAD OF THIS MY NEXT QUESTION, OK, I'M SORRY. I STAY WITH MY QUESTION. 10 SO FIRST, I WANNA SAY, UM I'M GONNA ECHO OFF OF, UM, COUNCILMAN ROY. WHEN AS FAR AS YOU GUYS JUST BEING HONEST, A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO MAJORITY OF ESPECIALLY THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE KIND OF MOVED TO THE GROUND AND WE ASK QUESTIONS. A LOT OF TIMES. WE ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER. WE JUST ASK THEM, YOU KNOW, UM, BUT AS FAR AS THE, UM YOU KNOW THIS CULTURE THAT WE DEAL WITH? BECAUSE YOU KNOW, UM, I SEE THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE TRYING TO BUILD A STRONG TEAM. AS AS I SEE THE STEPS THAT, UM AND IT AND IT DEFINITELY HAS TO BE PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE CULTURE.

ESPECIALLY THE SOCIAL WORKERS ON SITE, UM, THAT HAVE TO HAVE THAT THAT PATIENCE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH. UH UH WITH THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE. UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES OUR CULTURE CAN BE A LITTLE HARD TO DEAL WITH. YOU KNOW? SO WHEN YOU'RE BUILDING THAT TEAM, UM KEEP THAT LENS OPEN FOR THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS THE SECTION A, THAT'S MY QUESTION, UM THE PORTAL. IT'S A LOT OF SENIORS.

UM THAT JUST CANNOT ONE GET TO SECTION EIGHT TO IT'S A NEW SYSTEM THAT YOU GUYS HAVE THAT SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT I'VE BEEN HAVING TO, UM, I THINK THAT YOU GUYS AND TELL ME THE PROCESS BECAUSE I MAY BE A LITTLE OFF OR IT'S A SYSTEM AND THAT'S BEEN PUT IN PLACE. UM IT'S A PORTAL.

THEY GOTTA COME IN. UM, THEY GOTTA DO SOMETHING ON THE PORTAL. UM, YOU WHAT IF THEY'RE NOT SAVVY ENOUGH, I? I THINK THAT SOMETIMES, UM WE I KNOW YOU NEED TO DO THINGS TO GET THE DATA THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S MORE SUFFICIENT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND. UM THE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SENIORS, UH, THEIR CAPACITY LEVEL RIGHT AS YOU GET OLDER, YOU'RE NOT AS SAVVY AS YOU USED TO BE. WHEN YOU WAS A LOT YOUNGER. I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AND I AND ALSO I WANNA SAY THAT WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT UH, THE DRUG DEALERS YOU

[01:10:05]

WE'LL JUST WE'LL WORK WITH YOU. WE'LL DO IT ON PAPER. UM AND THEN, UH, IF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THE PORTAL BECAUSE IT IS MORE EFFICIENT, IT IS A LOT QUICKER. UM YOU KNOW, WE CAN CALL YOU RIGHT BACK AND SAY SORRY YOU ACCIDENTALLY UPDATED. YOU KNOW YOU UPLOADED A PHOTO OF YOUR DOG INSTEAD OF YOUR INCOME, SORT OF LIKE WE CAN CORRECT THOSE. THINGS IN REAL TIME. UM IF PEOPLE WANT TO DO THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE ON SITE MONDAY TO FRI, UH, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY DURING NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS THAT CAN WORK WITH PEOPLE AT A COMPUTER TO GET THEM SIGNED UP AND READY FOR THE PORTAL. MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO ACCESS IT. SO WE HAVE THAT IN PERSON SUPPORT NOW, BUT IF PEOPLE JUST REALLY CAN'T DO THE PORTAL UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON WE CAN. WE CAN STILL DO PAPER. OK AND THEN JUST THAT OTHER QUESTION, AND THAT IS IF YOU HAVE A, UM, PERSON THAT HASN'T BEEN PAID FOR A YEAR. NO. SO THE THERE'S AS ADVOCATING ON THE OTHER SIDE. IF YOU GET SOMEBODY IN THE HOUSE, AND I UNDERSTAND WE NEED HOUSING, RIGHT? BUT HOW CAN WE KEEP HOUSING? IF YOU IF SECTION EIGHT IS NOT PAYING THESE LANDLORDS AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN PAID SINCE 2003. 2003 WELL, YEAH, 2023. I'M OK. I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT THAT'S A YEAR YOU GOT PROPERTY AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN PAID AND YOU GOT A SECTION EIGHT RECIPIENT IN YOUR PROPERTY AND HAVEN'T BEEN PAID FOR A YEAR. LIKE IT'S CREATING HOMELESSNESS. IT'S A HUGE ISSUE. SO PART OF THE RESTRUCTURING WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, UM, AS WE HAVE AN EVICTION PREVENTION TASK FORCE ON THE SECTION 18. THERE'S WORKING ON THOSE EXTREMELY LATE RECERTIFICATION AND WE'RE GETTING CHECKS OUT THE DOOR AS FAST AS WE CAN. SO ALL OF OUR LANDLORD PARTNERS JUST HANG ON. WE ARE GOOD FOR IT. WE WILL GET TO YOU. I PROMISE. OKAY? MY A LOT OF RESIDENTS ARE EITHER UNAWARE OF YOUR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OR THINK THEY DON'T WORK WELL. SO WHAT'S THE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THOSE? AND HOW ARE YOU GETTING FEEDBACK TO MAKE THEM OPERATE? BETTER SO I DON'T REMEMBER. I THINK IT WAS 2022 I WANNA SAY WAS THE LAST RESIDENT OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF SUFFICIENCY SURVEY THAT WE GAVE TO ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS IN SECTION NINE PROPERTIES, BUT WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THAT THE THAT'S A PROGRAM THAT'S A GRANT WE GET FROM HUD TO HELP, UM, SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE. IN OUR PUBLIC HOUSING SITES. UM AND I I'M NOT. I CAN'T RECALL OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. UH, WHEN THE NEXT SCHEDULED SURVEY IS OF RESIDENTS TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON HOW THOSE SERVICES ARE, UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REBUILDING IS COMMUNI REGULAR, JUST REGULAR ROUTINE COMMUNICATIONS WITH RESIDENTS NEWSLETTERS, THE OFFICE HOURS THAT WE DO WHERE WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ON SITE TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE. UM AND WE'RE WE'RE OPEN TO IDEAS. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT YOU KNOW, YOU TELL ME HOW YOU THINK IT WOULD. WORK BETTER, BUT I HEAR YOU AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WILL COME IN AND ASK FOR SOMETHING OR SAY THAT THEY NEED SOMETHING AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE ALREADY PROVIDE. THEY JUST WEREN'T AWARE AND CONNECTED APPROPRIATELY, SO S.

YES. AND SO, UH, SHE HAS TO LEAVE IT THREE O'CLOCK, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE YOU ABLE TO GET TO YOUR APPOINTMENT. OK, SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THEN WE ARE SOMETHING COMES UP. NO. YEAH, HE , UH, CHANGE PROGRAM. IT'S GONNA BE. I MEAN, IT'S NOT GONNA DO A MEETING. YEAH. CORRECT. THANK

[Adjournment Note: Agendas are followed at the discretion of the Chair. While an item may be listed, it does not mean all items will be heard and/or acted upon by the Committee.]

[01:15:06]