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Minutes Far Housing P.H.) MINUTES OF THE FAIR HOUSING PUBLIC MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 30, 2010 AT 6:00 P.M. IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS, BOYNTON BEACH, FL PRESENT: City Hanna Matras, Senior Planner Debbie Reamsnyder, Administrative Secretary Octavia Sherrod, Director Community Improvement Public Mike Nomikos, A VDA Keturah Joseph, Boynton Beach Faith Based CDC Gertrude Sullivan, Activist Suki deJung, Community Resident I. Introductions and Purpose of the Meeting The meeting commenced at 6:15 p.m. The participants introduced themselves as noted above. Ms. Sherrod explained the meeting notice was published in the newspaper and over 40 letters were mailed to various organizations that staff felt would be instrumental in assisting staff with an analysis of fair housing and input received . Ms. Sherrod, Director, Community Improvement Division, introduced Ms. Reamsnyder, Administrative Secretary, and Hanna Matras, Senior Planner, and explained federal regulations require entitlement communities receiving Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to conduct an analysis of impediments to Fair Housing. Ms. Matras, has been assisting the Department to help identify the obstacles and help staff determine what needed to take place to overcome those impediments. II. Explanation of Analysis of Impediments Process and Goals Ms. Sherrod reviewed a PowerPoint presentation and explained it was illegal to discriminate against individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, and national origin. The analysis would encompass the City's laws, regulations, administrative policies, procedures and practices. An assessment of how they affect the availability, location and accessibility of housing was completed which included public and private housing. The purpose would serve as a substantial basis for the City to have a Fair Housing plan. It would provide essential and detailed information to policy makers, staff, housing providers, lenders and housing advocates. It assists in building public support for housing in promulgating regulations to prevent discrimination in housing. 1 Meeting Minutes Fair Housing Public Hearing Boynton Beach, FL November 30, 2010 The prohibitions are valid in the sale, rental, advertising, financing, real estate brokerage services, appraisal and blockbusting of housing. Blockbusting is illegal and is when developers purposely advise the neighborhood they are coming to get people to sell property at a lower price. Blockbusting depresses the real estate market. Palm Beach County has a Fair Housing Ordinance prohibiting discrimination. The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website has a telephone number to make a complaint or file a complaint online. III. Housing Discrimination A. Types Ms. Sherrod commented there is a lot of discrimination in housing and some of the ways one can be discriminated against can be easily overlooked by the public. An example could be landlords looking for tenants who screen telephone calls when prospective tenants call. In this way, the landlord can control who he/she rents to. Gertrude Sullivan commented the City was discriminating against the MLK area because the residents do not think they are getting their fair share. Her feelings were monies were allocated but then used for something else and nothing occurred in the area. Keturah Joseph felt there were subtle ways to discriminate. As it pertained to Ms. Sullivan's comments, Ms. Joseph explained that for 20 years, promises were made by the City but no development occurred. She recalled hearing at a City Commission meeting that now was not the right time to develop the Heart of Boynton because of the market. She noted there has been infill housing and assistance by the City to obtain housing, but nothing happened in 20 years and she expressed the issue should be reviewed. Ms. Sherrod felt the City Commission was an open forum and felt the questions and concerns should be brought there as the Commissioners were the decision makers. Ms. Sherrod agreed this concern should be added to the list. Hanna Matras, Planner, explained the City operates under the County's Fair Housing Ordinance. When asked if the City should have its own ordinance, there was discussion it would be good to have its own, but as long as they complied with the County's, it would be sufficient. Ms. Joseph explained she was unaware the City used the County's Ordinance. B. Prevalence 2 Meeting Minutes Fair Housing Public Hearing Boynton Beach, FL November 30, 2010 Staff created a housing survey and distributed it. Information on fair housing was posted on the City's website and when the software was adjusted, the survey would be placed there as well. Staff distributed fair housing posters to all City-owned facilities, to churches, day-care centers and others. The City compiled data from three agencies in Palm Beach County that deal with fair housing issues. They were the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County Office of Economic Opportunity, and the Fair Housing Center of the Palm Beaches. The Fair Housing Center compiles data specifically for Boynton Beach, and the other two entities compile data for the County. The data was from 2004 to 2010. The Fair Housing Center provided information specifically for the City of Boynton Beach advising there were only 38 complaints in Boynton Beach during 2005 to 2010. The majority of the complaints pertained to racial discrimination and then age discrimination. The Legal Aid Society and Office of Economic Opportunity received 375 complaints county-wide. There were 366 complaints reported by the Legal Aid Society. Ms. Sherrod questioned the number of complaints received and noted Palm Beach County has 1.2 million people. There were many ways to discriminate. She thought the number was low. C, Reasons Discussion followed the public does not know what discrimination is or where to make a complaint. The City does not educate the residents what housing discrimination is. There are no Public Service Announcements (PSAs) on the matter and there was nothing on BBTV. Public education on the issue was suggested. Suki deJung, 2076 SW 14th Street, taught at Boynton Beach Community High School and advised she was aware the students did not come from adequate housing. She suggested the school be used as an avenue to educate the public. By using the School's system, and having the students fill out a form for their parents, the City may be able to obtain more accurate information. Ms. Sherrod had considered approaching day care centers, and agreed the high school may be a better avenue to pursue. The survey was published in Creole and Spanish and youth could fill out the survey for their parents. A similar program known as Lifetime was used at the high school, and Ms. deJung agreed to try to assist staff with obtaining the information. D. Awareness of Remedies Lack of funding was an issue but Ms. Sherrod noted there are federal grants offered to non-profit agencies that provide fair housing education and outreach, and she agreed to research grants further to try to obtain funds for the program. Ms. Sherrod advised she 3 Meeting Minutes Fair Housing Public Hearing Boynton Beach, FL November 30, 2010 has seen discrimination with realtors, banks, developers and others. Applicants are often steered by realtors. Staff was doing everything it could to address the issue. Ms. deJung suggested contacting the high school principal. While information can be placed at City facilities, patrons are not necessarily the real working class and it was thought the high school would be a more accurate indicator. Ms. Joseph suggested the churches be given the information. Ms. Sherrod explained they sent letters and flyers to all the churches on a wide variety of issues and would follow up and visit the churches as opposed to relying on the ministers. Including information in church bulletins was suggested because people read them. Some churches also had websites and could post a PSA online. Ms. Sherrod reiterated there are many kinds of discrimination and it would be helpful if they could find a marketing tool to get the word out. Ms. Sullivan inquired about having a representative at her March Homeowners Association meeting. Ms. Sherrod acknowledged the HOAs have newsletters. Ms. deJung suggested the HOA's insert flyers in their newsletters. She inquired if the City receives any free air time with the cable supplier. While it was recognized the City has BBTV, staff was unsure of what was available from the cable providers. IV. Impediments to fair housing Another obstacle discussed was that when individuals know they are discriminated against, they are afraid to step forward, sometimes due to past experiences. Additionally, many residents are new to the country and do not know where to go to complain. Ms. Sherrod commented it was important for individuals to know there have been several lawsuits. Discussion turned to some of the reasons why discrimination occurred. The following issues were noted: ~ There is a lack of education ~ There is a need for Public Service Announcements ~ There is a need to make presentations about the issue ~ Students could make an informative skit on the issue for BBTV Impediments were common because of the lack of education and misinformation and a suggestion was made that the City be as aggressive as possible. Housing discrimination was a national problem. Ms. Sherrod also acknowledged one item not discussed was affordability. Individuals may be discriminated against because housing prices were out of reach, the location of the home in relation to schools, transportation, and employment. 4 Meeting Minutes Fair Housing Public Hearing Boynton Beach, FL November 30, 2010 v. Recommendations to Reduce Impediments Ms. Sherrod advised the City of Boynton Beach has taken a positive approach to affordable housing and has been assertive with allowing individuals to live where they want to and to assist them with what they need. The City does not steer individuals away from some areas and into others. Ms. Sherrod was a strong advocate for mixed- income and mixed-occupation communities. One community should not house only one income group and she reported the City has a good record in that regard. Ms. Joseph complimented the Community Improvement Division and advised they have done a tremendous job in fostering housing and assisting individuals. She commented the Heart of Boynton was an area left undeveloped and felt it was overlooked. If the City, in general, took the direction the Community Improvement Division has, she opined they would be further along. There are some areas that do need improvement. To reduce impediments, a suggestion was made to loop the PSAs on the TV in the City Hall lobby and posting the survey online on the City's website. The water bills are sent to nearly every resident (excluding apartment occupants), and information could be included with the bills. There was agreement the more residents reached, the better. Employees receive paychecks and could receive information with them. Ms. Sherrod agreed to investigate the requirements to access the City's marquee. Ms. Sherrod commented the group in attendance was small, but the input received was good. Staff would be following up on the suggestions and she invited the attendees to contact her at work with any other comments they may have. She provided her contact information. Staff has referred individuals with complaints in the past and the comments received from the meeting were very helpful. Ms. Sherrod thanked the attendees for participating and closed the meeting at 7:08 p.m. tCt-tLuLi'10L ~^'-GV Catherine Cherry a Recording Secretary 010510 5