AHA-2022/12/20ANAHEIM HOUSING AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING OF DECEMBER 20, 2022
The Anaheim Housing Authority regular meeting of December 20, 2022 was called to order at
5:09 P.M. in the Council Chamber of Anaheim City Hall located at 200 S. Anaheim Blvd. in joint
session with the Anaheim City Council. The meeting notice, agenda, and related materials were
duly posted on December 15, 2022.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairperson Ashleigh E. Aitken and Authority Members Jose Diaz,
Carlos A. Leon, Natalie Rubalcava, Stephen Faessel, and Natalie
Meeks [One Authority Member vacancy]
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Jim Vanderpool, City Attorney Robert Fabela, and
Secretary Theresa Bass
ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO THE AGENDAS: None
PUBLIC COMMENTS all agenda items:
No in -person or electronically submitted public comments related to the Anaheim Housing
Authority agenda.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
Council Member Diaz highlighted Freddy's Red Tacos, an immigrant -owned District 1 small
business. He noted that the family originally started with a taco truck, now has 11 restaurants in
Los Angeles County, and chose Anaheim for their first Orange County location. He shared that
they serve tacos, birrias, and tostadas at their location at 2937 West Ball Road. He appreciated
that as this and other businesses open on and near to Beach Blvd., the needed recovery and
change for the area gets closer. He encouraged everyone to support local businesses and enjoy
excellent food, prices, and being welcomed as family.
Council Member Leon provided opening remarks in Spanish. He thanked the community and
City staff for the many events and meetings during the last two weeks since the swearing in
ceremony. He reported that he met with the Housing and Community Development Department
to discuss homelessness, a priority in District 2, and looked forward to a future tour of housing
facilities and how to address the situation and provide resources to those in need. He
congratulated various car clubs on their participation in the Impala Car Club toy drive and car
show, their support of the community, and their efforts to get toys to kids. He reported his
attendance at the Savanna High School band's breakfast fundraiser and thanked the teacher,
students, and boosters for their efforts. He shared that he attended the Families Together
Christmas Together annual event at the Anaheim Convention Center where thousands of kids
and families received gifts, food, and services and congratulated the Families Together team for
a great event and for already working on next year's event. He gave a shout -out to Ms.
Fukumoto and Dale Jr. High School for the renaming of the science building in her honor, noting
it was a well -deserved honor and that he stopped by to present a certificate to her and her
family. He noted that he was working with staff on future items to further discuss early next year,
including a review of the City's Charter and reviving the Tech Scholar Program to provide
technology and internet access to Anaheim students. He thanked City staff for the last two
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weeks, looked forward to collaborating with Departments Heads, and moving the City forward.
He wished everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year.
Council Member Rubalcava highlighted and displayed photographs of the events she had
participated in over the last two weeks including the Families Together Orange County winter
wonderland event at the Anaheim Convention Center where they gave out approximately
30,000 toys to families in need, fed families, and provided entertainment and resources for
families, noting that Congressman Lou Correa was also present. She also reported her
attendance at a community posada in District 3 to benefit underrepresented individuals in the
Bush/Rose/Balsam areas underrepresented individuals. She acknowledged Sofia Romero for
championing the event, Anaheim High School graduate Sylvia Albayati and her daughter, a
trailblazing female baseball player, and David from the local Vons who played Santa Clause.
She noted that she and Council Member Leon partnered with local businesswoman, Paulette
Martinez, on a toy drive benefiting the Anaheim YMCA and expressed disappointment that Ms.
Martinez's business, Azules Coffee, went out of business due to inflation. Council Member
Rubalcava stated it would be a priority to help local small businesses as closures affect workers
and the community. She further shared her participation at a Northgate Gonzalez event, where
the system of stores provided approximately 40,000 toys to those in need, and thanked the
company for the annual event, as well as an event at the VFW with Black Chamber of
Commerce CEO Bobby McDonald, Congresswoman Young Kim, and Frank Garcia, owner of
Casa Garcia, in conjunction with the Disabled Veterans of America. She reported that she
provided her first recognition to Vibrant Minds, a local charter school, for their participation in
democracy by hosting a non -partisan candidate forum during the election season. She thanked
Lauren Torres for assisting her with the certificate and Mike Lyster and his team for assisting
with her presentation.
Council Member Faessel requested the meeting adjourn in memory of two former Anaheim
employees who had recently passed away: 1) Patricia "Patti" Faroane, a 23-year Public Utilities
Customer Service Representative, Katella High School graduate, and District 5 resident for
many years, and 2) Catherine St. Clair, a 33-year librarian who worked at each of the City's
branch libraries and passed away quickly following her recent retirement. He reported his
attendance at the Sycamore Junior High School Public Safety Academy's first annual pancake
breakfast, Mayor Aitken's celebration at Casa Garcia, and the Orange County Family Justice
Center's (OCFJC) adopt -a -family event where 128 families were provided with gifts. He noted
his wife, Susan, serves on the OCFJC board and thanked Lt. Rod Duckwitz for his two years of
leadership on the board and wished him good luck with his promotion. He thanked Mayor Aitken
for the opportunity to speak in her absence at the annal Visit Anaheim event, noted his
attendance at the Centennial Park Christmas Holiday event organized by Erica Robles with the
United Across Borders Foundation where over 1,000 residents were served food, services, and
toys, he was honored to be invited to the District 3 event of Sofia Romero's Bush Street posada,
and noted his attendance at the Families Together Christmas Together event at the Anaheim
Convention Center.
Council Member Meeks thanked City staff and departments for their involvement with various
toy drives and Christmas events for those in need. She stated her support for Council Member
Leon's focus on homelessness and believed Council needs to the picture of Anaheim better to
move forward and direct efforts.
Mayor Aitken encouraged local non-profit organizations to let the City know of upcoming events
so that Council Members could support and participate. She noted that the application process
for boards and commission is open and encouraged residents to apply to serve on these
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advisory bodies to the Council, leadership pipeline, hear from community about pressing issues.
She shared that she was working with staff to develop a workshop/retreat for the City Council to
discuss common priorities to help guide staff. She announced that she would be convening a
Mayor's Advisory Council with the assistance of Council Member Faessel. She reported her
participation at an event at Cambridge Virtual Academy with Council Member Leon tour of the
amazing work they are doing with varied learners as well as the Agricultural Farm at Magnolia
High School; thanked the Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department for their Sparks of Love
campaign, their event at Station 10, and her shopping with Chief Russell at Target, and
encouraged residents to donate toys at any fire station through December 24; and reported she
visited Washington, DC with City Manager Jim Vanderpool where they were able to meet with
the White House and the Secretaries of Transportation, Labor, and Housing and Urban
Development to leverage State and Federal grants and programs through partnerships to
address the City's issues.
CITY MANAGER'S UPDATE:
City Manager Jim Vanderpool highlighted the website
[www.anaheim.net/boardsandcommissionsl where residents can obtain information and submit
an application to serve on a board or commission and referred residents to the City Clerk's
office at 714-765-5166 for additional information or if they had any questions.
He noted that Anaheim Public Utilities completed its 81h year of participating in a mentoring
program offered in partnership with the Anaheim Union High School District. About 30 students
from Anaheim, Katella, and Western High Schools attended sessions that provided guidance
with resume building, mock interviews, tours of utility facilities, and soft skills development. As
their final project, students gave presentations about their career goals and what they learned
through the program.
He reported that the Economic Development Department has launched a Storefront
Improvement Program that offers property owners and business owners of commercial
properties grants for the beautification and improvement of retail storefronts, with grants from
$10,000 to up to $100,000 available. For more information and details, please visit the
Economic Development Department webpage, www.anaheim.net/economicdeveloj-..ment or
contact the City's Business Development team at (714) 765-4285.
Mr. Vanderpool congratulated the Anaheim Convention Center for being recently recognized as
the best convention center in the country for customer service and on -site support, presented by
Exhibitor Magazine.
On behalf of the City's 3,000 employees, he wished everyone a safe and happy holiday season
and a Happy New Year.
CONSENT CALENDAR: At 6:16 P.M., the consent calendar was considered.
MOTION: Authority Member Diaz moved to approve the consent calendar, in accordance with
reports, certifications, and recommendations furnished each Authority Member and as listed on
the consent calendar, seconded by Authority Member Leon. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES — 5
(Chairperson Aitken and Authority Members Diaz, Leon, Faessel, and Meeks); NOES — 0;
ABSTAIN —1 (Authority Member Rubalcava). Motion carried.
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AHA177 1. Receive and file the Fiscal Year 2021/22 Housing Successor Annual Report and
authorize the Executive Director of the Anaheim Housing Authority, or designee, to
submit the Annual Report as a part of the City's Annual Report on the City of Anaheim's
General Plan submitted to the State Department of Housing and Community
Development pursuant to Government Code Section 65400, and post the report on the
City of Anaheim's website.
AHA177 2. Approve minutes of the Housing Authority meeting of November 1, 2022.
ADJOURNMENT:
With no further business to conduct, without objection, Chairperson Aitken adjourned the
meeting of the Anaheim Housing Authority at 6:17 P.M.
Ily submitted,
eresa ass, CMC
Greta , Anaheim Housing Authority