 to order. And Ms. Erica, if you could note that all of the committee members are present. The first thing that we have on up for discussion is an update on the community development director position. And that will be Ms. C. Gentry. I will be brief. The position is posted. We have received a handful of applications continue to promote the availability of that position, making that widespread and seeking applicants who are interested in leading this department. Lots of opportunity to make a difference in the community and really looking for the right applicant. Next, rolling right along Ms. Missy, is community development month. And is that going to be? It's going to be Charmaine. Good morning. Good morning. Community development. We have a few projects and a list of things for the month of April. We have National Community Development Week. Yeah, thank you. Have we been sent those dates because you know if you don't get on the calendar for Community Development Week? Yes. And here's a calendar of events. Just this is a draft of some of the list of projects that we have and events that we have for the month of April. Of course, the proclamation reading. We want to present that on that Tuesday, April the fourth, we're going to have proclamation. Of course, National Community Development Week, which is April the 10th through the fourth, one for a national financial literacy month, as well as financial, I mean, national fair housing month. Just had a brief meeting with Columbia International University, along with Mayor Reckham and to discuss some projects of a Columbia clean up day in conjunction collaboration with Ram serve, which is under the umbrella of CIU, along with public works, public relations and code enforcement. We're going to do a month of just Columbia cleanup. But one day, April the fifth, which will be on that Wednesday from eight to about three o'clock in collaboration with Columbia International University is going to be a list of host of volunteers. We're going to have sites located where they can go out and help clean up those sites in the different neighborhoods. And so some information will be going out to the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods as well as the neighborhood leaders to identify some of the locations that they will like clean up in their areas, not on private property, but just like tires, things of that nature that they can identify within their neighborhood to clean up. We're in the process of shooting the campaign video. We have identified the company that will be working with seven Sundays to help produce and create the faces of affordable housing video campaign video, which you requested at the last meeting. So we're in the process of creating that. We will have the video re edited from last year. Our national community development week video that we will be highlighting and showcasing on the city of Columbia well page on the week of CD Community Development week. Also on that Wednesday, April the 12th during that week, CD staff will be doing a day of service at harvest hope. The time to be determined possibly, but will be between one and three o'clock. No, that's just going to be our staff for no, it's not. But citywide was to focus more on the Columbia cleanup project for that week for that whole month. Yes. And so we're just focusing on that day of service with the community development staff staff. But citywide, it will be the Columbia cleanup project for that month where public works will be setting out bins in each district. We'll have about six districts. I mean, six bins that we know are confirmed to in each council district and they will be rotating throughout every week of the month of April. So that's just a whole effort in that April. The fifth is just to cut to kick off that. So for opportunities for the public to get involved with the big cleanup is correct. Yes. And that's where the press conference will come in that for men recommend to make that announcement on Thursday, March the 30th at 10 am at Hyatt Park. So it's going to be a press conference. And I'm sure you're going to get more details on that as well. To proceed, April the 20th CD is going to be having a home buying and financial literacy workshop that's going to be at Busby Street from 68. We are in the process of securing speakers to conduct the sessions for that. And we're going to end it with a community improvement project where we identify one neighborhood to just go in and code enforcement public works will go in and identify different things with in those communities as well. Is that similar to like a clean sweep? Exactly clean sweep. And those are the highlights for the month of April. Do you have any questions? I have a suggestion. I think that we recommend should also do a video for his clean up project. Okay. Encouraging citizens throughout the city to get involved. Some people agree with okay, like a PSA or maybe all of us since we're going to different districts. Well, I think that was the original attempt. Mm hmm. Yeah. Residents continue to grow the pride and their neighborhood. I just have a general question. Uh huh. If we ever put together a history of the Community Development Department in Columbia, when it was started, maybe some of the facts of the number of houses we've done? Well, I know a few years ago when we did the highlight for the 40th Community Development Department that we celebrate for 40 years, we do have some literature on that. Is this a significant year? Is this the 50th anniversary or the 40th? It's coming up. Um, dollar you want to walk up? Yeah, I think it's coming up. The 50th is coming up. Not sure. Good morning. Anniversary of Community Development is 2024. So it's going to be next year coming up. Well, I think that Columbia's got a really good story to tell on the 50th anniversary. I think it's one of the few cities in the state. I know that made the Community Development a revolving fun and have used money from the payback of the loans and all. And we need to highlight that. Y'all need to highlight that next year. Absolutely. And as Charmaine mentioned, we did do that for the 40th. We had a huge celebration. Yeah. For the 40th anniversary and there is information that we can, you know, we start working on that. We have a really big one for the 50th. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Mr. Deval. There was a video for the 40th. Okay. I think we really got a good story to tell. This is a good time for a good story. Good time for a good story. All right. And next we have partnership opportunities with Columbia Housing Authority. I really just wanted to follow up on two separate meetings that we've had previously. And if you all could tell me how we're how we're working. While Harrison and Marshika are getting started, in addition to the work they're going to talk about, we are working with Columbia Housing to try to pre approve applicants for home ownership opportunities going forward. So that's another opportunity for a partnership, as we are doing with our own staff and Richland one. And is that is that moving forward? That's really all I'm trying to figure out. It is moving forward. The the program to build the houses is moving forward. The houses are not under construction yet. But yes, we're still working through those. Okay, I just want to make sure because I know at one meeting, CHA wasn't exactly sure about what where they fit. And actually, that's who I wanted to be here to get their report. But we'll do it next time. And there has been some progress made since recent meeting Oh, yes, give me some good news. Well, good morning. Good morning. The good news is since our meeting a few weeks ago, Harrison, Mr. Joseph and I met with representatives from Columbia Housing to discuss a better way that we could process our applications faster. And on February the 21st, we had a very good meeting. Since the pandemic, it slowed down a little bit due to turnover in staff on both ends at Columbia Housing anti end development. But now we're we've come together and decided that instead of having applicants once they come to team and development for homeless persons to reside at Oak Hill Apartments, they would fill out applications at our office and then take a packet to Columbia Housing and fill out their application. We're now going to be doing both of those application packets at our office and submitting it to Columbia Housing, their information as well, so that the resident won't get lost in the process of Columbia Housing trying to track them down. And I'm sorry, for our committee members that have that were not a part of the other meeting, I forgot. So with our rapid shelter, one of the things that makes that will make it successful is having housing and placements for folks to go. And CD no TNCH DC has Oak Hill, which is housing for homeless, unsheltered persons. And we were just having difficulty in getting the folks approved. So I'm just checking to see we have closed that loop. So I'm sorry, that's the background that I didn't give you all. Apologize as well. No, that's it's my it's my real TN has a housing assistant payment contract with Columbia Housing for the past three decades to house homeless persons. And in order for them to reside at Oak Hill, they go through Columbia Housing to receive a voucher to reside at Oak Hill. And it has to be approved through both TN and Columbia Housing Development. So that's one of the ways we're going to fill that gap in assisting the residents with both application packets and doing the inspections instead of waiting until a person is approved with Columbia Housing, we will as soon as our apartments are ready, we will call Columbia Housing and have inspectors to come out and inspect then. And we have 90 days from that point to fill the position to fill the apartments. If we don't get those filled within the 90 days, the process starts over. So we feel that that will help speed the process up as well as sharing criminal background information because TN was pulling background information as well as Columbia Housing. So we will have the individuals to sign an agreement a consent stating that we can share that information with Columbia Housing. And that will we really believe that that will fill that gap. This sounds wonderful. It is one process. Yes. And so how many vacancies do you all have now? We currently have 10 vacancies. We have one applicant that's moving in. Well, future resident that's moving in next week. And we have six applications in process. How many units do you have? We have 30 units at Oak Hill. So that's 30 plus 50 of the tenant homes. That's 80. Well, 20 of those 30 are filled. Yes, we have. Well, I mean, we still ought to be counting them as our work on our homeless population. TNCHDC. And an update TNCHDC have merged. The CHDC is the name of the corporation. I know there's talk of changing that but but for reasons, the attorney's recommended we leave it along for just a minute. So what's what's the official name? The HDC right now. TNDC, I'm sorry, TNDC is the surviving corporation. They are officially merged. And the preferred transitional. It's permanent housing. Yes. So once they come, they say we have not had a vacancy in a while. And the only reason why we have that many vacancies is again because of the maintenance issue that we've had and and staff shorted on Columbia housing and with TN. But now that we have rapid housing, the rapid shelter involved, we're getting applications flowing in now, not only from rapid shelter, but transitions, all of our gospel mission and mercy. And I'm just curious how about how what's the average length of time that folks stay? It's like in support. Not anyone moved out in a while. Section 8 certificate. It's a project based. So I learned our that project based means the voucher stays with the property. It's not an individual voucher that the person can take with them different places. I learned that last week. Hope I repeated that well. Do you run any programs for the people that you have in your units? Supportive services. Yes, sir. Literacy program. We try to encourage persons to get out and, you know, get a job. So we do have a job, different companies that come in to speak with them. That's picking back up. And we do have Harvard's hope that comes in as well to, you know, because some of them are on fixed incomes. And we're working. We're working with the rapid shelter team to make sure that as folks transition from rapid shelter to Oak Hill, their supportive services are also remain in place. Yes, we are. Yes. Well, that's all I wanted to make sure that we close those loops. I'm sorry. Go ahead. We are doing a rad, which is a refinancing. Under the rad, if they stay for a year, they will get a housing choice voucher, but they could move. After the rad, they do have an opportunity to move with the voucher. So we'll look and see if they choose to, you know, they choose to stay if they choose to go. Housing has to be available for so that would mean that there's one person per family to have to have one bedroom. And that's the issue of the shortage. But they can go anywhere in the United States. You're working on more potential projects that this is found her spin built. Remember them? Where's going to know? But there's a funding made for that project. I was gonna say, but we put a priority on non congruent housing with the home D. R. That's my home arpa. Yes. Yes. Home arpa. So the answer will is the city has allocated funds to individual not congruent housing, which is what I consider that. What I'm glad to hear that we've they normally do. They normally do need to add that homeless services portfolio. I'm meaningful to have somewhere they can transition from rapid shelter. Wish we had 100 units. I don't have anything else. Gentlemen, do you all have anything? I wanted to ask a question. How are we doing on keeping up to date with contact information with the neighborhood, the Columbia Council of Neighborhood? Are we as remained to come back up and speak to that? I know there's been challenges in the past with as neighborhoods, officers transition. Sometimes they fail to let us know that and remain does make an effort to get I do. Or as the executive board are just individual in general, I would love to see the strength of that association grow. Yes, I know the president, Mr. John Blackheath. I won't say was ill, but he was sick the month of December. And he has some little health challenges going on. So I know that he did not have a meeting in January. The first meeting was last month had a good turnout. And they have some challenges of forward and information to some of the neighborhood leaders from his particular email distribution list. So Veronica and I are working with him to help process to alleviate the process of the information not getting to the neighborhood leaders from him directly. So I know that he's going to be working and talking to public relations to try to help him get monthly information out about upcoming meetings and things that they have planned. So we did talk about that extensively at the last meeting. They have a website. They do. I don't know how current it is. I know he worked on it a couple of months ago. It's ccn dash 803.com. If I'm not mistaken, that is the website. And Councilman Brandon, is your question specific to CCN or is it all the neighborhood? Do what role does the city play where we're just the assistance to helping them get information out, attending their meetings, and if they want to collaborate on different neighborhood events. Exactly. Yeah, just the liaison. Exactly. But they they're independent. They are. I've been asked to speak at the Wales Garden meeting coming up. And they want me to speak on the competitive grants that neighborhoods compete for in the city of Columbia. I didn't know that we had any of those. Is is it the council of neighborhood grants that they're talking about? Not no, I don't think the council of neighborhoods have any grants. The only type of grants that they usually do is around National Night Out, which are small grants like maybe 50, 75 dollars to help them to coordinate whatever they have planned for that particular Tuesday night. But we do have the Love Your Block grant, which is in place from the action grant that we've been doing over the past couple of years. But that's not competitive. They can just put in their application. We already did the first round of this year. The next one possibly will be coming up around September of this year. So they can apply for that next year. If funds are available. When is your meeting? Because we can give you some talking points. Okay. I'll give you some on the Love Your Block. Maybe send us all. Okay. Some talking points on that. Okay. And then I wanted to follow it up on Mr. Brennan's question. Do you still send like when John sent, I'm sorry, when the president sends out, do you send out to or I said work? Well, with his email chain, he does it. Usually blocked gets blocked by the city's email. And I usually don't get it until the day after he sends it out. But and that's been the problem. So that's why he wanted to we gave him the suggestion of possibly going to PR and just doing something maybe on the city website to assist him with that before some reason with his email chain is a lot of information is getting is getting blocked because I didn't get mine until a couple of days prior. Exactly. That was Mike's. But it's the truth. We have the contact information for all those neighborhoods. I do have an email distribution list and he usually run off of mine as well as some additional names that he has in his email distribution. I think he said he has around 400. So of course, he cannot do one just blast email. He will have to break those up maybe within 100 of each email to go out to persons. But that has been a challenge. And we did not notice that until last month. And I'm like, I have not gotten any emails from you. And he was like, I've been sending them out. And I'm like, they are possibly getting blocked. So it's going into spam. So a lot of people are not getting the information. Does he need mail chip? Excuse me? Does he need something like mail? Exactly. He's just trying to hit a whole bunch of people. Yes, I got you. They will have a new president when July 1. Yes. A couple of neighborhoods I've noticed and just send out our wonderful weekly email. Mm hmm. Can we can we start doing that to that list that you have? Okay, we could keep everybody engaged. Okay. I think that's what Leisha and her team. Yeah, I would like to get that in more for especially for this engagement. Okay. Yeah, we have the same list. I use mm hmm. We have the same list. Yes. As far as city weekly, I just have to run about as you see to get a further approval to where we and I think that Mr. Brennan is trying to see what we can do to help bring C C in back. But when I worked at the city, those meetings would have like 100 or so people. And I'm sure COVID impacted it and they but just different ways that we could strengthen that. Yeah, I think I think talk with generational. It's just good to get new, engaged talent, providing them providing them the information not to do it if we don't. Okay. All right. Does anyone else have anything? Well, yeah, that was my intent not but just to make sure because um, well, I think with that particular property, people have to want to stay there. But I don't know if there was another issue that she may that they may have discussed or brought up. But I do think every now and again, it would be good to have them here. Just so that we can make sure we're keeping everything flowing and hear about the wonderful things that they're doing as well. But I like the partnership that we have. And we'll address that one at the other because a lot of times too was just inform us, let us know what's going on and what we can tell folks when they email us. All right. Anything else for the good of the group? We are adjourning Miss Erica. Thank you.