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July 20, 2022 Regular Board Meeting Minutes

I. Regular Meeting
The Chair began by asking everyone for a moment of silent prayer and/or personal meditation; those in attendance were also asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance; recital of the agency's mission statement followed. 

The Chair began by asking everyone for a moment of silent prayer and/or personal meditation; those in attendance were also asked to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance; recital of the agency's mission statement followed.

II. Minutes
A motion to approve the Minutes of the regular Board Meeting of May 18, 2022 was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins and seconded by Commissioner Homans: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Present
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes 

III. Public Forum (3 minutes limit allotted per speaker)

  • None to come before this forum.

IV. Employees of the Month

  • Administration - Lashonna Chandler
  • Properties - Yida Urtiaga Alvarez

V. Special Recognition (Geraldine Barnes Award)

  • Recipient - Jessica Figueroa

VI. Resolutions
The Sr. VP/CFO, Ms. Susi Begazo-McGourty presented resolution 2022-4229; during her presentation Commissioners decided to hold this resolution and to be brought back to the Board at next month's meeting.  

  • 2022-4229: A resolution to ratify the annual budget for fiscal year ending March 31, 2022, as presented by the President/CEO, Jerome D. Ryans, for review by the board of commissioners.

The Director of Facilities, Mr. Don Haggerty presented resolution 2022-4230. 

  • 2022-4230: A resolution approving the execution of a contract agreement with Southern Roofing Company in response to invitation for bid FY22-IFB-01 - roof replacement for the Tampa Housing Authority Administrative Building.

A motion was made by Commissioner Homans and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli:

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes 

The Sr. VP/COO, Mr. Leroy Moore presented resolutions 2022-4231 through 2022-4235. 

  • 2022-4231: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO of The Housing Authority of The City of Tampa (THA) to execute the first amendment to amended and restated limited liability company operating agreement of Central Park Development Group, LLC. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Homans and seconded by Commissioner Salter Liggins:

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

  • 2022-4232: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO of The Housing Authority of The City of Tampa (THA) to negotiate and execute a purchase and sale agreement on behalf of Central Park Development Group, LLC (CPDGLLC) with MCRT Investments, LLC for the sale of lot 13 at Encore.

A motion was made by Commissioner Hardwick and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

  • 2022-4233: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO and/or Chief Operating Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa, Florida to execute closing documents for the sale of Parcel T5.2 at West River, located in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Hardwick and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

  • 2022-4234: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa, Florida (declarant) to execute the third amendment to the declaration of covenants, restrictions and easements for Encore Tampa. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Homans and seconded by Commissioner Hardwick: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

  • 2022-4235: A resolution authorizing the President/CEO of the Housing Authority of the City of Tampa, Florida, as seller, to execute the fourth amendment to the amended and restated contract for purchase and sale of real property with Central Park Development Group, LLC (CPDGLLC), as buyer, for Encore Tampa.

A motion was made by Commissioner Homans and seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli:  

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

VII. President/CEO's Report

Finance and Related Entities
Ms. Begazo-McGourty stated that the Finance report included only the third-party financial statements as the agency was at its yearend and staff was preparing financial statements for HUD due June 15, 2022. 

Operations and Real Estate Development 
For the first time at Encore, everything was officially built or under contract, stated Mr. Moore as he began his update for Board members. The actual contracted or sold price was currently $34.8 million for all lots at Encore, added the COO. This Encore revenue stream made it easy to pursue other development such as West River.

Commissioner Salter Liggins commended the staff for finding the right buyers for some of the sold lots at Encore, as this effort was well rewarded. 

Other Encore updates included lots 5, 12 and 13 with 16 and 18-story Water Street quality buildings, both with ownership condo opportunities, that include rooftop restaurants as well as a grocery store for lot 13. Besides Legacy and Navara buildings, which continue to lease-up, Mr. Moore's updates included status of a lawsuit against the original contractor and the bonding company for the Tempo at Encore. 

In response to Commissioner Dachepalli's inquiry regarding status of Encore's retail, Mr. Moore responded that there was still retail space available at Encore. Plans to generate interest to fill available retail space will include events at Perry Harvey Park and within the Encore site, as well as collaborations between developers adjacent to Encore lots along Nebraska Avenue. 

West River updates included the upcoming Canopy groundbreaking celebration of two buildings, 198 units, scheduled for June 29. 

Management and maintenance concerns for some of the occupied buildings at West River were being addressed. 

West River T4 Phase 2 funding will be pursued hoping to close by end of year or early next year. The grocery store at West River was scheduled to close June 30 and the market rate building may be closing in early August.  

Commercial parcels along Main Street had generated positives inquiries that resulted in one letter of intent.

Robles Park Village relocation courses were progressing with online administered training; in-person classes will begin mid-July. Bus tours of all 29 THA properties began Friday June 10 and will continue weekly. 

Chairman Cloar reminded other Board members and meeting attendees of two related entities meetings immediately following this meeting.

The Director of Human Resources, Mr. Kenneth Christie reported on the agency's plan to fully open to the public on June 21st, he also provided a COVID infections update, as well as Juneteenth observance now a national holiday. 

The Director of Program and Property Services, Ms. Stephanie Brown-Gilmore introduced members of her staff beginning with Assistant Manager Mr. James McQuay, Family Self-Sufficiency Manager Ms. Janice Damanze and YouthBuild Manager Mr. John Arroyo; each provided presentations of the programs available within the PPS department. Assistant Director Mr. Kenneth Bryant was available for questions.

VIII. Legal Matters

  • None to come before this forum.

IX. Notices and Updates
Director of Community Affairs, Ms. Lillian Stringer provided additional details regarding the upcoming June 29 groundbreaking ceremony of Canopy at West River, such as Commissioner Hardwick accepting the role of Mistress of Ceremony for the event. The director also informed Commissioners regarding efforts to reengage former THA Commissioners to participate in future THA community events.

X. Unfinished Business
Chairman Cloar updated Commissioners on the status of the CEO evaluation process, and asked Attorney Ricardo Gilmore to provide additional information for completion of the process. 

Given Mr. Ryans' stellar performance and the fact that he had not received a merit increase in the last two years, a motion was made by Commissioner Salter Liggins for a 7% salary increase retroactive to April 1, 2022, seconded by Commissioner Dachepalli: 

Commissioner Hardwick - Yes
Commissioner Cloar - Yes
Commissioner Homans - Yes
Commissioner Dachepalli - Yes
Commissioner Hemani - Yes
Commissioner Salter Liggins - Yes

XI. New Business

  • None to come before this forum.

XII. Adjournment
There being no further business to come before this Board, the Chair declared this meeting of the THA Board of Commissioners adjourned at 10:58 a.m. 

Approved this 20th day of July 2022.