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Council members press HRD on sharing scoring details and outreach after applicants raise concerns
Summary
Council members and applicants asked HRD to clarify whether scoring explanations can be shared before council votes; HRD promised more outreach webinars and follow-up with Office of Contracting and Procurement.
Council members pressed Housing Revitalization Department staff on whether applicants can be given detailed reasons for low scores before council votes on funding recommendations.
President Pro Tem James Tate asked if applicants could receive score explanations prior to the council's approval vote to reduce meritless appeals and help organizations improve. Tara Lindsner of the Housing Revitalization Department said precedent has been not to discuss scores with applicants before council action but that HRD will follow up with the Office of Contracting and Procurement (OCP) and the Office of the Comptroller to confirm whether that practice can change.
Chris Gulak, CPC staff, told council that the chart including mayoral recommendations is normally released when the mayor is finished and that staff can offer to share information "if we're allowed to share the information" once the mayor has signed off. Gulak said staff can invite applicants to request explanations after the chart is released.
Applicants and public commenters urged more clarity and earlier communication. Nina Davis, executive director of All Things Women, told the committee she and other first-time applicants found parts of the application unclear and said missing documentation cost her organization scoring points; she said, "we were just 4 points shy of the 80" and that some form guidance led to confusion about which financial documents would affect scoring.
HRD said it will increase outreach webinars for prospective applicants to a minimum of three per year beginning July 1, 2025, and offered technical assistance on zoning and compliance for organizations seeking buildings for emergency shelter. Council members asked staff to create clearer pre-bid materials that call out the appeals process and required documents and to develop a regular reporting template on homelessness numbers for council.
No formal rule change was adopted at the meeting; council directed staff to check with OCP and report back on whether score explanations can be shared earlier in the process and instructed HRD to meet with non-funded applicants after awards are finalized to review missing documents and scoring.
