Council places HOC safety and resident-service requests on reconciliation list; Cider Mill balconies prioritized

Council members and Housing Opportunities Commission officials discussed a set of operating and capital requests for HOC during a continued FY26 budget work session, and the committee recommended placing several items on the council—s reconciliation list for later action.

The PHP committee recommended placing two tranches of $120,000 each on the reconciliation list to fund two additional full-time resident counselors at senior sites and a separate $120,000 tranche for an additional resident counselor at Cider Mill Apartments. The committee also recommended breaking HOC's Cider Mill balcony capital request into several tranches (three tranches of $500,000 and one tranche of $550,000) and a separate $250,000 tranche for security and lighting improvements, all to be considered on reconciliation.

Why it matters: HOC officials and council members described Cider Mill as a large property with urgent safety needs. Chelsea Andrews, president of the Housing Opportunities Commission, framed the requests as part of resident services and capital needs support: "Want to just express my appreciation to the PHP committee for the support that you continue to provide to HOC". HOC staff said the Cider Mill property has 864 units, 345 with balconies, and that 40 of those balconies are in "severe need of repair and or replacement." HOC estimated that a single tranche could address about 10 third-floor balconies, with third-floor repairs prioritized for safety and to restore use of lower-floor balconies.

Supporting details and council questions: HOC requested $360,000 to fund three resident counselors at senior sites; the committee recommended two of those positions (two $120,000 tranches) for the reconciliation list and supported a $120,000 request specifically for a counselor at Cider Mill. Davita Riley, vice president of resident services at HOC, told the council, "we have 22 resident counselors that are serving 57 properties" and said that, if the council approved fewer than all requested counselors, HOC would "reassess our portfolio and think about where that counselor is most needed" and potentially rotate counselors among properties.

Council members pressed HOC on operational detail and alternatives. Councilmember Veil asked whether counselors live on-site; HOC replied they do not. Councilmember Jawando endorsed splitting the Cider Mill capital request into tranches so at least some balconies could be repaired if full funding is not available. Councilmember Lukey emphasized the health-and-safety significance of third-floor balconies because of height and children living at the complex.

Security and lighting: HOC representatives asked for $250,000 to improve lighting and install cameras in breezeways and other areas. HOC said calls for service had dropped from an average of 54 per month to 18 per month after prior investments and partnership with police, but that breezeways and lighting remained problem spots; HOC said the $250,000 would fund cameras and lighting improvements.

Elizabeth House demolition: The committee recommended placing $1,500,000 for the Elizabeth House demolition on the reconciliation list. Staff said the executive declined to include that additional funding in the CIP and that HOC currently covers demolition costs on a line of credit. Council members and staff said they continue to explore alternatives, including potential interest-free loans through the Housing Initiative Fund (HIF) or HOME/CDBG options, but that no alternative had been finalized.

The committee put the HOC items on the reconciliation list rather than approving them immediately; council members said they expect further discussion during reconciliation votes later in the budget process.

Ending: Council members and HOC leaders said they will continue to work through funding alternatives and prioritization during reconciliation, with HOC staff ready to provide further breakdowns of how tranches would be spent and which balconies would be addressed first.