Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Certificate Of Preference topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community leaders press OCII to extend Certificate of Preference indefinitely; commission continues decision to Dec. 15
Summary
Dozens of callers and commissioners urged the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure to make the Certificate of Preference (COP) program indefinite and expand outreach and inheritability; the commission continued formal action to a Dec. 15 meeting to allow staff time to gather legal and operational information.
Dozens of community members and several OCII commissioners pressed the commission on Dec. 1 to extend and strengthen the Certificate of Preference (COP) program that gives priority to households displaced by mid-20th-century redevelopment.
Pam Sim, OCII’s senior development specialist, and Sonia McDaniel, the COP coordinator, presented the annual COP report and described outreach and operational limits: OCII reported 884 active COP holders engaged with MOHCD records, 3 COP holders were housed in OCII developments during the fiscal year, and staff plan to issue a request for proposals to retain a consultant to locate displaced individuals and update contact information.
Public callers representing community organizations urged stronger action. "I think that the, it should be extended indefinitely," said Nambula O'Meara, an activist and local club leader, summarizing multiple callers’ requests for an open-ended program extension and more aggressive outreach to descendants of displaced households. Other callers, including nonprofit outreach coordinators and community activists, described the long-term harms of displacement and asked OCII to remove the program’s sunset date and to broaden eligibility and outreach.
Commissioner Linda Brackett framed the request in historical context and legal terms and asked the commission to consider removing the end date and increasing inheritability for descendants. "The time is always right to do what's right, and justice too long delayed is justice denied," Brackett said, urging a permanent remedy and stronger outreach.
Vice Chair Rosales and other commissioners expressed support for pursuing broader changes while also seeking more information. Staff and commission members discussed prior studies, statutory constraints and potential next steps. Director Sasse said OCII has prioritized the work and is partnering with the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) and the city to explore transfer or operational changes that might provide greater flexibility.
Rather than vote on an immediate extension or the specific amendment Commissioner Brackett proposed, the commission agreed to continue the COP action to a time‑certain meeting on Dec. 15, 2020, so staff can assemble additional legal analysis and an operational work plan. The continuance passed on a 4‑0 roll call. Staff said they will issue an RFP this week for a consultant to help locate and update contact information for COP holders and return with further recommendations.
The continuation leaves open the immediate policy question about indefinite extension and inheritability while creating a deadline for staff reporting and additional public input.
What’s next: OCII will return to the commission on Dec. 15 with additional information and staff recommendations; meanwhile, staff will issue the consultant RFP and continue coordination with MOHCD.
