Board of Commissioners
The Seattle Housing Authority is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners, two of whom are housing authority residents. The Mayor of Seattle appoints the board members, subject to confirmation by the Seattle City Council.
The Commissioners are responsible for approving the agency's annual budget and for setting policy. Seattle Housing Authority's Executive Director serves the Board.
The Board of Commissioners can be reached by mail, phone, or fax:
Seattle Housing Authority
190 Queen Anne Ave N
P.O. Box 19028
Seattle, WA 98109-1028
206-615-3501 (Tel)
206-615-3504 (Fax)
Regular Board meetings are usually held on the third Monday of the month. Informal Board briefings are usually held on the second Tuesday of the month. Agendas are normally published the prior week. Meetings are sometimes cancelled if there is no official business for the Board to attend to.
The Regular Board Meeting will be held Monday, June 17 at 5:00 p.m. in the Jesse Epstein Conference Room, First Floor at 190 Queen Anne Avenue North in Seattle.
Public Comment
Consent Agenda:
1. Approval by Board:
- Approval of Minutes from Regular Board Briefing of June 11, 2013 and Regular Board Meeting of May 20, 2013.
- Authorization to Pay Outstanding Obligations of Salaries and Claims for the Period May 1, 2013 through May 31, 2013.
Regular Agenda:
2. Resolution Authorizing the Lease of the Authority's Existing Leschi House Project to Leschi House LLLP, Authorizing Loans to Leschi House LLLP, Approving the Execution and Delivery of Documents Relating to Redevelopment of the Leschi House Project, and Determining Related Matters. (Resolution No. 5037)
3. Resolution Providing for the Issuance of Bonds in the Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $10 Million to Make a Loan to Leschi House LLLP, a Washington Limited Liability Limited Partnership of which the Authority Is the Sole General Partner, to Provide Part of the Funds with which to Rehabilitate and Construct an Apartment Complex to Provide Housing for Low-Income Persons in the City of Seattle, Washington. (Resolution No. 5038)
4. Resolution Authorizing the Executive Director or His Designee to Sign HUD-1044 Forms, Titled "Assistance Award/Amendment" to Approve the "Public Safety Enhancement" (PSE) Addendum to the FY2010/FY2011 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Agreement. (Resolution No. 5039)
5. Executive Director's Report.
5. Adjournment.
Sign language and communication material in alternate forms and languages can be arranged given sufficient notice to Phone Number, 206-615-3501 or TDD Number, 1-800-833-6384.
Board Resolution votes
| Resolution | Passed | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution 5039 Resolution Authorizing the Executive Director or His Designee to Sign HUD-1044 Forms, Titled "Assistance Award/Amendment" to Approve the "Public Safety Enhancement" (PSE) Addendum to the FY2010/FY2011 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Agreement. Voted 6/17/2013 |
Yes, 6-0 | Littel - Yes Gibson - Yes Ashkir - Absent Martinez - Yes Min - Yes Morrison - Yes Thiele - Yes |
| Resolution 5038 Resolution Providing for the Issuance of Bonds in the Principal Amount of Not to Exceed $10 Million to Make a Loan to Leschi House LLLP, a Washington Limited Liability Limited Partnership of which the Authority Is the Sole General Partner, to Provide Part of the Funds with which to Rehabilitate and Construct an Apartment Complex to Provide Housing for Low-Income Persons in the City of Seattle, Washington. Voted 6/17/2013 |
Yes, 6-0 | Littel - Yes Gibson - Yes Ashkir - Absent Martinez - Yes Min - Yes Morrison - Yes Thiele - Yes |
| Resolution 5037 Resolution Authorizing the Lease of the Authority's Existing Leschi House Project to Leschi House LLLP, Authorizing Loans to Leschi House LLLP, Approving the Execution and Delivery of Documents Relating to Redevelopment of the Leschi House Project, and Determining Related Matters. Voted 6/17/2013 |
Yes, 6-0 | Littel - Yes Gibson - Yes Ashkir - Absent Martinez - Yes Min - Yes Morrison - Yes Thiele - Yes |
| See previous resolution votes » |
Nora Gibson, Chair
Commissioner Gibson is executive director of a nonprofit organization which provides adult day health services in the Pacific Northwest. Her 30-year career has focused on providing community-based long-term care for aging adults.
Gibson is affiliated with a number of professional organizations and is currently a board member of the National Pioneer Network, the Brain Injury Association of Washington, Alzheimer's Association and Washington Adult Day Services Association.
Doug Morrison, Vice-Chair
Commissioner Morrison has been a resident of public housing for more than 20 years. He has held several offices on the Resident Action Council, and served as president of this resident advocacy organization from 2005 to 2010. He has also chaired the Joint Policy Advisory Committee, a resident group that advises Seattle Housing staff on policy changes.
Morrison served for ten years in the U.S. Air Force and worked as a nurse and a substance abuse counselor prior to retirement. He volunteered as a Master Gardener, as a docent at the Seattle Aquarium and with the Seattle Symphony.
Aser Ashkir
Aser Ashkir works as a Youth and Family Program Director for a local nonprofit organization that provides tutoring and other programs to improve graduation rates and academic performance for East African communities. Previous positions include work as an Employment and Training Program Supervisor for a multi-service agency serving low-income people and as an ESL and Employment Case Manager for a refugee resettlement office. He volunteers as a tutor, and maintains memberships in several organizations that assist immigrants and refugees.
Commissioner Ashkir supports the goals of Seattle Housing and as a resident of one of the agency's largest HOPE VI communities, he has developed a greater understanding of our community needs. He is a graduate of Ohio State University and holds a degree in economics.
John Littel
Commissioner Littel is the political director for a Northwest trade union. He was previously assistant to the executive secretary of the Seattle Building Trades Council where he was responsible for negotiations and labor relations at the Seattle and King County Housing Authorities.
Littel also serves as vice chairperson for the Washington State Correction Industries, is a board member on the King County Workforce Development Council, is chairperson for the Seattle School District School-to-Work Advisory Council, and part of the Washington Environmental Council. He recently served as a member of the Yesler Terrace Citizen Review Committee.
Juan Martinez
Commissioner Martinez most recently worked as a Constituent Liaison for a Seattle Congressional office. He formerly served as the state field director for a community organization where he advocated for a progressive tax system to benefit working families. Martinez also spent five years working as a case manager for the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.
Martinez graduated from Evergreen State College with a concentration in public policy and has a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Seattle University. He also serves on the board of directors of the Seattle Central Community College Foundation.
Kollin Min
Commissioner Min is a senior program officer for a charitable foundation in Seattle where he works on issues related to ending family homelessness. He was previously director of the Washington State office of Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit that finances affordable housing and community development.
Min graduated from Yale University with a law degree from the University of Washington. He has worked in government and politics as well as in organizations supporting the environment and green building.
Deborah Canavan Thiele
Deborah Canavan Thiele is a Senior Program Manager for a national organization that works to improve opportunities for the homeless and other vulnerable families through supportive housing. She has held previous positions in multi-family lending at the Seattle Office of Housing, and in homeless housing initiatives at the King County Housing Authority.
Commissioner Thiele holds a degree in communications and professional writing. She is an accomplished public speaker and trainer for multiple government and nonprofit organizations.
Andrew Lofton, Executive Director
Mr. Lofton became Executive Director of the Seattle Housing Authority on September 1, 2012, and leads strategic planning and the day-to-day operations of the organization. Prior to his promotion to Executive Director, he held the position of Deputy Executive Director--Finance and Administration for more than eight years.
As Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Lofton oversaw Seattle Housing's Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance and Budget, and Housing Choice Voucher functions, including the development and management of the agency's annual budget. He has also worked closely with representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regarding the oversight of Seattle Housing's Moving to Work agreement, regulatory reform, and funding issues.
During Mr. Lofton's nearly 40 years of public service, his many leadership positions have included Chief of Departmental Operations for Mayor Greg Nickels; Deputy Superintendent for Customer Service with Seattle City Light; Deputy Chief of Staff for Mayor Norm Rice; and Budget Director for the City of Seattle. He also served as Deputy Director for the Washington State Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.
Mr. Lofton received his Baccalaureate from the University of Puget Sound and did his graduate work in Urban Planning at the University of Washington.
