East Bay city will zone in on habitability issues at affordable housing complex

OAKLEY — Tenants’ pleas for help with continuing cockroach infestations, mold and other maintenance issues at a large affordable income housing complex have prompted the Oakley City Council to agree to set up an advisory committee to find answers.

After hearing from residents on Aug. 8 and a tenant advocate on Tuesday, the council unanimously agreed to form an ad hoc committee to help sort out the issues at The Oaks on Carol Lane.

Having an advisory committee will allow council members to “take a deeper dive” into the specific issues at The Oaks, according to Councilmember Shannon Shaw who first brought up maintenance concerns to city staff last month.

The action also comes at a time when state inspectors are wrapping up an investigation after a recent visit to the site to ensure compliance. The housing complex is part of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, which subsidizes the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income tenants in exchange for tax incentives.

Inspectors from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee inspected several units and two of the apartment buildings, including one for families and another for seniors in late August. Though the report won’t be completed until later this month, officials have confirmed a roach issue there.

Earlier Tuesday Christian Daly of the state Treasury Department’s Communications Office said inspectors look at uniform physical condition standards of buildings and hand out fines depending on the violations.

“I think the eye-popper here in this case is the infestation of roaches, which would be considered a health and safety violation, which would trigger an immediate fine,” he said.

In this case, $400 per incident, he said, noting each incident would be subject to an additional $100 fine for every month is isn’t corrected, he said.

One of those who wants answers is volunteer senior advocate Mike Dupray, who has been helping bring habitability issues to light after having visited tenants and seen first-hand the conditions in several buildings, including senior apartments, at The Oaks.

On Tuesday, Dupray thanked Shaw and code enforcement for their “swift and effective response to the “serious problems” at the 500-unit affordable housing complex.

The roach infestations there “indicate a serious lack of concern by the owners enjoying the fruits of their exploitative investments,” he told the council.

“Just because buildings at the Oaks are subsidized for low and fixed incomes no one should be subjected to the seriously foul living conditions there,” Dupray added.

The advocate said he’s toured the complex extensively and he’s seen many cockroaches.

“Maintenance has done nothing to fix cracks and holes in walls where plumbing was,” he said. “The laundry rooms, the garbage rooms are horrible…The halls are filthy. The stairwells are filthy.”

Dupray suggested the buildings be emptied, fumigated and professionally decontaminated at the owner’s expense.

“They really need to shut that place down,” he said. “It’s a disaster area.”

Oke Johnson, executive vice president of WinnCompanies, which manages The Oaks, however, told the council that effectively treating apartments takes time.

“It also takes cooperation and partnership of the residents,” he said, noting pest control is performed twice a month on individual apartments, the interior common areas and the building exterior.

Johnson blamed “chronic housekeeping issues” for contributing to pest control issues and said they can’t address issues that have not been reported. He supported the idea of forming an advisory committee to seek solutions.

“Our experience over many years in this field is that community support and partnership play an important role in the success of affordable housing properties and the quality of life for its residents,” he said. “In forming this ad hoc committee, we would like to suggest the council consider including residents, owners and operators among its members, so that all perspectives and experiences inform the committee’s approach and work.”

Johnson noted that affordable housing is already a highly regulated field on the state and federal levels. He recommended committee members receive training on subsidy programs, fair housing laws and regulations that govern landlord tenant interactions.

“I’m working hard to provide quality affordable housing and services that improve the quality of life for our residents. We welcome a smart, well-informed partnership with the city of Oakley to advance this goal.”

Shaw, who herself manages affordable housing, also supported the idea of forming an advisory committee, noting it should be collaborative and include residents of The Oaks.

“I want to make sure we have a few seats that are for them, so they have a voice,” she said.

Shaw, however, questioned the ending date of Dec. 31 for the temporary committee, saying that was not long enough time to select members and get things accomplished.

Vice Mayor Anissa Williams, however, said the tenants needed help now.

“I expressed multiple times when I first was seated about how bad the conditions were there,” she said. “I was bringing groceries to people. The elevators were broken, windows were broken, there was trash everywhere, and at that time, I thought I was making a difference and trying to improve some of the situation.”

Williams added that she would like to see “some real traction” on the issues because she’s seen little improvement over the past three years.

“I just need some reassurance that there’s steps that are currently being taken that are gradually improving their everyday conditions because I have real fears about the way those folks are living right now,” she said.

Councilman Hugh Henderson also recommended a December end date, noting it could be extended at that point if needed.

He then moved to create the committee with Mayor Aaron Meadows and Shaw as council representatives, with three other community members to be chosen later.