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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 02/13/19920 0 CDBG COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES February 13, 1992 Council Liaison: Loren Maxey Staff Liaisons: Ken Waido, Jackie Davis The regular meeting of the CDBG Commission began at 6:36 p.m. in the Development Services Conference Room, 281 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Commission members present included Dan McArthur, Bobbie Guye, Louise Stitzel, Carolyn Early, Richael Michels, Joe Zimlich, Tom Dougherty, Bill Bertschy. Members absent included Tina Marie Ribera, Josie Mata, Linda Coxen, and Jim Burrill. Staff members present included Ken Waido, Jackie Davis, and Kayla Ballard. Mr. Waido introduced and welcomed Richael Michels, the new Commission member. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 12, 1991 MINUTES Commission Member McArthur moved to approve the December 120 1991 minutes. Commission Member Stitzel seconded the motion. The motion to approve carried 8-0. The Commission briefly discussed the enforcement of meeting attendance and the possibility of having less than 13 members on the Commission. Commission Member Dougherty believed that a 13 member Commission was a good cross-section of citizens that would provide input. He stated that he was in favor of encouraging members to attend meetings. ETHICS POLICY Mr. Waido stated that, in reference to the January 6, 1992 memorandum from City Attorney Steve Roy, rules and regulations should be followed regarding Commission members making presentations to their own boards and commissions in a personal capacity even though they have a conflict of interest and are prohibited by the City Charter from influencing a board's decision in any official capacity. He stated that a Commission member should not only dismiss themselves from any discussion about that particular application, but would also have dismiss themselves from all applications. This is due to the fact that the Commission member could not be objective to other applications. Commission Member Early asked if this would disqualify Staff from being a part of the Commission completely. Commission Member Byington arrived at this time. Mr. Waido stated that Staff does not participate in the decision of the Commission. Commission Member Stitzel stated that applications were for the City as well as for boards and commissions and this was not the way that City Council handles items. Mr. Waido stated that City Council are elected officials and that they have to answer to the voters. Commission Member Dougherty stated that, if the Commission has a conflict, they should let it be known now before the situation arises. Commission Member Stitzel stated that this present a problem to her because she is involved with housing and different things that she might be a part of. She stated that there was not too many people that have the knowledge of housing and this is why she continued to listen to the overview information. She didn't believe that she has been too vocal with any project that she was concerned with nor did she use her particular bias in how she voted for other people's projects. Commission Member McArthur believed the interpretation was that a Commission member could not act in an advocacy role with something that you are involved in but you could participate in debate. The majority of the Commission concurred with Commission Member McArthur. Mr. Waido stated that he would ask City Attorney Steve Roy to clarify this memorandum. Commission Member Early stated that with a presentation, a Commission member who was involved would not vote on the application. She believed that this was taking it a step further by stating that if a Commission member was involved in the organization, then they could not make a presentation to their Commission. CHAS Mr. Waido stated that the CHAS public comment period officially closes on Friday, February 21, 1992. He added that March 3, 1992, City Council would consider a resolution authorizing submittal of the CHAS for approval by HUD. HUMAN SERVICES POLICY Mr. Waido updated the Commission by stating that Staff was beginning an outreach program on the Human Services Policy. He stated that several boards and commissions, including the CDBG Commission, have been targeted as boards and commissions that a presentation will be made to explain where the policy is and what a they are doing with the policy. This presentation will be made at the April 9, 1992 CDBG Commission meeting. This policy is also on the City Council's goals, for the next two years, to help define, refine, and redirect how the City will deal with human service issues. The City is currently involved with a variety of human service programs, such as regulatory and pass -through programs. He added that City Council will hold a worksession on the Human Service Policy in May. AFFORDABLE HOUSING POLICY Mr. Waido updated the Commission by stating that Council conducted a worksession on this item in October 1991 and have scheduled another worksession on March 24, 1992 to again review the policy. He believed that Staff would receive more direction from Council at that time as to what they would like to see included or excluded in terms of the policy. PUBLIC HEARING Mr. Waido stated that the intent of this public hearing was for the Commission to receive input from the general public concerning community development needs. He stated that this Commission was particularly interested in hearing about these needs because the Commission would be, in the next three to four months, soliciting applications for funds and determining how those funds should be spent. The Commission will evaluate these applications and make recommendations to City Council. Russ Jones spoke on behalf of Disabled Resources Center (DRS). He stated that the DRS personally helped him and other people like him. He stated that he would like to see the employment service continue and expanded. He added that this agency helped people with an understanding of their needs that he didn't believe any other agency could do. Tom Creede, Habitat for Humanity, stated that this agency builds houses for those that cannot afford them. He added that they receive cooperation from a variety of people which allows them to build the houses for less money. He stated that they were not allowed to use public funds for building. Recently, they have been told that they may use those funds provided that the monies go into land and/or city fees. He stated that they sell their houses to needy families with very low income with no profit. These people can pay for these homes with a 20 year mortgage which Habitat for Humanity holds. He added that the City does not waive development fees for their agency but CDBG paid for many of the development fees'for the Cherry Street home. John Kefalas, Board member of New Bridges, spoke on behalf of New Bridges. He stated that New Bridges is the only daytime facility in Larimer County that provides a place for the homeless to go. He stated that people have been using the facility since they opened their doors in October 1990. He stated that sometimes there are up to 60 people, including adults and children, in their facility. He stated that the facility is open 7 days a week from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. These hours work with The Mission and the Job Bank. He believed that the need for this facility is there because not everyone at New Bridges can be labeled homeless although many are, but most of them can be considered socially or economically disadvantaged. New Bridges provides a safe and warm place and a place to network access to telephones. He added that they do receive some contributions from institutions in the community, which is helpful, but the operation is run by volunteers. Sharon Stuart spoke on behalf of New Bridges. She stated that the $5,000 that they received last year from CDBG went to pay for the on -site coordinator. She added that they are currently affiliated with Larimer County Mental Health which assists in their program. She added that they have a variety of migrant labors who speak Spanish and American Indians that use their facility. Betty English, Senior Employment Services, stated that this agency assists mature workers with job seeking skills, sends them to workshops, prepares resumes, and trains them in all the skills they need in order to get employment. She added that the agency goes to the home of people with disabilities and enroll them in a program, and purchases resume books for them. She stated that the agency would like to target for minorities and the disabled. Sharon Anderson, representing Disabled Resources, introduced her daughter, Melissa Anderson. She stated that Melissa was currently in 'a CSU transition program and working at the CSU food court through a job coach. There are only enough funds to keep the job coach for only two more weeks. She stated that she wanted the Commission to see how Disabled Resources funds are spent. Betty Maloney spoke on behalf of Larimer County Housing Task Force. She stated that she undertook a study of low income housing problems in the community. She urged the Commission to consider funding for low income housing. Chris Zell, Chairman for Larimer County Affordable Housing Task Force, stated that there is a problem with housing and employment in the community. He urged the Commission to pay special attention to not only housing, but to employment. He stated that there are 1,440 people on the Housing Authority's waiting list for housing and approximately 4.7% unemployed. He added that there are currently many programs where there are matching funds available. As far as housing, an application was made to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board and received $114,000 in cash grants and the Housing Authority received a 2.3T subsidy loan which is going into the Project Self -Sufficiency program. He stated that there are currently a couple of programs that are utilizing tax credits for affordable housing. He suggested that in the CHAS, it be included that the City waive fee structures for housing that is primarily ti intended to be affordable or low income housing. If the City would consider this, the funds could go farther. He suggested that the Glenwood Springs ordinance be reviewed by the Commission. Alan Burk, 718 Larkbunting Drive, stated that existing housing should be considered. He suggested that consideration be given to an inspection of trailers. He added that similar programs could be implemented for energy efficiency. The public hearing closed at this time. Commission Member Stitzel suggested that, on Page 7 of the CDBG Program Application, 20% be added, in parentheses, to the "Planning projects and/or Administration costs" and to place a footnote that only 15% of the curve of allocation can go to Human Services. She requested that Staff provide previous CDBG funding to the Commission. The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.