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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 03/13/1995CDBG COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES ADD -ON MEETING MARCH 13, 1995 The add -on meeting of the CDBG Commission began at 12 noon Monday, March 13, 1995 in the 281 Advanced Planning Conference Room. CDBG Commission members attending the meeting were: Chairperson Linda Coxen, Vice -Chair Dan MacArthur, William Bertschy, Bobbie Guye, Holly Sample, William Steffes and Joseph Zimlich. In addition to the Commission members representing staff were: Ken Waido, Dickson Robin, Jute Smith; and Mary Haile. Commission members absent were: Jim Elias, Tim Ostic, and Rick Ramirez. Staff member Jackie Davis was also absent. Ms. Smith described the HOME application process and stated she and Staff members Mr. Waido, Mr. Robin contacted other HOME Programs in eastern Colorado fording out they accepted applications most always on a case -by -case basis. Chairperson Coxen stated concerns with the Board prematurely approving an application if a better one is submitted afterward. Mr. Waido stated this scenario will be unavoidable. Ms. Smith stated a time constraint exists to commit '94 funds which is one year and two months and requiring a quick turn around. Member Sample asked with the two different parts of the HOME program (Homebuyer and Acquisition/Construction) if there is a set -aside amount that will be reserved for each activity. Ms. Smith stated it is 10 percent (10%) earmarked for Homebuyer, but it is not a "set -aside" like the regulations require for CHDO funds. Mr. Waido stated the term set -aside is used for community housing development organizations, and the set -aside term that Member Sample used should be deemed as "earmarked". Member Sample asked about the conditions. Mr. Waido stated that there are several agencies in town that have been designated as "CHDO's". Ms. Smith stated if we have a certain amount earmarked we may be able to roll it back to something else, but "set -aside" must be spent as regulations require. Mr. Waido stated that Council will have to approve every application. Member Sample asked about the Commission's role. Mr. Waido stated the Commission's role is entirely recommending and Council makes the final decision. Chairperson Coxen asked about the administrative costs. Ms. Smith stated it is 10 percent of the funds and all operating expenses come out of the 10 percent. Member Bertschy wanted to know when we earmark for a loan program is this one loan per person. Ms. Smith stated it is one per household. Member Steffes suggested we create a subcommittee to look at funding requests. Mr. Waido explained the difference between HOME and CDBG regulations. CDBG Commission Minutes March 13, 1995 Page 2 Chairperson Coxen asked for a sample of the application agreement. Ms. Smith stated she is just creating it and publication will be soon. Chairperson Coxen stated to Ms. Smith about having the same application for CDBG and HOME and checking the box if you apply for both. Mr. Waido stated that we will try to do that. Member Bertschy inquired on various marketing elements of the HOME program. Ms. Smith stated it's under the fair housing rules and regulations which CDBG is, so we have regulations on marketing, which will be developed by Mr. Waido and herself this next month. Member Sample asked if there is a $5,000 limit per person. Member Steffes asked if that was per family. Ms. Smith stated that it is $5,000 per household. Chairman MacArthur wanted to know what we needed to do about this issue. Chairperson Coxen stated we need to get a motion on the floor to get an official recommendation. Member Bertschy moved to approve and Vice Chairman MacArthur seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7- 0). Ms. Smith thanked the members for their passage Chairperson Coxen asked members to resolve a couple of items that were on the February agenda since there was a quorum at this meeting. Chairperson Coxen brought up National Community Development Week and discussed pursued. Discussion of the CDBG Board membership took place. Ken Waido stated unofficially we have 11 members. Chairperson Coxen reported a call is into Council Liaison McCloskey regarding lowering the membership to 11 instead of 13 and is waiting for a reply but asked members for their opinion. Vice Chairperson MacArthur stated, as long as there is a quorum, his thoughts were in favor of reducing the membership number but was also concerned about the low interest in this area. Chairperson Coxen inquired about the low interest. Mr. Waido explained how the CDBG commission program began and how it grew into a large Board. Chairperson Coxen asked the members for their reactions and she also wanted to talk to Council Liaison McCluskey and tell him the member majority elected to reduce the number. Bill Steffes made a motion to reduce the membership to 11 members. Member Bertschy seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7-0). Chairperson Coxen asked for a motion to approve the minutes of January and February. Vice Chairperson MacArthur made a motion and Member Bertschy seconded with a question. He noticed February's r autes contained no actual comments by Council Liaison McCluskey. A motion was made to apV.. we the January minutes and append the February minutes. Member CDBG Commission Minutes March 13, 1995 Page 3 Bertschy moved and Vice Chairperson MacArthur seconded. Motion passed unanimously (7- 0). Discussion the of the Roy Porter presentation presided. Mr. Waido stated he has been rescheduled. Member Steffes asked about the timetable for the HOME funds. Mr. Waido thought it would probably be June. Member Steffes was concerned about the action the Board takes and favored a forming a Subcommittee. Ms. Smith was in favor of this. Chairperson Coxen was in favor of this and asked Member Steffes for input. No response was given and Chairperson Coxen asked is anyone else would be interested in being on the Subcommittee. Chairperson Cozen stated that she and Member Steffes will be the Subcommittee. Chairperson Coxen's next item pertained to site visits of the CDBG's applicants. The members discussed their reactions. Vice Chairperson MacArthur asked how many potential applicants applied. Mr. Waido told him 25. Vice Chairperson MacArthur suggested a bus tour or something. Member Sample responded that we could set up a time frame where everyone who could make it could go. A motion that we'll stop off after the tour was made but died to a lack of a second. Vice Chairperson MacArthur inquired about the interest in a joint application. Chairperson Coxen explained how it came about. Vice Chairperson MacArthur inquired on how quickly the Board membership reduction could be acted upon. Chairperson Coxen said that she would talk to Council Liaison McCluskey today and make a recommendation at the next CDBG meeting and then make a recommendation to Council. Vice Chairperson MacArthur asked if this could be done by next month's meeting. Mr. Waido said he did not think so. Vice Chairperson MacArthur wanted to know if we had a chance to get this to the next Council meeting. Mr. Waido informed the members that the March meeting was already set and that there would be no April 4th meeting. The next available meeting would be April 18th. Mr. Waido advised the members that bringing in someone new during the middle of the process would not be good. Chairperson Coxen agreed. The members then discussed who was on the Board and if a quorum would be reached at the remaining meetings. Chairperson Coxen inquired about the Education and Life Training Center. She was told it was Volunteers Clearing House and that they had a name change. Mr. Waido discussed the meeting between himself, Mr. Robin and Member Elias regarding CDBG and Affordable Housing. The meeting adjourned at 1:15 p.m.