Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Development Block Grant Commission - Minutes - 01/11/19960 CDBG COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES January 11, 1996 The meeting of the CDBG Commission began at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Planning Conference Room, 281 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. Commission members present at the meeting included Chairman Dan MacArthur, Bill Bertschy, Linda Coxen, Violet Guthrie, Bobbie Guye, Tom Hartmann, Tim Ostic, Holly Sample, William Steffes, and Joe Zimlich. Staff members present included Ken Waido, Jackie Davis, Julie Smith, and Mary Hile. Moved by Ms. Sample, seconded by Mr. Bertschy: To approve the minutes of December 14, 1995. Motion approved unanimously. Ms. Davis noted the following two items: The public hearings for HOME funding and CDBG funding were now combined into one meeting; and that HUD has informed staff to anticipate a CDBG funding level equivalent to the past year of $1.2 million. CONSOLIDATED PLAN PUBLIC HEARING Patricia Frisbie introduced Martha Amey. Ms. Amey stated that: She works at Poudre High School with the trainable mentally handicapped. Every student in that segregated population needs a job coach. If the students can learn a trade and learn to support themselves successfully, they not only gain enjoyment and self-fulfillment in life but lessens the cost to the community to support them. Her class has grown from eight to fifteen students, but with the same level of support. If the students' needs can be met, they can be successful. Ms. Frisbie next introduced Pam Sysum. Ms. Sysum stated that: She is the ACE coordinator at Fort Collins High School. She had eight students last year; some of them would benefit from one-on-one training, which is an impossibility. She reiterated that the needy student is growing, while resources are static or diminishing. Patricia Frisbie has provided assistance to two students who would otherwise be without a job coach. The services CDBG Commission renders is invaluable, and the Commission was encouraged to continue its support. Ms. Frisbie noted a related January 6 Coloradoan article. She stated that many emotional disorders are more identifiable in the student population, much of it brought on by the fragmentation of families. While problems increase, more aid is needed to combat these problems in order to lessen public cost and impacts. She commended Ms. Amey and Ms. Sysum for their efforts. Alan Silverstein noted the difficult job that the Commission faces each year. He stated that CDBG funds should be returned. As deficit money, it is unethical to spend. The funds are inefficiently used by coming from the taxpayers, filtered through the Federal government, and apportioned back to the cities. Fort Collins can make a statement by returning those funds. CDBG Commission Minutes January 11, 1996 Page 2 Barbara Hinson from the Children's Clinic reviewed the dental clinic that is planned for the top half of the building. Dental problems are the most prevalent childhood disease process. Indigent children have no place to go for dental care. The clinic accepts up to 150 percent of poverty level. 800 square feet is planned for clinic space. Presently, Children's Clinic doctors report that they see approximately six children per day with dental problems. The only treatment presently available is medication for pain. Larimer County has estimated that 14,000 children are in need of dental care. The dental community has contributed all needed equipment, with the exception of a compressor and X-ray machine. April 1 is the target date for opening. The budget will be approximately $153,000, to include the dentist, assistant, and receptionist. In response to questions by stag Ms. Hinson stated that, to comply with ADA requirements, children could be carried up the stairs. Five other area dentists have offered to treat children who would not otherwise have access to the clinic. She further noted that the clinic has already garnered $15,000 in donations. Mary Cosgrove, of Project Self -Sufficiency, thanked the Commission for their continued support of the 15 percent funding for public services. She stated that a full-time adviser has been hired with funds from the Fort Collins and Loveland CDBG Commissions, as well as other donated moneys. The adviser, who came from the Women's Center, began working October 2, will take 30 families for her caseload, and presently has about half that amount. She has also aided in administration of various projects and events. Ms. Cosgrove thanked the Commission for its support and commended the members for their diligence. Lou Stitzel noted the various roles she brought to the meeting: TRAC; Larimer County Community Land Consortium; City Plan Advisory Committee; and former CDBG Commission member. She noted the following guidelines used in the funding process: Maximum use of funds; leveraging; affordability; feasibility; timelessness; and long-term impact. Ms. Stitzel informed the Commission that CPAC is developing a vision of where the City should be by 2015. The community, to be healthy and sustainable, needs to learn to exist in cooperation. Adequate industry is needed for an economic base. Sound fiscal government is needed. Diversity in solutions is needed, particularly in addressing housing supply and the housing support programs. Projects must work for the entire community. Ms. Stitzel stated that the day and age of competition has been replaced by the need for collaboration. Dollars are too scarce; agencies need to pool their efforts to implement their ideas. TRAC is working as a CHODO, with membership in the Larimer County Community Land Consortium; works with CDBG Commission Minutes January 11, 1996 Page 3 Neighbor to Neighbor; and works with various banks and City departments to ensure that effort within the community is not duplicated. Ms. Stitzel enumerated four concepts to remember for housing: obtain; maintain; retain; and sustain. Permanent affordability is important. If programs develop only rental property, limited -income people will not see opportunities to own land. The for -profit sector concentrates on obtaining property, but not the other three sections. Ms. Stitzel concluded by noting that TRAC has received a Federal Home Loan Bank grant for $42,000 for its Parkway townhomes. Its second bid has been accepted for the SID property located north of the mobile home park. There will be adequate land for 11 units and a community center. Rusty Collins of Neighbor to Neighbor thanked the Commission for its diligence and past support. He noted the letter that he and Ms. Stitzel had written to City Council regarding Pioneer Mobile Home Park. He related an occurrence that day of a Spanish-speaking family in Pioneer who bought a mobile home four months ago that cannot be moved. He stated that the dire problems with Pioneer were the impetus for the letter rather than an attack on the Commission. Mr. Collins reviewed the transitional housing program of Neighbor to Neighbor and their two-year counseling program. He stated that the transitional housing program works, and the community needs more of those units. He reiterated the four areas of housing mentioned by Ms. Stitzel. Mr. Collins noted that Neighbor to Neighbor's HUD grant was cut by 30 percent in the previous year; CDBG housing grant was cut by $9,000; and FEMA funds were cut by 35 percent. The Neighbor to Neighbor is seeing an increased need and demand for services. The agency has been successful in developing funding from other sources in the community. Shelley Stephens of the Ft. Collins Housing Authority stated that affordable housing is a regional concern, calling for regional solutions. County Commissioners have expressed a desire to colloraborate. The Larimer County Housing Authority effort will be promoted under the flag of the Fort Collins Housing Authority. Ms. Stephens expects substantial numbers of applications. Ms. Stephens also spoke as a board member of New Bridges, a day shelter on Linden Street. The landlord is looking for other tenants. New Bridges provides a refuge for homeless people who would otherwise be on the street. Some consciousness -raising newspaper articles have been printed. The shelter needs a parcel or building that can be utilized to meet this need. Ms. Stephens thanked the Commission for their volunteer work and diligence. She remarked on the collaborative work taking place on behalf of the various housing agencies within Fort Collins. CDBG Commission Minutes January 11, 1996 Page 4 The public hearing portion of the meeting was concluded. Mr. Bertschy informed other Commission members of a newsletter published by The Group that contained a five -step plan for achieving affordable housing. Regarding Care -A -Van vehicles, Ms. Davis reported the vehicles were purchased in 1985 and 1986. The vehicles were depreciated out after five years. Any vehicles remaining are part of the City fleet or have been traded for other vehicles. The Commission reviewed the letter from Lou Stitzel of TRAC. Moved by Mr. Bertschy, seconded by Mr. Steffes: To grant the request of TRAC. The land consortium will be the ultimate owner of the property. The land must remain permanently affordable. Motion passed unanimously; one abstention. Ms. Smith stated that the home buyer program is drained; $99,000 still remains for acquisition and new construction. Up to 15 Pioneer families have a reasonable chance of obtaining a house through HOME assistance. $75,000 would be needed in that effort. The following points were raised in discussion: The average amount used for assistance per home is $4,100. Money reallocated to the home buyer program could be allocated once again to acquisition and new construction if funds remain. New funding will be available in October. The home buyer program has been very effective. Reallocation of funding appears to bear little risk. If $75,000 is reallocated, the $24,000 remaining for acquisitions would not meet any immediately foreseeable projects. Moved by Mr. Steffes, seconded by Mr. Hartmann: To allocate $75,000 for home buyer assistance; and to give highest priority to three units, reserved for Pioneer applicants. The following points were raised in discussion: 120 people are on the HOME notification list; no funds remain from 1994; people not in Pioneer may be just as deserving of the funds. Motion amended, with consent of the second: to delete the priority provision. Discussion was held concerning the potential of TRAC applying for CHoDO or other funds. Motion approved unanimously. Mr. Waido thanked and congratulated the Commission for the successful study session with Council. Mr. Waido reviewed Rusty Collins' letter to Council. He asked that Commission members be present to defend the Commission's decision. Mr. MacArthur echoed the request. Discussion was held concerning the rationales of the Commission's decision. The following issues were raised: The Commission's decision served to both help people whose trailers could be relocated and rehabilitated, and those people who could not i CDBG Commission Minutes January 11, 1996 Page 5 move their trailers. Awarding the entire funding to Neighbor to Neighbor would not help those people losing their homes. The decision was specifically targeted to the 40 to 60 percent median income range. The Commission made the best decision available, given the opportunities and limited means available. No guarantees exist that residents will find places to live through Neighbor to Neighbor counseling, should that agency receive additional funds. Neighbor to Neighbor has proven funding sources through JDM and community efforts and has a greater opportunity to raise the funding they feel is desirable. Through HOME, the Commission is continuing to make tangible contributions for home buying opportunities. Discussion was held concerning the creation of high -paying jobs, the result effect of creating other low -paying jobs, and the economic reasons for the constancy of those low -paying jobs. Mr. MacArthur introduced and welcomed Violet Guthrie, the newest member of the Commission. For the amusement of Commission members, Mr. MacArthur produced an article he wrote in 1981 concerning the formative years of the Fort Collins CDBG efforts. Upon motion, the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.