HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/11/1997 Adjourned Meeting / Study Session 2 9.4.
C ITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
FEBRUARY 11, 1997
ADJOURNED MEETING /STUDY SESSION
The City Council met on this date at 7:30 a.m. in the First Floor
Training Room at the Police Station /Legal Center, 200 South 3rd Street.
Council Members present were Mayor Lynn Buchanan, presiding, Clarence
Barnett, Ernie Berger, John Klingele, and Bernard Sims. Council
Members Henry Beauchamp and John Puccinelli were absent and excused.
Staff members present were City Manager Zais (present after 8:30 a.m.),
Assistant City Manager Rice, Glenn Valenzuela, Director of Community
and Economic Development; Dixie Kracht, Block Grant Manager, and Deputy
City Clerk Skovald.
Mayor Buchanan welcomed everyone and the meeting began.
Assistant City Manager Rice provided background information about the
Office of Neighborhood Development Services (ONDS). This division was
organized in the mid 1970's and has a long, proud history with the City
of Yakima. He introduce Tom Kenny, HUD Community Representative for
Region 10, who reviews housing programs for Yakima. There have been
many changes with HUD over the last 20 years, and the City is very
appreciative of the interest shown in the needs of the community and
the very good relationship established with this agency. Mr. Rice then
directed attention to recent newspaper articles regarding the Housing
Foundation audit, wanting to put any questions to rest concerning that
issue. Glenn Valenzuela indicated the City has met all its obligations
with the Housing Foundation, and it is unfortunate and confusing to
have the media inaccurately report information concerning this issue.
Mr. Rice then pointed out that the purpose of this meeting is to talk
about how the different housing programs work.
Dixie Kracht, Block Grant Manager, provided a brief overview of how the
office is organized and directed attention to the specialties of each
ONDS staff member and to awards they have earned, as well as the
significant team - oriented approach within the Division. She also
described CDBG entitlement amounts and program leveraging resources.
Ms. Kracht also described existing programs and answered questions from
the Council about programs approved by the Council last year. Those
programs include Single Family Rehabilitation; Elderly Health and
Safety Repair; Rehabilitation /Resale Programs; Housing Counseling;
First Time Home Ownership; and Neighborhood Improvement Program.
Tom Kenny referred to Community Development Block Grant portion of the
massive Housing and Urban Development program regulations, particularly
the HOME Program with its planning and documentation submittal
regulations. During the last four years various programs have been
combined and blended together encompassing existing laws to give the
City more choices in how things are done. Probably in the near future,
HUD may start looking at rewriting some existing laws to provide more
discretion to the cities. The Block Grant Program has 22 eligible
activities. Even though it is a very flexible program, eligibility
criteria must be met along with the national objective to benefit low
to moderate income persons. That benefit must be documented and
demonstrated in clear terms. Eligibility is one thing and meeting a
national objective is another. Seventy percent of the Block Grant
Money must meet a low /moderate median income benefit. The other
ADJOURNED MEETING 7 FEBRUARY 11, 1997
national objective that can be,•possibly used is easing the effects of
slums and blight. The third national objective is addressing a local
emergency. Glenn Valenzuela explained that during the floods
experienced a year ago, the City was eligible to access CDBG money
because of the emergency situation, but the City did not request any of
the money.
As was mentioned earlier, Block Grant funding benefits low and moderate
income participants via 22 programs through eligible activities which
can include acquisition of real property, public services, and public
facilities. Tree planting in public right -of -way or in parks is
starting to be considered in this category because of the benefit
derived. There was discussion about the benefits of massive tree
planting such as air pollution reduction.
Mr. Kenny pointed out that the law usually changes every year in bits
and pieces when money is appropriated, for example this year new
construction was allowed. However, in 1998 no changes are expected,
and it,.is anticipated that the City's amount of Block Grant. Funds will
stay the same. Mr. Kenny commented,, about ,operation and maintenance
costs for streets which are initially not eligible; however one could
argue that issue if it could be shown as a limited benefit to low and
moderate income person. He pointed out though that streets are very
expensive and the CDBG grant is only $1 million a year. He explained
that his office is checking on trying to get included the new
annexation area census information for low income areas for the HOME
Housing program.
Dixie Kracht directed attention to the different type of housing
programs. She directed attention to the Consolidated Plan and the One
Year Action Plan that is submitted for approval every year. She also
explained other agency relationship including Community Housing
Development Organizations (CHODOs). Glenn Valenzuela directed
attention to some new opportunities for CDBG money including citizen
participation in the areas of changing regulations and neighborhood
planning, particularly to identify blight and slums. There was also
discussion about the non- profit Community Development Bank and other
tools to assist low and moderate income participants. There was also
discussion about new technology as it relates to accessing information.
It was MOVED BY BERGER, SECONDED BY SIMS, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT
9:10 AM; Beauchamp and Puccinelli absent.
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CITY CLERK BUCHANAN, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Deputy City Clerk Skovald. An audio tape of this meeting is available in the
City Clerk's Office
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