HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/08/2008 07B Minutes 12-12-2007 Council Office of Neighborhood Development Committee • Notes from ONDS Council Committee meeting 12/12/07
Council Members. Ron Bonlender, Chair; Norm Johnson, Bill Lover
Staff Dave Zabell, Bill Cook, Bill Cobabe, Archie Matthews, Mary Grable, Tim Jenson, Isabel
Cruz, & Janice Hickey
Others. Earl Hall, Chairman & President of Yakima Food Bank, Clarence Gipson, Manager of
Food Bank, Gerda Gipson, Mike Nixon, Habitat for Humanity; Geoff Baker, Coalition for the
Homeless, owner of the house Food Bank is wanting to buy; Hector Franco & Luz Gutierrez,
concerned citizens.
Ron. New business first.
#4 Item on the agenda - Mike Nixon. Habitat for Humanity's CHDO request for funds.
Mike There are 2 lots. one full lot and about 1/3 of another across from the Union Gospel
Mission Youth House on South Fourth Street. They would like to consider a building with a
shared -wall construction for a 2 family house. Across the nation they are going this way — multi
family We will consult with WA State University for the best way to share property
Ron. Will they share maintenance?
Mike It will be in an agreement.
® Ron. It would be easier for each to own their half
and be responsible.
Mike: If 2- family- residence won't work, we will do a Single Farnily residence. At times it is
hard for a family to care for a large lot but some large families need large houses. We select the
family and determine the size of the house needed. We don't build 2 bedroom houses, we put 2
kids per bedroom, same gender per bedroom. A child with health issues could require an extra
room, mother -m -law would also have her own.
Ron. Would there have to be a rezone?
Cobabe: No rezone; possibly a lot line adjustment.
Lover Two burned down.
Ron. On east side of street?
Cook: Design standard for block.
Cobabe to preserve the historical sight of the neighborhood.
Mike We are limited in terms of size; 1100 square feet for a single - family residence.
Ron. Would it have the same roof pitch as on Lincoln? 5 x 12 — that looks perfect with the
neighborhood.
Mike. Our buildings are for family incomes of 30 — 60% Federal Median Income Guideline.
They are only paying 30 — 35% of their income on housing. $80,000 to $85,000 per house. We
build for the family; how much appearance features add to cost could determine if we can.
Norm. What are you asking from us?
Cobabe They are asking for the funds for the acquisition of the lots.
Mike We line up the purchase then we need the money for us to purchase.
Archie: Easier for ONDS to use CHDO money in purchase and acquisition, not building.
Ron. $38,000 plus how much more?
Mike: We have negotiated the purchase price already Maybe another $1,000 to clean and
prepare the lots.
Ron. Knowing your history and the good things you do, I am comfortable with recommending
this, you are going to be here. I am comfortable with this Council Committee recommending to
full Council to go forward.
Cobabe Habitat is careful with money received from us. This is for purchase of property — not
building. ONDS is limited with CHDO partners as to how money can be used.
Mike: Habitat feels ood with our partnership with the City We have work camps in the
g P P tY P
summer; sometimes 25 or more volunteers. City helps with surplus numbers, now some come
asking to be involved with extenor paint. It's a wonderful partnership
Lover When are you going to do a house m Marvin Gardens subdivision?
Mike: After the infrastructure is in, we are eager to get going.
Ron. We three agree to the action to recommend this request to full council.
#3 Food Bank — the Clarence Gipson and Earl Hall
Clarence: I am not prepared as he was but am asking for your consideration for the Food Bank
to be able to buy the duplex at 604 & 606 Central to have good bank m one side and fix up the
other as rental to make payment. (Gave quite a presentation as to building and good of Food
Bank.)
Ron. You don't have to sell us on the Food Bank. What is your need?
Norm. What is your request from us?
Clarence: Help us get the building.
Cobabe: We need to discuss this further
Norm. No more questions of Clarence?
410 Ron. We need to go into executive session. You will hear from us.
Cobabe Old business. Geoff Baker, you are here to?
Geoff: I am here to answer any questions.
Cobabe Coalition has made the last payment? It is going into foreclosure.
Geoff: Bank can take action, current offer expires 12/31/07 We are being totally transparent.
Cobabe: City is in 4 position, current offer asks that we forgive hen. Coalition is running out
of extra properties. Will go to auction on the courthouse steps. Second & 3 positions are held
by Housing Trust Fund, they will give up their monies.
Cook: Executive session — pnvate meeting
Hector We are not ready to present our proposal. Why do you need to go to executive session?
Ron. To discuss liquidation of property with sensitive information.
OLD BUSINESS
Cook: Graffiti Gone is not closed business.
III Ron. Let's do Graffiti Gone then. Graffiti was in lull 2 — 3 months, now it has roared back.
Cobabe: We have seen this pattern m the past. Taggers can tag in the cold weather; we have a
hard time as our paint freezes. Also, they are using a lot more stickers.
Cook: Pnor to this meeting, Nathan Kwak, Graffiti Gone, presented a proposal for $200,000
Why should the City pay to paint out Pacific Power & Light?
Cook: We need to bang the group of all involved together around a table.
Ron. We need to get a contract with someone to show that the City is senous about getting rid of
graffiti. Each division should kick in because they are affected. Pnvate compames should, too
Cook: Yakima Waste is using a special paint. It should be put under Safety Committee.
Ron. Ultimately, yes, but would slow it down. We need to do something now then present to
expand to Safety Committee.
Lover How much money?
Cobabe Citywide $300,000
® Archie: Mainly residential, low- moderate; utility signs.
Hector Law applies to residential and business — not applying this to business. Concentrating
on east Yakima. Need to get to people causing it.
Cook: Last week arrested 3 taggers — important piece of prosecution.
410
Ron. If we don't cover it up, it is an incentive for all kids; if we don't, always working on
families, etc.
Cobabe All graffiti on Federal property, we have been told not to touch or they will prosecute.
Zabell. With postal services, yes, I agree that we couldn't get money
Ron. We need to get moving with a demonstration project.
Luz: A month ago, you were to get all the different utility departments together Nothing has
happened. City needs to take the leadership.
Zabell We did internal ones.
Ron. At least give us permission to clean it up, railroad, too
Archie: In 1998, when we started the graffiti program, I went to the railroad and the post office.
I explained the program and talk them to give us the paint or the # of the paint and we would do
ink
it.
Luz: Should be City imtiative.
Ron. Set up meetings with power company, railroad, whoever comes first.
Cook: If just I say so, not much, but if City Council, they would have more pull.
Zabell We need several staff levels to meet with them.
Ron. We need to expedite this ASAP, not wait for 1 then the other; meet as they can.
Lover How do we address federal government — Post Office?
Norm. We do go to Washington DC m March, meet with the postal officials there?
Cobabe Contact elected officials — gets results.
Ron. Let's get senous about contract with someone; leave mailboxes until then. Can we
recommend to Council to put out contract to someone for areas of approval. Each department
kick m x amount of dollars.
Cobabe. Each department needs to decide what not to do to free up money for graffiti.
Ron. Close open session — go to executive session.
#1 Scott Lamb's request for money to repair multi - family dwelling
Cobabe: Tim Jenson, Finance, is here is discuss this.
110 Tim. They have no money Understated own debt service. $5,000 at best. Making $2,000 a
year Very high risk deal, chance of them making it very slim. The recommendation from the
Finance department — back away Not a good place for HUD funds. Not proceed, numbers will
never work.
Cobabe: They are asking for a grant.
Norm. Send them a letter that we can't do it.
Cook: If you three feel that we can't do it, it does not go to full Council.
Ron. We all agree; send letter to deny
Back to 604 Central — Food Bank
Cobabe Let's see what we can do to preserve our $33,000 The 4 position is such that we can
enforce our hen. Facilitate the offer Will require action by Full Council. Get commitment to
keep place up and abide by codes.
Zabell Going to foreclosure, we will get nothing; forgive the loan and we may be able to say
something about keeping it up to code.
Ron. Liens against it?
Cobabe About $130,000
Lover It is a business deal to me.
Cobabe We could pursue what other options or forgive it and move forward. We have carefully
explored options to preserve $33,000 lien.
Ron. Go ahead with the protest to prevent leading to slumlord, to attach.
Cobabe: We do not have much leverage; it is more or less a voluntary agreement.
Ron. Foreclosure? Who gets what? '
Cobabe Yakima Federal will get $35,000, if more, it will go to CTED
Cook. Seller asks to wave hen or buyer?
Cobabe When we put money in a project, still has to stay low income. If new buyer does not
stay with low income, HUD can ask for more or less $6,000 from us.
Cook: If it goes to the Food Bank, we would have to pay
Lover The Homeless Network thinks we're responsible.
Ron. The soonest we can forgive the hen is the January meeting.
Cobabe: The offer depends entirely on our forgiving the hen.
411
Cook: The Food Bank said they will leave the hen in place.
Cobabe. But our money has to do with housing.
Ron. I recommend we forgive the lien.
Norm. I have 2 questions. Geoff— his request is that we forgive the hen to be done with the
property What is Clarence asking?
Cobabe No one is wilting to make housing loans, to go to Food Bank. Clarence explained
operations. He is dealing with Yakima Federal, us for rehab
Zabell. It is a very eligible project.
Norm. Why not forgive the hen? Forgive upon request.
Cook: We will worry about forgiving if not requested.
Lover Is it appropnate to buy into a place needing $100,000 in renovation?
Norm. Forgive on request and need of buyer
10
Cobabe They just want to get done with it.
Ron. "Forgive upon request" is our recommendation to go to full Council.
Cook: Return to Mike Nixon. Maud Scott took us on a tour of that block; stated it has the most
historical significance. Need to continue this discuss with Mike Nixon, Habitat for Humanity
January meeting, if needed.
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Ron Bonlender, Chairman Date
Bill Cobabe, ONDS Manager Date