HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/16/2011 04B Minutes 08-10-2011 Council Neighborhood Development Committee a
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o Wednesday, August 10, 2011
9:30 a.m.
Council Members present: Chair Bill Lover, Dave Ettl
Staff: Joan Davenport, Archie Matthews
Guests: Steve Luten — Habitat for Humanity, Chris Link, Bill Cook, Raymond Navarro - OIC
Habitat for Humanity request: Archie Matthews gave a brief explanation of how the city
works through the HOME fund with Community Housing Development Organizations
(CHDOs) such as Habitat for Humanity and OIC. Habitat has proposed to build a house on
a vacant city -owned lot at 1405 W. Lincoln. In addition to the lot they also requested an
$8,000 HOME grant to be used for architectural enhancements. Also, with HOME
assistance in the amount of $97,000, Habitat wants to build on three lots that are in their
current inventory; two on Pacific Avenue and one on Fifth Avenue. The three houses would
include $12,000 each in architectural upgrades. Councilmember Lover was the only
councilmember in attendance at this point in the meeting and he recommended the item be
forwarded to the full Council.
Vaughn Bay Construction request: Matthews explained that Vaughn Bay builds low
income housing using state Housing Trust Fund monies. Their most recent project is
located at 1100 East Viola in Yakima. Vaughn Bay has requested a $5,000 grant from the
® City which would serve as "local match" or "local participation" on their trust fund
applications. In return, the partnership would allow the city to track one of Vaughn Bay's
affordable housing units for five years. Councilmember Lover recommended that this item
be forwarded to the full Council.
Update on Marvin Gardens: Matthews reported that 19 of 20 homes have sold and a sale
is pending on the one remaining. Bill Cook said Marvin Gardens is an outstanding
development model for low /moderate income housing and noted that OIC has repaid every
city dollar they received for the project.
Update on NSP and consideration of OIC contract for future HOME projects:
Matthews reminded that the $650,000 received in NSP funds was invested in 13 building
lots. Two homes that were built through OIC / Youth Build have sold; returning $37,500 in
CDBG program income. Of the five homes OIC has constructed on "S" Street, one is ready
to close. Matthews noted that the revolving loan program was used for the "S" Street
project. He proposed a return to the individual construction contact because it allows the
city to recapture more program income. The process would require a Resolution from
Council giving the City Manager authority to sign the contracts. The Committee
recommended the item be forwarded for full Council consideration.
CDBG & HOME budget reductions: The 2011 CDBG and HOME entitlements have been
reduced 16.5% and 11.7% respectively. Matthews said that the effect on HOME activities
® will amount to possibly one less home being built in 2012, but that the current contracts will
not be affected.
However, the impact on CDBG is more drastic. For those reductions, staff has reduced
programs as evenly as possible, considering that half the year had passed prior to the
announced reductions. Of particular concern are the public service programs that must stay
under the 15% cap imposed by HUD. Chris Link spoke about the proposed $12,375 •
reduction to the OIC contract for the Southeast Community Center (SECC). He talked
about the community services that OIC provides through SECC. He noted that with this cut,
010 stands to lose $100,000 over the next year on the SECC contract. Matthews proposed
an option that would certify OIC as a Community Based Development Organization (CBDO).
He said that the CBDO certification combined with the reinstatement of the Neighborhood
Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) designation would allow the OIC / SECC contract to be
taken out of the public services category. Vaughn McBride is already working on the NRSA
designation. Matthews believes OIC will qualify as a CBDO and the change could happen
as early as the beginning of 2012. Lover said he is going to propose that all outside agency
funding be eliminated from the 2012 budget but he does not consider SECC to be an
outside agency, and he would not have a problem with some funds being rerouted to a
CBDO. Matthews reported that all of the graffiti funding in public services was eliminated;
leaving only the YPD grant to fund graffiti removal for the rest of 2011. Councilmember Ettl
noted that the lack of other funds to cut from the public service section places most of the
reduction on 010. Matthews reiterated that the 16.5% CDBG reductions will be spread
across the programs as evenly as possible and that Council will need to pass a resolution to
amend the Annual Action Plan for the reductions. The Committee recommended the item
go forward for full Council consideration as is.
Other Business: Matthews reported that the Regional Clean Air Authority has proposed a
contract with the city for help in identifying homeowners that may be eligible for replacement
of inefficient wood stoves and fireplaces. Clean Air received a $300,000 grant for upgrades.
The Committee forwarded the item to the full Council.
Safety Street Lighting: Joan Davenport reported that all of the contracts have been
awarded and the equipment is ordered. Eleven existing lights will be upgraded and thirty -
one new street lights will be installed. The project may be complete by the end of 2011.
The next meeting of the Council Neighborhood Development Committee will be
Wednesday, September 14, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in the CED Conference Room
Chairman Bill Lover Date