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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/15/2008 04B-5 Minutes 03-19-2008 Council Neighborhood Development Committee `I - S 410 City of Yakima Neighborhood development City Council Committee Wednesday, March 19, 2008 In attendance: Councilmembers: Kathy Coffey, Bill Lover, and Neil McClure Staff: Bill Cook, CED Director, Michael Morales, CED Deputy Director, Archie Matthews, Operation Supervisor Invited Guests: Mike Nixon/Habitat for Humanity, Chris Link/OIC, Larry Sanchez and Patrick Baldoz/ Work Source Agenda Items: 1. Select Committee Chairperson Bill Lover was selected as the chairperson for the Committee. 2. Work Source- request for reimbursement of Convention Center fees Larry Sanchez and Patrick Baldoz asked for Council's support for the upcoming Work Source Job Fair and requested reimbursement of the Convention Center fees. The job fair will be held on April 22. This has been a successful annual event for the past seven years and attracts many employers. The Convention Center fee for the job fair is $6,000. The fee would not be waived - it would be reimbursed using HUD funds. Questions were raised regarding tracking attendance and actual individuals hired. A survey has not been done previously, but Work Source will do one this year. A survey would help them qualify for HUD reimbursement. The support given to them by the City of Yakima is appreciated. The request will go to Council with the Committee's recommendation. 3. In -fill housing design The City supports Habitat for Humanity and OIC Programs and provides building funds. Currently, the only written guidelines are in the Northeast Yakima Neighborhood Plan (page 2). At issue is the matter of compatibility versus cost and marketability. The objective is to find a design that can be cost effective to build and a design compatible with the neighborhood. This has been a stumbling block for many years. Hopefully, we can narrow down to five or six approved designs. The Committee believes that OIC and Habitat for Humanity should be allowed to do their work. If the topic of conversation is about funding, let us be clear about it. If we are talking about protecting neighborhoods, let us take care of it. It is believed that the approval of five to seven plans would be an eligible activity. We should begin the plan process, modify as necessary, and then discuss cost with OIC and Habitat. Currently, 90% of homes being built in the northeast and northwest part of Yakima are built by ONDS, OIC, and Habitat. We should talk to the Central Washington Home Builders Association after we have agreed on the designs. Challenges of OIC • OIC noticed the frustration that arose when building the home on A Street. However, trying to make changes at the last minute is costly. These issues need to be addressed ahead of time. When OIC looks at building a home, they look at how much it costs, what it will look like, what families can afford, and where the funding is coming from. Challenges of Habitat for Humanity Building homes that fit the neighborhood is a good idea. However, Habitat for Humanity is dealing with families that are below 50% of income. They have built more than one hundred nice homes in the Yakima area. Anything that Habitat for Humanity can do to keep the cost down is very important. If Habitat builds a modified, more expensive home, there will be fewer people who can afford to buy that home. Raising the roof line would be an expensive modification. Comments from the guests in attendance Maud Scott Maud stated that she understands the cost issue. She has had a non -profit organization do many hours of research on historic preservations and plans. It would be great to have OIC, Habitat for Humanity, and ONDS to help support the historic community. The organizations need to look at what they are trying to accomplish in the long run and develop a vision. However, if we don't take a broader look, then we will get set on just five or six plans. Consider a facade improvement on private homes. Lynne Kittleson • Lynne stressed the need to learn the organization concept. The first concept is that people who make mistakes are blamed but learn from their mistakes. The second concept is vision and current reality. You have three choices: you can do nothing, you can lower your visions to actual reality, or you can raise the reality to the vision. Hector Franco If 90% of the homes being built on the eastside of Yakima are by non -profit organizations, why isn't the private industry come into east Yakima to build? What do we need to do to get the private industry to come into east Yakima? Would it be a good next step to look at real plans and talk to the research group that Maud Scott mentioned? 4. Other Business The food bank proposal was pulled from the agenda. There is a tenant in the building on a month -to -month agreement. There are many issues and rights to be considered before the tenant can vacate or be relocated. Need to make sure that is all done properly before it goes to Council. Meeting adjo ed at 9:40 am. 1 Bill Lover,wChairman