HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-01-22city council minutesBook 20 Page 32
SPECIAL MEETING
January 22, 1979
7:30 p.m.
The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pasley.
The Roll of the City Council was called with the following
members present: Olesen, Williams, Raymond, Hopper, and Bauman.
Absent: McCloskey.
(PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AN APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS'
The Mayor opened th
y p e Public LIearing by stating ,that this was the
second hearing in regard to a project for revi- talization of a
large neighborhood in Caldwell between the railroad tracks and
Canyon Hill . The elements of the program include housing
rehabilitation, park development, street, curb and gutter repair,
street lighting, and core area redevelopment. The official
statement was,as follows:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has
developed a grant program for small cities. It is called the
Community,- Development Block Grant,.Program. The -State of
Idaho has approximately 3. million dollars for the program,
which will be distributed in 100% federally funded grants.
About one - fourth. of the total amount will be expended for
single purpose. grants. Three.- fourths will. be ,committed to
the comprehensive or multi- year,aspect of the program.
The grant system is very competitive and not all applications
will be funded. Last year, HUD could only fund one out of
every six applications. Denial of the application does not
mean the City cannot try again.
Virtually every community development project is eligible, —
but not all are competitive. Some projects which are not
eligible are stadiums, city halls, museums, airports, sewage
treatment facilities, schools, equipment, personal property
and furnishings.
Your statements at this hearing will be noted. You may
also submit written comments if you would like until February
2, 1979.
You should be aware that if,the City does submit a project,
it will be accompanied by an Environmental Review Records,
a Housing Assistance Plan, and a Community Development Plan.
You are welcome to assist in preparation of all these documents
The City will hold open meeting so that you can participate
if you would like 'to.
A roll was then taken of those present at the meeting which
included the following people: Si Williams, H. E. Wright,
William E. Brown, and Harold E. Young.
The Mayor further explained that to include a sewer line on
Galveston and a drainage system on Ithaca from Second to the
river would be considered in the grant application if there was
no objections.
Councilman Raymond asked the Mayor to clarify that the objections
were to be directed to this grant and not to grants in general.
The Mayor assured the audience that this was correct. The Mayor
explained in some detail that part of the project regarding
rehabilitation of substandard housing. He emphasized that this
was for people in a low income bracket who could not go to banks
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Page 33
or normal lending agencies for loans for home improvements.
A member from the audience was recognized and stated that if this
grant was 100% funded he could see no reason why Caldwell should
not go for it because if we did not some other town would. He
felt that we should definitely take advantage of applying for the
grant.
The Mayor then introduced Koni Harper from Ida -Ore who stated
that the amount of federal monies available would fund seven
projects in the State of Idaho.
Si Williams was recognized and questioned as to whether the City
of Caldwell's application would be considered in full or would be
considered only in parts regarding the funding.
The Mayor stated that it would be considered as a whole application
and would not be funded on individual projects. He then informed
the audience what projects were suggested in last year's public
hearing for the same grant application. These included; Housing
rehabilitation, core area development, improvements at Purple Sage
Golf Course, street improvements, enlarging the Senior Citizens
Building, public restroom facilities, school bus stop covers,
quiet parks, sidewalks, curb cuts for wheel chairs, ,a center for
youth, and discussion regarding the use of the old Jefferson
Junior High as a cultural Center.
The audience requested a map of the area involved that showed
those people who indicated an interest in housing rehabilitation.
The map was then displayed for the audience to see and the Mayor
pointed out the areas where interest was shown.
Howard Wright of 2003 Summit Drive was recognized. He explained
that he was a case worker for the Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare and worked primarily in the area under,consideration.
He informed the group that a great deal of elderly people lived
in this area and many of them lived in homes that do. not meet
the code standards. He stated that he had visited with a number
of these people in the area and they had expressed a desire to
attend the public hearing, but due to the weather and lack of
transportation and their age were unable to do so. They were
very much interested in the grant application and would submit
written testimony if desired. Mr. Wright emphasized the fact
that the housing in that area was substandard and many were in
dire need of rehabilitation. He further commented that some of
the homes in the area had been condemned by the Building Department
and then had been brought up to only minimum standard and were
still being used as rentals. He also commented that he would
hope that there would be close screening of these homes as many
of them were beyond repair due to crumbling foundations and major
problems of this nature. These he felt should be relocated rather
than the homes rehabilitated.
The Mayor explained that this grant was not to be used for
subsidized housing, but only covered rehabilitation. He further
commented that there was already several subsidized housing
projects in Caldwell where they paid rent according to their income.
Councilman Hopper was recognized and stated that he would like to
encourage those present and to encourage others that were unable
to attend to submit written testimony regarding the input for
this grant application.
The Mayor followed Councilman Hopper's comment by saying the
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written testimony would be received until the 2nd of February,
1979
Si Williams was recognized and commented that he would hope
that the program would be administered with care so that the
monies would not be"used'in one particular area where it could
be used more beneficially in another area. He also stated that
he felt the loans needed to be carefully supervised.
Councilman Raymond was recognized and stated that he could
attest to the low income in that area and the housing conditions.
The reason for this knowledge was due to the 'fact that his job
takes him into this area every day.
The Mayor then explained'to the audience that this was only a
pre - application and how the loans and money would be handled was
something that the City Council would determine after the grant was
accepted. First, the input was needed to get into the grant
pre-application, particularly those things that appeal to
HUD such'as low income families, helping minorities, both of which
rank high on their list of requirements: This would be necessary fo
the City of Caldwell to be seriously considered for the Grant.
Councilwoman Bauman asked for one clarification of a comment made
previously. She commented that koni Harper of Ida -Ore had
indicated that she hoped to have more information on the type of
eligibility criteria for rehabilitation.loans;, for instance whether
or not a house was owned outright or if there was a mortgage on it
would make a difference to whether they could participate.
Koni Harper answered this by stating that the loans would be made
to homes with mortgages'. She also stressed that the' City Council
would develop their own criteria on making loans.
Councilman Raymond questioned as to whether the criteria would be
established completely by the City Council or whether outside
people would be asked for input. The Mayor stated that it would —
be primarily the Council, but that if they felt that someone should
be brought in for consultation it would be done. The Mayor stated
that one thing that was not brought out at'this meeting was that
as this money was lent out for housing rehabilitation and was repaid
back to the City, then the money would be available for more loans.
In other words, it would become a revolving fund. It would not have
to be paid back to HUI).
Councilman Raymond then stated that it would become a continuing
pool and the only loss being administrative costs and unpaid loans.
Since there was no more comments from the audience, the Mayor
declared the Public Fearing closed and the meeting adjourned at
8:10 p.m.
APPROVED AS written THIS 6th DAY OF Febru 1979.
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