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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-24city council minutesBook 35 SPECIAL MEETING October 24, 1994 7:00 p.m. The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Winder. The Mayor requested that everyone stand for the Fledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Roll of the City Council was called with the following members present: Raymond, Earl, Carpenter, and Houchins. Absent: Nancolas and Langan. Page 257 (PUBLIC HEARING WITH REGARD TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT) Mayor Winder stated that the purpose of this Special Meeting was to hold a public hearing pertaining to the City of Caldwell applying for an Idaho Community Development Block Grant. If this Grant was funded, the planned project would entail creating jobs, achieving cultural integration, opportunities for education and provide for expanding business. The hearing will include a review of how proposed activities will address the needs in the community, how proposed activities will be funded and sources of funds, date application will be submitted, requested amount of ICDBG funds, estimated portion of the ICDBG funds requested that will benefit persons of low and moderate income, where the proposed activities will be conducted, plans to minimize displacement of persons and businesses as a result of funded activities and plans to assist persons actually displaced. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing and announced that there were two people signed to testify regarding this matter. Jim Birdsall, 20624 West Executive Drive in Boise, Idaho, representing Ida -Ore, was recognized by the Mayor. Mr. Birdsall stated that the purpose of the Hearing tonight, which was in accordance with the City's adopted Citizen Participation Plan, was to allow citizens input into the use of the Idaho Community Development Block Grant Program which was authorized at the Federal level under the Community Development Act of 1974. This was operated in Idaho by the Idaho Department of Commerce and there were various activities eligible under this Program. They range from economic development to housing to public facilities. The available estimated funding this fiscal year for public facility projects was a little over four million dollars. Cities and counties were the only eligible applicants, but they can apply on behalf of non - project organizations. Proposed projects basically need to meet one of three national objectives. They need to benefit primarily low and moderate income persons or alleviate slum and blight or address an imminent threat to public health and safety. Since it was a very competitive program, the State accepts more applications than it can actually fund. For this category, the maximum public facility type application grant is capped at $500,000. Mr. Birdsall further stated that he had a copy of the pre- application with him as well as the application handbooks for anyone who cared to review either of them. At the conclusion of his comments, Mr. Birdsall requested the opportunity to speak further in case there were further statements that needed to be included for the record_ Book 35 Page 258 Bob Jarboe, 1920 South Tenth in Caldwell-, was recognized by the Mayor. Mr. Jarboe thanked the Mayor and Council for allowing him to appear and speak to them briefly about an opportunity they were very excited about at W.I.T.C.O. They were aware that Community Development Elcck Grants have been applied for in the past by the City of Caldwell. Many have been successful and he was hopeful that he could present enough: information tonight to make Council feel good about the potential for considering such a Block Grant to the City of Caldwell on behalf of this project. Mr. Jarboe presented a quick overview of W.I.T.C.O. stating that it was a non - profit corporation formed in February of 1974. The purpose of the corporation was to assist people with disabilities and their quest for greater independence. Th'_s was done through vocational training, evaluation, job seeking skills classes, the development center, residential facilities, and other activities that have a tendency to get people greater opportunities to learn, and to progress and become contributing members of the community. They also contract with a number of different professionals in the area including occupational therapists, speech therapists, physicians, and etc. to assist clients and their growth. They were currently operating in the City of Caldwell which was where the corporate office was located. There were also programs in Nampa and Boise and most recently, in Ontario, Oregon. W.I.T.C.O. has served people across the northwest and those who have cone from numerous states and stayed periodically to receive a specific service or set of services from W.I. T.C.O. For the most part, the clients come from the Valley. Mr. Jarboe continued saying that in terms of thei. proposal, they were desirous at W.I_T.C.O. of building a new facility in Caldwell'_. This would house the developmental services program, employment services program, evaluation unit and selected administrative staff. The advantages to W.I.T.C.O. and the City of Caldwell were many. The advantages included that they would locate a development center that would house some forty persons with disabilities as well as twenty staff, eight contracted service providers. 'These nu gross substantially during the summer months since they have a. program that runs for six months. In addition to the folks in the development center, they were looking towards program growth if the development center was relocated. They were confident that with program growtl^., there was also a growth in the potential for professional staff. The employment services staff was charged with responsibility of teaching the skills necessary for individuals to find jobs, assisting them in job search efforts, providing training needed to procure jobs, and follow up that was adequate to maintain the jobs. In short, that staff has the charge of putting them to work and then keeping them working. During the past fiscal year, the employment services staff secured employment opportunities for in excess of one hundred and fifty people in this area. The vast majority of those people would not have employment using any other available :resource. It was not uncommon for W.I.T.C.O. to wor.' with people from other areas of the Country as well. They felt this influx was a positive economic factor for Caldwell in that it brings new income and potential business into the area. W.I. T.C.O. was also able to provide trained workers, both ski._ led an& unskilled, to area employers. Such a pool of workers was important in terms of the growth of the Book 35 business community and new businesses coming into the area. The current location of W.I.T.C.O.'s evaluation unit has also been a limitation to program expansion and again, would expect a number of professional job opportunities to expand with this proposed space expansion. Mr. Jarboe further stated that if the proposed construction occurs, W.I.T.C.O. plans to also open an A.D.A. Resource Center to assist both local governmental entities and area businesses. They were proposing the construction of a ten to twelve thousand square foot facility at a total cost of approximately $600,000. W.I.T.C.O. was prepared to offer $300,000 in match for this project; therefore, calling for a Community Development Block Grant of $300,000. As you all well know, the cost for the City of Caldwell for such a project is nil. Mr. Jarboe briefly and historically pointed out that they did have the opportunity to come before the Council last year and make a similar proposal which was put together by Ida -Ore and the City of Caldwell with some assistance from W.I.T.C.O. It was submitted to the Department of Commerce and it was not approved. Since that time, they have had an opportunity to sit down and talk with the people at the Department of Commerce, find out their objections, and they felt they could address those problems and come up with strategies that would enable them to submit a proposal that would be competitive this year. Mr. Jarboe stated that they would appreciate the Council's consideration of the proposal. They felt it would clearly be good for people with disabilities, for W. I. T.C.O. and have some very positive advantages for the City of Caldwell. The Members of the Council asked several questions and discussed the Grant briefly. During the discussion, Mr. Jarboe informed Council that they do have an earnest money agreement on a piece of land in Caldwell. Mr. Birdsall asked to make three more comments to be included in the record. If the City decides to support this project and apply on behalf on W.I.T.C.O, the application would be submitted on November 4, 1994. Of the Block Grant funds involved, one hundred percent of the funds would be targeted benefitting low and moderate income persons. This project does not anticipate displacing anyone as a result of its activities. If that was to happen, the project would simply follow the adopted anti displacement and relocation plan that was on file with the City. MOVED by Carpenter, SECONDED by Houchins that the Public Hearing be closed. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Carpenter, Houchins, Raymond, and Earl. Those voting no: none. Absent and not voting: Nancolas and Langan. MOTION CARRIED It was then MOVED by Raymond, SECONDED by Carpenter that the City authorize the Mayor and Staff to enter necessary agreements in conjunction with Ida -Ore to request Community Development Block Grant to assist W. I. T.C.O. in an expansion program. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Raymond, Earl, Carpenter, and Houchins. Those voting no: none. Absent and not voting: Nancolas and Langan. Page 259 MOTION CARRIED Book 35 Before adjourning the Meeting, the Mayor recognized Rick Wells, who asked to speak briefly to the City Council. Hr. Wells, 1909 Cleveland, commented about the growth in Caldwell and what was actively being done to pursue bringing business into town— With the _recent press coverage of Micron's expansion, he fet that there was a possibility that they could come to Caldwell. Mr. We11s mentioned several options that could be composed in a package to encourage Micron to come to Caldwell.. He believed that a plan could be put together to present to Micron to at least show that we do want to grow and develop. Mayor Winder explained that the City has been actively invcl_.ved in the community development process for a good many years and invested a good deal of money in the Caldwell. Economic Development Project. Currently, the budget calls for $55,000 expenditures for that grogram wi':.h a balance to be raised privately so 'tlney will have approximately $100,000 to $`_10,000 to use for economic development this year. Micron was a huge project and does - require a Large treatment facility and a different oi�e than Caldwell currently has. After discussion and comments from the City Council, the Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. MOVED by Eouchins, SECONDED by Earl that since there was no further 'ousiness, the Special Meeting be adjourned at 7:30 p.m. Roll call vote. Those voting yes: Houchins, Raymond, Earl, and Carpenter. Those voting no: none. Absent and not voting: Nancolas and Langan. MOTION CARRIED APPROVED AS , 7itten THIS 7th Di-.Y OF November 1994. � o '' u //� c FF il p ersor Cou`nciiperson Counciilperson ATTEST: Mayor �j 6>cuncl peg son Councilperson Councilperson Page 260 �r City ChIrk