Suenram moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from January 13, The motion was seconded by Teixeira and passed unanimously.

Transcription

1 City of Lawrence, KS Community Development Advisory Committee January 27, 2011 Minutes (City Commission Room) MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Deron Belt, Julie Mitchell, Vern Norwood, Aimee Polson, Roberta Suenram, David Teixeira, Patti Welty Quinn Miller, Brenda Nunez Danelle Dresslar, Margene Swarts PUBLIC PRESENT: Shoeb Uddin Chair Norwood called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. 1. Introductions Members and staff introduced themselves. 2. Approval of the January 13, 2011 Minutes. Suenram moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from January 13, The motion was seconded by Teixeira and passed unanimously. 3. Hear Presentation from Public Works Department. Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer, explained that for the 2011 Program Year, Public Works has submitted two applications. The first was the KU Lighted Pathway project. Uddin said that this was the same project that they had applied for funding for last program year, and while they were granted some funding from the CDAC last year they unsuccessfully applied for additional funding so the project could not move forward at that time. He said in addition there were issues with public opinion last year as well as public and neighborhood support for the project. Public Works has held and attended many events over the past year to work through those issues and there is now public support for the project. The project will link the KU campus to South Park. Uddin said that there is already an existing sidewalk along the route; however there are places where the sidewalk is not in good condition, so part of the project will be to fix those sidewalks. He also said that there will be ADA compliant ramps placed at the intersections. Additionally, Uddin said that there will be lights added to the pathway for the safety of those walking on the pathway at night. He said that the entire project will be around $300,000, and the CDBG portion they are asking for is $137,010. There is 2010 CDBG funding for the project in the amount of $50,000, and the University of Kansas is funding $120,000. 1

2 Uddin said that if the committee had to choose between the two projects for funding priorities, the Public Works department asks that priority be with the KU Lighted Pathway project. Uddin said the second application was for the 2011 CDBG Gap Sidewalk Program. He explained that the 2011 application is for a project along Iowa street from 9 th Street to 6 th Street. Uddin said that Public Works feels that this is a very good project in that it will complete a vital link in the existing sidewalk network, and it will close the gap between 9 th Street and 6 th Street. He explained that the CDBG Sidewalk Gap Program started in late 2007, and so far Public Works has completed 3.5 miles of sidewalks costing approximately $450,000. Uddin said that for the last two or three years the construction market has been very good and prices were low. This had made a significant difference in the amount of work that could get done for the funding allocated. Public Works has done projects such as sidewalks on Haskell, 15 th Street, 3 rd Street, Iowa Street, and 18 th Street. Uddin said that the City has received a lot of praise and compliments from citizens about this project. He said that they call it the CDBG Gap Sidewalk program and not the CDBG Gap Sidewalk project because they do feel that it is an ongoing program. Uddin noted that in 2005 a city-wide sidewalk survey was completed. The purpose of the inventory was to locate gaps and to find locations where sidewalks are in bad or unsafe conditions. This sidewalk inventory has been utilized in other projects and because of this inventory Public Works knows where the community needs are and they have an estimate of funding need to bring the existing sidewalks in bad condition to safe conditions. Additionally, they are able to close the gaps that exist so the community has a continuous sidewalk and improved walkability. Uddin said that Public Works estimates that there is approximately 10 miles of sidewalk gaps and another approximately 10 miles of replacement sidewalk needed to complete the critical category on the map. He estimates that it will take roughly $2-3 million to bring a resolution in the program. He said in the last two to three years Public Works has been funded by CDBG at roughly $200,000 per year. He said that estimates show that if that this funding level continues for the next five years there will be a very significant difference in overall inventory. Uddin said that the 2011 proposal continues the trend and fits in the overall vision. This particular area along Iowa was part of a larger brainstorming to determine how to connect 6 th Street to Iowa. He said that there were several options, all with a level of difficulty. He said that a couple of engineers looked at it, but ultimately it was Swarts who suggested the route the funding request is covering. Uddin said the City has the right-of-way, the fee is workable and the project will provide an additional connection to 7 th Street. He said that the CDBG Gap Sidewalk program is a great investment as over 10,000 people will benefit. They are asking for $170,000 for the Gap program. Uddin added that Public 2

3 Works staff is providing all design and survey services, showing a significant inkind contribution that enhances the overall benefit. Polson asked if bicycles will be allowed on the KU Lighted Pathway. Uddin said that bicycles can be anywhere. He said that while that is true, the path itself is not going to be any wider than a sidewalk. He said that typically the bike paths are wider than sidewalks, and with the Lighted Pathway, Public Works will be utilizing the existing sidewalk. Public Works will be improving the existing sidewalk, not building it. Teixeira asked about the guidelines for brick sidewalk replacements in the CDBG Gap Sidewalk program. Uddin said that generally if the existing sidewalk is brick then Public Works will replace it with brick. Belt asked if that can ever be a decision that is changed. Uddin said that can happen if the neighborhood does not want it, if it is not historical, or if the owner requests that it not be replaced with brick. Teixeira asked what the life expectancy for sidewalks was. Uddin said approximately 20 or 30 years for both brick and concrete. Welty asked if Uddin or Public Works had seen the additional Capital Improvement requests from some of the low-moderate income neighborhoods. Uddin said he had not seen the North Lawrence application, but he had spoken briefly to representatives from the Oread Neighborhood. He said that he provided them some guidance as to the cost of the projects. Welty asked Uddin if he remembered the Oread Neighborhood projects. Uddin said he did not remember exact projects for which they were submitting applications, but just that he remembered speaking to them. He added that those projects seem to be important needs also. Welty said that there was a pending request from Oread Neighborhood to put crosswalks on 14 th Street and Tennessee. She asked if the CDAC approved the Lighted Pathway was it possible that action would remove the need for funding for the crosswalks. 3

4 Uddin said that the crosswalks are not part of the Lighted Pathway project in their proposal. The crosswalks are still very important. Norwood asked about the stairway project in the Oread Neighborhood. Teixeira added that with limited funding the CDAC was trying to look for overlaps in the applications or possible upcoming Public Works projects that can meet the need as well. Uddin said in the neighborhoods the priority is a little different. He said that Public Works looks at the whole city and neighborhoods look at their own needs. He said that projects have happened in the past where Public Works has partnered with the neighborhood on sidewalk projects. 4. Discuss CDBG Capital Improvements. Swarts said there was an error on the spreadsheet distributed to the committee and that the Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. Blighted Housing Rehab and Resale Project was incorrectly labeled as a HOME funded request when it should have been a CDBG Capital Improvement request. Polson moved to fully fund 13a, Independence, Inc. Accessible Housing Program, in the amount of $33,000. Welty seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Norwood moved to fully fund 3b, North Lawrence Improvement Association 3 rd and Elm Sidewalk Project, in the amount of $3,200. Polson seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Polson moved to fully fund 15a, The Social Service League of Lawrence Building Repairs of Historical Social Services League Building in the amount of $1,800. Belt seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Norwood moved to fully fund 19a, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation in the amount of $400,000; 19b, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division First Time Homebuyers Rehab Program - LCHLT in the amount of $100,000; 19d, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Energy Savings Improvements Exterior Weatherization in the amount of $80,000; and 19e, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Furnace and Emergency Loans in the amount of $35,000; Teixeira seconded the motion. Mitchell called for any discussion. 4

5 Belt said that he sees fully funding First Time Homebuyers Rehabilitation, the Weatherization Program, and the Furnace and Emergency Loan program, but he wants to see if there is any wiggle room in the Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation request. Swarts said that within the $400,000 request for the Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation program there is $150,000 set aside for program delivery, which pays staff salaries for the project specialists as well as related expenses. This leaves $250,000 of the request that can be utilized for rehabilitation, and with the $25,000 per project cap this equals 10 homes that can be rehabbed during the program year. Suenram asked what the Administration amount was if program delivery was paying salaries. Swarts said that Administration pays for administration of the program as a whole, including some salaries, citizen participation requirements, legal publications, etc. Program Delivery is payment of salaries and related expenses for the staff that are actually delivering the programs. The rehab staff works with the Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation program, furnace loans, emergency loans, and additionally works with Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. on the First Time Homebuyer Homeowner and Rehabilitation program. As they do the actual delivery of the programs they are able to be paid out of this pot of money. Belt asked Swarts about the Blighted Housing Rehabilitation and Resale project from Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. He said that he knows the working relationship that the City has with Tenants to Homeowners, and was wondering if there was any overlap in the Tenants to Homeowners project request and the City s programs. Swarts noted that it was possible that this project could be done as a pilot project for less than the $300,000 that they are requesting. It is similar to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program as well as what is already done with the reserve that Tenants to Homeowners has. This is a project they have done previously and the City has helped to rehabilitate the properties. Swarts said that she thought that this was a program that Tenants to Homeowners was looking at to have funding available in case a home came up that they could rehabilitate and resell. Suenram asked if the funding allocation was reduced to $100,000 would this be something that would be reasonable for them to operate with. Swarts said that Tenants to Homeowners is a realistic organization and that they would likely be fine with that allocation. 5

6 The motion failed 2-5. Norwood moved to fully fund 19a, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation in the amount of $400,000; and 19b, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division First Time Homebuyers Rehab Program - LCHLT in the amount of $100,000. The motion died for lack of a second. Norwood asked Swarts if there were any imposed limits on Capital Improvement funding. Swarts said that the only caps were within HOME and CDBG Public Services and Administration HOME also requires a minimum set-aside for the CHDO. There are no limitations with the Capital Improvement allocation. Swarts provided background for the CDAC regarding Energy Savings Exterior Weatherization program (Weatherization) and noted it is the most popular program that the staff administers. She said that while most of our programs are loans, this program is a grant, hence the popularity. She said that through 2009, the Weatherization request had been $40,000 for several years. Approximately homes were weatherized each year using the $40,000 allocation. In 2009, the request and allocation was $40,000 but there were twice as many applicants and nearly $80,000 was expended, weatherizing 65 homes. Staff reallocated comprehensive rehabilitation funding to cover the gap. Recognizing the additional need, the request for 2010 was $80,000. It appears that 80+ homes will be weatherized this year with that amount of funding. This year the CDD staff has become involved in the Take Charge Challenge which is a competition with Manhattan to see which community can net more overall energy savings. The rehab staff is involved in the planning process and distribution of information to the public. Swarts said that this year staff is providing a package of energy efficient light bulbs to everyone who participated in the Weatherization program. Norwood said that funding these projects will allow this division to do their jobs and provide the community with these programs. She said that she thought it would behoove the CDAC to assist them in helping the citizens of Lawrence. Welty said that by her numbers, the CDAC had $879,798 to work with. Belt asked if Tenants to Homeowners receives the bulk of their funding from the HOME program. Swarts said yes. 6

7 Polson moved to fully fund 19d, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Energy Savings Improvements Exterior Weatherization in the amount of $80,000; and 19e, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Furnace and Emergency Loans in the amount of $35,000; Norwood seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Polson moved to fund 12a, Community Living Opportunities Exterior Painting of Seven Group Homes, in the amount of $30,000. Mitchell seconded the motion. Norwood asked if CLO had previously received funding for painting their homes. Swarts said that in 2009 CLO had received $36,000 for group home repairs. The motion passed 6-1. Norwood moved to fund 19a, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation in the amount of $300,000; and 19b, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division First Time Homebuyers Rehab Program - LCHLT in the amount of $100,000. Belt seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Teixeira moved to fully fund 14a, The City of Lawrence Public Works Division KU/Downtown/Oread Lighted Pedestrian Pathway in the amount of $137,010. Mitchell seconded the motion. Norwood asked for a friendly amendment to fund 14a, The City of Lawrence Public Works Division KU/Downtown/Oread Lighted Pedestrian Pathway in the amount of $100,000. Teixeira and Mitchell accepted the friendly amendment. Teixeira asked if the project will go on if it is not fully funded with CDBG funding. Swarts said that her sense was that if the project receives a reasonable amount of funding it may still go forward. Swarts noted that not all the neighborhood was on board with the project last year, so the funding that the Public Works department received was specific to the lights in the South Park area and some of the adjacent sidewalk. They were not able to get all the funding requested last year and they were still able to do part of the project. She said that she did not know for sure, but she did not see anything that would indicate it could not happen the same way this year. 7

8 The motion passed 6-1. Polson moved to fully fund 11a, The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence Bus Upgrade in the amount of $40,000. Belt seconded the motion. Mitchell called for discussion. Welty said that she was not sure how appropriate funding this project was based on the fact that the CDAC has been focused on housing. Polson asked how sidewalk projects fit into housing. Swarts said that the sidewalks fit under revitalized neighborhoods. Belt said that his concern was as more schools are facing closure more kids will have to be moved between schools and programs. Suenram said that she understood that, and that she supports the program, but she just did not know how the project fit under the mission of the funding. She said she had a very hard time fitting this into the mission as she read the application. Teixeira said that in looking at the Step Up to Better Housing document, sidewalks do fall under revitalized neighborhoods so he understands how those fit in. He said that he wanted to help the Boys and Girls Club out, but he did not see how it was appropriate for the funding either. He asked Swarts if there was an audit process for the CDAC charter. Swarts said that there was not a charter. She said the CDAC had voted again this year to follow the Step Up to Better Housing strategy in the funding decisions. The CDAC can recommend what they wish and it will go to the City Commission. The City Commission will accept the recommendation, make a different determination, or request the CDAC to revisit their decision. Swarts noted that the CDAC would probably want to have a good foundation for their decision to allocate funds to a project such as this, as it is less likely to be understood how it is meeting the strategy, unlike a housing or sidewalk project. Welty said that she did not feel comfortable funding this project because it does not fit into the Step Up to Better Housing strategy. She said she did not want to start a precedent funding projects outside of the established focus. The motion failed 2-5. Norwood moved to zero fund 4b, The Oread Neighborhood Association Oread Rock Garden and Stonewall Maintenance - $6,000; and to zero 8

9 fund 4d, The Oread Neighborhood Association Crosswalk Striping and Signage - $8,925. Teixeira seconded the motion. Polson asked for a friendly amendment to zero fund 4b, The Oread Neighborhood Association Oread Rock Garden and Stonewall Maintenance - $6,000; to zero fund 4c, The Oread Neighborhood Association Edgehill Road Stairway and Sidewalk Repair - $10,000; and to fund 4d, The Oread Neighborhood Association Crosswalk Striping and Signage in the amount of $2,475. Polson explained it would be for the crosswalk at 11 th and Vermont. Norwood and Teixeira accepted the friendly amendment. The motion passed 7-0. Welty moved to zero fund 11a, The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence Bus Upgrade - $40,000. Suenram seconded the motion. The motion passed 5-2. Welty moved to zero fund 14b, The City of Lawrence Public Works Division Sidewalk Project - $170,000. Teixeira seconded the motion. Belt said that the Sidewalk Program will affect more people city-wide than the Lighted Pathway. Belt asked for a friendly amendment to zero fund 14a, The City of Lawrence Public Works Division KU/Downtown/Oread Lighted Pedestrian Pathway - $137,010; and to fully fund 14b, the City of Lawrence Public Works Division Sidewalk Project in the amount of $170,000. Swarts asked if it made a difference that the Lighted Pathway project was a partnership between the City, KU, and the Oread Neighborhood. Belt said he would like to see more leadership from KU on this project. Teixeira said that the pathway was located in an area of real need. Welty did not accept the friendly amendment. The motion passed 6-1. Norwood moved to fund 18c, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc Blighted Housing Rehab and Resale in the amount of $200,000. 9

10 The motion died for lack of a second. Norwood moved to fully fund 19a, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation in the amount of $400,000; and 18c, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc Blighted Housing Rehab and Resale in the amount of $132,323. Teixeira seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0. Polson moved to fully fund 12a, Community Living Opportunities Exterior Painting of Seven Group Homes in the amount of $35,800; and 18c, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc Blighted Housing Rehab and Resale in the amount of $126,523. Suenram seconded the motion. The motion passed 7-0. Moving on to HOME allocations, Norwood moved to fully fund 16a, Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority Homeless Transitional Housing Program (TBRA) in the amount of $270,000; 17a, Lawrence Habitat for Humanity The 75 th, 76 th, and 77 th Home Foundations Project in the amount of $49,500; 18a, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc CHDO Operating Funds in the amount of $35,000; 18b, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc CHDO Project Funds in the amount of $105,000; and 19c, The City of Lawrence Community Development Division First Time Homebuyers Program Lawrence Community Land Housing Trust in the amount of $164,006. Polson seconded the motion. The motion passed Miscellaneous/Calendar There were no additional items. 6. Public Comment There was no public comment. 7. Adjourn Polson moved to adjourn the January 27, 2011 meeting of the CDAC at 7:00 pm. The motion was seconded by Welty and passed unanimously. 10

11 Attendance Record Members Deron Belt Quinn Miller Julie Mitchell Vern Norwood Brenda Nunez Aimee Polson Roberta Suenram David Teixeira Patti Welty Vacant Vacant Jan Jan E + Feb 10 Feb 24 Mar 11 Mar 24 Apr 14 Apr 28 May May Jun July Aug Sept Sept Oct Oct Nov Dec E Excused Absence 11