City of Lawrence, KS

Neighborhood Resources Advisory Committee

February 10, 2005 minutes

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

 

Donna Duncan, marci francisco, Janet Gerstner, Paula Gilchrist, Carrie Moore, Greg Moore, Vern Norwood, Mike Randolph, Kirsten Roussel, and Patti Welty

 

 

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:

 

Jeanette Collier

 

 

 

STAFF PRESENT:

 

Monica Cardin, Melissa Mitchell, and Margene Swarts

 

 

 

PUBLIC PRESENT:

 

Anne Burgard, John Jordan, Erick Schmidt, Tierra Scott, and Frank Tankard- KU Journalism Students

 

G. Moore called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

 

Introductions

Staff, members, and public present introduced themselves. 

 

Approval of the January 13, 2005 minutes

Norwood moved to approve the January 13, 2005 minutes.  C. Moore seconded the motion.

 

Gerstner stated that she did not ask the questions regarding the coordinators salaries or advertising of the position.  She believed it was Collier.

 

Gerstner noted the figures for the Neighborhood Association Operating Expenses appeared to be incorrect.  Staff advised they would make the corrections.

 

Welty noted that on page 6, the two addresses noted are for the sidewalk project, not the drainage tubes.

 

The motion to approve the minutes with corrections passed unanimously.

 

Discuss Deliberation Process

Gilchrist entered the meeting.

 

Staff distributed handouts.  Swarts stated that at the request of the appellant, the scheduled appeal was canceled and rescheduled for the February 24, 2005, meeting. 

Swarts briefly discussed the 2006 fiscal year proposed Presidential budget including the recommended cuts to the CDBG program.

 

francisco entered the meeting.

 

Swarts discussed the NRAC calendar. She suggested canceling the March 24, 2005 meeting and rescheduling it to March 31, 2005, due to Spring Break. She suggested April 14, 2005 for the NRAC Public Hearing.

 

Norwood moved to cancel the March 24, 2005 meeting and reschedule for March 31, 2005, and conduct the Public Hearing April 14, 2005.  C. Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

G. Moore noted he might not be in attendance at the April 14, 2005 meeting.

 

Begin Deliberations – Neighborhood Associations

Roussel updated the NRAC about HTF activities.  She stated the Board is proceeding with a final RFP for the entire amount in the fund, which is approximately $560,000.  She stated however, that without a steady funding source, the HTF cannot make a continued impact in the community. 

 

Norwood moved to fund 19A, NR - Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation, $400,000; 19B, NR - HOOT First Time Homebuyer Rehabilitation Program, $125,000; 19D, NR - Property Acquisition Program, $150,000; 19E, NR - Energy Savings Improvements, $40,000; 19F, NR - Furnace Loans, $30,000; and 19G, NR - Emergency Loans, $30,000.  Gilchrist seconded the motion.

 

Roussel stated the amount totals $775,000, which is more than the available funds.

 

francisco questioned the reasoning for funding the Neighborhood Resources Department, rather than the neighborhood projects.

 

Norwood stated that the Neighborhood Resources Department oversees the delivery of services and programs. 

 

Gerstner stated she would prefer funding the Department activities at last year’s levels.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding the programs the Department administers. 

 

Norwood amended the motion to the 2004 funding amounts: 19A, NR - Comprehensive Housing Rehabilitation, $375,000; 19B, NR - HOOT First Time Homebuyers Rehabilitation Program, $125,000; 19D, NR - Property Acquisition Program, $100,000; 19E, NR - Emergency Savings Improvements, $35,000; 19F, NR - Furnace Loans, $20,000; and 19G, NR - Emergency Loans, $25,000.  Gilchrist agreed to the amended the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Gilchrist moved to fund 7A, Ballard Community Center, Inc. – Furnace Replacement, $3,500.  Norwood seconded the motion, which passed.

 

Norwood moved to zero-fund 7B, Ballard Community Center, Inc. – Office Carpet and Entry Way Paint Renovation.  C. Moore seconded the motion, which passed.

 

Gilchrist asked for clarification on the priority of 14A, Independence, Inc. – Accessible Housing Program (AHP), $20,000; and 14B, Independence, Inc. - Home of Your Own (HOYO), $20,000. 

 

Swarts noted that the HOYO program assists with additional funds for people with a disability to become first-time homebuyers.  The AHP helps renters with a disability with accessibility improvements to their units. 

 

Gilchrist moved to fund 14A, Independence, Inc. - AHP, $20,000.  Roussel seconded the motion.

 

francisco questioned if that could be funded out of the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program.  Swarts advised that the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program is for owner/occupants and the AHP is for rental property.

 

The motion passed.

 

Gilchrist moved to fund 15B, LDCHA – Affordable Housing Expansion Project, $13,500.  Roussel seconded the motion. 

 

Gerstner asked how Gilchrist arrived at that amount to fund.

 

Gilchrist stated that it was the balance available left to fund.

 

francisco asked if there was an understanding of what could be accomplished with partial funding.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding the project and the possibility that it would be eligible for funding through HTF.

Gilchrist and Roussel withdrew the motion and second.

 

Norwood moved to fund 6A, Achievement Place for Boys – Upstairs Bathroom Renovation, $5,050.  G. Moore seconded the motion, which passed.

 

C. Moore moved to zero-fund 10B, First Step House – Shed Replacement and Facility Door Replacement.  Norwood seconded the motion, which passed.

 

Norwood moved to zero-fund 1B, BCNA – Reconstruction of Old Shelter House and 4D, ONA – Tennessee Street Curb Repairs.  G. Moore noted that these projects were already zero-funded.  Norwood withdrew the motion.

 

Norwood moved to fund 11A, Health Care Access Clinic – Lobby Renovation, $2,207.  francisco seconded the motion.

 

C. Moore noted that there was not any history of funding for the project. 

 

Roussel stated she would rather see funding go toward the HOYO program. 

 

francisco questioned if funding could be available for both programs.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding the HOYO program. 

 

The motion failed.

 

Gerstner noted that it appears funds fluctuate in 19, Neighborhood Resources HOME activities, and questioned if funds “roll over”. 

 

Swarts stated that allocated HOME dollars may fluctuate depending on the amount of the HOME grant.

 

There followed a brief discussion regarding how the HOME program works and what the allowable uses of funds are.

 

Duncan moved to fund 14B, Independence, Inc. – HOYO, $8,748.  Gerstner seconded the motion. 

 

francisco stated that it made sense to take money out of AHP and put it toward HOYO because it would be enough for one down-payment.

 

Swarts noted that if desired, there could be a set-aside from 19C, NR - HOOT First Time Homebuyers Program, for $30,000 for the HOYO Program.

 

The motion failed.

 

francisco moved that $30,000 be set-aside in 19C, NR – HOOT First Time Homebuyer Program, for use in 14B, Independence, Inc. – HOYO.  C. Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Gilchrist moved to fund 16A, Penn House – Floor/foundation repair, $5,000.  Norwood seconded the motion.

 

francisco asked if there was another project the Committee would like to see funded, such as the East Lawrence Van Go project.

 

G. Moore agreed and noted that it was a great project.

 

Duncan questioned the funding amount of $5,000 and not the full $5,280. 

 

Gilchrist amended the motion to $5,280.  Norwood agreed to the amendment, which failed.

 

Gerstner moved to fund 2C, ELNA – Van Go Mobile Arts Building Acquisition, $5,000, and 16A, Penn House – Floor/foundation repair, $3,748.  Gerstner seconded the motion, which passed.

 

Gerstner asked if there was a reason the Salvation Army did not apply.  Swarts advised that the Community Drop-In Center, the Lawrence Open Shelter and the Salvation Army provided a joint application.

 

C. Moore moved to zero-fund 11A, Health Care Access Clinic – Lobby Renovation; 11B, Health Care Access Clinic – Exterior Improvements; 12A, Hearthstone – Sand and refinish oak floors in 3 downstairs rooms; 12B, Hearthstone – Paint Ceiling Ductwork in 2nd Floor Hall; and 15B, Lawrence/Douglas County Housing Authority – Affordable Housing Expansion Project.  Norwood seconded the motion, which passed. 

 

francisco inquired about the possibility of reducing 19F, NR – Furnace Loans, $30,000.

 

Norwood questioned if money was taken out of the furnace loan funding, would other funds be able to “roll over” to make it work. 

 

Swarts briefly explained the Department’s programs. 

francisco moved to reconsider the $3,748 allocation to Penn House since it would not fund the entire project, and fund 11A, Health Care Access Clinic – Lobby Renovation, $2,207 and the remaining $1,541 in Contingency Funds.  C. Moore seconded the motion, which passed.

 

Roussel moved to fund 17A, Tenants to Homeowners, Inc. – CHDO Project Funds - 5% of HOME Funds, $34,242; 15C, Lawrence/Douglas County Housing Authority – Administration - HOME, $20,000; and 19I, NR Administration - HOME, $48,484.  Gilchrist seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 

Roussel moved to fund 15A, LDHCA TBRA, $180,000; 17B, TTH - CHDO Project Funds Set Aside - 15% of HOME, $182,201; and 19C, NR - HOOT First Time Homebuyers Program - HOME, $240,000.  C. Moore seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. 

 

Adjourn

There being no further business, Gerstner moved to adjourn the meeting.  Roussel seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting ended at 7:00 p.m.