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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 05, 1988 COW l Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Mayor Van De Voorde called the meeting to order at 7 : 05 p.m. , in the Council Chambers. Members present : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple , Shales, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Absent : Councilman Gilliam. The City Manager furnished the Council with the following items : ( 1) proposal submitted by the Elgin Day Care Center; ( 2 ) a letter from Two Rivers Headstart withdrawing their previous request for funding; ( 3 ) an evaluation of each activity proposed for CDBG funding, including a staff recommendation; and ( 4 ) a budget summary of available revenues and projected expenditures . Project - Ramped curb cuts in specific areas ( generally the downtown area) , particularly near public facilities and parking. Submitted by Fox River Valley Center for Independent Living. Funding requested - All suggested ramped curb cuts $16 ,400. Priority suggested ramped curb cuts $8,400. Staff recommendation - The priority curb cuts be funded at $8,400. Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Moylan to fund whatever curb cuts that are not done, except those included in other paving improvements . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Project - Funding for the reconstruction of streets . Submitted by the Engineering Department . Funding requested - $300 , 000 . Staff recommendation - Funding this proposed activity at the funding level requested. Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to fund this project in the amount of $294 , 200. Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays: None. Project - To acquire property from the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad for development of a parking lot . Submitted by Kresmery and Ward (The Bindery) . Funding requested - $30 , 000 1 f Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 2 Staff recommendation - Based upon the project background and lack of financial need statements staff recommends the Council not fund this project . Council agreed not to fund this project . Project - To construct a parking lot containing approximately 85 parking spaces . Submitted by Kresmery and Ward ( "The Bindery" ) Funding requested - $81, 700 . Staff recommendation - After review of the special use conditions and review of CDBG regulations staff recommends that the Council not fund this project . Council agreed not to fund this project . Project - To provide a landscaped "vest pocket" area on the South Street right-of-way fronting on South State Street . Submitted by Kresmery and Ward ( "The Bindery" ) Funding requested - $16 , 000 . Staff recommendation - That this project be considered for funding. Staff further recommends that once improved and landscaped the improved parcel be leased to the owners of the Bindery Building for a five year period. The proposed leasing of the parcel is based upon the concept that The Bindery Building will derive the most direct benefit from this improvement . Councilwoman Shales made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to fund this project . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Popple and Shales . Nays : Councilmen Moylan, Waters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Project - To repair roofing on the Elderly High-Rise. Submitted by the Housing Authority of Elgin. Funding requested - $48, 000 to be matched with $53 , 654 from HUD for a total of $101, 654 . Staff recommendation - The original cost estimate for this project was $53 , 654 and this was successfully obtained from HUD. However, further investigation revealed extensive sub- surface damage which resulted in the need for $48, 000 in additional funding. The project background states that additional funding was requested from HUD. After further discussion with Housing Authority staff itwas discovered that the additional funding was not applied for nor were cost savings realized on other projects that could have been applied to this project . Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 3 Staff strongly encourages the Housing Authority to apply for additional funding from HUD. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion, seconded by Councilman Walters to the Housing Authority to go back to HUD to amend their grant application to cover this additional amount . Yeas : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. Project - Family Courts Fencing. Submitted by the Housing Authority of Elgin. Funding requested - $25 , 000. Funding has also been requested from HUD. Staff recommendation - The funding of the replacement of boundary fences , but not the funding of fencing for play areas located within the courts . Staff estimates that replacement of the boundary fences would represent about 70% of the requested funding, or $18 , 000 . Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Project - Playground Equipment . Submitted by the Housing Authority of Elgin. Funding requested - $15 , 000 . I Staff recommendation - The Housing Authority utilize the play areas adjacent to the three public housing courts and abandon the on-site play areas . Regarding Elizabeth Court staff questions the proposed location of play equipment and the number of children that would be served. Staff recommends that this project not be funded. Council approved staff' s recommendation. Project - "No Parkin " and No Trespassing Si na e J g p g g g to restrict non-resident use of the public housing courts . Submitted by the Housing Authority. Funding requested - $12 , 000 Staff recommendation - That the funding request for "no parking" and "no trespassing" signage be approved. Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Project - Television Antennas to provide roof mounted television antennas for public housing units . Submitted by the Housing Authority. Funding requested - $15 , 000 . Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 4 Staff recommendation - Although an eligible activity staff does not recommend this proposed activity for funding. Staff has recommended other activities for funding that would appear to have a higher priority than antennas . Council approved the staff ' s recommendation. Project - Folding Tables and Chairs for the Community Room at 120 S. State St . Submitted by the Housing Authority of Elgin. Funding requested - $17 , 000. CDBG Eligibility Determination - This proposed activity would appear to be ineligible . Councilwoman Popple made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to approve the request for tables and chairs , subject to findings of staff. Mayor Van De Voorde suggested these furnishings could be purchased with contingency funds. Councilwoman Moylan made a motion to table this item for further clarification by staff. (this motion died for lack of a second ) Vote call for motion on the table - Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple and Shales . Nays: Councilman Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Project - Elgin Residential Rehabilitation Rebate Program To provide grants for the rehabilitation of housing owned oroccupied by low and moderate income households. Submitted by the Elgin Planning Department . Funding requested - $200 , 000 . Staff recommendation - This program assists property owners , through full and partial grants , to correct housing code deficiencies . The program is structured to provide the greatest assistance to the lowest income households. This program also works in concert with the Neighborhood Housing Services loan program. It is recommended that the City continue funding for this program. The amount of funds requested reflects recent expenditure patterns in the program. Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 5 Project - Planning and Management . To provide funding for planning and management activities for the redevelopment of older areas and the planning of capital improvements . Funding requested - $80 , 000. Council approved the funding of this project . Project - NHS Office Acquisition and rehabilitation. To acquire and rehabilitate a suitable struction for an NHS office. Submitted by the Neighborhood Housing Services of Elgin. Funding requested - $100 , 000. Staff recommendation - The funding of this project . It is suggested that $75 , 000 may be an adequate allocation at this time considering that a structure has yet to be located and federal acquisition regulations require approximately a six month period to acquire. Council approved staff' s recommendation. Project - Streetscape. To eliminate paved tree banks; to provide trees and tree planters along the public right-of- way; and to enhance the Dundee Avenue gateway. Submitted by the Dundee Avenue Association. Funding requested - $60 , 000. Staff Recommendation - This project would not qualify under low and moderate benefit based upon the service area of Dundee Avenue. The Dundee Avenue Tax Increment Project and the Central Elgin Neighborhood Center are two redevelopment projects currently underway that should have substantial impact on the streetscape. This type of project may be better addressed in the Integrated Capital Budget where the entire Dundee Avenue streetscape could be considered. Council approve staff' s recommendation. Project - North Grove Avenue Acquisition and Demolition. Submitted by the Greater Downtown Elgin Commission. Funding requested - $160 , 000 . Staff recommendation - To provide funding for this proposed activity through the 1987-88 approved CDBG Downtown Redevelopment fund which was allocated $100 , 000 . To consider the rebudgeting of the CBD loan program funding in one year based upon potential regulatory changes and development opportunities . Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Committee of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 6 Project - Historic Lighting. To provide appropriate and aesthetically sensitive street lighting in the Elgin Historic District . Submitted by the Gifford Park Association. Funding requested - $90 , 640 . Staff recommendation - It is proposed that CDBG funds be used to install 88 street lamp poles and lamps at intersections throughout the Historic District . Ancillary to this proposed CDBG activity is a proposal for adding lighting at mid- block locations throughout the Historic District , funds for this are proposed by a special assessment district . Staff recommends approval of the requested funding for the specified lighting improvements. Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Project - Target Housing Project Proposal. To provide free legal services to low income people and senior citizens residing on Elgin' s eastside. Submitted by Prairie State Legal Services . Funding requested - $19 , 577 . Staff recommendation - Unless the Council proposed to amend its standing policy of not funding public service activities from CDBG funds , staff would recommend denial of this proposed activity. Council approve staff ' s recommendation. Project - Senior Center Air Conditioning. To provide a central air conditioning unit for the Senior Center. Submitted by Senior Services Associates . Funding requested - $14 ,450 . Staff recommendation - Staff recommends the City consider funding this activity. Further, staff recommends increasing the funding to $16 , 604 , since the original work estimate is two years old and the CDBG program no longer allows a contingency line item. Council approve staff ' s recommendation. Project - Back Porch Reconstruction - To provide funding for the reconstruction of the rear exit of the Elgin Day Care Center located at 370 E. Chicago St . Submitted by the Elgin Day Care Center. Funding request - $935 . 00. Committe of the Whole Meeting April 5 , 1988 Page 7 Staff recommendation - All CDBG activities must comply with the same type of requirements. Therefore the proposed activity would have to have environmental clearances , historic preservation clearances (both local and state ) , specifications and bidding. Based upon the amount of funding requested and considerting the required administrative costs it may well be that more costs will be associated with administration than the amount of funding requested. Based on these findings the staff does not recommend the funding for this activity. Council approve staff' s recommendation. Project - Administration - The necessary funding to carry out the activitites funded by the Community Development Block Grant Program. Funding requested - $45 , 000 . Staff recommendation - Staff recommends a funding level of $45 , 000 for CDBG administration. This funding level would also provide sufficient funding to cover legal costs associated with the servicing of NHS loans . Any funds unexpended from administration would be available for future CDBG activities . Council approved staff ' s recommendation. Mayor Van De Voorde stated formal approval of the foregoing CDBG funding would be made at the City Council Meeting on April 27 , 1988 at 8:00 p.m. Adjournment Councilman Fox made a motion, seconded by Councilwoman Popple to adjourn the meeting. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple , Shales , Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None. The meeting adjourned at 9 :00 p.m. Marie Yearm , City Clerk