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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 14, 1988 COW PUBLIC HEARING - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS MARCH 14 , 1988 Mayor Van De Voorde called the hearing to order at 7 :00 p.m. , in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Member present : Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde . Absent : Councilmen Gilliam and Shales . The purpose of the Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG) hearing is two-fold: 1. To present a summary of the CDBG Program and allow time for comments from the public on the CDBG Program and community development needs; and 2 . To hear CDBG funding proposals for the 1988-1989 Community Development Block Grant Program. A general summary of the CDBG program was given by Pat Andrews , a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part hereof. The 1988-1989 CDBG Program allocation is $649 , 000. Additionally, an estimated $60 , 000 is available for budgeting. Therefore, it is estimated that $709 , 000 is available for the 1988- 1989 CDBG Program. Lorna Patton, 925 Carriage Way: I represent the Central Elgin Neighborhood Council and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing us to report on our progress and many of the activities which have been accomplished during the past year. The Neighborhood Council received monies in 1987 from the CDBG Program and these monies were used to expand and enhance community services for the residents living along the Dundee Avenue Corridor. Our primary goal is revitalization and beautification of an old but gracefully area within Elgin, which is moving in a very positive direction. The monies received last year were used to purchase a building at the corner of Dundee Avenue and Ann Street . The Central Elgin Neighborhood Council is appreciative that you believed enough in our operation to help us to help our community. We have a great bunch of volunteers on our Committee that expect to have a community that all of Elgin can be proud of and can look to with respect . We will continue our efforts to grow, and with your support and encouragement , the Central Elgin Neighborhood Council will blossom into a beautiful addition to Elgin. Public Hearing Community Development Block Grants March 14 , 1988 Page 2 Charles Olson, 1601 Oak, St . Charles : I am the Director of the Housing Authority in Elgin. We have prepared for the Council a detailed analysis of the things which are needed by the Housing Authority to improve our overall operation. We received one grant from the City in 1986 , which enabled us to put in new windows for the elderly high rise. Mayor Van De Voorde stated if there were no other comments regarding this program, the Council would now receive proposals for the 1988-1989 Grant . Lori Clark, Executive Director of the Fox River Valley Center for Independent Living submitted a proposal in the amount of $16 ,400 . 00 to cover the installation cost of textured curb cuts. Ralph Ridley, City of Elgin Engineering Supervisor, submitted a proposal in the amount of $300 , 000 to accomplish street reconstruction in the Neighborhood Strategy Area. Ken Kresmery, 208 Lawrence, Developer of "The Bindery" , 20 South State Street . This proposal requested the sum of $127 , 700 for use in the acquisition and rehabilitation of the land running from South Street to State Street to the Railroad Embankment and continguous property behind "The Bindery" , which is to be used for parking and to create a park like setting. This would include trash removal, fencing, paving and scraping of the railroad bankment . Charles Olson, Housing Authority of Elgin, submitted the following proposals : 1. Additional funding for the roof of the Elderly Hi- Rise Building, which were not in the funding request of HUD, $48, 000. 2 . Folding chairs ( 200 ) and Tables ( 20 ) for the Community Room of the Elderly Hi-Rise, $17 ,000 . 3 . Fencing for 320 Watch Ct . , Clifford Ct . , Wing Street , Illinois Ct . , and Norman Nelson Ct . , $25 , 000 4 . "No Parking" and "No Trespassing" Signs for Family Courts , $12 , 000 . 5 . Playground Equipment for Family Courts , $15 , 000 . 6 . Television Antennas for Family Courts , $15 , 000 . Public Hearing Community Development Block Grants March 14 , 1988 Page 3 Mr. Olson stated they had not duplicated their request for HUD to provide funds with anything that we are asking the City for, with the exception of the fencing, because it is so important to get some money from either HUD or the City so they are taking no chances . Mr. Cook: When do you anticipate a determination from HUD. Mr. Olson: Within two or three months . Roger Dahlstrom, City of Elgin Planning Director, submitted a request to increase the funding of the Elgin Residential Rehabilitation Program from $188 , 000 to $200, 000. This program serves to reduce the number of ongoing housing code complaints while improving streetscape aesthetics in the city' s neighborhoods and the program participation has increased substantially. Roger Dahlstrom , submitted a proposal for the continued funding of the Planning and Management function through the Community Development Block Grant Program as referenced in the adopted City of Elgin Budget for 1988 . The proposed funding level is $80 , 000 . Keith Brown, President of Neighborhood Housing Services of Elgin submitted a proposal in the amount of $100 , 000 . The purposes, to acquire and rehabilitate another house , to relocate the existing office facility to the house, and to sell the existing NHS house with the proceeds being returned to the CDBG fund. Edward Schock, representing the Dundee Avenue Association requested $60 , 000 for the purpose of replacing the paving along Dundee Avenue with sod and trees. In addition to being unsightly, the paved parkways have in many instances become surfaces on which vehicles are parked, or products are displayed. This program would greatly enhance the very heavily travelled gateway to Elgin. Mark Herzog, representing the Greater Elgin Downtown Commission. This year the Commission would like to propose that the $160 , 000 that has been earmarked for downtown facade improvement be re-budgeted. The Commission is requesting that this money be specified for acquisition and demolition of blighted and under-utilized property along the east side of North Grove , northeast of the Gail Borden Public Library. Frances M. Doherty representing Prairie State Legal Services submitted a proposal in the amount of $19 , 557 , to eliminate and prevent slums through legal advice, education, and representation. Free legal services would be available to low income people and senior citizens residing on Elgin' s near Eastside. Public Hearing Community Development Block Grants March 14 , 1988 Page 4 Gary King, representing the Gifford Park Association submitted a proposal in the amount of $90 , 640 , for historically appropriate lighting of the Historic District . The private sector, through special assessment of the Historic District , would provide approximately $271, 920 additional lighting Ln the mid-blocks. Zivile Sabin, Assistant Director of the Greater Senior Center submitted a proposal for $14 , 450 to be used to install a central air conditioning system in the Senior Center. The addition of the air conditioning will enable the Center to become a cooling site where during the severe heat seniors could come to the center. This would also increase attendance at events in the Center during the summer months . Elgin Day Care Center requested funds to replace a back porch at the Center, at an estimated cost of $935 . 00 . There being no further proposals the Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Walters made a motion, seconded by Councilman Fox to adjourn the Public Hearing. Yeas: Councilmen Fox, Moylan, Popple, Walters and Mayor Van De Voorde. Nays : None . Jim Cook announced that on April 5 , 1988, at 7 : 00 p.m. , the Council would meet in a special Committee of the Whole to discuss and evaluate the proposals received tonight . The meeting adjourned at 8: 30 p.m. Marie Yearma�, City Clerk r I MOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT GENERAL PROGRAM SUMMARY The primary goal of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is the development of viable urban communities through the provision of decent housing with a suitable living environ- ment and the expansion of economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. Consistent with this primary goal , not less than 60 percent of CDBG funds shall be used for activities that benefit persons of low and moderate income. The community objectives developed for achieving the primary goal of the CDBG program are: a. ) elimination and prevention of slums and blighting influences on the community; b. ) elimination of conditions detrimental to health, safety and welfare; c. ) conservation and expansion of housing for all persons, but especially low and moderate income persons; d. ) expansion and improvement of community services, principally for low and moderate income persons; e. ) rational utilization of land and natural resources and an improved arrangement of land uses; f. ) promotion of neighborhood revitalization, diversity, and vitality while actively discouraging isolation of persons by income; g. ) promotion of restoration and preservation of signifi- cant properties; and, I h. ) stimulation of private investment and community revitalization through an improved local economy. In order to meet the portion of the primary goal of benefiting low and moderate income persons, each grant program must demon- strate that at least 60 percent of its CDBG funds are expended on projects benefiting low and moderate income persons. Area wide projects will be considered to benefit low and moderate income persons only if the following criteria are met: a. ) the project must be carried out in a neighborhood consisting predominantly of persons of low and moder- ate income; or b. ) the project must involve facilities designed for use predominantly by persons of low and moderate income; or c. ) the project must involve the employment of persons, a majority of whom are persons of low and moderate income. For cities containing 50 ,000 or more persons, Community Develop- ment Block Grant funds are distributed through "automatic entitlement" based on a statistical formula of local need criteria. Simply, this means that the federal government has made an estimate of relative need for Community Development Block Grant funds and has assigned each eligible community "shares" . While a community can _ reject the offer of federal assistance by failing to file an application to claim its entitlement, such monies have already been set aside for their use. Nationwide , approximately 1 , 100 local political jurisdic- tions are eligible for CDBG entitlement funds. The funds are allocated annually and may be spent in a variety of ways as determined by local priorities. Eligible activities for CDBG funding include any number or combination of the following: a. ) acquisition, in whole or in part, by purchase, lease, donation, or otherwise, of real property for any public purpose. b. acquisition, construction, reconstruction, rehabilita- tion, or installation of public facilities. c. ) interim assistance to alleviate harmful conditions where immediate public action is determined by the applicant to be necessary. d. ) clearance , demolition, and removal of buildings and improvements . P. ) special projects directed to the removal of material and architectural barriers which restrict the mobility and the accessibility of elderly and handicapped persons . f. ) payments to housing owners for losses of rental income incurred in holding housing units for temporary periods to be utilized for the relocation of individu- als and families displaced by program activities. g. ) disposition, through sale, lease, donation, or other- wise, of any real property acquired. h. ) provisions of public services which are directed toward improving the community's public services and facilities. A public service must either be a new service or a quantifiable increase in the level of service that has been provided by or in the behalf of a unit of general local government. i. ) payment of the non-federal share required in connec- tion with a federal grant-in-aid program undertaken as part of the community development program. j . ) payment of the cost of completing an Urban Renewal project funded under Title 1 of the Housing Act of 1949 . k. ) relocation payments and assistance for individuals, families , businesses, organizations and farm opera- ' tions displaced by assisted activities. 1. ) rehabilitation activities, including: rehabilitation of public residential structures, public housing modernization, rehabilitation of private properties through acquisition and/or the provision of financing or materials, temporary relocation assistance, code enforcement, historic preservation and renovation -of closed school buildings. m. ) economic development activities, if determined that such activities are necessary to carry out an economic development project. Activities include: acquisition of real property for economic development; acquisi- tion , construction or reconstruction of commercial and industrial facilities; provision of assistance to private, for-profit businesses. n. ) activities by private, non-profit neighborhood and local development entities necessary to implement strategies for economic development or neighborhood revitalization. o. ) activities necessary to develop a comprehensive community development plan, functional plans and other plans and studies, including improved management capacit,7. p. ) payment of reasonable administrative costs and carry- ing charges related to the planning and execution of community development and housing activities. Although it obviously represents a flexible program, the appli- cation for funds under the Housing and Community Development Act does have certain requirements. Among the requirements is the submission of a housing assistance plan, adherence to various procedural policies and compliance with various federal acts and programs . COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN I. Introduction Citizen participation is vital to the development and implemen- tation of any plan or program. The City of Elgin recognizes the importance of citizen input and has established procedures for citizen participation in the development of its Community Development Block Grant programs. The purpose of the Citizen Participation Plan is to provide a procedure and opportunity for citizens to participate in the planning for the current year. Additionally, citizens are offered the opportunity to comment on both past and future CDBG programs . The CDBG hearings are open to all interested individ- uals and organizations. Hearing dates will be publicized locally and by direct mailings. II . Public Hearing Purposes and Schedule. The City of Elgin will hold two (2) public hearings and a City Council work session. Following is the time, date and place of each scheduled hearing and the work session, accompanied by an explanation of the purpose of each hearing. First Public Hearing Time: 7 : 00 p.m. j Date: March 14 , 1988 Place: Elgin City Hall, 150 Dexter Court The purpose of this public hearing is two-fold: 1) to provide information on the Community Development Block Grant program and to receive comments from the public regarding the program and its activities and projects; and, 2) to provide individuals and organizations the opportunity to propose projects and activities for the 1988 Community Development Block Grant program. This hearing is the opportunity for individuals and organizations to submit proposed projects and activities for consideration for the 1988 Community Development Block Grant program. Proposals submitted after this hearing will not be considered for the 1988 program. i City Council Work Session Time: 7:00 p.m. Date: April 5 , 1988 Place: Elgin City Hall, 150 Dexter Court The Elgin City Council will meet for a work session to consider all funding proposals submitted. The Elgin City Council will consider the proposals submitted, public comment's made regarding the CDBG program, and will select projects to be recommended for funding. At this meeting, public comments are usually limited to responses to questions from City Council members regarding a particular proposed project or activity. Second Public Hearinq Time: 8:00 p.m. Date: April 27 , 1988 Place: Elgin City Hall, 150 Dexter Court The purpose of this hearing is to announce the projects selected for funding under the 1988 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, to adopt a resolution authorizing the applica- tion for CDBG funds , and to receive any additional public comments regarding the CDBG program. This is the last scheduled opportunity for public input prior to the application for Community Development Block Grant funds. Additional Information: Any written comments received regarding the Community Develop- ment Block Grant program will be kept on file for public exami- nation during working hours in the City Manager' s Office, and written responses will be made within 15 days upon receipt of any question or complaint. Additionally, all pertinent informa- tion, records and regulations concerning Community Development grants will be available for public inspection. Staff will be available to assist the public in developing funding proposals, to explain federal regulations, and to provide information regarding past, present and proposed CDBG programs, projects and activities. The City Manager's office is located in the Elgin City Hall at 150 Dexter Court. Office hours are from 8: 00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Monday through Friday. The telephone number is (312) 695-6500 , Ext 201.