Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-269 Resolution No. 06-269 RESOLUTION ADOPTING CHAIN LINK FENCE GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,ILLINOIS,that the attached Chain Link Fence Grant Program Guidelines dated November 8, 2006 are hereby adopted and approved by the City Council as the City of Elgin's guidelines for such program. s/Ed Schock Ed Schock, Mayor Presented: November 8, 2006 Adopted: November 8, 2006 Omnibus Vote: Yeas: 7 Nays: 0 Attest: s/Dolonna Mecum Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk 0�,�B NIA[GO �O „06 H:LGIN 2005 PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM CHAIN LINK FENCE GRANT PROGRAM GUIDELINES I. Eligible Properties II. Application Process III. Review of Applications IV. Inspections V. Agreements VI. Grant Project Work VII. Payment of Grant Fund I. Eligible Properties The Chain Link Fence Removal Program provides financial assistance to property owners to remove existing chain link fencing in the front or street yards. The fence must be located between the front line of the house and the public sidewalk. For properties located on corner lots, both yards that front on a public street are eligible. A grant of up to $2,000 per street yard frontage is available with a maximum grant of up to $3,000 for properties on corner lots. Grants will provide funds to remove existing chain link fencing and repair the yard. Properties are eligible to apply for the Chain Link Fence Removal Grant Program if they meet the following qualifications: 1. The property must have an existing chain link fence installed on a visible street yard. 2. The property must contain no more than four dwelling units. Properties where the proposed work will convert the use to a lawful, conforming status and be made compliant with all applicable codes will also be considered. 3. The property owner must be at least eighteen(18) years of age. II. Application Process Applications will be accepted beginning April 1st and the application period will run through October 31st. Completed application packets will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis. An initial inspection will be conducted to confirm that the property is eligible for the grant. Attach supporting documentation to the application form including the following: • Verification of Property Ownership including the following: o Property Warranty Deed o Most recent Property Tax Form o Land Contract registered with the County • Photographs of the existing chain link fence on the property. • Plat of Survey indicating the existing chain link fence that is proposed to be removed. III. Review of Applications On receipt of the application form, the property and proposed work will be evaluated by City staff. IV. Inspections One of the requirements of the grant program is that properties participating in the grant program be fully compliant on the exterior of the property with all applicable codes prior to final payment. To facilitate the awareness of any code violations on properties, inspections by the Department of Code Administration and Development Services will be carried out as outlined below. 1. Initial code inspection: After receipt of application, an initial code inspection of the exterior will be carried out by a Code Enforcement Officer of the Department of Code Administration and Development Services to determine existing code violations. This inspection will be carried out in addition to the evaluation of the proposed work and be conducted prior to undertaking the Grant Agreement. An inspection permission slip is included and must be signed and submitted with the grant application. 2. The property owner will be notified of outstanding code violations on the property. The violations will need to be corrected within the time allocated by the Department of Code Administration and Development Services. If an extension is required, please contact the Code Enforcement Officer that conducted the inspection. 3. After completion of the project, a follow-up code inspection will be carried out on the property prior to disbursing the funds to ensure that violations are corrected. In the event the grant work is completed, but other code violations exist which were not identified during the first inspection, additional time may be provided. The time for compliance will be determined by the Director of the Department of Code Administration, or designee, not to exceed a maximum of 90 days. Note: If a project is not completed in the stipulated amount of time or withdrawn by the applicant, all the code violations on the exterior of the property determined at the initial code inspection and/or any subsequent inspection will need to be corrected. The time limit allowed for compliance with the property maintenance codes will be determined by the Code Enforcement Officer. V.Agreements 1. Grant Agreement: The selected participants of the grant program will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the City of Elgin in a form specified by the Corporation Counsel to complete the proposed grant project. Grant Agreements must be signed and returned within 30 days, or it will constitute a forfeiture of the grant awarded, and funds will be transferred to the next project on the waiting list. The Community Development Group Director is authorized to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the City in a form approved by the Corporation Counsel. 2. Term of Grant Agreement: Property owners participating in the grant program have 12 months from the date of signing the agreement to complete the grant project. VI.Grant Project Work 1. Beginning the project: Grant project work as reviewed and approved by City Staff may commence after the Grant Agreement has been signed. 2. Building Permits are required for all grant project work carried out to the exterior of the structures on the property. Properties located in a locally designated Historic District must conform to the Elgin Design Guideline Manual and be approved through a Certificate of Appropriateness. Grant participants have 3 months from the date of signing the Grant Agreement to receive the required permits. 3. Time period to complete grant project: Grant participants have 12 months to complete all the work as originally approved under the agreement. If the grant work has not been completed within the 12 month time period, the grant funds will be forfeited unless additional time, not to exceed 90 days, is granted by the Community Development Group Director or designee due to unreasonable or unforeseen circumstances. Note: All outstanding code violations will need to be corrected in the time allotted for the completion of the project regardless of whether the project has been completed or withdrawn by the applicant. 4. Progress reports will be mailed out to grant recipients on a quarterly basis to track the progress of the project and to identify any potential timing problems before they arise. 5. Final evaluation of grant project: On completion of the grant project, an evaluation of the work will be carried out by the appropriate City Staff together with any additional code inspections. VII.Payment of Grant Funds 1. Payment of grant funds will only be made once the grant project is completed and approved within the stipulated 12 months and the property is made fullycode pp P p p Y compliant on the exterior of the property. Payments will only be processed after submission of proper proof of payment to the contractors/vendors, together with statements of completion or waivers of lien. Payment will not exceed the original amount allocated at the time of approval of the project. 2. This is a reimbursement grant. The grant is paid out after the project is completed. If the applicant needs a portion of the grant as start-up funds, the following items must be provided: • Documentation demonstrating financial need must be provided with the application. • Documentation detailing the amount of start-up funds required. (contractors bid or list of materials) • Up to 50% of the grant amount awarded can be provided as start-up funds towards the cost of initial payment of a qualified contractor to complete the work. • A property lien will be placed against the property for the amount of the start- up funds. Please note that grant funds received are considered taxable income and the grant recipient will receive a 1099G Form. Additional Information Call the City of Elgin, Planning and Neighborhood Services Department at 847-931-5910 for further information. Effective Date of Guidelines: November 8, 2006 F:\Legal Dept\miscellaneous\Guidelines-ChainLinkFenceProgram-11-06.doc