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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-25-1976 MinutesMINUTES SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY OF PASCO'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION Pasco Council Chambers May 25, 1976 MAYOR JAN TIDRICK OPENED THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION: Mayor Tidrick requested if there were any people present who would like to give the City input on the Block Grant Application. Kathy Utz made the statement that she had spoken to the Council concerning the Benton - Franklin Housing Development Association's proposed plan back in November, 1975, and, at that time, the Council was asked to view this proposal and comment on it as to how well it compared to our Housing Assistance Plan. Mrs. Utz is seeking funds out of the Block Grant Funds for the Title 8 housing her Organization is attempting to build at 24th and Marie. Mrs. Utz stated that this project is $5,000 short of meeting the monetory requirements, in view of the appraisal by F.H.A. ($42,500 instead of $47,000 for the property) and the discount rate on the loan which they had not anticipated having to pay. Mrs. Utz requested that the Council consider a $5,000 grant, based on the acceptance of the next stage of their proposal, to build the 30 units of Section 8 housing in Pasco. Mayor Tidrick asked the Council if they had any questions. Councilman Vern Schuelein asked, "Has there been any change as to who would take care of this after the construction is complete to operate it?" Mrs. Utz replied, "We will be the owners and the Pasco Housing Authority has agreed to provide the management, so there is no change." Councilman Chet Bailie asked, "In what terms of money are we talking about regarding cost to the City in having to maintain this housing project?" Mrs. Utz replied to the effect that the Benton -Franklin Housing Development Association would be responsible for the fair market rental and H.U.D. would provide rental subsidies in the amount of $90,000 for the first year of operations, whereby they will make out the difference between the ability of the low-income person to pay that rental and the actual cost. Therefore, they will have to be able, as any private developer, to meet the cost within their fair market rental and, based on their calculations, it is going to be close, but they feel they can do it with probably an overage of around $5,000 a year. Councilman Vern Schuelein asked, "What happens after H.U.D. stops paying this money?" Mrs. Utz replied, "Theoretically, it is not low-cost housing; it is built to meet the market and, therefore, you can rent it to anyone, but the F.H.A. guarantee it. I can't say that I am sure, but I do believe the contract is renewable every five years at the option of the owner, but it would be for the 20 years or 40 years, depending on the mortgage insurance that we have with F.H.A." Councilman Vern Schuelein asked, "Is the City of Pasco obligated in any way toward this housing?" Mrs. Utz replied, "No, in no way." She stated that she was simply requesting a one- time grant from the Block Grant funds in order to get the project built. Mayor Jan Tidrick asked if there was anyone else who would like to speak. Minutes - 2nd Public Hearing Pasco Council Chambers City of Pasco's Block Grant May 25, 1976. Applica tion. - 2 - Mr. Frank Thomsen of the Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the bicycle pathway would be a good project for the Block Grant Funds. Mayor Jan Tidrick again asked if anyone would like to speak. Mrs. Mildred Scales of the East Pasco Neighborhood Council, suggested that funds be used for east side street improvement. Mr. Bob Jacobson stated that the east side street improvement was not a commitment; it is part of the City's capital improvement program. It is a matter of City policy to determine how much Community Development Block Grant Funds would be put into residential streets when, traditionally, the City has used local improvement district funds to finance them. This question will have. to be resolved during the coming year as to how these funds are used to stimulate neighborhood improvements and to what extent it would be 100 percent financed by City and Block Grant funds, or something less than that, depending on the circumstances. Mayor Jan Tidrick stated that in response to the question, it is something that the Council could consider, and very possibly will. Mayor Jan Tidrick asked if anyone would like to speak. Ms. Katherine Smith stated that she would like to object to the fact that we do not keep an adequate record of Public Hearings such as this. She mentioned Mr. Luzell Johnson coming to the Public Hearing and requesting funds for the Neighborhood Facility Center and she said she didn't see it anywhere in the records. Ms. Katherine Smith asked, since the Block Grant money is supposed to benefit to v ino-fieraterand! ilrowi..i;rcomq)ta-ndhnindnitry'. people`p howeiFs titYgo n'gi<to,. b.eneft(tl therm-inerity people unless they deal on contracts to minority contractors on the C.B.D, project?" Mayor Jan Tidrick replied that we do have a tape recorder going and records are being kept. He further stated that, as he recalled, we did get a note to each Councilman in his Agenda regarding the request from Mr. Johnson for funds for the Neighborhood Facility. Mayor Jan Tidrick stated that the Council is aware of Mr. Luzell Johnson's request, and we do have that information. Ms. Katherine Smith stated that it should be included in the records. Mayor Jan Tidrick asked, "Which records are you speaking of?" Ms. Katherine Smith replied, "The records you are supposed to be keeping of the Public Hearing on the Community Block Grant money." Councilman Bill Wilkins stated that this is a Workshop of a Public Hearing. The Public Hearing will be officially next Tuesday night in the Council Meeting. There will not be a motion made by the Council tonight. Ms. Katherine Smith asked, "Was the last Public Hearing we had last week a Workshop? " Councilman Bill Wilkins replied, "No, there was a Secretary out there keeping the records. " Mayor Jan Tidrick said, "Miss Smith, allow me to read you this. It says 'Public Hearing - Community Development Block Grant - May 18, 19761. At the bottom of some page here it says 'Vr. Luzell Johnson made appeal on behalf of the new Neighborhood Facility. It needs a ceiling, landscaping, and a floor in the new gym.' Now, that is in the records." Minutes - 2nd Public Hearing Pasco Council Chambers City of Pasco's Block Grant May 25, 1976. Application. - 3 - Ms. Katherine Smith replied, "I'm looking at a memo to the Mayor and City Council from George Smith, subject Block Grant Public Hearing, dated May 21. It mentions everything else, but it does not mention Luzell Johnson and the money for the Neighborhood Facility, and it seems like the Council have not taken anything seriously, so I think the only reason that you give it priority is because I request it, so I'm going to make another reques t tha t all H. U. D. money be held up until you come into compliance." Mayor Jan Tidrick asked if anyone else had any comments to make at the Public Hearing. Ms. Thelma Coler, who is a Member of the Board of the Neighborhood Facility, said she would be very upset if the H.U.D. money was held up. She stated that they need this money for the landscaping and the fire coating on the ceiling, and she hopes they will not hold up funds when they are needed. Mr. Ole Homme then spoke and said that he had bought the Spooner Motel about a year and a half ago and that last summer they ran out of water because of the pumps up there. He understands that there is water right up to their line of property, with a 3/4" line, and they were without water for a week because they couldn't get an electric motor, and had to shut down for one week because they didn't have water. He said they live at 2506 East Lewis and there are several residences up there and "I am sure that water could come up that way." Mayor Jan Tidrick asked if anyone else would like to speak. Mr. Stout, President of the Senior Citizens, then spoke, informing everyone that there were about 15 senior citizens present, representing the senior citizens of Pasco. Mrs. Mary Oversby of the Pasco Senior Citizens Building Commission, then spoke. She stated that she noticed that we had received a memo to the effect that they are working to get some finalized plans that would be very concrete to offer the Council. She s to ted that they wanted the Council to know " that we are around, we are needing a building. We have a combined membership of senior citizens that, when we get bigger and get together, may surprise you, and we are certainly interested in the betterment of the City as an overall thing. We would like to see it grow in many places, but we certainly want a little part of it. Many of us'have been here years and have paid taxes and helped support the growth and improvement of Pasco. We want it to continue and we want to have a place to enjoy our Golden Years of retirement. Many of us are on limited incomes, but we want to enjoy what we can of that, and we would appreciate any help that we might get." Mrs. Oversby added that this is Senior Citizens month and she would like to see a Proclamation or something in the paper recognizing this as Senior Citizens month. Mr. Bob Jacobson then stated, "Mr. Mayor, I just want to make sure that Mr. Wilkin's remarks earlier weren't misinterpreted. This is an advertised Public Hearingcand there will be a record kept." Mayor Jan Tidrick replied, "This is an official meeting and it is on the record and we have advertised it. " Mr. Bob Jacobson stated that Councilman Wilkin's statement was correct that there is no action for the Council tonight, and said he believed that was the point he was making, but that he was afraid it might have been misinterpreted. Ms. Katherine Smith suggested that we have a Public Hearing on Affirmative Action at which records are kept and not just at Council Workshop Meetings. Mayor Jan Tidrick then asked if there were any further inquiry of this Public Hearing, and then declared the Public Hearing closed.