HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 05/12/2014MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA MAY 12, 2014
The Ames City Council met in Special Session at 7:05 p.m. on the 12 day of May, 2014, in the Cityth
Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue, pursuant to law with Mayor Pro Tem Matthew
Goodman presiding and the following Council Members present: Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri,
Tim Gartin, Chris Nelson, and Peter Orazem. Mayor Ann Campbell and ex officio Member Lissandra
Villa were absent.
Also in attendance at the public forum were the following: Nora Ladjahasan of Iowa State University
(ISU); Raquel Draper; Bill Vaughn, representative of Mainstream Living, Inc.; Mingjie Sun,
representative of ISU; Roy and Pat Hougen, Jan and Henry Gray, Lynette Spicer, Jan Flora, and
Diane Birt, representatives of AMOS; Richard Deyo; Debbie Lee, Catherine Scott; Anita Rollins;
Angie Schreck and Linda Wishman, representatives of ACCESS; Shari Reilly, representative of
AMOS, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Emergency Residence Project (ERP); David Beagley of Home For
Awhile; Daniel Lee; Sam Erickson, representative of CHI, Inc.; Dale VanderSchaaf of Story County
Community Housing; Vic Mos, representative of ERP; Terry Hamilton-Poore; Pat Brown; and Ann
Rohovich.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) ANNUAL ACTION PLAN
PUBLIC FORUM: Housing Coordinator Vanessa Baker-Latimer reported that a Council Workshop
was scheduled on March 18 to solicit public input regarding the possible goals for the 2014-18
Five-Year Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan Goals and Priorities were adopted by the
City Council at its March 25, 2014, meeting. She advised that staff is now ready to conduct the
second phase of the CDBG process – the Annual Action Plan. This workshop was scheduled to
gain input from the public regarding possible program areas and project activities to be
considered for the 2014-15 program year. She further advised that the “program areas” and
related activities for the 2014-15 program year must address one or all of the goals and priorities
identified for the Five-Year Consolidated Plan, meet a federal national objective, and be timely
administered in accordance with federal rules. Ms. Baker-Latimer provided those present with
background information regarding the City's CDBG program.
Housing Coordinator Baker-Latimer gave an overview of the goals and priorities adopted for the
upcoming 2014-18 Five-Year CDBG Consolidated Plan. She further reviewed eligible Annual
Action Plan program areas and project activities, current and previous Annual Action Plan
projects, and the needs in the community derived from the Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing Choice Study.
Ms. Baker-Latimer reminded those present that, normally, the City is required to submit the Plan
to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 45 days prior to the beginning
of the program year (which would be on or before May 17); however, with Council approval,
staff requested and received approval from HUD for a time extension to submit both the
Consolidated and Action Plans by July 31, 2014. Ms. Baker-Latimer stated that staff has also
been notified that the City’s CDBG allocation for 2014-15 is $488,278, which is approximately
$20,000 less than what was received in 2013-14. She advised that the program caps are 20% for
planning and administration and 15% for public service.
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Small group discussions were held to give individuals the opportunity to review and discuss the
various program areas and project activities for the 2014-15 Action Plan. At the conclusion of
the small group discussions, group leaders presented the summary for each group.
A summary of proposed program areas and project activities follows:
Group #1:
·New Mainstream Living accessibility improvement; “shovel ready”, $164,000 (ask 75k) with
a goal of 2.A
·Future Community Life; goal #1 is 2.A
·Now Home For Awhile (family transitional and emergency housing with capital (units) and
operations (rent units)
·Transportation (gasoline voucher); #1.2.A.B
·Grant hunting with City staff help
·Address blight through public private partnerships yielding affordable housing (ANAWIM
– Drake); #2.A
·Re-purpose Edwards as a community center (#1.2.A.B)
·Motor Lodge family shelter (#1.2.A.b)
·Transit support for ABE/GED students of DMACC/Hunziker (#1.2.A.b)
Group #2:
·Project Iowa (firm partner/jobs available)
·Trainees require child care, transport, and other costs that impede training for 8-12 weeks
·Bullet #1; short and long term – City Council could help with firm recruitment through the
Chamber and AEDC
Group #3:
·Continue to be open to redevelopment/rehabilitation of existing properties
·Identify and/or tear down blighted properties
·Continue emergency rental/utility assistance (look at CHAS data)
·Complete housing inventory
·Acquisition of shelter property on East Lincoln Way
·Vacated school property
·Examine effects of zoning and affordability
Group #4 (3 activities):
Activity 1 -
·Continue what has worked
·Rent assistance, first time homebuyer, rehab/habitat
·Objective is 1A for the short- and long-term
Activity 2 –
·Renters need mechanism to resolve disputes with landlords
·Objective is 2A: Legal service, both short- and long-term
Activity 3 –
·Assist with establishing more low-income housing, as with Eastwood
·Objective is 1A; Long-term and may involve other programs than CDBG (tax abatement,
etc.)
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Group #5:
Create, Expand, and Maintain Affordable Housing:
·Purchase properties to be used as emergency or transitional housing for families
·Provide funds to non-profit organizations to create or expand emergency/transitional housing
·Need a long-term plan to address supply and quality of affordable housing
·More frequent inspection of rentals
·Job training for LMI individuals (project Iowa); $5,000 to $6,000/person
·Incentives to landlords and developers for LMI housing
·Allow landlords to apply for CDBG money for renovations in exchange for LMI housing
·Temporary staff to assist with workload and identifying ways to leverage outside funding
·Bus shelters in low-income areas, such as South 16 Streetth
·Expand route service to LMI neighborhoods and to manufacturing companies (Dayton
Avenue)
Housing Coordinator Baker-Latimer advised that after the public forum tonight, she will
prepare a report with recommendations on administering the program areas with funding
amounts for the Council’s review at a special meeting which will be held on May 19.
Preparation of the Annual Action Plan will then take place through the month of June. A
public hearing on the Plan will then be held at the Council’s meeting on July 22, 2014, with
the anticipated HUD approval and congressional release of funding to be October 1, 2014.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Corrieri to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 p.m.
_______________________________________________________________________
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
___________________________________
Jill L. Ripperger, Recording Secretary