City of Lawrence, KS

Community Development Advisory Committee

February 27, 2014 Minutes (City Commission Room)

MEMBERS PRESENT:		Linda Bush, Alex Delaney, Steven Koprince, James Minor, Travis Weller, Patrick Wilbur

MEMBERS ABSENT:		Quinn Miller, Julie Mitchell, Vern Norwood

STAFF PRESENT:		Danelle Dresslar, Brad Karr, David Cronin

PUBLIC PRESENT:		Robert Baker (Tenants to Homeowners), Carrie Lindsey (Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority)

Chair Minor called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.

1. Introductions.

Members introduced themselves.

2. Approval of the February 13, 2014 Minutes.

Weller moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from February 13, 2014. The motion was seconded by Wilbur and passed 5-0.

3. Discussion of 2014 CDBG Capital Improvement allocations.

Robert Baker, Resource Development Director at Tenants to Homeowners, spoke to the committee about their application for CDBG Capital Improvement funds for the Cedarwood infrastructure project. Due to water issues in the neighborhood, any allocation from CDBG funds will go toward correcting drainage problems at the proposed development site. Baker said that he served on the CDAC from 1985-1990, so he understands the difficulty in allocating money, when the total amount to allocate declines every year. Baker also stated that he supports the programs ran by the City of Lawrence Community Development Division, since he once used the program for a furnace loan back in the late 1980s.

Weller asked how the $25,000 allocation would actually be spent on the project. Baker said the pavers and the retaining wall will be the most expensive part of the water mitigation. Depending on the size of the wall required, it alone could be over $100,000.

Wilbur stated that he lived on Cedarwood Ave in 1993, and asked if the water mitigation project would help the properties across the street from the site with flooding problems. Baker said he thought it would help with the water coming from Ridge Ct to Cedarwood Ave, but he did not know the impact on properties across the street. Sewer upgrades in the area by the City might help with the flooding on the east side of Cedarwood Ave.

David Cronin, City Engineer with the Public Works Department, spoke to the committee about the Public Works Department application for the sidewalk gap program. The program would use CDBG funds to install sidewalks in areas of low-mod neighborhoods in the City. They have asked for $125,000 to address a list of 13 priority locations needing sidewalks. The design, construction, and inspections would be done in-house by the Public Works Department. Cronin stated that the City has no other funding source for building these sidewalks. When street construction is done now, sidewalks are added as part of the project, but no other funding exists for filling in the gaps in current sidewalks.

Weller asked how the $125,000 amount was determined. Cronin said they took measurements of the length of sidewalks needed at each of the 13 locations on the priority list. Based off of construction costs of previous bids, the amount was determined to be $125,000. Cronin said there are many more locations that need sidewalks built, but they limited the request to these 13 locations. Koprince asked how these 13 sites were identified and chosen as priority locations. Cronin said the Public Works Department gets complaints from citizens and recommendations from neighborhood associations on locations needing sidewalks. Other sites are known areas for concern based on paths worn by heavy pedestrian foot traffic. Minor asked if the $125,000 would cover the costs for all 13 of these locations. Cronin said yes, that amount would cover all of those locations. Weller asked Dresslar if all of the sidewalk projects have to be in low-mod neighborhoods. Dresslar said yes, and that the recommendations from neighborhood associations are not just from the five neighborhoods that the CDAC funds, but all low-mod neighborhoods were asked to respond. Wilbur asked if there is ever any resistance from neighborhoods about installing sidewalks. Cronin said there have been occasions were individuals were opposed to a sidewalk being installed due to the required maintenance that comes along with the project. Adjacent property owners are notified of the project, and if a number of them have issues with the sidewalk being installed, they would not do the project.

Tony Hoch, Senior Project Specialist with the Community Development Division (CDD) of the City of Lawrence spoke to the committee about the CDD capital improvement allocation request. Hoch explained that the CDD was asking for a lump sum allocation this year, which would allow staff the flexibility to help meet critical needs in any of the programs. If there was a demand for emergency or furnace loans, money could be shifted between programs to aid the applicants, instead of turning them away. The CDD has no other funding stream, and are precluded from applying for other grants. The CDD programs are the back bone of the CDBG grant, and every program meets the goals of Step Up to Better Housing. Three of the CDD programs generate program income, which supplements the grant each year. The CDD is the lender of last resort for most of the program applicants. These applicants are routinely referred to the CDD by numerous social service agencies. These programs help keep families in their homes longer, more comfortably, and more economically.

Wilbur asked he was correct in reading the application that states the $500,000 requested would help 80 homes in the City. Dresslar said yes, 80 homes between all of the programs administered by the CDD. Weller asked if the weatherization or emergency and furnace loan programs had ever underspent the allocated amount. Dresslar said that sometimes the weatherization program will slightly underspend, but the emergency and furnace loan programs almost always hit their cap of allocated money. Since there is a waiting list for the comprehensive rehabilitation program, applicants are often times referred to one of the emergency loan programs to help with their immediate needs.

Before moving on, Dresslar mentioned to the committee that the program offered by Independence, Inc. is the only program of that type in the City. They offer accessibility upgrades to people in rental units. Weller asked if Independence, Inc. had ever underspent their allocation. Dresslar said no, the allocated money is always spent, and they are forced to help less people each year due to the increase in materials required to complete the projects.

Weller asked if the Social Service League had ever underspent their allocation. Dresslar said no, but at times it has been difficult to complete the project in the correct grant year.

Weller suggested to the committee that he would like to allocate $75,000 to the sidewalk gap project, $485,000 to CDD and fully funds the rest of the capital improvement applications. Delaney said he was thinking more like $100,000 for the sidewalk gap project. Bush stated that she agreed with $75,000 for sidewalks. Koprince said he agreed with $100,000 for sidewalks. Delaney suggested that they compromise at $87,500 for sidewalks.

Minor moved to fund 13a, Independence, Inc. at $33,000. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Delaney moved to fund 14a, City of Lawrence (Public Works Division), Sidewalk Gap Project at $87,500. Bush seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Delaney moved to fund 15a, City of Lawrence Community Development Division, Housing Rehab/ EL/ FL/ Weatherization at $472,672. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Weller moved to fund 16a, Social Service League, Building Repairs at $15,000 and 17a, Tenants to Homeowners, Cedarwood Infrastructure at $25,000. Delaney seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

4. Public Comment.

Carrie Lindsey with the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority spoke on behalf of Shannon Oury, who asked her to thank the committee for the HOME funds that were allocated for their Homeless Transitional Housing Program.

5. Miscellaneous/Calendar.

Delaney asked about reopening the discussion of the HOME allocations, due to the appearance at the last meeting of the Lawrence Habitat for Humanity (LHH) executive director. Delaney said he felt that the programs offered by LDCHA and LHH may be of more importance than the First Time Home Buyers program. Bush said they could discuss funding one foundation instead of three for LHH. Delaney said any money awarded to LHH would have to come from either LDCHA or the First Time Home Buyers program, and he was not prepared to subtract funds from LDCHA. Weller said he was not willing to reduce the amount for the First Time Home Buyers program any lower. Bush asked Dresslar if the final amount of the CDBG funds would be known before the committee gives its recommendations to the City Commission. Dresslar said it has been both ways in the past, sometimes the final CDBG allocation is known at that time, and sometimes not. Dresslar explained that if the final CDBG allocation is received after the recommendation to the City Commission and more funds are available, the CDAC can do a substantial amendment to fund a new project. The substantial amendment would just have to be approved by the City Commission. Delaney agreed that if more money is available, the first place he would like to see it allocated would be to LHH.

Dresslar reminded the committee that the public hearing would be the second meeting in April, and that one more meeting before then would be wise to discuss any proposed changes.

Minor moved to cancel the March meetings of the CDAC. Wilbur seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Minor moved to hold the next meeting on the CDAC on April 10, 2014. Wilbur seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

The next meeting of the CDAC will be April 10, 2014.

6. Adjourn.

Minor moved to adjourn the February 27, 2014 meeting of the CDAC at 6:50 p.m. Weller seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

Attendance Record

Members

Jan 9

Jan 23

Feb 13

Feb 27

Apr 10

Linda Bush

Alex Delaney

Steven Koprince

Quinn Miller

Julie Mitchell

James Minor

Vern Norwood

Travis Weller

Patrick Wilbur

E Excused Absence

U Unexcused Absence

X Meeting Cancelled – Weather Conditions

- Meeting Cancelled – Committee Vote/No Business

* First meeting after appointment

** Last Meeting Prior to expired term

^ Last Meeting