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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-02-11 Minutes236 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS February 11, 1975 The Board of Directors of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas met in a special session on Tuesday, February 11, 1975 at 7:30 p.m. in the Director's Room of the City Administration Building. Present: City Manager Donald L. Grimes, Administrative Assistant David McWethy; City Attorney Jim McCord; Darlene Westbrook, City Clerk; and Directors Ernest Lancaster, John Todd, Paul Noland, Al Hughes, and Morris Collier. Absent: Director Russell T. Purdy Others Present: Members of the Housing Assistance Committee, members of the audience and representatives of the news media. CALL TO ORDER AND PUBLIC HEARING 236.1 The special meeting was called to order by Mayor Marion R. Orton who explained the purpose of the meeting was to conduct a public hearing on the Community Development Housing Assistance Committee report and recommendations. 236.2 They Mayor then declared the public hearing open and yielded the floor to Mr. Claude Prewitt, Acting -Chairman in the absence of Mr. Phillip Taylor. Mr. Prewitt stated that the committee strongly emphasized the need for current data about the needs for housing in low and moderate income areas and would like to see the data provided in the first year plan. Originally the committee felt emphasis should be placed upon owner -occupied housing; however, results of a "windshield survey" indicated that the majority of homes surveyed were not owner -occupied causing the committee to soas*at change the emphasis. He said the committee realized a need to address problems of the low income renter. 236.3 Mr. Prewitt expressed the committee's position that $25,000 be allocated to employ a Housing Assistance Coordinator and staff to perform a variety of functions including the gathering of information for the committee that would be utilized in the preparation of the 1976 application and the researching and securing of additional available funds. Believing that persons served under the program would be more responsive to the program if the Housing Assistance Administrator were housed elsewhere than the City Inspector's Office, the committee recommended location of the staff person in another location. A possible location, Mr. Prewitt said, had been offered and was available in the Economic Opportunity Agency offices. The Housing Assistance Administrator, the committee felt, should be oriented to the needs of the low and moderate income groups. 236.4 Mrs. Lois Fry, member of the committee, stressed the need for accumulation of current housing data so that an updated application could be presented. She said that citizen input into the committee strongly favored emphasis on owner occupied housing for the first year. 236 1 1 1 23 Another committee.. member, Mr. James Vizzier, said the committee did 237.1 not feel as though it should decide what was to be undertaken until current data was provided. He said the committee needed to consider long-range planning and not just building projects. Mr. Vizzier also stressed the need for sufficient information, administrative services, and coordination with the Community Development Committee. During comments from the Board, Director Hughes recognized the need for 237.2 an administrative staff but expressed reservations about appropriating funds for an administrative staff for the Housing Assistance program When the same type of service was needed by the Community Development program In answer to a question from Director Noland, Mr Vizzier explained 237.3 the type of data the survey would attempt to gather and explained that the data might be utilized for two to four years and could be kept updated by clerical personnel. Director Noland suggested that the survey concentrate on specific problem areas of the city and not the city as a whole. Director Todd understood the need of such a survey and was con- cerned that the needs of the two Community Detelopment committees be coordinated and not duplicated. Director Collier felt that the funds might be better spent if two or three assistants were hired in an effort to consolidate administration of theprogram. Mr. Gorton Hitte felt that the administrator should be authorized to 237.4 assist low income families in finding the best available housing and to assist in mediating landlord -tenant disputes. Ms. Kathy Okonski felt there was a need for keeping an inventory of available housing and housing demandsto be utilized in '-e assisting personsin finding suitable housing. She presented the board with letters from various local agencies supporting the need for the service. Mr. .Mark Doyle, commenting from the audience, felt the survey should attempt to gather not only data on housing needs but also on other pertinent facts such as eligibility of the people surveydd for the program and their needs. Mayor Orton and the Board then reviewed recommended criteria for 237.5 housing assistance and fielded questions from the audience. During the discussion, the funding of the administrative position and the effect it would have on the program were discussed. Director Lancaster expressed concern about the amount of funds that would be available for the needs of the people after the costs of administrative personnel had been met. City Manager Grimes cited the possibility that some of the Community Development funds might be reallocated if some of the proposed projects were not able to be implemented. When questioned about the future of the Fayetteville Housing Action 237.6 Committee's future, Mr. Prewitt said that due to the new Housing Assistance program the committee would become dormant but would not disband. Following slight further discussion, Mayor Orton declared the hearing closed. OTHER BUSINESS City Manager Grimes then discussed pending ligislation of interest to the city and received authorization from the Board to pursue special legislation for Fayetteville to allow the city to levy a sales tax.of up to $.01. 237 237.7 238 238.1 City Attorney McCord then informed the Board that a dateshould be set for a public hearing on the sufficiency of the Off -Street Parking Improvement District petition. A lenghty discussion ensued concerning the procedures for the hearing and the date it should be held. The Board concluded that in lieu of personal appearances by convalescent -property owners, affidavits would be accepted from those who were requesting that their names be removed from the petition. A motion made by Director Hughes and seconded by Director Noland to set the hearing for March 4 was withdrawn when the Board determined that the agenda for that meeting would attract a large crowd. and the board room would not hold theadded number of people. A motion -to hold the hearing during a special meeting on March 3 at 7:30 p m was made by Director Hughes, seconded by Director Lancaster, and unanimously passed in roll call vote of the Board. ADJOURNMENT 238.2 There being no further business for the Board's consideration, the Mayor, upon approval of the Board, adjourned the meeting. ATTEST: U.t- l LL(.Q -t 1� ARLENE WESTBROOK, City Clerk APPROVED: nIAL'� MARION R. ORTOI, Mayor 238 1 1 1