02-14-77 Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 14t 1977 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 4990 -68, AS AMENDED, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA (CHAPTER 21, MUNICIPAL CODE) (912 LAWRENCE; 100 BLOCK NORTH SHORE DR.; VACANT LOT KNOWN AS 315 CORBY). Council President Parent indicated that this ordinance had not received a recommendation from Area Plan. He made a motion to delay public hearing until a determination is reached by Area Plan, seconded by Council Member Dombrowski. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $16,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR RESEARCH AD- MINISTRATION, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS URBAN OBSERVATORY PROGRAM. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Todd Areson, Director of Urban Observatory, made the presentation for the ordinance. He said this represented the City's share of the cash match required for the third -year program. He said the full $16,000 would be applied toward pro- gram administration. He indicated they presently had five research programs. Council Member Kopczynski asked Mr. Areson which part of their work was used by the City and to what advantage. Mr. Areson indicated they had four projects used by the City last year, one on annexation, neigh- borhood preservation, substandard housing and an attitude survey on downtown development. Counci Member Kopczynski made a motion that this ordinance be recommended to the Council favorable, seconded by Council Member Taylor. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $208,855 FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR RESEARCH AD- MINISTRATION, TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND THROUGH ITS BUREAU OF HOUSING. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Keith Crighton, Director of the Bureau of Housing, made the presentation for the ordinance. He said three hundred cities applied for this innovative grant program and only eighteen were approved, of which South Bend was one. He said they were now requesting the $208,855 be appropriated into the categories of $150,000 for con- tractual services and $58,855 for administration. He said the project was intended to provide eligible homeowners, landlords and small businessmen owning property in the approved target areas with cash rebates based on a percentage of repairs and improvements made to the property during the program year. The percentage varies from twenty to forty percent depending upon the type of ownership, family size and income. He said the program is intended to act in conjunction with existing housing programs in the preservation of housing stock in the City. He said this project was intended for the northwest and southeast target areas. Mrs. Karen Gleason, Director of Civic Planning, indicated the program called for only one inspector and she wondered if they had any idea how many cases this inspector would be handling. Mr. Crighton indicated he had no idea at this time. Mrs. Gleason indicated she was concerned they were understaffed. Council Member Kopczynski asked how and by whom were the target areas determined. Mr. Crighton indicated the Bureau of Planning determined the target areas, in accordance with the guidelines of the Depart- ment of Community Development. He said they have to be in areas that are low to moderate income. Mr. Jon Hunt, Assistant Director of Human Resources, indicated they had submitted a letter to HUD requesting a review of existing boundaries and requesting a change. He said as of this date he had not received an answer. Council Member Kopczynski asked if a determination had been made as to the amount of money for each structure. Mr. Hunt indicated they had established a range of cost based on unit size. Council Member Serge questioned if the inspection would be made prio to repair and after repair. Mr. Crighton said they would be made before, during and after repair Council Member Adams asked if people would receive grants under other Community Development pro- grams could participate in this grant. Mr. Crighton indicated they were not allowed to give any double grants in any of their programs. Council Member Adams asked what would happen if the pro- gram lasted over a year. Mr. Hunt indicated they really did not know. He said they could run this program until June 30, 1978. Council Member Adams asked if they could use CETA employees to have more money for contractual services to rehab homes. Mr. Hunt indicated this might be possible if they could find qualified applicants. Council Member Adams asked if they would look into this. Mr. Hunt indicated they would check it out. Council Member Parent asked how many units would be rehabilitated under this program. Mr. Crighton indicated they had no idea at this time. Council President Parent indicated he did not think there would be enough work in this program for a director, advisor, inspector and secretary. Mr. Crighton indicated this would be an on -going program and there would be many reinspections and reports that would have to be sub- mitted. Council President Parent indicated that it was difficult to accept that the program would need all this personnel. Council Member Kopczynski asked if they had set a goal for this project to judge its success. Mr. Hunt indicated that for every $1 of Federal money they hope to generate $2 to $3 of private sector money. Council ' Member Kopczynski asked if they would keep the Council appraised of the progress of the project. Mr. Hunt said he would suggest once the program was under way the director will have to send reports to HUD, and a copy of those reports could be sent to the Council. Council Member Miller asked if there was any provision for funding this program in the second year. Mr. Hunt said no provision from HUD. Council Member Adams said that when the release is made to the people, all stipulations should be made in regard to who will be eligible. Council Member Adams asked if people who are receiving Housing Allowance could appl for this grant. Mr. Crighton indicated they could. Council Member Adams said that we would be overlapping with Housing Allowance. Mr. Crighton said they do not overlap, they key -in to each other. Council Member Taylor made a motion that this ordinance be recommended to the Council favorable, seconded by Council Member Serge. The motion carried. ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND SECTION 15 -16 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, AS AMENDED. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and op- ponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mr. Kevin Butler, attorney at law, made the pre- sentation for the ordinance. He introduced Mr. Ray Sharp and Carl Smith from the South Bend Cab Co., Inc. He said the drivers of both Courtesy Cab and South Bend Cab were in favor of this increase. He said the taxicab industry is the only transportation industry in the country that does not receive Federal funds. He said the rates in South Bend were low in comparison to the