06-24-74 Council Meeting Minutes

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING JUNE 24, 1974 IICOMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING (CONTINUED) 11rolffillift-1 Web AN ORDINANCE CREATING A DIVISION OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND. This being the time heretofore set for public hearing on the above ordinance, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Councilman Miller, as chairman of the Committee on Housing, and at the request of the administration, proposed the following amendments to the ordinance: In Section I: Strike all words after "Division of Community Development ". In Section IV: Change the word "shall" to "may" in the second line. Strike the second sentence. In Section IV, add the following subsections: A. The Division of Community Development shall be authorized to, in conjunction with the Department of Redevelopment, establish and implement a Neighborhood Development Program. Any such relationship, and all contracts for such a purpose, shall be approved by the Redevelopment Commissioners. Any contract in excess of $5,000 shall also be approved by the Common Council. B. The Division of Community Development shall propose guidelines for the fair and equitable administration of the Neighborhood Development Program. Such guidelines shall be subject to public hearing and approval by the Redevelopment Commissioners, approval by the Mayor, and filed with the City Clerk. C. There shall be established an Advisory Committee for each project area com- posed of seven members, two project area residents, three professional experts selected from real estate, mortgage or rehabilitation loans, or the construc- tion industry, the Director of the Division of Community Development and the Director of the Bureau of Housing; that will screen applicants for grants and loans, and recommend to the Redevelopment Commission the grant recipients and amounts of grants and loans. Members of this committee shall be appointed by the Mayor and serve at his pleasure for the duration of the project. D. (The second paragraph of Section IV shall be designated subsection D.) Councilman Miller made a motion to so amend the ordinance, seconded by Councilman Taylor. The motion carried. Mr. William Hojnacki, Director of the Department of Human Resources and Economic Development, stated that the amendments made incorporated the best of the Council's plans and the administration's plans. He felt the program would be workable and many of the problems within the community would be solved. He urged passage of the ordinance. Mr. Charles Lennon, Director of the Department of Redevelopment, stated that, on June 17 and June 21, public meetings were held regardi the proposed ordinance. He indicated that all those in attendance at those meetings were in favor of the ordinance as amended. He stated that the Redevelopment Commissioners recommended that the Council pass the ordinance. Mr. Garrett Mullins, President of the Southeast Neighborhood Project Area Committee, residing at 312 East Pennsylvania, also expressed support of the amended ordinance. He stated that the committee desired to suggest that the Council further amend the ordinance to insert the words "at least" in the paragraph establishing membership, more specifically preceding the words "two project area residents" and "three professional experts ". He stated that this would give more flexibility to the ordinance as far as membership was concerned.. Mr. Phillip Byrd of the Urban Coalition Housing Task Force also expressed support of the ordinance and citizen participatic in all levels as relates to housing. He stated that the task force felt the amended ordinance woul allow for that. He urged the Council to followup on the appropriation of the funds for the housing program, and he stated that the Urban Coalition wished to extend its services to the Council. Mrs. Darlene Scherer, 506 South Twyckenham, representing the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and its 400 members, also expressed support of the ordinance and hoped that the program would be effective. She felt that the area in the southeast section of the city had been neglected too long, and she hoped that immediate action would be taken. Ms. Janice Patton, President of the A.C.T.I.O.N. Board of Directors, also expressed support of the amended ordinance and creation of the Advisory Committe Mr. Godley, representing the Broadway Christian Parish, recommended that the Council pass the ordinance, and he offered the cooperation and services of the church. Councilman Horvath wondered why Mr. Mullins had proposed the addition of the words "at least" to tY ordinance. Mr. Mullins stated that it was felt the ordinance would have more flexibility. Council man Horvath wondered if this could possibly overstaff the committee. Council President Nemeth made a motion to amend the ordinance further by inserting the words "which shall include" immediately after the words "seven members" in subsection C of Section IV; and, in that same subsection, delete the words "that will" immediately after the words "Bureau.of Housing" and inserting the words "The Advisory Committee shall ". Councilman Kopczynski seconded the motion. The motion carried. Mr. E� Drummond, working with the Urban Coalition Housing Task Force and residing at 629 W..LaSalle Avenue stated that his group wished to support the amendment proposed by Mr. Mullins. He wanted as flexile a program as possible in order to insure citizen participation. He urged that the Council serious] consider that amendment. Councilman Miller stated that the thinking behind many of the Council's action in the past was to set a number to make the ordinance a definitive legal document. He state that, in terms of acting and doing specific things, small committees were more effective. He felt that the Council wanted as much citizen participation as possible; however, the committee would be a technical committee to review and check homes. Mr. Drummond agreed with having a small committee however, he was talking in terms of the number of members on the committee. Mrs. Rita Cassidy, Vic President of Urban Coalition, residing at 529 Napoleon Boulevard, agreed with Mr. Drummond. She felt it was important for the citizens to know that their participation was welcome, needed and sought in order to implement the plan. She did not want the committee to be "locked in" to a definite number. Councilman. Taylor made a motion that the ordinance be recommended favorably, as amended, to the Common Council, seconded by Councilman Kopczynski. Councilman Miller indicated that, with the pas! of housing grants and loan programs, the Common Council had initiated and.passed four major prograr for improvement of the southeast neighborhood. He stated that he was far from satisfied with the 91 e